Buffalo Gal - #Friday56 and #Book Beginnings on Fridays

What do a runaway bride and buffalo ranching have in common? And then there are the UFOs! You'll find out in Lisa Wanttaja's delightful romance novel, Buffalo Gal. I enjoyed the way the author made the North Dakota setting a part of the story (torrential rain, tornados), as well as her depiction of the heroine as a strong, independent woman. Lots of humor, too. Good writing.


Book Beginning:
PROLOGUE
Dr. Andrea Moore stared at the clock on her bedroom wall with rising terror. Two more hours and it would all be over. She'd be married.
     She tried to tell herself her nervousness was simply pre-wedding jitters. But she knew it was more than that.


Friday56 from 56% on my Kindle:
"It could be dangerous to stand in the way of our investigation. You don't understand what you're dealing with."

Genre: Contemporary Romance
Length: 246 Pages
Where to Buy: Links to Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and More

Synopsis:

     On the morning of her wedding, veterinarian Andrea Moore knows she’s making a mistake. When she learns she’s won a buffalo ranch, she runs off to North Dakota but finds herself in the middle of what could be an even bigger mistake. The ranch she’s won is not only home to a herd of bison but also run by a man who can’t hide his hostility.

     Foreman Mike Winterhawk worked long and hard to buy the ranch himself, only to have it handed over to some contest winner. His focus needs to be on why the bison can’t bear calves instead of teaching this city slicker in ugly green cowboy boots how to run a ranch. He can only hope she’ll quickly realize she’s out of her league and hightail it back to Seattle.

     So, why is he so attracted to this intruder, and why does he feel she might be the one who can help him turn White Thunder Ranch around?


              

Anyone can participate in Book Beginnings on Friday and The Friday 56.
Click HERE to connect to other Book Beginnings posts (sponsored by Rose City Reads) 
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Twitter: @SandyNachlinger

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#Alki Beach, #Seattle - Saturday Snapshot and Jo's Monday Walk

Some of the sights on a rainy day at Seattle's Alki Beach. 
Trivia: Alki (ælkaɪ) is a Chinook word meaning "by and by," the unofficial state motto of Washington.
(Click on photos for a closer look.)

Luna Park

In 1907 a saltwater natatorium was built for the Luna Park Seaside pleasure resort. (Known as the "Coney Island of the West.") Housed in a large airy building the swimming pool remained in operation until it was burned down in 1931. In the 1950s its cement walls were filled. Deemed unsafe, in 2004 the seawalls that once enclosed the swimming pool were demolished. 

Here's Luna Park today. Bike-share bicycles are parked all over the Seattle area.

View of the Seattle skyline across Elliot Bay (from Luna Park)

Shoreline

Condos have replaced many (but not all) of the bungalows that once lined the shore.  

Statue of Liberty

According to Wikipedia: The Statue of Liberty or Lady Liberty (at Alki Beach) is a replica of the Statue of Liberty in New York Harbor. A gift from the Boy Scouts of America, it was installed at Seattle's Alki Beach Park in 1952 and has since been recast in bronze to repair damage from vandalism.
(Note: She's not the same lady as the original, but the idea is the same.)

Whales are still sighted in Puget Sound off Alki Beach's shores.

A lighthouse, built in 1913, still guides mariners safely through Puget Sound.

The paved walkway along the water is a great place to walk or bike. With a separate lane for bikers and a wide paved path for pedestrians and runners, it's a popular place to be, especially on weekends.

More pictures from Alki Beach can be found in earlier posts: 
HERE and HERE.
Luna Park's colorful history can be found at HistoryLink.org

PS: Need inspiration to start exercising? This article says it's not too late to start: Older Adults Start Exercising

I'm linked with:
Saturday Snapshot - Melinda at A Web of Stories - Link HERE 
Jo's Monday Walk -  Johanna at Restless Jo - Link HERE

Our World Tuesday - Link HERE

#Amazon #Spheres - SaturdaySnapshot and Jo's Monday Walk

Last Saturday I posted photos taken at Amazon's Spheres (here). Today I'm adding a few more.

Before entering the Spheres, we stopped at The Understory. That's a mini-museum where docents give an overview of the Spheres and answer questions. One wall displayed gorgeous photos like this one. The screen took up the whole wall.
(Click on photos for a closer look.)

Here's what we saw at the Spheres.

Tree Aloe - Mozambique

Huge trees stretched from floor to ceiling. Most of them
had orchids and bromeliads in their branches.
I'd love to visit when those plants are in bloom.

Pathways led through lush plantings and allowed close-up views.
Many of the plants were labeled.

Unfortunately, this plant wasn't labeled.
What is it?

Streams meander through the foliage.

Anthurium

Outside, the facility included a dog park.

Bikes to rent, too.

Saturday Snapshot is hosted by Melinda at A Web of Stories.
To join in or view photos from around the world:
Post a photo that you (or a friend or family member) have taken, then leave a direct link to your post in the Mister Linky on the website
(Link HERE) 
Photos can be old or new and be of any subject as long as they are clean and appropriate for all eyes to see. Please don't post random photos you find online. 

Jo's Monday Walk is hosted by Johanna at Restless Jo. So, how does it work?  Every week Jo will publish a walk on a Monday. When the walk is published, anyone is welcome to leave a link in the Comments, to any walk that they have taken.  It doesn’t have to be on a Monday.  It can be at any time and of any duration.  The amount of detail/photos, etc. is up to you. Link up HERE.

#Spheres - #SaturdaySnapshot and #MondayWalk

When I signed up for an excursion to "The Spheres," I figured Amazon's orbs would be filled with computerized displays, laser light shows, and other high-tech goodies. Boy, was I wrong! Here are some photos from our exploration of this amazing indoor forest.
(Click on photos for a closer look.)

The Spheres are open to visitors on the first and third Saturdays of the month and advance reservations (and photo IDs) are required. Although visitors have access to much of the facility, certain areas are set aside exclusively for Amazon employees.

Trying to capture this facility from top to bottom -- all four floors -- was a challenge! Every area is accessible by elevator as well as stairs.

It was impossible to photograph the entire 60-foot-tall "Living Wall" in one photo, too.

Ferns, bromeliads, anthurium, and more cover the living wall. 

Intermittent bursts of mist keep the plants hydrated and fans embedded in the walls circulate the air. Groups of people took pictures in front of this wall of plants with the Amazon logo.

One of the most fascinating structures was the "Bird Nest." 

Next Saturday I'll feature more plants, water features, and views in this lushly planted space, plus a glimpse into the neighborhood dominated by Amazon's headquarters.

For more info about The Spheres, visitor information, plants, etc., click on the official website HERE.

Saturday Snapshot is hosted by Melinda at A Web of Stories.
To join in or view photos from around the world:
Post a photo that you (or a friend or family member) have taken, then leave a direct link to your post in the Mister Linky on the website
(Link HERE) 
Photos can be old or new and be of any subject as long as they are clean and appropriate for all eyes to see. Please don't post random photos you find online. 

Jo's Monday Walk is hosted by Johanna at Restless Jo. Link up HERE.

2111 7th Avenue, Seattle