Holidazzle 2018

We caught the last weekend of Holidazzle 2018 in Loring Park, Minneapolis, Minnesota.  It was grand fun!

Here is an image of the fireworks from the Holidazzle website.  We didn't stay for that excitement   but we got to see lots of fun.

 Loring Park is all lit up!

 Ice skating

 A Giant Moose

 A wooden  art structure

 Cute dogs--quite well behaved too.

Lots of sparkling lights

Amaliya and I

Reminders of the Season of Joy

Some things happen in December that are challenging for me to feel glad about such as excess spending, excess eating and drinking.

And then I remind myself to put my attention to things that bring me joy.

This is one: colored lights.  And there is lots of dark to let them shine in the joy.

The Harp Circle preforming at Wesley United Methodist Church.  My friend, Kathie is tucked in on the left side.

Stained glass windows shining--this time it is sun shining in!  And that I am thankful for in December.

Ice skating at levee park.  Look another day of sun!

Eisley, a little snow princess.

She greets me in the early morning and loves making art.

Trees waving their branches.

Find the magic; it is there.  We need to take another look sometimes.

Find the Nia magic on the dance floor of the Friendship Center on Wednesdays 4:00pm or Thursdays at 4:30 - 5:05pm Moving to Heal Nia and 5:10 -6:00pm Classic Nia.

Walking Out and About

Moving my body is one of my great passions.  Walking, biking, dancing, paddling and seeing the world in a new way.  I took a walk the other day across the bridge heading out of Winona across the Mississippi River to Aghaming Park, John Latsch Preserve.

The ice bubbles that these rocks formed are quite wonderful.

Here the ice  is breaking up.

The river is still open.

 I was going to explore that little spit of land.

Boathouses on the other bank.
                                                                                  

Then I saw two pick up trucks driving fast and had a thought, "I wonder if it is hunting season?"        I decided to get moving out of the park in case I was mistaken for a purple deer.

 

Life of Miracles along the Yangtze and Mississippi with Wang Ping

I had the great honor of meeting and listening to Wang Ping, poet, novelist and multi-media artist share stories of her life and read from her book, "Life of Miracles Along the Yangtze and Mississippi." Afterward she lead us in  Prayer Flag making to bless more rivers in her travels.

She teaches at Macalester College in St. Paul, Minnesota.

People gathering supplies to create their own prayer flag. They added leaves from around Winona and drew and painted on cloth.

Wang Ping used a brayer to add paint to the leaves to print on the cloth.

My art student, Ana joined in the fun as her Dad watched.  He was a bit shy to make one himself.  You can barely see the bill of his cap as he looked over her shoulder.  She was happy to make one for him.  She decided to keep with the Ridgeway Community School theme of creating Kindness.

Many people creating.

Mary Lee, Ana, Ping

Thanks to the Winona Public Library, Great River Review, River Art Alliance and more for sponsoring and hosting this wonderful event.  You can purchase Wang Ping's book "Life of Miracles Along the Yangtze and Mississippi" and at local booksellers.

Tundra Swans on the Mississippi River

We took a drive down the river to Brownsville, Minnesota to see the Tundras Swans in late November.

We were not sure, if we'd see them.  Along the shore nearer to home, the water was frozen.  The cold came early in our area this year.  As we got closer to Brownsville and the lookout, we could hear them.  If you look in the distance of this photo, you can see stripes of white.  There are thousands of birds closer to the center of the water.

In 2011, we went down earlier in November nearer to sundown and the area was in a pink haze from sunset. Check out those pictures on Amazing Beauty on the Backwaters of the Mississippi.
That post gives some interesting facts about the marvel of their flight and the distances that they travel.

To learn more about the Tundras Swans and find the observation deck, see  Brownsville, Minnesota.

There is a short video about the swans and shows the large amount present that you may be able to see.  The wind noise in the video detracts from the amazing sounds that they all make.  The website gives some good information about the size of the swans and their nesting habits and habitat needs.

Next November, make a trip to see them!  It is worth your time.

All Minnesota State Parks Free on the Day After Thanksgiving

After lots of delicious food on Thanksgiving, we like to get outside and hike the trails at a state park just down river from us.

This year the weather was mild but a bit overcast.  I think that kept some outdoor enthusiasts away this year.  Last year the weather was warm and sunny and lovely and we saw lots of people.

We hiked the trail out to Kings Bluff.

Bob and I played with taking photos.

Bob changing lenses for a wider photo view.

The Mississippi River

A sneak selfie of Bob and I

The planted evergreens.  The wind blowing through their branches sounds like the trees are singing.

A real selfie and we're both smiling!

Finishing up our hike with a picnic lunch.  Food always tastes better outside.  Gratitude for trees and land, and air and good food and loving people around me.