Scavenger Hunt 2014: Iceland

I love December!
But this one has been challenging 
due to illness ~
so I have had to dip into my archives
and choose some photos from Iceland last June.

Approaching Keflavík International Airport
Near Reykjavik 

December's List

1.  Where You Stood

A Hill Overlooking Geysir
in the Haukadalur Geothermal Area

I always have a compulsion to climb 

to the highest point in an area, if at all possible.

So while Terry 

ate a snack,

I was off and running.

From on top of the high hill, I had a panoramic view 

of the Geysir Hot Spring Area and the Geysir Center.

Some of the thermal activities you can see

are bubbling mud pits and active geysers,

like Strokkur which erupts every few minutes

sending a fountain of water 

100 feet or 30 meters into the air.

Geysir Hot Spring Area

Strokkur

Stepmap



2.  Down Low

The Faxi Waterfall
(also referred to as Fossin Faxi or Vatnsleysufoss in Icelandic)

Sometimes you can get so caught up in the big scenery

that you overlook the beauty up close.

This lovely wild patch of flowers 

was down low at my feet.

By the Faxi Waterfall

Faxi is located on the Golden Circle,
a popular tourist trail east of Reykjavik.
The waterfall is on the Tungufljót river.
Wikipedia


3.  A View from Here

Seljalandsfoss Waterfall

Seljalandsfoss Waterfall is located about 18.6 miles 

(30 kilometers) from Skógar.

  The river Seljalandsá drops 200 feet (60 meters) over the cliffs 

  of a former coastline to form Seljalandsfoss Waterfall.  Wikipedia

What makes it special is that you can walk behind it, 
as Terry is doing.

  

Wikimedia

4.   Front Door

Front Door, Reykjavik

5.  A Favorite Thing

Hallgrímskirkja and Leifr Eiricsson 
Reykjavik

  

Hallgrímskirkja took my breath away.  

It is a Lutheran parish church 

designed by Guðjón Samúelsson

and inspired by Iceland's columnar basalt.

The statue of Leif Ericson

was a gift from the USA to Iceland

in honor of the one thousandth anniversary

of Iceland's Althing in 1930. 

Columnar Basalt 

Reynisfjall Sea Cliffs, Near Vik

                  

  Columnar Basalt                                         Nature Imitated

Location of Vik

Wikimedia

6.   Sweet

Icelandic Ponies

7.  Christmas

Perhaps a Puffin for Under the Christmas Tree?

8. Decoration

A Vivid Decoration

Splashes of vivid green
brighten a stark landscape near
Sólheimajökull Glacier

9.  Tree

Laugavegur Street in the Heart of Reykjavik

Unusual trees (to me) line Laugavegur Street 

in downtown Reykjavik, 

along with shops, restaurants, cafes,
galleries, and museums.

10.  Tradition

Some Icelanders still believe in 

the Huldufólk or hidden people of Iceland. 

Stories about the Huldufólk appear 

in many traditional folk tales.

The hidden people live inside rocks,

on craggy hillsides, and in lava fields.

On Christmas Icelanders traditionally leave food

for the Huldufólk.

 A Landscape for the Traditional Huldufólk

11.  Black and White

Seastacks Near Vik, Iceland
This is a color photograph!

A Black and White World ~
In Living Color!

Vik, Iceland ~ With a Hint of Green

12.  Whatever You Want

Reykjavik Harbor
from Inside Harpa Concert Hall and Conference Centre

Hallgrímskirkja from Inside Harpa

National Geographic Student Expeditions

January's List:

Something new,  Landscape,  Words,  Cold,  Bottle,  Up high,
In the fridge,  Texture,  Hidden,  Blue,  Big,  and
What ever you want

Thanks to Jill (Greenthumb) 

and her Made with Love blog 

for setting up the scavenger hunt.

Happy 2015, Everyone!

The Lansdowne Letters: Word Pictures on an Inclement Day

wikimedia

Friday again!
Sometimes, especially in 
this busy holiday season, 
I’d love to have a lazy, inside day
with nothing intruding from outside.

No computer, no TV, no phone ~
curled up on the couch 
with a good book:  
PURE BLISS!!








My father's world moved at a slower pace
a half a century ago, as he showed
on Saturday, October 1, 1960 
when he wrote from Lansdowne House:

Evening Folks:
Today was 
sort of 
a lost cause 
as days go.  
It rained, 
or snowed, 
or tried to do one 
or the other 
most of the day.  

All in all, 
the weather was inclement.





Sunset over
Northern Ontario.
On route to Iceland
May 2014





Uno and I spent the morning in bed 
trying to persuade ourselves 
that we should get up 
and get our housecleaning done.  

We finally made it up for dinner, 
but not before we were fifteen minutes late.
  
The reason we were so reluctant, 
or perhaps I should say reasons, 
were first it was very cold, and second, 
we had been up very late last night.  

We didn’t get home from MacRaes' 
till about two o’clock in the morning.  
I am getting to be an awful 
early-to-bed, early-to-rise boy 
and can’t take these late nights like I used to.

Brian Booth

          We played bridge till 
          about eleven o’clock, 
          and then Brian, the clerk 
          at Hudson’s Bay, 
          dropped in.  

          After that we didn’t know 
          what to do 
          because only four 
          can play bridge.
  






Then I introduced those poor 
uninformed upper Canadians 
to Auction Forty-Five.  
They were quite taken with the game 
and insisted on playing it into the wee small hours. 

wikimedia

It’s funny about that game.  
I never found anyone 
outside the Maritimes 
who plays the game.  
Must be a Maritime game exclusively.








I hope that something happens 
to perk up the letter this week, 
for so far it strikes me as being very humdrum.  
However, if I can stand living it, 
I guess you can stand hearing about it.

We finally got around to doing 
our house cleaning this afternoon, 
and then I finished answering my mail, 
something I had started this morning in bed.  

After that, Uno slept, 
and I read some more of a book 
that I am engrossed in.  
The name of the book is Advise and Consent 
by Allen Drury. 

wikipedia

It is a novel about 
Washington politics, 
and it is absolutely fascinating.  
If you have a chance to beg, borrow, 
or steal the book do so.  

It is quite long, about 600 pages, 
but I feel that once you get into it, 
you will find it difficult to put down.  








It starts off kind of slowly, 
but it rapidly picks up interest.  
Actually, there is no great suspense 
like one encounters in a detective novel.  

It is just a novel about the machinations 
necessary to get a controversial bill 
or appointment through the U. S. Senate.  

What makes it so utterly fascinating 
is the exquisite word pictures 
of the various Senators and other assorted characters.  
The author makes them seem so human.

This evening Uno and Brian 
went up to the show at the hall¹, 
and I typed this 
and wrote a few other letters, 
private ones to Sara, 
and some official correspondence.




Well, that brings us to the end of a very uninteresting day.  
The bridge game was cancelled 
because Bill Mitchell was down with a cold.

Bye for now,
Love, Don


Notes (FB): 
                   hall¹ ~ Father Ouimet showed movies
                   in the rec hall on Wednesday and Saturday nights
                   for anyone in the community who wished to come.
                   The Three Stooges and Western movies
                   were very popular with the Indians.

I'll be taking a brief break 
from my Friday Northern posts
during Christmas week.
My next Northern post will be on
Friday, January 2, 2015 
Happy Holidays Everyone! ~ Fundy Blue.

One of Those Phone Calls

I just had one of those phone calls
from my sister, Barb.

Sisters ~ Louise and Barb

"Are you okay?" says she.
"I haven't heard from you,
and you haven't posted 
in almost a week ~
You haven't even 
answered your comments!"

Don't you love sisters?
They're the best!
And Barb was spot on.
I haven't been the best.

My Brother Roy
(A brothers is great too, even if he calls you "Weasel."

Just a pesky cold that won't quit.
I was on the mend 
until I pushed too hard
taking photographs of the 
Parker Christmas Carriage Parade.

I'd say "Live and learn!"
But I'm not so great at that!

My Sister Bertie

So I think I'll take a Christmas week
break from posting,
just to ease up a little
during this hectic time.

My Sister Donnie and I

My Northern post is scheduled to go tomorrow morning.  
Then on 
New Year's Eve
I'll publish my
December Scavenger Hunt.












By then I should be 
A-Okay!
That's the plan!

I'll pop by your blogs during this break
when and if I can.

Have a wonderful holiday time
with your family and friends!

See you soon!

We Five with Mom:

Barb, Roy, Mom and Me

Donnie and Bertie with her Dolly

Sioux Lookout, Ontario

Christmas 1962

Parker Christmas Carriage Parade 2014

If it's the second Saturday in December,
then it's time for one of my favorite holiday traditions:
the Parker Christmas Carriage Parade.






The Town of Parker and the Colorado Driving Society
present the parade annually,
and the theme for this year was "Let It Snow."

Fortunately, it didn't snow,
and the weather was mild,
which meant for an enjoyable time
for the parade watchers lining the streets.

What makes this parade special

is that it is an all-equestrian event

with participants from all across Colorado.

And of course there is music!

And Rodeo Queens!

The parade has horse-drawn carriages, 
wagons, surreys, and stagecoaches,
as well as riders and beautiful horses.

Parker's high school marching bands

are always a crowd favorite.

     

Santa and Mrs. Claus are always crowd pleasers

Following the parade there are lots of other things to enjoy,

including a farmer's market, a petting zoo,

pony rides, ice sculpting, visits with Santa,

and festive shops and restaurants in the town.

 

Thanks to all the special people 

who contribute their time and energy

to make this holiday event a great success.