Thursday, December 30, 2010

Community Photo Challenge (white), Today's Flowers & Scenic Sunday - Buckets of White Roses

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These buckets of white roses were waiting to be placed on various Rose Parade floats yesterday.
I drove over to Pasadena to watch, once again, the decorating.
It is Thursday night...the judging is tomorrow morning...the parade is Saturday morning.
and...these roses were still in buckets yesterday late afternoon...
they will finish, they always do!

...and more white roses...

...and more white roses...

There were buckets of flowers of all kinds and colors, but...I LOVE white roses!
I can't wait to see the finished floats on New Years morning...Happy New Year to all of you!

The theme is "white."

SkyWatch Friday & Looking at the Sky on Friday / Flood Control Channel at the Rose Bowl, Pasadena, California USA

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This is a flood control channel that runs beside the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California.
It was a rainy day but I chose to take the drive to view the float decorating anyway.
People have to be rescued from these channels every year because it seems they don't know what the fences are for...smart, huh?
The sky had a little bit of attitude at 5:00 p.m.
No rain, PLEASE, for the Rose Parade on New Years Day!


Thursday, December 23, 2010

Wednesday, December 22, 2010

Weekend Reflections / Water Glass

This was my water glass while having a mid-afternoon lunch at Mama's Fish House in Paia, Maui, Hawaii on November 10, 2010.
Merry Christmas to all my Blogging Peeps!
Have a WONDERFUL holiday weekend...

Sunday, December 19, 2010

Blue Monday, Midweek Blues, That's My World Tuesday - White Sandy Beaches



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Walking along the white sandy beaches of Hawaii never gets old...
Ulua Beach, South Maui, Hawaii USA
November 17, 2010

Thursday, December 16, 2010

SkyWatch Friday & Looking at the Sky on Friday, Scenic Sunday - Inside the Crater

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Jerry and I hiked down into Haleakala Crater during our recent trip to Maui, Hawaii (November 2010).
You can see the Pacific Ocean in the distance beneath the clouds.

There are over 41 miles of trails inside this crater and the views are incredible.
We took the Sliding Sands trail down until we began to worry about the ascent back up!
It gets dark earlier this time of year and this is NO place to be in the dark,  unless you are backpacking and settled for that time of day.

The top of the crater is at the 10,000+ foot level and it is cold up there.
The descent is 2,400 feet in elevation to the bottom and 3 3/10 miles each way.
On this day, we only went about 1/2 of the descent but plan to go farther on our next visit.

If you want to get away from mankind...this is the place to be.
The haunting sound of "quiet" can be experienced along this trail.

Notice the person hiking (wearing blue) on the right.
You feel so small here...
I want to spend more time in the crater.
We have visited numerous times at the top but this was the first to step inside.

SkyWatch Friday
Looking at the Sky on Friday
Scenic Sunday

Sunday, December 12, 2010

Blue Monday, Midweek Blues, Ruby Tuesday, That's My World Tuesday - Santa is a Really KOOL Guy!

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My 3 1/2 year old grandson, Chase, was finally willing to sit on Santa's lap this year.
The last time was at 6 months when he didn't have a clue.

I had fun snapping these shots as quickly as possible just in case there was a change in mood!

Santa told Chase a secret!

It was all about getting that candy cane!
Santa was a really KOOL guy!

Thursday, December 9, 2010

Weekend Reflections / Grand Wailea Resort, South Maui, Hawaii USA

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A nighttime reflection in one of the swimming pools at the Grand Wailea Resort in Wailea, South Maui, Hawaii.
November 17, 2010

SkyWatch Friday & Looking at the Sky on Friday - Ulua Beach, South Maui, Hawaii USA

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Jerry and I love to take walks along the white sandy beaches of Hawaii.
This is beautiful Ulua Beach, South Maui, Hawaii on November 17, 2010.

Ulua Beach, South Maui, Hawaii USA
The West Maui Mountains are usually beneath beautiful clouds like this.

Tuesday, December 7, 2010

Watery Wednesday / If Heaven Had a Highway...

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If heaven had a highway this would be it!
This is the beautiful Hana Highway (highway 360) that leads to Hana, Maui, Hawaii.
The road to Hana is two lanes with lots of one-lane bridges.  Tourist literature says there are 600 turns, though I don't know exactly how they classify a turn since the road is NEVER straight.
Waterfalls tumble from the mountains, one after another, along the way.
(you can see the road skirting along the coast in the photo)
...so many places to stop along the way to soak up the beauty...

ABC Wednesday / "U"

I have learned to avoid drinks with umbrellas because they have SO many calories.
So, I just took them out!
We enjoyed a few Mai Tais while in Maui, Hawaii for 11 days last month.

The letter is U.

Friday, December 3, 2010

Scenic Sunday, Mellow Yellow / A Lonely Tree Along-Side the Sugar Cane, Maui, Hawaii USA

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This tree stands along-side the sugar cane fields beneath the West Maui Mountains.
It was late afternoon as the sun rays peaked through the openings of clouds to produce some dramatic light.
Maui, Hawaii
November 13, 2010
Black and White version is here.

Scenic Sunday
Mellow Yellow

The Weekend in Black and White / A Lonely Tree Along-Side the Sugar Cane, Maui, Hawaii USA

Click on photo to enlarge!
This tree stands along-side the sugar cane fields beneath the West Maui Mountains.
It was late afternoon as the sun rays peaked through the openings of clouds to produce some dramatic light.
Maui, Hawaii
November 13, 2010
The color version is here.

Weekend Reflections, Phun Friday, Ruby Tuesday / Hello!

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This cute little bird (Brazilian Red-Capped Cardinal) was quite amused with its reflection in the rim of the tire.
'Iao Valley, Maui, Hawaii
November 12, 2010

Thursday, December 2, 2010

SkyWatch Friday and Looking at the Sky on Friday / A Wailea Sunset, Maui, Hawaii USA

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November 12, 2010
A Wailea Sunset in south Maui, Hawaii USA
As the sun dipped below the horizon we enjoyed the "green flash."
Awesome!
Unfortunately, I didn't capture it.
I was doing well to see it with my own eyes!


Tuesday, November 30, 2010

ABC Wednesday (T), Watery Wednesday, Outdoor Wednesday / Wai'anapanapa Black Sand Beach, Maui, Hawaii

Click on photos to enlarge. 
T is for turbulent waters at Wai'anapanapa Black Sand Beach on Maui, Hawaii.

This is a wonderful beach to spend the day when the water is calm.
Some people ventured down to get a closer look while my husband and I were walking along the bluff above.
Sea arches, caves and lava tubes are fun to explore in this area of southeastern Maui.

 Watching the water hit the rocks was very entertaining!

T for Turbulent

Sunday, November 28, 2010

That's My World Tuesday / Is it Fall in Hana, Maui, Hawaii???

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I posted what I thought was my last "fall colors" post a few weeks ago.
Those photos came from the high country of the Eastern Sierras, California and also Taos, New Mexico.
Little did I know that I would find even more fall colors in Maui, Hawaii.

These trees are brilliant orange, yellow and red right now.
I really don't think Maui knows about the fall season...but, there are fall colors in the Hana area of southeastern Maui.

These same trees are deep green everywhere else around the island, that I saw anyway.
This area is a bluff just above the ocean...certainly NOT high elevation.

Beautiful Hana never disappoints!

Monday, November 22, 2010

Watery Wednesday, ABC Wednesday / "Q," "R" and "S"

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My husband and I took an 11 day trip to Maui, Hawaii and just returned this past Friday night.
I missed the letters Q & R so I will add them to S for this week.
This is the view we had on a bluff overlooking Ho'okipa Beach on the eastern side of the island.
It is well know around the world among the wind surfing crowd.
It is a place where we like to spend some quality time together...just watching.

Some wind surf.
Some kite surf.
And, others board surf.
Some enter the water from the sandy beach while others prefer climbing over the rocky bluff .

Ready, Set, GO!

What a gorgeous sight it is!
Can quality time get any better than this?

Letters Q, R and S

Watery Wednesday