Lots of wood chips!

MN Worker Series: This landscaper willingly posed as he unloaded a huge amount of woodchips. Unphotographed are worker bees that are church-going volunteers at St. Luke's parish on Summit Avenue. I didn't want to disturb their energetic work as they were spreading the chips around shrubs and bushes, preparing for winter! No snow yet!!
Today in Minnesota History: 1991-The Halloween Blizzard begins. A record snowfall of 24-26 inches blankets the area from Duluth to the Twin Cities. (It was great fun--I criss-crossed the abandoned neighborhood streets on my cross country skis. It was gorgeous!!) Will it happen again this year? I wouldn't mind, but the weatherman forecasts lowered temperatures only. (Historical information: mnhs.org)

Kate's-Believe-It-Or-Not~~a Fourth!

I haven't eaten at Grandma Rita's Cafe, but I'll try it this week! Perhaps I'll abandon this thread for awhile and return to it if and when I find more. I'm launching a new feature because I love my city and state, despite the winter weather, and I'd like to share its history with you!

Today in MN History: 1848-Henry H. Sibley is chosen to represent the as-yet unrecognized MN-Territory in the U.S. Congress. (Historical information taken from MN Historical society website: mnhs.org)

Grand 7

Another Triangle (Flatiron) building on a busy street. Since so many of them are built of brick, I wonder if they were constructed in the same era? I could buy a Minnesota Historical Society book on architecture for $25.00 to find out since I could not find any information on the internet, but I think I'll pass on that purchase. I'll keep looking for more information because I continue to be fascinated by them, especially since I found that cities throughout the USA are blessed with buildings constructed on wedges of land. And, I recall from travelling that other countries, too, have the same kind of architecture . World bloggers: is your city graced with a Triangle building?

Who's interested??

A cute little one-story Triangle building. Don't think I'll visit this one, but I know another DP blogger who might be interested!

Finnish Bistro

A new series! Like many other cities, St. Paul has many diverse neighborhoods; some are lined with large historic homes like Summit Avenue, others have bungalows and a variety of homes of different architecture like Tangletown near Macalester College, while others have much older homes where many new immigrants settle, like Frogtown. There are so many more, each with their own distinct personality. While driving around the city over the years I've been fascinated with Triangle buildings, many which now house commercial enterprises. There are a number of neighborhoods that have intersections where more than two streets come together, and there is where I've seen the Triangle buildings. This building is located in a charming neighborhood on Como Avenue. I often eat in the Finnish Bistro but have never visited the law offices on the second floor. I prefer the fare on the ground level!

Regular Folks

More street art-It was impossible to get a straight-on and complete subject photo of this mural because large vans were parked at the curb in front of the building, blocking a good shot. But, I like the message.

Barbra Streisand News!

Can't wait to share this until tomorrow! Last night the songbird we affectionately refer to as "Babs" sang her heart out at the Excel Center in St. Paul, probably the last major tour she'll make and certainly the last time she'll be here where she ate, but she didn't call me first! Ironically, the Excel Center is going to hold the National Republican Convention. For a partial view of this building, look here at Slinger's Twin City photo of it.
(Photo from the Star Tribune-photographer Jeff Wheeler).

Pizza-mobile

And the winner is....drum roll....fredb!! This wonderful scooter is used for delivering pizza. I think I should have also given a prize for creativity. Next time! Contact me via my email with your address and the postcard is yours, fredb.

Hippie-mobile

Some hippies never grow up--thank goodness!! I'd also like to remind you that no-one has discovered the purpose for this mystery-mobile yet. Give it another try!! Hint: Two people used a form of a word that could take you in the right direction. I've got a postcard that's waiting for your name on it!!

Mystery-Mobile

Teaser: The first person who identifies the purpose of this vehicle--what is it used for--will get a postcard from St. Paul, MN USA. As soon as it is identified, I'll provide another view that will clearly identify it for everyone else. Go for it!!

Spirits?

Everything gets into the Halloween spirit. Makes raking leaves a pleasant chore.

Piece of Cake!

My favorite bakery on Selby Avenue. Cake, pastries, and pie "to die for"--remember my birthday pie? Check here!

Palm leaves

This is only one of the many delightful palm leaf paintings on exhibit inside the building I showed you yesterday. It 's one of many pieces of art done by an artist friend, Delor Erickson, who lives and paints in Minneapolis, Mn. Click on the painting to enlarge it and to get a better view. Check here if you want to see a sample of his other work (and I know you're curious!). Was it worth the wait?!

Come In!

Come back tomorrow, and I'll show you what's inside!

Poster Car

Look closely! Jesus, Republicans, and Scooby-Doo

Life is good here!

Hardware Mural-Street Art

Click here to see the entire wall of the mural.

More Fun Folks!

Fun Folks

For more fun folks, check this and this !

Making Fall Wreaths-MN Workers Series

Visiting the apple orchard and stopping at roadside garden centers is a fall activity full of pleasure. Now that the first frost has arrived, this season will be over soon.

The Pumpkin Tree

A local vegetable stand displays its Halloween pumpkins in a somewhat unusual way!

Top this one!

Roofing a tall building is different than putting a new roof on a home. Although I like to take close-up photographs, I needed to get the full drama of the process by photographing from a distance. Watching them lift the huge bundles off the truck and then depositing each one on the roof was a symphony of motion.

Old-Fashioned Drug Store

More Street Art



In this drugstore, a hold-out of a bygone era, you can buy a nickle cup of coffee and single dip ice cream cones are a quarter. On the outside wall are two pieces of art: one of children's tiles, one of which I've posted in the past (September 26) and a mural that I find quite amusing. Enjoy!

Street Art

Not a mural, not a memorial, not a typical piece of art, but a bench with cool messages for the tired students on St. Catherine's college campus.

Street Art-Co-op Mural

This is the central panel of the mural on the brick wall of a neighborhood co-op store. Want to see more? Click on kate-musings, October 7 ( on the sidebar).

A Vikings Fan's Van

When I see these cars roll down the streets day-after-day during football season, I have to giggle. I used to have one--for the Green Bay Packers, but it routinely got ripped away by true-blue Vikings "fans" here in MN. Once a Packer fan, always a Packer fan.

Two Very Old Instruments

The shop is a treasure trove of string instruments. Click on kate-musing (sidebar) for more photos. Addendum: My musician friend indicated that the mandolins date from approximately 1905-1907.

SPPD

Mn. Worker: We have the Best, the Brightest, and the Best-looking on the St. Paul Police Department roster.

How da you like dem apples?

A dis-connect between caption and photo? Not really! I took my 4-yr-old (beautiful) grand-daughter to the apple orchard, expecting to find apples, pumpkins, juice, pies, jellies and jams, which I did find in abundance. BUT, in addition, several old cars were on display. I took a shine to this old Ford. How da you like dem apples??!!

Anticipation-What's Next??

Good Company!!-Mn Workers Series!

A few of St. Paul's finest SWAT TEAM members---with one exception! For more SWAT TEAM photos click on kate-musings on the sidebar

Taxis-October Theme Day

In St. Paul there are many immigrants who are driving taxis. Like most airports, taxis line up and are regulated by dispatchers so that there is equity for the drivers, which then operates smoothly for arriving passengers. In recent weeks there have been some difficulties with customers who are carrying bottles of liquor or wine. Since many Muslims cannot carry alcohol, some potential fares have been denied service. Dispatchers have been trying to forestall any problem by staying alert and directing people to non-Moslem drivers. One idea for the future is to identify the cabs that are driven by Moslems to avoid any problems for either the driver or customer. I wonder if this is a viable solution, though. We'll soon see if it works!

This shot was taken at a garage not far from downtown St. Paul where cabs are stored and also dispatched.

(Porto, Portugal) -2 (Albuquerque, NM, USA) -3 (London, England) -4 (Seattle, WA, USA [Kim]) -5 (Edinburgh) -6 (Stayton, OR, USA) -7 (Greenville, SC, USA) -8 (Budapest, Hungary) -9 (Antigua, Guatemala) -10 (Alexandria, VA, USA) -11 (Manila, Philippines) -12 (Twin Cities, MN, USA) -13 (Szentes, Hungary) -14 (Paris, France) -15 (Portsmouth, England) -16 (Ryde, UK) -17 (Sydney, Australia) -18 (Oulu, Finland) -19 (Singapore [keropok]) -20 (Santiago, Chile) -21 (Melbourne, Australia) -22 (Dubai, UAE) -23 (Bandung, Indonesia) -24 (Copenhagen, Denmark) -25 (Sequim, WA, USA) -26 (Singapore [Raymond]) -27 (Tenerife, Spain) -28 (Sharon, CT, USA) -29 (Tuzla, B&H) -30 (Jakarta, Indonesia) -31 (Rotterdam, Netherlands) -32 (Brussels, Belgium) -33 (Stavanger, Norway) -34 (Aliso Viejo, CA, USA) -35 (Oshawa, ON, Canada) -36 (Vantaa, Finland) -37 (Trier, Germany) -38 (Newcastle upon Tyne, England) -39 (Hong Kong) -40 (Shanghai) -41 (Brussels, Belgium) -42 (San Diego, CA, USA) -43 (Sydney, Australia [Nathalie]) -44 (St Paul, MN, USA) 45 (Delta, USA) -46 (Trujillo, Peru) -