photography – Dreaming Reality

Once Upon a Time in Paradise

Costa Rica, creation, Dreaming Reality, flowers, food, Memories, moments, mother nature, nature, photography, pura vida, Uncategorized, Villa Vanilla

It’s sad to think it has been nearly four years now since we made the move back from Costa Rica. Since that time we have planned and been unable to revisit our second home on two separate occasions, both due to natural disasters.

In the past few days I have been going through photo files and reminiscing about our very special experiences there. I loved the photography opportunities almost as much as the people and all the unique places we were able to visit.

As I explore more files I will share more of our time there since many of my new friends here didn’t know me back in 2012 when I first began this blog as a way to share our lives in the beautiful country of Pura Vida!

Once upon a time in Costa Rica, we visited a spice farm named Villa Vanilla Spice Farm. As it happens, this tour was one of the first we took on our original journey to Costa Rica, long before we made the move. Once we lived there I had the opportunity to revisit the farm with my best friend when she came to visit us.

The farm grows orchids, which include the vanilla plant, which is actually an orchid. They also grow various bromiliads, cacao trees, carambola (star fruit), peppercorn plants and ceylon cinnamon trees. Ceylon Cinnamon is known as true cinnamon and is the variety you need for real cinnamon health benefits for blood pressure and blood sugar control. The best part of the tour is learning how the owners and workers grow, harvest and prepare these natural plants for consumption. Tasting was fun too. Near the end of the tour, there is a treehouse with a magnificent view where the tour ends with chocoalate and cinnamon specialty coffees, vanilla cookies and a very special mandarin lime cheesecake. Heaven!

Take a walk with me and I’ll share a few photos with you.

Sally and me

Brand new cacao blooms and pods

These are growing but not ready yet

When ready the cacao is yellow outside and has a pure white yummy flesh

Vanilla beans

There were so many gorgeous bromiliads

See the water collected on every petal?

And at the end, with the heat finally taking hold, we climb to the patio of the “treehouse” for a cool breeze, tasty treats and a breathtaking view. If you make it to the Manuel Antonio/Quepos area, this tour is one of the traditional ones but well worth the time and sweating.

I could sit there all day……and you can when you live there. 😉💕

Scenes From A Wedding/The Final Chapter, Part 1

#SoCS, Memories, photography, Safety, Uncategorized, Weddings

I must apologize for leaving you all hanging about our September travel event to Nebraska for our whirlwind weekend. My oldest got married while Number Two had a new baby arrive. I am going to hopefully wrap up our tale over the next week.

Since today’s #SoCS prompt from Linda Hill is roll/role, it seemed the right time to get back to that day.

Everyone knows all great holiday and celebration events call for at least one ‘emergency run’ to the local grocery, conveninece or liquor store. There is a joke between my husband and myself, stemming from his bizarre sense of humor. Any time I am preparing for a holiday meal or party, he will offer to make a run to the store-any store that might be open- asking if I need him to go out for ‘Jujubes and tampons’. Okay, no, I don’t even like Jujubes and the other item has long been off my list. Simply put, it means any last minute necessities? Usually there is something. It is amazing what corner conveninece stores carry these days…

So, when the call came for last minute ice, additional libations and sodas as the guests were arriving, of course my man volunteered, my youngest going along to give a hand.

What follows are images of their near death experience as a football fanatic, in town for the Husker game, ran a red light and hit a car so hard he rolled his own truck, sliding to within merely a few feet where my loved ones sat in our rental. We wondered what was taking them so long but no text message came, so we assumed they were stuck in after game traffic. It was a Husker weekend. Tap and hold images to see the caption or just double tap for a larger view.

Rollover

He never even slowed down

What a nose job

So much garbage came flying out

Her car wasn’t so lucky

Yeah, that’s my guy directing traffic. People wanted to drive straight through the accident!

Georgia just passed the zero tolerance for cell phone use while driving law. It might seem inconvenient but it’s a good thing. Too much of this is going on. Just weeks earlier my oldest son witnessed a fatality when someone ran a stop sign. I don’t know that the driver was texting but he was someplace other than in his right mind. It was devastating for my son to see.

The guy in this truck was on his phone as he attempted to climb out of his passenger window and down to the ground. My son made him hand it over so he could get out safely. Fortunately, no one was seriously injured, but those vehicles are history. My guys were pretty shaken up.

7451D7C9-6416-410E-8B1B-1B1CFD96A0E1 — You can see how close he came to my husband and son.

60704365-6908-41C1-B22D-3011D0F73264 — Yeah, that’s my guy directing traffic. People wanted to drive straight through the accident!

Oh, and check out the license tag on our rental. We might have guessed there would be some devilish goings-on for the weekend. 😏

You all drive safely, save the texting for when you are out of your car, and try not to be a rabid football fan. Some of us fellow humans are trying to live a life too.

Be a role model, not a roll over.

Next installment…the main event! I promise. Oh, want a sneak peek? 🙊

oh Frank…

This post brought to you by…

I Do Doors! #Thursday Doors

#ThursdayDoors, Atlanta, food, Georgia, photography, Uncategorized

Yes, I see them every day. I appreciate, admire and even photograph them. I just don’t get around to organizing them properly for a worthy blog representation for Norm Frampton’s #Thursday Doors weekly event. You should visit his place for lots of great ‘doorscursion’ posts.

We can always count on Dan for a great selection of doors with a history lesson as well. If you’re a Pittsburgh fan, head on over to his place!

Meanwhile, in my little world…

For yummy tummy delight.

We found a new ‘old’ little sushi place near home.

And since we left Texas, there seems to be no finding great, authentic barbecue. There’s just no competing with true smoked brisket like they serve at County Line. But, we finally found a place that comes close AND they know how to make hush puppies! 👏🏻

Just go in these doors to Williamson Bros.

Yeah, that IS fried okra. 😋

40D72BED-33DB-4F64-819B-B9ED6414B02B — There are more churches than restaurants in Georgia, I swear. Many are so beautiful! I need to do an entire post for them

B88716AB-5B85-4C00-B7C4-46A0439F7FCE — Taken in Little Five Points. Sorry about the photobombers and in a moving vehicle. I want to go back!

648687DF-0A3B-46E1-AAE6-954FB53E1591 — Loved this architecture

2BB09ED8-245B-4B48-9578-F14B127AE499 — Visited a new antique store.

9E4B3C3C-E5B4-48CF-9BBE-7E62C7887E98 — Where you can find little treasures like this. Furniture a bit pricey.

And saving the best for last!

Our friends at Tiny Doors Atlanta have a brand new door at an iconic venue in Atlanta. I tell you, this gal is on fire with her projects. The crew at Tiny Doors does an amazing job and we love them. I can’t wait to stop by and see it in person. Ironically, we actually drove by the Fox just a week ago! Congrats TD!