Six Word Saturday - 22 February 2014

WORST THEY'VE SEEN IN 25 YEARS

SIX WORD SATURDAY

Minnesota State Patrol issues warning-  Stay off! 

Really?

Well, yes as a matter of fact.  Below, about three miles from my house, is Cedar Avenue, aka Minnesota State Highway 77, and just beyond my turn headed for home, it's Dakota County 23 into Northfield, Minnesota.

This is my evening commute back home last night.  Even though the plow trucks were out all through the night clearing the roadways for this day, Old Man (Can't stop being a nuisance) Winter, decided strong winds and blowing snow was just what we deserve after a two day heat wave.  

REALLY?

Really.

Of course, besides the snow, and extreme winds blowing, endlessly it seems, ICE has much to do with it.

ICE is never good, unless you're on skates and twirling on the Depot's rink, in Minneapolis.


Just when we were beginning to get out like a spring day........

Whether We Like the Weather

"A snowball in the face is surely the perfect beginning to a lasting friendship."

Markus Zusak, The Book Thief



"Whether we like the weather or not, it is what it is." - spoken by all snowed folks.

So, let's make happy of it, anyway!  We'll show Old Man Winter who the boss is!
My morning so far.  Photos taken after attempting to leave the driveway to the street, even before the sun woke up.



Honey, we'll carpool today.  My trusty Trailblazer will blaze the way for us!

We'll dig out your side of the garage tonight.  Okay?

Just a refresher, so you can see how my birdie bath is fairing.  It's still in plain sight, anyway.

When even your plow doesn't like the frozen snowbanks, (thanks old man winter for the refreshing spring rains yesterday)..... Yikes!

Next helper, the old snow-plow itself, to the rescue.  What?! The pole barn door is frozen shut!

Don't even think about grilling here tonight.

I already knew last night that this morning would be a really late start out.

Our deck was completely free of snow before yesterday.

The wind was blowing inside as I shot this, so I had to snap quickly!

Moral to the story, Trailblazers have their limits.

Alphabe-Thursday - Niches

My assignment is all about- niches- winter-wise.

For the Letter N.

ALPHABE-THURSDAY


Niches, now naturally.

Nice to see you again.  The nerve of that nefarious, old man winter, needing to keep you locked away.


Now, follow along, and do keep up, don't get stuck in a kNee-deep-snowbank.  

Nearby, The City looms for all to see.  Can you guess which one?

Never go riding without your trusty, nice steed.

Need a place to rest your snowy feet?

Never be so narrow-minded that you pass a group of trees without pausing, to catch their latest whisper.

Nice to know, natural-live greenery, is only a few snowy steps away.

Never say you can't nestle down on a snowy-picnic-table, this time of year.

Nostalgic moment.

Naked spirits soar naturally, naive to the nasty elements, nagging at our nimble toes.  

Now grab a ride, and I'll meet you in the middle of the lake.

Never know what you might discover out on the frozen water.

Never be so namby-pamby.  Get out and shake hands with your winter muse.


If you want to view more Alphabe-Thursday posts go here.  Never you worry, Jenny is a fabulously NICE teacher too.

The Mag - 207

Rooms to let fifty cents...la, la...la..two hours of pushing brooms buys an eight by twelve four bit room.  STOP! ..... no time for browsing - meet me at Russ & Daughters instead.


THE MAG

Universal Studios Lot, Instagram by Sessepien

Thank you Tess, for always knowing how to get the thoughts moving,
even within a hectic weekend.

MUN-DEY, TWOS-DEY, WEHN-S-DEY, THERRS-DEY, FRY-DEY, SATER-DEY!

Some folks complain about concrete cliffs

and being trapped in such an ugly, crime ridden city.

Not I.

Call it a shattering reflection 

where one becomes deliciously vivacious
with bustling trains linking five boroughs

brawling through heaping helpings of cream cheese

smeared over a bagel

and how a hot garbage breeze

reminds you why July

lacks perfection-
and 
Magnolia's confections
always please.

Or meeting strangers drowned in hair gel 
that ride in 

from outer limits

are such a tease
 insistent to reach "The city"

just to catch-up 

with pals on Houston Street.
I for one am
Always

anticipating

spirits rising

 and heartfelt cheer

over a beer

and a plain slice

and 

no visit is complete

without
devouring 
a Meshugge

Yummy for the tummy
Meshugge!


on Houston Street.
and
the silky touch of 

a deli cat

strumming by.

Just another glory to be had

so spontaneously amusing

and
always

binding my soul

to New York City.

Never shall we worry about those folks 

living in Black and White.

Please do visit other Magpie tales why not.

Thematic Photographic - Go Way Back

Is Carmi feeling a but nostalgic? He's challenging us with, go way back, and so I did.

THEMATIC PHOTOGRAPHIC 

My heart strings long for the memory of this day, on my tricycle with my sister, Oriana watching over me.

Most all of my family photos, show me really laughing, and since I appear a bit stern here, I must have been thinking, Mommy please don't interrupt Oriana's reading to me.

Thankfully, I have these treasured photos showing how she read to me and

How she played dolls with me.  I still have that feeling how special moments with my sister, and our family dog, were very important to me.

My loving daddy and big sister holding me steady.

My first golfing experiment with my mommy and sister coaching me.

I do remember this vacation, at a friend's cabin in the woods on a lake.  I remember being the first to get up very early, and feeding the ducks all of our bread before breakfast!  Here I'm surely smiling at some funny thing my daddy just said.

Thank you Carmi, for this little step back (okay way back) hehehe into memory lane for me.  Those were the days, that were the shaping of the woman I have become today.

Scavenger Hunt Sunday - 16 February 2014

"Rich the treasure, sweet the pleasure." - John Dryden.



SCAVENGER HUNT SUNDAY


Ashley has challenged us with, camouflaged, nutty, old style, haphazard and monochromatic, for our hunt this week.

Camouflaged

Nutty

Frosty is NUTTY about feeding the birds!

Yummy for the tummy.

Old Style - Yes, some of you may remember my blast in the past cell phone!

Haphazard 

Outdoorsy-

Monochromatic 

Cuddly

Don't forget your Scavenger Hunt Sunday can begin right here.

Sepia Saturday - 15 February 2014

Crowded streets gather no moss!

SEPIA SATURDAY

I'd like to begin this post as if, we're in the middle of a conversation.

Me: So, how do you, plan on spending your day today?

You:  Blogging, and this and that and a million other things.

Me: Will you be lost in a crowd?

Photo description-  Crowd gathering at President Lincoln's second inauguration on March 4, 1865.  It was held on a rainy day at the U. S. Capital Grounds in Washington D.C.

Speaking of crowds in great numbers, take a peek at this day on July 14, 1930.

"Just glancing at this, what else does it offer to you?"
Mind the Photo-

Where's Wally?


Or, perhaps this version of Where's Waldo?

What was so important here?  Do you follow the golf circuits?  It was Bobby Jones arriving at city hall with three major golf titles.


Me:  Are you still wondering about our theme today?

Alan has left our interpretation of this theme wide open as always.  Imagine, if you will, (like this would ever happen) but, what if Alan ever pulled a tight focus on one particular thing and challenged us to focus only on that?

.....and yet, as I scanned the busy street scene that Alan posted for us, I did just that.  

We are creatures of habit, hence what marketers consume every blazing second of their day scheming away, in the hopes of snagging our attention, and reeling us into whatever they desire. 

"What is it that stands out to you?"


In my first photo, the man in the top hat stands out for me.  Who is this man in the old top hat, and what in the the world is he doing?  Is he wearing the hat in honor of good old Abe?  A little fun here, about President Lincoln keeping notes inside his top hat, and other interesting items.

He's far too short and heavy to be President Lincoln.

A must see video, from the stage in London, world premiere of Irving Berlin's Top Hat!

In many cases, photos of crowds often bring "Where is Waldo?" to mind for me.

I'm really curious about the man next to the Sousaphone/tuba.  Is he holding it, and if so what is he wearing on his head?  I wonder if it's the color green?  It just might be that the photo is distorted, but at any rate, he grabs my attention.

That's it for today, but tune in next week for

A most mysterious post!  

Six Word Saturday - 15 February 2014

ON THE IMPORTANCE OF BLOGGING, REALLY

SIX WORD SATURDAY

With a book/blog I am the writer

and I am also the director 

and I'm all of the actors 

and I'm the special effects guy 

and the lighting technician:  I'm all of that. 

So if it's good or bad, it's all up to me.  

George R.R. Martin

We all write, and blog for a zillion important reasons.  But, the one thing that we all crave, or wish for -

Is having YOU, be a part of it.

Just my way of saying thank you dear friends, for sharing a connection with me.

Oh, and yes, sometimes it's all about the lighting, isn't it?

We can fade things......

or bring it as simple as black and white, and we can keep SNOW out of it too!

We have the power!

For all you folks that are experiencing a bit of snow overload, especially those that rarely ever see the white stuff, please be safe and keep writing!

Alphabe-Thursday Malpighiaceous, It's Not

Jenny's Letter for our assignment today is M.

ALPHABE - THURSDAY 

My idea for today's post came while driving home this afternoon.  I took a direction I've been avoiding.


My Letter M is for
MALPIGHIACEOUS  - It's not, only because the greenery is here, it's just not tropical.  Although, let me express this land is fertile, with lush, whispering amber fields of grain, zigzagging corn fields and cows.   There's always a scent of fresh mowed grass during the mowing season.  Not to ignore the occasional manure odor every now and then.

Was I misleading on my letter today?  Possibly, since I'm feeling a tad bit mawkish in a way, as are a few dear neighbors.  Yes, they built lovely houses to raise their happy families, far from the concrete edges and blowing sirens, to live among grassy fields and horses, forever.

As if it would be happily ever after.


Scene from our own "unmalpighiaceous" property, just last fall.

Mr. Happy Scare Crow.

Since we moved here in the spring of 1989, many more hobby farms, along with some McMansions have sprung up around us.

But life raising a family in the country was still a success, and often the houses were built behind greenery.

In many ways we/our land is protected out here, (in the boonies) by living within a township, instead of the city.  Our township discourages anything too enterprising.  Agriculture yes, but big box stores, or other such monopolizing trades or other business is banned.

Another scene from our property.

Yes, most of us still can play in the dirt and run through the grassy fields.

Even in our pajamas! 

SORT OF, ANYWAY.

MADDING is that a few of our newest neighbors, some that built their beloved McMansions, and other standard house designs, have been faced with quite an ugly eyesore, right smack in the center of their property.

If I remember right, this family has four of these running right in front of their property.  Maybe it's five.

Special Note- My post is merely a brief answer to those folks driving by that are lost in the dark and unaware of- "Just what are those big-old-rusty-poles that suddenly popped up doing out here?"

So I'm closing with MOVED as my letter for today.

Yes, this family was one of the first to be bought out from the big power company.

Malpighiaceous, or not, the moral to my story, buyers be-aware of what might possibly be coming to your new residence in the upcoming years.

If you want to view other Alphabe-Thursday posts go here.