First Snowfall

This isn't much of a fence, or wall for that matter, but it keeps clumsy pedestrians from falling into the shrubs.  Our first seasonal snowfall occurred on Thanksgiving Day.  Wasn't much, for which I am thankful; pretty isn't it?

Linking to Good Fences

Thankful Hearts

HAPPY THANKSGIVING

Give us thankful hearts... in this season of Thy Thanksgiving. May we be thankful for health and strength, for sun and rain and peace. Let us seize the day and the opportunity and strive for that greatness of spirit that measures life not by its disappointments but by its possibilities, and let us ever remember that true gratitude and appreciation shows itself neither in independence nor satisfaction but passes the gift joyfully on in larger and better form.     -- W.E.B. Dubois

Wordless Wednesday-Church Banner

Linked to Signs, signs

West Side Story: Mural, Mural on the Wall

Teens Networking Together, a West St. Paul neighborhood youth group, has collaborated with established area local artists, for example, with Craig David to create murals such as "The Heroes of Freedom, Justice and Peace" (1995) on the wall outside the El Burrito Mercado on Caesar Chavez Street.  How many personages can you identify?  I'll make it easy for you: Aung San Suu Kyi,  Martin Luther King, Jr., JFK, Sister Giovani (a local legendary figure), JFK, Sacagawea and/or Pocahontas and Roberto Clemente. Do not know the reclining figure on the left side. Notice the figures on the bottom left offering food and water.
 
Linking to Monday Murals

Grand and Victoria

I love that Cafe Latte on Grand and Victoria hangs and rotates art of local artists in their restaurant/cafeteria. I enjoy the symbols and images of St. Paul in this painting.

Seasonal Bouquet

I think that this is the sixth post I have made of Bread and Chocolate's seasonal bouquets which are highlighted in a special niche in the restaurant that serves wonderful pastries in their Grand Avenue shop. To some some of the others, click here.

Rusted by Time

"Thursday's Good Fences"

Gated and rusted with time

Nature's silent nod

Linking to Good Fences

Wordless Wednesday

A Wordless Wednesday Image

Autumn Leaves

I cannot resist

Leaves against a trim brick wall

Winter will come soon

Cockeyed

Like so much of nature this autumn, even my houseplants are out of synch!  My Christmas cactus is starting to bloom. . .even though it is a bit early, I appreciate the colour.

Y'all, Listen Up!

For my CDP fellow bloggers and Southern friends

Paul Theroux has been one of my favorite travel writers.  He has a keen eye for his surroundings and writes with sharpness to detail and with imagination. He can be acerbic and often irreverent, which is probably why I like him.  I just started the book and know already that I will enjoy it.

Having visited the South for the first time a few years ago, I loved it and all of its contradictions. Wonderful people! I'll let you know how Theroux feels in his own words in the first chapter:

After having seen the rest of the world, I had planned to take one long trip through the South in the autumn, before the presidential election of 2012, and write about it.  But when that trip was over I wanted to go back, and I did so, leisurely in the winter, renewing acquaintances.  That was not enough.  I returned in the spring, and again in the summer, and by then I knew that the South had me, sometimes in a comforting embrace, occasionally in its frenzied and unrelenting grip.

We Are Paris!

We Are Paris

We are France

Photo of  Alexandre Céline Arini

Part of President Obama's address regarding the massacre:
Paris itself represents the timeless values of human progress. Those who think that they can terrorize the people of France or the values that they stand for are wrong. The American people draw strength from the French people’s commitment to life, liberty, the pursuit of happiness. We are reminded in this time of tragedy that the bonds of liberté and égalité and fraternité are not only values that the French people care so deeply about, but they are values that we share. And those values are going to endure far beyond any act of terrorism or the hateful vision of those who perpetrated the crimes this evening.

Sweet Joy

Sweet Joy has been working for the past year at a medical clinic that I have been frequenting lately.  A native of this area, she represents "Minnesota Nice" in the best possible way.  The lone receptionist in the office, she works with great efficiency. Joy manages and orders supplies, cheerfully greets everyone, answers phones, patiently schedules appointments, and sometimes when necessary she reworks the schedule  to everyone's satisfaction.  A real joy for everyone!

Winter Apparel

I certainly will not complain about our colorful and temperate autumn weather, but as the chill winds are blowing, I think that I'd better get prepared.

Remember-Veterans Day

Family Funeral

Linking to ABC WEDNESDAY

Sadi's world

This may not appeal to you in your world, but in her world this millet seed is a tasty treat for Sadi, our parrot.

	Seeds to birds can be like candies to children - most would eat them all the time if they could. But like candy, seeds are high in fat and too much fatty seed may make your bird avoid the more nutritious items (fruits and vegetables) that you provide for him. One particular seed, millet, is lower in fat and in fact, very nutritious. Millet is a grass that has the

botanical name of panicum miliaceum and is one of the most nutritious grains you can give to your bird. Millet contains high levels of proteins, carbohydrates, B-complex vitamins, calcium, phosphorus and magnesium in addition to a host of other important nutrients. (Credit: Drs. Foster and Smith)

Linking to Our World Tuesday

Red Wing Mural

There are a number of small towns close to St. Paul that are fun places to visit.   Red Wing, a town of 16,000 residents along the Mississippi River, is one of them. It is the home of Red Wing Shoes, Riedell Ice and Roller Skates and Red Wing Stoneware. This mural is painted on the wall of a building in its downtown.

Of the three well-known products, my favorite is Red Wing pottery that refers to American stoneware, pottery, or dinnerware items made by a company initially established  in 1861 by German immigrant John Paul. It changed its names several times until finally settling on Red Wing Potteries, Inc. in 1936. The pottery factory that started in 1861 continues to the present day under the names of Red Wing Pottery and Red Wing Stoneware. There was a halt in production when Red Wing Pottery Sales, Inc. had a strike in 1967 causing them to temporarily cease trading. The company still makes both zinc/Bristol glazed products as well as salt-glazed, hand-thrown, kiln fired items. (Credit Wikipedia)

Go here for images of the pottery.

Linking to Monday Murals

Fall Centerpieces

You do not have to be out of your gourd to enjoy these objects for fall decorations.  They make festive table centerpieces.

A Thanksgiving Dish?

Because the temperature has dipped and it is now chilly,  most of the vendors have stopped selling at the Farmer's Market but I couldn't resist stopping to see what is still available and to pick up some late harvest produce.  This "branch" of brussels sprouts is a real bargain for $3.00.  There are some tasty recipes on the internet for this dish so explore and give it a try!

Good Bye, Oliver!

After two weeks with us, Oliver our latest foster dog, left for his forever home with Hanna and Ashley, two young women who are delighted to have him as part of their household.  He will be happy with them!

I was sad to see him go but happy that Oliver is now living with a very nice family!

There's a New Gal in Town

 When I went to the El Burrito Mercado in West St. Paul looking for decorations for
el día de los muertos I saw this comely skeleton.  Who could resist  her?

Indian Summer

Indian Summer

Indian summer is a period of unseasonably warm, dry weather that sometimes occurs in autumn in the Northern Hemisphere. The US National Weather Service defines this as weather conditions that are sunny and clear with above normal temperatures, occurring late-September to mid-November. It is usually described as occurring after a killing frost. (Credit: Wikipedia)  The Old Farmer's Almanac is more specific and refers to the belief that it originated between the  Native Americans and early New England settlers.

Whatever version one may believe, I think that many of us have thoroughly enjoyed our Indian Summer this year.  Leaves are slowly falling and many yards and streets are carpeted with red, orange, and yellow leaves.

Health Care Center-Monday Mural

The Community University Health Care Center on Franklin Avenue in Minneapolis serves a diverse population.  The mural extends almost the width of the front of the building.  The huge parking lot was filled with cars making a panoramic photo of the building and mural impossible.  The smaller sections I photographed should give you an idea of the whole. (Linking to Monday Mural)

According to their website, the CUHCC provides medical care, dental care, mental health care, legal, advocacy for domestic abuse and sexual assault and much more—all in one place.

CUHCC’s staff speaks many languages.

• Español (Spanish)
• Soomaali (Somali)
• Hmoob (Hmong)
•  (Lao)
•  (Vietnamese)

Other languages are available by request.

Ephemeral Sunset: Theme, November 1, 2015

Left Photo:   6:20:50 PM
Right Photo: 6:22: 32 P






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