Light on bark at Westonbirt Arboretum

I find it amusing that I have titled this post "Weekly Photo" because, by Weekly Photo, I really mean, Oh-Whenever-I-Feel-Like-It-Photo or Hey-These-Are-Some-Cool-Shots-Photos since I think it's been several months since I actually posted a Weekly Photo.  Undeniably, "Weekly" Photo rolls of the tongue much easier and sounds so much more like blogger lingo than Oh-Whenever-I-Feel-Like-It-Photo, so I'll stick with Weekly Photo for now.  But, I'm thinking up a good acronym.  In the meantime, I give you what I term Light on Bark, found in the Westonbirt Arboretum in the Cotswolds.

More light on bark

Abby in Bilbao

Last Saturday, we landed in Bilbao.  The dogs are now officially world travelers as they have just hit their third country.  Three!  We didn't have much time in Bilbao except to grab a fast dinner where I indulged in tortilla espanola and chocolate con churros (mmm . . . churros) and a quick walk on a rainy morning around the Bilbao Guggenheim.  Patrick and I thought the Frank Gehry-architected museum was gorgeous, especially the wonky curves that floated in and out of the buildings and bridges.  The dogs, on the other hand, weren't all that impressed with the architecture but they loved the park right outside the museum.  Ah well, who am I to judge what's impressive and what's not?

* If you want to read more about Chewy's and Abby's adventures in Europe, hop over to our sister site The Road Unleashed.

Giraffe with his tongue out

The clouds are dull and dreary today but---me---I'm lit up like a sparkler.  On this glorious Friday, I have finished the second round of edits on my novel (whee!) and am putting the final touches on our new big exciting project to be unveiled on Monday (so excited to share it with y'all!).  The very cool Alison Gresik interviewed me today for her creative professionals website and Off Track Planet featured us as one of their Travel Dorks (and, yes, we are).  I've got dark chocolate M&Ms next to me, a puppy on my lap (yeah, it gets a bit difficult typing on a laptop with a dog on the lap --- try it and see), and a bottle of champagne chilling in the fridge.  Today is a good day.

In the spirit of happiness, I thought it only right to share with you some tidbits of random awesomeness:

1. Kulfi chocolate is an invention of the gods (or at least the minor gods who own French Broad Chocolate Lounge in Asheville, NC): think milk chocolate mixed with pistachios, rose water, and cardamom.  We've been there four times in the last week.  It has become our new Cupcake Emporium .

2. National Parks Week starts tomorrow, meaning every national park in the United States will be free next week.

3. 57% of the nation's taxpayers will put their tax refund toward leisure travel .  Take that, all you naysayers who claim that Americans don't go anywhere.

4. One of my all-time favorite bloggers, The Pioneer Woman , is getting her own cooking show on FoodTV .  I can't wait to watch it.

5.  Giraffes' tongues are purple-black, skinny, and long.

Isn't random awesomeness the best?

Join in on the Photo Friday fun at Delicious Baby .