A to Z 2015 Challenge

 

 

Looking back at the A to Z Challenge...

My mother always said....

"If you start something finish it!"

Well now- this is my third year and I still find the challenge fun and entertaining.
And I totally enjoyed following other bloggers. Some from previous years and some new.
I limited how many I followed to around 10 or so. I was choosy about who I followed all the way through. Those who obviously were just advertising either themselves or products they were  selling I did not even bother with.

To me the joys of blogging are sharing ideas, images and humor. Cannot do without a giggle or two. So- I'll be back.
Some blogs I will continue to drop in on as they have become friends.

Thanks to all who dropped in and took the time to comment. Comments are part of the fun!
See ya next year if not before!

Lake Oswego Oregon Garden with Birdbath
April 27, 2015 

 

A to Z 2015 Challenge Z is for Zippity Do Dah! Grand Finale!

The A to Z 2015 Challenge has been fun!

 Add Zip to your day!

Thanks to the following commenters:

Messy Mimi

Keith's Ramblings

Chubby Chatterbox

Sandee at Comedy Plus

Alex

Cube

Kutaman

Helena

Laika

Dcrelief

Tess Kincaid

AnnesPhamily

BeThere2Day

Magical Mystery Teacher

Gemma

Madeline Jane

Linda

Rivalette

Middle Girl

If somehow I left you off this I apologize- as I appreciate all the folks who take time to visit and comment on my blog!

Cheers!

A to Z 2015 Challenge Y is for Yummy

 

Absolutely delicious cake!

Yummy in my tummy!

Chocolate with whipped cream and salted caramel with nuts! 

From Nicoletta's Table

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Only one day left for the

A to Z 2015 Challenge!

It's been fun! Cheers!

A to Z 2015 Challenge X is for........

"X" is for (E)xcavation.....

 

B Avenue in Lake Oswego Oregon

 

New water system installation

requires multiple excavations.

They just love to dig up the street!

 

Fat Head's Brewery in NW Portland Oregon

 

 (E)xcavations can lead to

(e)xcessive amounts of beer.

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A to Z 2015 Challenge and Wowee it's Awww Monday!

W is for Wowee!

 

 

 

Two rather large dogs

 

Both St Bernards.....

one was quite friendly.... 

 

The other preferred to be alone!

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Be sure to visit Sandee's Comedy Plus

and have a purrfectly great day!

A to0 Z 2015 Challenge V is for Velazquez and Venus

 

 Rokeby Venus also known as Venus at Her Mirror

 painted by Diego Velazquez   c. 1647-1651

 

The Rokeby Venus is the only surviving female nude by Velázquez. Nudes were extremely rare in seventeenth-century Spanish art, which was policed actively by members of the Spanish Inquisition. Despite this, nudes by foreign artists were keenly collected by the court circle, and this painting was hung in the houses of Spanish courtiers until 1813, when it was brought to England to hang in Rokeby Park, Yorkshire. In 1906, the painting was purchased by National Art Collections Fund for the National Gallery, London. Although it was attacked and badly damaged in 1914 by the suffragette Mary Richardson, it soon was fully restored and returned to display.

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To learn even more go to Chubby Chatterbox .

His blog contains all sorts of fascinating art facts written in a very entertaining and always educational way!

A to Z 2015 Challenge U is for Uña or Una, Feline Friday and more info about the Spanish alphabet.

The Spanish alphabet has two "N's"

First there is the regular "n" that we know

and then there is the "ñ" with the tilda.

That is because the n and the ñ have different sounds. The ñ sounds like "en-yay", for example baños is pronounced "bahn-yos". Rather like an n and a y put together. 

Una is the feminine pronoun or adjective of the number 1 and Uña is a claw!
And speaking of claws today is Feline Friday!
Brought to us by Steve of BFDude !!!
He wants to make sure we know he LOVES
cats even if they do have claws!!

Oh...nice kitty kitty!

 

 

Oh yes Kitty, I love you too!

Free images off the internet via this Link

And for you trivia gatherers there are 29
letters in the Spanish alphabet.
The three extra letters are:
Ch, Ll and ñ.
This is according to my 1968 Spanish dictionary. However according to some info on the internet the letters Ch and Ll were eliminated in 2010. Have I put you to sleep yet? Have a great day!
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A to Z 2015 Challenge T is for Tapa and Tortilla

Tapa in Spain = snack or tidbit

Tortilla in Spain = Omelet

 

 

In 1972 I lived in Spain for a year

and almost immediately discovered

"Tapas". Little plates of tasty treats

and my favorite has always been the

simple Tortilla made with eggs,

potatoes and onions. Served at room

temperature it is delectable and

quite addictive.

Here's one recipe I found on the internet. 

Before living in Spain I only knew

tortillas that were from Mexico! 

 

A staple in Mexico, one cannot

pass up the delicious tortilla

filled with tasty avocado, tomatoes,

chilies, cilantro, onions and cheese! 



 

Bueno apetito !



A to Z 2015 Challenge S is for Sabroso

Sabroso = Tasty

 

Etna Tap Room, Yreka, California

 

¡Mi bocadillo es muy sabroso!

My sandwich is very tasty!

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A to Z 2015 Challenge R is for Rabano

R is for Rabano

R= Radish

 

In Oaxaca, Mexico there is a celebration

for the shy and unassuming radish...

 

 

It is called The Night of the Radishes...

La Noche de los Rábanos

 

Photo courtesy of  Night of the Radishes

A to Z 2015 Challenge Q is for Querida plus Awww Mondays!

 

Q is for Querida and Querido

Spanish for Darling

 

 

The two of us in the early 1990's...

with two of our little relatives...

 

 

Fast forward to 2015....

We celebrated our 25th earlier this month.

Russell will always be my querido!

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Thanks to Sandee  of Comedy Plus for
 Awww Mondays!
 



A-Z, Six Words and Sunday Shadows! April 18-19,2015

Love the A to Z Challenge!

This is my third year and I

find it very fun to do and to see

what other bloggers come up with! 

P is for Pendulo

Pendulo = Pendulum

 

 

 



 

Today I squeezed three memes into

one post....to look at Six Words

skip over Here and

for Sunday Shadows hop over Here .

And for heavens sake have a great day!

A to Z 2015 Challenge and Feline Friday! April 17, 2015

O is for Ojo

Ojo = Eye

( pronounced o-ho )

 

 

 

Ever vigilant....

Lucy is always keeping an eye on us.

She's getting ready to pounce on

the toy I have in my hand.
She's also waiting for more scritches
especially from Sandee at Comedy Plus  and

do thank Steve of  BFDude for Feline Friday!

A to Z 2015 Challenge N is for Nieve

Nieve = Snow... 

 

 

A close up of chicken wire protecting

iris and a tiny Oregon Vine Maple tree

from our sweet little deer...

 



 

We only got a little bit the other night...

 

 

 

Nieve can also mean "sherbet" 

I would want more than a little bit...

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A TO Z 2015 Challenge! L is for Libraries and Love!

On September 15, 2014 a wildfire blazed through our little town of 3,000. Approximately 90 homes were burnt to the ground and another 60 homes were damaged. Our library, Senior nutrition center, Grace Presbyterian church, the Holy Family Catholic and community center were completely burned to the ground. Parts of the Roseburg wood products mill were damaged. Miraculously no was killed and only 3 firemen were injured.



 

Yesterday thanks to generous donations and city assistance our Library re-opened in a

new location! Here are a few photos

of a few of many volunteers setting up

the new location!

 

 

 Assembly always required!!

 

 

 Amazing amounts of cardboard

needing to be recycled!

 

 

 And....here come all the new books!
Not to mention all the donated books!
Tomorrow I will post photos of our
libraries new home!!
A great big Thank You goes
out to everyone who helped!
We love our library!!
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To read more about the fire go HERE .
 

A to Z 2015 Challenge and It's Awww Monday! April 13, 2015

K is for knocker...

 

New door knocker on our front door...

 







 

 

Old door knocker found in a

flea market when I was in Madrid

way back in the early 1970's.

 

 

And here's some AWWWsome chickens

with their protective rooster at a

friends home. I was there yesterday

picking up a few dozen eggs.

Home grown eggs are always delicious!

Don't forget to thank Sandee of Comedy Plus!

She started Awww Mondays !!!

 

A-Z 2015 Challenge along with Six Words and Sunday Shadows!

J is for Jaunty Journey

There are few words in Spanish

that begin with the letter J....

Yesterday we took a Jaunty Journey

( otherwise known as a short 7 mile hike)

at Castle Crags State Park.
 We chose to hike the 7 mile round trip
 Flume trail and it was a glorious

day to be hiking!

Stomp over Here  to see more Six Words

Or scamper over Here  for Shadow Shots!

Happy Days to you what ever you do! 

 

 

Flume Trail April 10, 2015

 

Mother Nature plays pick up sticks....

 

Flume Trail April 10, 2015

 

Ferns with Dogwood trees blooming.

 

Close up of Dogwood blossoms.

 

 Rushing creek with Indian Rhubarb blooming.

 

Close up of Indian Rhubarb blooming. 

 Hikers reward seeing the Castle Crags!

 

These mountains never fail to amaze me.

 

 Our view while eating our lunch!

 

We were even on the PCT for awhile!

 

We crossed quite a few creeks

and since it was warm we did

 not mind getting our feet a bit wet!

 

Final photo...what a great day!

 

 

A to Z 2015 Challenge H is for Hermosura Divina

This is what I saw early yesterday morning while outside hanging up the bird feeders...

Heavenly beauty.

Hermosura Divina.

 

Trinity Mountains

A closer view

A to Z 2015 Challenge G is for Gaviota

 

Gaviota (aka sea gull ) in Punta Chivato

March 18, 2015

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A to Z 2015 Challenge F is for Fuego

January 2015

Controlled burn in Siskiyou County

 

Clearing land in the winter to

prevent summer wildfires.

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