Surprise

February 10, 2014 Photo: "Sweet"

It's Valentine's week, so all of my posts are dedicated to the sweetness of this lovely holiday. In fact, if you've been quite observant, you must have noticed that all February posts have featured the lovely crimson hues of Valentine's Day. While the cynical may feel that Valentine's Day is a Hallmark holiday -- the ultimate marketing ploy to boost sales of greeting cards, candy, flowers, and jewelry, I say, "Why not dedicate a day to expressing love for one another?" Actually, a day isn't nearly enough time to show our each other how much we appreciate them, so I'm taking the whole week!

Let's start the week with something sweet! On this bitter Monday morning, I was greeted with a pretty pink and red box waiting cheerful on my desk. Inside was this beautiful pastry, carefully baked and decorated by one of the most generous colleagues I have ever known. I know that Nan is a brilliant, thoughtful, dedicated, and charmingly irreverent person, but I didn't know that she could bake! What a lovely surprise! 


Market

February 9, 2014 Photo (040/365):  "Market Day"

A Sunny Sunday in the Third Ward (almost 20°)

A great day for brunch, a walk, and shopping
at the Milwaukee Public Market














Don't forget a little Milwaukee kitsch!


Mail

February 8, 2014 Photo (039/365): 
"You've Got Mail!"

When did going to the mailbox become such a chore? I used to look forward to getting the mail, but now it seems that the mailbox is only full of bills, catalogs, and advertisements. Although email has made staying in touch easier than ever, I do miss getting handwritten letters and postcards. I miss seeing my name in the distinctive scripts of my friends and family; recognizing the senders by each person's unique penmanship. I miss paying attention to the postmarks, remarking how long it took for the mail to arrive and how far it traveled to get to me. I miss saving stamps from foreign lands or with images of interesting people and favorite things. I miss the extremes of nearly transparent air mail paper versus fine linen and thick cotton stationery.  I miss the ritual of carefully opening envelopes, running my fingers over embossed monograms, and unfolding colorful paper or beautiful cards generously filled with news, wishes, and words of love. Although it would be nice if they were more frequent, it is lovely to receive Christmas greetings, Valentines, and birthday cards in February -- delightful wishes to warm cold winter days.

Date

February 7, 2014 Photo (038/365): "Date Night"

Friday night dinner & a movie: The Monuments Men "History's Greatest Treasure Hunt" 1000 years of European masterpieces stolen by the Nazis and recovered by brave soldiers and civilians dedicated to rescuing mankind's greatest achievements

On the surface, I like everything about this film: a great group of actors (George Clooney, Matt Damon, Jean Dujardin, Hugh Bonneville, Bill Murray, John Goodman, Cate Blanchett), beautiful art (by many of my favorite artists: DaVinci, Michelangelo, Monet, Renoir, Rodin...paintings and sculptures pillaged from museums, churches, and private homes throughout Europe), and scenes in Paris, Normandy, Bruges, Florence, and Germany. I am always drawn movies based on true stories, especially historical events; however this film lacked plot and character development, making it feel more like a documentary than a Hollywood blockbuster. Early in the film, the main characters scatter throughout Nazi-occupied Europe and the film quickly becomes disjointed. Just as I became acquainted with these men and women -- their struggles, their bravery, and their fear disguised in humor, the scenes changed and their presence was lost. There were glimpses of humanity juxtaposed against the chaos of war, but they were fleeting and left me wanting more.

Individual

February 6, 2014 Photo (037/365): "Individual"

"Remember always that you not only have the right to be an individual, you have an obligation to be one." - Eleanor Roosevelt. When looking at the big picture, we often overlook the individual details that contribute to the masterpiece. We must pay attention to each individual to discover her personal perspective, her unique voice, her singular beauty.