Savannah on My Mind and A few Critters

Okay so make that Georgia On My Mind preferably by Ray Charles.

I just read something about Savannah, Georgia which I experienced first hand.

"Savannah is utterly impervious to outside influence."

Maybe that's why I find it so darn charming.

Step into the unknown.

I pulled out some old vacation disks like I'm sure many of you do during the winter months and honestly Savannah has been a need-to-return destination point for too long. It's time I make this happen again and soon.

"No other creatures of the savannah sleep as deeply or as soundly as lions,
 but after all, lions are the main reason for not sleeping soundly."

Elizabeth Marshall Thomas

Speaking of creatures, or critters and lions and I offer a moment especially for

SATURDAY'S CRITTERS

Life just wouldn't be the same without our animals.

Here's my sweet Dash.

Really mom more pictures? I was just dozing off.

Here's my Misty and Dash really enjoying the moment 
of blissful outdoor magic.

Gosh, there's a whole world out there.


Returning to my enjoyment of Savannah 

Stately gorgeous mansions and buildings everywhere.

The squares! 22 of them remaining. 

There were two more historic squares

 that were lost to development.

Each with their own mystique.

So many tours. Take the time to eventually do them all!

Live oaks and Spanish Moss.

So many cemeteries worthy of a visit.
Especially Bonaventure Cemetery.

I think we covered every single city street in Savannah
on foot! The glamour of these grand buildings and nearly all of them have their own (often secret) little patio gardens and terraces.

All usually gated but for the most part you can peek inside.

Thanks for spending some time with me.

May the road rise up to meet you always

and take good care of you.

Tell Me Why

Tell me why this is so darn irresistible?



Life is an empty square unless
one fills it up with matter.
Robin Antar

Ever notice every time someone asks why?

 A common response is why not?

Why not is a slogan for an interesting life."

Mason Cooley

"If you follow every dream, you might get lost."

Neil Young

But, isn't that the point? The journey into our unknowns,

renewing, rewarding, revitalizing.

Why not spruce things up?

Inside

and

Outside.

"I used to walk like a giant on the land.

Now I feel like a leaf floating in a stream."

Neil Young

About some things-

"Don't let it bring you down.

It's only castles burning,

find someone who's turning,

and you will come around."

Neil Young

If you feel yourself traveling downhill,

look up!

"You know, the future's a huge gigantic place.

I have no idea what's going on out there,

I'm just going to walk into it and see what happens."

Neil Young

There is gnome place like a garden
 filled with goodness,
and gnomes.

Soon, very soon it won't be "Give it time, you're at the frozen lake"
it will soon be, "Relax, you're at the lake."

Lake life
 floats my boat

and 

Being happy floats everyone.

Add a critter ride and really be lifted!

Have you lifted someone's spirits today?


Thanks for sharing time with me.
Take good care of you.

Critters and a Weekend Off

Yes, when it comes to my weekend off, it's no holds barred and so a girl's weekend it was with a movie, gallery visit (to check out Alec Soth) lunch and off to our favorite quaint little Linden Hills neighborhood. Of course critters were on my mind as well, and if only I'd been able to capture just a few of those many chirping and delightful song birds somewhere along our journey!

How about a bunny?
for
SATURDAY'S CRITTERS

Interestingly enough the newest journey Alec Soth explored resonated with me as well.  Relating to the human side of things and I have this urge to see what's right before my eyes, but play it back in a entirely different manner whether in my mind or through a photograph. Does that even make any sense to you?

Sometimes the more I see the less I know.

 "The world is full of magical things, 

patiently waiting for our senses to grow sharper."

William Butler Yeats

Is this what you'd call a

blue snowman?

Does he fit in the critter category as well?

I have a few secret places where I can usually find
 swans and ducks and other critters.

I shot this yesterday it's one of Alec Soth's shooting
 through window series,
 and there is a bird if you can spot it!

Art observing art.

Waiting to be noticed.

Just enjoying the view 
and those folks that happen by.

The next two photos are  more shots 
on display for 
famed Minnesota photographer Alec Soth.

"We cannot live only for ourselves. 

A thousand fibers connect us with our fellow men;

and among those fibers, as sympathetic threads,

 our actions run causes,

and they come back to us as effects."

Herman Melville

"It is not down in any map;

true places never are."

Herman Melville

These kinds of places that he speaks of
is exactly where I enjoy to roam most of all.

And as a matter of fact, greener days are coming.

May happiness follow you wherever you go.

Thanks for stopping in.

Embrace Your Ambition and Slide Into

Wise winter words during this rainy spell of ours.


Once we embrace our ambitions we can slide right into our goals.

Laughter is sunshine, it chases winter from the human face.

Victor Hugo

Yes goals are/have/always will be a major part of me, 

and not just uncovering those sugar-free French vanilla lattes

I'll take just pure coffee please! 

Motivational folks tell us, 

we become what we think about.

So I've been doing a lot of exceptional thinking!

Even the darkest night will end, 

and the sun will rise.

V.H.

People do not lack strength, they lack will.

V.H.

So here goes.

I'm thinking Duluth on Lake Superior anytime except winter.

I'm thinking about something deliciously sweet

 to have with my just pure cup of coffee.

Cookies!

Or busting out the cake pans!

If you're into baking from scratch, and even happier viewing some delightfully delicious ideas, check this out.

(Mexican Chocolate Fudge Pie) might be my favorite!

"Love is like a tree, it grows of its own accord,

 it puts down deep roots into our whole being."

Victor Hugo

I love my trips to Alabama for so many reasons!

Time to leap inside of a book and secretly travel

 on an adventure to a place far from the spot you're sitting on! 

Or perhaps it's

Time to dance with the music playing inside our heads.

From inside the Minneapolis Art Institute.

I'm in the process of creating my piece of art again

 for this year's competition. Wish me luck.

"The artist always has the masters in his eyes."

Ralph Waldo Emerson

Remember

We didn't come this far only to come this far.

anonymous

Huntsville, Alabama.

Even the snowmen in my world

 are pushing for non-winter projects.

Facebook reminded me this morning that on March 12th, a Saturday in 2016

it was 66 degrees and this is how we spent the day. Yes, at the playground.

So whatever you're doing or wherever you are enjoy and

take good care of you.

Chicago

Chicago, Chicago, that toddlin town, Chicago, Chicago I will show you around. 

The Willis Tower, John Hancock Center, Cloud Gate, DuSable Bridge, (Michigan Avenue Bridge) Wrigley Building and the Big Red.

This last Christmas Santa brought this Lego Architecture series featuring Chicago to Danny and this last weekend he said to me,

 "Grandma if you can put this together I'll give you ten dollars!" 

He was serious. Of course I'm still a gigantic Lego fan and nobody will ever need to pay me to build.

We were surprised once I opened the box. Perhaps I was thinking the pieces would be a different size, I mean 444 pieces does not make a very large set in any Lego adventure. To be honest I believe the cost for this series goes more  toward the colorful booklet that details everything about your set along with outstanding captures of each building.  But in all fairness, (I knew this before Danny saw the finished product) "Wow, that's really small!"

The series is geared more for adults to display on their desks or bookshelves at work or around the house.


So much to see in Chicago.

Speaking of cool animals in and around Chicago

and posting for 

SATURDAY'S CRITTERS

welcome.

Giraffes at the Chicago Zoo.

Aim high.

Stand tall

and get spotted.

One of my most favorite places to visit is the Field Museum of Natural History

in Chicago and my first visit there was on my sixth grade school field trip (we rode the train there from Lansing, Michigan and took the bus home) 

 I remember that adventurous trip like it was only yesterday.

 Best school field trip ever!

All this thinking about Chicago gives me the urge to plan another trip there.   Soon, very soon.

Sculpture Batcolumn 

at Harold Washington Social Security Building Chicago.

Flamingo Sculpture

by Alexander Calder 

Water (docks with parking available) and a bit of Chicago skyline.

What a gorgeous city.

But for now, I'll be happy with visiting

 a few of my favorite places

right here in good old

wintry Minnesota.

Speaking of favorite places I read this quote 
that really makes me think.

Note: some of his quotes I find myself silently correcting 
or adding in other words.

"Someday, men will visit ideas instead of places."
Toba Beta from, My Ancestor Was an Ancient Astronaut 

Yet honestly don't most places begin from ideas?

Here's another quote by Toba that makes me think.

"Eyes can only capture object that already seen in mind.
And mind can only see things that already written in heart."



I'm so happy you stopped in.
Take good care of you.