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As we continue to travel in the Arctic Ocean, our ship has stopped at many picturesque fishing villages, giving us some insight into one of Norway's biggest industries. It's worth noting that we never see any trash, litter, or vandalism anywhere. Each town is remarkably neat and clean, and that would also apply to the two large cities we visited, Oslo and Bergen. My impression is that life here is simple, people are hard-working and take great pride in their environment. In this part of the country, homes are modest but incredibly well-maintained.We have had some cold times, especially when we've gone out on the deck to take pictures while the ship was moving. Winds were brutal to the point where a couple of times I actually wondered if it could blow me off the ship before I reached the door to go back inside. One time I lingered a little longer than Doug taking pictures, and he came back for me, afraid that I would be overcome by the wind. We now are docked in Kirkenes, the port that is less than 10 miles from Russia. In a couple of hours, the ship will turn around and head back south. This has been a great adventure so far and certainly unlike anything we've ever done before. We're now eagerly anticipating the six days we'll be spending in the Lofoten Islands, where we're hoping to get some great landscape and wildlife images. That part of the trip begins on Saturday night as we leave the ship.Today's pictures show our ship, arctic scenery, and many of the small fishing villages.
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As of today, we are half-way through the cruise portion of this anniversary trip. We are now above the Arctic Circle and headed to Kirkenes, a city of about 3500 people that is a little less than 10 miles from the Russian border. When we get there on Thursday morning, the ship will turn around and head back south to Bergen. Doug and I will stay on board until Saturday when we'll disembark at the small town of Svolvaer in the Lofoten Islands. Once there, we'll pick up our rental car which will allow us to spend the next six days exploring the islands.We are really loving the cruise and finding it to be so relaxing. I feel like I've turned into a lazy bones, taking too many naps and spending hours doing nothing but enjoying the scenery and getting a glimpse into life in Norway. It's an impressive country and because this is a coastal cruise, we are able to see many farms, small towns, and snow capped mountains as we head north. Locals and service personnel on the ship continue to tell us that our sunny, mild weather is quite unusual for this time of year. We'll take it! Today is the first day that I've worn my flannel lined pants and probably could have gotten along without them, but they feel pretty good when I'm out in the wind on the deck with my camera. We've had some incredible sunsets aboard ship. Today's images are typical of what we're seeing as we continue to go north.
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This past February, Doug and I escorted three intrepid travelers to Tanzania for the very first Instinct Tours safari! Marcy's Photo Journey is so happy to have had a part in this collaboration effort, which was officially called our "Mamas and Babies Safari."February is a fantastic time to be in The Serengeti if you love seeing the baby animals. The landscape is lush and green, and we were surprised to witness a wildebeest birth, which was quite special. Also, a portion of the wildebeest and zebra migration was underway, and we happened to be at just the right place to immerse ourselves in that experience as well.It's Mother's Day week and what better time to announce that we are now considering another safari adventure for February 2025! Once again, our goal would be to see many mamas with their little ones in tow, as we explore Tarangire National Park, Ngorongoro Conservation Area, and The Serengeti.We are now gauging interest in this adventure and need to know if we have enough probable participants before we do any further planning. We need AT LEAST EIGHT PEOPLE to join us to make this dream come true!By the end of May, we want to be in full planning mode, so we hope to hear very soon from anyone who is SERIOUSLY CONSIDERING this option. For this 13 day life-changing experience, cost is around $7000 plus flight, and includes meals, transportation, services of a professional safari guide and naturalist, and first class accommodations. Doug and I will be working closely with our friend Makinda, owner of Instinct Tours, to bring you the best Tanzania has to offer. Either leave a comment below or contact us through private message.
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AT SEA...The pictures have to tell the story because words can't do it justice. Tomorrow we cross the Arctic Circle. Oh my goodness, we are enjoying this adventure!
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With a population of 275,000, Bergen is Norway's second largest city. It is also the rainiest city in Europe, with an average of 200 rainy days per year. We defied the odds, and both days we were in Bergen were picture perfect!Bergen is a port city and was where we boarded our ship for the coastal cruise north. We left right at sunset, so our parting shots were in beautiful light, which just added to our already favorable impression.
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Yesterday we left Flam in the morning by boat, then took a bus to Voss where we boarded a train to Bergen. It was a very good day, especially the scenic fjord cruise. I know it's kind of scenery overload, but that's what this Norway excursion is all about, and we are loving it.After a city tour of Bergen this morning and lunch in the historic downtown, we are now on our ship for the next nine days. We set sail tonight headed straight up the coast until we get to the very top point in the country. Not sure how internet will be on board, but we'll try to post when we can.
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Today's journey shared from our personal feed. See description below.
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A few weeks ago, we posted a Free Funder video about our ongoing support of Unity School in Tanzania. We thought that by using that online tool, it might lend more credibility and response to our appeal for donations. It seems, though, that we were very wrong about that because response has been minimal. If you are more comfortable donating directly to Marcy's Photo Journey by sending us a personal check or using Venmo, we would love to hear from you. Our goal by the end of May is still $2500, but as of right now, we only have $300 to take with us when we visit Unity School again in June. The need is there, and we are still hoping that many of you will contribute to this very worthy effort. We leave for Tanzania on June 13th and will be purchasing school supplies with all donated money. PLEASE HELP US! You can still use the Free Funder link or contact us for additional details on making a donation through Marcy's Photo Journey.A huge thank you to all who have donated thus far! We can make a difference in the lives of these children with your assistance.
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Norway best compares in size to Montana and has a population similar to that of Minnesota. It's well known as a very scenic country, and I can already concur with that, even though we've only seen a small portion so far. It was both fun and challenging to take pictures from the train as it chugged along from Oslo to Flam yesterday. From the beginning of spring at the first part of our journey, the landscape changed drastically to the middle of winter as we climbed into the high elevations. Today's images were all taken from the train. Hope they make you feel like you were right there with us!
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TANZANIA 2025 UPDATE!Just received word yesterday that one of the couples on the September 2025 safari will not be able to take the trip, leaving us with two openings. If you are interested in being part of this Great Migration journey, it's not too late! Also, we still have availability for six on the May/June 2025 trip. We can accept reservations through the end of this month. Doug and I are working closely with our friend, Arnold Makinda of Instinct Tours, to provide the very best educational and cultural safari experience for our travelers. It's so much more than just seeing wildlife in their natural habitat. You will have the opportunity to learn from a master naturalist whose knowledge will amaze you day after day. Makinda also has an uncanny way of being at the right place at just the right time, allowing us to witness and capture those special moments in nature.We are planning this adventure now so that we can reserve the top notch accommodations for your comfort and enjoyment. Our itinerary includes visits to the three best places to see wildlife and birds in Tanzania...Tarangire National Park, Ngorongoro Conservation Area, and The Serengeti. Interested in finding out more? CONTACT US NOW!
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Today was a travel day. We left Oslo by train at 8:25 and arrived in Flam at 2:30. We both enjoyed the train ride and had plenty of gorgeous scenery to keep us glued to the window with cameras in hand. Things are now starting to look like the Norway I was expecting!When we checked into our hotel for the next two nights, we were thrilled to find out that we seem to have landed the very best room with two decks. The two pictures below show our views from the room, and we couldn't be happier. Signs of spring are just starting to appear here, but we saw lots of deep snow along the way today as we were in some high mountains for part of the journey.Hope to put up a few more pictures later on of the scenery from the train, but it's time to head to dinner!
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Arrived at our hotel in Oslo yesterday afternoon around 1:30. Not much sleep on the plane, so we were both quite tired and a nap was the first thing on our agenda. After about 90 minutes of rest, it was time to launch out and find the location of our harbor dinner cruise, which turned out to be a great evening.I love to photograph masted ships, especially old, wooden ones, so you're getting an overload of boat pictures today. We're taking today as mainly a rest day because we have a very busy schedule over the next week. Stay tuned...
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Although the actual 50th anniversary date isn't until July, Doug and I have planned a trip to Scandinavia as our official anniversary trip. We fly the friendly skies tomorrow, from Knoxville to Washington DC, to Frankfurt, and finally landing in Oslo on Sunday. Looks like the winter coats will come out of hiding for at least a portion of the journey when we'll be above the Arctic Circle in Norway.If you know of someone who would enjoy traveling with us, seeing our pictures, and reading our thoughts on Norway, Sweden, and Denmark, please invite them to follow Marcy's Photo Journey! We're anticipating some of the most beautiful landscapes we've ever seen and hoping we can do a good job of capturing them for you to enjoy.We'll be checking in as often as possible!
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We will be so honored if you visit our gallery tomorrow during Spring Market! Come early for best selections throughout the store.
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A preview of our Spring Market sale coming up this Saturday at Grit & Grace in Cleveland! If you see something you love and cannot make it to the market, let us know and we'll tell you how to purchase online and have your purchase shipped to your home. It's easy!
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Doug and I have been working too hard lately, and we hadn't been able to fit in a trip to Cades Cove in a very long time. We decided this morning that heading to the mountains would do us some good, and we were right about that. Three months is way too long to go without that "Smokies hug" that always refreshes and rejuvenates.Bears were everywhere! We saw a total of 16, and the Cove was so beautiful with all of the spring greens. A few dogwoods were still in bloom, and traffic wasn't as bad as I had thought it would be. All in all, a great day!
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"Foggy Solitude Along the North Shore" is the sixth in our new, premium line of art pieces created for Grit & Grace's Spring Market coming up this Saturday. A misty, mysterious afternoon proved to be a special gift as we visited this coastal location in Iceland and spent time walking along the coast with our cameras in hand.At 38 X 26, the framed canvas an ideal focal point for any room in your home. Add that homey, nostalgic, cozy feel to your space by hanging this one above your fireplace, sofa, or bed. The soft, neutral palette will easily blend in with any decor while providing a sense of peace and serenity.You can't go wrong with original art...SURROUND YOURSELF WITH THINGS YOU LOVE!Enjoy 20% off the regular price of $350 during the Spring Market on Saturday!(Can't make it to The Market? WE SHIP!)
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Have you ever stood on a mountain top in the black darkness of night and waited for that first glimpse of light on the horizon? It's an amazing experience and one that I hope I'll have many more times in the future."By Dawn's Early Light" is the best photograph of that special moment that I've been able to capture to date. It was taken from Clingmans Dome in the Smokies on an extremely cold, October morning. I crawled out of my warm bed around 2:45 am to be able to make the journey, picking up a photographer friend on the way, and be there in time to set up and wait for the moment.This image makes the viewer feel like you are right there! Although we have sold three large metals of this one, we now have a canvas for the very first time. Framed in a natural, barn wood frame, "By Dawn's Early Light" measures 38 X 26 and is our 4th new art piece, created especially for Grit & Grace Market's big celebration of Spring one week from tomorrow, April 27th.Receive 20% off the regular price of $350 ON THAT DAY ONLY.
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GREAT NEWS! Our Tanzania Great Migration adventure for September, 2025 is NOW FULL.We are thrilled to have the opportunity to escort 15 passengers on this journey to one of our favorite spots in the world. If you were hoping to be part of this unique travel opportunity and missed out on September, we still have eight spots remaining for the May/June option, but you need to ACT NOW.(We will begin a WAITING LIST in case someone has to drop out of the September trip. Just let us know if you'd like to be on it.)
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"Praying for a Rainbow" is one of our new pieces coming to Marcy's Photo Journey at Grit & Grace Market! At 38 X 26 and framed in a rustic, barn wood, handcrafted frame, it is the ideal size for above a bed, sofa, or fireplace!Regular price for this premium quality canvas is $350, but it will be 20% off for the Spring Market on April 27th. Make plans now to see this one and six other brand new pieces being delivered next week!
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Just finished framing this beauty! At 62 X 42, “Mountains Mighty” is the biggest canvas we’ve ever ordered as a gallery piece, although we have had at least one custom order metal that was even larger. If you have an extra large wall space and are looking for an impact piece, you’ll want to see this premium line, fine art canvas in person.Coming to our Knoxville gallery by the weekend!
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We're gearing up for one of the very best days of spring, Grit & Grace's Spring Market on April 27th. Seven brand new framed canvases will be available at the Market, and I'm going to preview each of them over the next few days.First up is "Roan Mountain Sunrise," a stunning 38 X 26 piece from our top quality premium line. Finished in a hand-crafted barn wood frame, this versatile piece would look great above a fireplace, sofa, desk, bed, or dining room buffet.Regularly priced at $350, it will be reduced by 20% at the Market...an incredible deal for a premium line piece.(If you love this one and live far enough away that you cannot attend the Market, we'd be happy to create this same piece for you and ship it to your home!)
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Dramatic landscapes are the norm in Iceland, and I keep going back to these images, taken in 2022, and finding ones I love. Just added the photos below to the website this morning, and you may want to take a look if you like breathtaking landscapes. (Actually hoping I can convince Doug to return to Iceland sometime before long, so that I can capture more of that magical destination.)THROUGH MIDNIGHT TONIGHT, ALL PURCHASES ON MY WEBSITE WILL BE DISCOUNTED BY 20%. Access the site with the following link: marcysphotography.com.
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We are kicking off our funding campaign for Unity School of Tanzania. PLEASE watch the short video on this link and consider donating. In order to reach as many potential donors as possible, we request that you share on your personal page! Thank you so much for helping us reach our goal of $2,500 by June 1st.
www.freefunder.com
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One of our canvas suppliers is currently offering a spring sale on their products, and we'd like to pass the savings on to you. Because the response to some of our churches in Iceland was so positive, we've chosen three versions of "Little Cliffside Church" (shown below) and are taking orders. Very simple, and yet dramatic and impactful, this image will print beautifully on canvas!Two sizes are available in our standard canvas line: 16 X 24..........................$75.00 20 X 30..........................$85.00If you'd like to have your canvas framed, Doug will custom frame it in a floating frame for an additional $75 for the smaller size and $85.00 for the larger one. You may personalize your picture by having a scripture verse or inspirational text added at no extra charge.Orders will be accepted through April 26th. Please send us a message if you are interested. Prepayment will be expected either by check or Venmo before we place your order.Great Mother's Day gift!(WE SHIP, so don't let distance stop you! For local customers, we will make arrangements for pick up at our home in Knoxville or our gallery at Grit & Grace Market.)
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If you haven't yet visited our Knoxville gallery, located in Painted Tree Boutiques - Knoxville, TN, this weekend would be a great time to do so! The entire store is having a HUGE End of Season Sale, and Marcy's Photo Journey has plenty of markdowns throughout our three spaces there.Look for us in G 9-10, B 15, and D 22. You'll love our variety...from the Smokies to Yellowstone and the Grand Tetons to Europe and on to Africa. Come see us!
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As all of us who live in east Tennessee know, Spring doesn't always come easy around here! It has to tease us two or three times before really deciding to hang around awhile. Even so, I wouldn't trade a Smoky Mountains spring for living anywhere else. Cades Cove is greener by the day, and my steps are just naturally a little lighter this time of year. The light in the mornings is so gorgeous, and everywhere you look there's a freshness that just has a way of naturally bringing hope to our spirits.Enjoy two spring images below that would make a great focal point in your home. Large or small, a good photo should tell a story and be so engaging that the viewer will enjoy looking at it again and again. If you're interested in placing a custom order on any image that we feature on this page, please contact us and we'll explain the process. From now through the end of the month, all who place a customer order will receive 20% off our regular pricing and we will wave the $50 custom order fee.I'll be sharing a variety of options over the next several days in hopes that you will see something that you love!(As always, NO ONE IS LEFT OUT of this offer! WE SHIP.)
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Through April 30th, we would like to offer all local business owners, service providers, and medical and law professionals A GREAT DEAL! Do you have a restaurant, barber shop, insurance business, bakery, law practice? We've got you covered!If you desire a new, fresh look for your work space, Marcy's Photo Journey is here to help. Consider decorating your offices with unique, original art instead of the same, mass-produced pieces seen everywhere. We have tens of thousands of stunning fine art photography images from all over the world and right here in east Tennessee. Would you like an old world Europe look with pieces from prominent cities in England, France, Spain, Italy, Ireland, Iceland, Scotland, Germany, Austria, Hungary, Czech Republic, Slovakia, The Netherlands, Switzerland, Poland, Portugal, or Belgium? We have it!Or how about an African safari theme with landscapes and wildlife from South Africa, Zimbabwe, Eswatini, Botswana, Kenya, Namibia, or Tanzania?Maybe you're a lover of our US national parks, as we are! We'd love to show you selections from Grand Tetons, Yellowstone, Yosemite, Sequoia, Zion, Grand Canyon, or your favorite park.Or maybe you, like us, think that east Tennessee and Great Smoky Mountains National Park are the best places on earth. We are full and running over with scenic landscapes taken in Cades Cove, and there's certainly no shortage of bear images in our files!We also have some wonderful images from Knoxville, University of Tennessee, Cleveland, Lee University, and Chattanooga.Contact us now to get the ball rolling, and RECEIVE 40% OFF OUR STANDARD FRAMED CANVASES AND METALS WHEN YOU ORDER THREE OF MORE PIECES. With our room placement software, we can show you exactly how your chosen images will look in your space! If you are interested in something we already have in our inventory, we will give you 45% off our regular pricing, upon purchase of at least three items.ALL SHARES GREATLY APPRECIATED!
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"Little Black Chapel Along the Icelandic Shore" was just placed on order in our premium canvas line. We're expecting delivery by April 19th and plan to have it to one of the galleries by the end of the month.
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You are invited to join us on a life-changing adventure to Tanzania in 2025! See God's amazing world as you have never seen it before by spending your days out in The Serengeti, Tarangire National Park, and Ngorongoro Conservation Area. Soak in all that nature has to has to offer, and learn from the very best naturalist guides and expert educators.Deposit information was sent out yesterday to all who had asked to reserve a spot for either May or September, 2025. Our Photo Journey followers have top priority, but after April 30th, we will be opening this trip up to other groups. IF YOU PLAN TO GO WITH US AND DID NOT RECEIVE YOUR DEPOSIT INFORMATION BY EMAIL, CONTACT US NOW!
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If you have been a follower for very long, you'll probably remember our trip to Iceland in September, 2022. Iceland was wonderful, and Doug and I still talk about returning there in a different season, on our own without a tour group, when we can slow it down it bit and take a closer look.Very dramatic landscapes...beautiful waterfalls, seascapes, rugged coastlines, black sand beaches, glaciers, and steaming calderas can all be found on this relatively small island that is close in size to the state of Kentucky. Incredible photo opportunities were everywhere we looked!I had no idea, though, how much I would love to see the many churches that dotted the landscape of Iceland. The predominant denomination in Iceland is Lutheran. I was struck by how picturesque the churches were, even though so many were the same architecturally. Most of them were very small, white, simply designed, and had red roofs. In a couple of the larger cities, we saw unusual, more contemporary styles, that were beautiful as well.Meant to post these closer to Easter, but I'm just now having the time. Enjoy!
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And the days are flying by! Just checked my calendar, and it's only ten weeks until we leave once again for Tanzania with our June group. ATTENTION ALL 2025 INTERESTED PARTIES AND PROSPECTS:We just sent out the final itinerary and accommodations links for this year's June trip. If you go through the document, if will give you a very good glimpse into the 2025 excursions. If you did not receive this email, we need to hear from you.(Please enjoy more images from February! I'm still going through them and discovering new photos.)
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Happy Easter! May God bless you with special joy and peace on this wonderful day.
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Make sure to head over to Grit & Grace Market for their Easter Market today!! All vendors can be found inside today. 🐣🐰✝️⛪️🐥
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We now have huge Easter sales in progress at both galleries! Enjoy 25% off ALL FRAMED CANVAS AND METAL ART PIECES at our Cleveland location in Grit & Grace Market. The second Marcy's Photo Journey gallery is in Painted Tree Boutiques - Knoxville, TN where you will find many pieces with significant mark downs."Rainbow Row Morning" and "Lancaster County Dawn, " pictured below, are two large framed canvas pieces that sold at our Knoxville location just last week. We're very happy to see both of these art pieces, which were part of our Knoxville photography exhibition, find their permanent homes.Come by either (or both) locations while selection is good and take advantage of this sale through March 31st. Not local? We ship our work all over the country, so you can also get in on this sale.
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We will be taking initial deposits for both Tanzania 2025 Great Migration Adventures during the next couple of weeks! The September trip is very close to being full, but we still have spots available for the May/June time frame. It's so exciting for us to have on our lists many friends whom we have met on other trips all over the world! We feel very honored to have them travel with us again, and it's wonderful to anticipate seeing fellow travelers from the past!Final itineraries and schedules are close to being published, and we are still expecting both trips to fill to capacity. Why? It's simple...Doug and I believe we are able to promote the VERY BEST in a safari experience as we work alongside Instinct Tours and our expert guide, Arnold Makinda. We started small by taking three passengers with us in February. Perhaps the greatest endorsement of the tour is the fact that all three are returning again next year!If you've been toying with the idea of joining us, it's not too late! Send us your email address, and we'll get the information to you without delay.(View each photo separately for commentary!)
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From Tanzania to New York in the span of just three weeks! Our time in the city with our four oldest granddaughters was SO MUCH FUN...not sure when we last laughed so much. Hallie, Sadie, Marleigh, and Madelyn were phenomenal to travel with, and we are so grateful for each one.One of the highlights of the adventure in New York was our sunset cruise along the Hudson River. I loved the opportunity to shoot the city at night from the water, giving a new perspective, completely different than anything I had seen in the past.Some beautiful light streaming through one of the windows in the New York Public Library called for a couple of models. 🙂
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One more week to take advantage of 20% off all custom orders from our Tanzania safari adventure!
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Another Serengeti glimpse...It was our last night in the southern Serengeti, and early the next morning, we were leaving for Ngorongoro. We had seen lots of animal mamas and babies and plenty of male and female lions, but no baby lions. When we first spotted this beautiful lioness from a distance, she was in perfect afternoon light and a nice setting, so I captured the first landscape then. As were moved closer, we could see that she was sound asleep and it didn't appear that she would be moving anytime soon.The third picture shows how she looked the next time we passed by her. Aha! She was obviously a nursing mama, so there had to be cubs somewhere nearby! We all began scanning the area to see if we could find any cubs within our sightline. Sure enough, weeds were moving up on a bank. a ways from where we were. We headed that direction, and it wasn't long before we could see little heads peeking over the tall weeds and, at times, tails and paws flying through the air. They were too well hidden and too far away, though, to get any really good shots. We moved a short distance away where we saw a lioness in the "kill stance" and when we followed her stare, we spotted a line of wildebeests approaching. What were we about to see? As the wildebeests got closer, she took off like a shot, but was unsuccessful in the end. After missing the kill, she disappeared down into the weeds for several minutes, and we all wondered if she may have been hurt during the confrontation.Then we saw her get up and head back toward where the cubs were waiting. This was the first time we knew for sure that she was the same mama we had seen resting earlier. The reunion of the little family was priceless!
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Three more examples showing how our recent images from safari can take your space from drab to drama! Remember we are currently offering 20% off all Tanzania photos through March 15th.
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Come with us to Tanzania in 2025!Marcy's Photo Journey is collaborating with Instinct Tours to bring our customers the VERY BEST in a first-class safari experience. See the best nature has to offer, and bring home wonderful memories and fantastic pictures. Our trips are photographer-friendly, with top notch guides who know where to find the shots and how to capture the best light. You will enjoy classy accommodations with excellent service and delicious meals. Both May and September trips are scheduled with the Great Migration in mind. We can promise you there won't be a dull moment! Plans are now being finalized, and we'd love to send you more information. Don't miss out...just contact us with your email address(All shares are encouraged and greatly appreciated.)
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Marketing is not my favorite thing! I'd much rather just shoot and share photos, but I guess it's time come back to earth so we can sell some images and pay our gallery rent. 🙂Consider one of our stunning Africa landscapes for your home or office. ALL CUSTOM ORDERS FROM OUR RECENT SAFARI TO TANZANIA ARE 20% OFF THROUGH MARCH 15TH.(As always, shares are greatly appreciated!)
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I LOVE THEM ALL!The birds, antelopes, elephants, wildebeests, zebras, hippos, and even the reptiles...I get excited about every sighting on a safari. But my heart beats just a little bit faster when we see the BIG CATS. As I continue to pore over tens of thousands of photos from our recent trip to Tanzania, I find myself returning again and again to the cats. This adventure will always be in my mind as THE LION SAFARI, and I honestly never got tired of seeing them. So we're going to close this chapter with some more images of cats.It you have seen any picture that you are interested in having in your home or office from our safari, we are offering 20% off on custom orders through March 15th. Contact us for sizing and pricing details!
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WE NOW ONLY HAVE 3 SPOTS LEFT FOR OUR GREAT MIGRATION SEPTEMBER ADVENTURE 2025! (May still has openings.)If you're thinking about joining us, we'd love to hear from you.
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Okay, several of you said you weren't tired of seeing safari pictures, so here we go! I have tried to identify these, but hopefully Arnold Makinda will see this post and help me out by commenting on the ones I don't remember or can't find in my bird book.For the bird lovers...
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"THE UGLY SIDE"Since many of you seem fine with a few more pictures and stories from our recent safari with IInstinct Tours, I thought I'd share just a little bit more. This scene took place on our first full day in The Serengeti as we were off road in an area that can only be accessed by obtaining a special permit. We had never been here before, and it was exciting to experience first hand some of the great wildebeest and zebra migration, as we found ourselves literally surrounded by hundreds of thousands of moving animals.We were leaving the large herds and going back out to the open landscape, when Makinda spotted a hyena running far ahead of our vehicle. Sensing that this hyena was on a "mission" of some kind, we followed chase and came upon a recent kill of a zebra. The zebra was still mostly intact, and we had no way of knowing exactly what had happened before we arrived, but assumed that perhaps a lion had killed the zebra overnight. Many birds (including four different types of vultures) were zooming to the scene get their share of the carcass, and the hyena we followed dived right in and was soon joined by another hyena. It was total chaos, and things were happening so fast as we watched nature at work.I LOVE zebras and kept reminding myself that all animals have to eat, but at times it was hard to watch. I have never witnessed an actual kill, but have seen some near misses and happened by just after kills have taken place. It's gruesome and gory and the ugly side of safari, but does provide an understanding of how things work in the wild. "Survival of the fittest" is much more understood than when I first heard the phrase in fifth grade science class!
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With the beginning of each new month, I always like to take a few minutes to look forward to upcoming events on the horizon for Photo Journey.Now home a week from our most recent trip to Tanzania, we are rested and eager to see spring arrive here in the Smokies and look forward to baby bears, incredible Cades Cove mornings, and opportunities to capture migrating birds through our lenses as they move through our area. In just nine days, we leave for New York with Hallie, Sadie, Marleigh, and Madelyn! There's nothing like spending time with our granddaughters, and we already know there'll be plenty of laughing and making great memories together. Easter is early this year, so we look forward to another great family weekend as we all celebrate our risen Savior the last weekend of this month.Although our 50th wedding anniversary isn't until the end of July, Doug and I have planned a special celebration trip to Norway during the last week of April and first couple weeks of May. This time we will not be traveling with a group, but will be exploring on our own, at our own pace, taking time to enjoy the culture and photography of Scandinavia. We are really looking forward to this special time together and can hardly believe that we have been married almost fifty years. That has to mean we're old, doesn't it?First weekend in June, we once again will be part of the Lenoir City Arts and Crafts Festival. Right after that, it's time to escort our second group of travelers to Tanzania. Believe it or not, we're already looking forward to another two week safari trip because we know what awaits us!Marcy's Photo Journey friends and followers are the best! You consistently encourage us and are so kind in your comments and feedback about our photography. Still hoping to increase our numbers and would really appreciate your help. If you know of someone who would enjoy seeing our travels and photography, please mention us to them or invite them to follow our page. May God bless you and your families!
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By now, most of you are probably wondering if I'm ever going to stop posting from this last safari trip! I know it's been a lot, but we saw so many great sights that it's easy to get carried away.This will be the end, at least for a while...I promise! It's time to start looking ahead to our next adventure, which will be very different from this last one. In just two weeks, we are taking our four oldest granddaughters to New York over their spring break. So from the remote places of Africa, it's on to the Big Apple!Thanks to all for following along and providing such wonderful feedback on our photos from Tanzania. We already have several committed to travel with us in 2025, and now it's only fifteen weeks until we escort our next group of travelers and get to do it all over again.
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Have you ever wondered what "glamping" on the plains of the Serengeti is like? These were our most primitive accommodations, but with sisal carpet, flush toilets and hot showers in each tent, we were doing OK. You will see the main dining and lounge tent where they serve nice hot meals. Some camps are permanent, but they break down this particular camp at the end of March and reassemble everything closer to where the great migration is concentrated, then return next spring (October or November) to this site. Click on the audio to enjoy the sounds of nature.
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Doug and I will be sending out information to all parties interested in Tanzania 2025 TODAY! If you are not yet on our list and would like to find out more about our collaboration with Instinct Tours, please contact us with your email address at marcysphotojourney@gmail.com. It's not my intention to wear you out with photos, but I really want to show what it's like to go on safari. Most of these images have accompanying commentary and need to be viewed full screen.We would love to have you travel with us on this trip of a lifetime! (ALL SHARES GREATLY APPRECIATED.)
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"I CAN'T BELIEVE I ATE THE WHOLE THING"!There was never a day that we didn't see lions! Over the course of the safari, we spotted between 60-70...truly a phenomenal amount of lions. There have been other safari trips when we have only had one sighting, and on our first trip to South Africa and Botswana, we had no sightings at all, so it was almost unreal to see so many this time.When we first entered Serengeti, we saw this guy who was resting quite close to the road. Right away we noticed that he seemed a little stressed because he was panting rapidly. It was fairly hot, so we assumed that the panting was necessary as a way of cooling off.As he turned over, however, we were amazed at the size of his stomach! OH MY GOODNESS, this lion was stuffed. We all started recalling Thanksgiving dinners when we had "overdone it" a bit and could relate to his misery. 🙂Before the journey was complete, we would see many overeaters along the way. When they have food available, lions indulge to the point of misery and then "sleep it off" until hunger strikes again.
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Doug and I were thrilled to have Diane Murphey join us for the Instinct Tours inaugural adventure in Tanzania! We met Diane during a NPEG group shoot in Yellowstone just over two years ago and have kept in touch with her on Facebook since that time.A fellow photographer, Diane is from a very remote area of Oklahoma and serves on the city council of her small town. She stays busy with her family of six children and 21 grandchildren and her photography! Diane retired from Oklahoma Panhandle State University where she taught information technology for 40 years.It was our pleasure to get to know her better during our two week safari adventure and now have no doubt that we will be life long friends. Please take a few moments to read Diane's review of her experience in Tanzania: Tanzania Trip Review - Feb. 2024 "Tanzania is truly an amazing country blessed with beauty, bountiful wildlife, friendly and interesting people and a distinct culture of kindness. Just finished a safari with Instinct Tours, which was coordinated by Marcy’s Photo Journey. We toured both central and southern Serengeti and were blessed with a guide who enjoyed traveling slowly through this incredible creation allowing us to stop frequently. He would place the vehicle so that we had the very best opportunities to observe and photograph the animals and landscape. We were able to photograph the unique wildlife who live in the Serengeti including elephants, giraffes, lions, cheetahs, leopards, monkeys, baboon, hippo, rhino, cape buffalo, wildebeests, zebras, and more, including a large variety of birds. Grateful for our guide, Arnold Makinda from Instinct Tours, who shared his depth of knowledge about the animals, country, people and ecosystem. He enabled us to get the shots that not everybody can get . For info on 2025 tours, contact Marcy's Photo Journey. This was my first trip to Tanzania, and it far exceeded any expectations I could have had. Would I return? You bet – in a second! I would absolutely go on a trip guided by Instinct Tours with tour coordination by Marcy's Photo Journey!"
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Why travel with Marcy's Photo Journey and Instinct Tours?We aren't interested in offering the cheapest Tanzanian experience, but we do feel that we provide the BEST TANZANIA EXPERIENCE! After two safaris with Arnold Makinda, Doug and I saw something very special about his qualifications and ability to enable those with him to learn the most, see the most, and get the shots no one else gets! When Makinda shared with us that he was starting his own tour company, we asked what we could do to help him.Now, having just returned from the most wonderful safari adventure we have ever taken (and our third tour with Makinda), we are even more enthused about doing whatever we can do to enable our friends and followers to take part in the most exciting African journey imaginable. Instinct Tours offers a first class, top notch tour in every way. Believe me, we wouldn't be doing this if we weren't totally convinced that it's the best out there! Two tours are on the calendar for 2025, and a third is now being considered. If you've ever had a desire to see the magic found in The Serengeti, contact us for specific information.(Look for reviews soon from those who traveled with us! All three of our travelers are returning with us in 2025, so that's a great endorsement.)
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On our recent trip to Tanzania, we explored a completely different area of the Serengeti. It was such a pleasure to see the southern part, which included Lake Ndutu and a major migration route for wildebeest and zebras. One of our sunrises there was spent with flamingoes who were enjoying the early morning light right along with us.We are often asked why we want to return to the same place again and again. Nature will always serve up something unique and different!"Flamingo Sunrise" is now available for custom order!
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MIRACLE IN THE SERENGETI!The reason Doug and I had wanted our first safari collaboration with Instinct Tours to be in February was because at this time of year, wildlife babies are often spotted with with their mamas. As it turned out, it was a great choice of seasons because we did see SO MANY BABIES.In the Serengeti, over 8000 wildebeest calves are born between December and March. Only 20% of those babies survive. Female wildebeest are known for not being good mothers and sometimes even forget that they have a baby to care for! We witnessed little ones all alone frantically crying for their moms, and Makinda told us that sometimes the moms just wander off mindlessly, leaving the babies as orphans.On one of our last safari days, we witnessed the birth of a baby wildebeest, and it was quite exciting to see. It took about 45 minutes to an hour from the time we noticed that this mama was in labor until she gave birth, and I documented it all through my lens.The pictures below show the baby and mom from the moment of birth until the little one was able to nurse for the first time. I found myself hoping desperately that this particular mama would not forget her baby and that this little one would defy the odds and live a long and happy wildebeest life.
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LIONS!Over the course of 10 days, we saw more than 60 lions. They were everywhere it seemed...trees, fields, near water, and even spotted in a drainage pipe!Sharing some of my favorites...
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It's great to be back home this morning as we continue to reflect on our wonderful journey to Tanzania! As I look ahead on our calendar, it's only sixteen weeks until we get to do it all over again with a new group of travelers. The featured photo today was taken when we visited a local market before our safari began. This gentleman was all smiles, and is typical of the joyful people of Tanzania.Thanks to all of you who followed our adventure, and whispered a prayer or two for us along the way. I'll be sharing more about the trip over the next couple of weeks. Without question, this was the very best safari we've ever had. Thank you, Arnold Makinda and Instinct Tours for a phenomenal journey!
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Now in Amsterdam awaiting our flight to Atlanta and then on to Knoxville. As I turned on my phone just now, Facebook asked what is on my mind. After a trip like this one, there are so many things swirling around in my brain, but foremost on my mind are the children and teachers from Unity Primary School in Arusha yesterday morning.They made us feel so welcome, and were eager to show us their school and their work. Everyone in our group cherished the interaction with these precious children, and we left there forever changed!We are hoping to begin an ongoing support of this small, private school, and I’m confident that we can make a difference. The smiles of these faces tell the story. Consider helping us!
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We're now at the airport in Tanzania and will be boarding in about an hour for the long trip home! Arriving in Knoxville Thursday evening around 7:30, if all goes as scheduled. Sometime very soon I'll have enough time to tell you the stories behind some of these photos. I hate that my limitations here with internet have made it impossible to keep you informed as much as I had wanted during the trip. We were in some very remote areas, so posting regularly was impossible.We visited Unity Primary School this morning and delivered our school supplies and all donated money. The students and teachers were so excited and appreciative of everything! We took a lot of pictures and will be sharing those soon.We feel that God has blessed this trip in many unique ways, and we are thanking HIm as we head back home. Until next time...
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Good morning from Tanzania! You've probably figured out by now that I was quite limited by lack of strong internet while on safari and unable to regularly check in. We are now finished with the most wonderful safari trip ever, and I have many, many pictures to go through. You'll be hearing and seeing much more in the next few days as we wind things up here and begin our journey home.
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Checking out of our first Serengeti camp site is always a little sad. We leave Embalaki Camp in a few minutes and head to our next camp. It was a wonderful three nights here, and we’ll be back in June! It’s still not too late to consider joining us for either our May or September 2025 Tanzania Adventure. September is filling up fast! We’d love to send you the information, if you’d sent us your email address.
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Checking in from Tarangire National Park before we leave tomorrow for The Serengeti. We've already had two glorious safari days, but there just hasn't been much time for me to post because our days have been so full. Luggage arrived, and ALL IS WELL! More to come soon....
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Making history!Marcy's Photo Journey is thrilled to have had a part in launching the very first Instinct Tours Safari! It was a great day together as our dear friend, Arnold Makinda, presented each of our travelers with these beautiful shirts, custom designed by his daughter-in-law Diva, to mark this momentous occasion. Granddaughter Merci was on hand to present the gifts and pose with us for pictures. We leave early tomorrow for Tarangire National Park, so look for safari pictures soon. Congratulations, Arnold Makinda, on the beginning of a very successful tour company!
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When things don't go as planned...There were a few unexpected bumps in the road as we made the long journey to Kilimanjaro from Knoxville. Our plane leaving from Atlanta to Amsterdam was delayed about an hour and 45 minutes as maintenance crews worked on the non-flushing bathrooms. Because our connection in Amsterdam was on the short side, we missed our plane to Tanzania and spent the night in Amsterdam. We actually felt that it ended up being a blessing because we were able to rest up, leaving Amsterdam refreshed for the 9 hour flight to Kilimanjaro.Upon arrival last night, however, was when the real fun began. Three of our four pieces of luggage did not make it! So we have not yet changed our clothes since we left Knoxville early Wednesday. But we are still happy and eager to begin our safari journey in the morning. Our luggage should arrive late tonight, if what they tell us is accurate. We'll see...Doug grabbed a couple of cell phone shots when we landed. (I didn't feel nearly as tired and weary as I look!)We arrived at Lake Duluti Lodge where they had a delicious dinner for us, and after finishing our meal at 1:00 am (probably the latest we’ve ever finished dinner in our lives), we were so cozy and comfortable in our great accommodation here. It's always wonderful to be back in Africa!
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Big hurdle was lugging the big load of school supplies for Tanzania, also hoping our surprise for Makinda makes it safely.
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Departure Day!In a few hours, we're leaving Knoxville for Atlanta, then Amsterdam, and finally Kilimanjaro, Tanzania. Hoping you're planning to follow along as we take three travelers with us this time and join up with Instinct Tours for what is sure to be a fantastic safari adventure.Plans are to carefully document this trip and post regularly. Of course we're always subject to internet strength and availability, so if you don't hear from us for a day or two, that is likely the issue.Arrival is expected to be 12:00 noon (Knoxville time) tomorrow, which will be 8:00 pm there. Safari doesn't actually begin until Sunday, so we will be enjoying some rest and flight recovery until then at Lake Duluti Lodge in Arusha. We are so thankful to be in a position to show others the wonder we have discovered in Tanzania, excited to deliver school supplies for the children of Unity Primary School, and thrilled to support the new business of our friend, Arnold Makinda! Invite others to follow our Facebook page and join in on the journey! This will be the perfect opportunity for all who are interested in getting in on the 2025 Great Migration adventures (May and September) to see what it is like day by day.
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Good morning! Anyone out there ready to bid Winter farewell and welcome Spring?Just added to our gallery in Grit & Grace Market, "The Forest Floor" is not your traditional landscape piece. If you could use a fresh, vibrant, more contemporary look for that room in your home that desperately needs an update, this brand new metal (36 X 24) could be it. With its integrated standout frame mounted to the back of the picture, it literally "stands out" from the wall one inch when hung. Full of texture and color, the glossy metal finish has incredible depth, which gives the picture a three dimensional look. Taken right here in east Tennessee along the Blue Ridge Parkway, there's no better way to bring the outside in and create a fantastic focal point for any room in your home or office. This is an extremely versatile piece!Come by Marcy's Photo Journey and take a look to fully appreciate!(Your shares help us spread the word about our small, family business and are greatly appreciated. We are happy to accept payment through Venmo, Zelle, and PayPal and ship to your home.)
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One of life’s greatest joys is being grandmother of these three sweethearts! On our way to church and feeling incredibly blessed this morning…
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Iceland is known as "the land of fire and ice" and carries with it a sense of mystery and wonder. There's no lack of gorgeous, unique landscapes throughout the island country, and I'm already hoping to return again to capture more. If you'd love a different look for your home than you can find in your area, one of our landscapes from Iceland just might be what you need. Click on the link to see many options available on our website.
Sunrise Along Iceland's Eastern Shore by Marcy Wielfaert
fineartamerica.com
Sunrise Along Iceland's Eastern Shore Photograph by Marcy Wielfaert0 CommentsComment on Facebook
For all lovers of cities, large and small!
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Coming on the heels of the holiday sales season, January has always been a very rough month for us. In November and December, you may remember we enjoyed record sales and were so appreciative and thankful to end strong, because 2023 was a tough year for our business.Based on past years, our expectations for January were quite low, and we prepared ourselves once again to most likely struggle to make rent. However, we are feeling especially blessed to end January with record sales once again. In four years, we have never had such a great January!Since we consider many of you part of our "Photo Journey Team" because you consistently support and encourage us, we always love letting you in on what is selling and where the pictures ended up finding a home. I'm posting them a little differently this time, in the context of a home or office setting. It's more fun that way! 🙂Between the website and our two galleries, we sold a total of 10 images in addition to cards and calendars. We are thanking God for his abundant blessings during the first month of the year.Fingers crossed for February...
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During the past two weeks, I have posted a great variety of pictures in many different settings in hopes that something would catch your eye during our winter sale period. TODAY IS THE LAST DAY to receive 25% off current inventory or 20% off custom orders. "SURROUND YOURSELF WITH THINGS YOU LOVE..."(YES, WE SHIP!)
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GOOD NEWS! We have now exceeded our goal and have commitments of $600 for our Unity School project in Tanzania. Some of that money has already been spent for school supplies for us to deliver when we visit the school at the end of next week. In consultation with our contact in country, Arnold Makinda, we will then determine other priorities while we are there.Thank you so much to all who made this possible by making donations! We can still accept donations electronically until our departure one week from today, so if you want to help, please send me a message and I will give you the details.We will be posting pictures of our visit to Unity School after our visit!(Picture below taken with permission on a school visit in 2019.)
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LAST APPEAL FOR UNITY SCHOOL!Yesterday we placed a large order for soccer balls, crayons, pencils, and notebook paper to take with us to Tanzania. We're looking forward to delivering all of those supplies in addition to a monetary donation to a small, struggling primary school in Arusha in about 10 days!Thanks to those who have already contributed to this effort with donations. We have raised $365 toward our goal of $500, but it's not too late if you want to join us in blessing the children of Tanzania.Contact us NOW and we'll let you know how you can help. We leave one week from tomorrow!
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Today's feature is one of my favorite images from last year's adventure in Costa Rica! Toward the middle of the two week trip, we spent two nights in the Monteverde Cloud Forest region, and I was so thrilled to have this amazing sunset view from our hotel room. "Cloud Forest Sunset" is available for custom order. Remember that our custom order sale of 20% off now only has three more days. Time to make your decision and get your order placed!Sale ends on January 31st. Contact us for size options and pricing details. WE SHIP!
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Last weekend to enjoy our January savings of 25% on all wall art at Marcy's Photo Journey! Check out these selections that are still available, ready to find their location in your home."SURROUND YOURSELF WITH THINGS YOU LOVE..."(View each picture individually for context and commentary. All shares greatly appreciated! WE SHIP TO YOUR HOME.)
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Just two weeks from today we'll be landing at Kilimanjaro International Airport for our first Tanzania Safari Adventure of 2024! We plan to wake up some sleepy leopards and see lots of new babies and mamas in The Serengeti. It is especially thrilling for us to be taking along our first group of travelers on this journey.You still have time to help us by making a DONATION TO UNITY SCHOOL, a primary school that we will be visiting before the beginning of our safari. THEY COULD USE YOUR HELP! Our initial response has been disappointing, but we are still in hopes of achieving our goal of $500 to present to them when we visit. If you would like to make a donation to this very worthy cause, please contact us for details. Help us help the children of Tanzania...no donation is too small.
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BEARS!!When we meet new friends during travel and they learn that we are from Tennessee, they respond by mentioning Elvis, Tennessee whiskey, or Smoky Mountains bears. Can't say we have images of Jack Daniels (or Elvis), but we do have LOTS OF BEARS!Many decorators say that in every room you need a touch of nature. Consider one of our adorable bear images to fill that small space and provide an element of whimsy and surprise. We currently have several smaller canvases of bears in both galleries. Take 25% off through the end of this month!(Maybe you're not from east Tennessee, but you still love our bears. We'd love to ship one of our bear canvases to your home.
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"Sunset Along Old Yellowstone Trail" is our featured image today. It can be seen in our gallery at Grit & Grace Market as a vertical, framed canvas (22 X 32), and is regularly priced at $285. Through the end of January, enjoy 25% off, bringing your cost down to $213.75. If that size doesn't work for you, the image may be custom ordered in matted print, framed canvas, or metal in the perfect size for your home for 20% off. It's also available in a horizontal orientation, if that's your preference!(WE SHIP AND ALL SHARES APPRECIATED.)
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Think outside the box! A beautiful, natural landscape is a stunning addition to any space in your home. Consider bringing the outside in with a matted print, framed canvas, or metal through our custom order option. "Mountains Mighty" is one of our top sellers and will look great anywhere in your home...dining room, kitchen, living room, office, foyer, etc. Contact us today for sizing and pricing details and take 20% off if you get your order in by January 31st.
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