Standing Into Danger: 2024

Friday, December 20, 2024

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas to all of you celebrating this special holiday.

For me it is not just a family holiday, it is a religious day as well.

I love the story of the birth of Christ.

I've been fortunate to see and hear many beautiful pieces of art and music about His birth.

I've seen the first and last by Giotto in person (I have a fondness for Giotto).

The two middle pieces I would love to see, but likely won't.

Madonna di san giorgio alla costa

by Giotto ~ Between 1295 and 1300

The church of San Giorgio alla Costa

Florence, Italy

Wikipedia

Painting Hung in the Chapel of the Shepherds' Field

I'd love to see this for real, but likely never will.

Beit Sahour, southeast of Bethlehem, West Bank, Palestine.

Flickr ~ Laurence OP ~ License

The Adoration of the Shepherds

by Gerard van Honthorst (1622)

Wallraf-Richartz-Museum & Fondation Corboud

Cologne, Germany

Wikimedia

No. 17 Scenes from the Life of Christ: 1. Nativity

by Giotto (between 1304 and 1306)

The Scrovegni Chapel

Padua, Italy

Wikipedia

And here is one of my favorite Christmas songs about the birth of Jesus.

It's by written and sung by Canada's and Prince Edward Island's Lennie Gallant.

The Innkeeper ~ YouTube

I'm linking to Rain's Thursday Art and Dinner Date, Tom's Aloha Friday, and Nicole's Friday Face Off.

For Rain: Christmas Fun ~ Christmas 1958

Barbie, Roy, Me, Donnie, and Gretchen

(Bertie was a few months away from entering this world.)

Margaretsville, Nova Scotia, Canada

December 24,1959

For Tom: Love is Aloha ~ Our Niece Sara and her love Justen got engaged this week!

Wishing you aloha, Sara and Justen!

Prince George, British Columbia, Canada

For Nicole: Christmas Cookies and Chicken Pox ~ Our great nephew Jackson came down with chicken pox, but that didn't stop him from making cookies.

Jackson making my chocolate chip cookies.

United Kingdom

2024

Photo by Krista Mundry

Thrilled? Faces ~ Donnie and I, Christmas past.

Donnie (back) and Me (front) Tobogganing!

Calgary, Alberta, Canada

December 24, 2016

Photo by M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue

However you celebrate, enjoy! ❤️❤️❤️

Till next time ~

Fundy Blue

Standing Into Danger https://selkiegrey4.blogspot.com

My next post will be

Friday, December 27h. 🤞

On the Bay of Fundy
© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue
All Rights Reserved

Friday, December 13, 2024

Fremont Street Never Gets Old!

The holidays are such a busy time!

I can't believe that Christmas is less than two weeks away.

We had a good time in Vegas for five nights, spending time with Terry's best friend.

Since then I've been getting ready for the holidays and our upcoming renovations.

No big tree this year, but still lots of fun.

Best Buds ~ Jon and Terry

Laughlin, Nevada, USA

January 9, 2017

My post is mostly photos this week, and I was so focused on

capturing different things, that I forgot to get pictures of Jon, Terry, and me. 😵‍💫

Most of my writing time is going into working on my manuscript.

That makes me very, very happy, even when I'm tearing my hair out.

So here are a few pictures. I always have pictures!

Glaciated Mountains and Valleys of Colorado

If you look carefully, you can see three levels of valleys scoured by former glaciers:

high near the tops of mountains, incised into a middle level,

and low across the bottom of the photo.

December 4, 2024

A Fremont Street Busker Takes a Break

Las Vegas, Nevada, USA

December 3, 2024

A Unique Ride

Las Vegas, Nevada, USA

November 30, 2024

We Are Not Alone!

Las Vegas, Nevada, USA

November 30, 2024

A Favorite Band ~ Stays in Vegas, LV

Las Vegas, Nevada, USA

December 1, 2024

A Lighting Guy Works in a Set While the Band Plays

Las Vegas, Nevada, USA

December 1, 2024

A Podcaster for VSiN Records Live in the D Hotel & Casino

VSiN is a Sports Betting Network.

Las Vegas, Nevada, USA

December 1, 2024

Watching the Broncos Play on Monday Night Football

CIRCA has the biggest sportsbook in the world.

Las Vegas, Nevada, USA

December 2, 2024

Terry Has a Nice Win

CIRCA's Sportsbook.

Las Vegas, Nevada, USA

December 2, 2024

Some of Fremont Street's Street Cleaners

They take pride in what they do.

Las Vegas, Nevada, USA

December 3, 2024

A Family Takes in the Sights

Las Vegas, Nevada, USA

December 3, 2024

DC (Daniel Conway) on the Drums

Alter Ego LV

Las Vegas, Nevada, USA

November 30, 2024

I love to watch these horses run with their races projected on a screen.

The D Hotel & Casino

Las Vegas, Nevada, USA

December 1, 2024

The One Photo of Me ~ LOL

Las Vegas, Nevada, USA

November 30, 2024

I visit Tempe Elephant Park almost every day.

I like to have this camera streaming on my computer when I'm not using it.

I was stunned when I looked at it on December 6th and saw a new road!

What? Why?

Tembe Elephant Park

Emangusi, South Africa

December 6, 2024

Photo by M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue

Lions Taking It Easy

On the livestream I could see them breathing!

Tembe Elephant Park

Emangusi, South Africa

December 8, 2024

Photo by M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue

I'm linking to Rain's Thursday Art and Dinner Date, Tom's Aloha Friday, and Nicole's Friday Face Off.

For Rain: Candy Cane ~ Last Christmas Eve we visited La Fonda on the Plaza and spotted this gingerbread house festooned with candy canes.

An Over-the-Top Gingerbread House

La Fonda on the Plaza

Sante Fe, New Mexico, Canada

December 24, 2023

For Tom: Crowd-Pleasing Aloha ~

A Street Cleaner Spreads Aloha, Delighting the Crowd

Joining in with Rich Embry of Alter Ego

They enjoy making people feel happy,

and the Fremont Street Bands are generous about being upstaged.

Las Vegas, Nevada, USA

November 30, 2024

For Nicole: Concentration ~ Sara puts on a vibrant display.

Sara Pedraza of Stays in Vegas, LV, Concentrating on a Move

Las Vegas, Nevada, USA

December 1, 2024

Photo by M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue

A Magnificent Face ~ I love Tembe's Lions!

An Easy Way to Get Close ~ Look at Those Claws!

Tembe Elephant Park

Emangusi, South Africa

December 8, 2024

Photo by M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue

Have a great weekend!

Till next time ~

Fundy Blue

Standing Into Danger https://selkiegrey4.blogspot.com

My next post will be

Friday, December 20th. 🤞

On the Bay of Fundy
© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue
All Rights Reserved

Wednesday, December 4, 2024

IWSG: Wednesday, December 4, 2024 ~ A Cliffhanger?

It's the first Wednesday of the month,
the day that members of the
Insecure Writer's Support Group
share their writing struggles
and writing successes
and offer their encouragement
and support to fellow writers.

To visit the IWSG website, click here.

To become a member of the IWSG, click here.

Our wonderful co-hosts who are volunteering today,
along with IWSG Founder Alex J. Cavanaugh are

Ronel, Deniz, Pat Garcia, Olga Godim, and Cathrina Constantine.

Stop by their posts and thank them for hosting. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Every month the IWSG announces a question that members can answer
with advice, insight, a personal experience, or a story in their IWSG posts.

Or, the question can inspire members
if they aren't sure what to write about on IWSG Day.

Remember the question is optional.

This month's featured question is:

Do you write cliffhangers at the end of your stories? Are they a turn-off to you as a writer and/or a reader?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Happy December, Everyone!

December is truly a time of festivity around the world,

as Christianity, Judaism, Buddhism, and Paganism celebrate the holidays.

Christmas (Dec. 25) is one of the biggest global holidays,

a religious day for Christians celebrating the birth of Christ,

with many non-Christians joining in the festivities by giving gifts and feasting.

A Christmas Feast with Our Family

Deirdre, Kevin, Conor, Cathal, Noreen, Me, and Terry

Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA

December 25, 2023

During Hanukkah (December 18-26) the Jewish people honor

the 2nd century BC rededication of the Temple in Jerusalem after it was liberated

from foreign occupation by a small number of Jewish fighters.

Buddhists mark the enlightenment of Siddhartha Gautama,

the historical Buddha, on Bodhi Day (Dec. 8).

Winter Solstice at Stonehenge

by Vicky WJ

Wikipedia

And during Yule (Dec. 21-Jan.1), Wiccans and Neo-Pagans

celebrate the winter solstice and the return of longer days.

Wherever you live, whatever your traditions, I hope you have a wonderful month!

Wright Library

Regarding this month's IWSG question, yes I do like cliffhangers,

and my favorites are the ones occurring in The Lord of the Rings trilogy.

Cliffhangers are what keep me up reading late into the night,

and they often motivate me to buy new books in a series.

It's that compelling need to know!

Typically the type of writing I do does not lend itself to cliffhangers,

but if I can find a way to work one or more in, I include it.

Wishing each of you a fun IWSG Day,

and a big thank you to our awesome co-hosts.

Have a healthy, happy, and creative December!

I'll be visiting around after I exit Cloud Land.

Take care!

Till next time ~

Fundy Blue

Standing Into Danger https://selkiegrey4.blogspot.com

My next post will be December 13th!🤞

Friday, November 29, 2024

A Little Post-Thanksgiving Fun!

American Thanksgiving was yesterday.

I hope that everyone who celebrated it had a happy and safe time.

Terry and I had a quiet celebration and a small meal at home,

because today we are in Cloud Land again.

The bad thing about our small meal is that

we have no Thanksgiving leftovers to indulge in.

Are you "yay" or "nay" on Thanksgiving leftovers?

I'm a definite "yay." I love them!

Especially a big, fat sandwich stuffed with turkey, dressing, and cranberry sauce.

So, in honor of Thanksgiving leftovers, I'm sharing a little post-Thanksgiving humor.

If you don't get the last funny, this will video will explain it.

If nothing else, its happy beat can lift your spirits!

Megan Trainor ~ All About That Base

YouTube

And because I'll forever be grateful for all the laughs Grumpy Cat has given me:

I'm linking to Rain's Thursday Art and Dinner Date, Tom's Aloha Friday, and Nicole's Friday Face Off.

For Rain: Packages ~ I never know what to expect when I search my photos for one of Rain's themes. For packages my search yielded "packages containing the embalmed organs ... ."

Packages ~ Egyptian Embalming Practices

The British Museum

London, England, UK

June 3, 2014

Wooden Statuettes of the Sons of Horus

Imsety (a man), Hapy (a baboon), Duamutef (a jackal), and Qebhsennuef (a falcon)

The British Museum

London, England, UK

June 3, 2014

For Tom: Aloha in a package ~ Who's in the package? It's Laki (Lucky), a Scottish Fold kitty at Cat Café MOFF at the International Marketplace in Waikiki.

For a little kitty aloha visit Cat Café MOFF

The International Marketplace

Honolulu, O'ahu, Hawai'i

March 5, 2024

For Nicole: Smoke ~ In memory of dear Smoke, a beloved pet belonging to my sister Barb, loved and enjoyed by our family. She died two years ago, but Smoke is not forgotten.

A Beautiful Kitty ~ Smoke

Calgary, Alberta, Canada

July 15, 2015

Photo by M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue

And a favorite turkey face:

An Annual Thanksgiving Visitor

Aurora, Colorado, USA

November 25, 2021

Photo by M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue

Have a great weekend!

Till next time ~

Fundy Blue

Standing Into Danger https://selkiegrey4.blogspot.com

My next post will be

Wednesday, December 4th. 🤞

Books Read in 2024

"5 Languages of Love: The Secret to Love That Lasts" by Gary Chapman
"At Home in the World" by Joyce Maynard
"Cockroaches" by Jo Nesbo
"Death's End" by Cixin Liu
"Eruption" by Michael Crichton and James Patterson
"In Darkness" by L. Diane Wolfe
"In My Time of Dying" by Sebastian Junger
"Nothing to Fear" by Julie McFadden, RN
"The Bat" by Jo Nesbo
"The Dark Forest" by Cixin Liu
"The Frozen River" by Ariel Lawhon
"The Last to Vanish" by Megan Miranda
"The Montauk Monster" by Hunter Shea
"The Road to Character" by David Brooks
"The Song of Achilles" by Madeline Miller
"The Twist of a Knife" by Anthony Horowitz
"The Uninhabital Earth: Life After Warming" by David Wallace-Wells
"The Women" by Kristin Hannah
"Where the Crawdads Sing" by Delia Owens
"Writing the Shadow" by Joanna Penn

Pages

Friday, December 20, 2024

Merry Christmas!

Friday, December 13, 2024

Fremont Street Never Gets Old!

Wednesday, December 4, 2024

IWSG: Wednesday, December 4, 2024 ~ A Cliffhanger?

Friday, November 29, 2024

A Little Post-Thanksgiving Fun!