How did you know I could do that?

Sometimes there is great wisdom

in children's stories.

I can't remember if this quote came

from a Winnie-the-Pooh story

or from the Velveteen Rabbit,

but either way it's a good

one for all of us to keep in mind.

Thanks to whoever the author is!

Illusion of Movement

I was taking sunset pictures

through a grove of trees

in the last moments

before darkness

overcame the land.

I have a number

of very pretty pictures

(some of which I'll post another time),

but this picture

was by far

the most interesting.

I have no idea

what I did

to create this effect.

If I stare at it long enough

I swear I am moving.

Or the trees are moving.

I wish I knew

what happened

to create

this illusion.

The colors behind the trees

are absolutely brilliant

and make a perfect

backdropfor the impression

of movement in a still shot.

Some days you just get lucky.

Spiderwebs

I was taking photos at Grey's Lake

one evening recently.

Once the colored lights

on the bridge came on the

spiders and their webs were amazing.

Behind some of the photos you can see

dots of light from the Des Moines

downtown city skyline.

Believe

BELIEVE      

believe

                Believe

                                        believe

                    BELIEVE

High Trestle Trail Bridge at Night

The High Trestle Trail Bridge,

just west of Madrid, Iowa,

is simply amazing.

The architect is a genius.

If you've never been here, I highly

suggest you make a trip to visit.

If you come visit at night,

bring a flashlight as

only the bridge is lit up at night.

It's worth the drive,

worth the walk,

worth the time.

What a view.



Flowers near Mayo Clinic

Mayo Clinic has such beautiful buildings

and beautiful surroundings.

This post focuses on some of the gorgeous

flowers found on the grounds of

Mayo Clinic or in areas near the clinic.

They certainly brightened my day

and I hope they will brighten your day as well.

Castle Bookstore near Mayo Clinic

If you ever are visiting Mayo Clinic in

Rochester, Minnesota, there's a

Barnes and Noble store in the

skywalk/subway system

very close to Mayo.

I don't know the history of the building,

but now the bookstore resembles

a castle.

It's the coolest bookstore

I've ever been in.

I happen to love bookstores.

Could spend hours, days, weeks,

getting lost in them.

I absolutely adore the castle theme

of this bookstore.

And I love that it's so very close

to Mayo

so that when you're visiting

you have a place to go where your

imagination

can take you

anywhere

and away from every reason

you're there at

Mayo in the first place.

They used to have a great reading nook

in the front window,

with nice fluffy chairs.

They were gone this time.

Silly me.

I thought they'd want people

to enjoy the place and be comfortable.

I miss the fluffy chairs,

but I do still love the bookstore.

Worth visiting if you ever

need to take a trip to Mayo Clinic.