nap 'n me on a day trip to Ontario

Nancy (nap) and I went to the Butterfly Conservatory just outside of Niagara Falls, Ontario yesterday. First time we met in person. she is just as lovely and down-to-earth as her posts and we had and absolutely wonderful day! the weather was great and the butterflies were spectacular!! I took over 150 pics and Nancy took a bazillion. So I've boiled it down into some collages so I could get it in here without it taking you folks all to look at.

first of the b'flies ... they are everywhere

aw, shoot, I tried to post the wrong thing and I lost it

here it is

here's the 2nd one

and the 3rd

as you can see, they land on people, which is a thrill
they raise them and have the chrysalises on view...it's amazing! they also have them sent in from all over. I tried to identify some from my butterfly field book, but it only has eastern species and I have only found one so far

the Conservatory is on the grounds of the School of Horticulture which has absolutely wonderful gardens, maintained by staff and students. naturally, I headed for the rose garden first.

Oh my goodness gram, those are spectacular! That must of been an amazing sight and so very interesting. I will have to remember that for my trip to Niagra....if we ever get to go. Doctor called yesterday, 3 more months before DH can attempt to drive and 6 months until he can walk without crutches or a cane.

there was also a wonderful herb garden, a veggie garden, a rock garden and many others that we just didn't have time for. also, the students maintain their own veggie garden where there is a really cool rock structure of some kind.

Aw, Celeste, I'm sorry to hear that. is it not healing the way they thought it would? he must be disgusted.

there are a lot of things to see in this area with the Falls so close.

here's some pics of Nancy. this huge butterfly landed on her (ahem!) posterior and just stayed there. everybody was just fascinated ;0) a little kid came up and said 'Did you know that the butterfly on your butt is blue?'

and last, anybody who knows Kassia would have thought of her when they saw this, but even if not, these were so striking...purple petunias and orange geraniums! and the turtle is a resident of the butterfly house.

ENJOY!! Everybody should get to see this someday...

Oh my, this is just amazing! What a wonderful spot. If we ever get back up there,
a definite must see. Thanks so much for sharing your trip and pics with us. Just lovely!

Great pictures gram.
ngam, there is a place just like that in Westford Ma. Its called the Butterfly Place. I use to work with the gentleman that owns it.
It is well worth the trip.
Chuck

This message was edited Jul 26, 2007 2:53 PM

Oh Gram.... I love it... I love the purple and orange and turtles.... yeah my trademark!!!!!! oh I will the other pics soon...... is Nancy coming by Sunday???

Thanks Chuck , I think I have seen ads on the tube for it. I always think I will get DH to take a drive when it comes on. I don't know if they still have one at Roger Williams Park In R.I. , it is small but nice for kids and a short trip for southeast N.E.

Nice photo's. I love that area. I wasn't in the exact same area but dh and I went on our honeymoon to Niagara Falls and we travelled around the surrounding area as well - it is just gorgeous there. Glad you enjoyed your time together. Friends are wonderful!

Fantastic photos Jan - thanks! Love butterflies.

No Thelma and Louise ending I guess ;)

Looks like a great time spent with those flying flowers.

Gram - What great photos!! I have never been there and I live so close. I will not go to the Falls again without a side trip to the Butterfly Conservatory. This must be a perfect time of year to visit.

Rose

Well, Rose, better get directions. We found the signs to be confusing and lacking. Took the wrong turns a couple of times. And we both thought we knew the area pretty well too.

So now I get to post a couple of my own pictures. Here is a collage.

No, Kassia. I would have LOVED to meet you and your Mom, but this is the weekend of my high school reunion and I need to attend. I know you will love Jan's home and her dear, dear husband. They are gracious and friendly people.

thanks, everyone. so glad you are enjoying the tour. I expect that Nancy's photos are better than mine, but mine are here and hers aren't, so I win LOL. And the biggest treat of the day was meeting Nancy and getting to spend some time with her. She's my first face-to-face DG contact. I'm supposed to remind Kassia that she beat her by a few days ;0)

Kassia, Nancy is busy this weekend. I'm to give you an xtra hug from her. Don't let me forget!

Al, we considered driving over the Falls at the end of the day, but didn't have anybody to record it and post it on DG so we gave up the idea.

this was one of my favorite shots

Al, We were too hot and tired for any exciting finish to the day. On the way out Jan bought ice cream for the two of us. That's about as exciting as we could muster.

This small delicate creature has a shadow.

My sons would certainly consider ice cream as an exciting end to any day. Great job ladies!

Jan's pictures are better than mine and don't let her tell you differently. I'm only posting a few good ones.

Thank you Victor!

The Butterfly that resembles an Owl eye is actually the blue one (when opened) that was...ahem...on me.

Jan and Nancy - all of your photos are great!! That looks like such a wonderful place to visit. Thanks for sharing your exciting day with us!! Eleanor (ice cream is the perfect end to any day!)

I love all this butterflyes... so amazing...

Nancy, I will see you then another time... too bad... I just hope the weather cooperates tomorrow... and sunday!!!!

Hi Nancy!
Seems like a wonderful trip!

Hi, Dave? Where have I been? Oh wait...that's what you would be asking me, isn't it?

Well, for one thing, I had no computer for a very, very long time. Six weeks or so, I think. Then no internet for a week longer. But things are pretty well back to normal here now.

Thanks for the re-welcome.

Is it just my imagination, or was this guy looking at me?

I like the way you read between the lines! Glad you're back.

That is a great picture. So was Jan as awesome in person as her virtual self?

Awesomer. And so too is her husband. Very gracious, very friendly. They have a beautiful home, filled with plants and her handiwork. They even let me take a few pictures of some of her quilts, which I drooled over. She gave me permission to do what I want with the pics I took, so I just have to show you this......

Jan - beautiful quilt. Did you make that?? (Couldn't help but notice the C-PAP machine - looks like mine. Do you have sleep apnea or your husband? I've used one for a couple of years and love it - no more waking up gasping for breath!!) Eleanor

Eleanor, yep, I made the quilt. There's a story you guys might find interesting. It's a Y2K charm quilt. The idea behind a charm quilt is that each square must be a different fabric. So an internet quilt group I belonged to decided that for the turnover to Y2K we should make a quilt with 2000 different fabrics. Well, in order to get 2000 different fabrics you almost have to trade with other quilters. So then it was decided that each quilter would include a signature square with their name and where they were from. Then somebody said they were going to try to get a signature square from all 50 states. Somebody else wanted all the Canadian provinces, too. Somebody was collecting as many foreign countries as possible.

If you notice in Nancy's picture the ring of white squares, those are the signatures ...starting at the top is Alaska...to the right in alpha order are all 50 states, to the left are some of the Canadian provinces (I got Nunavet, which was just made a province that year!) and some countries...Switzerland, Austria, South Africa, to name a few. It was great fun and I'm sure I spent a bundle of money, but it was well worth it. Each quilter designed their own quilt. There was a show in Texas, but I didn't finish in time. I told Nancy I don't know if I would have wanted to ship mine down there. Taking a chance on losing it is more than I could stand, I think. There is a pattern on the back, too. A lot of the fabric companies made Y2K fabrics which will also be collectible some day. I included quite a few of them, and also the leftover signature squares that didn't fit on the front. There are story blocks that tell about the quilt and a title block 'Peace Around the World ~ 2000'

Eleanor, I forgot to answer your other question (I'm a bit passionate about that quilt). DH and I both use C-PAP. He has severe apnea. I have a milder form (hypopnea), but the machine stops the snoring :-)

Gram, thats a beautiful quilt and an amazing story behind it. I can see why you wouldn't want to ship it anywhere! It's so neat that the states with signitures are on it too....such a unique and memorable quilt!!

Jan - WOW (for the quilt, not the snoring)!!!! It is an amazing story! I can understand why you are passionate about the quilt. Eleanor

p.s. When we go camping in our pop-up, the family likes to go to a site with electrical hook-ups so I can use my machine and they can get some sleep as well as me!! I'm moderately severe so I definitely don't sleep well without it. LOL For the other readers, those of us with sleep apnea are also passionate about their machines. When I'm traveling with mine, I don't let it out of my sight!!

Here's the rest of the story...

Beautiful!

Jan - does your machine play Sweet Dreams?LOL


obscure reference for the day

Al, I try to keep up, but I don't get this one??

Going to have to take away your Simpson's fan card ;(












clue:Artie Ziff