Your Sunday Moment of Zen — Dinosaurs

SUSAN ELIA MACNEAL: Some of you (Hank, probably!) may remember when I posted pictures of a spontaneous art installation on our street — a children's castle had, taken over by toy knights, had been left by a tree. 

I'm delighted to report that not only is the castle still there after all this time, but others have gotten into the creative spirit. 

Another neighbor on the same street, who's always had a rock garden with succulents, recently added dinosaurs. Yes, dinosaurs.

Do you think when no one's looking, the knights and the dinos get together (they're only a few doors down from each other) and have swingin' dance parties at the castle? 

(Yes, I've seen the Toy Story trilogy too many times to count...)

Happy Sunday!

Your Sunday Moment of Zen

SUSAN ELIA MACNEAL: Today's spot for writing THE PARIS SPY — Park Slope Brooklyn, looking to lower Manhattan. Bliss! Have a wonderful Sunday, everyone!

Your Sunday Moment of Zen —Nurse Cat Xander MacNeal

SUSAN ELIA MACNEAL: Well, here it is, your Sunday moment of Zen. 

I've been under the weather all week, but faithfully tended to by nurse-cat Xander (named for Buffy the Vampire Slayer's devoted sidekick, Xander Harris). 

This is Xander with younger sister Lola. She adores him. He tolerates her. Barely.

Xander's a stray cat we adopted in 2003. Even as a younger cat, he had a grumpy old-man sort of personality. Over the years, he's become even grumpier. If he could shake his fist and yell at the kids to get off the lawn, he would.



I used to say he was like Lou Grant in a tiny fur suit. 

Now I say he's like Ron Swanson (from Parks and Recreation) in a tiny fur suit.

The thing about Xander is that he knows when any of us is sick — and then he'll come and cuddle and purr and let you hold him like a teddy bear. (I'm sure he rolls his eyes, but still.) He's even let me warm my cold feet up under him without protest. He's THE BEST.

Anyway, thank you Reds and lovely readers for a great week — and now I'm going back to bed!

Your Sunday Moment of Zen — "Saint Edna" by Jon Stucky

SUSAN ELIA MACNEAL: Miss Edna was quite picky about the company she kept. And although she loved her "handsome young men," she also wanted to be surrounded with people with wit, humor, and kindness. And so of course she fell for our friend, outsider artist Jon Stucky — and they spent many happy hours together, usually watching what most would consider some truly terrible TV — yet the running commentary was priceless.

After Miss Edna died, Jon immortalized her in a painting. Noel and I both think it captures her spirit perfectly. (Although I can hear her saying, "Why didn't he paint me in my wig? I spent good money on that wig!")

Happy Sunday, all.

Your Sunday Moment of Zen….

SUSAN ELIA MACNEAL: Today is Sunday and — perhaps — time for a moment of contemplation. 

I don't believe in angels per se, but I like to think of kind words as "angel song," as Frederick William Faber did:

"Kind words are the music of the world. They have a power which seems to be beyond natural causes, as if they were some angel's song, which had lost its way and come on Earth, and sang on undyingly, smiting the hearts of men with sweetest wounds, and putting for the while an angel's nature into us."                               

And I'd like to think if I do have a guardian angel he/she/it would look something like the way Outsider artist Jon Stucky sees them:

Happy Sunday, everyone!

And Now, Your Moment of Zen....

I have to credit John Stewart (The Daily Show, one of my faves) with the phrase, but the idea is as old as time. 

The photo below is one of my favorites, by Amy J. Putnam. I find the little pansy so poignant.

Thanks for all your support this week and enjoy your Sunday!