Tools

A place for every thing, and every thing in its place!

 1802 Alexander Dumas

Flowers and Fence

Nothing decorates a cyclone fence better than beautiful flowers

Linking to Good Fences

Used Books-Signs, Signs

Seen on a sale rack of used books, outside a bookstore on the sidewalk in Dinkytown, near the University of Minnesota campus.

Linked to Signs, Signs

A Spyder-ABC Wednesday "C"

I'd like to take a spin in this Porsche Spyder.  Care to join me?

Linking to ABC Wednesday & Our World Tuesday,  Tuesday Afternoon

1844 Gerard Manley Hopkins

Pine Bend Refinery

For years I've passed this oil refinery, noting only that it dominated the landscape beside  Highway 52.  I have always been struck by our tendency on CDP to present our city and immediate area in the best light as possible.  The beautiful people we photograph, restaurants, lovely homes, flowers, and landscapes are only a part of our environment; I thought that this would certainly be an alternative photo; something on which we all rely.  This is what I found to describe these photos:

The Pine Bend Refinery is the largest oil refinery in Minnesota, located in the Twin Cities suburbs of Rosemount and Inver Grove Heights next to southern split of U.S. Highway 52 and Minnesota State Highway 55. The refinery is notable for being the largest in the United States to be located in a state without any oil wells.  Overall, it ranked 14th in the country as of 2012 by production, with a nameplate capacity of 320,000 barrels (51,000 m) per day.^] The facility is owned by Flint Hills Resources (FHR), a subsidiary of Koch Industries.

Hands

I'm fascinated by hands and what they might say about the person.

Fountain

I know that I should wax eloquent about this water fountain but it just looks like these poor souls are barfing.

Five Former Colleagues

Last Wednesday four former colleagues and I had lunch together at Cristo's Greek restaurant in Minneapolis: Caroline, Colleen, Syb, Claudia, and Moi.  Caroline, Colleen, and I taught in the English department together for approximately 30 years, Claudia left the Social Studies/History department in 1983, and Syb worked in the Development Office. Syb and the three of us who taught English still live in the Twin Cities but Claudia flies in from Arizona to be with us on occasion. I think that we five should now go to Greece or Italy or France or Ireland or the British Isles or ??? Don't you think so?!

Rose Garden's Good Fence

The gate and fence is part of the landscape at the Rose Garden in Minneapolis

These beauties are just two of the many exquisite blossoms in the garden.  What visual pleasures!!

Linking to Good Fences

Today's College/University Campuses

The college campuses are much more civilized and inclusive in the 21st Century than they were in the past.  It is heartening to see that students with families have play areas provided for their children.


Link to Signs, Signs

Bird on Rocks-ABC Wednesday "B"

When our grandson was little we spent many happy hours in cottages on Lake Michigan.  Washington Island in Door County, Wisconsin, was our favorite hangout, and a child's picture book about a seagull was a favorite read.  I recently got reacquainted with Shelly, the seagull when we stayed in a cabin on Lake Superior.  Too bad our grandson no longer joins us on our lake outings because I know that he, too, would recognize Shelly.

Linking to ABC Wednesday and Tuesday Afternoon and Our World Tuesday

1899 Ernest Hemingway

Monday Mellow Yellows

Unusual yellow new growth on this pine tree.

Linking to Monday Mellow Yellow

Simple pleasures

Admiring the simple gifts of nature is my humble Sunday prayer.

And, a very Happy Natal Day to my favorite New Zealander!!

Kayak Instructions

Kayaks were available in the cabin/resort where we recently stayed.  I watched the man give instructions to the female in the orange kayak.  Water on Lake Superior is a tough place to learn,  and she didn't last long.  By the time I finished watching and taking a few photos she had fled and returned to terra firma.

Boy in a Tree

Swinging in hammock

In tree high above ground 

Happy as a bird!

The Road Not Taken

"Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference."

Patrick's Bakery

If you can't be in Paris, celebrate Bastille Day at Patrick's French Bakery and Cafe!!

 The owner Patrick Benet is from France and knows good food and bakery items.  Go here to read City Pages review of this great place.  Yesterday I had an asparagus and tomato quiche but forgot to photograph it until I was half through, but you get the picture!!


1805 Rembrandt
Linking to signs, signs

A Bad Accident-ABC Wednesday "A"

A 35-year-old skateboarder died after colliding with a truck in St. Paul.

Police say Soren Hallberg, of St. Paul, was “going pretty fast” when he exited an alleyway by Whole Foods, and broadsided a truck that was passing by. The incident happened on Fairview Avenue, near the busy Grand Avenue intersection, around 8:40 p.m. He died at Regions Hospital.The truck driver, 35-year-old Trevor Skalsky, of Coon Rapids, was moving at or below the speed limit at the time of the accident and stopped immediately.

Linking to ABC Wednesday

Rosebuds

To the Virgins, to Make Much of Time

Robert Herrick, 1591 - 1674

Gather ye rosebuds while ye may,
   Old Time is still a-flying;
And this same flower that smiles today
   Tomorrow will be dying.

Scenic Cafe

The Scenic Cafe located about 24 miles north of Duluth on Old North Shore Rd is the place to eat if your happen to be anywhere in the area.  The garden and landscape in front of the building invites you in for a gourmet meal.

We started with an asparagus flan and unusual salad with a beet dressing before we ordered an entree.

1817 Henry Thoreau

A Beauty-Camera Critters

How lucky can I be?! In a short period of time one afternoon recently I found a Minnesota state flower, the rare pink and white lady's slipper, and then I saw this lovely swallowtail butterfly.

1899 E.B. White

Linking to Camera Critters & Saturday's Critters

Sweet Little Cabin Up North

 This is the sweet little cabin on Lake Superior Up North in which we stayed for a few days.  I want to return soon since it is a place of great tranquility.

And, this is the home of the owner of the sweet little cabin and other cabins  on the Lake Superior property.

1871 Marcel Proust

Minnesota State Flower

Fast Facts

• Adopted as the State flower in 1902
• Botanical Name: Cypripedium reginae
• Also known as: the Queen’s lady slipper and the showy lady’s slipper
• The lady’s slipper is uncommon in Minnesota
• Fun Fact: Some people can get a rash from touching the leaves of this pretty orchid
• In its first year, the orchid grows only about as tall as a pencil point!
• Each year the lady’s slipper may produce a half-million seeds, which are as fine as flour dust.
• With the pink and white lady slipper’s longer than average life span – some species may grow be 100 years old!
• 
  
• Thank you Susan for showing me where to find this beauty!!

Found living in open fens, bogs, swamps, and damp woods where there is an abundance of natural light, the feminine-looking pink and white lady’s slipper grows slowly, taking up to 16 years to produce the first flowers! Blooming in late June or early July, the plants may live, on average, about 50 years and can grow to be over four feet tall.

A century ago, the ostentatious pink and white lady’s slipper was a favorite adornment in rural church altars during the summer. 

Since 1925, this rare wildflower has been protected by Minnesota state law; it is illegal to pick the flowers or to uproot or unearth them.

Other-worldly Bakery

Before we left Lindstrom we had to stop and sample the bakery items.  On the left are some old tools that graced one of the walls inside.  Impossible to take photos of the baked goods because too many people were in the store to get any good shots plus I ate the donuts before I got out my camera!

1898 Alex Waugh
Linking to signs, signs

Sven's

If you are in the market for a pair of clogs, travel to Lindstrom, Minnesota in the Chicago Lakes region and visit Sven's.  This Scandinavian Troll will greet you at the entrance to the store where you will find plenty of clogs to fit your personality.

1940 Ringo Starr