Scavenger Hunt Sunday - 15 December 2013

Ashley's Scavenger Hunt Sunday is on again.

SCAVENGER HUNT SUNDAY

This week's theme begins with the weather today, followed by something that begins with R, and bring out green possibly with envy, but Ashley says, joy is next, and finish it all with drink!

If you want to view other incredibly clever ideas, or play along too, go here.

The Weather Today

R is for

Really Red Elf.  Oh what could be her name?

I just know, you're GREEN with envy that my Christmas cards are nearly ready to mail.

JOY

Joyful moments with those we love. Oh what joy that is.

Drink (and a dash of green)

The Mag - 198

The Ice Cutters 1911 by Natalia Goncharova

"Isn't everyone a part of everyone else?"  

Budd Schulberg

THE MAG

Natalia Goncharova and The Grinch were

nothing alike or, maybe they were

more than you think!

Whatever the reason

during this timely Christmas season

He stood there Himself, hating the Whos.

and Natalia painted the Whos

as they danced and they sang

grasping hands

being buddies not toadies

or humbugs.

clutching picks

and knitting lives.

As Natalia already knew the best things

are something he hadn't thought of before.

They don't come from objects or trappings 

not even a store.

Perhaps the reason for this preseason

means incredibly so much more.

To see other Magpies from Tess Kincaid at The Mag go here.

Indulgence

"Too much of a good thing can be wonderful!" Mae West

Never turn down an evening walk with a chance of critters.

"An over-indulgence of anything, even something as pure as water, can intoxicate."  Criss Jami

Never stop dancing.

"Anything worth doing is worth overdoing." Mick Jagger

Life for many of us right now is simply trying to provide enough of stuff and things, during this festive time of so many traditions. Just keep close to your heart that while gifts of tightly held ribbons are beautiful, they will never replace a person's arms or a friendly smile to warm your soul.

Sepia Saturday - 207 - 14 December 2013

Wow, if you haven't ordered your copy of The Best of Sepia Saturday you should. Mine arrived a couple of days ago, in plenty of time to share with all my friends and family over the holidays.


SEPIA SATURDAY

Hello downtown! What a bustling city center this appears to be, complete with traveling bicyclist.




Alan's theme photo works wonders for a festive visit to the big city post.  One of my family's greatest traditions this time of year is to drive into downtown Minneapolis and spend a few hours at Dayton's Department Store.  

Please, keep this secret, but there's an imaginary secret elevator that delivers you to the North Pole as well.  Seriously.


To be honest only a few of us actually still call this long time running department store Dayton's, in reality it's now become Macy's.  

But you can still find the Dayton's name in places and many of their old time traditions too.

We (and it seems the family members always vary each year) our adventure begins by sharing the grandest of lunches on the 12th floor in the Oak Grill, with an old world experience.  Besides the elegance, they offer a charm with so many rare and mouth watering treats.  For instance, you can sip a glass of "Poinsettia" made of cranberry juice and sparkling wine (which really is divine) unless Eggnog Brandy Alexander is more to your liking.  Or perhaps their Hot Chocolate surprise is more appealing.

The glowing fireplace inside the Oak Grill was over three hundred years old when it arrived to this restaurant from England.


After dining, we find our way along a magical mystery tour, to the North Pole, for a visit through the everyday lives of Elves, Santa's Workshop, Reindeer Flight School and jolly spirited Mrs. Claus has the best ever bakery, fresh cookies and fudge and we never leave without tons of Sugar Plums too!

In keeping with our theme for this week, please enjoy a few photos of yesterday (long ago) from just a few of the lovely photos they have on display outside the Oak Grill.  

Now to begin, follow along as we step back in time.

Welcome

May I have your hand.  Marshall Field's was the name just before it became known as Macy's.

Please do show me more.

So you say you're starving?

The  famous Oak Grill.

For those on the go folks lunch in the Skyroom is fast and offers quite a view over looking the city too.

Shall we meet the chefs and cooking staff?

Thirsty?

Below, Hand crafted in 1885 

And finally

Smile!

Thanks for sharing your time.  If you care to view other Sepia Saturday posts please go here.

Thematic Photographic - Sweet

"I love to take things that are everyday and comforting and make them into the most luxurious things in the world." Marc Jacobs

Last evening.

"If we choose, we can live in a world of comforting illusion." Noam Chomsky

While.....busy little Elves are stirring up delicious surprises.

Only Elves know what magic they weave inside their hidden workshops while evening falls all around us.

If you want more Dawn and Dusk views go to Written Inc blog!

Thematic Photographic - 272

"Faith is the bird that feels the light when the dawn is still dark."  Rabindranath Tagore

THEMATIC PHOTOGRAPHIC 

Carmi, at Written Inc. blog is waking our themes to dawn and setting them to ease upon dusk.

My photos were taken last night and this morning. It will be grand, if we are blessed with a burning, evening sky engulfed in roaring rays of orange and reds tonight.  If we are I'll post it tomorrow.

Dawn and Dusk

Dawn begins cold and crisp.

Outside, this window our day begins anew.

As the hands of the clocks tick forward, minute after hour, our day slips into night.

Often times our grey days fall into pale dusk, and electric lights guide our 
evening horizons.


To check out other TP Dawn and Dusk photos go here.

The Mag - 197

"A very single fact could emerge into many versions of truth, depends on the number of eyewitnesses and interpretations." Toba Beta



THE MAG

Photo from the Guardian, eyewitness.  Image for Tess Kincaid's Magpie.

The He Said, She Said, of the Local News

So many twisted views

across every cell,

scorned the editor.

 

Swore seeing white clouds hovering

low over flooded greens of Highgate Golf Club

to sighting

Whitehall Park under siege by gulls and

heavy rains left mass flooding.

 

Predicting, Hitchcock's birds all over again.

Noisy Oystercatchers says one

  GULLS attacking! Swore ten reports.

 

Doomsday havoc

disturbing drivers

pecking at pedestrians

snatching toads

 in mobbing fashion.

 

Large white-headed gulls

these heart-less predators

baiting humans below

with their devilish feeding.

 

Skilled by opening mussels

and preying on one another

stealing and pecking

told in ranges from crows to magpies!

 

How do we report?

139 calls still holding.

So post to wit 

our dear editor prays

whatever sells.

 

Thanks for visiting, and if you care for more Magpie tales go here.

If You Celebrate

St Nicholas Day, did you leave your shoes outside your door last night?

A tradition longed lived since my earliest remembrance of childhood.

 

HAPPY ST NICHOLAS DAY

 

 

 

A Saint Nicholas Day Poem

 

Remember this day as everyday we should

 

Do A Good Deed Today!

 

 

 

 

 

Thematic Photographic - Celebrate!

"The more you praise and celebrate your life, the more there is in life to celebrate." - Oprah Winfrey


Carmi, at Written Inc. blog has announced, "celebrate" as our theme this week.


 THEMATIC PHOTOGRAPHIC   

 

Double reward, when we celebrate those we see, only in our thoughts.

 

 

Never underestimate the significance of twinkle lights.

 

Celebrating all my treasures, every single moment.




Celebrate YOU!  Every now and then, when you're out gathering up photos, stop and take one of YOU too!




"Life isn't about finding yourself.  Life is about creating yourself." George Bernard Shaw





Never ever say, No! to a hug!


Don't forget, it's a lot of fun to stop by Carmi's blog at Written Inc. Blog where we celebrate this week's theme.  So let's ring your own celebration here this week.

AND

All celebrating, feeds our hearts, forever! 

Always has and always will, and those simple words, "Look, I made this just for you!"

 

The Mag - 196 - Life Sense

"Some nights are made for torture, or reflection, or the savoring of loneliness."  Poppy Z. Brite

Or, some nights are made for exhilaration, of life itself, wouldn't you agree?

For some reason, I feel Tess Kincaid's image this week brings this beautiful, reflecting Angel to life.  How wonderful it is that we have The Mag blog to unleash our thoughts.  


THE MAG

Are there really Angels about us?

Or are they mere reflections of ourselves?

LIFE SENSE

Opposing forces

all about

give me pause.

Am I

a mere reflection

of myself?

Do you see me

or what you want to see?

I'd rather be a merry-prankster,

 than a miserable woebegone.

How about you?

Why ever do we

 spill our worst self

upon another?

When we can ride waves  

that milk the night

and trust the stars?

I'm tired of bearing

 my most vulnerable self,

wedged within lost chapters 

of my untitled stories.

Let's burst out laughing.

I've shed my umbrella of weariness  

that's wandered a distant lane

or two

too achingly embarrassed

to admit being lost.

Scavenger Hunt Sunday - 1 Decemer 2013

If it's something you do, have you located your Elf on a Shelf  yet? 

I'm hoping you have time to check out this week's scavenger hunt from Ashley, at her Ramblings and Photos blog for a new hunt.  For more go here.

SCAVENGER HUNT SUNDAY





Our hunt today is for, Starts with S, texture, a blessing, warmth and I went.


 

Starts with S.

 

See sad, Silly Santa?  Stop, to see Santa smile.

 

 

Texture.

 

 

 

A Blessing.

 

 

Warmth

 

Is knowing what I created this summer will bring much warmth for years ahead.

I Went

Through these doors

..and past here

To view this!

I went there yesterday!

 

 

Thanks for stopping by.  I hope you enjoyed my scavenger view this week.