Black is Beautiful!

I have driven past this mural at the intersection of Victoria and Selby for many years and have always admired it. Friday night we ate at Lee and Dee's BBQ storefront-type restaurant, right next door to it. An opportunity I could not ignore. Beauty in the most unlikely places.

Wet Paint and Moleskine Notebooks

Wet Paint Art Supply store is a riot of color both inside and out. Thursday's blog on Paris Breakfasts mentioned moleskine notebooks. After I retired, I discovered computers big time (although I'm still a neophyte) and neglected my journals. While I was teaching I could never pass up a sale, bought journals, saved them, and then gave them as gifts to graduatiing seniors. Now I still have drawers full of unused, brand new journals. But, today I went shopping at Wet Paint; I probably should have at least ONE moleskine notebook. There's a pretty good selection from which to choose!

Golden Gopher??

A Golden Gopher is the mascot of the University of Minnesota. I went hunting for one to shoot, but they are very elusive. Instead I found this chipmunk, which will have to do. A small cousin, perhaps?

Red Alert

Don't forget to record your user name and password, as well as the email you use for your
acct(s)--I just spent an hour trying to figure it out. Whew!

Marian, the Librarian (MN Workers series)

Actually, Marian is not the name of this lovely woman who works in probably the most important building in our neighborhood, the St. Paul Branch Library in Highland Park. As I accumulate more photos, I'll occasionally post them to show you the Minnesota work force.

William Mitchell College of Law

This building, which has been expanded and renovated in recent years, originally was a Roman Catholic private girls' school, Our Lady of Peace. Today it is a school which has evolved from an earlier, well-established evening law school that served students of all ages. Probably its most celebrated alum is former Chief Justice Warren Burger (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Warren_E._Burger).

The Peace Pole

With the current world problems, it might be good if the world leaders read the message on this peace pole.

Hungry?

The next time you're in town, give me a buzz, and we'll go get the best burgers in St.Paul at The Nook, across the street from Cretin-Derham Hall High School. It's a saloon with several tables for fine dining. Although it's had several owners over the years, it's a neighborhood favorite, and the loyal clientele continue to eat there year after year. My DH went there when he was young, my own children also patronized the place, and now we take our grandchildren there--for burgers only, of course. Three generations isn't bad; bet there are other St. Paul families that have visited it over the years, too. Give me a ring!!

Gulf Shrimp on the Street (MN Worker)

MN. Worker Series: This is a first for our little neighborhood. On the street at a busy intersection close to a Starbucks store, I saw this sign and salesman. The man has been there two days in a row, but I wonder how long it will take before the police move him along? Unlike many other cities, both here and abroad, this is not a common sales practice right here in River City.

Minnesota Workers-A New Series

Minnesota is blessed with a low unemployment rate, and those who are gainfully employed are very hard workers. Recently we had our front yard beautified by Lilydale Landscapers and liked them so much we had our back yard redone. Occurred to me that Minnesotans earn their livelihood in a variety of ways. In future photos I'll show you the way we earn our livings. Incidentally, do you like the tattoo on one of our favorite workers??!!

Como's Bonsai Trees

Conservatory at Como Park has a variety of unusual and unique plants in the many greenhouses attached to it. One of the spaces is devoted to Bonsai trees, nature in minature. "Juniperus Virginia" or Eastern Red Cedar on the bottom is 35 years old, and "Acer Palmatam" or Japanese Maple on the top is a mere 26 years of age. Check this site for a visual treat of Como Park: http://www.comozooconservatory.org/

Sparky

The Twin Cities have many wonderful parks, one of which is Como Park in St. Paul. From its original 300 acres it has developed over the years to include a zoo, conservatory (both recently remodeled), a Japanese Garden, kiddie rides, picnic grounds, and swimming pool. In 1997 it observed its 100th birthday. (http://www.comozooconservatory.org/zoo/history.html) Sparky the Seal depicted in the above painting, which is on display at the zoo, has been a mainstay and big draw at outdoor performances for fifty years; actually several seals have played the role (Ssh, don't tell the children that there's been more than one). Since the performance began there have been six different seals, playing the role of Sparky. An addendum: Today (Thursday, August 17th) the morning newspapers were full of stories about the Zoo and the 6 Sparky Seals because of the 50 year anniversary. Great coincidence with my post---now if only Sparky could read!

¡Anticipation-Mazatlán México!

I posted this on Kate-travels, too, but I am so excited, I want EVERYONE to know that I'm going to live in Maz for 3 months in 2007. I have travelled a good deal over the years, but recently have found that I keep returning to México, a fascinating country with wonderful people. I just rented a house in El Centro, my favorite part of the town. I'll need to start brushing up on my very, very elementary Spanish skills. While there I will just vegetate, take pictures for my travel blog, and enjoy the culture. I also hope to volunteer in an orphanage, teaching English as a second language to the children.,

Renovation

Would you buy a condo in this building??

Ride Anyone #2??

Before I started blogging, I passed this lot frequently with rows and rows of parked yellow cabs. Never gave it another thought. Now I view it differently, asking myself, " Hmmm, wonder what kind of photo that would be!" Seeing is great!!

Ride, anyone?

The University of St. Thomas has two campuses, one in St. Paul and the other in Minneapolis. Students can shuttle from one to the other in school-provided buses. This one was idling at the curb on Summit Avenue. Some city buses also have some outstanding paint jobs, but this one represents the campus very well.

What's Next?

This wonderful old stone building at the bottom of a steep hill in St. Paul was once a church, then converted to a community theatre for amateur performances, and now is an office building. If only the walls could talk. For some other views of the exterior go to kate-musings.

My Best Friend

Pardon my indulgence, but our good friend Matt asked to see a picture of my best friend after yesterday's post. Well, here he is, DH Jim (known as Jaime in México), on an early morning vacation ride with our favorite grand-daughter, Olivia.

Keeping Warm

While the weather is still warm and humid, winter seems far away. How do Minnesotans, and St. Paulites in particular, stay warm during the cold frigid months? Well, you dress for it, but our city fathers in their infinite wisdom have provided skyways for shoppers and downtown workers. The system runs for miles, crossing and criss-crossing the city. Perhaps a follow-up in December will demonstrate the changing seasons. Stay tuned!

PS

Thanks to ~tanty~ who gave me instructions, I'm slowly adding links to my blog. This learner moves slowly for fear of losing everything, so don't feel slighted if your blog isn't on it yet. Honest, I'll eventually have all of you listed.

My Second Best Friend

Since Maggi is a part of St. Paul, I consider her portrait legitimate for this blog. She's my second best friend because DH, dear husband Jim, is my first very best friend!

A Poem or a Tree

I have never felt that Joyce Kilmer's "Tree" was a lyrical poem worthy of quoting, but when I saw these logs, I thought about lines from his poem: "A tree that may in summer wear/A nest of robins in her hair;...Poems are made by fools like me,/But only God can make a tree." This diseased tree needed more than a poem and the hand of God. Made me sad to see the felling of this one.

Tired Feet?

The Fair can be exhausting. Tired? If you are, hie yourself over to the small park by the DNR building. If you're lucky you'll find a picnic table or one of the metal benches.

A Fine Eating Establishment!

Now wouldn't you like to have a meal at this vendor at the Fair?

Cluck! Cluck!

Interrupting my state fair posts, this billboard on a busy corner caught my eye. Normally I consider billboards an environmental blight, but this one makes me smile!

If You Give a Moose a Muffin

The statue in the center of an exhibit at the Department of Natural Resouces Building looks frighteningly real. In the flesh they look even more formidable.
IMPORTANT NEW INFORMATION: Thanks to Matt's comment, this is definitely a moose. Research tells me that altho they may look alike, an elk has pointed antlers like a deer whereas a moose has broad, palmated antlers. In Colorado hunters can be fined big bucks (think thousands) if they mistake a moose for an elk. And to further complicate (it's all a matter of regional language) Matt is right; in Europe, the animal that we call moose, they call elk. Our elk is just a very large deer! These photoblogs are so educational!!

Get Ready!

This is the main entrance to the Minnesota State Fair which, according to my DH (dear husband) who grew up in St. Paul, is one of the largest in the nation. Since I haven't researched that bit of local lore, I don't know if it's true. Minnesotans love their fairs--last year the attendance was 1,632,876 people. Yesterday I drove around the huge area, watching the workers spruce up the grounds. It was strange being there without the crowds and lots of tempting food--cholesterol heaven. During the next few days, I'll post pictures of some of the buildings and booths I saw, and then PERHAPS I'll photograph them later during the fair if I'm not jostled too much by all the eager fair goers, and if I can stop eating long enough to take pictures. In the meantime, visit Kate-musings for more pictures. (I still don't know how to program the links--I've got pictures which I also took yesterday of some beautiful horses on that blog).

Capitol Dome

View of the capitol dome from the rear of the building. There are four gold horses atop the dome at the front. I'm going to try to figure out how I can get up there to take pictures. They are huge, however, as befitting the building that marks the capital of our fair state of Minnesota!

Donate Books

When I was still teaching I coordinated the donation of textbooks, fiction, non-fiction, and children's books to be dropped off at Books for Africa in a warehouse in downtown St. Paul where books are collected and sorted. I continue to recommend this outstanding non-profit organization as a great place to leave slightly-used books in good condition. Regularly, large shipments of donated books are sent to many different African countries for school libraries and community centers. They also welcome cash donations to help with shipping costs.

Yo' Mama!

This mural was hard to photograph because it is several stories up from the ground on a tall building. It's slightly askew but the colors are interesting. I have no idea about its background, but the pink and blue "MOM" appealed to me.

Many flowers!

Back from the flower market, 4-yr-old granddaughter Olivia poses with the posies she has chosen. Seems to me that there are many flowers in the photo!

The Bacchus Society

My favorite store -- check the bargain sale prices!

Dogi Pot

The University of Minnesota has a world-class Veterinary School of Medicine on the St. Paul campus. We've taken our dogs to the Small Animal Clinic there for decades. Recently I noticed that the groundskeeper means business when considering the dogs' business!

EXTRA EXTRA--COMMENTARY!

I'm trying to learn how to link to other blogs so.......don't despair if your name isn't on my list yet. It's slow-going because I'm not a techie. It'll happen!! I hope to work on it this coming week-end.

An urban frontyard

This little critter stayed still long enough for me to "shoot" him for our pleasure and enjoyment.
Aside: Couldn't get into ANY blogs until just now (3 pm CDT)!!

An urban backyard

This aluminum canoe, several years in disuse now, spent idyllic, lazy days floating down the St. Croix river in the past, carrying two happy children, an occasional dog, and my husband and me. Many stories to tell: a wonderful Minolta 35mm camera still resting somewhere on the bottom of the river after a careless but nasty canoe tipover, neighborhood camping trips with wild revelers, sunbathing on sandbars, and scary thunder and lightening storms that seemed to materialize out of nowhere. The grandkids are now old enough to go canoeing, but those darn canoes get heavier and heavier every year!

One of our Boys!

St. Paul's native son, F.Scott Fitzgerald, has a theatre named for him, topped with this marque sign hanging above the entrance. Garrison Keeler tapes many of his live shows there, and it is the very site of the filming of A Prairie Home Companion, starring Meryl Streep and a number of other Hollywood notables.

Santa Fe Influence

One of our local cafes, Bread and Chocolate, has this pseudo fireplace and Sante Fe-influenced cabinet doors in a corner of the room. It's restful and beautiful in its simplicity, different than the rest of the busy place.

Mickey's

Mickey's has been a local downtown landmark for generations.

Fantasy Land

Despite less-than-perfect weather, yesterday the white tents that hold a variety of crafts of all kinds were slowing going up, displaying a variety of items: clothing, furniture, jewelry, paintings, photographs--you get the picture. Traffic is blocked from four long blocks on one of our main streets for three days so vendors can sell and customers can delight in the many treasures, while eating goodies from the many food trucks and carts. This booth can satisfy any little girl's imagination.

Today Starbucks-Tomorrow the World!

Two of my favorite servers at Starbucks, Jason and Abdul, who always remember my name, know what I usually order, and give me a Grande Latte with a smile! There are many more servers there, though, that are just as friendly and efficient. They just weren't there when I had my camera.

The Gov's Pad

St Paul is the capital of the state of Minnesota. Upon each election, the govenor and family reside in this formerly-private residence of the Irvine family , who donated it to the state several decades ago.The brass plaques, one on each side of the wrought iron gate, indicate that it is on the National Register of Historical Places. Of course it is located on Summit Avenue.

St.Luke's Front Door

Although tastes have changed, historically Summit Avenue has been the premier street in St. Paul. St. Luke's parish has been around for a long time and has nurtured the spiritual lives of many Roman Catholics in the city. The building is huge, and its main entrance on Summit is shown here. PS. Something has occurred along the way, and I can't fix the 404 error; consequently, a click will not produce an enlarged image as it did when I first posted it. Too bad because the detail is wonderful. I think it's computer voodoo!