Critters and a Weekend Off

Yes, when it comes to my weekend off, it's no holds barred and so a girl's weekend it was with a movie, gallery visit (to check out Alec Soth) lunch and off to our favorite quaint little Linden Hills neighborhood. Of course critters were on my mind as well, and if only I'd been able to capture just a few of those many chirping and delightful song birds somewhere along our journey!

How about a bunny?
for
SATURDAY'S CRITTERS

Interestingly enough the newest journey Alec Soth explored resonated with me as well.  Relating to the human side of things and I have this urge to see what's right before my eyes, but play it back in a entirely different manner whether in my mind or through a photograph. Does that even make any sense to you?

Sometimes the more I see the less I know.

 "The world is full of magical things, 

patiently waiting for our senses to grow sharper."

William Butler Yeats

Is this what you'd call a

blue snowman?

Does he fit in the critter category as well?

I have a few secret places where I can usually find
 swans and ducks and other critters.

I shot this yesterday it's one of Alec Soth's shooting
 through window series,
 and there is a bird if you can spot it!

Art observing art.

Waiting to be noticed.

Just enjoying the view 
and those folks that happen by.

The next two photos are  more shots 
on display for 
famed Minnesota photographer Alec Soth.

"We cannot live only for ourselves. 

A thousand fibers connect us with our fellow men;

and among those fibers, as sympathetic threads,

 our actions run causes,

and they come back to us as effects."

Herman Melville

"It is not down in any map;

true places never are."

Herman Melville

These kinds of places that he speaks of
is exactly where I enjoy to roam most of all.

And as a matter of fact, greener days are coming.

May happiness follow you wherever you go.

Thanks for stopping in.

Embrace Your Ambition and Slide Into

Wise winter words during this rainy spell of ours.


Once we embrace our ambitions we can slide right into our goals.

Laughter is sunshine, it chases winter from the human face.

Victor Hugo

Yes goals are/have/always will be a major part of me, 

and not just uncovering those sugar-free French vanilla lattes

I'll take just pure coffee please! 

Motivational folks tell us, 

we become what we think about.

So I've been doing a lot of exceptional thinking!

Even the darkest night will end, 

and the sun will rise.

V.H.

People do not lack strength, they lack will.

V.H.

So here goes.

I'm thinking Duluth on Lake Superior anytime except winter.

I'm thinking about something deliciously sweet

 to have with my just pure cup of coffee.

Cookies!

Or busting out the cake pans!

If you're into baking from scratch, and even happier viewing some delightfully delicious ideas, check this out.

(Mexican Chocolate Fudge Pie) might be my favorite!

"Love is like a tree, it grows of its own accord,

 it puts down deep roots into our whole being."

Victor Hugo

I love my trips to Alabama for so many reasons!

Time to leap inside of a book and secretly travel

 on an adventure to a place far from the spot you're sitting on! 

Or perhaps it's

Time to dance with the music playing inside our heads.

From inside the Minneapolis Art Institute.

I'm in the process of creating my piece of art again

 for this year's competition. Wish me luck.

"The artist always has the masters in his eyes."

Ralph Waldo Emerson

Remember

We didn't come this far only to come this far.

anonymous

Huntsville, Alabama.

Even the snowmen in my world

 are pushing for non-winter projects.

Facebook reminded me this morning that on March 12th, a Saturday in 2016

it was 66 degrees and this is how we spent the day. Yes, at the playground.

So whatever you're doing or wherever you are enjoy and

take good care of you.

Chicago

Chicago, Chicago, that toddlin town, Chicago, Chicago I will show you around. 

The Willis Tower, John Hancock Center, Cloud Gate, DuSable Bridge, (Michigan Avenue Bridge) Wrigley Building and the Big Red.

This last Christmas Santa brought this Lego Architecture series featuring Chicago to Danny and this last weekend he said to me,

 "Grandma if you can put this together I'll give you ten dollars!" 

He was serious. Of course I'm still a gigantic Lego fan and nobody will ever need to pay me to build.

We were surprised once I opened the box. Perhaps I was thinking the pieces would be a different size, I mean 444 pieces does not make a very large set in any Lego adventure. To be honest I believe the cost for this series goes more  toward the colorful booklet that details everything about your set along with outstanding captures of each building.  But in all fairness, (I knew this before Danny saw the finished product) "Wow, that's really small!"

The series is geared more for adults to display on their desks or bookshelves at work or around the house.


So much to see in Chicago.

Speaking of cool animals in and around Chicago

and posting for 

SATURDAY'S CRITTERS

welcome.

Giraffes at the Chicago Zoo.

Aim high.

Stand tall

and get spotted.

One of my most favorite places to visit is the Field Museum of Natural History

in Chicago and my first visit there was on my sixth grade school field trip (we rode the train there from Lansing, Michigan and took the bus home) 

 I remember that adventurous trip like it was only yesterday.

 Best school field trip ever!

All this thinking about Chicago gives me the urge to plan another trip there.   Soon, very soon.

Sculpture Batcolumn 

at Harold Washington Social Security Building Chicago.

Flamingo Sculpture

by Alexander Calder 

Water (docks with parking available) and a bit of Chicago skyline.

What a gorgeous city.

But for now, I'll be happy with visiting

 a few of my favorite places

right here in good old

wintry Minnesota.

Speaking of favorite places I read this quote 
that really makes me think.

Note: some of his quotes I find myself silently correcting 
or adding in other words.

"Someday, men will visit ideas instead of places."
Toba Beta from, My Ancestor Was an Ancient Astronaut 

Yet honestly don't most places begin from ideas?

Here's another quote by Toba that makes me think.

"Eyes can only capture object that already seen in mind.
And mind can only see things that already written in heart."



I'm so happy you stopped in.
Take good care of you.

That Feel Good Vibe and Critters

Last night was one of those "Feel good vibes" even as another tremendous winter storm was ravaging our homeland once again. Sometimes you just have to come inside from the cold.

Yet this morning, winter has settled down

 and cozied itself into another beautiful day.

By way of detail and depth.

(subliminal message)

Just mind your putt.

"Tiny details imperceptible to us decide everything."

Winfried Georg Sebald

Critters live their best stories.

What about you?

SATURDAY'S CRITTERS

True story.
of a dried up-
petal.

So you hear this gentle little crunchy sound behind you
 and you turn around to see

Nope sorry Ollie you can't eat that as you swipe it away and so

you get

Cat in your face!




Oliver's depth on retrieving his mouthwatering treat was humorous!
I still won.

Depth is found within stories which expand our horizons and understandings especially in new ones.  It's in the places that we seek and what we observe from people and things around us,
that make all the difference.

Behold

Student art.

(subliminal message)

think spring.

"Strange is our situation here on earth.

Each of us comes for a short visit,

not knowing why,

yet sometimes seeming to a divine purpose.

From the standpoint of daily life, however,

there is one thing we do know:

that we are here for the sake of others."

Albert Einstein

The best part of my day is reading your comments.
Enjoy your weekend.
Take good care of you.

Passeio de cidade

Let's go for a walk!

Join me in a city tour to wash the blues away.

"Always find time for the things that make you feel happy to be alive."

Winter can be an overwhelming and aggressive spirit that either chills your vulnerable body and soul, or invigorates your wildest imagination. It seldom caresses you like a midsummer's day and can easily bring you to your knees upon an icy path.

Yet the sheer erosion of a moonlit winter landscape has the power to lift your spirits, symbolizing a most pleasurable experience like no other season.

Absolute zero
yet sunny.

Winter things.

candy canes

chilling

eggnog 

brisk winds

earmuffs

gingerbread

gray misty cold day

strong wind blowing

snowmen

Is that sculpture reaching for the sky?

Hot Chocolate

ice skating

icicles

blizzards!

Artfully so!

You better let somebody love you before it's too late.
The Eagles

Do you get the feeling this a ghost town?
Where are all the people?

Those things that please you
invite them in.
(this blizzard will soon pass)
it seems spring is waiting just around the corner.

I spy a person in the distance.

Don't your feet get cold in the wintertime?

And
in the end, 
the love you take is equal 
to the love you make.
The Beatles


Love more
hate less.
wait!
don't hate period

Thanks for stopping by
Take good care of you.