Japanese Garden

"Photography is not like painting. There is a creative fraction of a second when you are taking a picture. Your eye must see a composition or an expression that life itself offers you, and you must know with intuition when to click the camera. That is the moment the photographer is creative. Oop! The Moment! Once you miss it, it is gone forever."

~Henri Cartier-Bresson

My World: Public Art - MIrror

A nice walk around Rice University to see the new public sculptures

(before the heat and humidity set in).

This is Mirror by Jaume Plensa.

Mirror is a site specific installation by international artist Jaume Plensa. Mirror features two 10 foot tall figures positioned in conversation with each other.  Up close, their physical forms are an intermingling of white coated marine steel letters from many alphabets. Viewers are provided with an entry point to each figure, where they can physically walk inside the sculpture. One of the new public art works celebrating Rice University's centennial.

Thank you to Mary for Mosaic Monday

and the wonderful hosts of Our World.

Wishing YOU well and much joy!

My World: A Public Sculpture Exhibition

East meets the West with the first major public exhibition of sculpture by the internationally renowned Chinese Contemporary artist Ai Weiwei titled Circle of Animals/Zodiac Heads. It is presently on view outdoors overlooking McGovern Lake in Hermann Park.

Comprised of 12 monumental bronze animal heads, each weighing 800 pounds and standing roughly 10 feet high, Circle of Animals/Zodiac Heads is Ai Weiwei's re-creation on an oversized scale of the traditional zodiac sculptures that once adorned the fabled fountain at Yuanming Yuan outside Beijing. Erected in the 18th century, the original animal heads surrounding the fountain spouted water at two-hour intervals until 1860, when French and British troops raided the palace and looted the heads. To date only seven of the legendary 12 heads have been recovered around the world; the location of the remaining five is still unknown.

I really like the location overlooking McGovern Lake in Hermann Park.

The Rat ... the first of the Zodiac Animals.

The Ox, Tiger, Rabbit and Snake.

The Dragon.

Six this week and six more next week!

Thank you to the Our World hosts.

Wishing you WELL and a JOY filled week!

The Great White

The Great Egret (Ardea alba), 

also known as Great White Egret, 

Common Egret, or Great White Heron.

 Photographed in the Japanese Garden, Hermann Park, Houston.

I'm joining Misty for Camera Critters.

Wishing you WELL, JOY and a CRITTER filled weekend!

My World: Wear Red Day

National wear red day was Feb 3, 2012. The American Heart Association wants to uncover the truth about heart disease. More women die of heart disease than the next three causes of death combined including all forms of cancer. The Red Heart Dresses were photographed when I walked to my Village to have breakfast.

Thank you to the Our World hosts.

Wishing YOU well and a JOY filled week.

While Walking To The Post Office

While walking to the post office I saw this

Lincoln Continental.

WOW!

I went home (letter not posted),

got my camera,

walked back,

and started taking pictures.

The letter did get posted.

COOL!

AWESOME!

Sort of a self-portrait in the reflection.

Keep those cameras handy!

I'm linking to MY WORLD and

MOSAIC MONDAY!

Wishing YOU well and a JOY filled week!

Dry Creek

Dry Creek is part of the Creek Group in my fair city.

Located in The Heights (one of the funkier neighborhoods),

Dry Creek was originally a 1930's gas station.

Now it's a burger joint ... and a good one.

The Creek Group is a charming group of cafes dedicated

to the 'country folk' mentality.

Slow down and listen to some good ol' country and blues

and have a good time. 

It's like fishing without the pole.

THE KIDS are getting married later in the year.

Dry Creek was a good place to get the families together and for

his folks to meet the Auntie (the woman behind the camera)!

Funky Decor

His folks.

Can you tell we had a great time?

And, the food was good too!

I had the regular burger with a side of jalapeno and sweet potato fries.

Then there was a West Coast Burger -- turkey burger with avocado and sprouts.

THE KID tried the house specialty--

the Triple Bypass Burger -- cheese, bacon and fried egg.

He liked it .

Good Food.

Good Company.

Thank you to our hostesses:

Mary for Mosaic Monday

and 

The Tablescaper for Seasonal Sunday.

Wishing YOU well and a joy filled week!

My World: Street Art

I was walking in my Village one Sunday morning and noticed,

painted on the control box for the traffic light,

this little guy.

Think his name is Coolidge?

To see more of the world be sure to visit Show Your World.

Dim Sum

I had a wonderful lunch with friends.

We had been talking about having Dim Sum together for years.

Mr. Dragon, me and his colleagues, our friends. 

One thing or another kept us from dim sum, 

but finally success!

We ate.

Talked about old times.

Cried a little.

Toasted with tea, to Mr. Dragon.

Wishing he was still here with us.

I found out I like seaweed!

(Pictured on the far right.)

Thank you to our hostesses:

Mary for Mosaic Monday

and 

The Tablescaper for Seasonal Sunday.

Wishing YOU well and a joy filled week!

Circle of Red

The American Heart Association Circle of Red Art Hearts

arrived in Houston this summer 

and will be on exhibit in several different locations.

The hearts are a reminder that heart disease is the number one killer of women.

The Art Hearts, on display from May 15 to July 31,

were individually created by various local artists for 

members of the Circle of Red group,

a dynamic, committed, passionate group of women

who have made a personal commitment to help find a cure for heart disease.

The Circle of Red Art Hearts

are a representation of the Circle of Red's dedication

to fight heart disease in women. 

These were photographed in *my* village. 

Thank you to our hostesses:

Mary for Mosaic Monday

and 

The Tablescaper for Seasonal Sunday.

Wishing YOU well and a joy filled week!

Cows On Parade!

Going through photos each week,

I never know what I will find.

Mr. Dragon had started putting photos in albums (the non sticky kind).

I'm trying to finish what he started.

This week I found photos we took of the Cows On Parade In Houston.

I just had to put the space shuttle cow in the middle to honor its final flight. 

The cows were painted by artists and sculptors and were on parade 

in the late summer and early fall of 2001.

We took photos of the cows we found in the museum area of Houston...

just a few of the 325!

They were auctioned off to benefit Texas Children's Hospital.

***

This is a Better Homes and Gardens Recipe that I just had to share.

Chocolate and strawberries ... a combination that is hard to beat!!

Better Homes and Gardens

CHOCOLATE STRAWBERRY SHORTCAKES

6 Servings

Ingredients:

4 cups sliced strawberries

1/4  cup sugar

1 2/3 cups all purpose flour

1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

1 tablespoon baking powder

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup butter or margarine

1 beaten egg

2/3 cup milk

1 cup whipping cream

Chocolate ice cream topping (optional)

Whole strawberries (optional)

2 tablespoons sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla

Directions:

Lightly grease a baking sheet.  Combine sliced strawberries and the 1/4  cup sugar. Set aside.

For shortcakes, in a medium bowl combine flour, cocoa powder, the 1/4 cup sugar, baking powder, and salt.  Cut in buter or margarine until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Combine egg and milk; add all at once to flour mixture and stir just until moistened. Drop dough into 6 portions on prepared baking sheet.

Bake in 450 degree F oven for 10 to 12 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in centers comes out clean. Cool slightly on a wire rack.

To serve, split warm shortcakes in half crosswise. In a chilled small mixing bowl beat whipping cream, the 2 tablespoons sugar, and vanilla with an electric mixer on medium speed until soft peaks form. Spoon a little whipped cream on shortcake bottoms. Top with sliced strawberries. Add shortcake tops and top with remaining whipped cream. Drizzle with chocolate ice cream topping and garnish with whole strawberries, of desired. Makes 6 servings.

MAKE AHEAD TIP

Prepare and bake shortcakes; cool completely on wire rack. Place in freezer container or plastic freezer bag; seal, label, and freeze up to 2 weeks.  To serve; wrap frozen shortcakes in foil. Bake in 350 degree F oven for 10 minutes or until warm.

***

Thank you to our hostesses:

Mary for Mosaic Monday

and 

The Tablescaper for Seasonal Sunday.

Wishing YOU well and a wonderful, Joy filled week. 

Mosaic Monday: Japanese Garden

The hostess for Mosaic Monday is the lovely Mary at the Little Red House. Be sure to visit to see the other mosaics.

I'm also linking to My World Tuesday where you can travel around the world without leaving home!

Here are some more photos from the Japanese Garden in Hermann Park.

Designed by world-renowned Japanese landscape architect Ken Nakajima, the garden was built to symbolize the friendship between Japan and the United States, and to recognize Houston’s thriving Japanese community.

It was a beautiful day in this island of serenity just steps from the Texas Medical Center.

You could hear the water gently falling and the leaves in the trees -- talking to us in the gentle breeze.

Joy to You!

Camera Critters

Camera Critters is hosted every Saturday by the lovely Misty. Be sure you visit!

Last week Mr. Dragon and I decided to visit the Japanese Garden in Hermann Park.

It was a beautiful afternoon. Little humidity.

On the way to the Japanese Garden we saw a few feathered critters.

A couple of Black-bellied Whistling Ducks with friend.

Black-Bellied Whistling Duck

I have a story for you about the Whistlers. Last year Mom Whistler made her nest in the sculpture garden at the Museum of Fine Arts -- several very long blocks from this lake. When her eggs hatched, several birders at the museum kept an eye on the youngsters and one day were able to capture them and take them to the lake at Hermann Park. They figured Mom could and would fly over, but the youngsters would never make it across the streets to water. I'd like to think that the Whistlers we saw are those same babes all grown up.

Inside the gates of the Japanese Garden we found this little guy.

He has a white tail ... cotton tail perhaps.

This little bunny was smaller than the first. A little family.

More critters in the Japanese Garden next week!

Happy Critter Day!

Wordless Wednesday

My World/Winter Solstice

Be sure to visit My World to see more of our world
or to participate yourself!


To celebrate the shortest day of the year and
moving into light,
here are a few doors decorated for the season
in my neighborhood.







I love the swing with the red pillows.

This wreath smells like cinnamon.

Love the red ribbons.

Snowmen -- one of my favorite holiday *things*!

A giant Candy Cane

Happy Yule!

Postcard Friendship Friday

Postcard Friendship Friday is brought to you by our lovely postmistress, Marie.

Everyone seemed to enjoy the postcards last week that I found
at the Houston Museum of Natural Science.

I thought I'd share some more photos from that 50 cent collection!

"From the back of the postcard: "The Cockrell Butterfly Center is a spectacular four-story glass and steel structure housing a lush tropical environment, where you can see over a thousand brilliantly colored butterflies from around the world."




"Dryas iulia - the Julia or Flambeau" " The brilliant orange julia is a common sight in sunny areas of tropical Central and South America. Here a male nectars at an equally brilliant Mexican sunflower. Females are slightly duller in color and have black edging on the forewings."





"Citherias menander - Dawn Satyr" " Although there is no official common name for this etheral Central American butterfly, a good choice would be Dawn Satyr, in recognition of the rosy flush on the hind part of the otherwise transparent wings. Shown here is a mating pair."




"Danaus plexippus - the Monarch" " The black and orange monarch, famous for its incredible yearly migration to central Mexico, is one of our most familiar butterflies. This one is nectaring at a Liatris or blazing star flower."

Be sure to visit other Postcard Friendship Friday participants.

Happy PFF!