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.

What You do After Work and Critters

 Hello friends and family welcome to 

Saturday's Critters

Centennial Lakes Park in Edina, Minnesota.

and City Daily Photo

Tuesday at Centennial Lakes in Edina, Minnesota.

Every step of the journey is the journey. 

Zen saying.

and also

This is the real secret of life, to be completely engaged with what you are doing in the here and now.

Today, after work at Lake Marion, Lakeville, Minnesota.

Did I mention I bought myself an Energy refresher for the ride home and a quick jaunt at Lake Marion? It's my way of unwinding after a day at work.

You can still smell some smoke in the air, and you probably noticed the slight haze still hanging on, but it's nothing like it was earlier this week.

If you miss the present moment, you miss your appointment with life. That is very serious.

You are the architect of your life, build it well. 

When we take a mental break from the hustle and bustle of the day, we can reconnect with ourselves and bring more joy into our lives.

"Happiness is not a matter of intensity but of balance and order and rhythm and harmony." 

Thomas Merton

 

All we are given are possibilities.

It was fresh tomatoes from my planter garden tonight!

A couple of photos from my day off on Tuesday beginning with 

Cottontail on the Trail.

or as some residents call him, Minnehaha Bunny.

One of my favorite things about visiting this bunny is that for every holiday, current events or simply things happening in the neighborhood or around the world (like a few weeks ago he was dressed up for the Pride celebrations) and he had a mask on during COVID. 

Centennial Lakes Park.

"If you want to be happy, set a goal that commands your thoughts, liberates your energy and inspires your hopes."

Andrew Carnegie

Observe the mind without interference. 

Thank you for stopping in and commenting.

Take good care of you.

Gentle Giants Rode into Town

 Welcome to my post for 

SATURDAY'S CRITTERS

and I'm posting City Daily Photo 

Yesterday from Lakeville, Minnesota welcomed 

the fleet of Budweiser Clydesdales at the Pan-O-Prog 2026

"Clydesdales are majestic giants from the Isle of Clyde in Scottland, symbolic to our business environment: our associates pull together as a team, creating a much greater strength than working alone."

 Bob Funk 

A question came to mind standing there (way early of course) for 3 semis to arrive after gathering the low down of their entrance and how things were planned to ensure a perfect viewing advantage, I thought what's in it for this major company to put such an expense of manpower and machines together just to present these world-renowned horses to the public? Lakeville wasn't their only stop, they had 2 other presentations for this trip, and today, Sunday they would be at Canterbury Park in Shakopee, Minnesota. Isn't it wonderful that they travel across the country with these lovely, majestic animals just for us?

This quote sums up their reasoning, I think.

"Winsten Churchill was correct when he said, "We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give." Charity has enormous and impactful influences in a person's life. Giving isn't only about what it does for others; it is also about what it does for us."

"Horses make a landscape look beautiful." Alice Walker

and make for great Budweiser commercials.

Groomed for greatness.

2 semis each carrying 4 Clydesdales horses and the last semi carried their harnesses, equipment, the delivery carriage and miscellaneous necessities.

Here comes the beer delivery carriage!

Sometimes it's about a whole lot of simple manpower.

Calm cool and collected they knew what was expected.

All the while they were bringing out each horse and harnessing them before attaching them to the hitches the announcer explained everything that involves these horses, and the employees involved today and she introduced each horse by their name, size and a little about them. 

 

Hard Work and Strong in Tradition

While early ads and behind-the-scenes content emphasized all the training, care and dedication that make Clydesdales so camera-ready, reinforcing the message that, they are a symbol of quality and commitment. You can also see it in all the employees putting this together right before our eager eyes.

Thank you for sharing time here and your comments.

Stay cool, enjoy every single day and take good care of you.

City Daily Photo's theme for July is Water

Welcome to my post for City Daily Photo and our July theme is "water." I hope you enjoy a sip or two with me! For fun I've included some water proverbs!

"Between true friends even water drunk together is sweet enough."

African Proverb

The greatest virtue is like water. Good for everything.

Chinese Proverb

Still waters run deep.

When the well is dry, we know the worth of water.

Water under the bridge.

Go with the flow.

Thank you for stopping in and gifting me with your thoughts.

Take good care of you.