Zombie Zebra at the Zoo

At the end of last year's A to Z Challenge, I joked about writing a novel about a zombie zebra at the zoo. But, since I have zilch, I will end with of my favorite photos from the Central Park Zoo.

Yellow Beck Hornbill Bird

This bird appears so serious as he poses for this picture. I shot this picture while I was practicing taking indoor photos without a flash.

moXie

Freddie and Her Box

Because of an ear infection, Freddie has had trouble walking for the past several days. However, on Sunday she was determined to climb onto the sofa. It took her five minutes of clawing before she achieved her goal.

Her moxie was a reminder not to let anything keep me from achieving my goals. Whether it is visiting every state or trying new challenges, like horse back riding or ice skating, I need to go for it.

Wave Hill

Aquatic Garden

I finally caught the shuttle at Van Cortlandt Park to Wave Hill, one of five Botanical Gardens in New York City. Here I had to pleasure of finding a frog sitting in the plants in the Aquatic Garden.

Van Cortlandt Park

Grand Central Stones

I missed the shuttle to Wave Hill and decided to explore the park while I waited for the next bus. These stones that sit along the Putnam Trail were used to determine what stones would be used to build Grand Central Terminal.

United States Capitol

I visit Washington, D.C. at least once a year. Whether I'm there to do research for my family tree or a novel I'm working on, I always take time out to explore the sights.

Texas

San Antonio, Texas

I attended a conference in San Antonio and the hotel was along the Riverwalk. During the morning, the area is peaceful, but by sundown, it is bustling with activity.

Sleepy Hollow

I traveled to Sleepy Hollow to do research for a novel. While I had to stop in the cemetery, where Washington Irving, the author of "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow," is buried, the Philipsburg Manor, which is across the from the cemetery, really fascinated the history buff inside me.

Riverwalk

Wilmington, DE

When we visited Wilmington, DE, most of the businesses were closed on Sunday. Therefore, there was not much to do besides strolling down the Riverwalk while we waited for the bus to go back home.

Queens Botanical Gardens

Wetlands Garden

During the summer, I liked to visit the Queens Zoo then stroll through Flushing/Corona Park. I would end the trip by cutting through the Queens Botanical Garden to get to Main Street, where I would catch the bus home.

Palisades Park

My son walked across the George Washington Bridge with me on my 45th birthday. After, we explored Palisades Park. This friendly creature posed for me as we were leaving.

Ocean Grove

Tent Houses

I would travel to Ocean Grove, NJ for an annual writing retreat. The town, however, was so beautiful, I ended up doing more sightseeing than writing.

These tent houses are used by vacationers between the months of May and September.

Niagara Falls

When I was sixteen, my mother and I took a tour bus to Niagara Falls. Thirty years later, my son and I traveled by train to Canada. Since I have gotten over my fear of flying, I hope to travel there by plane one day.

Massachusetts

House of the Seven Gables

After paying for several other tours in Salem, I did not want dole out the cash for one more. Therefore, I simply enjoyed the view of the garden in the House of the Seven Gables.

Little Red Lighthouse

This landmark was made famous by the book, The Little Red Lighthouse and the Great Gray Bridge. The path I found leading to the bridge was rough, but it was worth the trip.

Key to the City

View from George Washington Bridge

In 2010, my son read about the Key to the City art project. Participants were given a key that would open boxes left around New York City. Besides travelling the the George Washington Bridge, we visited Alexander Hamilton's Tomb at Trinity Church, the Whitney Museum and Eddie's Sweet Shop in Forest Hills.

Jamaica, NY

King Manor

Besides trying to visit every state, I want to visit all the major sites in New York. It is important to know what's available in my backyard.

King Manor, located in Jamaica, NY, was the home of Rufus King, a cosigner of the United States Constitution. While I have not had the opportunity to take a tour of the interior, I have had to pleasure of strolling the grounds in the summer.

Iguana

I was in my 40s the first time I visited the National Zoo. Unlike the bird that tried to drop an unpleasant surprise on my son's head, this iguana was nice enough to pose for us.

High Line

The High Line Park was built on the West Side Line. The first section of the High Line Park opened in June 2009. Other sections opened in 2011 and 2014.

For me, the most beautiful park of the park is the greenery growing on around the tracks.

Georgia

Keeping busy helps me get through most situations. Writing helps to keep my mind off the manuscripts sitting on editors' desks, while photography helps me deal with the anxiety of heights.

I had the pleasure of capturing this shot during take-off from Atlanta International Airport.

Forest Park

Just like me, my son enjoys exploring the neighborhoods in New York City. During one trip through Forest Park, he found several railroad tracks. He later took me to the park so I could take pictures.

Eastern State Penitentary

Al (Scarface) Capone's Cell

Power...money...associates...while they may not keep one from getting locked up, they can help one make a bleak cell a home.

Dyckman House

I found this canon in the garden at the Dyckman House in Washington Heights. As I tried to take a picture of my find, a squirrel decided it wanted to play. Since I'm not a fan of these critters, I walked away. As luck would have it, the creature decided it wanted to play and spent the next five minutes chasing me through the garden.

Central Park

I enjoyed my attempt to capture the beauty of the steps leading to the Shakespeare Garden than the actual garden itself

Baltimore

For the weekend of my 40th birthday, my son and I visited Baltimore, Virginia and Washington, D.C. Out of all the sites I saw, the one that left me in awe was the attic in Edgar Allen Poe's house. I felt a sense of peace viewing the space utilized by one of literature's greatest authors.

Adventures

Sometimes we need to take a chance and go down an unfamiliar path. There's no guarantee what we'll find on the other side, but no one's ever found the pot of gold while sitting in their living room.