Southwestern skies -

Our family get together sharing a fabulous Thanksgiving dinner was more fun than you can imagine. We were 15 family members, aged 2 to 83, a family friend, and two young female soldiers from nearby Fort Huachuca invited to join us as they couldn't get home for Thanksgiving. 

Later, on the way back to our hotel we were under this beautiful Arizona sky. It had rained softly on and off earlier in the day. . . . . .but was welcomed as there had been no rain here for 55 days! It settled the dust and freshened the trees and shrubs.

Heading to a winery today in sunshine and a perfect, for me, 65F - who knew there are vineyards in southern Arizona!  I certainly don't need more wine after yesterday - but I'm hoping to see some lovely scenery long the way!

A perfect place for tea time and sunset -

On that lovely late fall afternoon last week, this is where

 we went for a little outdoor tea time with a sunset view.

The North Carolina Museum of Art.

Named one of the top 25 museums in the country, it's a

great place to visit.

All photos taken with iPhone 11 Pro.

Just a ten minute drive from home, these lovely outdoor open

 spaces are now seeing more people enjoying art without even

 stepping inside the buildings. 

There are timed tickets available to view exhibitions inside, with

 COVID restrictions in place, but I felt safer just enjoying walking

through the outdoor areas prior to pouring a cup of tea and

watching the sun paint the sky.

We will be be doing this more often now the cooler weather 

has arrived.  Winter jackets, hats and boots. . . . . . . and perhaps

hot chocolate next time!

My last pre-COVID inside visit to the NC Museum of Art.

Mara lions from sunrise to sunset. . . . . . . . .

Up early this morning for another spectacular day in Kenya.

It's hard to show you here just how amazing the Maasai Mara landscape is.

Very different from the other African countries I've visited on wildlife safaris. 

Much more open, with fewer trees and vegetation therefore game drives become

hours of animal viewing. The most incredible lion sightings have been nonstop,

starting before dawn - we are out of camp by

6:15 am each day - and lasting until sunset just before 7 pm.

Internet continues to be sporadic and slow, takes a while to load photos,
 so for this post I'll just share some of my shots of the Mara lions and
 lionesses. . . . . . . .and some adorable cubs.

Sunrise

This is how close lions often come

to the vehicle - that's the guide's

seatbelt in front of me!

Dear old Mohawk - more about him later.

Sunset - on our arrival evening - with a few of

the thousands of wildebeest we've seen.

Enjoy these beautiful big cats - and there will be more!

Dawn to dusk at the shore. . . . . . .

Early morning. . . . . . sun coming up over the Atlantic.

View from the hotel balcony.

A few fishermen and beach strollers already out on the sand.

One lone fishing boat trawling just off the shoreline. . . . . 

fresh catch, and breakfast for many gulls and pelicans.

View south toward Kure Beach and pier.

Lots of surfers enjoying the winter waves.

Looking across the pond to my homeland.

Afternoon beach walk to gather some shells.

Sunset came early after beautiful warm days - Friday, Saturday and Sunday were close

 to perfect weatherwise, perhaps the best beach weekend ever for us this late in the year.

Leaving our footprints. . . . . .

It was such a fun weekend. 

The beach in November is still fabulous. . . . . . . . . .

when the sun shines and you have a granddaughter along to get you out 

and walking in the brisk air, while you in turn give her driving lessons on 

shoreline roads…..what more could two senior citizens want! 

Sunset as only sunset can be at the coast.

Jasmin's senior school chorus, of which she is Student Director this year, is 
named the Sanderson Sandpipers. It seemed quite fitting that her beach 
companion was the sandpiper, wading elegantly, unbothered by 
the cold water of the Atlantic Ocean. . . . .

We left our footprints in the cold sand. . . . . Bob, Jasmin, Mary

We wished we could be on a fishing boat, close to the pelicans and gulls.  

Instead we enjoyed the catch - ocean fresh flavorful shrimp and 

flounder cooked to perfection that evening, sitting in a restaurant with the 
ocean lapping the sands outside the window. . . . . . . . . .

We braved the icy water and foam - taking pics and looking for shells. . . . . . .

If sunset was lovely, sunrise was fantastic.
Pelicans already hunting for breakfast - later dolphins were playing
 in the ocean right outside our hotel windows.

Keeping up the annual tradition - a photo of us in the beach hotel room closet doors!

Hope you enjoy these 'postcards' from the North Carolina coast.

Do you like to visit the beach in the off-season?