way too cute

I caught kitty cat* in her favorite chair [note the sheen of millions of cat hairs on the cushion] on a sunny afternoon before she had a chance to turn her head from the hated camera flash. This is what a cat named Bean looks like living in the lap of luxury. See more critters, equally loved, at Misty's great meme, Camera Critters.
As George Carlin was known to say: "cats are so damn cute. Its a kitty cat! They need two names they're so cute. Oh look at that cute kitty cat!' " Can't you hear him??

misty Minnesota morning

Sunday morning last I drove between two different small lakes that were shrouded in fog. The sun was shining in my eyes but was blurred by different layers of fog and mist. Even a contrail was just a pencil mark in the sky.See more beautiful sky views from all over the planet @ Skywatch Friday.

Every now and again take a good look at something not made with hands: a mountain, a star, the turn of a stream. There will come to you wisdom and patience and solace and, above all, the assurance that you are not alone in the world. —Sidney Lovett

word-less Wednesday--more or less

Why, sometimes I’ve believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast!
The Queen to Alice in Wonderland

note to self: always buy nice shoes

Talk about red! This is a photo of my dad's brother Fred and his family Mickey, Rickie, Ronnie and Aunt Frances circa 1954. Check out her wonderful shoes! Uncle Fred, now pushing 90, has walked every day to and from his own business, and lived in the same red brick house since the 1950's.

[photo courtesy Idaho Signs]

Visit Mary the Teach to see more RED treasures at Ruby Tuesday.

Weekend Reflections: listen carefully

The only reflection that seems to be happening this time of year is in my head** so I was tempted to re-visit spring while I was up there (in my head). I took this photo at Como Lake in late spring last year when the wood ducks had returned, the ice had melted and buds were on the trees. Bliss of a rare kind can be found in reflections. Visit James' meme Weekend Reflections. for more.

**I read and walked for miles at night along the beach, writing bad blank verse and searching endlessly for someone wonderful who would step out of the darkness and change my life. It never crossed my mind that that person could be me. Anna Quindlen

the not so secret sky

'A photograph is a secret. The more it tells the less you know.'

[from the film The Brothers Bloom]

This week we are celebrating the sun and blue sky in Minnesota. See more beautiful skies at Skywatch Friday.

peace or something like that

'At the end of the day we are left alone, to the mercy of our hearts.'

I'm turning over a new leaf, or perhaps its a shovelful of snow. Does anyone besides me pay an exorbitant price for being too nice? When I scrutinize my nice behavior--oh, and scrutinize I do!--it usually unearths a deep need to be loved, or at least liked enough. So, I am aware that dishonest or self-serving motives do not a nice person make.

Along my journey I am continually searching for peace--of mind, and heart and pie. During this winter I've been on the lookout for signs that life sustains itself--whether I am nice or not. Thus these snapshots of the sun's various blue shadows on the snow and little critter footprints.

In an article I read recently by Geneen Roth I was struck by the following as it applies to mindful vs. emotional eating:

'...you'll discover: The you who is not your past, not your habits [yeah!], not your compulsions. When you get to know that person, anything becomes possible. . .'

Its all good. Please enlarge my photos and you'll see what I mean!