A Peaceful Park

Hubby and I had to go to Reno yesterday for a doctor's appointment. I didn't have anything else I needed to do there, and I didn't feel like shopping, but with the price of gas I didn't want to waste a trip there by turning around and coming straight home. So we went out for a nice late afternoon meal at Claim Jumper. Love their salads. And then remembered we could go to Trader Joe's and stock up on cheaper soy milk and some decent bread. And I broke down and bought a re-usable bag. I still want to make my own, which is why I only bought one. If I bought a bunch, then I'd have no incentive to make any. But they were so cute and only 99 cents! Standing in line at Trader Joe's, staring at all the chocolate they stock on the check out line end shelf, I realized I could also pop on over to Target to get my favorite chocolate bars. I'm all out and reduced to eating secondary chocolate supplies. Alas, they were out of my very favorite flavor, but I did pick up my second favorite and a few new ones to try.

So, I did so a bit of shopping, but it was all food shopping, so it didn't count. You know what I mean. And then I told hubby we were going to go to a local park to walk the labyrinth and stroll in the botanical gardens. Being a typical guy, he groaned and said he just wanted to get home. He tried to call William and tell him he was being held hostage but I grabbed the phone away from him.


First we walked the labyrinth. Well, I walked it. Hubby walked to the middle and then went and sat on a bench. I love to walk labyrinths and try to get to this one about twice a year. It always ends up being ridiculously windy when I arrive. Don't know what that means. That the park is in a windy part of town perhaps? Today was no different, but it was still warm and green.

I had to explain the difference to hubby between a labyrinth and a maze. They also had a nice sign for him to read. Unlike tarot cards, where I think it helps to hold a specific question in your mind before using them, I like to keep my mind open to what the labyrinth has to say to me whenever I walk it. It's hard for me, I'm the type of person who likes to be in charge, I have to keep letting my skittish thoughts trail off instead of trying to hold onto them or chain them together. It always seems so hopeless when I first start walking but it always amazes me that the labyrinth finds a way to speak to me nontheless. If you've never walked one, I highly recommend the experience. Find one near you.

I haven't been there this time of year before. Everything was so green and peaceful.

The light was very dappled and the wind moving the foliage around made it hard to photograph. Too, I only had my old camera and my batteries gave out. But I still took a few nice photos.

I like how suspended the plant looks between water and sky. That could be light or fog.


Pretty columbines. I can never look at them without thinking of John Denver. I think there's a line about columbines in one of his songs.

More shadow and shade.

Hubby found a fallen star in the grass and gave it to me. He's such a romantic. See, it's still got a bit of glow left in it here.

Remember that old song - "Catch a falling star and put it in your pocket, save it for a rainy day"

Pssst. Don't look now but, someone is watching us.

Hubby complained about coming but he ended up thanking me for kidnapping him. As you can see, he felt very relaxed after spending time in such a beautiful setting. He says he wants to make our yard look just as beautiful. I doubt his enthusiam will hold out when he realizes that will require physical labor on his part, but it's a nice idea.

A few shoe tree photos over on Laume's Studio today.