30 Paintings in 30 Days - Day 16

"Yetta on Friday" - mixed media on reclaimed wood, 6" x 18".

Yesterday was (mostly) a play day.  Dad is visiting for a few days, and there were two items on his "bucket list" that were calling his name.

The first was a visit to the Morikami Japanese Gardens.  It is an oasis of tranquility in the middle of the hustle and bustle of south Florida.  We arrived just after a heavy rain, the gardens verdant, hushed and dripping.  We watched the sun peek out from the veranda of the cafe, sipping steaming mugs of green tea, then set off to explore.

The walkways were strewn with Seussical trees, which completely delighted my whimsical gardening side.  A whiff of something earthy and reminiscent of outdoor rock concerts confirmed it wasn't your average viewing crowd on a Thursday afternoon. 

I was so delighted to find my favorite bench, inscribed with narrative from the bridge of death scene in Monty Python and the Holy Grail:

Bridgekeeper: STOP! He who would cross the Bridge of Death Must answer me These questions three Ere the other side he see. Lancelot: Ask me your questions, Bridgekeeper. I am not afraid. Bridgekeeper: What...is your name? Lancelot: Sir Lancelot of Camelot. Bridgekeeper: What...is your quest? Lancelot: To seek the Holy Grail. Bridgekeeper: What...is your favorite color? Lancelot: Blue. Bridgekeeper: Right, off you go.

This day was so completely and perfectly amusing and quirky - like it had been orchestrated just for our visit!

​We came across this lantern, which looks like a strange robot man straddling a stream.  Now I want one.

We ended our visit in the gift shop, where a "rain chain" decided it needed to go home with my dad, to be installed in the courtyard at his house.  It was something my mom always wanted but never had - a perfect souvenir.

So the second item on my dad's wish list was to walk one mile.  It was part of our routine last year, and something his current health had not been permitting.  But bench by bench, step by step, he walked the entire one mile path at the Morikami gardens, and even climbed the steps at very end.
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I think our next trip should be to the cape store, because this guy is surely the new Superman.