Off the Strip

The days of $9 hotel rooms and 99-cent shrimp cocktails are long gone for Las Vegas travelers, but good deals are still out there if you look carefully and time it right. During our recent home renovation project, we had to be off our floors for a few days. We ended up going to Vegas because the rates for off-the-strip resorts were less than half of what they were for limited service hotels on our side of Phoenix.Harley_Davidson-2 (1 of 1)

We generally stay on the strip, but this time we made a point of seeing new sights in the Vegas area. The adventure created some great photoremedy opportunities as we checked out Freemont street at night, visited Lake Las Vegas for the first time, and poked around scenic Lake Mead. Click on individual images below to view in slide show mode.

Mary and I aren’t big gamblers, but we do enjoy visiting Vegas frequently. The new Hoover Dam bypass has made it less than a five hour drive from our home – even with the multiple stops I need to make to stretch my legs and generally load up on fresh ice for my back. Regardless, one thing is always certain when visiting Las Vegas. There is always–whether you are on the strip or off of it–plenty of opportunities to snap a few memorable images.

Oh Danny Boy

Our newest grandchild, Daniel Robert, came into the world on March 19, 2014. He missed being being born on St. Patrick’s Day by just less than 48 hours. Nevertheless, many of us have already taken a liking to thinking of him as “Danny Boy.”

Daniel Robert Gilstrap

Daniel Robert Gilstrap

Daniel came for a great little visit–and photoremedy–to our house today. It started out as a bit of a snoozer. The sweet smell of our beloved sunflowers, however, quickly opened his big, dark eyes. Bucket of Blankets A1 (1 of 1) Before long, it became obvious that more than sunflowers were needed on this day. A Good Cry (1 of 1)Big brother Emmett (who I like to call “Dude”) was able to briefly help turn the tears around. Big Brother Standing By 1 (1 of 1)Emmett is only two years older than Daniel, but he is already a big boy and showing promise that he will be a kind and gentle big brother. Emmett 1 (1 of 1)

In the end, Mary (who I like to call Granny Long Legs) displayed her wisdom. She quickly concluded that all our little partially-Irish man needed was a good drink.Collage

We so enjoyed our visit with Daniel, Emmett, Grandma Debby, and our daughter-in-law Katie (the latter two wouldn’t allow photographs today). And, all will get even better when the boys’ get to spend considerable time with all of their entertaining relatives like cousin Isabella (featured below).

Bath time 2014 3 (1 of 1)

Yes, Danny Boy and Emmett Dude, things are looking up on the road ahead!

Things looking Up With M (1 of 1)I have previously posted the Old Welsh proverb, “Perfect love sometimes does not come until the first grandchild.” Well if that’s true, I have to say that around our house we have concluded, “Exponentially perfect love cannot be known until there’s a whole bunch of grandchildren!”

 

Garden of the Gods

During a January trip to Colorado, I was able to travel to Garden of the Gods near Colorado Springs and Pike’s Peak.Garden of Gods-1j

As best I can recall, we took a family vacation here when I was quite young, although I didn’t have any specific memory of the red rock wonderland. Thanks to a few hours of photoremedy, however, I’m quite certain I won’t soon forget this impressive destination; it is an awesome setting for both traditional and fine art landscape photography.

Garden of Gods fap j

Garden of the Gods – Fine Art Photography

GOG's Three Pics

Pike's Peak - Fine Art Photography

Pike’s Peak – Fine Art Photography

Note: The photoremedy mission is to encourage those fighting chronic pain and other afflictions to consider using photography as a powerful tool to move their focus away from the pain. In the process, we strive to enhance readers’ ability to see beauty and experience elevated joy in their lives. There are many gifts that can accompany health challenges; one of the greatest offerings is it frequently forces sufferers to set better priorities for their lives and assists them in seeing the world in new and more meaningful ways.