nautical

Sint Maarten, NA, Caribbean during the Heineken Regatta race

Alphabe-Thursday, hosted by Ms Jenny, is so much fun!  This week our letter is  "N."  Come visit others' submissions HERE and join in the fun!  


 
photo by me  © 2014   all rights reserved

island sunset

the sun sinks golden

swallowed hungrily by waves

swept away by tides

This photo was taken on a favorite island--St Maartin in the Netherland Antilles.  Mullet Bay is a beautiful white sand beach with turquoise waters.  One can snorkel along the rocks in this photo.

Alphabe-Thursday, hosted by Ms Jenny, is so much fun!  This week our letter is "I."  Come visit others' submissions HERE and join in the fun!
 

I'm also linking up with SkyWatch Friday hosted by Sylvia and Sandy.  Come join us in this awesome meme, link up, and meet folks from all over the globe. 

photo by me © 2012   haiku by me © 2013

journeys

I love to explore new places, to immerse myself in the beauty of this wonderous Earth.  Today I share with you a few photos of favorite places to which I've journeyed.  

Ophir Pass, Colorado, 11789'

Ophir Pass is near Telluride in Southeastern Colorado.  The road is dirt, narrow, rocky, and often with steep drop offs.  The view is magnificent!  The path climbs out of aspen groves littered with wildflowers, and ascends into fields of gray, green, and maroon talas.  I was there in late September of 2007 and 2 days later the pass was closed due to snow.  See the San Miguel Mountains in the distance?  To get to Ophir Pass, we took US Highway 550 North from Durango.  Between Silverton and Ouray 550 is known as the "Million Dollar Highway."  The scenery is absolutely breathtaking!

Logan Pass, Glacier National Park, Montana

The sweeping vistas in the mountains are so majestic!  Beauty abounds in the smaller things as well--colorful rocks, wild animals, gorgeous flowers.  Breathe the air and let joy fill your spirit! 

Sint Maarten, Netherland Antilles

Oh how I do love St. Maarten!  The beaches are gorgeous.  Some are small; some are long.  Some are crowded and busy; some are secluded and serene.  There's always something to explore here...and time to let your soul simply be alive.  

LINKS:

description of Ophir Pass drive

Hidden Lake trail 
St. Maarten beaches 


LINKS to my past posts:

Glacier National Park:

escape  one of a view along Ophir Pass; most are of Grinnell Glacier
Majesty  Hidden Lake near Logan Pass
along the Hidden Lake Treail with some fun questions asked of Park Rangers 
Glacier Skies  Hidden Lake Trail

St. Maarten:

Cupecoy (one of my favorite photos)

Sail Away  Cupecoy beach with a poem by John Masefield
maps + a couple photos
sunset and sunset (Cupecoy)
Baie Longue  
Pointe de Bluff 

I'm linking up with my favorite teacher, Ms Jenny Matlock, as we work our way through the alphabet.  Please do go visit the other students, for you never know what gems you may find--humor, poignancy, information, visions of far away places, stuff you've never even dreamed of!  Check it out HERE.  You may even wish to join in yourself!  This week our letter is "J."


photos by me © 2007 and 2008  all rights reserved

Sint Maarten kitties

I have been to St. Maarten, NA (an island in the Caribbean) about 6 times in the past 10 years.  When there, I see feral cats wandering near our doorsteps and feral dogs roaming the streets.  This is a burgeoning issue for the island.  The animals are very friendly, however.
Kitties would come visit us on the porch outside our door.  

And on another visit, this kitty below visited us frequently.  She was so sweet and friendly.

 

Her golden eyes were mesmerizing.

  

If you click on the photo below to enlarge it, you will see this cat has skin issues.

 

St Maarten is beginning to deal with its feral animal issues:

Animals Are Friends See what this organization has to offer including plans for an eventual sanctuary

World Animal Day every October 4, worldwide

Team Goldendog sails the Heineken Regatta to support “helping homeless animals find their forever homes”, donating all funds raised to The St. Maarten Animal Welfare Foundation, Les Quatre Pattes (SXM Paws) and Yankee Golden Retriever Rescue of Hudson, Massachusetts, USA.

Les Quatre Pattes (SXM Paws) finding forever homes

Feral animals are the offspring of stray or abandoned household pets. Raised without human contact, they quickly revert to a wild state and form colonies wherever food and shelter are available. 

Life Savers Animal Rescue feral cat information  and philosophy  

a blogger friend, Mishcat (Katie) recommends this link:  Alley Cat Allies for information on feral cat care and TNR (trap, neuter, release)

This post is for the meme Cats on Tuesday published by Gattina.  Go to Gattina's BLOG to see more cats or to link up yourself.

photos by me © 2007-2010

Sail Away (#1)

Cupecoy Beach in Sint Maarten, Netherland Antilles 

I MUST down to the seas again, to the lonely sea and the sky,

And all I ask is a tall ship and a star to steer her by,

And the wheel's kick and the wind's song and the white sail's shaking,

And a gray mist on the sea's face, and a gray dawn breaking.

 

I must down to the seas again, for the call of the running tide

Is a wild call and a clear call that may not be denied;

And all I ask is a windy day with the white clouds flying,

And the flung spray and the blown spume, and the sea-gulls crying. 

I must down to the seas again, to the vagrant gypsy life,

To the gull's way and the whale's way, where the wind's like a whetted knife;

And all I ask is a merry yarn from a laughing fellow-rover,

And quiet sleep and a sweet dream when the long trick's over.

 

~John Masefield

other Cupecoy posts:

Sunset over Cupecoy
St. Maarten (Cupecoy) 
St. Maarten (sunset)

photo by me © 2010