Happy Saturday! A big thanks to Natalie of Natalie the Explorer for hosting WeekendCoffeeShare.
Continue reading “#WeekendCoffeeShare – End of May 2025 Garden”Tag: Thoughts
CFFC: Things Made of Glass #WordlessWednesday
Road trip to Wyoming and Devil’s Tower
I just returned from a 2-day road trip to the great state of Wyoming and let me tell you, it was definitely memorable in some ways. For one, it rained almost the entire time while I was there while in my home in the neighboring state of Utah, it was dry and sunny.
Day 1
Our first stop was the state capitol of Cheyenne. My mom drove through there about 18 years ago when we were moving from Texas to Utah. She said it was pretty boring and empty. I don’t remember much from that trip because I was bored and it was 18 years ago. However, as I headed east on Interstate 80, my mom remarked how much the state had changed like the scattered appearance of wind turbines and the towns.
“I don’t remember seeing wind turbines when I drove through last.” My mom said.
Maybe what people say is right, sometimes, the driver remembers more than the passenger.
Anyway, I drove most of the leg to Cheyenne until my mom made me switch with her in Laramie – about 50 miles from Cheyenne. The moment she got back onto the interstate was the moment the weather began to turn. Quickly, fat drops of rain began to fall and fog descended upon us to the point when we could barely see the two red taillights of the car in front of us. With shaky legs and loud complaints, my mom drove to Cheyenne.
Honestly, I could’ve probably driven that leg with less dramatic flair and more confidence. After all, it was my car and I have driven in such weather before.
Eventually, we arrived in Cheyenne. The first place we headed to was the State Capitol. Google Maps took us on a short cut as opposed to the direct route, which had my mom question me. Google Maps should really stop doing that.
The fog was gone but there was a consistent mist, which was more annoying because it rendered the umbrella useless.
The construction on this building began in 1886 and I found this building to be one of the grander state Capitols I’ve visited. Maybe it’s the golden dome that made it feel grand. This building was designated as a National Historic Landmark in 1987 because of the original features inside the building and I must say, it’s pretty grand inside as well.
Day 2
The drive on the second day was grueling, to say the least. It started with a 4-and-a-half hour drive from Cheyenne to Devil’s Tower National Monument. It rained throughout the entire drive and my tires kept hydroplaning because of the standing water on the road. It was when the backseat driving took over.
I should probably mention at this point that my mom invited her other sister along, so I had me along with my mom and her sisters on the trip. Before the trip, I had repeatedly told my mom to not invite her sister along but nope, she thought I was just being selfish. Nobody could sleep the night before because that sister had to periodically get up to eat or use the bathroom and when she’s asleep, she’s sawing logs with her snoring while blasting YouTube on her phone. I guess my mom got a taste of her own medicine.
Anyway, with that sister frequently needed to use the restroom and the bad weather, that trip took over 5 hours. Let’s just say, not one of the sisters and my mom were impressed by the towering dead volcano.
I made one final swap with my mom in Casper, Wyoming for her to complete the drive home. We didn’t end up reaching home until quarter after 10 because of road constructions, bad weather, and my mom’s inability to see at night. It made me wish I was more adamant to not swap with her, that I should be the one finishing the 9 hour journey from Devil’s Tower to home. I don’t know why she’s so insistent on driving even though she’s afraid of the very act.
Oh well, what’s done is done. I got to see a beautiful fiery sunset from the road even though my phone’s camera didn’t do it justice. We made home in one piece. Safe and Sound.
Share Your World – Week of May 26, 2025
#WeekendCoffeeShare – On the road as the Garden Blooms
Happy Saturday! A big thanks to Natalie of Natalie the Explorer for hosting WeekendCoffeeShare.
Continue reading “#WeekendCoffeeShare – On the road as the Garden Blooms”CFFC: Things Made From Fabric
Honestly, I did not think I would have photos for this topic but indeed I do, just took some searching. I hope you enjoy this gallery.
Continue reading “CFFC: Things Made From Fabric”Share Your World – Week of May 19, 2025
Sunday Poser #234 – Color Impact
Monday Thoughts – A Couple of Thoughts
Lens-Artists Photo Challenge #349 – The first thing I thought when I saw this photo
Happy Sunday! Tina is the lovely hostess for this week’s Lens-Artists Photo Challenge and she is challenging us to write the first thing that came to mind when I saw the photo.
Continue reading “Lens-Artists Photo Challenge #349 – The first thing I thought when I saw this photo”#WeekendCoffeeShare – A week of bad weather
Happy Saturday! Come on in! As always, a big thanks to Natalie of Natalie the Explorer for hosting WeekendCoffeeShare.
Continue reading “#WeekendCoffeeShare – A week of bad weather”CFFC: Futuristic things, Fads, and Plastic Treasures


About 10 years ago, while I was getting my degree in accounting, I was in a class where the instructor introduced a futuristic concept (at least what seemed like futuristic at the time) like robots, AI, drones, etc.
One of the things he introduced was 3-D printing. I’ve never heard of it. Even with the videos he had showed us, I still thought it was years away, until he brought a 3-D printer into the classroom. I got a chance to try it out and this wrench was what I made. Pretty amazing, right? I just designed it in a program on the computer and hit print.
My co-worker actually won a 3-D printer at last year’s Christmas party, which meant that what I thought was futuristic technology at the time is now for consumer use.
I don’t know whether people still do this. They go somewhere, buy an ice cream cone, and hold it up for a photo. Well, that was me imitating the fad with a plastic water bottle during one of my hikes. People do it with an ice cream cone, why can’t I do it with a water bottle? Much healthier, too. 😄


Finally, some of my first attempts at close-up photography. I have this jar of stars made from plastic straws. It’s been so long now that I can’t recall whether I made them all or just some of it. This jar of stars was a parting gift from my middle-school friend when I moved from California to Texas 10 years prior. It’s been 20 years now and this jar of stars is on the top shelf of my basement bookshelf.
Sunday Poser #233 – Speaking Up
Share Your World – Week of May 12, 2025
Lens-Artists Photo Challenge #348 – Serenity
Happy Sunday! Egidio from Through Brazilian Eyes is hosting this week’s Lens-Artists Photo Challenge and we’re exploring serenity.
Continue reading “Lens-Artists Photo Challenge #348 – Serenity”Silent Sunday: A month ago…








Part of Silent Sunday
The uglies in the garden
Happy Saturday! Come on in or rather, let’s go out and tour the garden.
Continue reading “The uglies in the garden”Share Your World – Week of May 5, 2025
Sunday Poser #232 – Traveling?
#AtoZChallenge 2025 Reflection
Lens-Artists Photo Challenge #347 – Break the Rules!
Happy Sunday! Ritva challenges everyone to break the rules this week with Lens-Artists Photo Challenge #347.
Continue reading “Lens-Artists Photo Challenge #347 – Break the Rules!”#WeekendCoffeeShare – Again in the garden
Happy Saturday! Come on in! As always, a big thanks to Natalie of Natalie the Explorer for hosting WeekendCoffeeShare.
Continue reading “#WeekendCoffeeShare – Again in the garden”Hello May 2025!
Another month has come and gone, 2025 is now one-third through and two-thirds to go. Welcome May 2025!
As I’m writing this post, I have just returned from a 30-minute rabbit-hole called Amazon after my 6-year-old computer mouse had decided to quit on the last day of April but to be honest, I feel like it was on its way out. Something like a computer mouse can only survive so many drops and falls.
Anyway, what did you think of April? Was it too fast? Too slow? Boring?
There were days where I wish May would get here while there were days I wished April would stay just a tad longer. April has generally been a busy month at work and in the garden. This year, though, because I planted out most of the cool-weather crops in late March and early April, April had been a daily check-in and basic maintenance like watering as well as frequent admiration of the blooming flowers.



I spent a lot of April in the garden pulling weeds. Each time it rained, the weeds would grow 10-fold. The biggest offenders in my yard are bind weed, dandelion, and dropped seeds from last year’s flowers. I have calendula, poppies, and sunflowers pop up everywhere, especially between the cracks of the patio pavers. “Not here,” I would often say to it.
I’ve already mowed the lawn twice so far, which is a record as I don’t usually start mowing until the start of May. My junk of a lawn mower had such a hard time starting that I so wanted to throw it away and replace with one that doesn’t have an engine and doesn’t drink expensive premium gas like it’s water, except my mom wouldn’t let me get rid of this thing.
The biggest thing in April was probably the Tulips Festival. I was there days after it opened and though a lot of the flowers were not blooming yet, I still had a great time.






There were plenty of walks around the park in April. Headphones or earbuds would usually be in my ears with a podcast or audiobook playing. I’ve found it helpful to help me practice mindfulness as I walked, which allowed me to observe my surrounding like these dandelions.
April also saw a lot of harvests of 2024 and 2025 vegetables. I remember someone once said, “seeds know when to germinate,” the spinach seeds I sowed late last year germinated, the lettuce that stopped growing last November resumed growing, and the single snow-pea plant that survived the winter are beginning to flower. Let’s just say I’m having an abundance of vegetables in the garden at the moment.


In April, I participated in the A-Z challenge with my theme of Places, which is a collection of all the places I’ve been. It was surprising that I managed to come up with a place for each letter. I’ll do a reflection in a different post.
Now, as to what I’m looking forward in May, not much, except a road trip during Memorial Day weekend. My mom, aunt, and I are heading to Goblin Valley State Park in southern Utah. I wish I can go without the other two but let’s face it, my mom would’ve never let me go alone.
Let’s hope May is a better month.






















