Riding Into Summer

It's the 28th, time for a Calendar Girl post here on my blog.

This month Michelle (pattem on SCS) hosted.... and she gave us a wonderful theme!

For most of us, June is the month that starts summer...many events are happening...school ending, graduation, weddings, flowers blooming and family vacations.
 My challenge is...using SC 388 (found in the SCS thread), with any color combination create a card that best suits your beginning to summer, or summer plans. It could be a trip you are planning, a flower that is blooming, a wedding you are attending, or a graduation gathering. Whatever it could be...have fun creating a card to go with it.

Michelle, your theme is the PERFECT opportunity for me to share a little bit about the incredible summer I'm having. But first..............

here's my card:

Oh... and here is a picture of the sketch we were to use (#388):

Of course, I simply HAD to decorate the inside, too:

 
Now, you might be wondering what this card has to do with my summer. Let me tell you........
 
I just got back from a trip to Thailand. YAY, me! It was a mission trip, filled with lots of awesome memories, most of which I can't share in this public forum. However, I can share pictures of our last day in Thailand (a sightseeing, adventurous day, which included riding ELEPHANTS!!!)
 

Here I am, atop a mama elephant with her baby walking alongside us:

 

 
I actually purchased that picture and it came in a picture frame that's made out of............. wait for it........
 
 

 
......... yep, the picture frame is made out of elephant dung paper (elephant poo!)
 
 

These pictures were taken from atop mama elephant (hence, I'm not in these pictures):

 

 

And here's a picture of Mama Elephant and Baby, after we had unloaded:

 

 
Do you see all the dirt on the baby's back? It was so cute. After we'd walked through the river, we came to a trail and baby found some dirt to play in. He took his trunk, picked up some dirt and tossed it onto his back. He did this repeatedly. Guess it just goes to prove that children of all species like to play. ;)
 

We also got to do some rafting on the river - on cane bottom rafts:

 

 

The water was very mild, no raging rapids!

And we rode in wooden carts pulled by brahma's:

 
It certainly was a FUN end to a fabulous trip!!!
 

Oh, and one more picture........ just to make you drool.........

 

 
A typical Thai breakfast.... fried noodles, spring roll, rambutan (the hairy red fruit - very yummy), grilled tomatoes, bacon, cheese, and a danish.
 
Yes, I ate this breakfast almost every morning I was in Thailand - our room price included an incredible breakfast and lunch buffet. And NO, I don't normally eat breakfast.............. but this was sooooooooooo good!
 
Okay, now that I've shown you way too many photos, please be sure to go check out the other Calendar Girl blogs to see what summer fun they're having. You'll find the links to their blogs in my left-hand side bar. Please leave them some "love", too........ they really appreciate your comments!
 
Hugs,
Jeanette
 
 
 
Image: My Favorite Things Jungle Out There
Ink: Versafine Onyx Black
Cardstock: Stampin' UP! Black and Soft Suede and a piece of Gray from my scrap file
Designer Paper: Cloud 9 Designs Going Places Collection (Travel and Travel Stripe)
Embellishments: DMC Embroidery Floss (the elephant's tail), Recollections Brads, and Stampin' UP! Black Grosgrain Ribbon