Choose...

December 29, 2013 Photo of the day: "Choose..."

I've driven past the Mercantile Building
in Milwaukee's Third Ward many times, 
but I never noticed this mural before today. 
How simply lovely! 
Choose strength. 
Choose creativity. 
Choose happiness. 
Choose kindness. 
Choose gratitude. 
Choose...

Thawing

December 28, 2013 Photo of the day: "Thawing"

An unseasonably warm December day 
beckoned me to take a walk, 
to listen to the squirrels scampering 
and tiny songbirds tweeting, 
to breathe in the mild dampness, 
to watch the snow melt 
and fall in droplets from the evergreens.

*
“One measure of how creative you are 
is how you respond to changes in your 
circumstances and environment. 
How flexible are you? 
Consider how water adapts 
to its environment: 
evaporation, condensation, 
snowflake, melting, flowing..." 
~ Anonymous

Wanderlust

December 27, 2013 Photo of the day: "Wanderlust"

Our White Christmas was lovely, but now we face at least three more long months of snow and cold as the long Wisconsin winter continues.  After the holidays, symptoms of my chronic winter malady begin to set in: a restlessness, a longing for changes in latitudes ("Operation St. Somewhere"). Even our Christmas ornaments reflect a desire to fly or sail away! 

Playing in the Snow

December 26, 2013 Photo of the day:

"Greetings from Snowkauchee Lake"

This winter is shaping up to be a snowy one, reminiscent of winters when we were growing up.  I remember playing outside until my eyelashes froze, building snowmen and forts, even a tunnel from our side garage door to the neighbors' next door! We went tobogganing and skiing, and when we came inside, there was always hot chocolate with marshmallows. When did snow become a bother (slippery roads, shoveling, dirty cars, and salt-stained shoes...)? Maybe it's time to play outside again!