Be Creative

Have today off?  Instead of heading to the nearest retail outlet to mingle with five thousand other holiday shoppers waiting in check-out lines, do something just for fun.  Let yourself be creative and don't worry about the outcome.  Devote some time to a favorite hobby or explore one of your passions and simply enjoy yourself.  And, seeing the pictures of a Ferris wheel made of balloons always remind me of the notion that if you can dream it, you can create it.

"The desire to create is one of the deepest yearnings of the human soul."

                                               --Dieter F. Uchtdorf

Happy Thanksgiving!

"Be present in all things and thankful for all things."

                                                       --Maya Angelou

Giving Thanks: Mother Nature

"Just feel the magic in the air and the power in the breeze,

Feel the energy of the plants, the bushes and the trees,

Let yourself be surrounded by nature at its best

Calm yourself, focus and let magic do the rest."

                                              --Sally Walker

Giving Thanks

Not only is this Thanksgiving week but today is also my birthday -- double the reason to be grateful!  Therefore, the featured image is one of my favorites and perfect for the occasion as it contains some of the special people who give me plenty of reasons to smile.  No, my husband and I don't have children but we have a great time in the company of our nieces and nephews -- can't you tell from their faces that this is a lively group!  Never a dull moment, and I am grateful for the way they enrich our lives.

"Let us be grateful to people who make us happy,

they are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom."

                                            --Marcel Proust

Badgers Visit Kinnick

With the Wisconsin Badgers in Iowa City to take on the Hawkeyes, we expected several fans from the neighboring state to be present for the football game.  And, yes, there was a healthy dose of red and white sprinkled throughout Kinnick Stadium along with those tailgating in the surrounding parking lots.  While approaching the stadium, my husband and I encountered this particular fan who proudly adorned his head with a badger-skin hat -- and, of course, I had to take a picture.  

A Child's Perspective

"Children are happy because they don't have a file in their

minds called 'All the Things That Could Go Wrong'."

                                       --Marianne Williamson

A Gobbler

"If you want to soar like an eagle, don't hang out with turkeys."

                                                               --Unknown

A Day in the Sun

Here in Iowa the cold has arrived with frigid temperatures, snow, wind and icy roads....So, now you probably understand why I intentionally sought out a shot of a tropical destination that, just for a moment, takes me away to sun, fun and the beach.  Actually this photo was taken two years ago while we enjoyed time at Moon Palace in Cancun, Mexico.  As for now, it is back to brrrrrrrrrrr.

November Fog

"November comes 

And November goes, 

With the last red berries 

And the first white snows.

With night coming early, 

And dawn coming late, 

And ice in the bucket 

And frost by the gate.

The fires burn 

And the kettles sing, 

And earth sinks to rest 

Until next spring."

                              --Elizabeth Coatsworth

After School

Remember walking home from school amid beautiful fall foliage and moderate temperatures?  As a youngster I often walked to and from school but I recall being especially fond of the return trip as it was often relaxing and part of my daily routine.  Of course, I had a particular route that took me past the public library, the office building where my grandpa worked, some familiar homes, a park and the church where my Girl Scout meetings were held.  Even today, as an adult back in my hometown, when I head out for a jaunt on my bike or a stroll on foot, I often find myself back on that same, familiar path -- some things are just comfortable.

Ground Level

"Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better."

                                                    --Albert Einstein

Did you know...

...that as each goose flaps its wings in the 'V' formation, it creates an uplift for those that follow? 

"It is good to know our universe.  What is new is only new to us."   

                                              --Pearl S. Buck

Twins?

Not quite twins but who doesn't enjoy images of pet owners and their beloved furry friends dressed similarly?  Thought it would make you smile.  And, honestly, from what I've read, one important benefit of having pets is that they lift our spirits and brighten our days.

Honoring Veterans

Doors

"All doors open to courtesy."

                                    --Thomas Fuller

"The doors of wisdom are never shut."

                                   --Benjamin Franklin

"Happiness is...

...like a butterfly which, when pursued, is always beyond our grasp, but, if you will sit down quietly, may alight upon you."

                                                                                   --Nathaniel Hawthorne

Red-Bellied Woodpecker

"Even the lonely woodpecker owes 

his success to the fact that he uses his head."

                                                     --Joe Marcucci

"Lawyers and woodpeckers have long bills."

                                                        --Unknown

Fabulous Foliage

"Every leaf speaks bliss to me,

fluttering from the autumn tree."

                                                      --Emily Bronte

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A Walk in the Park

Recently Backbone State Park was full of visitors viewing the brilliant fall foliage and enjoying a hike throughout the hilly terrain.  On a cool morning a few weeks back I ventured out hoping to capture any remaining colorful leaves, and this is what I found.  Now, of course, most of the autumn color lies on the forest floor; however, numerous trails, like the one shown above, provide great recreational activies throughout much of the year.  Get out and enjoy!