Tiaras are a Girl's Best Friend!

You can be anything you want to be, my love, as long as you believe.

A Girl and Her Dog

"The dog was created specially for children. He is the god of frolic." - Henry Ward Beecher

NBA Material?!

Our dessert!

A Yule log is a large wooden log which is burned in the hearth as a part of traditional Yule or Christmas celebrations in several European cultures. It can be a part of the Winter Solstice festival or the Twelve Days of Christmas, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, or Twelfth Night.

The expression "Yule log" has also come to refer to log-shaped Christmas cakes, also known as "chocolate logs" or "Bûche de Noël".

Christmas Day

This photo does not do the tree justice. My sister spends literally hours on her rotating Christmas tree. All of the ornaments are made by her, with beads and "jewels" imported from various European countries. She receives kudos and newspaper publicity for her handiwork, all well-deserved.

My posting has been hit and miss this season because of family illness, memorials, and other time-consuming events; it's not been a terribly terrific year, but 2009 will be better. Posting will be hit and miss 'til we get to Mexico January 31 when I will resume my Mazatlan photos. In the meantime, stick around--don't abandon me! More important: HAPPY HOLIDAYS TO YOU AND YOURS!! PEACE TO THE WORLD AND GOOD CHEER TO ALL!!

Camera Critters

Winter Wonderland? Circle Theme #17

Find the circles!
"Winter is on my head, but eternal spring is in my heart." Victor Hugo (1802 - 1885

Circle Theme #16

Encore is a consignment shop where I find many, many great bargains. Right now I've got my eye on an Eileen Fisher 2-piece dress that would look terrific in Mexico during our stay there. Waiting for it to be reduced because it is a spring and summer outfit and hope it won't be sold before I buy it.

"The difference between style and fashion is quality." Giorgio Armani

Circle Theme #15

Jim, a good friend of ours, has had several eye surgeries, but the eye patch makes him look sort of dashing...like a pirate, perhaps??

Mark Twain:
"Good friends, good books and a sleepy conscience: this is the ideal life."

Circle Theme #14-Woven Baskets

The Art Fair I attended a week ago featured these baskets made by Martha Monson Lowe from Decorah, Iowa. It's so interesting to see the skills of artisans, and how wonderful that they're able to display and sell their products in many different states at summer and holiday art fairs.

"It is not in life, but in art that self-fulfillment is to be found."-George E. Woodberry

Camera Critters-Maggi (Circle #13)

My favorite Santa!! To see other fantastic critters, click here.

Circle Theme #12

This delightful piece of art is a product of Clay Squared to Infinity. Want to see more? Go to www.claysquared.com.

Circle or Half Circle?

I'm trying to find a circle in here, but I guess a half-circle will do to follow my December theme. Despite the cold,snowy pictures I posted last Wednesday, there is some beauty, too.

Musical circles - #10

Through the generosity of a former member of the JCC, each year the public is able to attend several free concerts conducted by the St. Paul Jewish Community Center Symphony Orchestra. Last night I was treated to an evening of a splendid musical performance which included "Overture to Ruy Blas" by Mendelssohn, "Piano Concerto No. 20 in D Minor, K.466" by Mozart and "Symphony No. 3 in F Major, Op. 90" by Johannes Brahms. What a wonderful gift to the community!

Winter Circles #9

Circle themes continue in a winter wonderland. Look carefully and you will quickly see why DH and I flee to snowbird in Mexico during the winter season. "We're leavin' on a jet plane" on January 31st!

Pretty as a pitcher! Circles #8

Mugs- Circles #7

The art and craft fair that I visited last Friday had booths with textiles, baskets, clothing, paintings, photography, jewelry, leather goods, pottery and much, much more. These mugs caught my eye because of the way in which they would fit this circle theme. Is anyone getting tired of it yet?

Pottery Circles

I'm still carrying on the circle theme, and I'm having great fun doing it. Every December, there is a holiday Art and Craft Fair held in Ramsey Junior High School on Grand Avenue in St. Paul. Although I seldom buy anything since my quest is for more photos, I visit each year...only this time I was looking for...what else? Circles!! Potter Kate Daly had wonderful objects for sale at her booth.

Church Circles

The is part of the top of the door on the main entrance to the Cathedral of St. Paul, an imposing structure itself built on a high hill overlooking the downtown area.

History: The Cathedral of St. Paul is over 100 years old. The cathedral is the vision of Archbishop John Ireland, and architect and devoted Catholic Emmanuel Louis Masquery. Construction of the building commenced in 1907 and the exterior was completed in 1914. Work on the interior proceeded at a slower pace, as funding allowed, but the Cathedral was able to hold the first Mass in the partially completed building on Easter Sunday in 1915.

Masquery died in 1917, before completing his design for the interior. Archbishop Ireland passed away only a year later. Archbishop Ireland's successors, Archbishop Dowling and Bishop John Murray, oversaw work on the interior, which was to take until 1941 to complete.

Architecture: The Cathedral of St. Paul is considered to be one of the most beautiful cathedrals in America. The design is in the Beaux-Art style and was inspired by Renaissance cathedrals in France.

The exterior is Minnesotan St. Cloud granite. The interior walls are American Travertine from Mankato, Minnesota, and the interior columns are made of several types of marble.

Topping the Cathedral is a 120-foot wide copper dome. A lantern on top of the dome brings the total height of the Cathedral to 306 feet tall from the base to the top of the lantern.

The interior space is no less impressive. As you walk into the Cathedral, watch out for the people visiting the cathedral for the first time. They tend to stop abruptly in front of you to stare at the stunning interior.

Laid out in a Greek cross, the interior is bright and open. Masquery envisioned a Cathedral with no obstructions for anyone attending Mass.

The interior ceiling soars to 175 feet high at the top of the 96 feet wide dome. At the base of the dome, stained glass windows let in light, and more several windows pierce the walls.

A bronze baldachin, a canopy over the altar, honors the life of St. Paul.

Although the Cathedral's design was inspired by ancient French cathedrals, it has modern conveniences, like electric lighting, and heating. Heating a place like this can't come cheap, but it's sure to be appreciated by the congregation on winter days. (by Clara James, About.com)
If you wish to know more about the Cathedral, check this Wiki site.

More Circles #4-Classic Tiffany

I have no idea how to describe a "Classic Tiffany", but that's the name on the car. It looks pretty cool. I'd like to give it to DH as his birthday gift today, but, alas, it's not to be!

Even more circles!

I wonder how long I can continue the circle theme with photos from my archives? Not totally a whim on my part, but this nasty cold is still hanging on, and I haven't ventured out for days.

More circles

I suppose I could still follow the circle theme, and I have always been fascinated by these hay bales. I found these three at the stable where my granddaughter takes riding lessons. Still have a miserable cold, and can't wait 'til February when we're off again for Mazatlan, Mexico.

Circles/Spheres, December 1, 2008 Theme Day

This stained glass window faces the Mississippi River in the Pool and Yacht Club. The image of the steamboat within the circle is historical. I feel so lucky to be able to see the most beautiful river in the states on each and every day.

I'm a little late posting this because I have been sick with a typical Minnesota winter cold, but I've rallied. There are 187 bloggers posting today. Try to get to as many as you can. I'm sure you'll find many creative, interesting, amusing, and astonishing photographs!
Click here to view thumbnails for all participants

Sunday Camera Critters #1

I just joined a group called Camera Critters who post pictures of animals every Sunday, but I still have to figure out how to link its logo to my sidebar. I do have it linked on "Other Interesting Blogs" so if you're curious, take a look.

This lovely parrot with a sassy vocabulary is our beloved Sadie who has been with us for 23 years. I found a program that allows photos to be attached to magazine covers, which is a hoot since some of my friends thought it was the real thing. My family and animals are indeed unique, but so far no national magazine has contacted us! Have a good Sunday everyone! Enjoy the coming week--stay safe!

Vatican Exhibit

Come to the History Center in St. Paul, MN to experience 2,000 years of Vatican art and history. You will find: Michelangelo items and works by Bernini, Giotto, and others. Artwork dating back to the third century. From the venerated relics (bone fragments) of Saint Peter to items from the election of Pope Benedict XVI, this exhibit comprises one of the largest Vatican collections ever to tour North America. Many items have never before been on public view.

Thanksgiving Dinner Project

After 3 decades the idea of helping needy families on Thanksgiving Day which was initially started by two young adults, has grown by leaps and bounds. Yesterday my husband and I did our small part to help deliver 15,000 dinners in the Twin Cities. Yes, you read right...15,000 dinners. Each year local merchants and sponsors generously donate food, trucks, money and time to make all this happen with the help of volunteers who gather at a local high school, Cretin-Derham Hall, where the action begins early each Thanksgiving morning. Students, young and old adults arrive at 4 am to pack the dinner boxes and coordinate the effort. Drivers arrive at 7 am and wait in long lines to gather in the gymnasium and halls, receive a number, eventually get the three addresses for delivery, return to cars and again wait in one of three long lines to pick up the food boxes that are taken to the cars by more volunteers...frequently students of local parochial schools. Volunteer policemen and women help direct the traffic at several street corners near the school. We delivered a dinner for four to a disabled adult living in a high rise, an Hispanic couple received two boxes of food for 12 people, and we delivered a dinner for 10 to a black family. We arrived home at 10:30 am to begin our own holiday.

The top row of the collage shows some of the tables that were set up outside, holding all the food. The middle row, with my favorite driver in the middle, shows the long line of cars ready to deliver the goods, and you can see the many drivers waiting in the gym to begin the deliveries in the bottom row. Notice the young students on the bottom right who used dollys to help carry the food to the cars that were waiting in line. Although waiting in all those lines was a bit tiring, everyone was convivial. Overall, it gave the day a special significance for all of us. We had a GREAT Thanksgiving!!

Happy Thanksgiving!

On Thanksgiving Day some people eat turkey, others may prefer ducks or chickens. Or vegetarians may prefer something altogether different. The Canadians celebrated their Thanksgiving in October, we in the US have our feast and family gatherings in November. In the morning we will gather at a local school and send boxes and boxes of dinners that have been cooked by volunteers with drivers to deliver the food to homes throughout the city and surrounding suburban areas. My husband and I will drag ourselves out of bed to get to school by 7 am to receive our list of addresses, deliver the food to families who otherwise might not be able to celebrate this important day, and will probably be home by 11 am. Then I get to cook and serve our little family about 5 pm: turkey, dressing, cranberry sauce, mashed potatoes, sweet potato chips, corn souffle, asparagus, corn bread, wine, apple cider, and pecan pie. Music and football will be the entertainment of the day. No! Wait! Our funny and humorous little granddaughter will provide the most amusement. Happy Thanksgiving to everyone who celebrates this feast with us!! I'm grateful that I have this day to share and to thank for my many blessings.

Books

There's something about the titles of these books that really puts me off. Perhaps it's irrational, but I'm not interested in the books primarily because "bitch" really offends me. Does anyone else react to that label for females as negatively as I?

The Eagle

The majestic bird is perched on a ledge of rock, wings outspread to shelter its nest of eaglets with its talons grasping the head of a threatening serpent. The following poem by Alfred, Lord Tennyson does not describe this scene, but it is, nonetheless, a powerful description of this majestic bird:



The Eagle
by Alfred, Lord Tennyson
He clasps the crag with crooked hands;
Close to the sun in lonely lands,
Ring’d with the azure world, he stands.

The wrinkled sea beneath him crawls;
He watches from his mountain walls,
And like a thunderbolt he falls.

Conversations

Now what do you suppose these two are discussing?!

A Memorial

The entrance to my neighborhood supermarket usually has one of its foyers decorated with holiday schemes. I was stopped in my tracks recently when I saw these photos beneath a holiday tree. Both of these men were loyal employees and both met a tragic death. Too young! Too young!

Public Art #5-Harmony VII

The artist for "Harmony VII" is Daniel Kainz. Scroll backwards through the week to see the other four I have posted.

Public Art #4-"Frame"

Earlier I mentioned that the park where this sculpture is located is ringed by apartment buildings which you can see behind the "Frame"--the artist is Shaun Cassidy.

Public Art #3-"Walking Warrior I"

This metal sculpture is HUGE. Artist: Melvin Smith

Public Art #2-Victory Writer's Bench

The artist for "Victory Writer's Bench" in Western Sculpture Park is Roger Cummings.

Street Art #1

Close to the Capitol Building on Marion Street there is a small park called Western Sculpture Park that is surrounded by apartment buildings where a curious photographer can find about 13 modern sculptures. This one is called "Tree Bracelets" by Coral Lambert, Theresa Smith, and James Brenner. In subsequent posts, I'll show you more of the sculptures.

Would You Eat These?

Saturday was a COLD and CHILLY day that made visiting the Farmers' Market less than the pleasureable experience it has been all summer. Most of the vendors have discontinued their seasonal sales so the place was just a shadow of its former self. Still, I enjoyed the experience. I paused at the weird looking brussel sprouts. I take pleasure in vegetables and consume large amounts, but brussel sprouts have never been a favorite. Perhaps I just don't have a good recipe. Any suggestions?

Worldwide Newspaper Headlines

Countries worldwide rejoiced with the USA after the election of November 4, 2008. This collage is just a sample; to see a large group of phenomenal newspaper headlines, click here.

Reading

Since today is Saturday, a day of rest, this sign should have an impact on your home-time. I discovered this wise suggestion in a cozy corner of the bookstore owned by Garrison Keillor of Prairie Home Companion fame. Have yourself a good read this week-end!

Yes, We Did!

Second Childhood

What do we have here? Looks like a group of neighbors and friends having a great time at an adult Halloween party! There are kittens, a Green Bay Packer coach, Boy Scouts, Goldilocks and the Wolf, el Muerto, a bear from the bear market, a fleeced stockholder, the Lone Ranger, a Deviled Egg and George Bush with his head on a plate!