Lately I've been lost for words, and so I posted this question on my Facebook page, "What helps you feel grounded when everything is loud?" Feel free to tell me what you do in my comments. I'm sharing what helps/guides/calls to me in this post.
Welcome to
and I'm posting to City Daily Photo
You guessed it, dogs are my go-to first and forever.
"Dogs are our link to paradise.
They don't know evil or jealousy or discontent."
Milan Kundera
"The only creatures that are evolved enough to convey pure love are dogs and infants."
Johnny Depp
How about that four-letter-word, walk.
Some say sad some think perplexed. What do you see?
Hephaestus located at the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden
"Standing 12 feet tall, Hephaestus portrays the Greek god of fire, metalworkers, and other craftspeople. With the gentle features of its mask-like face and outstretched arm beckoning to the viewer, the figure appears both proud and derelict."
Just Add Joy
To tell you the truth I believe everything,
and anything can bring joy, unless your heart is made of stone.
At the Huntsville Alabama Art Museum
"Art is unquestionably one of the purest and highest elements in human happiness. It trains the mind through the eye, and the eye through the mind. As the sun colors flowers, so does art color life."
John Lubbock
What we do see depends mainly on what we look for. In the same field the farmer will notice the crop. the geologists the fossils, botanists the flowers, artists the coloring, sportsmen the cover for the game. Though we may all look at the same things, it does not all follow that we should see them."
John Lubbock
"We ought to follow exactly the opposite course with children to give them a wholesome variety of mental food, and endeavor to cultivate their tastes, rather than to fill their minds with dry facts. The important thing is not so much that every child should be taught, as that every child should be given the wish to learn.
What does it matter if the pupil knows a little more or a little less? A boy/or girl who leaves school knowing much, by hating his lessons, will soon have forgotten almost all he ever learned, while another who had acquired a thirst for knowledge, even if he had learned little, would soon teach himself more than the first ever knew."
John Lubbock
Protecting what matters. It's what most of us do.
"If we are ever in doubt what to do, it is a good rule to ask ourselves what we shall wish on the morrow that we had done."
John Lubbock




























16 comments:
Hello Karen,
My walks in nature with my dog bring me joy. I always feel nature helps relieve stress. Dogs are a joy, they just live to makes us happy. I love your dogs, grand-dog, the turkeys, art work and all the photos and quotes. You are an inspiration for us all. Thank you for linking up and sharing your post. Take care, have a great week ahead. PS, thank you for leaving me a comment.
Thank you, Eileen, you are my first visitor, and honestly it took me since Friday night to complete this today. It's hard sometimes being uplifting when there's such gloom around us. Peace for our country is heavy on all of our hearts lately and we've just barely entered 2026! Oh my. I appreciate you stopping in, and for your inspiring and lovely post today for Saturday's Critters! It was so helpful for me.
My heart goes out to Minneapolis these last few terrible days. Thank you for this uplifting post, I know you must be feeling sad and stressed out. I too find that hanging out with our dog Frodo always makes me feel better. Our cat, too. Animals are truly a gift.
Thank you for your kind words. Animals, mine, others and those random lucky moments of meeting new ones are my solace and always will be. Hopefully, life here, across Minnesota will return to our norm. These ICE sweeps are spanning across our state like a nasty wildfire.
Wonderful photos and quotes. I especially like the idea of dogs linking us to paradise. As for your question, I would say walking is how I stay grounded. My thoughts are with you and your neighbors as your state has been under attack by ICE.
I like the sign in the library and agree with John Lubbock's quote. I try to be hopeful.. you see one person's kindness, the people at the protests, the posts of people like you and it reaffirms my belief that there is so much good out there and while it may not look like it now.. if we all stand up we can make a difference.. we must be the change.
Loved this. Simple living, observing critters and slowing down really does reset the mind. The photos are awesome!
Thank you Karen for the ever inspiring posts . I could write paragraphs about every quote and photo, but cant here. Walks anywhere, but especially in nature keep me grounded. Linden Hills , Stillwater ,and I think Two Harbors all excellent walk destinations. Troubling times for sure. It will someday be fine.
Turkeys and dogs, amazing to be around them .
Dessert for sure.
The god of fire looks injured to me .
Thank you again. Enjoy the warmth while its here. Have a great week.
A walk with a dog and a friend is priceless, Karen. Or sitting and reading a good book while it is a sunny winter day outside.
Thank you, Jeff, it's a trying time, (he day the reckless behavior and unlawfulness dig so much deeper. I've learned Minnesotans are strong willed people, and it any state can do it Minnesota will prevail. I like what keeps you grounded, there's so much good in walking! Take care and stay warm.
You are absolutely right and Minnesotans stand strong, and the others (this administration's puppets I believe many of them will finally see the light.
Thank you for your kind words and description of resetting the mind and heart and soul these days lately!
Thank you for your kind words, it means a lot. I'm praying that someday comes really close to almost here, it's got before things escalate further. Enjoy your week ahead and be sure to keep up with Stillwater and the snow sculptures they're in the making and it's one of my favorite winter perks!
I absolutely agree with you on all of them with some bites of chocolate and hot delicious coffee!
I walked the 5 mile river crossing loop just Tuesday....the blocks of snow are ready to go.
What a lovely post, Karen!
Dogs, walks, and noticing the little things really do keep us grounded.
Athena is adorable!
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