Another Little Library-ABC WEDNESDAY "L"

Yesterday I posted a Little Free library building that perhaps was a nostalgic replica of the owner's childhood school.  Today this one will touch your heartstrings.

Click here  for the history of Little Free Libraries.  You can even buy one for your neighborhood!

Little Free Library-ABC WEDNESDAY "L"

I have published photos of several Little Free Libraries in the past, but I couldn't resist this schoolhouse.  Because it is the beginning of another school year the architecture is very appropriate. In fact, it is a replica of a 1936 schoolhouse in North Dakota. Perhaps it is a bit of nostalgia for the homeowners. Unseen to the right of the library is a convenient cement bench, making it easier for passersby to browse, rest, and read.

Linking to ABC Wednesday

PS.  I find that I am enjoying less and less free time to visit and enjoy your blogs.  I definitely need to prioritize!!

Poor Baby!

 Don't see too many of these anymore!

Dan and Jill

During the Jazz Fest on Selby and Milton Avenues in St. Paul on September 13, the crowd included many canines of varied sizes, Dan, the owner of a 2-year-old Yorkshire Terrier, stopped to chat with us, revealing that Jill weighed all of 4 lbs. Apparently this particular breed can top the scales at 10 lbs. Pretty chunky!

Linked to Camera Critters

Gentleman George

Gentleman George is a big asset in the kitchen!  Unity Church in St. Paul offers a gourmet meal every Wednesday night during most of the year, usually attended by 100-150 parishoners and guests. Kitchen crews are organized and volunteers arrange the dining room, cook and serve the meal, and help clean up afterwards.  Our crew which works together one night a month is awesome, and it appears that George is a handyman to have around as one of the volunteers.  He has lots of creative energy!!

Virginia Woolf

I took this photo with my iphone quite by accident. but it is very revealing.  My DH refers to me as a "casual housekeeper."

“A woman must have money and a room of her own . . .” 
― Virginia Woolf, A Room of One's Own

KISMET-ABC WEDNESDAY "K"

After a lifetime of hard work, you, too, can retire, sleep late, get up on a sun-filled autumn morning to eat French toast and REAL maple syrup with fresh raspberries and cream. If you are lucky, you will have someone with whom to share it.

Linking to ABC WEDNESDAY

Kilbane-ABC WEDNESDAY "K"

 Hey, is it legal to use an image found on the internet? I want y'all to see what I have discovered with the help of a nephew so far in my early geneaology search for these ancestors.  I haven't unearthed much else because the Kilbanes from County Mayo are an illusive lot.  We are going to Ireland next June and will stop at Achil Island, which is the origin of our branch of Kilbanes.  We have an ancestor born in 1785 on the island, but don't know in which village, but we will stop while in Ireland.  Seems that there are 37 households of Kilbanes there currently so perhaps one of them can help us. It seems that our branch of the family left during the potato famine.  I've learned quite a bit about Ireland since I started on this research journey but it is VERY time consuming.  PS.  If you know any Kilbanes, have them contact me!!


KILBANE
The name Kilbane is derived from the Gaelic Mac Giolla Bhain sept who were of the 'Ui Fiachrach' in Ireland. They were located in North Connaught Province and especially in County Sligo and can still be found there in some numbers to this very day.

Linking to ABC WEDNESDAY and Irish Surnames

Cashier

Last Friday I posted photos of the management of Goodwill on University Ave in St Paul donning their Halloween finery.  I'd like to introduce you to another employee, the smiling face of one of their cashiers. . . a lovely and beautiful young woman.

Jazz Fest

Last weekend we attended the annual Jazz Fest at Selby and Milton in St. Paul.  The weather cooperated; entertainment, people watching and food were all very good!

Chanticleer-Camera Critters

I would love to see this one roaming free and strutting around a barnyard!

Woe to the house where the hen crows and the rooster is still. (Spanish Proverb)

Linking to Camera Critters

Goodwill for all!

 Goodwill is the "go-to store" for bargains and treasures.  Since we are seriously downsizing, albeit slowly, it is a terrific place to donate useful objects that you cannot use anymore.  Lots easier than organizing a garage sale! While there I can't resist the temptation  to shop the racks and shelves and have found some wonderful objects and artifacts over the years: books, terrariums, bird cages, snow shovels, and I must confess a few items of wearing apparel like Eileen Fisher and Chico.

The store always has a well-stocked inventory for Halloween; As you can see, general manager Donna has modeled beautifully one of the costumes and Dee looks positively fetching in her new hairdo!

Goodwill does very good work training employees, offering job opportunites and steady employment to many as well as providing useful retail merchandise for all kinds of shoppers.  Please donate to Goodwill!

Red

"Red and the Wolf"

Acrylic on board, 24x24" $800.00

In the past I have posted photos of art work that hangs in a community room at Unity-Unitarian Church in St. Paul.  Artists apply for the opportunity, and those who are selected are able to exhibit,  hang and place their art work for one entire month.  The images of Barbara Harman, the September artist,  illustrate aspects of fairy tales that she has loved since she was a child.

Wordless Wednesday

Meet Jack ABC WEDNESDAY "J"

I often forget to try black and white so I thought I would experiment with this photo since I didn't really like the color tones of the one on the left.  I think that both photos are too dark. Jack is a musician, folk singer, and story teller whom I recently heard perform.  Very entertaining man!

Linking to ABC Wednesday

Driftwood

During an August road trip and a stop at a park on Lake Superior,  I saw these large pieces of driftwood. It won't be long now before this kind of scenery will be a thing of the past because of winter snow and ice. Oh, dear!!

School Art Gallery

The school where I used to teach has a beautiful art gallery that exhibits the work of visiting artists, current students and former students.  At a recent reunion gathering the gallery showed the work of three different alums.  The two still-life paintings here belong to a student who graduated in 1969.

Equals?

I am fond of pigs. Dogs look up to us. Cats look down on us. Pigs treat us as equals.

Winston Churchill

Linking to Camera Critters

Perfect yellow car!

 On a perfect sun-filled morning, I parked next to this little yellow number in Lund's parking lot next to my gray Toyota. While I was snapping photos of the car, Cheryl, its owner,  returned with her groceries. She obligingly posed for photos, and agreed with me that it probably was "a fun car to drive." Not from St. Paul, she lives just across the nearby Mississippi River in Minneapolis, and I hope that I get to see her and her sporty auto again while we are both shopping.

Tribute to Botticelli

The human mind works in strange ways. I saw "The Birth of Venus" by Sandro Botticelli in the Uffizi Museum in Florence, Italy and loved it.  Each year on my birthday I always recall this painting and feel that it was painted specially for me to enjoy.  It surfaces in my mind every September 11th.

Wordless Wednesday

Ideal Students! ABC Wednesday "I"

An image of Imaginative and Ideal former students of mine, (Leah, David, and Max) who graduated high school 11 years ago. Last Sunday we spent some time together to honor Max's 30th birthday. Since Leah and I also have September birthdays, it was a celebratory occasion.

Linking to ABC WEDNESDAY

"Waiting for the Queen"

Another favorite

"Dog Pack"'

Without exception, every year my first stop at the State Fair is the Fine Arts Building, which showcases juried art work of Minnesota artists.  I am always impressed by the array of talent, and I spend a very long time looking at the paintings, photography, sculptures and textiles. For each photo I took very careful notes on title, size, medium, and artist. . . of course, I lost the list before the end of the day! Why didn't I use my iPhone for notes?!
It  is difficult to select a favorite among them but this one was high on my list.

Poor Lexi!!

Last Sunday our grand-dog Lexi had emergency surgery at the Vet Clinic at the University of Minnesota to take care of an abcess behind her right eye.  She is on the mend and as frisky as ever!!  But, what a scare!!

Linking to Camera Critters

Semper Fi!

Marine demonstration at the Fair.  Strong!! 

State Fair Royalty

Hart Parr Tractor

 Although our country is losing many family farms, agricultural machinery interests many curious onlookers at the Fair.  This old beauty generated lots of interest, including mine.









Linking to ABC WEDNESDAY