ANNAPOLIS, MARYLAND - MURALS

 This was one of my two favorite murals I saw that day. I am sure I missed many but before I go again, I will find out where they are.

This is at the entrance of the US Naval Academy.

The ships were on the wall hidden by the car.

Veering away from murals for a minute, on the grounds of the academy is the statue of a goat, which is the United States Naval Academy Mascot. Its story on how it was chosen as the mascot can be read here.

The following murals were in various places heading home but on the outskirts of town, in a more industrial area. 

The next four photos of a mural painted on a wall, were done by local teenagers and they called it 'The Garden of Inclusion.' I couldn't find much about it except for a fleeting glimpse of a local newspaper article, before a pop-up appeared blocking everything and asking that I buy a four-month subscription to read it. I didn't want to do that so let it be.

"Tener Felizidad" according to google translate means "Have Happiness".

It must have been done some time ago as it seemed worn and faded.

There were good messages painted all along that wall, such as "Be Happy" and "Nosotros Somos" - "We Are".  

This was very nice but hard to photograph for one complete photo.

I missed a panel, but this was at the end and was my other favorite.

A mural map can be found here of the following.

There is a YouTube at this link explaining the art, and these murals are seen.  I looked for ID and didn't find them all. This one of the young girl below is called "Girl & Angler Fish", by artist Vermelho. It can be found on the Capital Teas HQ building.

I didn't know this until searching online for info on the murals, that we were actually in the Annapolis Design District, in an industrial area bounded by West Street, Chinquapin Round Road, Legion Avenue and Forest Drive. The photo below is a painting of a fox.

What I found: "Brazilian-born artist Roberta Pardo, is the force behind this particular mural collection. Roberta, an Arundel County resident, created Urban Walls Brazil, an arts residency program that brings young, international street artists to Annapolis. 

Thanks for looking and I hope your week has started well. 

EVERY NOW AND AGAIN…

I like to share things that not only speak to me but also tickles my funny bone, and I hope it will give you the same. I found this at Pinterest, one of my go-to places for graphics.

I was out for several hours today and did a little gallivanting. I came home and I almost immediately, but unintentionally, took a nap!

For our international friends to translate. 

"She desperately wanted to go gallivanting all over town…but she knew it would interfere with her nap."

GRATEFUL FOR...

~Grateful for Each Season~

I cherish each season, its rhythm, its grace,

Though summer’s thick air I’d rather not face.

Still, butterflies dance and the flowers unfold,

Bees hum through gardens in sunlight and gold.

Fall comes like an old friend, steady and true,

With crisp morning air and skies painted blue.

The trees wear their colors like gowns spun from flame,

And warmth lingers softly, though chill stakes its claim.

Then winter drifts in with a hush and a sigh,

As nature curls up beneath blanket and sky.

Woodsmoke meanders through twilight’s cool breath,

A whisper of comfort, of stillness, of rest.

Spring stirs the silence with blossoms and song,

New buds awaken, where dreams have grown long.

Birds wing their way home from journeys afar,

Their voices like lanterns, their flight like a star.

Through heat and through frost, through bloom and through bare,

I’m thankful for all that the seasons declare—

Each one a chapter, a gift to behold,

A story of life in its colors retold.

(Photo and Poem via Copilot with prompts by me. I wrote all my favorites about each season and asked it to put my words in poetry form. The image I asked for all seasons in one watercolor.)

STREET SIGNS IN…

 Charlotte (North Carolina), where our son and daughter-in-law were visiting for a few days last week. They found themselves near a park called The Green. They noticed that attached to the lamps were street names related to various authors. When our son came over on Sunday morning, he showed me his photos. I asked him if I could share and he happily said yes. I have never been to Charlotte, but hope to one day.

The Green is a literary-themed park located at 400 S. Tryon St. in Uptown Charlotte. 

These whimsical directional signs point to real cities which when combined, spell out the names of famous authors like Edgar Allan Poe, Emily Bronte, Lewis Carrol, James Baldwin, Herman Melville and James Joyce. Cities and States are mentioned, and there are also Canadian Provinces, such as Saskatchewan and Alberta, and a sign pointing towards Canada. 

You can also see bronze book sculptures and quotes from famous authors but no photos of those. I don’t think they came across them or there would have been. They were on a tight schedule and I am grateful for these.

The Green is a popular spot for relaxation and even hosts events like movie screenings and plays.

Sounds like a great place to go. Below are a couple of maps of Charlotte, the second one showing where it is located in the States.

I HAVE A NEW PIECE OF ART ON ...

the bedroom wall. They are of three quilling cards my niece gave me when she was visiting a few weeks ago. She knows my love for birds, and she couldn't have given me a more perfect gift.

It's hard to see the workmanship of each one in these photos, but I can't pick a favorite. I love each one.

After she left (sad day that was), I took all three to the framing shop at Michaels and asked to put them all in one frame. There was a real nice lady who helped me. I told her basically what I was looking for. I asked for a none-too-fussy frame as I wanted to focus on each picture, not the frame. She showed me several, and the same with the matting. She picked out colors in the cards themselves, which made it easier for me to choose. There was an inner and an outer matting, a lighter green outside and the darker green inside. She suggested a 'raised sink' which would prevent the glass from pressing on the quilling and leave it untouched. One final thing I had in mind was to get a non-glare glass. 

After admiring my niece's card choices, this lady told me that she had a few quilling cards she had framed at her home, and we talked about those for a few minutes. I appreciated the fact that she didn't rush me through or try to persuade me to pick parts I didn't want and when I left, I felt comfortable with what I had chosen. It's been years since I had anything framed and it all worked out really well. Even the man Gregg spoke to when he picked it up and who showed him the finished piece, took a few moments to admire it and said, "Now this is really nice."

And we have something lovely on the wall that will remind us of the special time we all had together with our family. We surely did have a wonderful time with many good memories made. I will share more of them as time goes on.

Thanks for looking and 

I hope your days are sunny and warm. 

MURAL

 We have been passing this building for a long time, and I have always wanted to take a closer look. I asked Gregg if he could pull in so that I could take photos today, which he did. I didn't see the artist's name and I couldn't find any information online. Also, there was no clear path up to the building, and new mulch had been laid down. I didn't want to tread on any new plants that hadn't shown themselves yet. No name today unfortunately. I will keep looking just in case anything pops up.

A very nice side trip to see up close.

Thanks for looking and I hope your week is going well.

LATEST ODDS AND BODS - 2/28/25

 

How about some pretty art?

The foxes don't seem to mind the snow, but I think they are looking forward to the warmer weather just like we are.

Love this one!

This looks really good! If you want to see the full instructions, you can find them at this link.

Time for some fun with Food

All these would be fun for the kiddos. I would even make this one for this big kiddo!

Wise Words!

It reads, "There is a place I go when life gets too static, and civilization seems far from civil. It's a place where they all know me and everyone is free, where I can sit in solitude and feel the Earth's energy, be at peace with everything around me, where I can hear the voices of animals. A place where I can speak the secret language of trees."

by Emelia.

but...

"We witness other people's storms 

From the shelter of 

Our Own perspectives.

Let us be mindful

That we don't add the

Cold rain of judgement

To their already

Soaked spirits."

Liz Newman

"

Totally agree!

"There is nothing wrong with having a tree for a friend." - and that of a lamb would make me doubly happy. 

Ah now! Hello Cottage of Mine By The Lake. 

You make a lovely cottage of my dreams.

Little Cottage 

by 

Virginia Wauchope Bass

I know a little cottage 

Where everything's just right;

The windows bloom with tulips 

At dusk there's candlelight.

The knotted oak beside it 

Is webbed with ivy leaves,

And honeysuckle tangles

In clusters round the eaves.

The friendly gate swings open

Against a low stone wall,

Where quaint old-fashioned blossoms

Design a Paisley shawl;

and up the winding pathway

The stones with moss are grown.

I love that little cottage

Because it is my own.

(How I wish but it's nice to dream!)

Close your eyes,

Take a breath,

Inhale calmness.

Exhale stress.

Make a cuppa, 

Sink into a chair,

Pick up a book,

Disappear.

And what a lovely bedroom this is.

A bee? I would put one of these gates to enter my secret garden. Then I suppose it wouldn’t be such a secret would it, if we could peek through. 

I would like a gate such as this.

I have changed my mind, I think I will have this one. I will just build my secret garden out of sight. 

How pretty to light up the pathway.

Another wall. Let’s hope this is miles from anywhere, and the big kids (you know, adults like us) and little kids aren’t playing baseball nearby.

A few friends were meeting in the garden.

Having a little chinwag, just catching up on the latest news. This little one looks like he has big shoes to fill, but he's doing a grand job so far.

Not sure what's going on here but I like to think kitty is little birdy's protector.

Little duckling is trying hard to do snow angels. Keep trying little one!

As for mothers everywhere, fathers too, they know how to keep their chicks warm and dry.

I wonder what's happening on the other side of the fence. I think it's a game of football.

Kitty has the hang of it, that's a darned good snow angel. We had a lot of snow a while back. I am too old to try to get down and do snow angels. Come to think of it, I never did snow angels when I was young. It was not the thing where I grew up. My loss!

Some wise words. 

1. Compliment three people every day.

2. Watch a sunrise at least once a year.

3. Be the first to say, "Hello!"

4. Live beneath your means.

5. Treat everyone like you want to be treated.

6. Never give up on anybody. Miracles happen.

7. Forget the Joneses.

8.Never deprive someone of hope. It may be all they have.

9. Pray not for things but for wisdom and courage.

10. Be tough-minded but tenderhearted.

11. Be kinder than necessary.

12. Don't forget, a person's greatest emotional need is to feel appreciated.

13. Keep your promises.

14. Learn to show cheerfulness, even when you don't feel like it.

15. Remember that overnight success usually takes about 15 years, sometimes longer. Never give up on your dreams.

16. Leave everything better than you found it.

17. Remember we rise by lifting others.

18. When you arrive at your job in the morning, let the first thing you say brighten everyone's day.

19. Don't rain on others people's parades.

20. Never waste an opportunity to tell someone you love them.

And now something for the love of all children.

"Childhood is not a race to see how quickly a child can read, write and count. It is a small window of time to learn and develop at the pace that is right for each individual child. 

Earlier is not better!"

~Magda Gerber~

The bird is telling the rabbit that spring is on the way. There is no snow now but if you close your eyes and feel the warmth of the fire, the soft rain outside will sing you a lullaby. Wrap yourself in a cozy throw someone gave you and think of the love they put into every stitch.

I hope seeing these lovely things has kept your heart happy and you don’t have any...

I don’t have any mubble-fubbles today. The weather is getting warmer, but I am not going outside until the temperature is at least my age, or near to it!

Thanks for looking everyone 

and have a great day!

(With my thanks to Pinterest for today’s inspiration.)