Vacation Part IV: The Gardens

My last full day of vacation resulted from a miscommunication between me and my "godson."

However, I believe everything happens for a reason. Since I missed the trip to the Omaha zoo I decided to check out the Sunken gardens in Lincoln. There was construction around the garden so I parked in the Lincoln zoo parking lot and checked out the Rose Garden first.

                                                          
                                                              Garden decoration
 

                                                Purple flowers for my friends Anne and Bonnie.

                         If you look closely you can see the Sunken Garden from the Rose Garden.

                                                   Entryway into the Sunken Garden

                                                               Close-up of the dome

I'm not sure you can call this "macrophotography!?" I spend a lot of time following this beauty around so I could get a good photo. I kept thinking "you really need to get a real job so you can upgrade to a Nikon and get some zoom lenses."

I tried to take a photo of myself; I wasn't going to show this picture but I actually like the composition! My face is almost perfectly symmetrical (don't look at my eyebrows) and then the foliage in the back just sets the picture up.

I asked a random stranger to take a photo of me next to one of the fountains. See I learned from not asking someone to take a photo of me and the newlyweds.

Pretty lotus in one of the water fountains. I decided to head back over to the Rose Garden to find my car but I was stopped by this plaque.

I looked at the plaque and I decided to just sit on a bench and rest. I sat there for 45 minutes; just me, the insects, the plants, and the Goddess. I didn't think about my thesis, looking for a job, trying to find a man so I can start a family, how irritated my major adviser makes me, my biological family, my "family" (I love you guys and gals), or anything else. I just sat still and watched the bees trying to pollinate the flowers and the herbivorous insects (grasshoppers) doing their thing. It was a spectacular 45 minutes!

Vacation part 3: the wedding

I had some wardrobe difficulties and traffic issues in getting to this wedding on time. However, I kept praying I would get there on time and I found out later that the grooms mother, one of my best-friends, kept praying that I make it in time for the reception. I love you "Lady V" but I was NOT going to miss this wedding and I didn't. :) It was very important to me to be there to show my love and support for this wonderful couple. I have missed out on so many things in the lives of my "children" and been there for so many others but this day was not a day I was going to miss!!!!!!



Okay so yes, I made it in time; I didn't see the parents walk to their seats but J., Jr. had me in my seat before the bride walked down the aisle. (whew, yes it was a close one; me always running on Indigenous time).

So here is where I admit that I didn't take as many photos as I could / should have but there are some memories that you can't have a photo of  as they are just in your heart.

One of those memories was the preacher talking about the statistics of divorce and how many people sitting in the audience may be thinking "how long will they last." NOT ME, I truly believe these two are meant to be together. They have already faced some difficulties and came out on the other side.

The second memory was the preacher asking the families to stand up. I wasn't sure what to do since I'm not biologically related to the groom although he does call me Mamma A or Mamma Angela and sometimes just Mamma. His mom looked right at me and raised her hand. I knew what she wanted so I was proud to stand up and make a vow with the rest of the family to support the union of J. and K.

Here you can sort of see J. walking K. down the aisle after being announced Mr. and Mrs.

After the ceremony, I got to see Lady V's sister T. for the first time in over 5 years. We have talked during that time but only though Facebook. It was an amazing moment; a fabulous hug!!!! She didn't recognize me and she said she wouldn't have even known it was me if I hadn't posted a picture of me in the dress earlier that day. Another memory which just can't be expressed via film.

Here you can see J. (Lady V's husband), Lady V, and their daughter B.

Here is K. and J. My only regret is that I didn't ask K. and J. to get in a picture with me but like I told him today he looked so exhausted. I wish I had asked for that picture but I didn't.

The last memory which as far as I know no one got on film or video is me getting the ladies, T. and Lady V., out on the dance floor to dance with me. That's right I got out and danced. I know some of you know I can dance but I tend to not like to dance in public since I think people are staring at me; I did notice a man staring at me but that discussion is being "held" with the "family."

As I was getting ready to leave, I said goodby to the bride and groom and had a quiet conversation with both of them individually. J. said to me, "I saw you out there dancing. Momma I didn't know you could dance; you got some moves!!!!!" Yes son, I can and I do but like your father said to me "I have to be comfortable with my surroundings" in order to let me be me!

I am very proud to say I definitely showed up for your wedding!

 

So there you go; there was a wedding and it was GOOD!!!!!

 I wish them love and happiness and I hope all their dreams as one come true!

Vacation Part II: Cemetery JOY!

So Friday morning, I thought I would take a look at the Lincoln attractions pamphlet which was in my hotel room. I found several interesting things here in Lincoln which is one reason I didn't go to the Omaha zoo today. On the list of things to "do" was the Sunken Gardens, the Lincoln Childrens Zoo, Pioneers Park/Pioneers Park Nature Center, and WYUKA Cemetery. The WYUKA cemetery was established in 1869 by an Act of the Nebraska Legislature. It follows the concepts "pioneered" at MT. Auburn Cemetery which is near Boston. WYUKA was Lincoln's first park and is recognized as a historic cemetery. As many of you know I used to go to cemeteries to take pictures. After I read the description of the cemetery I was inspired to check it out. So I located a map and decided to venture to the cemetery after the art museum. This first picture I thought my Manhattan Peps would find interesting. Umberger is the name of one of the buildings on campus; it was named after a benefactor. The other interesting thing about this headstone is the flowers engraved on the marble. There were many headstones with flowers on them.

This next picture was the top of a man's headstone. I found it very interesting; please tell me what you think.

I took a look online and found links for women in WWII memorials. I'm not sure if this memorial was meant as a tribute for those women but it is definately interesting. The next series of photos is one of my "tangents!" Maybe. I have always been fascinated with gravestones which resemble nature and/or have a brazier attached. As many of you know I have been pagan for many years and fire is frequently a part of ceremonies which involve braziers. I saw this gravestone from behind.

I took a picture from the front.

Then, I decided to take a look inside the brazier.

Yes, someone is using this brazier. I'm not quite sure what the orange, plastic stuff is all about but that is natural beeswax in the water. The water looks fresh not like rain water or water that has been sitting for awhile. I guess that someone is using this brazier for their ceremonies. I'm not opposed to this use as long as "it harms none." Next stop..........the wedding.

Vacation Part I: Sheldon Art Museum

Yesterday, I decided to spend my afternoon before my godson's wedding checking out an art museum and a historic cemetery. Since I had to upgrade to a more expensive motel in order to bring the "babies" I decided to go for thrifty i.e. "free!" The Sheldon Art Museum is free so off I went to brave downtown Lincoln. It was fairly easy to find the museum following MapQuest instructions and parking was easy to find. All the meters were covered to state there was no parking on Saturday, game day. The museum is located in the campus of Nebraska State. Signs were posted appropriately and there was a big head on the steps leading up to the museum.

Unfortunately, three fifths of their galleries were closed due to exhibit transitions. However, two of the galleries contained part of their permanent collection. They had pieces of art from several different time periods. Some of which I found more interesting in others. There were several oriental styled collage media paintings which I liked very much. They, also, had an Eisner on display. Unfortunately, they didn't have any of the pieces I liked in the form of a postcard or a book on their permanent pieces. I decided to check out the back of the museum for more sculptures. I found this women in a box which I thought was interesting.

I walked around the building and found a sunken area with a fountain. On the wall behind the fountain was this "sculpture." I took the picture and then approached the plaque which told me this was a piece of a banister from New Orleans.

Here is a close up on the detail of the banister.

As I was leaving the museum I thought I would take a walk a block over to take a closer look at a sculpture I had seen. Here is the front view.

Here is the back view of the sculpture. If you look closely you will see a black man in a cookie monster tee-shirt. He told me he was having a hard time being good because there are all these beautiful women around and I was one of them. Really, that's the best you can do? I digress.

There are two additional pieces with this installation. They are marked wife's lt and rt elbow. I couldn't find a good spot to take the whole installation; maybe I should have played with my panoramic but I was anxious to go to the cemetery.