“It is impossible to keep a straight face in the presence of one or more kittens.”—Cynthia E. Varnado
***************************
Well, I was kitty sitting for Miss Kathy last week. She’s back home now, but Sammi sits outside on my front lawn and comes running when I open the door. Then, he throws himself on my feet and waits for a little scratch on the belly. Juno, comes over too. What can I say, I’m the animal whisperer of McKinney.When I’m not whispering with kittens, I’m sharing food with friends. Last night, I made a batch of my famous “bad ass brownies” for Helene to take over to her son’s house this afternoon. She told him how awesome they were, so I baked them a few for her visit. Then, of course, they needed some of my black eyed pea salsa.
On my evening walk, the clouds were strange, some fluffy and some just bizarre.
Look at this weird one. What does it look like to you? At first, I thought maybe an elephant standing up on his hind feet.And just a few minutes later, the fiery red sunset.
“You may run into some gray clouds along your journey, so hold on tight to the sunshine within you.” ― Christine E. Szymanski
************************
This evening’s sky was filled with fabulous clouds that escorted me on my evening walk. Some people may see the same sky and the same view, but each night, I see a totally different and magnificent masterpiece in the sky.
My first loop around the pond.My second loop around the pond. (Can you see how just a few minutes can make such a difference?)A different view in the southeastern sky.Now, you see why I love my evening walks.And guess what? It’s Friday, my friends. You know what that means. Happy Black Russian Friday…CHEERS!
“It’s okay to be absurd, ridiculous, and downright irrational at times; silliness is sweet syrup that helps us swallow the bitter pills of life.” ― Richelle E. Goodrich
*********************
I went out for my evening walk, and as I cut through the park, Miss Kathy’s cute new little kitten decided to impede my journey. He’s only met me a few times, but he decided he was my new best friend. Hard to walk with kitten slippers.
His companion Juno sauntered over and wanted to see what all the fun was about.
I only had to shoo them back home a couple of times. I didn’t want them to follow me across the street. I walked over 3 miles.
What a lovely evening. It was 80 degrees, not too windy, and a few clouds playing with the sunset. I always see strange shapes and figures in the clouds.
It was clearer on my first lap around, but today, I saw an “alligator running from a crocodile.”
Do you know how to tell the difference between and alligator and a crocodile????? Here’s how….
An ALLIGATOR, you are going to see LATER. And a CROCODILE, you’re going to see AFTER WHILE. Just sayin’ ! That’s one of my favorite jokes. You can tell I don’t get out much.
Here’s hoping you had a great Saturday. And I bet you’re going to borrow my alligator joke, aren’t you?
“I always see weird shapes, animals, people and designs in the clouds. Does that mean I’m a little whacko, or just a little creative? All in the perspective, I guess.”
~Toni Armenta Andrukaitis
**************************
I went for a very short slow evening walk tonight. My right knee has been acting up, but my neighbor asked if I could take his dog out For a walk if I was out walking tonight. He was going to be out for a while. I hadn’t walked in a couple of days, but I knew I could limp along for a little bit so my little canine friend wouldn’t have to hold it all night, and maybe a little movement would help my knee.
Bella was happy to see me and she pranced along while I limped along. I always appreciate the sunsets, but tonight, there was a weird formation in the sky.
From a distance, you don’t notice the formation, but I found it intriguing. On closer examination, I saw Noah, parading the animals out from the ark, parked way at the back end. In the front there are two little birds, with a dragon turning back to talk to the birds. Mickey and Minnie Mouse are standing on the back of the other dragon, and Noah is leading the rest of the crew. He’s wearing a turban (do you see him?), followed by a couple of bears, then two alligators, (or are they crocodiles?) two giant turtles, (one behind the other) and a couple of elephants bringing up the rear.
I know, I know, you don’t think that dragons or Mickey and Minnie Mouse were around during the time of the great flood and Noah’s Ark. But guess what! These are my clouds and my vision. And I haven’t even started on my Black Russians yet…🤦♀️ What do you see?
“I think of the sky as God’s awesome easel where He paints a spectacular sky every single day.”
~ Toni Armenta Andrukaitis
**************************
Today, the sky was cloudy with a chance of pizza. Just kidding. I was thinking of that animated movie, “Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs.” But, there is a good chance of leftover pizza from last night for my dinner.
My Saturday sky…
A few skies from earlier in the week…
Now this one, tell me if you see the Pterodactyl in the clouds, or is it a Velociraptor? Maybe an Eoraptor, but definitely some kind of Raptor. What do you think? You decide.
See it?
Oh my goodness, the night sky with the pale moon and stars against the midnight blue backdrop. Just WOW!
Masterpieces and magnificence in the sky.
Happy Saturday, my friends. I hope you look up in the sky now and then, pause, and see the awesome painting in the sky.
“When you’re done baking your cake or brownies, save the box and make a work of art. Win-win.”
~Toni Armenta Andrukaitis
**************************
I go through SO many boxes of cake and brownie mixes that somewhere down the line I decided that it was pretty wasteful to just throw them in the recycling bin. They are like free mini-canvases. I’ve shared many a box with artist friends and they’ve come up with some creative ideas too. I hope you watch this video and get some ideas of your own.
It was also a pretty awesome day out today. It’s still hot, but the cloud formations were gorgeous. I sure hope that means some rain is coming. Keep your fingers crossed.
“Brushing the clouds away from my eyes, I see clarity in the raindrop and beauty in the first ray of morning sun…
Life is strange and wondrous…”
― Virginia Alison
*****************
I’ll admit that my head is always in the clouds, and I always see wondrous shapes and figures when I look up. This morning, I saw a beautiful woman, perhaps an angel, in the clouds. Can you see it? Around the center is the small face, the profile shows the eye, nose, mouth, chin, with a flowing gown draped around her. The wings are off to the left.
“Here’s the thing about luck…you don’t know if it’s good or bad until you have some perspective.”
― Alice Hoffman
****************
I have a pretty positive perspective on luck. My luck has been good…yep, mostly good luck. Don’t get me wrong. I’ve had some pretty awful dark days, that’s why I can appreciate my life and the good days. I have been blessed.
After a steamy morning walk, I hurried home, showered and headed off to the square, we were celebrating Karen’s birthday. Four friends sharing a meal, and fine stories.
After lunch, I visited my friends at the Last Gallery, Orison’s, Sweet Spot Bakery, and the Art Studio. Lots of little Stop’s and visits. McKinney is such a great town with he greatest people.
When I went for my evening walk, I found two lucky pennies and a few potentially dangerous nails in the road. Some new construction means more flat tires. Lucky pennies for me, finding nails, lucky for the folks who might have gotten one in their tire. I like to think I’m saving my neighbors from danger. (Where’s my cape?)
The thing about all the houses going up as far as the eye can see is, sometimes the eye can’t see the beautiful clouds and skies. But, I still try and capture the moment when I can.
Yep! It was pretty hot out today!!!
At 6 p.m. It felt like 108. And when you’re walking at a pretty fast clip, it feels a lot hotter than that,
“A compassionate heart radiates rays of beauty that removes the clouds of million hearts.” ― Amit Ray
***********
The day slithered away. It was a cool and cloudy day in Elgin. I was going a bit stir crazy, being used to going to Zumba, walking, lunches, shopping, and constant running around, usually all in one day, by 5:30 pm, I decided to bundle up and go for a walk on the nice path around Mom’s place. I think it’s almost a 1/4 mi. path or 1/5, not sure. My goal was to get around ten times. I went for fifteen instead. Walking inspires me. It’s my thinking time. Then, I rode the stationary bike for twenty minutes up in the exercise room.
Today, I was inspired by the beautiful clouds that followed me around as I walked. I even sang a few tunes as I walked. Yep. I sing out loud when no one is around.
“In the sky there are always answers and explanations for everything: every pain, every suffering, joy and confusion.” ― Ishmael Beah
*************
The sky always has an explanation. I’m not sure what the question is, but there’s an answer if you just look up. The key is to look up. Always look up.
Toni Andrukaitis 