Halloween at Lunds!

Some people remain young at heart, regardless of age.  Heidi, working the cash register at Lund's Food Market in Highland Village in St. Paul, MN. is one of them!  She has worked at the store for 4 years and dresses up for Halloween. Heidi grew up in Stillwater, Mn but now resides in St. Paul. Although she wasn't familiar with photo blogs, she readily agreed to have me take and post her photo. Heidi is #51/100 in my Strangers Project.

To learn more about the 100 Strangers project, click here:   www.100strangers.com/

Dan, Dan...the accordian man-ABC WEDNESDAY "D"

Art fairs are one of the best parts of summer in the Midwest. Despite an early morning shower with increasing humidity, I went to the annual event on St Kate's campus in St. Paul, MN. on July 23rd. Strolling among the tents and crowds of people visiting the fair was Dan Turpening, who provided some lively accordian music. We chatted and  he mentioned that he visits and performs at many different craft shows. Originally from Pennsylvania he now lives in south Minneapolis. He has played this instrument for about eight years and obviously enjoys it.

Over a year ago I decided to participate in Flickr's 100 Strangers group, but I've been slow in taking portraits just for this project.  Often I snap photos and then proceed on my way without interviewing the subject. I've decided to concentrate more on photos for this group and have recently picked up the pace a little bit. Dan is #33/100. (I think I miscounted and have a few more, but I'm on my way now!)

You can find out more about the project at www.100strangers.com

And, to see more ABC Wednesday posts from bloggers around the world, go here.

100 Strangers Project-#15-Jeremy-ABC Wednesday "J"

"The photograph itself doesn't interest me. I want only to capture a minute part of reality." ~Henri Cartier Bresson

This week the letter is "J" and I met the perfect subject. I met JEREMY, a "real" photographer, at the dog park near the International Airport. Many of the dog owners enjoy watching the airplanes takeoff and land on an adjoining runway while the dogs scamber with one another. I noticed JEREMY with a friend who was visiting from Wyoming for the express purpose to do a photo shoot. Both of the men were taking photos of the aircrafts, as I often do with my little point-and-shoot Canon. Their equipment acted like a magnet for me so I chatted with them for awhile. What I wouldn't give for lenses like they own!!


For more ABC photos that bloggers from around the world have posted, visit here.

100 Strangers -#14

Meet Martin Berg, the owner of the Bones Car (see yesterday's post as well), who is a photographer as well as a free spirit. He told me that it took him two years to collect enough bones to create his car, which is poetry in motion. A whimsical nature is need to produce modern art such as this. Below his portrait I've added another photo of a full-frontal view of Martin's creation.

100 Strangers Project-#12: James

I haven't posted a portrait for my 100 Strangers Project since last March when I still was in Mazatlán, México! After chatting with this young man, I asked if I could photograph him, and, of course, he consented. James is originally from Azusa, California, and he is here in Minnesota to attend Metropolitan State College, majoring in math education. While attending school he works as a cashier at the newly opened Trader Joe's discount gourmet store located on Randolph and Lexington Avenues, the third one opened in the Twin Cities. It is wildly popular, and I must agree that it's a fun place to shop, not only because of the items and prices, but also because of their friendly young clientele, such as James.

The Greatest Generation

Television has changed all of our lives, or so it seems. The Greatest Generation exhibit at the History Center in St. Paul has artifacts on many different aspects of American life in the 20th Century.. Of all the popular culture objects this seems to have been one of the most influential. My husband's family had one of the first television sets in their neighborhood. Yes, it was a Zenith with a round screen!

"Come Fly With Me"

About two or three times a week, we take our dog, Maggi, to a dog park which is adjacent to the Minnesota International Airport. Maggi likes the freedom, and I love watching the airplanes takeoff and land. Several runways run parallel with one side of the park, and to watch I take my folding chair, camera, water and book while Jim tramps the area with our grateful and appreciative canine. As you know, Northwest was purchased by Delta, which is making numerous changes and eliminating the NWA main offices in Eagan, MN; many employees are being transferred to other locations and the unions are wrestling with the "merger." As a Minnesotan, I'm not happy that there will be changes for NWA and hope that air transportation out of the Twin Cities will not be adversely affected. By the number of takeoffs and landings on the runways we observed, the traffic still looks very robust!

I GOT MY REPAIRED CANON BACK ... FINALLY -- GOOD AS NEW! And I had a field day experimenting with it, snapping the aircraft.

"Weather-wise it's such a lovely day
You just say the words and we'll beat the birds
Down to Acapulco Bay"

Lyrics: "Come Fly With Me" -- Frank Sinatra

Breaking the Rules

On Family Day we trooped out to visit the camp where our 7-year-old granddaughter is happily attending for much of the summer. We toured the camp and was treated to her skills navigating a canoe. Only one problem: while "showing off" she and her fellow camper disappeared around a bend in the lake, out of sight of the counselors which was against the rules. Well on their way to a favorite spot, an Island, a wise parent in another canoe, guided them back to the dock. Lots of mischief, but it sure looked like a lot of fun!

Chloe,the Sloth-Saturday & Sunday Camera Critters

We who live in the Twin Cities are very fortunate to be able to visit the Como Zoo and Conservatory in beautiful Como Park in St. Paul. There are many educational and informational exhibits; on November 17, 2006, the new Tropical Encounters exhibit opened in the Visitor Center. This exhibit is a total immersion experience into a neotropical rainforest and is the first exhibit that combines both animals from Como Zoo and plants from the Marjorie McNeely Conservatory. It features over 250 animals including giant river turtles, frogs, fish, free-roaming birds, leaf-cutter ants, spiders, an anaconda and “Chloe” the sloth. Chloe has been featured on my blog before, but this is the first time that I have been able to photograph her face. Cute, isn't she?!
To see more Camera Critters from around the world on Saturday and Sunday, click here.

Postcard Friendship Friday

This large piece of art is located on a landing on one of the stairwells in the Minnesota History Center in downtown St. Paul where we went to see a special exhibit about the Depression and WWII as it affected Minnesotan. I have seen the exact same image you see in the photo on postcards, which, incidentally are becoming increasingly difficult to find. Guess I'll have to start going to antique shops again. Next week I'll show you some photos I took while going through the outstanding "The Greatest Generation" Exhibit at the History Center Stay tuned!!

To see more vintage postcards, click here.

"seriously good preserves"

The phrase, "seriously good preserves" is on the business card for the products sold by the vendor http://www.heathglen.com/. Their display at the Farmer's Market in St. Paul is mouth watering, and these good people provide sample jars of their preserves for tasting purposes: Blueberry Jam with Lime and Mint, Blueberry Lavender with Merlot Wine, Peach Almond, Raspberry Chambord Jam, to name a few. Many of the preserves are even low sugar. Check out their website to see the prices and more selections. Perhaps you'd like to order some?? I'm returning next week to buy several jars for gifts. Good idea, huh?!

Summertime and the Livin' is Easy!

"Strawberries, Strawberries! Oh, deh's so fresh and fine, and deh's just off the vine! Strawberries, Strawberries." (Porgy and Bess)

Flowers at the Market

Now that there are more vegetables being harvested, the flowers and herbs are being discounted, and are real bargains. Strolling from vendor to vendor, I noticed many, many customers laden with blossoms. Click on the image for a closer look!

Blooming Butterflies #4

Another beauty from the exhibit. Perhaps I should go back and get more photos. It's such a pleasure watching them flit about the area, and it's such a thrill if one of them lands on one's arm and occasionally one's head!

Happy Birthday, Maggi!-Saturday and Sunday Camera Critters

If you have visited my blog with some regularity, you have probably seen pictures of Maggi before. For us she's special and "born on the 4th of July" has special meaning since today is her birthday.

To see more critters from around the world on Saturday and Sunday click here.

LET'S CELEBRATE BECAUSE THE 4TH OF JULY CONTAINS MY 1,000TH POST!

Postcard Friday

Split Lock guided ships along the north shore of Lake Superior from 1910 until 1969. Towering above a 130 foot cliff, it sends a beacon of light 22 miles into the lake, and it is ceremoniously lighted once each year. It is one of North American's most renowned lighthouse that is now maintained by the Minnesota Historical Society. (Postcard photos were taken by Dennis O'Hara and Lee Radzak)

To see more vintage postcards, click here.

Blooming Butterflies #3

Not a butterfly, but some of these giant moths were included as part of the exhibit. I have never seen a moth this large, have you?

Empty-July 2009 Theme Day

"No one ever died from sleeping in an unmade bed. I have known mothers who remake the bed after their children do it because there is wrinkle in the spread or the blanket is on crooked. This is sick.” Erma Bombeck quotes (U.S. humorist, 1927-1996)

A bed empty of a sleeping body. Wonder who just left it? Our grandson is staying with us for four weeks while he is attending summer school in our neighborhood. You never would have guessed that this is how a 15-year-old boy would leave the room when he left for the day. Right?

Click here to view thumbnails for all participants

Blooming Butterflies #2

This "paper kite" (Idea leuconoe) is part of the butterfly exhibit I described on my blog yesterday. Scroll down to see it and another butterfly!

Camera Saga Continues: I won't go into excruciating detail, but I STILL am without my camera and am still using my son's. The painful story began on May 15th when I dropped it for repairs at a local repair shop that couldn't fix it nor were they particularly communicative about their lack of progress; it's now sitting at a Canon shop somewhere in America and I'm waiting for its eventual return, hoping that it will be in good working order!!

Blooming Butterflies

Butterflies live a precarious existence because of habitat destruction, pesticides and collection. Como Park Zoo and Conservatory is doing its part to help save the butterfly by planting native plant species providing food and shelter for butterflies in some of its outdoor gardens. The Blooming Butterflies Exhibit allows people to walk within an enclosed tent and move among the butterflies. The Exhibit which runs until September was made possible by the generous support of Como Friends, and the plants and materials were donated by local businesses: Linder's Garden Center, Monrovia and Interlock Concrete Works. Quite a display, and it's AWESOME!