While visiting the ridiculously over the top city of Las Vegas, Nevada, I was introduced to some of the most stunning sights I have ever seen in my life...

No, it was not the buffets, or the people lined up like vultures ready to pounce on the food in front of them... nor was it the hotels and theme casinos, although they were definitely spectacular in their own man-made way...

It was the national parks in the area surrounding Vegas that really captured my hear... Red Rock Canyon, and Zion National Park... We were blessed with spectacular weather, and the combination of the two left me photographically frustrated... there was no way I could capture the arresting beauty and the magnitude of the views I saw in those couple days... but I'll leave you with hints of the incredible scenes that surrounded me.

Man-made vs. Nature...

The coast was just not ready....

... for the snow!  Just check out my garden for proof.  The Calla Lilies were still attempting to grow, the roses are sprouting new buds, the banana tree was still standing tall and proud, and well my mind is drawing a blank to some of the obvious names of the other plants trying to deny that winter was on its way, but like usual, the pictures will tell the story better than I will. 

Mountains...

From the world class city of Manhattan to the mountains of interior BC in about 12 hours or less... what a crazy opportunity to simply experience the best of both worlds... and isn't it those adventures that simply seem to make life richer!  Here are a couple of my favourite mountain top moments...

Manhattan

Besides the necessary quick nap and shower after a long (LONG) red eye flight across the country, and the giant cup of coffee I likely couldn't have lived without that day... I found my feet quickly taking me to my favourite place in the city... Central Park. There is simply something amazing about this massive park located near the centre of the island.  It is an oasis in the midst of busy New York life.  Neither my pictures nor nor words will ever adequately capture the uniqueness of NYC phenomenon, and try as I might day after day, I just could not get enough of both this park and the city.

the kidlets!

New Camera!

I got a new camera... I figured I was beginning to outgrow my old one and it was time to move onto something not pink!  That said, I took my new camera and took pictures of pink things...