Cathedral of St. Paul

Even though I took these photos on an overcast day, you can see how the
Cathedral dominates the landscape.

Surgery at the Fair

 Another big draw for me at the Minnesota State Fair is the veterinary surgeries.  Vets donate their time to demonstrate the necessity of spaying and neutering our pets.  I observed the spaying of an approximately eight-month-old black cat, starting with the pre-op preparations by technicians (behind glass as we observed on the bleachers) to the actual surgical procedure enlarged for the audience on televisions.  The following photos show the incision and removal of the ovaries before the uterus was removed and then the final stitching by the good doctor.  Fascinating!!

Student Artists

 Yesterday I went to the Minnesota State Fair.  My first two stops as usual were the Education and Fine Arts Buildings.  In addition to learning about the number of educational programs, schools and institutions in the education area, student artwork is always on display.

Can you believe that these three pieces are created by students!?  The top photo is the work of a 7th grader, a ninth grade student created the haunting image on the left. Because I lost my sheet of notes, I do not recall the grade level of the artist of the female subject.  I am mightily impressed with the talent exhibited by these three student artists.

Great Exhibit

I don't think I'll miss this one!

Garden in an Alley-ABC WEDNESDAY "G"

This is a spiffy little garden in a St. Paul alley.  Each summer alley gardens are judged and awards given.  This one obvious was deemed worthy!! A good way to beautify the neighborhood.

Linking to ABC WEDNESDAY

Garlic-ABC WEDNESDAY 'G'

“Do not eat garlic or onions; for their smell will reveal that you are a peasant.” 

Cervantes, Don Quixote.

Linking to ABC Wednesday

Sunset and Storm Clouds

Last night as we drove home after having an outstanding dinner at a restaurant (more on that later) in Ellsworth, Wisconsin, we were treated to a spectacular sky of sunset and storm clouds. The photos were taken from the car as we drove down the highway. . . not bad, but nature provided the scene!

Wonder Women

Last Sunday got up early to go to Mississippi Blvd to take photos as I watched these Wonder Women fly by! I was pleasantly surprised to see how cheerful most of them seemed.  Some passed me by without a glance, but many of them had a smile, a wave, or a cheery hello!

Entertainment, too!

Recently I posted a photo here of an excellent take-away at Longfellow Market on Lake Street.  DH and I have become regulars now for a casual Saturday lunch.  Last Saturday I had a delicious Juicy Lucy while listening to this musician who entertained us with his music and a smile. If you live in the neighborhood, go to eat and listen.  Prices cannot be beaten! Incidentally the proceeds usually are given to a neighborhood food shelf;  a young boy scout whose troop was that day's recipient was volunteering at the store.  A good deal all around!

Another peek at Syb's Garden

On June 29 I showed you a photo of Syb's Garden.  Within a few weeks the scene and the colors changed!

Good Fences-Beach

A barbed wire fence in need of repair along a sand path leading to Lake Superior.

Linking to Good Fences

Oscar, the Fright-ABC WEDNESDAY 'F'

Yesterday you met Fiona.  Today I want you to meet Oscar, her brother. He selected a face painting very different than his sister's.  I think his choice is a success as a "fright."


Linking to ABC WEDNESDAY

Fabulous Fiona-ABC WEDNESDAY "F"

A family moved into our neighborhood with two children both of whom are adorable, Fiona and her younger brother, Oscar.  I have been particularly charmed by Fiona and enjoy watching her.

The finished face of Fabulous Fiona

 These photos show the beginning stages of the face painting.  At our neighborhood block party, one of our neighbors patiently sat for a long period of time indulging the delighted children by painting their faces with different designs.


Linking to ABC WEDNESDAY

Peter Rabbit

While shopping yesterday, I spoke with both Hannah  and Greg who were one of the protestors picketing Whole Foods on Grand Avenue in Saint Paul. Stores in several states were being targeted on that day. Apparently the market is promoting rabbit food in the meat department in their stores.  About ten protesters were displaying their banners, offering petitions for interested people to sign who opposed the practice, and suggesting ways to persuade Whole Foods to discontinue rabbits as food.  One of their objections is that the USDA's Humane Methods of Slaughter Act does not cover rabbits. I included a photo of a rabbit carcass on sale inside the store at $4.99 a lb, and this package cost $29.07.

Meet Liam

I meet Liam O'Neill in the shop, Irish on Grand, when I went in to find information on travel to Ireland. Originally from County Cork, Liam who has lived in St. Paul for the past 20 plus years was most helpful.  To stimulate  my husband's interest in a visit to Ireland, he helped me purchase a huge driving map of the Emerald Isle plus a T-shirt for DH to wear.  I decided also to find something for my daughter, middle name Kilbane, but I'll keep that a secret for now.

Cry Wolf!

In a small mall on Franklin Avenue in Minneapolis in a highly diverse neighborhood of Native American and Somali residents,  a number of interesting stores, social service agencies, Maria's restaurant and this statue can be found.  One shop not to miss and visit sells Native American artifacts, and this large statue seems to be an appropriate guardian of them all.

Linking to Camera Critters

Pay Attention!!

Good Fences-Mississippi River Boulevard

The homes along Mississippi River Boulevard are large and lovely.  This fence follows a property line that divides two homes.

Linking to Good Fences

Enigmatic-Wordless Wednesday

Linking to Wordless Wednesday & ABC WEDNESDAY

Excellent Take-away: ABC WEDNESDAY "E"

Recently a newly-opened independent grocery store in  Longfellow, a nearby neighborhood, offers an excellent lunch at excellent prices on Saturdays. I hope it continues because the meat is high quality from their meat department.  Hot dogs ($1),  absolutely delicious brats ($2), and huge Juicy Lucy hamburgers ($3).  We have been shopping there recently because we want the market to succeed, plus I am delighted with the above Saturday specials.

Linking to ABC WEDNESDAY

Pastiche Lantern

I absolutely love volunteering as an interpreter in the Ordway Gardens in Como Park in St. Paul!
I learn a great deal about the Japanese Garden while there.  This lantern located in the tea garden is assembled from the parts of five other lanterns by Masami Matsuda in 1991, Nagasaki's ninth generation landscape gardener. From the beginning of the garden's design, members of the St Paul's sister city, Nagasaki, worked with Como to bring examples of Japanese culture to the garden  and the people of Minnesota.

Aspiring to Heaven

“An instinctive taste teaches men to build their churches with spire steeples which point as with a silent finger to the sky and stars.”

Samuel Taylor Coleridge

Congratulations!

Eleven young men took their first vows as Jesuits at St. Thomas More church on Summit Avenue in St Paul, MN, today. I was honored by an invitation from a former student to attend the mass and reception afterwards. The large church was filled with family and friends, and I have never before been in a gathering with so many Jesuits!   By an amazing coincidence during the reception , I talked to a Jesuit from Xavier College, visiting from Cleveland.  Much to our delight, we discovered a mutual friend, a Jesuit who had been close to our family for decades and who our children still refer to as Uncle Jack. Like most Jesuits I have met, Jack was an intellectual and learned man whose death and absence has been sorely missed by our family and the Jesuit community.

Congratulations to all of the eleven men whom we honored today!