More Travels, Animals, Flora, Photos, Food, and Community!

I've probably posted a photo like this already when I mentioned my recent trip to our Audubon but I can't help but re-post this little guy!  This is Lincoln.  Ever since I met him I have been thinking about him.  He's a resident of the Audubon and was a rescue.  At some point I will be stopping by to make a donation specifically for his care.  I adore this guy!  LOOK!  He's even smiling!

One of the other stops I made while traveling for work not too long ago was one of my favorite places in our county.  This is the road to/from Kinzua Wolf Run Marina, Kinzua Dam, Kinzua Beach, Allegheny National Forest/Rim Rock, Jake's Rocks, etc.

I was thrilled with how this photo turned out considering the car was moving at about 55 mph when I took it.  Below you will see two more photos specifically from the Kinzua Beach location.  I will be revisiting Kinzua Beach this Saturday as I volunteer for a Bicycle Event and helping with registration.  My father will be helping with set-up today and the beer tent on Saturday.

But the last time I stopped at Kinzua Beach I was completely alone.  Well, I was the only human...let's put it that way!  It was a nice brain break.  Here is a photo I took while walking down the hill from the parking area.  There is a building behind me, several large parking lots, restrooms, and a few paths.  The grass you see is a small part of a LARGE grassy area where you can walk, sit, have a picnic, etc.  The bridge you see in the front is the bridge that goes over part of Kinzua and is near Kinzua Wolf Run Marina which is somewhat across the street on the other side of the bridge and Kinzua Dam itself - is not too far away.

That day I walked down to the water.  There were several ducks there.  They were not afraid of me in the least.  They actually came up to me and nibbled on my shoes and jeans.  I talked to them for several minutes.  I posted a video a while back on IG.  I was so surprised they came up to me like that but it totally made my day and I will not forget it!

Another brain break I took this past summer was to Bett's Park.  More specifically the Pollination Garden that Penn State Master Gardeners attends to each year.  These next few photos where some of the beautiful flowers I saw while there this year.

I have blogged about the Pollinator Garden before and I think I even did a walk thru video on YouTube a few years back.

Since I am backlogging these photos I must say most of the flowers and plants have since 'expired' for the season because fall is approaching.

And speaking of fall...my indoor/office plants are starting to realize what time of year it is, too!  I've already lost 3 plants and it's bumming me out.  This plant, however, is one of my newer ones.  It's called and Aluminum Plant.

This one is an Elephant Bush Plant.  I fell in LOVE with it but I think it's on its way out, too!  I hope I can save it.

My mother found a few old photos and here is one of them.  It's of my sister and I when we were in our church Kids Choir.  We were 'ewes'.  Oh...to be a kid in the 80s!

Here is a photo from the most recent Bra Shipping Party that our Zonta Club Members did.  If you remember seeing photos like these in the past you might recall we send the bras over to Free The Girls and they go to survivors of trafficking to help them start their own retail business.  Right now there are 3 countries that receive these shipments...Mozambique, Costa Rica, and El Salvador.  In about 9 months we have shipped 2,001 bras to Free The Girls from our rural area.

And now it's time for some vegan food!  Here is one of the items I found from Trader Joe's.  It was yummy and had a nice kick to it.

Right near where I work there is a NY Style Pizza and Deli place and the pizza dough just happens to be vegan.  They will put basically anything you want on a pizza.  I have enjoyed a few of them in the past but recently I decided to re-visit their 'build your own salad' and this is what they made for me.  It was darn hefty and VERY MUCH appreciated!

Greens, Broccoli, Tomato, Avocado, Cucumbers, Onion, Peppers, topped with a nice amount of Hummus, and French-Type Dressing.

Again, one of my side trips while traveling to work - and actually FOR work - I stopped in Kennedy, NY, at the Aber's Acres Produce Stand.  I couldn't pass up these AMAZING Organic Raspberries!

And...Cherry Tomatoes!  A few years ago they got their ORGANIC certification.  It was a 3 year process.  Their stuff is AMAZING, too!

More Regional Stops & Snapshots AND Even More Vegan Finds

Strange question right off the bat?  I'm a little OCD and can't stand it when I have a post that has zero comments LOL.  I posted later yesterday and earlier today and at the time of writing this yesterday's post didn't have any comments so if you can help me out by commenting on both of the posts I would appreciate it.  Does anyone else have this OCD issue when it comes to blogging?

Anyways...more photos from the last couple of months including this vegan find!  I believe I found this at Giant Eagle in Erie.  It was pretty good.  I see they are coming out with more breakfast options, however, I have found that I am eating them for dinner!

These lil gems I found at Wegmans and I have to say I'm a fan!  I see they have other products that are vegan, too, so if I see them again I will have to try them! 

I also spotted these at Wegmans.  I had been seeing other people post other flavors on IG and when I saw them FINALLY I just about jumped for joy!  I have yet to make them but one of these days I will get to it!

I've already downed this bottle of Goddess Dressing from Trader Joe's!

These I bought at Lakewood Apothecary.  They have some neat vegan snacks there.  I tried these and like them but find it to be an occasional snack and not one where I would eat an entire bag at one sitting.

I also found this Detox Toothpaste at Lakewood Apothecary!  Has anyone else located this yet by chance?  I have used it a few times and it's ok so far.

I consider myself to be somewhat techie but there are certain things I still like to have to physically write in and to have in front of me instead of using an app or device.  A daily planner is one of those things.  I have been on the search for one for what seems to be EVER and a few weeks ago I finally found one that I really like.  This was the quote that was on the front.

While in my travels for work I enjoyed the time I spent on one block of Jamestown where there were a few shops within that block.  This was one of the shops.  It's the Bio Dome Project and they had a co-op/vendor feel to it and carried some interesting items.  I loved their window store front and snapped this pic for my co-worker since she's our resident 'plant lady' and has gotten a few of us started with office plants!

Right next door was The Sprinkle Cone.  I really LOVED the look of this place!  Artsy!  They even have about 3 vegan options daily.

The space is opened via garage door but they converted the inside for this space.

It's seasonal but super cool decor where you can scribble on their chalk board walls!

While in Jamestown I also stopped over at Full Moon Rising Bakery.  They had a nice space, as well, and carry at least 1 vegan option daily.

This is the outside of the Roger Tory Peterson Institute in Jamestown, NY.  Jamestown is the home of Roger Tory Peterson who was a naturalist, educator, artist, and environmental advocate before environmentalism was 'a thing'.  His specialty was birds.

The Roger Tory Peterson Institute is right down the street from SUNY JCC - Jamestown Community College.  That's where I went to college and it's been a while since I have stopped over and spent time in that neighborhood.  Down the other side of the street is this park I used to spend time at while in college.  It's called College Park and before that it was called "Hundred Acre Lot".  The history behind it is that it was SAVED by fundraising efforts by area teachers and students and was one of the first School Parks in the nation.

Oh!  I almost forgot to post about this Vegetable Panang Curry I found at Trader Joe's!  I figured it was time for another food break in this post before moving on to more travel and regional photos and tidbits!

These two photos were taken at the foot of Bett's Park in Warren, PA.  I've featured other photos from this park before but I don't think I have posted about the water side of things.

It was a bit on the dry side when I took them.  Sometimes the water is higher.  These trees will be changing colors for fall soon.  I will try and get more fall photos this year and post them soon!

And one last photo for today.  This is another park.  This one is on the other side of Jamestown and is called McCrea Point Park.  It's a nice little park in the middle of old factory buildings and a bit of hustle and bustle.

Work Travels, Vegan Finds, & Lucille Ball

I have been traveling around the region a lot more lately with my job.  In this weather - it's nice and I enjoy it.  I don't like it when it snows and since we are now officially into fall - I know that is right around the corner.  This photo was taken at a park in Lakewood, NY.  I've always liked this view!  Beautiful!

Before I share more views with you I figured I would also share some more vegan finds in the stores I frequent OR wish I could frequent.  A few posts ago I showed you the Ranch Dip.  Here is the Sour Cream from Good Karma!

Here is a new-to-me product from Sweet Earth.  I believe I grabbed it from Target.  I haven't tried it YET but I'm thinking it will be my dinner tonight.

Another roadside stop I took this past summer was this place!  This is part of Chautauqua Lake.  It's actually part of Lakewood Community Park.

And here is one of the docks!

I was super excited to try this product from Starlite Cuisine.  It was 'ok' but I don't think I would buy it again.  I found the texture of the pea protein filling to be a little too chewy.  The sauce was better than the filling texture that is for sure!

Road Snacks!  I've been grabbing them!  They are great for traveling in a small car.  These I found at Wegmans!  I enjoyed them!

During one of my Lakewood trips I stopped at a little bookstore and they had this Rawesomely Vegan book.  Of course, I HAD to buy it!  It was only a couple of bucks.

I also found these infused flavored peanuts.  I haven't opened them YET but I see that in my near future!

I found a purple pepper a while back at Wegmans and bought it.  It spoiled VERY quickly and I didn't get a chance to eat it!  YIKES!  

Check THIS STUFF out!  Tahini in a squeeze bottle?  YES, please!  I'm not completely sure where I spotted this but I knew I had to buy it at the time.

The last time I went to Trader Joe's I saw this Almond Dip and I was so glad I decided to follow thru with the purchase.  It was so yummy!  It wasn't over the top spicy but it had a slight kick to it!

I got these the same place I got the infused peanuts from!  Lakewood Apothecary!  These were on the clearance shelf so I got them for a deal!

Here are photos from Celeron Park and the Lucille Ball Memorial Park in Celeron, NY.  Here is the lighthouse on the one end of the park near the dock and water.

In another area of the park they have this beautiful memorial for those who served.

And finally here is the bronze statue of Lucy!  She was born and raised in the Celeron, NY, and Jamestown, NY areas.  They celebrate and remember her in our region not only for her impact on comedy but women in comedy and her connection to our area!

Scenic Views, Office Plants, Vegan Food, and a Cute Puppy!

I somewhat recently found 2 vegan waffles here is one of them.  When I do eat waffles I tend to eat them dry as a snack.

These were the other waffles I found.  I want to say I found one at Wegman's and the other at Mustard Seed but I'm not completely sure.

Here is another Amy's Kitchen Bowl I recently found at Target.  It was tasty!  I'm thrilled that Amy's is coming out with more vegan options.  I just wish they were a little cheaper.  I usually only grab them if they are on sale OR if it's something I have never tried before.

Here is another Gardein find.  I think I found this at Wegman's but maybe it was Mustard Seed.  I guess that's what I get for waiting so long to post my hauls, eh!?

Of course, this one I found at Trader Joe's!  I have to say I was a fan!  

I blogged yesterday about the VioLife Shred finds but I think they are worth another mention!

These are still in my frig and I'm hoping to eat them soon so they don't go bad.  Has anyone else tried them?  I think I found these at Erie Whole Foods Co-Op.

I've never tried these before but when I saw they were all vegan and all on sale I knew I had to grab them!  Has anyone else tried these yet?

I've been traveling around several different communities the last couple of months - for work - and more than usual.  This is a snapshot from Warren but there are several others I will be sharing over time, too!

This is another from the Warren area.  It's in the Crescent Park neighborhood near the hospital.

At the end of fair week I saw a teenage boy carrying a young puppy around in a bucket.  He said the puppy was newly adopted and overly tired so he wanted to carry him.  This puppy was 'happy as a clam' in this bucket!  It was so funny!

Oh!  I almost forgot to post this photo.  I'm sure I have other photos of this downtown Warren Hickory Street Bridge but it was just a gorgeous day so I had to take another snapshot!

Here is one of my office plants from a few weeks ago!  It's a Purple Waffle Plant.  If you look at the underside of the leaves...they are purple!

And this is my Sunny Star Croton Plant and I LOVE it!  It's one of my FAVES!  I would like to find a Croton that is tri-colored with red, orange, and yellow highlights!