Look up!

Every once in a while the winter sky does something so gorgeous, you can't help but run for your camera. I was sitting here at my desk, not paying attention to anything but what was in front of me on my screen, when I heard some Canada geese passing through the neighborhood. I looked up and out the window and that sunset is what I saw. My only regret is that I didn't capture the silhouettes of the geese too. So very stunning!

Happy (belated) year of the dragon!

Every year we talk about heading out to Las Vegas for Chinese New Year because of all the celebrations and decorations. This year we finally made it! Fitting since it is the Year of the Dragon and my half Chinese husband happens to have been born under that sign.

While we didn't make it out there in time for the kick-off with the traditional dragon dance, we did go around to various casinos collecting commemorative $8 Year of the Dragon casino chips. Of course along the way, we saw some really impressive dragon displays!

These first three (above and below) were at the Wynn. So cool!

This one at Palazzo breathed 'smoke' throughout the day. It was enormous, as you can see! Around the back was a small pond with koi.

The next three photos are from the Bellagio Conservatory and Botanical Gardens. They really do it up, but then, they have this space that is dedicated to decorating for the various seasons of the year, which is different from most of the other resorts there. It really sets them apart though.

They had dragons representing each element; wood, fire, earth, metal and water. They also had a pagoda, larger than life Chinese coins and firecrackers, and of course, copious amounts of flowers!

Aria's lobby display with beautiful lanterns lining the entire ceiling. The photo doesn't do this justice!

And, although MGM Grand did not have a dragon display, they did get their stately lion into the spirit with butterflies, gold coins and firecrackers. It's one of my favorite casino resorts, so I thought it deserved a mention!