Joanne and I had an opportunity to visit Columbia and stay in the beautiful city of Cartagena. Our host was, Carmen, an exchange student from Joanne’s high school days. Carmen is now a trial attorney and her husband, Mauricio, is a retired admiral from the Colombian navy. They graciously provided an apartment for us right on the Caribbean Sea.

Cartagena is a mix of the old walled city and a very modern downtown. There will be more to follow from our visit, but here is a start.

Joanne and Carmen

The Old City (background) and the New from La Popa

Old and New

Earthenwork Fortress

Old City Entrance

Street

Many balconies in the Old City. They reminded me of New Orleans

Old Boomer (like me)

Window

Railing

Pitcher

Fishermen at Rest

Fishermen at Work

Also Fishing

Window 2

Dinner Companion

Windsurfers at Sunset

Palm Reflections in the Pool

On Saturday, Joanne and I took a trip to three Lakeshore sights to view the remaining ice buildup along the western shores of Lake Michigan. We stopped at South Haven, Douglas, and Holland. It was a delightful day. Here is some of what we saw:

Flutterbys are what I told my grandkids I called butterflies. It seems a better word to describe them to me.

Last week my spouse and I joined three of our grandkids, their parents, and one of our daughter-in-laws at the Frederick Meijer Gardens to see the coming out party of the butterflies (or flutterbys). These pictures are from that visit. They had butterflies in all stages of their metamorphosis from caterpillar to chrysalis to butterfly.

Many transgender people relate to the butterfly  image due to their own metamorphosis from who people thought they were through the transition to who they are. Whether transgender or not, I hope you enjoy these images.

caterpillar

chrysalis

wounded wing

orange

procreation

lunch break for cucumber

in sunlight

The mums are showing off their Fall plumage right outside the entrance to our condo. So is it Mums, Mum’s, or Mums’ the word? This photo image makes a nice Fall background for computers. Feel free,

My sister may be part Hobbit. Her house has a Hobbit look to it and her gardens (both floral and edible) occupy over 400 square feet. Due to a stroke when she was 50, my sister is unable to use power tools or even standing tools. She created and maintains her gardens with a spade on her hands and knees. She even turned over sod this way to add new garden space for fruits and vegetables. Typically she works in her gardens from 6 AM to noon, weather permitting. I am very proud of my sister.

I found myself thinking of textures and computer backgrounds during Wednesday’s photo outing. These photos show various textures, but also make good photo backgrounds. Feel free to make any your own computer background.

On Wednesday, Pat and I meandered along delightful gravel roads – including one Natural Beauty Road – on our way to Hidden Gardens and Tecumseh. The journey was even more fun than the destination. Here is some of what we saw:

A couple of monarch butterflies graced our Wednesday photo outing. The size and color of this royal milkweed butterfly make it the most recognizable of all butterflies. Perhaps that it is why it is king. Here are some images of this winged monarch.

The King

Ascending to the Throne

The Royal Robes on Display

The King’s Dragon

On the Throne

The Throne Room Hustle

The Kingdom

I wandered today in the spiders’ lair

and found an awesome beauty there.

On the way I saw monarchs in place

and glimpses of the queen’s white lace.

The field had snappings dragons and dragons flying.

I even saw a dandy lion.

Intricate crafting of spider webs

caught my breath.

A beautiful weaving designed for death.

Poems are made by fools like me,

but only God can make a spider.   🙂

After missing a few weeks because of travel and excessive heat, Pat and I hit the road yesterday and traveled the back roads. We saw three fawns, a juvenile (yearling), and two does. Here are some shots of other things we saw: