Beauty to Behold

Posted on June 10, 2015 by L. Marie

Recently some good friends of mine told me they’ll be taking a much needed family vacation to the Caribbean. This will mean leaving me behind, no matter how much I make puppy eyes at them and beg them to take me. I’m pretty sure I could fit in someone’s suitcase if they leave all of their clothes behind.

Since I can’t go with them, I decided to take a vacation on the grounds of my apartment building. Every day I have a front row seat.

Let me show you the sights to be seen.

I’m not responsible for the care of the flowers and trees. If I were, they would be dead by now. I lack a green thumb.

Still, the sunny day made a yard vacation worth the trip. And the sunshine remained, unlike yesterday. That day I left home, so sure of the sunshine as I ran out to run errands that I neglected to check the weather. A mile away from home, however, the clouds abruptly darkened at the north. Within fifteen minutes, you’d never believe the sun existed as hard as the rain fell.

But today, there was beauty to behold and sunshine to set it off. But after awhile, I adjourned inside to watch Fantasia 2000, which featured Igor Stravinsky’s Firebird Suite. If you have a spare 12.15 minutes, enjoy this performance by the YouTube Orchestra. (Who knew YouTube had an orchestra?) It’s beautiful. (You can watch the Fantasia segment on Vimeo. Just click here or Google Firebird Suite—1919. When you see it, you’ll know why this piece of music seemed appropriate after my tour of the flowers.)

From the Firebird Suite segment of Fantasia 2000

And speaking of beauty, I have three books to give away by three wonderful authors. You remember them:

If you’re thoroughly confused about what I just mentioned, click on these interview posts:
https://lmarie7b.wordpress.com/2015/06/02/check-this-out-surviving-santiago/
https://lmarie7b.wordpress.com/2015/06/04/check-this-out-julia-child-an-extraordinary-life-in-words-and-pictures/
https://lmarie7b.wordpress.com/2015/06/08/check-this-out-skyscraping/

Huge thanks to the authors for donating signed books and other swag! After consulting the random number generator, I have three winners. The winner of Surviving Santiago is . . .

Is . . .

Nancy Hatch!!!

The winner of Julia Child: An Extraordinary Life in Words and Pictures is . . .

Is . . .

Marilyn Warner!!!

The winner of Skyscraping is . . .

Is . . .

One of the authors I’m featuring: Lyn Miller-Lachmann!!! (Yes, authors who comment are eligible for the drawing too.)

Winners, congratulations. Signed copies will be coming your way! Please comment below to confirm, then please email me. Thanks for commenting!

I’m ready for my closeup.

Author photos courtesy of authors. Book covers from the authors and Goodreads. Flowers, tree, and chair photos by L. Marie. Puppy eyes photo from jinglegraphicdesign.blogspot.com. Fantasia 2000 image from pinterest.com.

37 thoughts on “Beauty to Behold”

restlessjo on June 10, 2015 at 6:57 am said:

Oh, I wish I had 15 minutes for the Firebird Suite! Another time, maybe 🙂 Lovely pup! Congrats to the winners. Enjoy your trip? 🙂
- L. Marie on June 10, 2015 at 2:51 pm said:
  
  I did! Though it didn’t compare with your lovely walks!!! But I can travel with my eyes whenever you travel.
ReGi McClain on June 10, 2015 at 7:32 am said:

I LOVE Disney’s Firebird animation. The piece of music itself has some moments that set my teeth on edge, but the animation makes it totally worth it. 🙂 And kudos to you for making the most of a beautiful day!!! How about this: If I’m ever a billionaire, I’ll bring you up here on a cruise and show you all the sights. 😉
- L. Marie on June 10, 2015 at 2:53 pm said:
  
  I would love to visit, ReGi! I keep meaning to email to say that I so wanted to contribute to your indiegogo. But I’ve been as broke as a stone. Still hoping to contribute. You deserve it.
  - ReGi McClain on June 11, 2015 at 6:14 am said:
    
    *blushes* Thanks. It’s totally okay. I understand broke in multiple senses of the word. 🙂 I hope that changes for you, though. 🙂
  - L. Marie on June 11, 2015 at 2:36 pm said:
    
    Me too. 🙂
    Keep producing those wonderful stories.
nrhatch on June 10, 2015 at 12:05 pm said:

Love the beauty in your backyard, Linda . . . and who could resist those puppy eyes? Great piece of music to enjoy as I scrolled through the remainder of your post.

Woo Hoo! What a fun surprise to win Lyn’s book. I look forward to reading it. And congrats to Marilyn and Lyn on their wins. I’ll shoot you an e-mail.

Continue to enjoy those vibrant blooms. Nature nurtures.
- L. Marie on June 10, 2015 at 2:55 pm said:
  
  Got it, Nancy! I forwarded your address to Lyn. She’ll get that out to you. 🙂
  I’ve been enjoying my “yard” vacation. I wish I could see more butterflies though.
Jill Weatherholt on June 10, 2015 at 12:42 pm said:

Congratulations to all of the winners! I want that puppy! 🙂
- L. Marie on June 10, 2015 at 2:56 pm said:
  
  I do too, Jill. Who could resist the cuteness?
  My niece sent me a baby sloth video though that beats even that cute photo! (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G-Zfozy7gGI) I’ve seen it at least six times.
Andy on June 10, 2015 at 1:54 pm said:

Congratulations to all the winners of this prize-fest!!!
- L. Marie on June 10, 2015 at 2:57 pm said:
  
  Yes, congrats to them.
  How is your writing coming along, Andy? Will you be ready to come on the blog when your poetry book debuts?
  - Andy on June 10, 2015 at 5:52 pm said:
    
    Of course 🙂 There is no definite date yet, but we are looking at some time in August.
    At the moment I am writing a story to submit for the second book in the Northlore Series. As you know I have a story in the first one, the anthology being about Folklore. This one is about Myths. We will see how we go 🙂
  - L. Marie on June 10, 2015 at 6:17 pm said:
    
    Go, Andy, go!!!
Lyn Miller-Lachmann on June 10, 2015 at 3:08 pm said:

Woo hoo! I can’t wait to read Cordelia’s book. And congratulations to all the other winners!
- nrhatch on June 15, 2015 at 5:32 pm said:
  
  I’m looking forward to reading Surviving Santiago, Lyn. Thanks for sharing your words.
  - L. Marie on June 15, 2015 at 5:57 pm said:
    
    Would love to know what you think, Nancy!!
  - nrhatch on June 16, 2015 at 2:47 am said:
    
    I’ll let you and Lyn know, for sure.
  - L. Marie on June 16, 2015 at 3:48 am said:
    
    Okay. Thanks, Nancy!
FictionFan on June 10, 2015 at 3:15 pm said:

Love the Firebird Suite – thanks for reminding me! Who knew that youtube had an orchestra indeed? Must investigate further. I would have a yard vacation too but my weeds aren’t nearly as pretty as your flowers…
- L. Marie on June 10, 2015 at 3:33 pm said:
  
  We’ve got weeds here too. And if I were directly responsible, everything in the ground would be a weed.
wheremyfeetare on June 10, 2015 at 4:45 pm said:

Congratulations to the winners. And thanks for the pretty stroll around the yard. 🙂 We dog sat for a 7 month old Corgi last weekend and I’m afraid my boyfriend is lonely without him now. They know how to pierce right through the heart with their cuteness!
- L. Marie on June 10, 2015 at 5:27 pm said:
  
  They certainly do! I’ll bet that Corgi is totally adorable!
Phillip McCollum on June 10, 2015 at 8:35 pm said:

There is a lot of beauty in front of us…we just have to take the time to notice it! I hear you on the lack of green thumb, too. Plants tell scary stories about me around their campfires.
- L. Marie on June 10, 2015 at 8:51 pm said:
  
  Ha ha! Well, you’ve got your little boy to look at. That’s good growth!
Andra Watkins on June 10, 2015 at 9:53 pm said:

Thanks for sending me some pictures of not-fried flowers. It’s in the nineties here most days, and not a lot can stand it. Including me. My butt’s inside with the AC. 🙂

Congratulations to the winners!!
- L. Marie on June 10, 2015 at 10:14 pm said:
  
  We just reached that temperature, so I expect those flowers to wilt soon. 😦 So glad I captured them when I did! I’m also grateful for AC.
lifeonthecutoff on June 10, 2015 at 9:54 pm said:

Congratulations to all the lucky winners! Life is good. 🙂
I’ve loved this little jaunt, but, especially the irises. Luscious. And thanks for the concert as well. Like I said, life is good.
- L. Marie on June 10, 2015 at 10:15 pm said:
  
  Glad to provide both. Aren’t the irises gorgeous??? I was inspired from looking at your blog. Glad I had some to show off.
  - lifeonthecutoff on June 10, 2015 at 10:33 pm said:
    
    I’m glad you showed them off – they ARE gorgeous. 🙂
  - L. Marie on June 11, 2015 at 1:56 am said:
    
    And I never would have noticed them had I not taken my yard vacation!!!
laura bruno lilly on June 11, 2015 at 12:47 am said:

Did you take Kitty with you on your lawn vacay? Just wonderin’ 😉

Congrats to all who won and to you, too, L.Marie for pulling off such a quality series complete with fun prizes!
- L. Marie on June 11, 2015 at 1:57 am said:
  
  I left Kitty brooding on my printer. I took her the last time I went to sit by the tree. This time, I just took myself. She can come next time! 🙂
  
  I’m grateful to the authors who shared their books and their time!
Celine Jeanjean on June 11, 2015 at 7:26 am said:

Those flowers are beautiful, what a view! In the UK they coined a phrase: staycation. You take a vacation, but staying at home. I love the idea — there’s generally so much stuff we overlook right on our doorstep because we’re focused on distant, exotic places. So I’m glad you got to have a little staycation 🙂
I haven’t actually seen Fantasia 2000 — I loved the original though. Is it as good as the original in your eyes? I’ll come back and watch the video later once I have a little more time 🙂
- L. Marie on June 11, 2015 at 2:35 pm said:
  
  Staycation. Good one! That’s what I’m doing!
  I thought Fantasia 2000 was a good companion to Fantasia. It acknowledged how much animation had changed, thanks to the computer. I really enjoyed the selected music. One piece from Fantasia was included in Fantasia 2000: The Sorcerer’s Apprentice.
Marylin Warner on June 11, 2015 at 2:26 pm said:

I am thrilled! Thank you so much; I can’t wait to read this wonderful book. The description is very compelling.
- L. Marie on June 11, 2015 at 2:31 pm said:
  
  Hi, Marylin. If you could email your address to lwashin301(at)comcast(dot)net, I’ll get the book out to you.