"berried 'n chocolate"

What do children do when school is not in session on a sunny, but cold winter day? Perhaps find a bakery and juice shop and sit next to a sunny window while eating a pastry?  Sounds just about right!

Safe Crossing?

If you can see over the plowed snowbanks, I guess it might be safe to cross.

Two Views

On a Clear Day

Interesting to see how weather affects images. 

A Repost (Dec. 16) A Blizzard

Bus Stop

New York and the eastern seaboard have nothing on us!

F.Scott

DH and I often stroll through Rice Park downtown when we are going to a performance at Ordway. This sculpture of F. Scott Fitzgerald (one of our boys, you know) is a prominent statue among many others in this little jewel of a park.  F. Scott is a familiar person to me since I've taught his short stories to middle schoolers and The Great Gatsby to high school students...at St. Paul Academy, the school that he attended as a youngster before going off to a private school in the East. Whenever we walk by, I stop to chat with him or give him a hug, much to DH's consternation and the amusement of passersby.

Obviously this was taken during the summer.  The snow and my wounded wing have severely curtailed my photo shoots so here you have it...more photos from the past.


So we beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past." The Great Gatsby, 1925

Glass Masks

I have a similar mask hanging in the window in my kitchen.  It always cheers me when I see it. Yes, these are creations from Peter's work.

My Purchase

Peter will make a wall hanging for me of the Zen stones similar to this one.  I intend to

place it  in "the room of my own" that I redecorated  last year as my very own personal space. It will send off good vibes for me!

Merry Christmas!

My Favorites!

Selecting a favorite in Peter's showroom is not easy, but I was quite taken with these Zen stones.  Come back tomorrow to see what I commissioned Peter to make for me!

Objects to sell

Here are just three of the many beautiful glass pieces Peter has in his showroom, ready to be purchased and brought home. Come back tomorrow and I'll show you my favorites.

Almost completed!

It almost looked like magic whenever Peter put an object into one of the furnaces, removed it, and then placed it back in another furnace to continue the shaping process.  Each step seemed to take on a life of its own. Fascinating to watch.  This bowl is going to be a beauty after it has cooled and is truly finished. I  can't show any of the pieces Peter made during the demonstration because they each needed to be placed immediately in a special case in order to cool.  Tomorrow I'll show you just a few of the many pieces for sale in his showroom.

Glass Blowing Process

While we were watching, Peter made three different objects: a snowman, a vase and a bowl. These four photos show him at work while shaping two of them.

Glass Blowing

This is Peter's studio where I was able to snap a few pictures during the Glass Blowing demonstration at his open house. The large furnace heats at 2400°F and the small furnace on the upper right heats to 2000°F.  Tomorrow I'll show you a few photos of the steps in the process.

Meet Peter

Meet Peter who was one of my students when he was in 8th grade.  Not only was he one of my favorites then, he remains so now, not as a student but as an artist.  Yesterday we went to his studio for his annual Holiday Sale and to watch his glass blowing demonstration. Come back tomorrow, and I'll show you some of his work.

Air Bag Demonstration

After buying a new car, we went back to the Toyota dealership in Maplewood for an evening seminar on basic features and safety devices.  It was an interesting evening, which began with a grab bag of goodies (flashlight, notebook, Swiss Army knife and various other objects), dinner, followed by the information lectures, prizes selected by lottery (of course, I won nothing), and then a trip through the shop to look at different Toyota car models with salespersons, managers, and mechanics who were there to answer questions. My favorite was a demonstration that deployed an airbag, as seen above. I was assured that none of the airbags would result in greater injury to my wounded wing.

December Blizzard #3

Although this was not snapped during the blizzard, the figures look like everything else on the horizon...surrounded by snow!!

St. Paul Blizzard December 2010 #2

I was not kidding!

Just to let you know that I was not kidding! Check out the bandage on the right shoulder. Now both the sling and the bandage are gone. Alleluia!

St. Paul Blizzard December 2010

This is my first photo on my new iMac, and I sure wish that I knew what the heck I'm doing. I wonder how this is going to turn out on the portal? If this works, I hope that I can duplicate it again tomorrow!!

For those of you who have asked, my medical recovery is going along quite well!  Yesterday my doctor said that my progress has EXCEEDED his expectation.  Can't drive yet, but I no longer have to wear the **^&!!%$#!** sling at home but need it when I go out so as to forestall anyone jostling me or slapping me on the shoulder. Freedom!!

Spring Delight

These crab apples on trees in both our front and back yard ripen in the fall but the birds don't eat them until spring. Seems odd to me, but whom am I to question them?

(This will be my last post for awhile 'til I get my writing arm back!)

The Gray Shed

Not an ordinary shed because of the touches of colour!

View

What do you see out your window?

ABC WEDNESDAY-"Q" Not an ordinary quilt!!

This is not an ordinary quilt.  This is the first one designed and made by a retired male nurse who used a pattern from his grandmother's quilt with fabric from his daughter's old clothes.  Men...get out your needles!
To see more ABC posts, click here.

Stairway to...

Stairway to...heaven? the stars?

The Lake Street Bridge and Lamp

The Lake Street Bridge over the Mississippi connects the Twin Cities, Minneapolis and St. Paul. The lamps are at the beginning of the bridge.

Camera Critters-What's Missing?

Well, where's the critter? Here, kitty, kitty!

If you'd like to see some camera critters, click here.

Sunset on Lake Pepin

The Simple Life

Gary and his family live a simpler, quieter  and slower way of life on an old farmstead, living like people did many years ago.  They limit their use of electricity, preferring candlelight and hand tools.  They cook and heat with wood, farm with horses, and make as much food as possible with bees, goats and a large garden.  They enjoy working with old traditional crafts of seed saving, blacksmithing, cheese, soap and candle-making, weaving, spinning and hard tool woodworking. "We make our own crafts with the purpose of usefulness, with added integrity, using only natural elements...no polyester, plastic, or chemicals."

An unusual life choice; one that I admire but not one that I would willingly share.

ABC WEDNESDAY - "P"

WOW!!

Click here to see more ABC Wednesday posts.

Election Day

I know that I published some of the following content before, but I want to touch base with as many bloggers friends as I can. After my automatic posts are completed, I don't know when I'll be back. Keep in touch!!

Today is Election Day in the USA, and I am really "up a creek," but not for the reason you may think. I have elected to have shoulder surgery today and have been told that my recuperation period, including therapy, will probably be 8-12 weeks. Then after I have completely recovered from that I will have foot surgery for another 8-12 week period-of-time. Bye-bye winter months in a warm climate! Now, you see, I am really up a creek!!

I have photos automatically scheduled for several days, but I don't know what will happen after that since my dominate arm will be immobilized in a slingshot2 ...check it out: (http://www.breg.com/shoulder-bracing/slingshot-2.html; it's amazingly cumbersome!) Stay tuned to see how long it will take before your plucky, spunky, and feisty blogger friend returns. That's all folks!!

PS. I already voted!

Theme Day, November 2010 "Transportation

This is probably one form of transportation none of us would use unless necessary.  But, what a great vehicle to have to get around easily, if necessary!

Click here to view thumbnails for all participants

Halloween Decorations

RIP is my traditional Halloween front door decoration.  This year I thought I'd do something a little bit different.  Of the two, the pumpkin/flowers or RIP, which do you prefer?

Camera Critters-Cat

Appropriate for the season~

MESSAGE FROM KATE: UNFORTUNATELY I CANNOT ACCESS MY EMAIL ACCOUNT AND MY COMPUTER HAS ALSO "DIED." I, HOWEVER, HAVE POSTS AUTOMATICALLY SCHEDULED HERE 'TIL SOMETIME IN NOVEMBER BECAUSE I AM HAVING SURGERY SOON; THEREFORE, I DON'T HAVE TIME TO SET UP ANOTHER EMAIL ACCOUNT FOR BLOGGING RIGHT NOW, TRY TO RECOVER MY ADDRESSES NOR RESPOND TO YOUR COMMENTS. WHENEVER I CAN I'LL VISIT THOSE OF YOU WHO ALLOW ANONYMOUS COMMENTS ON YOUR BLOGS. BUT I'LL BE BACK. IF YOU CARE TO EMAIL ME, I HAVE ANOTHER TEMPORARY ADDRESS:

myhearthandhome@gmail.com

PS. I think that Denton, dear Denton, has "fixed" my blog for me so that I can post...at least while I still have my writing hand!! Thanks, Denton. My library trips are limited so I'll try to visit your blogs whenever I can!

To see more camera critters, click here.

Halloween Decoration #2

Perhaps he could be paired with the female I posted yesterday?!

$19.95?!

And, would you pay $19.95 for this Halloween decoration?

ABC WEDNESDAY - "O" Oven

 The vineyard and restaurant, Vino in the Valley, serves some tasty pasta dishes in addition to pizza.  Eating outside during the summer and early fall is part of the pleasure.

For more ABC Wednesday posts, click here.

Bonfire

Fire and Ice

Some say the world will end in fire,

Some say in ice.

From what I've tasted of desire

I hold with those who favor fire.

But if it had to perish twice,

I think I know enough of hate

To say that for destruction ice

Is also great

And would suffice.

by Robert Frost

Rush River Bridge

Bridge over the Rush River in rural Wisconsin

To see more bridges, go to Louis 1a Vache's Sunday Bridge Meme.

Camera Critters

These beautiful and patient animals spent the day pulling a wagon full of familes who were enjoying the cool and sunshiny fall weather at a vineyard and restaurant where we enjoyed a wonderful pasta meal while watching the parents and children having fun.

To see more camera critters, hustle over here.

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

I wonder if any of this salvageable?  Sometimes old wood can be used in interesting and creative ways but this building looks pretty far gone.  Any ideas?

A Family

This sculpture is located at the entrance to United Hospital in St. Paul.

"The family is one of nature's masterpieces."  George Santayana