nature « ((little fat notebook))

Posts Tagged ‘nature’

365great Day 60: the Getty

laelene Posted in 365great，Tags: 365great, architecture, art, beauty, garden, getty center, lawn, los angeles, museum, nature, ocean, tourist, travel, view

13 May 2013

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The Getty sits perched atop a hill, overlooking a gorgeous landscape. If you know what you’re, looking for, you can see everything from downtown LA and UCLA in one direction to the ocean in the other direction. But its beauty lies not only in its view – the museum and grounds are marvelous too. The Getty is LEED certified and beautifully designed. Skylights, white stones, water fountains, and cool wood paneling all add to the serene and bright atmosphere. You get to enjoy picturesque scenes inside and outside, no matter where you wander. There are rotating exhibits that change every few months, so each visit can be a fresh look at things. The garden and lawn area is an excellent place to hang out, relax, and soak in the sunny days. Whether you’re into art, history, architecture, gardening, views, or nature, there’s something there for you. It’s worth a visit no matter what your interests! A place that caters to such a range of tastes is pretty unique and very great.

365great Day 58: a great view

laelene Posted in 365great，Tags: 365great, mom, mountains, nature, ocean, pictures, preferences, sunset, valley, view

11 May 2013

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Who doesn’t enjoy looking out from a mountain or across a valley or over the ocean or even from a penthouse and checking out a beautiful view? It could be a wide expanse of fields, a mountain range, the great big ocean (or a giant lake), maybe even a downtown skyline. When you look out at a landscape, it’s hard not to marvel at its beauty. I’m sure everyone’s idea of the best view varies, but we can all appreciate “seeing the big picture” in that way. I personally love sunsets behind mountains or over the ocean, as well as a glittering body of water as far as the eye can see. I love a connection with nature! Meanwhile, my mom enjoys more man-made views like that of a dense sprinkling of lights at night, whether from street lights or buildings. To her, they sparkle like stars for a bright nightscape. Whatever your preferences, a wonderful view is great.

365great Day 47: Burt’s Bees Res-Q Ointment

laelene Posted in 365great，Tags: 365great, burt's bees, healing, insect repellant, nature, outdoors, pictures, products, res-q ointment, skin conditions, skincare

30 April 2013

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I first learned about this product from a cousin in China, actually. Apparently it’s all the rage with her friends. And truly, Burt’s Bees Res-Q Ointment is a hidden gem of a product. If it weren’t for my cousin’s obsession, I never would have thought to give it a try – it seems to be just a rub-on insect repellent (which isn’t all that exciting). But oh boy, is that wrong! In fact, this Res-Q Ointment is like a miracle worker for just about any sort of skin irritation you might get, including insect bites, bruises, cuts, scrapes, rashes, and the like.

I get these red bumps from sensitivity when my hands get extra cold and dry, which is soothed and healed with this balm. I’ve had bruises that itch that I used the Res-Q Ointment on so I wouldn’t scratch them. It’s even helped me with the occasional cut or scrape, making the healing process faster and far less uncomfortable. I mean, it’s amazing all the things that one little balm can do. Plus, you barely need any to cover your irritation, so a small tub will last a really long time. This is perfect for kids or those of us who are still klutzy (I feel ya). Try it! It really is great.

365great Day 39: nature

laelene Posted in 365great，Tags: 365great, nature

22 April 2013

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It’s Earth Day! I think we should take this time to think about how our actions are affecting our planet so we can make changes for the better. Things will never be perfect, but we can always strive for incremental improvement. And while we’re thinking of this great place called Earth, let’s take a moment to appreciate nature! I mean, I think that’s what makes much of our world so beautiful – who doesn’t love a good sunset or gorgeous landscape? It’s pleasing to the eyes and very calming too. Plus, nature is great at renewing itself; we could learn a lesson or two. There’s wisdom in our world and that’s pretty great.

365great Day 37: terrariums

laelene Posted in 365great，Tags: 365great, home decor, nature, plants, terrariums

20 April 2013

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Terrariums are a great way to spruce up a space with a little bit of mother nature! They generally come in pretty cool containers/bowls/tanks, which makes them sort of artsy too. They’re usually filled with succulents, moss, pebbles, soil, and maybe a few cute “garnishes” like glass or mini figurines. You can make your own or get them ready-made and it’s a great way to boost the oxygen level indoors and provide better quality air (if it’s an open one). They generally don’t need much maintenance, so it’s pretty easy to care for them! Whether on your desk, in your kitchen, or on your coffee table, they can fit into many styles of decor. This versatile and eye-pleasing display is great for anyone into design, gardening, or the good old outdoors.

365great Day 34: spring

laelene Posted in 365great，Tags: 365great, beautiful, flowers, nature, pictures, plants, santa ana winds, seasons, spring, weather

17 April 2013

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This year, spring has been elusive. When flowers should have been budding and people should have been admiring the lovely cherry blossoms of our capitol, we were stuck with mini snow/slush/rain storm after storm. Cold front this, wacky pressure that, and no temperatures over 60-something. Over here on the west coast, at least the LA area, high winds have briskly whisked away our hopes for a nice warm day. What’s going on?!

I think just about everyone looks forward to spring – the renewal, the budding flowers, the warm air, the change of wardrobe, maybe even some cleaning! The world around us becomes more active and the weather gets warmer so we can shed those layers. Colors come back and beauty is everywhere – check out how amazing this flower in my yard looks! Playing outside becomes more accessible and everything just seems so alive. What a great feeling that is!

Sandy aftermath: squirrel-sanity!

laelene Posted in video blog，Tags: animals, behavior, nature, videos

27 January 2013

It’s been raining a lot here lately and the crisp freshness of the air after a wet day reminds me of the time right after Sandy swept through Panda’s place in VA. The squirrels had come out in force, frantically eating the food they’d hidden!

squirrel burrowing from Mary Qin on Vimeo.

squirrel in bush from Mary Qin on Vimeo.

squirrels out and about from Mary Qin on Vimeo.

squirrel stashing from Mary Qin on Vimeo.

Flash hailstorm

laelene Posted in photo blog，Tags: experiences, nature, pictures, weather

15 December 2012

The Mother Nature’s been crazy lately, what with hail and then an earthquake. I caught some shots of the hail before it all melted away.

Preying praying mantis

laelene Posted in video blog，Tags: animals, behavior, nature, videos

27 November 2012

This sucker was up for a fight! Between its battle dance and climbing all over the place, it sure made for some fun times (and Missy was pretty entertained too).