The Exotic Niagara Falls

The Niagara Falls are voluminous waterfalls on the Niagara River, straddling the international border between the Canadian province of Ontario and the U.S. state of New York. The falls are 17 miles (27 km) north-northwest of Buffalo, New York and 75 miles (120 km) south-southeast of Toronto, Ontario, between the twin cities of Niagara Falls, Ontario, and Niagara Falls,New York.

Niagara Falls is composed of two major sections separated by Goat Island: Horseshoe Falls, the majority of which lies on the Canadian side of the border, and American Falls on the American side. The smaller Bridal Veil Falls also is located on the American side, separated from the main falls by Luna Island. Niagara Falls were formed when glaciers receded at the end of the Wisconsin glaciation (the last ice age), and water from the newly-formed Great Lakes carved a path through the Niagara Escarpment en route to the Atlantic Ocean. While not exceptionally high,the Niagara Falls are very wide. More than six million cubic feet (168,000 m³) of water falls over the crest line every minute in high flow,[1] and almost 4 million cubic feet (110,000 m³) on average. It is the most powerful waterfall in North America.[2]

The Niagara Falls are renowned both for their beauty and as a valuable source of hydroelectric power. Managing the balance between recreational, commercial, and industrial uses has been a challenge for the stewards of the falls since the 1800s.
Article Source : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Niagara_Falls

Spring is in the air

It must be spring because I am bringing out the pink heels , the sun is shining and things are looking good .

I am on day 10 of spring training , feeling sore muscles today ,but happily feeling a little trimmer , just a little but this takes baby steps , my goal is to create signifigant changes in 70 days , I am working hardcore like this is my day job , and part time job too .

The Excellent Places to Hike Around Las Vegas

Travel to Las Vegas and you'll likely hear plenty about nearby attractions like the Grand Canyon, the Hoover Dam, and Lake Mead. There are even places right on the Strip where you can take part in guided tours of these places. These highly publicized attractions are well worth it and have many interesting sights and are great ways to escape the lights of Vegas. But in addition to these high traffic tourist spots, there are a couple of not so highly publicized areas that are well worth your time, and cost no more than a rental car and a camera.

Red Rock Canyon is located about 15 miles west of the Strip. It is just outside of the city - you can take Charleston Boulevard all the way there. Charleston crosses the strip just north of the Stratosphere. Hop on Charleston and go west. Once you pass RedRock Casino and Highway 215, you're almost there.

When you first get to Red Rock, there is a visitor's center where you can get out and check out some of the history of the canyon. You can learn about the Native American's who first lived in the area as well as the animals and plants that populate the canyon.

The canyon itself is made up of red sandstone which is very striking in color when the sun bounces off the canyon walls. There are numerous hiking trails that you can stop and hike. They range from easy to difficult. The canyon is also popular to rock climbers, who can often be seen scaling the cliffs and rocks of the area.

From the visitors center you can take the scenic loop, which is a 13 mile loop that winds its way through the canyon with numerous places to stop to either hike or take pictures. One of the stops along the loop is the Ice Box Canyon trail which is a two mile moderately difficult hike that includes some rock scrambling. This trail works it's way back into a canyon which is known for the cooler winds that blow through the rocks. While hiking be sure to look up the canyon walls as you can often see the climbers scrambling up their lines.

Along with the desert vegetation you're likely to see different animals in the conservation area. Bighorn sheep and deer accompany the wild burros that roam the land. The burros are rather tame and will often come up to car windows looking for food - though it is recommended not to feed them as this increases their independence on the tourists of the area. A picture of a burro sticking his head in your car window is often a great picture to share with friends back home.

The great thing about Red Rock is that you can see the sights without ever leaving the air conditioning of your car - or if you're feeling a little adventurous you can venture out on one of the trails and make your way a little off the beaten path. Even though you are just outside the sprawling city of Las Vegas, a trip to RedRock is a great escape from the hustle and bustle of the city - a great way to take a vacation inside your vacation.

By: Patrick Treadway

Blue beadboard

Boring

Much less boring , don't you love my martha stewart glasses?

I haven't found any projects to get to lately but I have always wanted to back my open cabinet with beadboard , I had extra of laying around ,so there was no time like the present , a quick little makeover for the kitchen . I used the little sticky veneer rounds to cover all the holes for the adjustable shelves , it makes such a difference I think.

Turkey veg soup

Here's my turkey veg soup with a tiny bit of Parmesan and 10 corn chips {just 10 for a little crunch} and half a garlic pita , nice healthy, hearty low cal dinner . I have never used turkey before besides roasted turkey for the holiday's and it is good , I saw Kirstie Alley using it in a recipe on Rachel Ray the other day so I thought I would give it a try too , yummy glad I did.

We had my in-laws over for dinner yesterday and its the funniest thing , it seems the whole family is on a diet right now , some more strict than others , my MIL is on the Dr. Bernstein's diet which is very restrictive and highly monitored by the doctors , it was so against my nature to not make treats while they were here , but since we all seem to be on the journey of weight loss it was easy to stick to our diets { meaning healthy low fat foods and healthy portions} we had chicken picatta and steamed broccoli and brussel sprouts and cucumber slices for appetizers , I don't think we have ever all been co-ordinated on health kicks at the same time before boy was it easy to keep on track and not sabotage our progresses.
I suppose this is how it should be , eating healthy for the long term or course but it sure seems the treats go hand in hand with company don't they ....

2 cups of onions chopped and softened in 2 tbsp canola oil

3 cloves of garlic slices and sauteed with onions

1 lb of ground turkey browned

4 carrots sliced

3 cups of bok choy chopped

1 can of diced tomatoes

1 pkg of taco seasoning

salt, pepper and cumin to taste and parsley
1.5 tetra packs of veg stock

bring to boil and then simmer for 4 hours

add two cups of egg noodles in the last hour

Happy Monday

Arkansas' Natural Treasure: Maumelle Park in Amerika

Arkansas is not called, "The Natural State", for any old reason. The state of Arkansas is home to a fabulous wealth of mountainous landscapes, valleys, plains and woodlands. Positioned not far from the state capital of Little Rock is the Pinnacle Mountain Valley, a 2000 acre site situated around the foothills of the Ouachita Mountains. Within the beautiful Pinnacle Mountain Valley is the Maumelle State Park, one of Arkansas' natural treasures and also one of the top locations for visitors to the Little Rock area, especially for all nature-lovers.

At Maumelle Park, visitors will find a diversity of wildlife in a variety of habitats. The area may be of particular interest to bird watchers, as it attracts an exciting assortment of birds and wildlife. Hikers are also well catered for, with various hiking trails traversing the region, so visitors who enjoy nature walks will find Maumelle Park and the surroundingPinnacle Mountain Valley a delight; these trails include the Arkansas Trail through the Arkansas Arboretum (a 71-acre site dedicated to representing Arkansas ' six main natural divisions); the Kingfisher Trail next to the Little Maumelle River; and the 223-mile Ouachita National Recreation Trail.

With so many hiking trails to enjoy, visits to Maumelle Park can often exceed the remits of a day trip. But with over 129 campsites to choose from, all of which are equipped with water and electricity, visitors to Maumelle Park will find camping a comfortable experience. Maumelle's Parks campsites are also open to visitors to the neighbouringPinnacle Mountain State Park, which has no camping areas of its own. Its optimal site is situated just next to the Arkansas River which means that campers can enjoy beautiful vistas, as well as tables and grills nearby, bathhouses with hot water, a playground and a boat ramp for anyone wanting to sail or paddle through the park rather than hike.

However much you enjoy the beauty of Maumelle Park, camping may not always seem to be the most enjoyable mode of accommodation for a vacation, especially when with family members. Thankfully however, Maumelle Park is only a convenient fifteen minute drive away from the city of Little Rock where you can choose from a number of comfortable hotels. Maumelle Park's proximity to Little Rock means that visitors, if they choose to stay in the city, can enjoy the comforts of urban accommodation whilst revelling in the delights of the park's natural scenery and clean mountain air. Many of the hotels in Little Rock often offer package deals for larger parties, so that groups or families travelling together can often find some great deals to enjoy during their holiday to Maumelle Park.

By: Michael Hanna
Michael is a keen writer living in Edinburgh. Michael's Website: Belfast Airport Taxis.

I had to show those who saw my lovely hostas from yesterdays post what that spot looks like right now , barren dry awful and dead, but in oh about 6 weeks maybe I will have a lush full green garden again .

Today is a leap of faith for me , my youngest Sophie is on her second sleepover tonight , she is my peanut allergic child , and this is hard for me , but I know I need to let her do these things and the mom sounds very capable as she has a child allergic to bees and knows how to deal with a reaction .

So anyway Mason has let me play with her eyes , she has such pretty eyes , she doesn't really wear much make-up but it was fun for me to play a little , I think she is striking and beautiful she has beautiful features , when she came out { as a baby that is } she had such lovely full lips , still does , I wish she saw how beautiful she is , growing up is so hard sometimes , and boys her age can be cruel .

Nicaragua Travel Destination

Wedge-shaped Nicaragua may be the largest country in Central America, but it is also one of the least visited. Even after more than a decade of peace, Nicaragua is synonymous in the minds of many with civil war; this reputation, when coupled with the dilapidated infrastructure of a country that has fought its way not only through a bloody conflict but also an American economic blockade, scares many off. Still, many travelers who spend any time there find - much to their surprise - thatNicaragua is their favorite country in the isthmus. Perhaps because it doesn't yet fully cater for the tourist experience, Nicaragua is an incorrigibly vibrant and individualistic country, with plenty to offer travelers prepared to brave Nicaragua's superficial obstacles of economic chaos, cracked pavements and crammed public transport.

Just keeping on

{this photo taken last summer }
At this time of the year when the snow is all gone and the air is crisp and cold and the garden just looks like a mess it is so hard to remember what it looks like when it comes back to life.

{this photo taken last summer too}

Especially this spot , its looks right now like there is no hope for it , but this will happen again , now that I am reminded I do have faith , after all I see the tulips popping up already .

I am now remembering the beautiful peonies my sister in law Janice surprised me with , these were fresh from her garden.

I remember back to last June when we travelled to Orlando and vacationed during a most uncomfortable heat wave , it was nice to get away but lesson learned we don't travel to hot locations during the summer months , especially my husband can't handle it he's hot in our Canadian winters, he did his best to tolerate the heat , but when he slept nightly on the floor right next to the air conditioner by choice you know how much he must have been suffering .

Doesn't that just warm your heart , a relaxed and sleepy puppy .

Happy weekend everyone.

I have completed my first full week of workouts and improved diet , things are going well , but the journey has just begun , anyone have any tips to keep motivated that have worked for you , I'd love to hear them , I am feeling stressed lately and been getting stress headaches for about a month now , so I need to keep those factors at bay to keep me on track ,there is no giving up, there is just keeping on .

Colosseum in Roma, Another Pictures

Look the exotic Colosseum Pictures

The Best Travel Destinations of history Rhodes in Greece

ACROPOLIS OF LINDOS Lindos is its rock
This rock, which rises to 116 m. forms the finishing touch to the landscape of Lindos, standing dry and imposing in its bareness and surrounded on all sides by the sea, so that Lindos ,may rejoice in the ocean, in the words of a hellenistic epigram. Lindos does not seem to have been particularly important in the earlier periods, though sporadic finds of the Neolithic period and the Bronze Age have been discovered on theacropolis. According to legend, the foundation of the sanctuary of Athena Lindia goes back to the Mycenaean period, and Mycenaean finds have been yielded by cemeteries in the broader area of Lindos. The Archaic period (7th-6th c BC) was a golden age for Lindos, which played a leading role in the Greek colonisation movement, its most important foundation being Gela in Sicily. The 6th c BC was dominated by the figure of a moderate tyrant, Kleoboulos who ruled Lindos for many years, and was Included amongst the �seven sages� of the ancient world.
During his rule, the Archaic temple of Athena was built on the site of an earlier structure, and the acropolis received its first monumental form. The Persian advance and later the merger of the three old cities into the new city of Rodos (408 BC) led to a diminution in the importance of Lindos as a political and economic power.
It nevertheless continue to be an important centre, focused on the famous sanctuary of Athena, which received its final monumental form in the Hellenistic period and became the leading sanctuary on the island. The acropolis was used as a fortress in antiquity, as well as In Byzantine times, in the period of the Knights of St. John, and in that of Ottoman rule.
Today, the ascent to the acropolis is still by the same steep road as in antiquity. After the first outer entrance to the medieval fortress, and before beginning to climb the large stairway that leads up to the Administrative Building ofthe Knights, we encounter two important monuments on our left a semicircular Hellenistic exedra, and, next to it, a depiction of the prow of an ancient ship carved in relief in therock , which formed the base of a statue of Agesandros son of Milkion, the work of the sculptor Pythokritos in the early 2nd c. BC The fortification of Lindos bythe Knights goes back to the 14th-15th c AD.
Passing through the ground - floor of the Knights Administrative Build Building, we emerge into a large square, which occupies the lowest level of the acropolis and was full of votive offerings in ancient times. A row of vaulted structures, built in the l st c. BC, stood on either side of a stairway leading up to the level of the large Hellenistic stoa, built ca. 200 BC. The large stairway behind the stoa leads up to the highest level where are to be found the Propylaia and thetemple of Athena, which formed the main sacred precinct.The temple was completely isolated from the outside world by a wall with five entrances. In front of and behind it were stoas with rooms. The inner stoa flanked a courtyard in front of thetemple, in which there was probably an altar. The temple , which measures about 22x8 m is a Doric, amphiprostyle tetrastyle structure. It was constructed in the 4th c. BC or in the early Hellenistic period on the site of Kleoboulos�temple, which had burned down in 392 BC. It stands at the highest point of the rock and was the culmination of the stepped vista offered by the stoa and the Propylaia to anyone ascending to the acropolis.

From the highest point of the acropolis can be seen the lower city, in which the most important monuments still visible are the theatre, the Tetrastoon and the Archokrateion at Kambana, a monumental tomb of an important Lindian family. The Byzantine church of the Panayia is also in the lower city. it was built It In the 15th c. and decorated with wall-paint paintings in the 17th and 18th c. The traditional settlement of Lindos is in a very good state of preservation. A large number of archontika (mansions) survive, the most Important of them from the 17th c., indicating that Lindos was a flourishing naval power in the early period of Turkish rule, as indeed throughout its entire history.
The Lindos Castle is found on the top of a 116m rock and serves as an entrance point to the Acropolis and the temple of Athena and once was used as the administrative building of the Knights. Today, the ascent to the acropolis Is still by the same steep road as in antiquity. After the first outer entrance to the medieval fortress, and before beginning to climb the large stairway that leads up to the Administrative Building ofthe Knights, we encounter two important monuments on our left a semicircular Hellenistic exedra, and, next to it, a depiction of the prow of an ancient ship carved in relief in therock, which formed the base of a statue of Agesandros son of Milkion, the work of the sculptor Pythokritos in the early 2nd c. BC

The fortification of Lindos by the Knights goes back to the 14th-15th c AD. Passing through the ground - floor of the Knights Administrative Build Building, we emerge into a large square, which occupies the lowest level of the acropolis and was full of votive offerings in ancient times.
http://www.faliraki-info.com/lindos/history.htm

A new focus

This photo expresses how I feel about this next little journey I will be on for oh the rest of my life , its an up hill battle for me , I wish I was one of those naturally thin people , do they really exist?

I don't focus too much on myself on my blog , in fact in my life I don't focus on myself , first comes family and then my passion for decorating , over the last two years I have really trucked through one project to another and made a huge difference in the house that is for sure , it is a home full of character and I am very proud of that . As a mom of two lovely growing girls I am busy all the time , keeping things running the way I think they should be.

But somehow as many of us do I have forgotten to really take care of myself , everything else has come first , so I have decided since the house is almost finished and I have no money to complete the two biggies left , the basement and backyard , that is is time to take care of me , to makeover me , to get fit and healthy , to really put in the work that is needed . I sure wish I was one of those tall women who could eat anything and never gain an ounce , I am in awe of those mystical creatures , turns out I need to work at it , much to my dismay ..... who really likes to workout and watch what they eat .... well hopefully I will again .

There is no better motivtion that impending spring and summer right around the corner .

I am putting myself through a sort of spring training .

Daily workouts consisting of a mix of cardio , weights , gym visits, yoga and walking , whatever I feel like that day.

I am now keeping a food blog diary , private of course, that is the only way I have found to really keep track of how I am doing .

Today is day three of full force really conciously working at it , my legs feel like they are made of lead , and I need to get used to my appropriate portions , it does take some work doesn't it .

The sun is shining , things are popping up out of the earth , trees are budding , the perfect time to shake off the winter blahs and get out there again .

Think its time for a walk.

Exotic Fulmer Falls at Pennsylvania

A waterfall is usually a geological formation resulting from water, often in the form of a stream, flowing over an erosion-resistant rock formation that forms a nickpoint, or sudden break in elevation.Some waterfalls form in mountain environments in which the erosive water force is high and stream courses may be subject to sudden and catastrophic change. In such cases, the waterfall may not be the end product of many years of water action over a region, but rather the result of relatively sudden geological processes such as landslides, faults or volcanic action. In cold places, snow will build up in winter and melt and turn into a waterfall in summer

Milford Sound at New Zealand : Best Travel Destinations

Milford Sound (Piopiotahi in Māori) is a fjord in the south west of New Zealand's South Island, within Fiordland National Park and the Te Wahipounamu World Heritage site. It has been judged the world's top travel destination in an international survey, and is acclaimed as New Zealand's most famous tourist destination. Rudyard Kipling had previously called it the eighth Wonder of the World.
Etymology
Milford Sound is named after Milford Haven in Wales, while the Cleddau River which flows into the sound is also named for its Welsh namesake. The Māori named the sound Piopiotahi after the thrush-like piopio bird, now extinct. Piopiotahi means "a single piopio", harking back to the legend of Māui trying to win immortality for mankind - when Maui died in the attempt, a piopio was said to have flown here in mourning.
Geography

Milford Sound runs 15 kilometres inland from the Tasman Sea and is surrounded by sheer rock faces that rise 1,200 metres or more on either side. Among the peaks are The Elephant at 1,517 m (4,977 ft), said to resemble an elephant's head,[5] and Lion Mountain, 1,302 m (4,271 ft), in the shape of a crouching lion.[6] Lush rain forests cling precariously to these cliffs, while seals, penguins, and dolphins frequent the waters.
Climate

With a mean annual rainfall of 6,813 mm on 182 days a year,[7] a high level even for the West Coast, Milford Sound is known as the wettest inhabited place in New Zealand and one of the wettest in the world. Rainfall can reach 250 mm during a span of 24 hours.[8] The rainfall creates dozens of temporary waterfalls (as well as a number of major, more permanent ones) cascading down the cliff faces, some reaching a thousand metres in length. Smaller falls from such heights may never reach the bottom of the sound, drifting away in the wind.

Accumulated rainwater can at times cause portions of the rain forest to lose their grip on the sheer cliff faces, resulting in tree avalanches into the sound. The regrowth of the rain forest after these avalanches can be seen in several locations along the sound.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/

Inspiration

Doors painted with color add personality

Horizontal planks enhance stairs

My flat cupcakes thrown in because they are yummy and are very right for spring

Simple white tile work used to enhance a tub shower combo

My favourite marble tiles

Thinking out of the box here makes for a standout bathroom

Hidden storage , brilliant

What a dreamy laundry room , soft blue , beadboard and loads of custom cabinets and drying racks and sunshine what could be more perfect

Storage , baskets and benches , always appreciated of course

All of these have inspired me , even just for day dreaming , I hope they bring you inspiration today also

{photo sources unknown}

The Italian coastline Shot

Arriving into the little village of Barissa just off the Italian coastline, I knew this was the perfect place for me to unwind and relax for a few days after spending to much time in big cities. This place is a very small village in the hills with only 1 shop and 1 restaurant and the mandatory church which rings the bell right on each hour including at ridiculous times of the morning. The few days I spent here were some of my favourite days of the trip so far and was a welcome escape from the hustle and bustle of Rome. While the area is still very heavily touristed this time of year was quite a good time to go as the weather was still perfect yet the summer crowds were long gone. The first day was spent hiking between each village, walking along the cliff faces that lined the bluest ocean ive seen. Each village was the typicalItalian style village and it was a good opportunity to see people going about their everyday lives. The hike from one end to the other is only about 14km and is not all that difficult but makes you earn that beer at the end. For the other days of my stay I would get the train to one of the villages and just hang out for the day eating pizza and gelati and just watching the world go by. Saw an amazing sunset on the final day which was the perfect way to end my stay in this beautiful part of the world. Before I finish this entry I have to say that this is a must stop for anyone going to Italy but I think in summer the crowds would be to much to handle and would really take away from the experience. Speaking of crowds im off to Venice for a while before its time to take on the eastern European countrieshttp://www.travelpod.com/