February Theme City Daily Photo

 Our theme for February is “Comfort Food 🥘 “

For City Daily Photo

From our momentary frozen tundra of Minnesota in hopes the sun ☀️ and stars shall return warmth soon but until then “comfort food” reigns.

Yes often our hurried lives offer little time for the simple home cooked recipes otherwise know as comfort foods yet remind yourself hands off the potato chip bag and whip up some creamy, garlicky mashed potatoes instead!
Savor that flavor of roasted Turkey, delicious dressing and gravy to accompany your mashed potatoes and revel in homemade comfort food for the win!

And remember 

“Too much of a good thing can be wonderful!”

Mae West

Thanks for stopping in and I know if you’re feeling like me you’ll be serving up so more good old comfort food!

Take good care of you!

Jolly Old Time About and Critters

 Welcome to another

 SATURDAY'S CRITTERS

and jaunt around town.

"The world is mud-luscious and puddle-wonderful." E.E. Cummings

(Misty and most critters sentiments)

In case you don't recognize that glow in the corner, it's the sun.

and when Misty comes inside again, she'll be pretty much a white dog!

Pause for the hidden birds.

"May my heart always be open to little birds 

who are the secrets of living 

whatever they sing

 is better than to know

 and if men should not hear them 

men are old."

E.E. Cummings

 

"The sun, the bright sun, that brings back, not light alone, but new life, and hope, and freshness to man, burst upon the crowded city in clear and radiant glory. Through costly-colored glass and paper-mended window, through cathedral dome and crevice, it shed its equal ray."

Charles Dickens

Don't be fooled, there are Alabama dogs that love, crave, enjoy and beg to stay outside and play in the snow. Kids required.

"The outside is the only place we can truly be inside the world."

Daniel J. Rice

"Me? I prefer the warm, soft cozy existence of a basket of clothes fresh out of the dryer."

"The snow doesn't give a soft white damn who it touches."

E.E. Cummings

Devoted love, we learn from our dogs.

"The greater part of human activity is designed to make permanent those experiences and joys which are only lovable because they are changing. 

Music is a delight because of its rhythm and flow. Yet the moment you arrest the flow and prolong a note or chord beyond its time, the rhythm is destroyed." 

Alan Watts

I wish Minnesota would bring this scavenger hunt back it's so necessary to have excitingly fun things to do outside in our often-frozen tundra during the winter. 

Hudson, Wisconsin

Please do drop in. It's oh so cozy inside away from the wind.

Yes, we can often find places to tour in the wintertime and if you go there today it's open until 3 p.m.

From snowy and lovely Hudson, Wisconsin.

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

Take good care of you and those around you.

Enjoy your week ahead. I know it's been a bit long of a winter for some of us but I find it so hard to believe that it's almost February.

Stillwater Stroll

 Welcome to a sunless somewhat snowy but always friendly quaint little river town of Stillwater, Minnesota and all its winter glory downtown.

"My life is like a stroll upon the beach,

 as near to the ocean's edge as I can go."

Henry David Thoreau

Wait, no it's more like, "I pray this winter be gentle and kind, a season of rest from the wheel of the mind." John Geddes 

and it's the St. Croix River and one of this year's snow sculptures. This is the second year of Stillwater's Snow Sculpture Contest.

Winter has arrived.

I had the most delicious lunch at Stillwater Proper 

and you can see for yourself below.

"Empty your mind, be formless. Shapeless, like water. Now, you put water into a cup, it becomes the cup, you put water into a bottle, it becomes the bottle. You put it in a teapot, it becomes the teapot. Now, water can flow or it can crash. Be water my friend."

Bruce Lee 

Extremely wise Blueberry.

Dear Winter, the story of us is,

 I'm really over this and I miss days 

filled with sunshine. 

"Winter is not a season, it's an occupation."

Sinclair Lewis 

There is always something so perfectly wonderful 

about winter.

I believe.

Can you see my reflection?

Nothing could be more fun than a day at the table, creating.

"Every mile is two in winter."

Dear Winter,

I'm breaking up with you.

I think it's time I start

 seeing other seasons.

In case you're wondering I was driving home smiling after my day in Stillwater. It's always there patiently waiting to be enjoyed, adventured and admired. It's a place I spent many a Saturdays with my mother and children. It holds many memories.  Always something to do. Paddle boats eager to paddle you on weather permitting of course. Stillwater is a place that picks me up like a visit with an old friend and the comfort of its wisdom and trinkets of joy. 

Thanks for stopping in and strolling along with me.

Take good care of you.

Bewitched Broom and Critters

 Welcome to another post for

SATURDAY'S CRITTERS

"When it feels like the world is going crazy, I look at my dog and know that everything is right with the world and that goodness still exists!"

Sweet little Emme is always ready to play!

The animals in our lives have so much to offer that my heart is always happier around them.

Animals are a gift even the wooden ones!

"Really now, are you going to throw it or just keep on holding it?"

The eyes are the window to your soul. 

William Shakespeare 

Remember,

"Stop acting so small. You are the universe in ecstatic motion."

Rumi

"Everything that is made beautiful and fair and lovely is made for the eye of one who sees." Rumi

Can you believe your eyes? 

Yes, it's actually standing up without any assistance!

Live Life Happy

 

"Be a lamp, or a lifeboat, or a ladder. Help someone's soul heal. Walk out of your house like a shepherd." Rumi

Live Life Happy!       Learn to spread your wings.

 and if you're lucky you may stumble upon a 

Spread your wings and let the fairy in you fly!

Thanks for stopping by and may your week ahead be adventurous and filled with happiness and wellness.  

Winter Blitz

It's been a wild winter pretty much all across the United States and here's a bit from my neck of the woods.

There is good news. Spring begins here in 2 months and 1 week! Officially that is.

The life in front of you is far more important

 than the life behind you.

Joel

I have a mantra that keeps me positive.

I remember that every season has opportunities for growth, joy and moments to flourish rather than wilt-away.

These are a couple of photos from the parking lot where I work

 I even brought one of my snowmen to work that day.  Driving in and out can be treacherous.

It's all about stringing small pleasures together 

as much as possible.

From downtown Lakeville last Tuesday

 our snowstorm was moving in.

On this day I was living and driving in the quiet, barely a car on the road taking a long way home from the dentist in joyous expectation of what tomorrow's weather would be. 

and so, this is the next morning.

Hardly joyous!

But once I made it out of our driveway it was smooth sailing.

Wednesday morning consisted of much shoveling and plowing to leave our driveway! It was a mixture of heavy frozen slush underneath fresh fluffy snow.

SO!

Inspiring words on a mug!

One more mantra for these days.

"Remember to delight yourself first,

then others can be truly delighted."

Sark

A human being knows when to take a moment to enjoy the inside of shopping malls and other places like below. 

Dogs on the other hand (like my dog Misty) if the weather is warm enough, she'd play all day in the snow.

Sometimes your imagination is better than the Real Thing.

No snowman can be enjoyed or appreciated until you've shaped it with your own hands and placed a scarf around his next. The broom is optional.

Take hold of the here and now.

It's all yours.

and

Be creative. Eat well. Sleep better. Find some sunshine.

Art can save your life.

Reading takes you to the best of places.

Today only happens once, so make the most of it.

Wishing you all the best and days of joyful moments and fewer winter struggles, as last week served for us. 

Thanks for stopping in today and please

take good care of you.