Towering Pines

Wild Wendy and Jim walk among the towering pines in Canal Park, Duluth, Minnesota

Dog Days!

Wild Wendy met a few cute street walkers while exploring Duluth!

Boat Traffic

What fun it is to watch boat traffic on Lake Superior; the lake is currently at a record high as  one or more of the other Great Lakes are this month.  How I love the North Shore of Minnesota, only a few hours from Saint Paul!

Grandma's Marathon Preparations!

Preparations are already underway along scenic highway 61 for Grandma's Marathon that takes place on Saturday, June 22nd in Minnesota.  While we are here for our short Memorial Day vacation, we are going to scout out some lodging accommodations somewhere along the route for that event. This volunteer, who lives in Duluth and works for the city, was busy painting the highway markers during his weekend vacation. Tells you how important and exciting this event has become! Only 25 more training days left, runners!!

For more information, click here.

Above photo courtesy of GrandmasMarathon.com

Lake Superior-Up North

 This is a VERY long zoom shot of an example of boat traffic on Lake Superior. Part of the fun of vacationing on this wonderful lake, is watching the varied shapes and sizes of boats on this wonderful ocean-like lake.  Never tire of it--during the summer when the sky is blue and sunny, temperatures are perfect, and  breezes are cool and comfortable. Ah! What a life!!

Wordless Wednesday

Meet Bear!

WWWW (While Walking Wild Wendy) we made friends with Bear. Initially, I avoided walking past the house where he lived and where the dog was often tethered on a long leash that extended to the edge of the sidewalk. His size, bark, and greeting-by-lunging scared me (and Wendy). Eventually we hailed his owner who along with a neighbor and mailman assured us that Bear was friendly,  and I explained how I felt. We introduced the two dogs and ever since WW loudly barks a greeting to Bear as we approach the house., After they sniff "Hello" we are on our way.

Linking to Saturday's Critters and Camera Critters

An Exciting Sign!!

It is always fun to find an unusual or clever sign to post, but this is one that I find most exciting!!  How wonderful to find a small INDEPENDENT bookstore in Stillwater, MN. When I checked inside, it was obviously thriving: a coffee shop for the patrons, a round table filled with about 8 women looking over their book list, people chatting, relaxing, or reading in a back room that overlooks the St. Croix River and boat traffic, but best of all, well-stocked stacks of new (and used books) for sale with attractive displays. What a great bookstore in this great little town!

Candyland!

The Candyland store in Stillwater, Minnesota is one of four in the Twin City area.  

Click here for a bit of its history, and perhaps you will want to visit it with me!

Stillwater, Minnesota

 On July 29 and September 29, 1837, treaties were signed between the US government and the local Ojibwa and Dakota nations that allowed settlement in the St. Croix Valley. The town was founded by settlers drawn by the area's then-abundant lumber and river traffic, making it one of Minnesota's oldest towns, preceding Minneapolis by several years. Stillwater was officially incorporated as a city on March 4, 1854 (the same day as St. Paul). The city was named for the calm waters of the St. Croix River.

When warm weather arrives, a trip to Stillwater is a seasonal adventure.  This quaint, historical town attracts many tourists because of its attractions: interesting shops, good restaurants, parks along the river, festivals, art shows, and fun-to-watch river traffic. I'll show you a few in following days. This mural is located on the side of one of the business buildings.

Linked to A Colourful World

The House Harbinger

Just two doors down from me, I use this house as a harbinger. When I observe this scene every spring, I celebrate a new season and am assured that color will return to my world!

Spring has Sprung

Longfellow Garden in Minneapolis, which is a short distance from my house, is a gem that is a colorful vision of plants and flowers in the summer. Visited by many people, I wondered how many people stopped to see it in the spring? I visited the garden today to get a glimpse of its springtime garments.  Less colorful than June, it is apparent that the park service people who tend the garden have been busy. After the blossoms have emerged I will go back again to show the amazing contrast made by loving hands, sunshine and rain.  

A purple residence

Many of my neighbors have a green thumb, and I enjoy their gardens each year. One woman a few houses down from me includes other items in her landscape that adds more interest to her yard.

A Lavender Farm

I thought that I might continue the purple theme for a few more posts! I LOVE this lavender farm and cannot wait 'til our annual trip next August to listen to the two week music festival on Washington Island, Door County, Wisconsin so I can hear and see these lavender delights at the same time on this beloved island!

The Island Lavender Company is located in the heart of Washington Island at the Historic Island Dairy, where acres and acres of lavender fields are farmed and hand-made lavender products are produced. The Island Lavender Company carefully harvests each bundle of lavender during the "Blooming Season" from July though mid-August. Each bundle is gently dried in our aged wooden lavender drying barns to protect the vibrant colors and aromatic scent of the fresh cut lavender. After drying, the buds are removed from the stems in our exclusive "Lavender Spooler" and rigorously cleaned in our custom "Lavender Bud Centrifuge". After extensive cleaning, the lavender buds are inspected assuring the highest quality. At the end of the summer growing season each plant is carefully harvested and trimmed by hand for our specially designed "Lavender Steam Vapor Boiler", to separate the aromatic lavender oil through a copper condensation cooling tower that stands almost 8ft. tall, producing our lavender essential oils and lavender infused waters. The Lavender Buds and Lavender Essential Oils are prepared for culinary, personal care and home good products. Even the dried lavender stems are available and wonderful to use in BBQ and wood fires, filling the air with the intrigue of aromatic lavender. Fair Trade Prices and Quality Farm Local Products. 

Linked to Our World Tuesday

Theme Day, May 1, 2019-PURPLE

A photographer at the June Jazz Festival in St. Paul, Minnesota in 2014. Every year she has been present, taking official photos for the annual event that is held downtown in Mears Park.

My archives are filled with photos containing the color purple, mostly beautiful flowers. I debated between this one and a field of heather on a Door County, Wisconsin farm, but this one won because it truly is a Minnesota event. Click here to see other City Daily Photo entries for this month's special theme, the color PURPLE!