word-less [more or less] Wednesday

The soul has illusions as the bird has wings:

it is supported by them.

Victor Hugo

nap time

You don't have to look very far to find some red here. I took this photo in Hyde Park in Chicago on my walk to the train a couple of years ago. The shoes were sitting on the steps in front of a seminary building one early spring afternoon.

Visit Mary's meme, Ruby Tuesday to see more whimsical reds.

Between saying and doing, many a pair of shoes is worn out.
Iris Murdoch

gentle on my mind

This is a photo of my old friend Pashka. I discovered it on a disc of photos I'd saved before the Big Hard drive Crash of '09 and it brought back so many memories of this beautiful Siberian Husky. She passed on two years ago on the last day of winter at age 16. This captured her in one of her typical poses--sniffing the air for anything tantalizing--rabbits, garbage, bacon. And it nicely shows that sweet little mustache she sported. You can read more about her here.

And since Pashka always looked lovely in any color, here's one photo from my trip to D.C. last week where the cherry blossoms were just starting to open around the city. These were in the Bishop's herb garden at the National Cathedral.

Happy Monday, my bloggie friends!

Washington is a city of Southern efficiency and Northern charm.
John F. Kennedy

Far from the Midwest I was able to savor this moment in Georgetown last week as the sun set on the campus, reminiscent of a much older and graceful time. The silhouetted building on the left is a portion of historic Healy Hall. Seeing a contrail kept me grounded in the 21st Century for sure.

See more beautiful sky views at Skywatch Friday.

As Rilke said to the young poet: Live the questions.

Delving into the spiritual essay genre I ran across this Q & A in the back of the April Body & Soul magazine posed to author Anne Lamott. The questions were pretty standard and I loved her answers. Which prompted me to add my own, since its usually all about me anyway. Here goes:

My favorite moment of the day is:
early morning with my first cup of coffee and a big window to watch from

If I could say one thing to myself 20 years ago: Relax, you can do it.

The lesson I keep learning over and over:
I need to erase the tape running in my head...again.

What scares me the most: dying

No one know I: still get crushes

Unhealthiest meal: cream cheese by the block

Personal philosophy: open the door for the person behind me

I don't feel healthy when I: eat way too many sweets and pity

Proudest moment in my career: seeing my work on paper

My father always told me: you'll never amount to anything

My mother was right about: cats ARE wonderful

My mother was wrong about: just giving up

The movie I watch when I want to laugh is: Trains, Planes & Automobiles

I always feel saner when I: have walked in nature, talked to my daughters, done a crossword, listened to music, written something and looked up at the sky at least once

Home means: my nest

Whole living means: watching, listening, being grateful, petting an animal

Your turn!

word-less Wednesday

So, I just flew in from D.C. and boy are my arms tired. [Sorry!] Last week I was there to be with Erica as she and her fellow med students all over the U.S. celebrated Match Day. She found out she matched as an emergency medicine resident at Drexel in Philadelphia for the next three years. Much celebrating ensued. Washington was awakening to spring after that brutal winter and the cherry blossoms were j.u.s.t. starting to open when I waved goodbye. More photos of them to come, but here are some random D.C. reds--including my toes and lucky shoes I wore. See more sublime to possibly silly reds at Mary's meme, Ruby Tuesday.

waning winter

A walk in the neighborhood to check on the snow melt unearthed this bridge--which I've posted photos of before--uncovered and sharing the lake's edge with new growth of bushes. Bright, blissful reds! See more at Ruby Tuesday.

watchforbears!

I took this photo a week ago in White Bear Lake where some people use the village's mascot bear as statuary to decorate their yards. Note the little cub hiding on the left. In just seven short days most of our snow has melted leaving one to wonder if these guys have moved on.
See more critters, real or imagined, at Misty Dawn's meme, Camera Critters.

all dressed up and nowhere to go

Windblown but leafless

Poking through the bluest dome

Painted ladies wait.

Visit more beautiful sky views here.

word-less Wednesday

just a sweet memory

After a visit to one of our favorite Minnesota breakfast spots,I offer you a glimpse of the *Swedish Sampler* from the Taste of Scandinavia in Little Canada where the Pulla Bread is made into French Toast, the Swedish pancake is ensconced with bananas and strawberries, the red lingonberries are succulent, and the umm, bacon, seems out of place is yummy. They serve lefsa and Finnish pasties too. You betcha!

See more delicious reds for free at Mary's meme, Ruby Tuesday.

Since winter seems to be backing off little-by-little, there is still beauty of the season left to ponder. Easier maybe because it isn't such a threat. I love how the rose bush wove through the heart shaped wire of this arbor gate.
See more @ Monochrome Weekend. Enjoy!

single owner, river view

This week has been full of *heavenly* blue skies. I took this photo early one morning as the sun was beginning to peek into the windows of the Riedel Farm Estate near where the Mississippi River cuts between St. Paul and Minneapolis. Looking out across the River from the farmhouse I was able to capture the last bit of the full moon and its reflection between the trees. All in all, a lovely way to begin a new day!
Visit Skywatch Friday for more beautiful skies from just about everywhere.

high on life -- parte due

She's a knitter, seamstress, long distance runner, coffee-loving, kind, listening friend. We meet for coffee and breakfast (me, scones and her, yogurt extraordinaire) nearly every Wednesday morning. We raid the sample plate at the Scandinavian bakery where we talk non-stop for one hour over bottomless cups of Joe before she heads off to work.

That would be Caroline, a former next door neighbor who immediately went from acquaintance to friend. That also means I have been the recipient of numerous of her talents. Last week she brought me this gorgeous knitted blankie she calls my 'blue blanket' she'd made me for the long Minnesota winters. In the pic above you'll see pink and brown stripey things on top of a white container on the left --felted mittens! On the top right of the tall shelf is a round pink fabric pin cushion she sewed from scraps left over from her many sewing projects. Did I mention she is only a wee bit over 30, so, I have someone to call my daughter while my own are far away?

Appreciation is a wonderful thing; it makes what is excellent in others belong to us as well. --Voltaire

Lately I've been high on the sunshine, but not necessarily high on life. The clouds in the early morning skies have spoken of this fact as they meander in baby blanket colors across the horizon, content to just be and then float on. I blame my ennui on the weather, fretful dreams the night before, or too much popcorn but really I am merely waiting for something wonderful to emerge from under the melting snow. So, when I read the fortune cookie message frozen under my front tire this morning I knew the gist of it was for me, in spite the triteness that only mass produced fortune cookies can contain:

You cannot love life until you live the life you love.

Turning the message over I found, lucky me, that I could not only catch a glimpse of the universe I could learn Chinese too. . .or at least, the words for roast duck (kao ya) That works for me! Life is good if not a trifle mysterious.