Contemplating.

Contemplating.
Wayzata, Minnesota

Sunday, June 28, 2026

Being Mindful and Happy critters

 Good morning bloggers and others. Are you enjoying summer?




Minneapolis, Linden Hills neighborhood.

Welcome to 

SATURDAY'S CRITTERS 



and I'm posting to City Daily Photo


Step out and enjoy the day and wherever it takes you.




Lake Harriet, Minneapolis, Minnesota.

A solemn reminder, winter has melted away, spring has earthed new beginnings, and yet there are broken pieces lodged within the hearts of many yet. Corretta Scott King answers it best, as healing is still a process.

"Hate is too great a burden to bear. It injures the hater more than it injures the hated." A reminder that holding onto hate toward a city or its people can harm you more than it harms them. 





Renew your passions daily.





"We are made to persist that's how we find out who we are."

Tobias Wolff

You Are Stronger than You Think You Are.










Balance is beautiful.
Miyoko Ohno



If your compassion does not include yourself, it is incomplete.

Jack Kornfield 



Beauty is whatever gives joy.

Hugh Nibley



Sailing away. Have you ever wanted to learn, this is the place. Book your classes here. It's never too early or too late to learn to learn and enjoy sailing.

Never let yesterday use up today.

Richard Nelson



The art of pursuing is rewarding.



Does this appear to be a face?




The heart is like a garden. It can grow compassion or fear, resentment or love.
 What seeds will you plant there?
Jack Kornfield




Life is a marvelous, transitory adventure.
Nikki Giovanni 





Laughter is an instant vacation.
Milton Berle




It was a most delightful June of family milestones and one of those special celebrations was sharing my granddaughter Lyra's birthday. A treat we don't always get to enjoy with her home in Alabama.





Happy 17th birthday sweet Lyra.




We thank you Gary and Teressa for making this special for all of us.





Somewhere, sometime there's always a light

 in the corner of your world.




We have a world to conquer, one person at a time, starting with ourselves.

Nikki Giovanni



Find your passion and pursue it with

 your hold heart and single mind.

Gail Sheehy

Thank you so much for spending time here.

Spread your wings and take good care of you.

Sunday, June 14, 2026

Momentous and critters





My grandson, Danny Jr. Graduate FHS 2026 from Farmington Tiger football to UMD-Bulldog football!


Welcome to my "Momentous" post and how thankful I am for the continued flow of life's daily little wonders as well as the big ones!

It's been a memorable family experience again since my daughter and granddaughter flew in for Danny's graduation, among other events like my granddaughter Karina's Synergy Dance Recital!  


SATURDAY'S CRITTERS


and posting to City Daily Photo




Rusty sends his love, but he already knows he'll miss this kiddo once he begins living in Duluth.




To me, the most perfect companions never have fewer than four feet.

Animals are the best right?

 


Bravo Danny Jr!




The happy couple on their graduation day!

Pretty special they'll both be attending, University of Minnesota Duluth!


"If it was to be a time of momentous changes, then why not allow oneself to be swept along?" Paul Russell 


 


When the positive mind takes the lead. My humans are out there, and they need to get me too!



A few of Danny's fans!


"Let's not wait until the light fades into irreparable loss, but let's stay in the loop and pursue the momentous flow of daily little wonders, since life kindly tenders us gorgeous bouquets of sparkling colors, telling signs and rousing episodes." Erik Pevernagie




Five of my eight grandchildren. Missing Airman Ethan and 2 step-grandchildren, Carter and Audrey in spirit but who couldn't be here in person.




Take time to stop and watch things that wander by, even if you feel you're too busy to share in the moment and snap a photo. It just may be the thing that saves your day from ho-hum to bliss. 




My little girl (also a U of M graduate Minneapolis-Gophers) and her little girl and one more year to her HS graduation.




The proud parents. My son Dan and his wife Heather.





Pink is the thing!


My granddaughter Karina from this year's 2026 Dance Recital and she had 5 incredible performances featured in two programs 12:00pm and again at 3:30! What a day of spirit and gusto from all the dancers!






Karina top row right side leg in the air! Amazing!




"To watch us dance is to hear our hearts speak."
 Martha Graham

"About the pace of nature: her secret is patience." 
Ralph Waldo Emerson 













The important thing about tree stumps, is what you see and feel inside.








Can we ever have too many trees in our lives?
To me trees, are like good friends who care about others.
They always give and never take.
Trees are like good caring people.







This pup is going to miss his kiddo once he moves to Duluth.




What does Emme have to say? 

"What you do every day matters more than what you do once in a while."

Thanks for stopping by and commenting, it's what we bloggers enjoy most about our posts.

Take good care of you!






Sunday, May 31, 2026

Troll Hunting and critters

 A birthday gift for myself this year was to travel to Detroit Lakes and surrounding towns to find Thomas Dambo's amazing trolls that are here in Minnesota. I'm planning on adding more troll hunts in the future as they are scattered all over the United States as well as other countries. It's been a work in progress for a while now to find time to see this through.


SATURDAY'S CRITTERS

and posting to City Daily Photo


My photos from this trip begin with the World's Largest Turkey (nicknamed Big Tom) he's located at the Lions Park in Frazee, Minnesota and 10.5 miles from Detroit Lakes.






Big Tom weighs 5,000 pounds.




I found this amazing discovery in the back of the Lions Park.


"Clarity arrives when we stop explaining ourselves and start listening to what matters most."


Onto Detroit Lakes, Minnesota

Five giant trolls, three magical portals, 800 birdhouses (which guide you through the woods and trails to find these trolls) and yes there is a Golden Rabbit too.




Alexa's Elixer


The wise old traveling brewer of potions. Always dragging her portals, ingredients and mighty spoon. She solves problems all over the land for trolls and humans alike.




On the way to my next troll. . . . .




"We can learn nothing except by going from the known to the unknown."
Charles Benard





"The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the wilderness of nature and breathe in the air around you."


Keep your eyes open for the birdhouses, on poles, or in clusters on trees.




"Goodness consists not in the outward things we do, but in the inward thing we are."

 E. H. Chapin




Ronny Funny Face

Always on the outlook for a laugh Ronny wants 

to make the whole world smile




.


Next we meet




Barefoot Frida 

An outdoors type, she loves to build small yet fun challenges for her friends in nature. She's located on land inside Ortenstone Gardens and Sculpture Park. I've included a few below.





"The wisest mind has something yet to learn."

George Santayana














Off to the next extremely tall troll.

 






"Always new. Always exciting. Always full of promise. The mornings of our lives. Each a personal daily miracle." 
Gloria Gaither






Long Leif

A friend of trees, he has learned their secret of growth and has become as tall as the best of them. 









Onward to another.





The birdhouses have led us past this covered bridge and more birdhouses ahead.








"Always new. Always exciting. Always full of promise. The mornings of our lives. Each a personal daily miracle." Gloria Gaither







Meet Jacob Everear

Because he loves to listen, his ears have grown and grows.







On my last day I had to revisit Alexa where my first troll hunting began. 





 
Alexa's arms have a reach and can be found outside the Perham City Hall in Perham, Minnesota.

"Don't be fooled by the calendar. There are only as many days in the year as you make use of."
Charles Richards 

Thank you for your visit and maybe there's a troll hunt in your future too! Another highlight to this scavenger hunt is meeting other folks at each troll. Exchanging stories, (no politics at all) taking pictures for each other to remember our adventures.

Take good care of you.




Gasoline stop in Perham headed home when I spotted my childhood favorite.