The Mag- #226 - 29 June 2014

"I am solitary as grass.  What is it I miss?  Shall I ever find it, whatever it is?" - Sylvia Plath

A Game of Patience, 1937 - Meredith Frampton

THE MAG

Not Just

Another Hand of Solitaire.

PATIENCE at 

Spirit Knob

Caught in a hand of innumerable folly

she sat weary of immutable

measure and reluctance.

Always make the play,

and forever play

your ace.

Implied accusations follow

 a flip of a card.

Transfer all that frees.

Not just another winning hand.

Utterly alone she wallows.

 In shuffling indecision

randomizing 

all her cards

to be freed

or falter on this

tormented fence of suspicion

of hollow zeal

and no more moves to play.

Linking to Tess Kincaid's Magpie Tales

To view more go here.

Six Word Saturday - 28 June 2014

Celebrate YOU no matter what!

SIX WORD SATURDAY

OUR PRESIDENT EATS

 MINNESOTA JUCY LUCY

No matter what your political opinions are/were/will be these couple of days had some good moments in Minnesota! 

Delightful!  The fact that a president can quote Garrison Keillor (Now in Minnesota you can say it's a place where all the women are Strong, all the men are Good-Looking and all the children are above average) and sit down and devour a "Jucy Lucy" is just further proof, we are all human and in this thing we call life, together!

See about part of his visit here.

Dear Mr. President Obama, are you following my favorite haunts?  Yes, as a matter of fact he did.

From Lake Harriet, to Minnehaha Falls Park, to Matt's Bar and even on Grand Avenue in St. Paul, The Grand Ole Creamery (best ice cream) and even on our freeway he was spotted waving (from inside) to folks held up in traffic while he passed through.

We know how quickly things change.

Grab hold of every second you can.

Life goes from this

And this

To this

Within an hour!  Yes, more storms are brewing, all weekend long.

"Thank you, God, for this good life and forgive us if we do not love it enough." - Garrison Keillor

The Mag - 22 June 2014 -Silly How Some Things Flow.

"Green was the silence, wet was the light, the month of June trembled like a butterfly." Pablo Neruda

Sweet Summer 1912 John William Waterhouse

There always is, two sides, to every story.

THE MAG

Just What is Summer all about Alfie?

She Said and He Replied

(Note- We can see her, but he's just outside of the painting.  Truly.)

She begins, 
Barefoot I lounge 
upon this lazy leisure day.

Won't you stay
and join me 
under this sweltering sun?

He relies,

One half of me- 

is trying to fix this mower

But the other half of me 

craves a cold beer.

She says,

Can you see I'm half shading my sinfulness

while the other side of me is exposing

a blistering, burning rage growing inside of me?

He replies,

Stupid mower!

And what is that sticky 

taste of something salty 

on this beer can?  What's that about?

She says,

Ah yes,

I too taste a sticky 

presence of salty 

tears with your absence

as I quiver here in sizzling desire 

all by myself.  Again.

He replies,

Doesn't matter, dumb dead mower.  I quit.  After this beer 

let's go golfing, then steaks on the grill. 

So grab your clubs.

She says, What more can a girl say
upon this sun-sational day 
I'll just dream-

About the sticky sultry 
touch I believed you'd bestow.
You win.

Let's go chase some balls.

Good Fences #14 - 26 June 2014

So many lakes and parks to explore.

GOOD FENCES

This Day Dear Park 

You Are Completely Ours.

We'll Roam your paths and soak up your gifts.

Last Friday we ate at PinStripes Restaurant before hiking Centennial Lake Park.  

Of course, I had fences in mind this trip as well!  Check out Pinstripes Youtube video.  If you haven't been there yet, their video will change that.


A place where smiles are the first and last thing you'll see!

Greetings from Centennial Lakes Park in Edina, Minnesota.

You never get over seeing fences.  They always lead the way, or protect us, or something worth stopping for.

Yes, there is a fence under all this greenery! 

Look very close, and you'll see a hidden spot for two.

Now you see it right? 

 "Don't you think that the best things are already in view?" - Julia Ward Howe

Try looking at the same view with new eyes.

"I think that wherever your journey takes you, there are new gods waiting there, with divine patience- and laughter." - Susan M. Watkins

Like a good fence, having its reasons for being, "The face is a picture of the mind with the eyes of its interpreter." - Cicero

Linking with Good Fences here.

Thematic Photographic - Summer 2

Our theme this week is

 Summer!

Summer doesn't always produce sun and fun.   This post is a reminder about the not so nice summer storms!

Riding a rain overload.  We have some dry spells but more heavy rains are expected again.  

THEMATIC PHOTOGRAPHIC

At first glance you might believe it's just another sunny day.  But if you look closer, you'll notice police yellow tape and fencing put in place to keep the public back.  The City of Northfield means business about folks getting too close to the rising Cannon River.

The sidewalks were closed once the Cannon River spilled into the walkways.

This was taken last Friday night.  Saturday brought a day of relief with no rain, and only gentle rains on Sunday.

The lower level sidewalk filled with water here.

"If you want to see the sunshine you have

 to weather the storm." - Frank Lane

Sorry still no bicycle parking here this week.

But by Monday morning, some of the walkways were clear of water, but still closed with more rain on the way.

Summer skies can go from this 

To this very quickly!


Always remember to keep your eyes open to what the storm clouds are brewing.


Have you brought some summer to Thematic Photographic yet?  Here's the link.

Thematic Photographic - 298 - Summer!

WooHoo!  I'm jumping for joy arriving back home today  and seeing a new theme for Thematic Photographic is up and ready!

So happy Carmi brought SUMMER as our theme too! It sure is a joyous time all around!

For as long as I live, there will never be enough summer in my life!

THEMATIC PHOTOGRAPHIC

This song brings summer to life! 

Mungo Jerry 

In the Summertime here

There's really only one major flaw in summer, and that's finding enough time to do all the stuff you've been waiting all winter long to do!

Summer brings paddle boats and lawn games.

See Centennial Lakes Park in Edina, Minnesota here,

it has something for every season!

Tents replace snowdrifts.  The weatherman predicted heavy winds and flash floods for the evening! Really, everybody survived here!

This last weekend was "Munchkin Weekend" long days and even longer nights- it's still light out after nine o'clock and there were Roasted PINK PEEPS!

Come on everyone it's time for swimming and

Grass-sledding!

Even during all the hullabaloo during summer, there's always time to reflect.

and take walks under blue skies.

Or head down to Caponi Art Park!

Okay last shot for this post.  Do you ever catch yourself snapping random pictures everywhere you go this time of year?

So grab your camera or your phone and share some of your summer with us right here at Thematic Photographic!

Scavenger Hunt Sunday - 22 June 2014

Let the hunt for, unplugged, unassuming, unleashed, unapproachable and unaware begin!

SCAVENGER HUNT SUNDAY

1.  Unplugged

Barely cell service here.  Seating for two. Relax and enjoy.

2.  Unassuming

Venturing out to where ever the path leads.

3.  Unleashed

May the prancing begin.

Still my favorite winter cell phone pull over and shoot moment!

4.  Unapproachable

5.  Unaware

Linking to Scavenger Hunt Sunday.

Any time you venture out

unplugged

and unassuming

the entire point is to be

unleashed

and unapproachable 

and just being

unaware 

is the space

where living begins.

Six Word Saturday - 21 June 2014

LIFE HAS A WAY OF CHANGING

IN A MANNER OF A DAY


SIX WORD SATURDAY

Oops, can't use the walkway, it's underwater.

Last night's photo of the walkway along the Cannon River in Northfield, Minnesota.

OUR LIFE AS WE KNOW IT

Can bring tears and laughter at an unexpected drop of pin falling in field of daisies-

you're blindsided

and never saw/heard it coming.

You often don't see changes coming

and sometimes

it's for the better

while some are not.

Nonetheless, life keeps us in full motion.

Minnesota 101

this is not where my ancestors grew.

But it's been my home for longer than anywhere else.

My children are all grown now, each with their own family.

I'm a grandma of six most wonderful, enjoyable, lovable, funny and imaginative grandchildren.

MY ONLY WISH IS THAT MY CHILDREN
 KEEP THEIR HOMES HERE NEAR ME.

It's a wee bit of a worry for me, that my one and only daughter, her hubby and their lovely (my grand-daughter) little girl might need to make a move to

ALABAMA!

OH NO!

Oh my, Alabama?! That is just too far away for me.

Is it wrong to be a wishing and hoping my son-in-law doesn't take this new job offer?

Just last weekend, during a birthday celebration for Princess Lyra.

Yesterday, just a random afternoon hanging out with Uncle Gary, cousins and me!  

To share what's in your world, or to see other posts go here.

Sepia Saturday - 21 June 2014 - A Whole New World

Today's post is for a very special event.

Congratulations to Alan's son and his wife to be, on this glorious of all occasions, their wedding.


SEPIA SATURDAY

Of course, since we can't all attend this festive event, Alan has asked us to present in our place of being there, photos from our own wedding or any other weddings important to us.  

A girl's first wedding is everything, in my opinion.

A Whole New World 

heard here.

After our wedding we drove to a photographer to have a few photos taken, before returning to a small group for our dinner celebration with family.  My dear daddy made dinner reservations at Treasure Island, a favorite restaurant of mine that was nestled along a river and day or night twinkle lights glowed from all their trees. 

 This was our main wedding picture and the photo insert was taken after our wedding.

Soon after, happiness often came at a dear price in those days.

I Shall Always Remember,

Shortly after our wedding, my new mother-in-law bless her darling little heart (which by the way is still ticking and she's happily basking in the hot Florida sun for her remaining years) said this to me soon after I married her only son.

"You are not a young chickadee any more."

It was after a discussion she'd had about me continuing to wear short skirts.  

Sadly for us, (but better in so many ways) our marriage was not to last.  However, most importantly, our union (three years later at the age of 19) gifted me with my first adorable little boy, and my dear ex-hubby and I remained good friends (for the most part) throughout the years, right up to my ex-husband's last days on earth.

 Luckily, their family name is yet to continue, as our son also gave birth to a boy.

Good Fences - #13 19 June 2014

Welcome.

Walking On the Quiet Side

 to uncover Fences!

GOOD FENCES

Can you see me?  Okay, no you can't since I'm taking the picture.  It's from this point in the woods that my post begins.

My idea for this post began from my hike through these bushes.  Are you ready to track down this fence and see where it ends?

My goal is at the end of this boardwalk.

I was being followed by ducks, a bright red Cardinal and other birds.

We're getting closer.

Back in that group of trees is where we started this adventure.

To this end result! Behold nature's treasures.  Can you see the baby turtle too?

For adventurous and daring folks, just beyond this point is a secret path leading deeper into more woods.

Note:  Surprisingly enough, you might think this place is lost somewhere in a magical forest, with acres upon acres of wild nature at our feet.  In truth, it's smack in the center of Burnsville, Minnesota and two blocks from where my mother lived the last ten years of her life.

To see what other fences folks are posting go here.