A bit of humor when we’re sick.

I’m a bit under the weather, it happens. Nowadays, if a friend sends a message, it’s always in a Text or Email.

Guess what though, this friend took time to send a card. It was so funny, it lifted my spirits.

So, here’s to taking time to send a greeting card to someone, I liked Becca Cahan’s humor. I’d like to see what other cards she’s made. Thoughtfulness does make a difference!

Snow ART — Blink and you’ll miss it!

The other day it was snowing. My daughter and I went walking and as we were talking, she suddenly said, “Look, Mickey Mouse.” We looked more closely and laughed, “YES, it sure looked like Mickey!!”

She was on a roll. As we walked, she kept noticing more snow art, it was so amusing. You can see from above, the left photo, if we blinked, we would not have seen Mickey, same with the other funny figures. We saw the figures at a distance, I zoomed in on them.

We “did” take the liberty of adding to some of the art, ie the snail, we added an antenna, the fish skeleton, we added the bones, that balloon, we added the string… but the balloon, you can see from left photo using our imagination, it was there… the added string, made it believable to “non-snow art-believers.”

Finally, for the GRAND FINALE, before we started to shovel snow… we saw this SMILEY FACE.

Ok… with this one… the EYES were THERE… my daughter added the mouth, but COVER the mouth and you can see how the EYES were talking to us in a “catch me if you dare,” kind of look.

What a fun walk. So, what snow art have you seen lately?

Italy – A surprise, “Make a Wish!”

Every day is full of surprises. While in Florence, I stayed at Holiday House Borgo Pinti, run by the Oblate of Assumption Sisters. A beautiful sanctuary located behind the Duomo, a ten minute walk. Religious stays are interesting. Each place quite different; however, the common theme is peacefulness.

Every morning, after breakfast, I would walk in their beautiful garden, filled with roses.

On this particular morning, as I walked by this statue. I stopped in front of it, listening to the birds singing. For some reason, I looked down and something “white” caught my attention.

As you can see. I was walking on gravel, all the stones seem to meld together.

As I bent down, I found this, “Make a Wish” stone with a feather close by. How lovely.

Some Canadians were walking by, I showed them. One of them immediately said, “that’s a dandelion,” there is spiritual significance in that. I hadn’t noticed the dandelion. I was focused on the words, “Make a Wish.”

This was important, staying at a spiritual place, behind the Duomo. A wish could come true! I looked up at the sky, sun shinning, thought of my Italian grandmother, was this HER doing?

Sure enough, in researching the spiritual meaning of the dandelions, it is said they provide resilience, hope, transformation, new beginnings and the ability to manifest desires. Wow, I sure needed that!

So, with the holiday season here. We have many challenges in life. I share this with YOU.

MAKE… YOUR… WISH!!

Miracles happen…AND… follow your instincts, ie me looking down and finding this stone.

Happy Thanksgiving!

LEGO®, always a new design…

I was at the store the other day. As I walked by the children’s section, I saw the legos. I always stop and see what they have. I fell in love with this owl, the book and that different animals can be made with the kit.

LEGO® had their Advent Calendars out too. They looked fun, but I don’t have any grandchildren yet.

The holidays are coming, I decided to look at their website, see what adult legos they have. Look at this, they have the Mona Lisa. What a great gold frame. There are so many great designs.

Here’s to feeling like a kid. Fond memories bring us back, don’t they, especially with holidays approaching!

“Cicada Parade-A 2024” – Another sighting…

A new walk, a new “Cicada Parade-A” sighting.

See a previous post, “Cicada Parade-A 2024” / Sponsor, then decorate your own Cicada!”

The first cicada I saw was higher in the tree. This one had lower placement, so I saw it immediately. Also, being painted in a reddish pink color made it stand out.

The Insect Asylum (taxidermist & insect museum) and Formstone Castle Art (create art for festivals & events) are promoting this Cicada Parade-A project to anyone who wants to participate. You sponsor a cicada by paying a fee, then you can decorate your cicada and it is put up somewhere in IL. Although, I saw a video that mentioned someone out of state bought a cicada to bring to their home town. So, everyone can participate. 

Go to The Insect Asylum website, you can see a map of where the cicadas are.

If I keep exploring new neighborhoods, I’ll most likely find more, right?! Summer is not over yet!

“Cicada Parade-A 2024” / Sponsor, then decorate your own Cicada!

What an amazing find! I was on a walk with a friend. She had to tie her shoe. While I was waiting, I looked up and I saw this Cicada art piece. I was intrigued, it had #481 on the sign, which meant there were more to see.

The Insect Asylum (taxidermist & insect museum) and Formstone Castle Art (create art for festivals & events) are promoting this Cicada Parade-A project to anyone who wants to participate. You sponsor a cicada by paying a fee, then you can decorate your cicada and it is put up somewhere in IL. Although, I saw a video that mentioned someone out of state bought a cicada to bring to their home town. So, everyone can participate.

Such a great idea. The artist who created #481 did an amazing job.

Go to The Insect Asylum website, you can see a map of where the cicadas are.

You can still buy one. It’s FUN!

Chicago’s BEST bagels – Corey’s NYC Bagel Deli

This weekend after canoeing, I was hungry. I was thinking, “What do I want to eat?” Then I spotted this van marketing bagels. I have to say, the advertising worked, suddenly I wanted a bagel.

Imagine my happy surprise, when I went to their website, to find out they are Chicago based. Corey’s NYC Bagel Deli was established by Corey & Laurie Kaplan (husband/wife team) in 2000.

From their site, I see they make great bagel sandwiches.

Looks like Marcus Lemonis from “The Profit” visited Corey/Laurie to see their business and offer advice/a deal for moving forward. Here’s a clip from the show.

Recently, they lost business as a few stores they supplied bagels/cream cheese to closed down. So, after canoeing I have a new place to visit. They need community support.

By the way, fellow Blogger, “Yeah, Another Blogger,” wrote a post about art on wheels. He found some interesting companies advertising in Philadelphia, PA. I loved the “Tea Around Town” bus.

So, when you walk, don’t look down/text on your phone, you might miss a great advertising van!

Paintings… sisters…

Recently, I saw these two paintings. I wasn’t looking for paintings, but they caught my attention, because I have two daughters. I thought they depicted their personalities.

The elephants when they are stressed. The giraffes when they are trying to decide what to do.

I find life amusing.

At any given moment in life, we can see, hear, smell something and a vision comes to us or we are transported back in time. For example, recently, I smelled some lilacs and I was brought back to my childhood when they were in bloom.

Have you had a recent memory come to you after seeing “something?”

Re-inventing the Bird House!

This past weekend I was in Wisconsin. I happened to see these bird houses.

I liked how they look; however, made out of metal they don’t look too cozy. Also, I noticed they don’t have a ledge to put birdseed. Would birds go inside this DARK house to eat food?

What do you think? Would birds come or are they just for garden decoration?