Embracing the Joys of Camping

Posted on August 6, 2025August 6, 2025 by Dusty Roads

🌲 Under the Stars: Embracing the Joys of Camping

There’s something timeless about stepping away from the hum of daily life and venturing into the wild. Whether you’re tucked beside a whispering stream or perched on a sun-dappled hillside, camping reawakens our connection to nature—and to ourselves.

🌄 Why We Crave the Outdoors

Unplug and recharge: The absence of screens invites a presence that’s often elusive. Stories around a campfire, the rustle of leaves at dawn—these simple pleasures become unforgettable moments.
Serenity in simplicity: No commutes, no meetings, no clutter. Just you, your breath, and the rhythm of nature.
Shared wonder: Camping is a gift best enjoyed with others. Laughter echoes more freely in open air, and memories settle deeper when made under a canopy of stars.

🏕️ Creating Your Perfect Escape

4 person easy pop-up tent

Whether you’re planning a solo retreat or a group adventure, the right gear makes all the difference. Your tent is your home away from home—shelter, comfort, and a touch of magic. At WelcomingHaven.com, we’ve curated tents that match your wanderlust and your need for ease. From lightweight setups for weekend warriors to spacious sanctuaries for family campouts, our collection is designed with heart and harmony.

4 Season Canvas Bell Tent

🔥 Small Moments, Big Joys

Waking to birdsong and fresh pine
Roasting marshmallows until they’re golden clouds
Watching the firelight dance across smiling faces

These are the joys that linger long after the trip ends. Camping isn’t just a weekend plan—it’s a way of seeing the world more gently, more vividly.

So go ahead—pitch that tent, sip that cocoa, and let the earth sing you to sleep.

Welcoming Haven.com an Amazon Affiliate

A Tribute to Nature’s Golden Smiles

Posted on August 2, 2025August 2, 2025 by Dusty Roads

🌻 Celebrating National Sunflower Day: A Tribute to Nature’s Golden Smiles

Every year, National Sunflower Day bursts onto the calendar like a ray of sunshine, reminding us to pause and appreciate one of nature’s most cheerful and iconic blooms. Whether you’re a gardener, a flower enthusiast, or simply someone who loves a good dose of positivity, this day is a golden opportunity to bask in the beauty and symbolism of sunflowers.

Sunflower and butterfly 2018 photo credit Deb Neumann

🌞 Why Sunflowers Deserve Their Own Day

Sunflowers aren’t just pretty faces in the garden—they’re botanical powerhouses with deep cultural, ecological, and emotional significance:

Symbol of Positivity: With their bright yellow petals and sun-chasing behavior (heliotropism), sunflowers symbolize happiness, optimism, and warmth.
Pollinator Paradise: Bees, butterflies, and other pollinators flock to sunflowers, making them essential for biodiversity.
Edible and Useful: From sunflower seeds to sunflower oil, these plants offer nutritional and practical benefits.
Artistic Inspiration: Think Van Gogh’s iconic sunflower series—these blooms have inspired countless artists and creatives.

Stock

🌻 How to Celebrate National Sunflower Day

Whether you’re going big or keeping it simple, here are some joyful ways to honor the day:

1. Plant Sunflowers

Start your own sunflower patch! They’re easy to grow and come in a variety of sizes and colors—from towering giants to petite varieties perfect for containers.

2. Visit a Sunflower Field

Many farms open their sunflower fields to the public during blooming season. It’s a perfect photo op and a serene way to connect with nature.

Field of Sunflowers photo credit Deb Neumann

3. Create Sunflower Art

Paint, draw, or craft something inspired by sunflowers. It’s a great activity for kids and adults alike.

4. Share the Sunshine

Gift a bouquet of sunflowers to a friend, neighbor, or loved one. Their vibrant presence can lift spirits and brighten any room.

5. Learn and Reflect

Read up on the history, symbolism, and science behind sunflowers. You might be surprised by how much depth lies behind those golden petals.

🌼 Fun Sunflower Facts

Sunflowers can grow over 12 feet tall!
They’re native to North America and were cultivated by Indigenous peoples long before European settlers arrived.
A sunflower head is made up of thousands of tiny florets, each capable of producing a seed.

🌻 Final Thoughts

National Sunflower Day is more than just a celebration of a flower—it’s a celebration of joy, resilience, and the simple beauty that surrounds us. So whether you’re planting seeds, snapping photos, or just soaking in the sunshine, take a moment to let the sunflower’s spirit brighten your day.

Happy Flowers photo credit Deb Neumann

Let’s spread the sunshine—one petal at a time.

Altitude Sickness?

Posted on August 6, 2022July 17, 2022 by Dusty Roads

Is It Really Altitude Sickness???

Altitude Sickness is the real deal! My first day (not counting travel day) and unlike my usual go go go self, my go go has gone gone. I’m headachy and tired in spite of going to bed at 5 pm yesterday. I dragged myself out of bed for a shower and went in search of breakfast. The restaurant in the lodge is only open for the Happy Hour and the dinner crowd. Maybe I’m just hungry.

Wendy’s Again

I drove through downtown Breckenridge but didn’t see any open restaurants. I retraced my steps from the drive in and located another Wendy’s. A bacon, egg and cheese biscuit later and I still didn’t feel any better. Maybe I did have a touch of Altitude Sickness. The little convenience store next to Wendy’s was advertising oxygen so maybe this is common for us sea level types.

City Market

I don’t want to have to search for breakfast every day, so I stopped at City Market in Downtown Breckenridge to pick up some basics. I made sure to get a 12 pack of bottled water while I was at it. Then I returned to the condo and went back to bed.

Bullwinkle

When I finally started moving again around 1:30 it was still hard to catch my breath, but the headache was subsiding. I decided to drive down to check out the gondola. It goes right over the road when it swings up the mountain. I plan to ride it before I leave but I’m waiting for my system to acclimate before I add another 2000 ft to my altitude. I never got there.

As I rounded a corner, I saw a couple of cars pulled over and the occupants trying to cross the road. Being the nosey type and having seen this behavior before I pulled over too. Sure enough, this was sure to be the start of a critter jam. There were moose in the field and not just one. At least 2 males with impressive antlers, one juvenile male and a female. Of course, I didn’t have the camera with me. Just my ancient cell phone.

Seeing those moose was the best boost I could have gotten. You can be sure that my good camera & lens will be in the car the rest of the week!

Cruise to Alaska Begins in Canada

Posted on January 29, 2018January 29, 2018 by Dusty Roads | 2 Comments

The Alaska Adventure starts in Vancouver

Our Alaska Cruise departs from Vancouver, Canada. We flew into Vancouver the day before we had to board. This time we were cruising on Princess Cruise Lines. So far I’ve been on Royal Caribbean, Carnival and now Princess. I had been to Vancouver years ago for a convention. Its a beautiful city.

We didn’t have much time to explore but we did get a chance to walk along the waterfront after breakfast and before we headed to the ship. The staff at our hotel, The Best Western Sands, were awesome; helpful with our luggage and transportation to the ship.

Strolling along the Seawall

Our morning stroll started in a sculpture garden. The main sculpture is A-Maze-ing Laughter by the Chinese artist Yue Minjun.

laughter

Even though it was raining the gardeners were working on the landscaping so flowers were abundant.

gardening

So were the birds. There were Herons, gulls, ducks, geese and loads more that I couldn’t identify. I shouldn’t have been surprised about the rain. Vancouver and much of southwestern Alaska are part of a temperate rain forest! Who knew? I think of rain forest as the Amazon or Brazil but the Pacific Northwest is also rain forest! Little did we know that the rainy Vancouver morning foreshadowed what we would experience on our cruise.

Time to head to the ship

The morning flew by and before we knew it, it was time for lunch and then we needed to find the ship. The hotel concierge told us we were close to the port but with our luggage we felt a cab was a good choice. The front desk made a call bringing a cab right to the front of the hotel. It really wasn’t far to the port but there was a lot of traffic. We probably could have gotten there faster walking but I’m pretty sure we would have gotten lost! Taking the cab was the right choice.

Waterfalls of Yellowstone

Posted on December 8, 2017December 8, 2017 by Dusty Roads | 2 Comments

Waterfalls are everywhere!

So you want to see waterfalls? The concierge was waving a map at me. If it’s waterfalls you’re looking for you have come to the right place he went on. We’re better than Niagara Falls! He handed me a map with the best spots all circled and marked for me. I’d seen geysers and animals. Now it was time to concentrate on the water features, waterfalls.

Grand Teton Waterfalls

His map started with Yellowstone so I asked him if there were any waterfalls in Grand Teton National Park. He said yes but most were only accessible by hiking to them. The Yellowstone waterfalls are often near the road with parking areas and look outs. Since my back injury makes hiking difficult Yellowstone became my destination again. They pulled my car around and I got started. It’d be a good hour before I reached the southern entrance to Yellowstone. I was determined not to get side tracked.

The Elk Flats Distraction

I was hustling along pretty good until I got to Elk Flats again. There were photographers pulled over taking pictures of the horses grazing in the pasture to the left. They paid no attention to the 2 pronghorn antelope frisking around in the field to the right. Yes, I had to stop. You have to take these opportunities as they present themselves.

The Bison are back

Just over the rise I found the bison herd. No elk this morning but the bison had moved much closer to the road. They were even jumping over the rail fence. The bison paparazzi were brazen. They were right up to the fence the bull had just jumped. Too close for my taste. In front of me two bulls were head butting, getting ready to spar. A bit of Nat Geo Wild right in front of me. As much as I was enjoying the show time was passing and I hadn’t reached Moran Junction yet, much less Yellowstone. Time to get back on the road.

Tag Archives: nature