Alphabe-Thursday - Celebrating - The Letter D

THIS IS AN ALPHABE-THURSDAY POST

       In celebration of the letter "D"  I offer  "decoration"
and Jenny from Off on my tangent blog, allows all week to complete our "Letter D" assignment.

                Decoration defined, is an addition that renders something more attractive or ornate, adornment.....


                      Oh yes, tis the season to pack away our autumn delights in exchange for all things bright and out of sight - since about this time last year..... farewell for now autumn decorations.

Decorations don't always have to cost a bundle either.  See these delightful musical figurines?  They came from the "Dollar Store"....yes, really.  Most everyone who sees them, begs to know where I found them....please don't tell, okay!

I will be most pleased, if my children continue to create as many of their own decorations locked within their imaginations and share them with the rest of us.....


                    
......and what could be more delightful than.....

to hang something fresh from your own backyard, not too much just a whisper of something alive.....keep them guessing - are these decorations real or not.....that shall be the question of the hour.....

         A person always feels better when they create......

     I especially like moving about my house late at night while every ones fast asleep, while visions of whimsy dance through their dreams...before they awake to see.....

our tree decorated with so many pretty bulbs in the hopes that kitty cat paws and little fingers won't break too many again this year.....

                 One of these days I'll have too many decorations.  Some are from my childhood, many from my own children's hands, or that of friends and loved ones.  Best are they that come from the heart of someone special...and once in awhile I'll buy just one more.
      Soon there will be no more room for tree......oh no!


    Funny how things happen, every year one or two disappear either by breakage, or tucked away in the hands of someone cherishing their Christmas past...and I'll see it again on another tree dear to us.



                   Everybody knows just how wise owls are, so why not include as many owls as you can when you decorate!

On a snowy moonlit night I shall wish upon an owl......
as he hides inside our tree
oh how I wish I might see an owl tonight.

           When you're decorating with your very own delicious treats, why not serve them on something filled with festive spirit, like....

                                       A Frosty Platter.......

Even if you don't put anything on your Frosty Platter - he's still such a delight to see!

                      Oh no! A bare Frosty!

Decorating with angels, musical or not, is always a wise thing to do....

To decorate something festive and of your own design, why not look inside your goody bag of bits and pieces and ribbons and bows and other artsy things.   You can create within less than an hour if you wish to that quickly, your very own Whimsical jar for candy or those long candy canes you just don't know how to store.....

I will be using this jar, but you could use a vase, or glass or any other object you can find!

....this is the end result for my decorated jar ... yours is what ever you wish it to be!

You can give it away or keep it as one of your special decorations!


You know your child is all grown up when they tell you, "Mom, it's not so much about the presents, but more about the decorations and all the things we share....like climbing in the truck and going to cut our tree...."

Yes, Virginia, those decorations are special, aren't they?!

So if you haven't got the link to turn in your assignment here it is

http://jennymatlock.blogspot.com/2011/11/good-morning-class.html

Whimsical Wednesday 30 November 2011

WELCOME TO ANOTHER
                           WHIMSICAL WEDNESDAY POST

                         Hooray for quick hand-crafted delights designed to please any whimsical spirit.  It's as easy as 1 - 2 - 3 and you can put it all together in less than an hour....if you believe!

See below how this festive jar came to be......

Any jar will work, this just happens to be a jar used for canning....and your style of lid is of course, up to you!

You may not even want to use a lid -

Maybe you want candy canes to stick out for all to see!

The next step is bring together any bits and pieces you have tucked away in your artsy box for decorating!

as much or little as you desire
have a picture or two of someone you love
go get it.....
Remember his is your creation .....

Are you ready for some more Whimsical Wednesday posts...or do you want to post your own?
Then please do go here....

http://dthaase-lines.blogspot.com/p/whimsical-wednesday.html

Thematic Photographic 173 A flash of color

WELCOME TO ANOTHER
                   THEMATIC PHOTOGRAPHIC POST


                                     Carmi, from Written Inc. has announced a "flash of color" as this week's theme and we'll be flashing as many colors possible all week long....so why not join us too?

              Unlocking the secret to light....and colors....through art... and

Through the darkness comes, a sudden burst of light.....followed by a series of sounds......if you're lucky, you might....walk away with more than you arrived with...

Walking along a busy avenue viewing copies of ancient designs....in an explosion of flashing colors...right before our eyes.....


"The soul becomes dyed with the color of its thoughts....."
Marcus Aurelius

so why not let a "flash of color" brighten your way.....

Just a momentary brightness....a flash of color, and if you look into the reflection....

you'll find just what you're looking for....

If you're staying here, the front desk is just through this looking glass....or, is it really behind you......!


Colors, like features follow the changes of the emotion....Pablo Picasso

....even for the fish....I think Charlie is trying to say something....."Yes, what is it Mr. Fish?"


So if you are curious for a bit more flash of color or have your own to add go here

PLEASE! ......before the lights go OUT!

http://writteninc.blogspot.com/2011/11/thematic-photographic-173-flash-of.html

Saturday Centus - Would you

THIS IS A SATURDAY CENTUS POST

                     This week it's no more than 100 words plus the prompt, (106 total) and only Miss Jenny's scrumptiously delicious photo is allowed.  Any style writing.....our prompt is (nothing to do with turkey Thank goodness!)
                     "Would you like fries with that...."

Notice, these are not your everyday fries either!



My answer to Jenny's Saturday Centus request is this:


Mrs. Snodgrass, an exceedingly snooty billionaire suffered a troubling week. First, while dining at the Waldorf 16 attentive waiters showered her with the utmost attention. When they asked if she required anything else, a tiny voice spoke from behind her.



“Would you like fries with that?”


She turned to see a milk faced toddler grinning at her.

"GRRR!"


Next, her brief nightmare followed, landing her at NYPD’s 5th Precinct after being hurdled from a moving sedan while blindfolded and gagged.


Officer DuGood asked, “Do you remember anything about your capture?”


“Yes, a crackling voice over a bad intercom said, “Would you like fries with that?  Who eats fries?"

You know the drill, if you want to read some more really awesome posts.....or if you'd rather just have more fries, or care to share your own version please do!  Just go here okay?

http://jennymatlock.blogspot.com/2011/11/saturday-centus-would-you-like.html

Sepia Saturday 102 : Saturday 26 November 2011

THIS IS A SEPIA SATURDAY POST 

      Greetings to all.....my post is in honor of Thanksgiving Day celebrated in America and always on the fourth Thursday of November.  I have a "somewhat" Thanksgiving theme for you all.  Even Canada celebrates a similar national holiday on the second Monday in October.


                     I open with what many people will be celebrating this Thanksgiving and have many times before as well...

Football, and The Northfield High School football team, 1894, and as the photo shows, apparently they were champions that year! - photo courtesy of Minnesota Historical Society. They do appear to be older than high school age to me....

...We also must remember those troops of service people all over the world who will not be gathering around their family's table this year....

Dinner for the 36th Infantry at Fort Snelling....in Minnesota. 

     Strangely enough, like all holidays there seems to be several stories or celebrations for one holiday.  In short, this day in the United States is a national holiday in acknowledgment of divine favor, celebrated on the fourth Thursday of November.
            Or, another definition is, from 1863, what Americans have termed the First Thanksgiving which celebrates giving thanks to God, for safely guiding them to the new world. The First Thanksgiving lasted for 3 days and provided food for 13 Pilgrims and 90 native Americans.


               Another version says in 1621 when the Pilgrims settled in Plymouth, Massachusetts, the U.S. tradition was celebrated with a meal held at Wampanoag.  In any event Thanksgiving Day in modern times is still celebrated with dinner, usually always turkey and pumpkin pie as just two of it's forever dishes!



     Another much anticipated event in November is hunting and trapping season, especially for deer.

An unknown couple posing with a dear head in Morrison County, about 1900.  I'm real curious about the papers he's holding for this picture.

Yes, hunting is a tradition for many families, as is my favorite (since childhood) tradition is:  watching the Thanksgiving Day Macy's Parade.  Although for all the years I grew up, stores didn't open for business on Thanksgiving Day.  Oh heavens no.  But apparently there are some companies that just need more, and they are going to open on Thanksgiving Day.....to get a jump start on what our next celebration is....Black Friday.....where stores compete for your sales.....


I will leave you with this thought...... at my house we do gather together as family and friends and we are all very thankful in so many ways and yes, we share in a really delicious meal.  We also give thanks to those not able to be with us, like my son-in-law who is deployed with his unit.  We do support his and every other service person everywhere.  

This is about 1900....and courtesy of Minnesota Historical Society...  and Thanksgiving Day is a jewel, to set in the hearts of honest men; but be careful that you do not take the day, and leave out the gratitude, - E. P. Powell. 

                                                          He who thanks but with the lips
                                                          Thanks but in part;
                                                          The full, the true Thanksgiving
                                                          Comes from the heart.

So if you wish to view other Sepia Saturday posts, I know you'd be thankful you did!
Just go here
http://sepiasaturday.blogspot.com/2011/11/sepia-saturday-102-saturday-26-november.html

Whimsical Wednesday - Happy Thanksgiving Blogosphere

THIS IS A WHIMSICAL WEDNESDAY POST

                         and A HAPPY THANKSGIVING DAY TO ALL

           I just want to thank you for stopping by and sharing in this wonderful world of whimsy and our great Blogosphere connection....I thank you from the bottom of my heart!

THANKSGIVING is the holiday of peace, the celebration of work and the simple life...
a true folk-festival that speaks the poetry of the turn of the seasons, the beauty of seed time and harvest, the rip product of the year - and the deep, deep connection of all these things with God.  - Ray Stannard Baker (David Grayson)

Thanksgiving comes to us out of the prehistoric dimness, universal to all ages and all faiths.  At whatever straws we must grasp, there is always a time for gratitude and new beginnings.  -  J. Robert Moskin

If you would like to play along too, or just view other whimsical creations just go here

http://dthaase-lines.blogspot.com/2011/11/its-whimsical-wednesday-come-and-add-to.html

Thematic Photographic 172 Muted

Take a second to study this photo.  Did you hear anything?  Or is it just the sound of your own heart beating that you heard?

Well, you shouldn't hear anything really.  Why?  Read on and see why.....

THIS IS ANOTHER THEMATIC PHOTOGRAPHIC POST

    .....and we seek to find Carmi's new theme of " muted " in the things that we do or the places that we go or have gone before......

Muted are the voices we never need while enjoying a walk with our dog.........

        Meet a muted Grumpy, one of the Seven Dwarfs, while he patiently waits for his artist to bring him to life..... He really wants to hop off this paper....

Muted- Is the growth of this tree that will finish living life as,
 a table.

Muted- is this cockpit and any future pilots that shall never again fly amongst the clouds from inside this cockpit.

Muted are the sounds of a busy airport, with planes landing and taking off on the other side of this dirty glass.

"The past is only the present become invisible and mute;

and because it is invisible and mute, its memorized glances and its murmurs

are infinitely precious ......we are tomorrow's past."  - Mary Webb

If you have your own version of "muted" why not post it with us!
 We'll be playing this all week long

so why not check this out.

http://writteninc.blogspot.com/2011/11/thematic-photographic-172-muted.html

Saturday Centus Curiously.... We Gather Together

THIS IS A SATURDAY CENTUS POST

Welcome fans and followers of Saturday Centus hosted by Jenny at "off on my tangent" blog....
        

Welcome to our Rabbit-Fest....won't you come inside?

Miss Jenny is feeling the spirit of giving and sharing as many gather together for a  Thanksgiving celebration... So with no more than 108 words, any style of writing and up to 3 photos we begin.
The prompt is
"We gather together to ask the Lord's blessing..."


If you care to join in or view other posts
please go here

http://jennymatlock.blogspot.com/2011/11/saturday-centus-we-gather-together.html

We have gathered our goodies from this garden of rosemary and thyme....

and so my story begins.....

in less than 108 words

Hopping out from underneath rolling fields and grassy knolls,

they arrived from all over the countryside.

All bright eyed and bushy tailed these delightful bunnies were

to share this day's bounty together.

Having survived a succession of victories

from so many hunters

this large circle of kindred souls united together

while father bunny announced

"We gather together to ask the Lord's blessing"

while dining from a cook who makes

grass taste yummy.

We're thankful but curious

what are the humans doing

this Thanksgiving Day?

Shall we take a look-see .....

"It's my ball now...."

If you're going to add football to your celebrations

may your team do well

and to all I'm sending a

Happy Thanksgiving Day!

Six Word Saturday 19 November 2011

THIS IS A  
     SIX WORD SATURDAY POST





and my six words for Cate, at Show My Face blog are these....

 ONLY BELIEVE THAT YOU ALWAYS CAN


DO ANYTHING.

DOUBTS AND FEARS ARE OUR WORST ENEMIES.
ALWAYS......

Your own self image is important

Yes it is....if that's in good shape you will do anything that your little heart desires...really
don't just take my word for it.... JUST DO IT!

       Nothing splendid has ever been achieved except by those who dared believe that something inside them was superior to circumstances.  - Bruce Barton

                              Without Self-Confidence, We're Done For... Right?


So, have I convinced you to view a few more posts...or post your own? Then why not go here...

http://www.showmyface.com/2011/11/six-word-saturday_19.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+showmyface+%28Show+My+Face%29

Thematic Photographic 171 Classic

THIS IS A THEMATIC PHOTOGRAPHIC POST.....Carmi's theme being "CLASSIC" immediately spoke "telephone booth".....not just a telephone hanging on a wall inside a grocery store either, although they're quickly disappearing as well.....no I wanted a genuine glass and chrome, silver and blue booth, the ones you still see in the movies...especially the spooky ones...

But I'd still be looking......

So, I settled for the other everyday pretty much "classic" from our day to day things....


The letter......the ones where we're also sending a bit of ourselves.....straight from our heart.........and soul.

This is only a small part of my collection, that I was lucky to have inherited from my Grandmother ..... of course we corresponded together a lot through my younger to adult years.....she enforced the duty one has to send a thank you immediately when ever anyone sends you anything.......

always be thankful

Never write a letter while you are angry...- Chinese Proverb


but I have and will, and then toss it away
or burn it slow over a hot fire

This is quite the funny thought now....


"What we lost when we stopped writing letters. You can't reread a phone call." - Liz Carpenter
of course now we have fewer telephone calls as well....
my how things change....


oh.... for our new age of corresponding

"The age of technology has both revived the use of writing and provided ever more reasons for its spiritual solace. Emails are letters, after all, more lasting than phone calls, even if many of them r 2 cursory 4 u." - Anna Quindlen

If you feel the urge to write something lasting, or just want to view more great classics
then please do go here

http://writteninc.blogspot.com/2011/11/thematic-photographic-171-classic.html

Sepia Saturday 101 : Saturday 19 November 2011

WELCOME TO ANOTHER   SEPIA SATURDAY   POST

Postcard series on U.S. 66 and 60 at East City Limits, Amarillo, Texas, and an authorized Standard Oil Dealer.  Everything a traveler could want, gasoline and a place to sleep.
by Preziosi Postcards.

    This week Alan from Sepia Saturday is bringing color and Chevrolet's history to life....so I'm feeling like a great all American road trip for our dear friend Alan....kind of a 101 lesson- on the days of yesterday tooling around America with your brand new Chevrolet!  I hope you all come along too.  Our first stop will be at the Pabst Blue Ribbon factory in Chicago, Illinois.  Hop aboard everyone.....

Oh dear, oh where could Alan's Chevrolet be.  I hope we haven't lost it?

photo by Library of Congress, at Chicago, which also was the point of origin for the famous Highway Route 66, about 1941.

Next on our road trip is lunch..............

Located on a busy stretch of Central Avenue in Albuquerque, New Mexico, we stop at the El Sombrero Drive-In, and reflect on the lovely architecture and blend of sunshine rays and the American country side that we got our kicks along Route 66.....is there really any question as to what the menu might have under this sombrero hat? - another Preziosi Postcard.

We should interrupt our road trip for a moment to post a couple of the gasoline stations that aided in our journey from Chicago, Illinois to New Mexico, and on to California and Mexico....

Most everyone knows that you must take your Chevrolet to Texaco at least once on your road trip.

Of course a road trip of this great many miles required lots of gasoline stops, and a side trip was necessary to pass through Minneapolis, Minnesota because we've heard such great things about the town.

Right in the heart of downtown Minneapolis where the palm trees here are only painted on buildings.  This was Tankar gas station on Washington Avenue in 1932.
photo by Library of Congress, Minnesota Historical.

Of course after thinking about all that gasoline consumption aren't we a bit hungry again?  Or maybe we should travel slightly north and cruise through Salt Lake City, Utah first.

They call this Eagle Gate, Salt Lake City, Utah....can you spot Alan's Chevrolet?

Okay, now we'll drive a bit more and then find that spot to eat......I'm starved, how about you?




Los Angeles, California featured so many places to stop and eat on every busy street corner.  So for us, it's another Drive-In, like the classic Simons.  It was a fabulous place to dine.....yet gone today replaced by a shopping mall.
- photo Los Angeles Public Library.

...and every great road trip requires stopping at an Auto Camp, this one located in San Diego, (a very different looking San Diego then what I just visited for myself) but none the less San Diego, and it's time for us to get some water and use the toilet facilities. 
so check where we stopped...

Well we all could use the showers, right?  By the 1940's these "sanitary facilities" slowly faded into oblivion....and this one was pretty nice compared to some of them.  They were also called, Outhouses..... photo by Library of Congress.

Did you bring your passports along?  Oh wait, it's only recently that you need your passport to enter Mexico...

International Bridge, Juarez, Mexico-El Paso, Texas.....after all if you're this close why not cross over, right? - a Natural Color Cards, by Ray Manley postcards.

Last stop on our journey will be a splash of color and jazz....everyone welcome to

The Madonna Inn on Highway 101 and Madonna Road San Luis Obispo, California. This is their lobby. - (We'll all meet up in their Champagne Bar, directly around the corner) please don't be late....

If you enjoyed this American Road Trip 101 then you just might want to see some other viewpoints by going here

http://sepiasaturday.blogspot.com/2011/11/first-of-all-big-thank-you-to-everyone.html

Alphabe-Thursday's Letter C

THIS IS A ALPHABE-THURSDAY POST..... featuring the letter C!

My " C " letter for this round is   "camino real"

camino real (kah-mee-naw-Re-ahl) noun, plural caminos reales Spanish-and is
    a main road: highway, origin literally, royal road.


Sometimes there's only one main road leading to and from one place....

Spring Mountain Ranch, in Red Rock Canyon, outside Las Vegas, Nevada....people still speculate just how many times the last owner, Mr. Howard Hughes actually used this camino real or main road.....

Or the camino real can be a one way road circling through the Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area......

Inside Red Rock Canyon, outside Las Vegas, Nevada...camino real (literally) also called royal road is most notable in the California, Texas, and New Mexico areas of the American Southwest, and elsewhere that predate the automobile age, and now many are popular tourist itineraries.

Mural of Route 66, Truxton, Arizona  artwork by Sandy Rusnka, and photo courtesy of The Library of Congress Prints & Photographs Division Washington D.C.
a quite famous camino real!

Camino real, or main road, also known as camino real, are often not just used for automobile traffic.....

Why did the turkey cross the road anyway?

All roads show the way to somewhere......

This photo was taken in the center of the College of Liberal Arts at the University of Minnesota.  Can you see the Minneapolis Metro Dome?  Or the Weisman Art Museum?

Camino real or main roads....lead us to places.......

we may never see, if not for our journey there.......

On the left is the Weisman Art Museum, and downtown Minneapolis is in the background.

If you would like to see more examples of other C posts why not check out Jenny's blog for yourself here

http://jennymatlock.blogspot.com/2011/11/alphabe-thursdays-letter-c.html

Whimsical Wednesday 16 November 2011

THIS IS A WHIMSICAL WEDNESDAY POST
                             ....My whimsy for this day......

Have You Ever Met a Seahorse?

Oh but of course you surely have....
just as I did one summer's day.

Whatever course I may travel




Please don’t box me in


Mr. Seahorse


Let me swim with you friendly seahorse


That lives by the Ocean's Inn


And together let us roam of course


As best we can


So please don’t box me in


Mr. Seahorse


In whatever course I travel



If you have your whimsy to post why not go here and add yours too!

http://dthaase-lines.blogspot.com/2011/11/its-whimsical-wednesday-come-and-add-to.html