Z is for Zinnias


I think Zinnias are my all time favorite flowers. What's yours?

I can't believe this ends the A-Z Blogging Challenge, and I can't believe I made it through the whole thing! I've had a lot of fun with it and it's been so nice meeting so many new fun bloggers. Here's to all who made it through - cheers!

Linking this post to Color Carnival

Y is for Yummy


Come on over to Seaside Simplicity for my latest super simple yummy treats!

X Marks the Spot

"Letterboxing is an intriguing pastime combining navigational skills and rubber stamp artistry in a charming "treasure hunt" style outdoor quest. A wide variety of adventures can be found to suit all ages and experience levels."


  X marks the spot!

Years ago my daughter (in the photos above) introduced me to Letterboxing. It was a hobby of hers and we just happened to be going somewhere where a box was hidden - Historic Spanish Point in Osprey Florida.

It turned out to be a lot of fun! It felt risky being all sneaky and having lookouts to be sure nobody saw us. Of course we weren't doing a thing that would have got us in any kind of trouble, but it still held that kind of "not getting caught" excitement!


I haven't continued it after that day but I can definitely see why people enjoy playing. It was very popular at one time, I wonder if anyone still plays - anyone else ever heard of it?

Go HERE to read about Letterboxing in North America or HERE for general info. Maybe you will want to join in the Letterboxing fun!

What more do you expect for the letter X?!  :-P

V is for Vending Machine


I thought this was really odd even here in Florida, but then again I don't fish. Maybe these machines are a normal thing that I just haven't seen around. It doesn't seem likely since I've lived in Florida my entire life. Anyone else know?

U is for Umbrella


Umbrella and other images in the paradise I call home!

Happy Easter

I've been tagged by Lyndsey at The Tiny Skillet to join the Easter party by uploading at least 5 of my food photos with links to the recipes to bring along to the party.

Here are some of my favorites...
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You can't have a party without these savory shrimp puffs!
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Colorful back bean and corn salsa served with tortilla chips is great for a party buffet during any season!
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 This loaded baked potato salad makes a great side dish.
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How about a nice slice of key-lime cheesecake pie for dessert?


And there there's my latest and greatest addition to the Easter buffet...


 Of course everyone should have these cool stuffed carrots at their Easter party!

There you have it, my contributions for the party. I hope someone remembers to bring the ham! If you'd like to play along consider yourself tagged!

I have an Easter party in full swing over at Seaside Simplicity too. Come on over and bring along your Easter favorites!

Linking this post to:
Weekend Eating ~ Let's Do Brunch

T is for Tempting Tasty Treats


I made these tempting tasty treats for my boys for Easter. I gave up sweets for lent so I can't tell you how they are - the boys sure seemed to enjoy them! If you'd like to know how to make them the recipe is posted at my food blog Seaside Simplicity. 

See you all for the final week of the A-Z Blogging Challenge next week. Have a Happy Easter!

Linking up to: Shadow Shots

S is for Silly Scary Skeletons


Another great piece of artwork by one of the high school students!

R is for Renovations

This is a little peek at what the last few months of my life has looked like...


Ugh, still not finished!

Q is for Queen

My kitty Missy is the one we refer to as the queen. 

Here's Missy now...


Here she was when she was a baby - no wonder she became the queen...


Have you ever seen a more adorable kitty?!

Linking up to:
Weekend Cat Blogging and Camera Critters


P is for Popcorn


Life in Florida!

Source - received in email

O is for Orange


Orange construction cones that is!

This is a special post for my blogging buddy Iggy. If you don't already know Iggy you should head over to his blog Intense Guy to meet him - find out what started his orange cone obsession while you're there! I can't drive through a construction zone without thinking about my pal Iggy.

Iggy, I think we need your help here. It looks to me like this could be a case of bullying!

N is for Nautilus


Take a look inside a Nautilus shell - beautiful isn't it? 
Have a great weekend!

M is for Monochrome Memories


Some of my favorite monochrome shots from my blog archives.

L is for Life

 
This says it all!

credit - source unknown

K is for Kitty


Yes, it's another kitty - and there are more! 

This one is the most recent addition to my kitty family. She showed up one day a couple of months ago and never left. We call her Grungy. Poor baby. It's tough being a white kitty in the outside world!

By the way, she is no relation to my other white kitty Chewy the crazy cardboard and plastic eating cat that loves to play fetch!

I is for Indian Blankets


These pretty flowers called Indian Blankets grow wild all over my yard and throughout the neighborhood. I've posted photos of them many times over the years, couldn't resist once again for the letter I. I couldn't buy flowers as pretty as these. 

I am very lucky to have them too since I don't have much of a green thumb and have a husband who puts off mowing until we can't see the house when we pull up in the driveway - Ok, I'm exaggerating a little, but only a little! Anyway, the flowers are gorgeous aren't they?!

Crazy Cat!

Since we don't post on Sundays for the A-Z Challenge I thought I'd share a photo I took today of my crazy cat. I just can't stop laughing about it. This cat is not quite right!


Linking up to Camera Critters. 
Head over to post your favorite critter photos!

H is for Healthy

I know you want to make this healthy and simple 30 minute meal don't you?
Visit my food blog Seaside Simplicity to see how I made it.
Have a great weekend!

G is for Ganache

 Chocolate Ganache Cake
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I gave up sweets for lent - and alcohol (what was I thinking?!!)
So why do I torture myself by bringing things like this home for my family?
Guess this makes me the Great Generous Ganache Giver  ;-)

F is for Fear


I saw this artwork on display at the school where I work, created by a student of course. I couldn't pass up the opportunity to take a shot to show it off for the letter F today. I can't help but wonder what was in the artists mind when it was created. I wonder if he or she is in fear of something? Something personal or a general statement of how they view of our world?

Here's a list of fears, you have to check these out! I just couldn't believe some of them. I got a good laugh out of a few, not that anyone's fears are a funny thing but some of them are just unimaginable.

The one I got the biggest laugh out of was Sesquipedalophobia. Can you guess what that's a fear of? It's a fear of long words! Why would they make that the longest word on the list of fears? That's just mean - funny but mean!

What do you fear? You aren't afraid to tell me are you? ;-)

E is for Eupathy

I want to say today just how excited I am to be playing along on this A-Z Blogging Challenge. I've done these types of challenges before. I'm a regular participant in Nabolopomo each year along with other challenges, but this one has been different for me. This challenge has introduced me to a whole new world of bloggers. I don't mean just meeting new people, I do that on blogs all the time. This is different, it's been comparable to leaving home and vacationing in a fun and exciting new place!

When I first joined this challenge and started clicking around it seemed everyone participating was a writer. I knew this challenge was open to each individuals imagination not just for writers, but for just a few minutes I thought maybe I had made a mistake, that this wasn't the right challenge for me. As I said in a comment to someone today, I'm not a writer, I just like to talk a lot and choose to do that through my fingers on the keyboard - but a writer? No way!

I'd just like to say thank you to all the new visitors and new followers from the challenge, and thank you for making me feel comfortable and welcome in your writer's world of blogs. I am enjoying your blogs so much! Of course a thank you goes out to all who have stopped by and to all of my regular readers for sticking with me through the good times and bad, the blog breaks and returns, as well as my constant bouncing from one blog to the other.

I've made some lifelong friends through my blogs over the years. My blogs are where I come to relax and unwind. It's where I share my passion for photography, cooking and life in general. Some people think it's weird, but it's also a big part of my social life, not out of necessity but out of my own preference and enjoyment (I finally squeezed in another E word!), It's simply one of my favorite things to do!


D is for Delicious Dinner


Head over to my food blog Seaside Simplicity if you want to make it too.
It's super quick and easy which leave lots of extra time for blogging  ;-)
Go ahead, I Double Dog Dare ya!

C is for Crazy Cat

My Crazy Cat Chewy

She was originally named Chewbacca because of the weird noises she made when she was a kitten, she really sounded just like Chewbacca. Her name was later shortened to Chewy, which may have been a mistake since she lives up to it and chews on all kinds of things. She's especially fond of anything plastic or cardboard.

I know she wishes I'd leave her alone long enough with this paper plate mountain wrapped in plastic to really have some fun. I look at my computer and she starts chewing, I look back at her and she stops. Obviously a smart kitty but such a weirdo!

The A-Z Blogging Challenge

There is seriously something wrong with me. I know I have absolutely no business joining another challenge as busy and overwhelmed as my life is right now, but you know how I am, I can't resist a good challenge!

I stopped over to visit my blogging buddy Martha from The Daily Grind today and found a fun A-Z Blogging Challenge she is participating in...



Of course I'm going to play along too - who could resist?! If you'd like to join us just click the badge! This isn't necessarily a photo challenge, it can be anything at all as long as it represents the letter for that day. The challenge is to post every day this month (except Sundays) for a total of 26 A-Z posts. So far there are 1186 participants and more still joining!

I've been wanting to get more active again here at Menagerie, what better way to give myself that little push!

Since I just found this challenge I kind of cheated and added to my post yesterday to include the letter A. Today is the letter B - B is for Badge for the A-Z Blogging Challenge.

Come play along, this is going to "B" fun  ;-)

TGIF!

Have a wonderful weekend!

A is for flying through the "Air" for the A-Z Blogging Challenge.

Also linking up to: