Why be Normal?

It’s summer in Northampton, Massachusetts and although it has been a rainy summer, the gardens at the Northampton Community Gardens couldn’t be more beautiful this year.

The community gardens in Northampton are a series of plots that locals rent from the Northampton Recreation Department for a nominal fee and tend throughout the summer.  You never know what you are going to find planted here in these gardens, but most take a huge amount of pride in their plot, planting harvestable vegetables and beautiful flowers.

I took this picture on a walk a few days ago,  when the weather was one of the top five days of the year with 75 degrees and a light breeze.  The sunflowers and black eyed susans are in full bloom and can be seen in almost every plot at the Northampton Community Gardens.

I visit often the gardens often and I love to see how they change throughout the growing season.

I followed this monarch butterfly as it flitted around the gardens looking for the right place to find some nectar.  Finally the monarch butterfly settled on this flower and I was able to catch a picture of it.  Summer in Northampton, I love it here.

 On July 31, 2009, I was on vacation in Ocean City, Maryland.  Most of the day was sunny and warm, a perfect beach day.  Although there were weather warnings that an isolated thunderstorm might appear during the day, the sun shone and the beach was full of people.

I was sitting on our cottage deck when lifeguard whistles started blaring and people began scrambling off the beach.  I grabbed my camera and went out onto the boardwalk a few feet from our cottage.

I took about ten pictures of the ocean storm in less than two minutes and the progression of the storm was intense.  One woman described these clouds as “clouds banking over the ocean”. 

I didn’t know at the time, but there was also a tornado warning that lasted about 30 minutes.  No tornados struck down, but the thunder and lightening for the next few hours after this storm hit were incredible.  One minute it was sunny on the beach and less than ten minutes later these clouds had formed over the ocean.  Nature can be amazing and this storm proves just how powerful nature can be.

People still scrambling to get off the beach.

The making of a memorial to Crazy Horse.  Amazing what can be accomplished.

The Grand Canyon is 277 river miles long, in some places it is 18 miles wide, and close to a mile deep.

Formed by the turbulent currents of the Colorado River, the Grand Canyon is one of nature’s most awesome creations.

I’ve seen the Grand Canyon, but only from a plane as I headed out west several times.  I’ve always wanted to visit the Grand Canyon, to take a tour down to the base.

I’ve been told that the donkey ride down to the base is worth it, but to prepare.  With donkeys come donkey poop and the smell can be quite interesting.

I’d love to take a few weeks and drive from New England to Arizona, arriving at the Grand Canyon to explore its vast trails and parks.

The desert landscape is nothing like home and I love new adventures.

If you’ve been to the Grand Canyon, or live near the area, I’d love any hints or tips on travel options and things to see while there.  I’m hoping to travel west again in the next year or two and I want the Grand Canyon to be one of the stops on my trip.

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