Friday Fences

Other Friday Fences can be found here.

Shades of Paris

This is for you, VJ.  An early morning sidewalk cafe at the Meritage in downtown St. Paul. . .rouge umbrellas and caned chairs.  Paris ain't got nothin' on us!!

Tea-ABC WEDNESDAY "T"

It's not exactly a Classic, but it's a good book if you want to learn about tea.

If you want to know about the different kinds of tea, go here.
Click here if you want to see more ABC WEDNESDAY "T" posts.

Tea for Two-ABC WEDNESDAY "T"

While we were in South Carolina, we visited a tea plantation which renewed my interest in tea.  I've been learning about tea at a local Highland Park shop, The Tea Source. These tea kettles probably make excellent tea, but I'm still using my china Cordon Bleu tea pot which looks terrific with my new floral tea cozy, plus it makes great tea!

To see more ABC WEDNESDAY posts, go here.

Memorial Day

The Time Traveler

Granddaughter Olivia waiting for the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra's Family Concert to begin yesterday at 11 am.  An hour long program sponsored by Target took the students on a Time Travel to the Baroque, Classical, Romantic, and Modern musical periods. Renditions of "Old MacDonald Had a Farm were performed as they might have been played by Bach, Haydn, Beethoven, Schubert and Aaron Copland.  Interspersed with these pieces were short pieces by each of the composers as well as Igor Stravinsky. At the end a musical quiz was played to see if the kids could identify the four periods.  Success! Children of all ages accompanied by adults of all ages enjoyed the program narrated by Dylan Fresco, a local theater artist, storyteller, musician and educator. Conductor Francesco Lecce-Chong appeared to enjoy the program as much as the audience!

Planting Season

In Minnesota, the first sign of spring leading into summer is the proliferation of outdoor sales of plants, flowers and herbs.  I've had a wonderful week, wandering from store to store! 

On April 19th we had our last big snow storm, followed by days of relentless rain.  Now, look at all the greenery! 

Ah, Summer!-Friday Fences

Summertime, and the livin' is easy!!

Guest Speaker

Former Minnesota Attorney General Mike Hatch (1999-2007) speaking at the Senior DFL Caucus in Maplewood on Saturday, May 18th.

ABC WEDNESDAY "S" Stony Sculpture

To see  more ABC WEDNESDAY "S's" go here.

St. Croix Pottery Studio Tour #6-ABC WEDNESDAY "S"

To learn more about the potter, Sarah Jaeger, go here.

To see more ABC WEDNESDAY photos, go here.

Norsk festgudstjeneste

 On our theme day for Norwegian Constitution Day last Friday, May 17, I posted a photo of this Mindekirken.  On Sunday the congregation, Norwegians from many parts of the Twin Cities and Minnesota, plus wanna-be Norwegians attended a concert and services here and marched in a parade afterwards.  A picnic and games for the children ended the festivities before the deluge of rain arrived.  Here are some of the happy faces.

A Great Lunch!

Last Friday we had the pleasure of visiting our granddaughter's elementary school to share lunch with her, an annual event that is organized by the teachers, staff, and volunteers.  It was a pleasure to see the many, many grandparents and great-grandparents that attended.  Residents  of a nearby retirement home joined students who did not have grandparents able to attend the event and shared it with the children. So well-planned and so exciting for everyone!!

St. Croix Pottery Studio Tour #5-Camera Critters

Den Norske Lutherske Mindekirke-Norwegian Constitution Day

Celebrate Norway's Constitution Day, Syttende Mai                           

The congregation of Mindekirken was formed in 1922 by the Norwegian Church of America in response to the rapid abandonment of Norwegian in favor of English among Norwegian Lutheran churches at that time.

The Norse-American Centennial Celebration that was held in Saint Paul, Minnesota, in 1925 to commemorate the 1825 arrival of the Norwegian Centennial ship Restauration (Restauration was a sloop built in 1801 in Hardanger, Norway. It became a symbol of Norwegian immigration) helped provide the impetus for a "memorial" church to be built to house the new congregation. Mindekirken was finally dedicated on May 4, 1930.

The church has been visited by members of the Norwegian Royal Family on several occasions, including King Olav V of Norway's visit on November 4, 1975. (King Olav was the father of the current King, HM Harald V of Norway.)
*******************************************************************************

  Sunday, May 19, 2013 at Mindekirken: Concert, Worship Service and Picnic. 

 Alle Velkommen!! 

I do not have ancestral roots in Scandanavia nor have I visited Norway; however, I have a neighbor who belongs to this church and I have Norwegian friends who are close to my heart, especially a childhood friend with whom I still correspond and visit whenever I go "home" to Wisconsin. While growing up I spent a great deal of time with her and her family and have pleasant memories of Norwegian hospitality.

I have visited the Mindekirken church to enjoy musical programs and have posted photos of it here and here. If you missed these photos earlier, check them out to see a Hardanger fiddle and a beautiful hand-painted cross. I intend to observe this celebration on Sunday, too.

Go here to see other entries for Norwegian Constitution Day.

Outdoor Privy Sink-St Croix Pottery Tour #4

The toilet in this outdoor privy was a sleek modern porcelain throne, but the sink definitely is unique!

ABC WEDNESDAY-"R"

Red, Roja, Rouge, Rot, Rossa

St. Croix Valley Pottery Tour #3

The work of Matt Metz, a potter from New York, was exquisite.

Read the explanation about the pottery tour here.

Regular Folks-Monday Mural

Several years ago I posted a  photo of this St. Paul mural, on Selby Avenue,  but I decided it was about time that I revisited the location to take another.  I seldom see it without cars at the curb in front of the brick wall,  which effectively covers part of the mural.  One afternoon I got lucky, no cars at the curb so I circled the block to return to get a clear shot.

To see more Monday Murals, go here.

Mother's Day-St. Croix Valley Pottery #2

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!!

21st Annual St. Croix Valley Studio Tour and Sale

Seven host pottery studios in rural Minnesota towns close to the Twin Cities host 42 guest potters from 15 states and  Scotland this week-end.

The potters have earned a national reputation for quality and integrity. Each potter’s work has a distinct character and is durable and intended for everyday use. From small cups and bowls to large pieces suitable for display, an intriguing range of pottery will be available. Earthenware, stoneware, and porcelain for use in cooking and serving, decorating and display can be found on a self-guided tour.

Go here to learn more about the St. Croix Valley Studio Tour and Sale: 

Friday Fences

I've been experimenting with black and white, using old photos in my archives.  This is an unusual fence, really a railing, used to outline the boardwalk in a Cypress Swamp in South Carolina.

To see more Friday Fences, go here.

Door Knockers #3

Some of you may recall my penchant for door knockers, some of which I have posted before.  I badly want one for my front door.  If I cannot find one in St. Paul, I just might have to go back to South Carolina to find one!  Do you prefer the color or black and white photo?

ANOTHER QUESTION:  I went in search for one of these and found a similar rather small brass lion's head in a architectural salvage shop on Selby Avenue.  I wonder if I should buy it, polish it up and then keep searching for one that is larger?  What do you think?

Spring has Sprung

Ah! My Neighbor's House

Minnesota's Spring Has Sprung

A Smile On My Face!

ABC WEDNESDAY "Q"-The Quintessential Native American Artist

Rendevous

It would be difficult, if not impossible, to surpass the work of this quintessential Native American artist, Alan Houser!

"Allan Houser was one of the foremost American sculptors of his generation. He originally worked as a painter before turning to sculpture in the last few decades of his life. His creations are known for their smooth, flowing, organic lines and depictions of Native American life. Houser portrayed women frequently in his work. This sculpture is a classic example. It depicts a young Native woman, shawl clasped around her and fringed bag in hand, setting off to meet someone." (Credit: MIA site)

To see more ABC WEDNESDAY photos, go here

Where else?!

I have been walking past this "peace car" parked next to a neighborhood elementary school (where else?) for years and finally decided to photograph it. The woman who drives it occasionally zips by our house, and I assume that she is either a teacher or staff member at the school since I never see the car in the summer.  

 It is not quite as whimsical as one owned by one of my former teaching pals; I've featured By Golly Miss Molly's Hawai'i car before but here it is again!

Last Art in Bloom Post #10

I cannot imagine how challenging it must have been to interpret this painting, but it is one of my two favorites in the Art in Bloom exhibit. It is definitely one of my two top favorites,  along with Matisse's "Three Bathers"

"Untitled," Yayoi Kusama 1967

Art in Bloom #9

The Art in Bloom series will end tomorrow!

"Portrait of a Young Noblewoman"

Artist Unknown

Art in Bloom #8

Not all of the art works were paintings; floral interpretations also included sculptures and Asian bowls and other kinds of art pieces. (Artist unknown)

Art in Bloom #7 Another Creative Artisan

This painting looks like a real challenge to interpret because of all the fruit.  I love the way she interpreted the raspberries in the upper left. I think that Alissa did a wonderful job with her 

floral arrangement.

"Abundant Fruit" Severin Roesin

United States, 1858

Roesen, a German immigrant, is considered to be among the most accomplished of the nineteenth-century American still-life painters. Originally trained as a porcelain painter, he arrived in America around 1848 and worked in New York and Philadelphia before settling in Williamsport, Pennsylvania about 1860, where he remained until his death until 1871. What is most remarkable is the sheer size of this painting; only six works of this scale attributable to Roesen are recorded today. A stamp of an art-supply shop on the reverse indicates that the painting dates prior to 1858, when Roesen left New York for Philadelphia.

May 1-Theme Day: The Creative Artisan-Art in Bloom #6-ABC WEDNESDAY"P"

This lovely young woman was explaining to onlookers how she interpreted, arranged and framed the flowers to represent the painting, 

Matisse's "Les Pensees de Pascal

I like the way this true Creative Artisan used Baby's Breath to depict the lace curtains.

To see more Creative Artisan posts from CDP bloggers, go here.

HAPPY MAY DAY, EVERYONE!!