Parties with Ponies!

Yesterday our 4-year-old neighbor Fiona celebrated her birthday with her friends.  What fun to have pony rides for entertainment!!

The Source

I have always loved this statue, The Source, and have posted it before, but the previous photos were always a front or side view.  I also like to take photos of people from the back view so I tried it with this statue and like it.

Artist Name: Alonzo Hauser
Media: Bronze, opaque black over blue patina.
Date Created: 6/14/1965
Location: Rice Park
History: Hauser created this statue, donated by the Women’s Institute of Saint Paul, to combine the city's historical past with the contemporary spirit of the day.  
Born in Wisconsin in 1909, Hauser established the art department at Macalester College, where he taught until 1949.  He died in 1969.
(Credit: www.stpaul.gov)

FEATURED NEWS

Be Stylish on the First of June! - That's the Theme for the Day!

Homeless?

Arriving early for a performance of the St Paul Chamber Orchestra, we often sit in Rice Park, located across the street from the Ordway Performance Center.  Watching the people who visit this tiny square oasis is always interesting.  I noticed this sleeping man who seemed more well-dressed than most homeless people I have observed downtown. Minutes after I had discretely photographed him, a cyclist approached with a small paper bag, awakened the man, and gave the bag to him. The man on the bike sped off much too fast for a photo--he did not look like a messenger or delivery person and no cash was exchanged.  The man removed a rather tired looking sandwich from the bag, ate it and then reclined and went back to sleep, making me wonder:  was this a scene between a Good Samaritan and a homeless person, between friends or what??

FEATURED NEWS

Be Stylish on the First of June! - That's the Theme for the Day!

Lovely Lilacs

Despite a misty and rainy day my small lilac bushes make my heart sing!

The tall fence was erected by our neighbor who prefers more privacy whereas I like wide, open spaces.

Linking to good fences.

FEATURED NEWS

Be Stylish on the First of June! - That's the Theme for the Day!

New Marketing Technique-Signs

A new real estate sign-new marketing technique.

Linking to Signs, Signs

Meet Maid Marion

On a rainy afternoon I stepped out my front door to go marketing , walking down the street, framed nicely for a photo, I met Maid Marion. On her way to a hardware story to get the screen repaired she gracious consented to having her portrait taken.  While chatting I learned that she originally is from Evanston and Chicago, Illinois, where I once lived while sowing my wild oats, but she is now living in Minnesota. In my neighborhood! She went to Grinnell for college,  and we discovered another coincidence. While in school she knew another student whom I taught when he was in high school where I used to teach.  I love all these little human connections and surprises!

FEATURED NEWS

Be Stylish on the First of June! - That's the Theme for the Day!

Fort Snelling Military Cemetery-Memorial Day, 2015

The Crosses
I stood there before the crosses 
glowing white in row on row
Everyone a young life cut short
as the names upon them show.

***********************************

“Voices of boys were by the river-side.

Sleep mothered them; and left the twilight sad.” 

― Wilfred Owen, The War Poems

An Irish Airman foresees His Death

I KNOW that I shall meet my fate
Somewhere among the clouds above;
Those that I fight I do not hate
Those that I guard I do not love;         —Wm Butler Yeats High Flight Oh! I have slipped the surly bonds of Earth And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings; Sunward I've climbed, and joined the tumbling mirth Of sun-split clouds, — and done a hundred things You have not dreamed of — wheeled and soared and swung High in the sunlit silence. Hov'ring there, I've chased the shouting wind along, and flung My eager craft through footless halls of air. . . . Up, up the long, delirious burning blue I've topped the wind-swept heights with easy grace Where never lark, or ever eagle flew — And, while with silent, lifting mind I've trod The high untrespassed sanctity of space, Put out my hand, and touched the face of God. — John Gillespie Magee,

Sunday Spires/Steeples

A few weeks ago I decided to photograph church steeples of various denominations to see if there is a correlation between religion and the architecture of the spires. After a few snapshots and posts,  I have lost interest and find the theme a bit boring so this is the last photo of its kind until I am able to revive interest in my steeple chase.

Australian Shepherds-Camera Critters

A few weeks ago I posted photos of a charming neighborhood I found quite by accident.  While sitting in its small park, one of the residents greeted me when she walked by with her two Australian Shepherd dogs, both rescue animals. The beautiful animals are friendly and well-trained.  Alas, I lost misplaced all my notes, but I found the dogs and their owner so extraordinary that I'm posting without the most basic information about them.  Just enjoy!!

Linking to Camera Critters & Saturday's Critters

Custom Bike Racks

These customized bike racks certainly are attractive and so different than the usual commercial racks but I wonder about how to use them, especially if a number of bikes are involved.  So far I have never seen multiple bikes attached to one of these modern racks,

Green Grass and Shadows

This is a somewhat nondescript but sweet little fence along the walkway of a busy sidewalk.

Linking to Good Fences

Workers Unite! Signs, Signs!!

Can't disagree with this sign!  Wish our politicians would see, read  and pay attention to this!!

Linking to Signs, Signs and ABC Wednesday "S"

Ganymede and the Eagle

I have been pretty much housebound because of vertigo, which is still hanging around and keeping me from taking new photos. I am going to show you another wonderful Art in Bloom pairing of sculpture and floral arrangement that I saw in April during the exhibition at the Minneapolis Institute of Arts. This particular statue, Ganymede and the Eagle by Bertel Thorvaldsen, was interpreted by  Mary Mulvehill who was "fascinated with eagles and inspired by Ganymede's boyhood charm."

Don't know about Ganymede? "Ambrosia and nectar were believed to be “the food of the gods” in ancient Greece, and Ambrosia is often characterized as a fluid. The Neoclassical sculptor Bertel Thorvaldsen shows Ganymede – the gods’ cupbearer – serving Ambrosia in a two-handled drinking vessel or kylix to Zeus, the Father of the Gods. Zeus is portrayed as an eagle, which is the guise Zeus took on when he carried Ganymede away from earth and to Mount Olympos, where he made the beautiful young man an immortal servant to the gods." (Credit: ArtsConnected.org)

A BIG Hit!

Dutton, one of my former English teacher colleagues,  recently participated in a parish talent show, and was a big hit.  My iphone camera did a creditable job, but I think I could have gotten some clearer shots if I had had my Canon. Dutton is a man of many talents and was a favorite among the students when we were still teaching.  Since retirement he has not slowed down at all, keeping busy with many interests in a variety of areas: painting, writing, bird watching, travel and volunteering.

Sunday Steeples

In previous posts, I have been photographing church steeples to try to determine which denomination might have spires that are  more ornate than other religions.  Obviously it is a theme that will probably determine very little, but it has been interesting to see the variety among the various religions.  I lost the notes on this one: it is located on Highway 110 in Mendota and is either a Baptist or Congregational church.  I am attracted to its simplicity. Go here to see an entirely different spire in an urban Twin City area.

Meet Edie and Summer: Camera Critters

Edie was lying  peacefully on a table in a bookstore when I walked in several weeks ago.  Captivated by this pooch, I was drawn to her and spent a brief time with her and her owner before browsing for books. Friendly and small, eight-year-old Edie weighs almost 5 lbs. Her owner, Summer, told me that she has had the small Chihuahua since this charming canine was a wee puppy. Summer grew up in Minnetonka, MN and just moved to NE Minneapolis, a happening place.  I don't think it really matters where Summer lives as long as she has Edie with her.

Linking to Camera Critters

Disruptive

I think that this season has been the most disruptive because of road repair and construction.  Residents, businesses, and drivers in our end-of-town are not happy.  Some of the streets plus a freeway bridge are being widened and reconstructed, which has been a collective pain for the people who normally use them.  People trying to get from one end of town to another have to be quite imaginative to circumvent all the road work and construction.  Others in "that other town" across the Mississippi River are experiencing some of the same problems and frustrations.

"Olive Trees" Vincent Van Gogh

At the Art in Bloom exhibit at the Minneapolis Institute of Arts, Patty Murphy and Patty Kelley designed this floral arrangement to interpret the painting by Van Gogh. They said, "Both the movement and texture in Van Gogh's "Olive Trees" inspire us.  Tropical greens and bright yellows demonstrate these strong brush strokes."

"Eros" 1 Million Dollar Sculpture

The hollow bronze head is 12 feet long, 7 feet tall and weighs about 4,000 pounds.

Made in 1999 at the artist’s studio in the northern Italian city of Pietrasanta, the sculpture is a poetic evocation of the beauty, suffering and fragility of human life.

The Minneapolis Institute of Arts is asking the public to help pay for this $1 million sculpture by Polish-born Igor Mitoraj in celebration of the museum’s 100th birthday this year.

It has already raised more than $300,000 and is hoping to raise the rest in contributions of any size — including pennies from kids. There will be donation boxes in the museum, a dedicated website, cellphone links and special events during a gala weekend June 26-28. Go here to learn about this project. (Credit: Minneapolis Institute of Arts)

Art in Bloom Whimsy

The three day "Art in Bloom" at the Minneapolis Institute of Art is over.  For many years I have visited this exhibition, taken photos and posted them on my blog.  Go here to see a 2011 example. This year I got to the museum on the last day when the flowers were beginning to look a little tired,  yet despite this and the large crowd, I still managed to photograph a few bouquets that creatively interpreted a piece of artwork.  This particular duo made me laugh.  I need a little humor in my life right now and hope you enjoy this as much as I do.

Artwork: "Your Dog," Yoshitomo Nara; Floral Arrangement: Wendy Lutter & Stepanie Ross

Belated Mother's Day!

We'll take ALL the credit, kids!

Update on vertigo: 7TH DAY which is now manageable; I'm past the slap to the ground whirling imbalance with just brief periods of dizziness.  For those of you who inquired,  I have been seeing a neurologist and now also a physical therapist. If that doesn't help, off to a Dizzy and Balance Clinic (no kidding, there is such a thing!!) Love, Dizzy Lizzy

Nature's Gift

Everything comes to those who wait!  For months I have been yearning to see this blossoming crab apple tree in our front yard!

I'm in the 5h day of a miserable bout with Vertigo; hard to post, visit, and comment but I'll be back. . .eventually!!

Polaris Slingshot: Motorcycle or Car?

Ian, from St. Paul's Highland Village,  had been riding motorcycles for many years, but a few years ago he had a bad accident that made riding painful.  So….on May 2nd he bought this Polaris because the design of the seats was more comfortable for his previously injured back.

"In development for three years, the Minnesota designed Slingshot, the 1,666-lb. trike, is more akin to a three-wheeled car with front wheels situated way out in front of the driver. You don’t straddle the rear-drive Slingshot; you sit way back in it, side by side with your passenger in waterproof bucket seats, and your posteriors are only 11.9 inches off the pavement. With its short windscreen and low-sided open-air cockpit, the Slingshot has the visceral appeal of a sportbike, but it drives more like a lightweight sports car, albeit one with three wheels." Credit-CycleWorld: Click here for a review)

Neighbor's Backyard-Good Fences

Every year I wait for these blossoms to erupt to grace the gate and fence of a neighbor's yard.

Linking to Good Fences

Women and flowers

Candid shots of women and flowers at the Market 

Milwaukee Avenue Historical Neighborhood

By chance I recently came upon this two block neighborhood, closed to vehicular traffic tucked away and hidden from a very busy business area on Franklin Avenue.   I was charmed by the houses, many of which have the same architectural design yet are distinguished from one another by individual colors with distinctive creative features by the homeowners.  While sitting on a bench in its centrally located small park,  I met one of the home owners who gave me some information on the neighborhood, saying that, like me, many people are surprised at its existence. If we were in the market for a home rather than downsizing as we are now doing, I would definitely want to move here! Interested in its history I checked the Minnesota Historical Society site and discovered some background historical information.  If you are interested too, click here.

Breakfast at the Market

My breakfast at the market last Saturday: Lightly toasted sesame bagel, lox, cream cheese, onions, tomatoes, ripe olives, and jalapenos and a cold can of hard-core coke. Whether or not I need anything to buy, I drive downtown almost every Saturday or Sunday during the season, just to savor the colors and watch the many vendors and the customers. Early in the season, there are an abundance of flowers.  I bought two large pink geranium plants to hang on my front porch.  Next week I'll load up with herbs and more hanging plants for the backyard patio. After that my version of gardening is finished so I can spend the rest of the summer reading in the sun!! (I am not meant to live in a cold climate. . . my mother warned me!!)

Church Spire #3

3 

Lumin Christi, the former St. Leo's Catholic Church, is the result of a merger of several parishes in the Highland neighborhood in St. Paul.  The church was updated with a very distinct modern interior and exterior. The spire does not resemble many other churches that have a more traditional steeple.

You can see a very different steeple here.

1924 Ford Touring Car's Accessories

Yesterday I showed you this 1924 Ford Model T car that Byron has owned for 50 years.  He pointed out that the Navajo Trading Post bag holds water for the radiator and that the gas tank (shown below) is located under the driver's seat, requiring a hasty retreat if involved in an accident! The tank holds 15 gallons of gas, and the car uses a gallon every ten miles. I expect that planning gas stops on any outing is pretty important!

May 1, 2015 Theme Day: Revolutions

I wonder how many REVOLUTIONS these tires have made during the life of this car?   Not to mention the REVOLUTIONS in car design and performance!! Byron, the owner, has had this 1924 Ford Model T-touring car for 50 years.  While he was still in high school he bought the car from a banker in Forest Lake, Minnesota.  I do not know anyone who has owned a car for 50 years!!He has had lots of fun with it, and I doubt that Byron will ever part with it. Tomorrow I will show you some other features of this car.

To see how other City Daily Photo bloggers from around the world has interpreted this month's theme, go here.