Spring Here Pleeeeeeeease!

     Certainly if everyone reading this post would select or take a recent SPRING TIME photo and post it on their own blog.....just possibly we may force spring into action!  Nobody denies that April showers will bring May flowers......except maybe this year!  Not only is winter still lingering on in my world..... they mentioned

 S N o W again for our forecast!  Grrrrrrr!

These aren't my best wake up spring photos but for a short lunch hour at home.....they'll do....

BUT I KNOW YOU CAN DO BETTER!  LET'S GET SPRING IN THE AIR!

I wish this photo was taken recently.........grey and brownish around the edges, but nevertheless growth is moving in!

Today I know that I cannot control the ocean tides.  I can only go with the flow....When I struggle and try to organize the Atlantic to my specifications, I sink.  If I flail and thrash and growl and grumble, I go under.  But if I let go and float, I am borne aloft. -- Marie Stilkind

On my way back to work, I'll look around for some signs of spring here...but I can't promise anything.....about the only real signs here...is less snow around....for now!

and one last springy photo for today...

and then this one

Thoughts Askew -- Who Knew


When things aren't as they appear.....
The longer we live the more we come to understand things aren't always as they seem. ....and worse, no matter how much you do your share of the work load.....often those around you won't follow the outlined fashion carved out for us so accurately and uniformly, .......then things begin to fall apart......

My first reaction from a slightly small perspective and not ever seeing ships sailing through my city


Oh my...this appears to be ......... "Are we under attack?" (per first photo below)

Ah...."Instinct is the nose of the mind." - Madame De Girardin

Aha....just a group of tourists....


and this is simply .......



where trusting my instinct to absorb the larger picture is so important

"Nothing reaches the intellect before making its appearance in the senses,-" Latin Proverb



tour along dear friend....and know that whether it be March Madness or not, when you live in America and vacation in England ...many things can be named accordingly to their liking.......not yours.....

like when I hear the name gherkin...the first thing on my mind is not


This lovely sculpture called The London Gherkin Building....Oh no, I'm thinking green and tart and oh so yummy...... is eating a gherkin pickle any time of the day!

London Gherkin Building

Sepia saturday 67 : 26 March 2011

Once again it’s Sepia Saturday and this week’s photo theme was taken in the mid 1930’s and shows the reconstruction of the bridge over the River Loughor at Pontardulais, Wales. There is so much going on in this photo….the billboards intrigued me the most, but having little time to research them I selected to post about “bridges.” We wouldn’t get very far without bridges in our lives, and believe me there are so many bridges for so many reasons all over the world just waiting….for us to come meet them!
If you want to jump right in with your own…or something else go here

http://sepiasaturday.blogspot.com/2011/03/sepia-saturday-67-26-march-2011.html

Hastings Spiral Bridge in Hastings, Minnesota shown in this undated postcard.

This bridge was built in 1895 the shipping industry required a bridge with at least 55 feet clearance over the Mississippi River and for city traffic the town leaders wanted a bridge that delivered traffic into the downtown rather than over and beyond it.
As horses were replaced by automobiles and heavy trucks began to use the highways, the old Spiral Bridge was unable to support the heavier loads.  It was demolished in 1951 and replaced with a more conventional span.

Note: For Sepia Saturday Bloggers notice how the old mill in this photo is much like the one in the theme photo.





Duluth Aerial Lift Bridge - Built in 1905 and reconstructed in 1929.

A section of the bridge rises 138 feet to allow boats to pass underneath through the Duluth Ship Canal. The canal separates the mainland and most of the city from Minnesota Point, which is a long sand spit that protects the harbor.  Cars can cross the lift bridge on their way to Minnesota Point aka Park Point and is a casual beachside neighborhood.

Enter ......... The Stillwater Lift Bridge (showing the wooden approach used during construction in May 27, 1931) Courtesy of Minnesota Historical Society.  This bridge is still in use in Stillwater, Minnesota and crosses the St. Croix River into Wisconsin.

Stillwater, Minnesota Lift Bridge built in 1931 to replace a Swing Bridge from 1910.

It was the last bridge of this design to be built in the area.  This area is known for great spring flooding and is closed for weeks at a time during the flooding season!  Stillwater is one of my favorite river towns to frequently visit.

Minnehaha Falls, Minneapolis foot bridge a refreshing and  fashionable spot for visitors to admire the Minnehaha Falls.  American writer Elizabeth Ellet made a trip in 1852 that became very widely known and she was a frequent contributor to national magazines such as Godey's Lady's Book and she described Minnehaha Falls as a "vision of beauty" and it still is today! 

The name Minnehaha often translated as "Laughing water" but the correct translation is "curling water" or "Waterfall."

A Swedish novelist Fredrika Bremer visited St. Paul in October of 1850 and our Governor Ramsey and his wife Anna hosted her with a gala welcome and later Bremer published her "Home of the New World," in 1853 praising Minnesota's agricultural potential and prophetically observed,

"This Minnesota is a glorious country, and just the country for Northern emigrants....It is four times as large as England; its soil is of the richest description, with extensive wooded tracts; great numbers of rivers and lakes abounding in fish, and a healthy, invigorating climate....What a glorious new Scandinavia might not Minnesota become!"

Suspension bridge linking Minneapolis to Nicollet Island, this is about 1865, as it opened in 1855, it was the first permanent span on the Mississippi River.

The property was a private corporation, the facility was operated as a private toll bridge until purchased by Hennepin County in 1869. The toll was five cents for pedestrians, twenty-five cents for horse-drawn wagons, and two cents for “swine or sheep.”   Its condition quickly deteriorated to the point where replacement was needed. The new bridge was built directly adjacent to the old, so, for a brief period during construction, both bridges coexisted. The old bridge was demolished in 1876 when the new bridge was complete.

Enter the next generation of bridges from across the mighty pond........to England

Clifton Suspension Bridge -Avon Gorge- City of Bristol, linking Clifton in Bristol to Leigh Woods in North Somerset, England.

And one more view of this most lovely bridge....

One more look at a distance of the Clifton Suspension Bridge.





Thematic Photographic # 139 March Madness

The current theme for Thematic Photographic is March Madness and it has some requirements....mostly it needs to be taken in March (I'm assuming any March) and it must be silly.....a silliness that promotes smiles!           
        So this morning on my way out with the doggies we stumbled upon a drip that dripped and dripped into a tall pole ...and a silly thing happened!  Our Mr. Tambourine Man hopped up on it.....see below.....

and to actually see where this Mr. Tambourine Man is look below......

Hey! Mr. Tambourine Man, Play a song for me
I'm not sleepy and there is no place I'm going to
Hey! Mr. Tambourine Man, Play a song for me
In the jingle jangle morning I'll come followin' you!

and just for real silliness check out this video of William Shatner's beatnik version of Minnesota's Bob Dylan's Mr. Tambourine Man!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_0hTtsqiFCc

Saturday Centus "I'm Not A Chicken"

Oh, oh, oh.....Ms. Jenny what have you done! On a Saturday I craved to be oh,  so unchicken like, and had so little time to even eat before my retreat....to the jungles of today......and here you are offering  (you silly, silly friend of inspiration) chicken? Really?.... Okay I'll take this dare of tossing us a tasty prompt with chicken....  How do you rhyme with Chicken?!  As always if any of you reading this dare to throw in your own bite or two just go here.....OKAY?!
http://jennymatlock.blogspot.com/2011/03/saturday-centus-im-not-chicken.html



The block party was kickin’

And we passed up swine
For nine bottles of wine
and scrumptious fried chicken.

We’re all hopin’ not to be stricken
From intoxication
Drinkin’ nine bottles of rosy wine
While indulging in finger lickin’
Super fried chicken.

But wait!...as my eyes thicken
And my tipsy steps must quicken
Before my life becomes stricken
After drinkin’ those nine bottles of wine.

It's Officer McChicken in line for chicken!
With his breathalyzer-machine and I whine
Oh don’t worry I’ll be fine
I’m not a chicken!


Note:  I am not responsible for the increase of McChicken orders, or delicious fried chicken, consumed today and/or the consumption of wine............! Just have an incredible weekend ahead with or without chicken and wine!

Six Word Saturday ....Anticipation

It's Saturday again!  ...and it's still a......... wintry spring   ;(   But if you want to change the mood to some soul-satisfying-silliness....then hop on over to 6WS- Six WORD Saturday!

* * * * * * * * * * here are my six inviting words for today....

IN  ALL  MATTERS 

KEEP  ANTICIPATION  ALIVE!

We can never know about the days to come......but we think about them anyway......

If you want to experience a bit of  Anticipation check out this video...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4NwP3wes4M8

Anticipation.....these are the good old days...these are the good old days...these are .......the good old days!

Untie Your Ribbon

Fuchsia is a genus flowering plant, exotic, drooping stems and stunning hanging bell flowers....
Who says you can't grow flowers in the middle of March in Minnesota?  Come see for yourself....bounty from my kitchen shelf.... such a lovely exotic flower bearing life's most precious gift just for me....
welcome new day.......

note: flower pots designed by (2 sets) of adorable little hands just for me......!

Whimsical Wednesday Week 18 (March 23 - 29)

Hello..... Whimsical friends....if you've got the lemon blues......switch your crayola marker to something rose-colored!  Or cruise on over to http://dthaase-lines.blogspot.com/p/whimsical-wednesday.html
and in case you haven't noticed I'm no true artist marked by fame....Oh no! ...it's just so much fun to take paper and colors and throw something OF whimsy together and say "Hey it's mine....!" and if that hasn't pushed you over the edge, just click on the Web of Whimsy blog.....and see all the incredible oh so wonderful artsy things that others post...and feel the urge to create.....take over your humble soul......and be silly, be funny....but just be something ABOUT  YOU!

Those who wish to dream.....always find a happy ending!

So don't hesitate....create........and be happy in everything you do.....or be lemon-blue and that just won't do!

Thematic Photographic # 138 Transitions

What goes up must come down, over and over again!  Boats pass through with the changing water level.  Certainly the most major transition for the Erie Canal was from the historic towpath canal to the modern barge canal.

                                                        Lockport, NY

      Here we are with another Thematic Photographic (theme selected by Titanium, from Element 22 blog) and her fascinating choice for this week's theme is....... "transitions" this is going to be incredible I know!

Already my first choices have been used!  So, not wanting to post the same photos again.....Oh no!  I was stumped....but only for a short while.    If you feel the urge to participate as well go here
http://writteninc.blogspot.com/2011/03/thematic-photographic-138-transition.html

Behind the building pictured is another smaller building that houses a small canal museum.

The Erie Canal


The rising and lowering – moving the water – to boat, sail or barge from one point to another.


       The Erie Canal is famous in a song as well as a story. It was proposed in 1808 and completed in 1825 and the canal links the waters of Lake Erie in the west to the Hudson River in the east. It was called the Eight Wonder of the World ......for being an engineering marvel after completion.

In the early days it was called “Clinton’s Big Ditch” after (Governor Dewitt Clinton) before all the kinks were worked out.

If you’ve never heard “The Erie Canal” song before here’s a link to Suzanne Vega’s version (among so many other artists) and check out the daisies on the video!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CT78NL34k0c

From Troy, Ohio the canal would flow to Rome (New York) and then through Syracuse and Rochester to Buffalo, located on the northeast coast of Lake Erie.

Sepia Saturday # 66 19, March 2011

Just a glance into America's version of "outside a pub" - 1926 silent comedy film "The Strong Man" featuring actor Harry Langdon and famous director Frank Capra.

Greetings or ahoy!  Could you bring us some more ale please?   Alan's theme this week is a photo of Trafalgar Tavern (not in it's glory days) but it's still inspiring with so many options again!  Sepia Saturday friends I invite you to the world of fascinating Pubs of yesterday, most still serving their eager guests today with a bit of ale and Bangers and Mash, and they all have some ordinary magical mystery lurking behind their stone walls.  If you feel like sharing something as well, you can by going here
http://sepiasaturday.blogspot.com/2011/03/sepia-saturday-66-19th-march-2011.html

We begin in half-light, casting mysterious shadows across an unchanged landscape of yesterday's pubs still alive today......just show us your commanding beauty...and share a few of your long lost tales.....

First stop American style Pub in Hartford, Connecticut where I first met a traditional "Pub."

This alehouse was renumbered in 1898 from 98 to 336 Main Street and was painted dark and listed as the Joseph Whiting House and still serves ale!  Courtesy of Connecticut State Library collection.

But, the best of the best pubs are those discovered often by accident while visiting Jolly O' England towns......

The postcard reads, The Mansion House (for a future post) and Cheapside clearly for its witty conversations at the Mermaid Tavern located in this Cheapside district of London, England which once was a gathering place for Elizabethan poets and playwrights, aka the so called Friday Street Club.  An extended reference to this Tavern in Master Francis Beaumont's Letter to Ben Jonson.

Quotes by Francis Beaumont himself...
"Envy, like the worm, never runs but to the fairest fruit, like a cunning bloodhound, it singles out the fattest deer in the flock!"  and also "
"KISS till the COWS come HOME!" 

Often they are more than just a Pub! Like St. Christopher's Inn, located in Bath, England.

An enchanting evening at a delightful pub....."The St. Christopher's Inn" a  Bar and Hostel, in Bath, England.  Great youth hostel accommodations, very reasonable and close to all the Bath hot spots.

The Guildhall Pub, Folkestone, England


From within the Bayle section of Folkestone, England is a charming Pub. Sometimes what's most interesting is where a pub is located, like the Guildhall which was previously known as the Battery.



The Guildhall Pub located in the Bayle from the Latin Ballium, is the ancient core of Folkestone located in a topographically attractive setting, and is a highly sensitive and historically important area. Evidence of Roman occupation is in the form of mainly pottery sherds, but antiquarians in the 18th century reported observing Roman ruins. However, they may have been looking at Roman ceramic building material being reused in later constructions.


From the medieval period onwards, The Bayle was a site of fortification, with a Castle and associated ditches, banks and buildings, constructed c.1150. Later post-medieval additions consist of 16th century forts and a gun battery dated from the 18th century, along with more dwellings in the vicinity.

Then on our way to London we stop by a very interesting pub!

Have you heard the true story about Jack the Ripper?

The Ten Bells of London "Oh the stories that lurk within this pub!

On the corner of

Commercial Street

and

Fournier Street

in Spitalfields, East London stands the most famous pub in Jack the Ripper history, the Ten Bells.  (Ripper Tours take you there) and was constructed in 1752. The Ten Bells was where several of the victims of Jack the Ripper drank most notably Mary Kelly and Catherine Eddowes.  The Pub has changed very little since the early hours of November 9^th 1888 when Mary Kelly, Jack the Ripper’s final victim, left the pub. During the 1970’s and 80’s the pub was renamed by the landlord as the Jack the Ripper, the brewery reverted back to its original name in 1989.

Last but certainly not least, as truth be told there are so many pubs and so little time to take it all in....

Did someone order another round?

The Red Lion Inn - Weobley - England.  This two-storey timber framed building dates from the 14th century.  Herefordshire through time -- Weobley town walk.   One stop along the way is The Castle in Weobley which was probably built in timber in the late 11th century by the de Lucy family and converted to stone in early 13th century.

...and so ends our journey to pubs for today.......but I'm sure we will be back to them again one day! 
                                          Thanks everyone!

Saturday Centus - The curtain parted...

What?  .... could it be Saturday again....and the curtain is calling for all of us to perform!  Oh yeah, and if you want a part too just go here please!!! http://jennymatlock.blogspot.com/2011/03/saturday-centus-curtain-parted.html
                      Thank you Jenny I was so ready to pull out my hair this morning...piece by little piece of meaningful banter......so here it is.....

          Carter taught them every trick possible to squeeze out the last tear of the audience. Obviously he would become famous carrying off this most boring script by turning this play into a splendor beyond words. His motivation was to become the Shakespeare of today. Even at the expense of landing a glider plane on stage.

His motto was stern, “Never arrive to an opening performance without knowing your words forwards and backwards!” He also warned "just wishing to receive great applause but forgetting to inspire remembrance is nothing."

           In the end, the curtain parted and the fans roared for his Kindergarten class.

Six Word Saturday - 6WS

Imagine that....it's Saturday already.....where did the week wander off to?  If you feel the urge to put your week/day/life/or something into six little fantastic get it off your chest words just go here http://www.showmyface.com/2011/03/six-word-saturday_19.html

So my six little gigantically enormous words today are .....

KNOW HOW TO RENEW YOUR GLITTER.


  Or fail to shine in your true light!

IT'S LIKE KEEPING IN MIND THE HAPPY ENDING!  NO MATTER WHAT!

Be something fresh even though mediocre, enjoy life!

All things will come to pass.

Never leave without saying good things...........

ALLOW YOURSELF SOME PARDONABLE DEFECT, BUT GET OVER IT!

Whimsical Wednesday Wk 17 March 16, 2011

A glance into the insight and life of someone is refreshing beyond words....

Most marvelous mother ever!

Astonishing talent for being kind!

Rare natural skill of always placing family first!

Joyful lover of life, nature and all the little things in life!

Over abundance of chickens and rocks, acorns and leaves and sea-shell displays.

Radiant smile with every story she told you!

Intelligent beyond her years!

Exciting to be around and always made you feel important and special!


If you have some whimsy of your own to share go here
http://dthaase.blogspot.com/2011/03/whimsical-wednesday-has-moved.html

Thematic Photographic # 137 Late

So in honor of being late for this week's "late" Thematic Photographic post I give to you one simple late lost bloomer.....

Too late for the party?

If you want to be late as well then take a visit to

http://writteninc.blogspot.com/2011/03/thematic-photographic-137-late.html

A Dead Rose?
Ah such a fair rose I once was

am I late for being of velvety softness

besides late for the prom or the buzz

of a passing bee

and too late to be

worn upon your lapel

for an evening spell

of pricking fingers

or filling a room

with my perfect scent?

and so very late to be

within a freshly picked bouquet

from a lover sent

so call me late

for the party

but not the glory

to be one lost late bloom

so late to some event.

Six Word Saturday -- 6WS -- 12 March

...and it's time again for Six Word Saturday................... if you have six words you just need to release just go here
http://www.showmyface.com/2011/03/six-word-saturday_12.html

Knowing how to arrange my life!

          In the aftermath of mother nature's recent attack it amazes me to see the amounts of courage coming from the darkest corners of life.....people marching to the beat of their own drums, and human spirit alive is humbling.....

Sepia Saturday 65: Saturday 12 March 2011

Downtown Minneapolis, Mn. courtesy of Minnesota Historical Society.

      Welcome from "Rudolph’s Furniture Store" in Duluth, Minnesota which is Sepia Saturday’s theme for 12 March 2011.  The window sign in Alan's theme photo says "August Sale" and the chevy is a 1956 (probably brand new) and 4 salesmen, the second from left being the store’s owner, Leonard Rudolph and three other unidentified men. The mystery surrounding this photo still intrigues me.

If you want to add your own Sepia Saturday post for more information go here
http://sepiasaturday.blogspot.com/2011/03/sepia-saturday-65-saturday-12-march.html

         It's amazing how many copies of this one photo are on the Internet. The 3rd salesman pictured appears like a Colin Firth look-a-like, who apparently has captured every one's attention. What were they discussing? Was it something randomly funny about their store or, the new and gleaming 1956 Chevy beside them?

         Whatever the story, there isn’t much information on the web regarding Rudolph's and only one other picture (of their original building on 3rd Avenue and 1st Street which burned down in 1950) both photos submitted by the Jewish Historical Society of the Upper Midwest.

So veering off the men and the 1956 Chevy we’ll visit a few Minnesota stores (and one from Michigan) of the fifties within the realms of Sepia Saturday.

This is my father's uncle Elgene, the loneliest Maytag Repair man in town.  This is his store in East Lansing, Michigan, sometime in the 1950's.

 A typical 1950's era photo of downtown Ely, Mn and what you'd expect to see on a busy weekend day during fishing season.  Minnesota Historical Society.

Downtown Minneapolis 1950's street scene featuring a very famous "Three Sisters" ladies apparel shop. Minnesota Historical Society.

The well known section of Minneapolis called "Uptown" and the corner of Hennepin and Lake Street. Courtesy of Minnesota Historical Society.

Duluth's shantytown around 1850's where people seeking work in the mines and the growing port town came to build their houses and shops.

Duluth today and a glimpse of the mighty Lake Superior.

This Morning

No matter how bad things may look at night, they usually do look better in the morning.

Most mornings.


For many not this morning...............
My morning felt like waking up inside another world.    As if this frozen morn offered a simple gift only for those awake.......of a magical crystal hoarfrost hung from all the trees for as far as you could see. If you live where I do.


This morning my spirit was sad...... too tired to run out the door to capture this brief gift. 


Perhaps it was the news of an 8.9 earthquake attacking Japan and in the wake of it a tsunami threatening Hawaii and places within it's path.  Surely it had nothing to do with the memory of work yesterday and so many co-workers filled with angry words fueled by constant bickering ... Or did it?  

Why can't we see there are other things so much worse than what we have within our own backyards....and live as if we know this.


With each sunrise, we start anew. ...by keeping those in need within our thoughts and sending them our blessings.

Boredom: The Desire for Desires - Leo Tolstoy

All will be well ..... so begin doing things...... now.

Camping trip at Singing Hills, where "Stone Soup" (from last year's buried rocks) and a recipe for cake were made right here on the old fire!

"Faith is the force of life." - Leo Tolstoy

Leo Tolstoy's quote about boredom reflects his everyday sensible approach and hard-hitting views on life with his no frills thinking. Like, "If you want to be happy, be." He does have a point doesn't he?

The other day (during story time) I reached for a book called "The Three Questions" based on a story by Leo Tolstoy.

I deliberately bought this copy written and illustrated by Jon J. Muth since his dynamic style was so delightful for children of all ages.

You may already know this famous story about "The Three Questions" and I'm not referring to some great success story about how to become rich and ignore the most important people in your life. It's also told in a story by Thich Nhat Hanh, a Vietnamese Zen Master besides Leo Tolstoy's story written in 1903.

For those unfamiliar these are the Three Questions.
1. When is the best time to do things?
2. Who is the most important one?
3. What is the right thing to do?

Of course this story brought another important time from my life.  Has this ever happened to you? History or rather our memories often trickle in. Life is about learning things and permitting necessary ingredients to complete our experience.

My memory involved an inspiring Girl Scout Weekend Blast where all the girls were sitting around a campfire listening to a motivational speaker who asked them, "Who is the most important one/person in your life?" Almost instantly they shouted, "My mother, God, Jesus, my dad," and on and on they offered answers.
But nobody gave her the answer she wanted. The correct answer (she was looking for) was "Me!" The speaker pointed out (much like oxygen masks dropping on an airplane) quickly, "You are!
If you don't take care of you first, then you won't be there for anyone else."

Hmm .....yep, just like taking oxygen.

In the end there is one engaging thought ... which this story told by numerous authors offers for all mankind.

       Often when we are faced with the obvious nature of things, we instinctively know what must be done. Muth’s book involves a boy who takes over the tiresome digging for his friend, an old turtle and whilst doing so fate steps in. Again effortlessly now the boy cares for an injured panda and afterwards saves the life of the panda's child. These stories embrace one important time which is now; the present time you are living and to do good for the one standing next to you.

            Live as though the moment you are in may be your last, and you will have lived this moment well.

Thematic Photographic # 136 Doubles

Since I started playing along with TP this is the first time, (well truthfully electric caught me by surprise too) that I hit a photo-blocked-double-double-theme!   Finally I pulled out some doubles for Carmi's theme this week and if you want to add in because everyone else is doing just wonders with doubles just go here

http://writteninc.blogspot.com/2011/03/thematic-photographic-132-doubles.html

...Late one evening while thousands upon thousands of immortal stars dusted the sky far out of reach while darkness fell over two lonely statues.....and one of them asked the other..."Will we ever step down from here?"

The windows of my soul are made of one way glass, don't bother looking into my eyes if there's something you want to know, just ask. - Ani Difranco

"You cannot prevent the birds of sadness from passing over your head, but you can prevent them from making a nest in your hair." Chinese Proverb

"Make happy those who are near, and those who are far will come." - Chinese Proverb

As the legend goes if best friends take a picture of their shadows together, their friendship will last forever!