More of Mayo

I thought I'd continue with the

Mayo  Clinic theme until I got

through all the pictures I felt were

worth sharing. So here's more from

the city of Rochester and specifically

of Mayo Clinic.

This shows one of the buildings reflected

in a beautiful granite wall.

Being only a teenager, my son was

a bit embarrassed by all the statues

of naked bodies found on the Mayo campus.

Out for a walk one evening,

he was ahead of my husband

and myself and spotted yet again

another naked statue.

"Children," he joked,

as if on a school tour,

"avert your eyes." 

I loved this statue from this side,

although my son was horrified

when we came across it from the other end.

Remember: the person is naked.

This is one of those statues that just

might be better if the boy had on 

some clothing.

But it's a medical facility, they

deal with the human body, and 

Mayo certainly likes to share

the entire body with their visitors.

"Children, avert your eyes."

Very interesting glass in the main medical building.

The Mayo brothers founded the clinic.

Thankfully someone chose to portray

them fully clothed!



Rochester

As I was looking through my Mayo Clinic

photos I realized I still had some shots

from the business areas around Mayo

I really liked and wanted to share.



Fountain in Rochester

Between appointments and tests

 at Mayo Clinicin Rochester, Minnesota

last August, I spent a lot of time

wondering around with my camera.

This fountain is outside a shopping area

right near the clinic,

in front of the castle bookstore

I posted some pictures of previously.

There are a lot of nice things to photograph

within walking distance of Mayo Clinic.



My Child

*Design is mine, wording is  not.

Gray's Lake

I spent some time last October taking

photos at Gray Lake. The colors on the

bridge are so pretty at night.

The downtown Des Moines skyline

is beautiful reflected in the lake.

(Once it warms up again I might actually go out and

take new photos. Until then I'm relying on the

thousands of photos I took during warmer weather.)

Rags

Rags is one of the sweetest cats I've ever known.

I went to an animal shelter and instantly

fell in love with this giant furball of a cat.

He was so sweet and loving,

a big teddy bear of a cat

who loved to crawl up in a warm lap

and have someone scratch his chin

or brush out his back.

We had Rags for about 5 years.

Just before Christmas last year

Rags became very sick.

There was nothing that could be done for him

It was very hard on our family

and we stayed with him until the end.

I came across some pictures of

this gorgeous cat and had to share

him with the world.

Rags loved to sit in baskets, boxes, trays--

anything he could wedge himself into.

Rags liked catnip.

Understatement.

Rags LOVED catnip.

In these pictures our cat

is enjoying rolling himself in

catnip as he licks it all.

I guess you could think of

catnip as recreational drugs for cats.

Rags did.

The most embarrassing shot of all--

Rags, fang hanging out and all,

in la-la land enjoying the catnip.

 No, we never tortured our beloved cat.

Rags loved this crazy ball toy and would

sit next to it until we opened it up

and he could crawl inside.

Then we'd let it slowly close.

He was very content,

although this photo shows him deciding

it's time to get out of the ball.

We now have two other cats, Lexi and Boomer,

both animal shelter cats.

I think those are the best kind.

RIP Rags

You were one of a kind.



Winter Weather

Iowans have been blessed with unusually warm weather

 so farthis winter. As I write this it's snowing.

However, the snow is about done

and I doubt there will be much left on the roads

in the morning. 

I haven't had a chance to get out

and take pictures lately,

but I have many photos of many

subjects I've never posted.

So here's a few wintery scenes for

those of you who are missing the snowy weather.