The Season Has Begun

While driving to Trader Joe's yesterday, on Edgcumbe Road near the corner of Eleanor I saw this

 créche in a front yard of a home. On one errand, I found I could feed both my body and soul during this holiday season.

Who's the Artist?

This photo represents just a small portion of a very large wall mural in the Pajarito, a restaurant in St. Paul, Minnesota. It is an obvious nod to el dia de los muertos since it is billed as a Mexican restaurant, so that would make sense as an image for Day of the Dead. Intrigued I asked two of the employees for the name of the artist, but neither of them was able to provide me with the information. I guess I'll just have to return to do some more research and eat a bit more of their delicious food.

Linked to Monday Mural

Sigh! Another season begins!

I know that the weather in other parts of our country is much more severe, but I think I am already tired of this weather, and it has just begun.  Guess an attitude change is in order!

December, 2018 Theme Day-JOY!

JOY

Scandanavian costumes for dolls

The European Christmas Market is in its fifth year in St. Paul, Minnesota.  The many booths offered merchandise representing typical items from a variety of European cultures that surely will  bring joy both to gift giving and receiving. Vendors offered handcrafted items such as hand-knit mittens, hats, scarves, sweaters, gorgeous  ornaments and pottery--just to name a few of the many items for sale. 

The vendors responsible for the doll dresses cheerfully posed for me. If you are interested in "Debbie's Doll Dresses, click here.

A Favorite Neighbor

This soulful canine is one of our favorite neighbors! On August 30th, I introduced you to our new neighbors, a young family that moved in next door.  Both Frankie the dog and  JJ the baby bring a smile to my face whenever I see them. Occasionally when I drive up to my house I can see Frankie peering out the window to greet my arrival.  Perhaps he'd like to go out for a walk?!

Boots!

These boots were made for walking! Granddaughter Olivia after our Thanksgiving meal!

Positive Medical Care!

This is how I felt yesterday after ten miserable days of illness, which got increasingly more difficult with each passing day. Just as I was praying for a quick, relatively painless death, a young woman swept me into her office and diagnosed pneumonia. After just ONE antibiotic pill, I feel human again and am ready to go out to vote today. Praise the miracle of modern medicine!

Trolley ride at Lakewood Cemetery

On October 10 I introduced you to Lakewood Cemetery where I just finished an OLLI six week, once-a-week-afternoon course on the history of the cemetery, including its development, current condition and relationship to the Twin Cities population. In addition to lectures, we had field trips and the grand finale was this trolley ride that canvassed the grounds. Believe it or not, it was fascinating and I hated to see its end. Stories connected to some of the sites, famous residents (some of which I showed you here and here) the varied tombstones, the unbelievably beautiful grounds that includes a lake, greenhouses, crematorium operates with an eight million dollar yearly budget.

November, 2018 Theme "Friends"

You are probably tired of seeing photos of these two pals, but they are the best example of the theme because they are fast friends: Wild Wendy, our little rescue dog and our granddog Lexi, another rescue dog. They both play together, race and wrestle together, share walks, and take snoozes in various places in our house.  Here they are relaxing with another old friend, a rather tattered and torn as well as much loved Kanga and Roo: BFF-Best Friends Together.

ASIDE: I need to attend to some other areas of my life so I will not be posting every day but will visit  sporadically because I consider each of you my FRIEND!

ADDED LATER: I have a noticed that my comments on several of your posts are not appearing where normally I have had no past issues.  I suppose it's my computer!!

Click here to see more CDP Theme Day photos from around the world.

Fitzgerald Theatre

The Fitzgerald Theatre, named after one of our favorite sons and until recently owned by MPR,  is located around the corner from this mural. My family and I have attended many theatrical shows and performances there and wonder how the recent sale to First Avenue will affect programing. 

Linking to Monday Murals

Sitting It Out

After several calls to tech support and three visits to an Apple store I had to leave my MacBook Air
at the shop so that one of their Genuises could wipe the slate clean and reinstall the only upgrade that my 7-year-old computer could handle.  How can a computer of that age be considered OLD?! I do not want to replace it  and will use it as long as I can before it dies a peaceful death. When I picked it up yesterday it looked terrific, but now I have to relearn part of the new format.  I think that I have a love hate relationship with the internet and technology.

Everybody Works

One of the rules of St. Benedict that is observed by Benedictines is that everybody works. Chef Victoria demonstrated how to hold knives and how to cut onions, carrots, and vegetables. The large container of apples is the result of about 10 minutes of effort by us. If you want to know more about the retreat I just attended, read last Sunday's explanation here.

Count Down!!

Better stock up--0nly 7 more days before ghosts and goblins will come knocking on your door~

Linked to Signs2

The Chef's Magic Oven

Chef Victoria and her Alto-Shaam, Oven-Steamer

It had been years since I attended an honest-to-goodness retreat, but last week-end I stayed at St. Paul's Benedictine Monastery to participate in "Food and Faith." I learned so much about our current agricultural system: industrial farming or sustainable agriculture.  Wikipedia describes the latter this way: "Sustainable agriculture is farming in sustainable ways based on an understanding of ecosystem services, the study of relationships between organisms and their environment." I also learned about our local, state, and federal food programs and intend to pay attention and learn more.

During the summer months, it has been easy to support local farmers, but now I am determined to change many of my habits during the non-growing produce season. Yesterday our family joined a local coop where I had occasionally shopped, but am now determined to become a regular customer. I discovered myriad ways to shop, cook, and bake in order to support our local farmers. Now all I need is a gourmet kitchen!!

The above photo is of the chef, Victoria, who described her magic oven and how it  works. It  truly is quite remarkable! Stay tuned for more photos the next few days.

Annual OysterFest III-Crêpes

These two young women cheerfully worked during the entire OysterFest providing a different kind of sustenance!
crêpes

crêpe

G.A.R MEMORIAL AND SAWYER CANNON

The Grand Army of the Republic Memorial was donated by the Lakewood Cemetery Association in 1889 to honour the Civil War dead. Near the memorial stands a Sawyer cannon made for the Union Army. This cannon represents a breakthrough in cannon design and is the only existing model of its type remaining in the United States. (Credit: Lakewood brochure-"A Self-Guided Tour")

Homage to Todd Bol

Little Free Library creator Todd Bol Died

The founder of the Little Free Library movement has died. Todd Bol was 62 and had been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. A St. Croix Valley native, Bol was born in North St. Paul and went to Stillwater High School. He was a serial entrepreneur, founding companies that created nursing fellowships and a health care staffing company.

For the full story, Click here

Family Cemetery Plot

These markers in Lakewood Cemetery display a very difficult and tragic history  for one family. 

Hard times!

 I am going on a three-day retreat today.  Will be back on Monday.

First Snowfall-October 14, 2008

The snow melted by noon, but I got a few interesting images.

Annual Oysterfest II

Oysterfest Scene

I described this annual event earlier this week.  Here are some more scenes.