Critters and What You Will

 

Discover are new things once you begin seeing with new eyes.

Welcome to my post for 

SATURDAY'S CRITTERS

and also, City Daily Photo 

So many things happening this time of year. From the State Fair, Dakota County Fair and my most favorite, The Minnesota Renaissance Festival located on a 400-acre wooded site near the Minnesota River. Doesn't that make it even more adventurous to attend. 

In case you're wondering, this is not my date! 

Minnesota Renaissance Festival camel.

"Camels are far too intelligent to admit to being intelligent."

Terry Pratchett

Dakota County Fair camel! 

I'm sharing a few photos from my trip to the Dakota County Fair as well.

In 4 - H, we don't just raise animals; we raise leaders.

The 4-H goat handlers had a special treat for us all. They were to create a costumed theme with their goat.

How cool is that?

4 - H stands for Head, Heart, Hands and Health

The Declaration of Independence, excellent idea.

These two took first place and it certainly helped them to make their costumed theme attuned with our 250th birthday of America!

"The partner (or your goat) truly best suited to us is not the one who miraculously happens to share every taste, (especially in clothes) but the one who can negotiate differences in taste with intelligence and grace." Alain de Botton

"People who uplift you are the best kind of people.

You don't simply keep them. You treasure them.

Something unexpectedly is about to happen. Trust the timing.

My hands to larger service, because the world needs helpers.

A direct 4-H pledge.

"Perhaps it is true that we do not really exist until there is someone there to see us existing, we cannot properly speak until there is someone who can understand what we are saying in essence, we are not wholly alive until we are loved."

Alain de Botton

Can't remember who this was as I wandered into the tent to eat another delicious roasted corn on the cob and listen to his music. He sang well, mostly country.

Don't believe everything you think, as there are some great country music songs old and new.

Be free to go slow.

If you're a Peacock take a ride on a golf cart.

Or simply sit!

"Why not?" Is a slogan for an interesting life. 

Mason Cooley

Recall it as often as you wish: A happy memory never wears out.

Libbie Fudim

My grand-daughter Lyra and daughter, Cierra at the Zelda troll in Huntsville at the Huntsville Botanical Gardens. I shall get to meet Zelda face to face this December! 

"The pleasure we derive from journeys is perhaps dependent more on the mindset with which we travel than on the destination we travel to."

Alain de Botton

May the next few months be a period of beautiful transformation.

Because we all know what's coming.

Winter!

Mindfulness has been on my mind, yes full of it too!

So, my thoughts are, "Let there be room left in your heart for the unimaginable, serendipity has a way of showing itself just when you feel like giving up."

Nikki Rowe

Thank you for visiting and commenting and sharing your thoughts too!

Enjoy the new week ahead.

Take good care of you.

Artsy Fun and Critters

 

Nature inspires reflection, peace and awe. "Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better." Albert Einstein

An oldie photo from a visit to the Huntsville Botanical Gardens with my granddaughter Lyra. 

"Only when we are brave enough to explore the darkness will we discover the infinite power of our light. "Faith is a place of mystery, where we find the courage to believe in what we cannot see and the strength to let go of our fear of uncertainty." Brene Brown

Welcome to this beautiful Sunday in August thank you for stopping by. 

My sweet Dash, when he wore his fashionable Poodle haircut! 

SATURDAY'S CRITTERS 

and also, my post for City Daily Photo

First on the list from yesterday is visiting

Anderson Center at Tower View in Red Wing, Minnesota

It's a rare, rural place that celebrates the imagination and supports the development of new arts and ideas through residencies, studios, and public engagement. 

 

Those were just a few photos. I'll do another post with the larger commanding and incredible artworks gathered about the grounds, deep within the rural land of Red Wing.

I know I really don't need another cutesy thing, but I couldn't resist snapping this up yesterday. Although I'll probably gift him/her away.

Below are a few of Red Wing's Walkable Legacy of Art creations all found around red Wing. 

Scrap metal

IRON WHITEAIL By Brian Quail 

These two are Lifelong Learning Sculpture at the Red Wing Library.

Welded metal

SAXOPHONE #3

Victor Yepez 

Jake on Bass Sculpture (he's been here for a while) a bronze and metal sculpture by Scott Schlag, installed in Central Park in 2021 as part of the Red Wing Art Walk, honoring his loyal chocolate lab. 

These three photos are 

WANBDI "UNA" EYAPI

Steel and bronze

By Darrell Campbell, Jesse R. Childs & Jesse R W O Childs 

"Life is like a mirror. Smile at it and it smiles back at you."

Peace Pilgrim.

Here is a funny thing you should try if you haven't already looked into a spoon and seen what happens.

Try it!

DEBRIS TREE 

By Dale Lewis

All mixed metal. Found objects.

TALES of RESILENCE

Linda Marsh

Cast bronze

Isn't it amazing what the time of day and change in angle can do?

Life size bronze figure of a young boy.

MAESTRO SCLUPTURE in Red Wing 

Stainless steel and cast bronze installed in 2021 as part of the inaugural Red Wing Art Walk gifted to the city by the Albrecht Poss Family Foundation outside of the Sheldon Theatre on 443 West Third St.

The place where the sidewalk ends. Do you know it?

GREAT BLUE HERON

Jon Kamrath 

Steel and aluminum 

One of the Bronze Children Sculptures at the fountain.

Learn to value yourself, which means fight for your happiness, and keep reading and learning new things.

It's the middle of summer (so there's so much more time if we use it wisely) and find those places you long to linger in.

Bodies of water tend to look alike, until you look at the surroundings.

"In early June the world of leaf and blade and flowers explode, and every sunset is different."

John Steinback 

Who let the horses in?

A decorated Red Wing Boot.

This boot is located on West 3rd St. 

Seek wonder in the ordinary. 

Sarah N. Rand

I hope you've enjoyed a brief romp around Red Wing, Minnesota.

I appreciate your stopping by and commenting too!

Grab as many summer things as possible before you know what.

Take good care of you.

Simple Joy and Critters

Welcome to 

SATURDAY'S CRITTERS

 and City Daily Photo

Moments from this last weekend I hope you all enjoy.

Saturday was the Artists' ArtCar and ArtBike Parade

 that travels around Lake Harriet in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

I'll just share a few photos here I have a video of them all on FB and this year they really out did themselves with a lot of entries! 

What's so great about a new day? For one, everything is fresh, the essence of realization and that you are free to carve out your day however you see fit.

If I may offer one suggestion, in these days of extreme heat, of course stay hydrated but also take some quick breaks out of the heat, even if you just stand in a shady area.

"To be fully alive, fully human and completely awake is to be continually thrown out of the nest. To live fully is to be always in no-man's land, to experience each moment as completely new and fresh. To live is to be willing to die over and over again." 

Pema Chodron

My youngest son brought a new kitty home for the family. 

Meet Boots, who loves the new toy I brought over and like all good kitties after some hard playing it's time for a nap!

It's all zoom, zoom and then doze, doze! 

Feeling content, is being in the present moment.

Contentment isn't an emotion it's a state of mind.

Saturday began mostly cloudy, and of course it was on this day I made a stop at the Noerenberg Memorial Park Gardens in Wayzata, Minnesota.

There was a wedding planned for this day as well, and the bridal party was busy taking their zillion photos while the rest of the workers set up chairs, sound equipment and etc. So, my photo taking was a bit limited and lacked bright sunshine. 

Does anyone recognize seeing this photo above? It's the location of my blog header photo! Check it out.

If you can, be as carefree as an eagle.

"True contentment often arrives when we appreciate the present moment, like the people around you, and the places you inhabit, rather than constantly chasing more. They encourage gratitude, simplicity, and peace in everyday life."

 

It is what you think about it.” “Many people lose the small joys in the hope for the big happiness.”

Thank you for bringing me joy every single time you visit and especially for your thoughts and comments.

Take good care of you!

"Awakeness is found in our pleasure and our pain, our confusion and our wisdom, available in each moment of our weird, unfathomable, ordinary everyday lives."

Pema Chodron

With every new day comes the possibility of a great new adventure.