Contemplating.

Contemplating.
Wayzata, Minnesota

Saturday, November 19, 2011

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

Friday, November 18, 2011

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

Thursday, November 17, 2011

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

Wednesday, November 16, 2011

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

Saturday, November 12, 2011

Saturday Centus - A Different View

THIS IS A SATURDAY CENTUS POST --

Jenny's prompt photo of the red haired # 6 girl....what is her story?

A DIFFERENT VIEW --  Miss Jenny has given us an easy task of writing up to 100 words about the young girl circled in this photo.  No extra photos, and if you want to play along go here


http://jennymatlock.blogspot.com/2011/11/saturday.html

About 15 years later.......

      Her story begins.....      Watching you read your Kindle so intensely reminds me of a time you huddled with your teammates. Even faced with a loosing streak you marched on.


      Did you ever consider your life could change so drastically?  I envied your enthusiasm, that’s why when you mentioned, not liking people, you floored me.


“Please don’t let a few people spoil it for others.”  I should’ve pushed for your explanation.


     You treasured life, school, everything and everyone in it. You were caring, competitive, supportive, and a gracious leader. People always said splendid things about you.

     Now I wonder what's really going on?

Six Word Saturday - 12 Nov 2011 Splice the Main

THIS IS A SIX WORD SATURDAY POST










 SPLICE THE MAIN BRACE
           VERY SOON!


It's not that I'm always nautical

just feeling as humorful as that expression is, FINALLY!

it's a synonym for taking a drink!

This nautical saying links to any "brace" or rope that is worn and can be strengthened by "splicing."  Man (they say) is strengthened by a strong drink ...so, to "splice the main brace" is to serve out grog. (a variety of alcoholic beverages).

You see the evening before my 6:00 a.m. flight to California (best wine sipping) I had a MURPHY LAW experience! (if anything can go wrong, it will)   Yes, my right hand arm got in the center of a lady cat fight between my usually tame cat and my daughter's not so interactive/I need no NEW friends ever, I am Queen!   My tame  Miss Alpha-Cat stood her ground.

    Once I landed in California a quick shot in the hip, followed by Amoxicillin and Clavulanate Potassium Tablets (and resisting pain pills I took Advil for the throbbing and constant excruciating pain of it all.)

BUT what place to be in such pain, right? I mean sunny California to take your mind off your troubles, right?!

Enough whining.  Yes, both kitties still live, after all Mine was faced with royalty that threatened her entire kingdom.  Once she discovered it was me she was battling I saw her complete horror.

But, all that while I was in wine country, I could not partake.
Bummer, really.

So what is going on in your world today?  If you care to share go here

http://www.showmyface.com/2011/11/six-word-saturday_12.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+showmyface+%28Show+My+Face%29

Sepia Saturday 100 : 12 November 2011

THIS IS A SPECIAL EDITION OF
                    SEPIA SATURDAY 100 POST

                      Our theme for Sepia Saturday for this 100th posting is quite broad, and since it's all about celebrating a the Sepia Saturday blog for the one hundredth time - let's walk through what blogging, and communicating with others was, by reaching back one hundred years ago.

                
What would a blogger look like one-hundred years ago......


Much like this man....... 1911- Senator Obadiah Gardner from Maine (he was born in Port Huron, Michigan) at his desk.....if this were today he'd probably be joining in on today's posting for Sepia Saturday, don't you think?
- Courtesy of Library of Congress Prints, Washington, D.C.



These days in many offices the gathering of employees discussing the latest news is around the water cooler or the lunch room.  But like this photo in about 1911, the old General Store, and hovering around the heater was the place to be for catching up on the latest news. - courtesy of Lyon County Historical Society.




But besides writing at your own desk, or gathering in small groups....there was another major communicator.....


The Newspaper, 1911- It was a big thing to be a Newsie if you were a young lad.....you had the privilege of getting paid to deliver the news, a fast spreading means of communication.
- courtesy of Library of Congress Prints & Photographs Washington, D.C.

But not all newsies were quite this old...


Like this 10 year old newsie not wearing a badge or indication of regulation in New Bedford, on August 22, 1911 in Massachusetts. 
- courtesy of Library of Congress Prints & Photographs, Washington, D.C.
ALSO

100 years ago communication came in various ways.....like this group below in an outdoor class ....




Outdoor recitation - at Camp Algonquin 1911
courtesy of Library of Congress prints Washington, D.C.

Wouldn't these classmates be amazed at the techie world of today!

But, quite possibly there were advantages to life one-hundred years ago....like for instance....




In today's world we are gifted with so many forms of communication, from cell phones and twitter, to personal home computers where all of us here unite and share in the joys of this wonderful Bloggersville.....but in 1911, communication came mostly by the written hand on letters, postcards, newspapers and the like....so on this day in 1911, it was Easter and these happy and content folks were bustling along on 5th Avenue without a care in the world....except that they were together and sharing whatever celebrations they could.....minus reaching out to the cyber world while hurrying along the avenue!



Yes, these people, mothers and daughters, fathers and sons, they chatted along the avenue together....
courtesy of Library of Congress Prints, Washington D.C.

and of course most of our communicating happened right around the house.....




17 May 1911 Published by Keppler & Schwarzmann, The puck Building, of  The American Family, Gordon Grant artist.  - Courtesy of Library of Congress Prints & Photographs, Washington, D.C.

Even the family cat got in on the action.....
If you want to view more Sepia Saturday #100 celebrations or just want to play along
please go here



Wednesday, November 9, 2011

Alphabe-Thursday welcomes the Letter B

THIS IS AN ALPHABE-THURSDAY POST
            FOR THE LETTER  " B "

May I introduce the lovely flower:  Bird of Paradise as my letter B word for this round..... an unusual stunning flower that represents joyfulness and paradise.
Shaped like a bird's beak and plumage.....makes me wonder are you a bird or a flower!

Doesn't he look like he's laughing?

           But before I go any farther, I want to thank the lovely and wonderful Miss Jenny, (who brightens my/our world just by being here, and posting these fun games for us all)

 Also, (drum roll please!!) .....  I happened to be the lucky number winner this time during Miss Jenny's fun fall autmness!  Sorry I'm like a week behind, but I was on vacation when the news came out but I have the unbelievable prize now! 

I couldn't believe my eyes when I opened the box tonight! Thank you so much Miss Jenny, from the bottom of my heart!

Did I mention the runner is designed for Thanksgiving/autumn on one side and Christmas on the other!



Okay, now on with my letter B and the lovely "Bird of Paradise" Flower....


I came face to face with this lovely flower just recently.  It sure doesn't grow in Minnesota but it was everywhere I went in California.

The Bird of Paradise Flower is an herbaceous perennial plant that belongs to the genus Strelitzia, or crane flower.  It has about five species, native to South Africa as well.  It thrives in Southern Florida, California and Hawaii.





Did I mention it resembles the actual Bird of Paradise?

(Sorry I didn't get to photograph the bird....)

Did you know: The Bird of Paradise flower is the 9th wedding anniversary flower?




This unusual shaped showy flower or rather genus Strelitzia more commonly called is  classified in the family Musuceae as being closely related to the (banana family).

The plant is trunkless, and its oblong leaves, growing to 1 foot, often rise 3 feet high directly from the rootstock.   The large flowers are orange or scarlet, combined with blue and white.



             Can you spot the Bird of Paradise flowers growing in the picture?


This is why they resemble brilliantly colored birds ready to fly from a boat-shaped nest, which is a purple bract as long as 8 inches.  They require rich soil, (Minnesota does have that) and abundant water, we sure have that too, but it's the sunlight and of course Minnesota's nature to become rather wintry that makes their taking root here probably not such a good idea!

 Have I teased you enough with this lovely flower, and perhaps you have a special B something you care to share........ just go here

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

Whimsical Wednesday 9 November 2011

THIS IS A WHIMSICAL WEDNESDAY POST
             My post today is more about a poem I recently reread, (then my usual whimsical art)  and with this reading the words rang truer than ever before.  It's very worth the read ......

Some are born with a nearly completed puzzle.

and so it goes
Souls going this way and that
trying to assemble the myriad parts.

But know this. No one has within themselves
All the pieces to their puzzle.
Like before the days when they used to seal
jigsaw puzzles in cellophane. Insuring that
all the pieces were there.

Everyone carries with them at least one and probably
Many pieces to someone else's puzzle.
Sometimes they know it.
Sometimes they don't.
And when you present your piece
Which is worthless to you,
To another, whether you know it or not,
Whether they know it or not,
You are a messenger from the Most High.

- Lawrence Kushner
in Honey from the Rock

So, I have an interesting project I'm still working on, that came to me while on vacation this last week! It should be ready by next Whimsical Wednesday.

But if you want to add something of your own just go here

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

Tuesday, November 8, 2011

Thematic Photographic # 170 Drink Up!

THIS IS A THEMATIC PHOTOGRAPHIC POST

              Carmi, from Written Inc. blog, has selected a completely refreshing taste to our theme this week..... and it's

 "Drink up!"  oh we can go way out of bounds on this totally wide open theme, don't you think?

Of course before we "Drink up,"

We must first collect and then carry the water.......



and of course when you have the most tasty drink ever....

You must share!  My favorite Dragon Fruit Vitamin water seemed to be a major hit, even over the sippy cup!




....and everywhere that I go my sippy cup is sure to follow!
Drink up!


Why not have a little drink......

"Silly Uncle Gary, that's my baby's bottle....."


It's your choice of beverage tonight.....

The dramatically cool and slightly, sweet taste of a fine wine......


so sweet the taste.....


But remember, if you drink up too much .............and drive.....

                                  You don't want to run into one of these...........

So stay home and drink those hot toddies and champagne toasts, and brew a fresh pot of coffee to go along with your Figgy Pudding...


"Cheers brother" why not try a little coffee along with your Figgy Pudding....."What did you say, you'll have another hot toddy for a great evening relaxer.....oh but of course you will!"


are you still thirsty?
If you want to quench your thirst or just offer your own
go here now

and remember if you pass by a drinking fountain...


Always be sure to fill up your water bottles....for the road ahead!


Sunday, November 6, 2011

Thematic Photographic # 169 Bricks and Mortar

THIS IS A THEMATIC PHOTOGRAPHIC POST

     It's especially sad to leave California and their outstanding climate......But, I'm glad to be back in time to squeeze in this post for Carmi's Thematic Photographic theme of
"Bricks and Mortar"  before the theme changes tomorrow....

                 There weren't many brick and mortar photos from our California trip...... although this building was crafted by a mason's mighty touch ...

Just inside the Disneyland Gate you could join a Guided Tour of all there is to see.....in the magical kingdom....


Believe it or not.....

This photo was taken in late October in Red Wing of the tower at Sorin's Bluff...
seems more like summertime to me.

I find this quote below to be true not just in places like Disneyland, or little towns along the way, but very much in everyday life....see if you agree....

"I provide the bricks and mortar with the words and situations- the director, and the actors and the designers build the house....."  - Eric Bogosian


Mantorville's Opera House is listed on Minnesota's most haunted locations......on this summer's day, music played from within the Opera House......while birds danced in the streets and theatre players dressed for their next performance.

The day's sun was beginning to set......and townsfolk were heading to town for dinner... before an evening at the Opera....



Keep your eyes focused on the curtains......

Fun in the sun during the summertime....

"Grumbling is the death of love" said Marlene Dietrich...so keep your foundations sturdy, and free from collapse....in everything you do...


If you haven't posted any already or just want to see more go here
http://writteninc.blogspot.com/2011/10/thematic-photographic-169-bricks-and.html