What do you think of when you see or think about a butterfly? I always think of Spring and colorful flowers. I also am enchanted by a butterfly’s flight - how they flit here and there but still manage to make it to where they want to be. In short, butterflies make me happy.

I absolutely love aquariums of all kinds! Well, I actually prefer the ones that don’t smell too “fishy.” Yeah, I know. 🙄

Anyway, I can spend all day in a large, well-done aquarium and Scottsdale’s OdySea is definitely both of those. There are more than 65 exhibits to explore and I’m not just talking tiny tanks I set in a wall.

I had a blast today at Lauritzen Gardens new BRICKLive Dinosaurs exhibit! I have always loved learning about dinosaurs and today was no exception.

Last night I went off on my own and toured the Zoolights at the Phoenix Zoo. It is a special holiday attraction with more than 4 million lights that runs until January 14. It was absolutely gorgeous

Because mid-October is prime leafing time in Iowa, I have explored three Iowa parks this past week.. And the leafing did NOT disappoint. While I have been to all three parks before, it is always fun to see the seasons change in all three of these parks.

Another little secret about me is that I am a Dale Chihuly glass artist nut. Consequently, I was dying to see his temporary exhibition at the St. Louis Botanical Garden.

While I enjoy festivals of all kinds, few festivals bring me more joy than hot-air balloon festivals.

There’s nothing quite like a county or state fair in the Midwest.