Found Poetry

I have walked along this sidewalk in my neighboirhood many, many times. Yesterday as I paused to take a picture of something else, I happened to look down and saw this "found poem."  I'd like to meet the poet.

Anticipation

I wonder how long it will be before I see these at the Farmers Market?

Sex is good, but not as good as fresh, sweet corn. [or cabbage]~Garrison Keillor

ABC Wednesday: "M"-The Mighty Mississippi

One of the pluses about living in St. Paul is the proximity of the Mississippi River, only about 6 blocks from my home.  The photos above have been taken in the Twin Cities metropolitan area.  To view more ABC posts from around the world, click here.

Good Food, Num!

One thing I missed while I was wintering in Santa Fe, New Mexico was the cheese department in Lund's grocery store. Santa Fe now has Whole Foods and Trader Joe's but no Byerlys or Lunds. Growing up in Wisconsin, cheese is a staple.

“Washington, DC is to lying what Wisconsin is to cheese.”

Dennis Miller (American Comedian and Actor, b.1953)

Spring Blossoms

Spring definitely is here in Minnesota, judging by my neighbor's yard.  Her front gate is framed nicely by the flowers she has chosen to grace it. Should I be glad that I'm back home now?

Camera Critters-Old dog/New dog

click here.

Maggi is our 9-year-old dog and Lexie is approximately 1-year-old.  Can you tell which is which? (Not fair if you know which one is Maggi from a former post!).

This year we decided to drive to our winter destination, and we took Maggi with us. Our son who lives in and takes care of our house while we are gone was so lonesome that he got a dog for himself!  As a kid and young adult, he brought many animals home with whom we ended up, of course. Despite now being a mature adult, I wonder how this would work out.  As predicted, guess who's dog-sitting tonight?!

To see more camera critters from around the world, click here.

Tipsy!

We finally arrived home after two wonderful months in Santa Fe, New Mexico.  If you missed some of my posts from that city, you might want to check here. Our trip home was almost as exciting as our visit.  For two days we encountered incredible crosswinds in New Mexico, Colorado, and Nebraska with signs warning high profile vehicles to "be cautious!"  (Whatever that means!) Apparently there were a few trucks we passed  that weren't cautious enough! The wind actually drowned out conversation,  and it made passing trucks on the interstate a true adventure. Glad to be home but already miss the Southwest.  I really should live there!

A Bouquet for You!

Since we're now in Santa Fe, New Mexico I won't be posting here for about 7-8 weeks.  Check my new blog to see what I'm doing: http://mysantafe-kate.blogspot.com/  The link is also on my sidebar.  See you there! Hope you like these flowers!

This bouquet is also  a special tribute to Jilly who is celebrating the third anniversary for her blogs, Menton and Monte Carlo.  Her creativity, dedication to our city daily group with her daily posts and her growth as a photographer have been a pleasure to watch!

Umm Good!

Cafe Latte on Grand Avenue in St. Paul is the BEST place for delectable desserts: German Chocolate cake, Chocolate Chocolate Cake, Chocolate Turtle Cake,  Cheesecakes of all kinds, fruit tarts and many other varieties. I hope that I can find something similar to this beauty when we arrive in Santa Fe!

Tick! Tock!

Tick! Tock! We'll soon be in our winter abode in the American Southwest! Tick! Tock! 
It's been a long tedious drive, but what are you gonna do if you want to take your dog with you?

A Tisket! A Tasket!

Grand Aveue in St. Paul, Minnesota has shops, stores, cafes, and restaurants to satisfy many different tastes, and a day spent shopping there is a real pleasure because of the variety. In my home I use many different kinds and shapes of  baskets that are both decorative and very useful.  I think I could use a few more!

ABC Wednesday-C: "The new CALIFORNIA??

This lovely pink t-shirt stopped me in my tracks...who would have guessed?!

Check this link to C more "C's"  from around the world:  http://abcwednesdayround3.blogspot.com/?

Tangine Pot

On Sunday, January 31, on my post I described the fair trade shop, Ten Thousand Villages.  This tangine caught my eye while I was there, and I will return today to buy the glazed, clay tangine in the photo. I'll take it on my trip so that I can entertain, amaze, and impress my Santa Fe friends with a special meal using this pot, hoping that they don't use one already.

"A tagine or tajine (Berber: taǧin) is a type of dish found in the North African cuisines of Algeria, Morocco, and Tunisia, which is named after the special pot in which it is cooked. A similar dish, known as Tavvas, is found in the cuisine of Cyprus. The traditional tagine pot is formed entirely of a heavy clay which is sometimes painted or glazed. It consists of two parts; a base unit which is flat and circular with low sides, and a large cone or dome-shaped cover that rests inside the base during cooking. The cover is so designed to promote the return of all condensation to the bottom. With the cover removed, the base can be taken to the table for serving.
Recently, European manufacturers have created tagines with heavy cast iron bottoms that can be fired on a stovetop at high heat. This permits browning meat and vegetables before cooking. While the similar Dutch oven and Sač (a cast iron pot with a tight cover) braises most efficiently in the oven, the tagine braises best on the stovetop." (from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia)

The secret, or so I'm told, is in the spices. I'll also stop today at Penzeys, a wonderful spice shop on Grand Avenue in St. Paul, to pick up some special spices. Should be fun!

February 2010 Theme Day-Wood (Repost)

Because we are packing to get ready to leave for Santa Fe, I've had to use a photo that I posted in 2006! That was so long ago, that I'm sure no-one remembers it. We'll shortly be posting photos from our vacation spot. I promise that they will be interesting so watch for a new Santa Fe blog.   

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Bangles from Nepal

Ten Thousand Villages, located in Victoria Crossing on Grand Avenue in St. Paul,  is a not-for-profit retail gift shop that sells crafts made by artisans in over 30 developing countries.  Its mission is to provide vital, fair income to Third World people by marketing their handicrafts and telling their stories in North America.

Women in Nepal wear glass bangles (positioned in the lower right hand corner); those that break are then fashioned into objects, which they sell for income.  The picture frame and square box are all made from bits and pieces of broken bangles. 

I have been searching for a volunteer experience, and I believe I've found one.  If you need to find me, come looking for me at Ten Thousand Villages.

Howard Zinn: 1922-2010

We lost two literary giants in the space of a few days, J.D. Salinger and Howard Zinn, both of whom had a powerful influence on my view of the world and my teaching career. In the preface to People's History of the United States, Zinn said that he chose to  focus "not on the achievements of the heroes of traditional history, but on those people who were victims of those achievements, who suffered silently or fought back magnificiently." Patricia Sullivan of the Washington Post wrote an article outlining Zinn's philosophy, quoting Zinn: "There is no such thing as impartial history.  The chief problem in historical honesty isn't outright lying. It is omission or de-emphasis of important data." Rest in peace, Howard Zinn.

Farewell J.D. Salinger and Holden Caulfield!

"Almost every time somebody gives me a present, it ends up making me sad."

 Holden Caulfield in Chapter 7

"People always clap for the wrong things."
Holden Caulfield in Chapter 12

"I'm always saying "Glad to've met you" to somebody I'm not at all glad I met. If you want to stay alive, you have to say that stuff, though."
Holden Caulfield in Chapter 12

"I mean most girls are so dumb and all. After you neck them for a while, you can really watch them losing their brains. You take a girl when she really gets passionate, she just hasn't any brains."
Holden Caulfield in Chapter 13

"Goddam money. It always ends up making you blue as hell."

Holden Caulfield in Chapter 15

"He was singing that song, "If a body catch a body coming through the rye." He had a pretty little voice too. He was just singing for the hell of it, you could tell. The cars zoomed by, the brakes screeched all over the place, his parents paid no attention to him, and he kept on walking next to the kerb and singing "If a body catch a body coming through the rye." It made me feel better. It made me feel not so depressed anymore."
Holden Caulfield in Chapter 16

"It's funny. All you have to do is say something nobody understands and they'll do practically anything you want them to."
Holden Caulfield in Chapter 21

"If you had a million years to do it in, you couldn't rub out even half the 'Fuck you' signs in the world. It's impossible."
Holden Caulfield in Chapter 25

"Don't ever tell anybody anything. If you do, you start missing everybody."
Holden Caulfield in Chapter 26, closing words of book

Modern Day Madonna

On January 11, I posted a photo I had taken in The Museum of Russian Art.  To refresh your memory,  if you missed that post, here is a description of the museum taken from their website:

The Museum of Russian Art (TMORA), is a member-supported non-profit that preserves and displays historically significant examples of Russian art and artifacts. It is the only museum in North America solely dedicated to the preservation and presentation of Russian art and artifacts. Through the universal language of art, TMORA visitors explore new and unique perspectives of Russia, a country with a recorded history that spans over one thousand years. Recognizing the importance of educating current and future generations about Russian art and culture, TMORA exhibitions are designed to provide our guests with an opportunity to examine important artistic achievements and historical events through the works of Russia’s most esteemed artists.

ABC Wednesday "B" Beautiful Blossoms

One of our favorite breakfast restaurants, Day-by-day, is a bit funky. Greeting the patrons in one of the rooms is a mural, which has blossoms painted along the wall and up the ceiling. If you look closely, you'll see some of the flowers in a 3-D effect.


This is round six and the third year of ABC WEDNESDAY.  To see more blogs that are participating today, click here: http://abcwednesdayround3.blogspot.com/?
 

More Student Art

A number of you commented favorably on the student art work I have posted recently.  Here's another...a little different from the others, but it's definitely a form of self-expression.

"Every child is an artist.  The problem is how to remain an artist once we grow up."  ~Pablo Picasso

The Drinks on Me!

 

A fellow blogger sent this photo to me.  Obviously I should work harder to find more of my relatives, especially vintners!  A round for all the daily bloggers! 

After last night's game between the Saints and the Vikings, I think I'll need the contents of these bottles, not for celebration but for solace and to drown my tears.

“Wine is constant proof that God loves us and loves to see us happy.” Benjamin Franklin

Camera Critters-Saturday and Sunday Meme

This is one of the horses my granddaughter rides at her summer camp.  I wonder why summer photos are more appealing to me now than current winter snapshots?

To see a wide array of animals posted by blogger throughout the world, follow this link:
http://camera-critters.blogspot.com/?

Lucretia

"According to the Roman historian Livy, Lucretia, the wife of a Roman nobleman, was known for her virtue and loyalty. She was raped by Sextus Tarquinius, the son of the ruling tyrant. The next day Lucretia revealed the crime to her husband and father and, in their presence, took her own life, choosing death over dishonor. Rembrandt used the story of Lucretia as the subject for two of his most moving paintings in which he represented two moments in the tragedy of Lucretia's suicide. The first version, painted in 1664 and in the collection of the National Gallery of Art in Washington DC, depicts Lucretia just before she takes her life. This second version, painted in 1666, portrays Lucretia moments after she had plunged the knife into her heart." (From the Minneapolis Institute of Arts website). This version is part of the collection in the museum here in river city.  Students often exercise their talents by painting in the museum.

What would Rembrandt think?

Adam and Eve

Yesterday I posted a collage of awesome adolescent art created by students in the wonderful school in which I used to teach before I retired. This large library mural is also a student product.  Two faculty members modeled the Adam and Eve figures.

ABC WEDNESDAY "A"-Adolescent Art

The collage contains a partial view of 3 paintings done by middle and upper school students in a school where I used to teach--A great art department that fosters the talent of adolescents.  Truly impressive art is accomplished every school year.

This is round six and the third year of ABC WEDNESDAY.  To see more blogs that are participating today, click here: http://abcwednesdayround3.blogspot.com/?

My Purchase-Spaetzle Press

There were many, many wonderful pots, pans, stewpots, juicers, machines and gourmet objects in Cooks of Crocus (see previous posts), but I found what I wanted,  although it's very different from Halcyon's. Check my blog yesterday to find the link and the picture of her press .  Now I have to use mine to produce some spaetzles! I wonder if it will work!!

Soups On

My most recent sojourn into gourmet cooking shops was prompted by another blogger, Halcyon of Jackson, Mississippi, http://magnoliadailyphoto.blogspot.com/ who responded to my request by posting on January 12, 2010, a photo of their family's spaetzle press.  I had tried to make these traditional noodles for my Christmas German-theme dinner, but managed just to make some small dumplings instead.  Tomorrow I'll show you the press I bought, which doesn't look at all like hers!

A Chicken in Every Pot?

Shopping gourmet cooking stores may become a new pastime. This beautiful dutch oven/stewpot is an Emile Henry, and the company claims that it can be used ...On the Stove...
All stove tops: gas, electric, halogen
(w/ Emile Henry special induction disk for induction)
All oven types: traditional, convection & microwave
Easy to clean, dishwasher-safe
Slow, natural cooking. Keeps hot longer.

I wonder if food tastes better if cooked in this pot?

Getting Juiced!

Who would have guessed that getting juiced could be so complicated?

In the interest of improving my diet, I walked into Cooks of Crocus Hill on Grand Avenue in St. Paul, a gourmet shop "which has been the Twin Cities industry leader in all things culinary," according to their website. Wanting to eat healthier, I looked for a juicer and  I saw this one; apparently the Omega Juicer is top of the line.  Visit the manufacturer's website http://www.omegajuicersdirect.com/index.shtml to see the full range of juicers: vertical model, masticating juicer, centrifuge juicer, pulp ejector, citrus and food pro. The little number above, which sells for over $200 is the pulp ejector. Hmm! Wonder if I should shop around or forget about healthy eating?!

BLOG DAY: BEST PHOTO OF 2009

I can never resist the faces of children, especially this one of my FAVORITE granddaughter. May not be the best photo of 2009, but it certainly is my favorite.  As I wrote when I posted it on May 20, she makes my heart sing!

Click here to view thumbnails for all participants

Helping Haiti

If you have been watching television, the images are dramatic and the devastation is enormous. For those of us who wish, I think it would be a wonderful gesture to contribute financially to help the rescue efforts.  We all have our favorite charities and agencies; mine will go to UNICEF, earmarked for the relief efforts in Haiti. Go to this official UNICEF site to help save a child:
http://www.unicefusa.org/?gclid=CJuMreSIpJ8CFQQMDQodoQL5ug

ABC WEDNESDAY "Z"=ZERO

This is what happens when the temperature dips below ZERO: the snow remains and ice forms (check yesterday's post for a photo of frozen water at Minnehaha Falls). Neither ice nor snow goes away. In the summer we often come to this park and eat delicious meals at an outdoor restaurant called Sea Salt. Without warm temperatures, umbrellas to shield us from the sun and good food to eat, I do not feel very ZIPPY with vim, vigor, or zip to my walk. To see other bloggers version of Z, click here: http://www.abcwednesdayround3.blogspot.com/?

IMP: I'm without a computer again for awhile and will have to use the library.  Long ugly story...don't ask! I do have something scheduled for the 15th so after that, who knows!!

Minnehaha Falls-=Another Winter Wonderland?!

By the shores of Gitche Gumee,

By the shining Big-Sea-Water,

Stood the wigwam of Nokomis,

Daughter of the Moon, Nokomis.

Dark behind it rose the forest,

Rose the black and gloomy pine-trees,

Rose the firs with cones upon them;

Bright before it beat the water,

Beat the clear and sunny water,

Beat the shining Big-Sea-Water.

Legend has it that Henry Wadsworth Longfellow wrote the poem Hiawatha inspired by Minnehaha Falls, but that has been debunked.  Apparently his inspiration came from the shores of Lake Superior. During all four seasons the Falls in Minnehaha Park is a favorite spot for tourists and photographers.  Sometimes it is very stunning, but at other times less so, especially if the water is non-existent because of drought or frozen as it was when I snapped this photo yesterday.

Painting-Museum of Russian Art

Several months ago I visited the Museum of Russian Art in Minneapolis with an out-of-town guest of mine. Because we were not supposed to take photos, she was horrified that I managed to snap a few of their current exhibit.  Because I do NOT use a flash, I don't feel that I did any damage to the art work and took the pictures without compunction.  Normally I would not consider doing something which is against museum rules, but the temptation was just too great.  This painting depicts a shameful period of humanities' past, WWII and the round-up of Jews. We all thought that was the epitome of horror, didn't we? But now it seems that the world has not learned much from the past.

Here is a description of the museum taken from their website:
The Museum of Russian Art (TMORA), is a member-supported non-profit that preserves and displays historically significant examples of Russian art and artifacts. It is the only museum in North America solely dedicated to the preservation and presentation of Russian art and artifacts. Through the universal language of art, TMORA visitors explore new and unique perspectives of Russia, a country with a recorded history that spans over one thousand years. Recognizing the importance of educating current and future generations about Russian art and culture, TMORA exhibitions are designed to provide our guests with an opportunity to examine important artistic achievements and historical events through the works of Russia’s most esteemed artists.

Untitled

I really need to go somewhere besides the grocery store but it's been too cold! Perhaps the liquor store is next!

Scraping the Bottom of the Barrel!

After paying a hefty bill for a clutch replacement, I finally got my car, the White Wizard, back last night after 6 housebound days. The temperature right now is -9.6 degrees F, and I'm not likely to venture out too far today either. In addition, during the winter months I do not  feel very motivated nor creative. If nothing else, eating is always an option.  These olives make a pretty boring photo, but they taste divine!! Plus they're good for you and it's better than Eating Animals (see my sidebar book list!)

Another Casualty of the Weather!

The Wizard leaves for the mechanic doctor.

YakTrax!

The people who designed these are geniuses!  After slipping and slidding on ice and snow, especially when walking our dog Maggi, I discovered these coiled objects that attach to the bottoms of shoes or boots.  I can walk with ease, without fear of falling.  Now Maggi is taken for walks with greater frequency. 

ABC WEDNESDAY-"Y"-Yearning for Yummy Summer Yellow!

These YELLOW flowers seem like merely a dream, but I YEARN for more images such as these!

To check our more ABC posts, go to www.abcwednesdayround3.blogspot.com/?

Window Wonderland or Ugly Reality?

The top photo is the image that comes to mind when romantics think of beautiful snowfalls and winter wonderland, but the image at the bottom is the reality of Midwestern snowfalls...months and months of dirty, discoloured snow lining the curbs and covering the icy streets. The top is the scene next door after a gentle and slight snowfall and the bottom is our current curbside scene after our recent covering of snow.  What can I say? More predicted on Wednesday!

Worn With Pride!

Did you see the Vikings-New York Giants game on Sunday?  This is the front of the sweatshirt worn with pride by my 15-year-old grandson.

I'm experimenting!

I'm using my son's computer which is more complicated than my laptop, I'm pretty proud of  myself because I managed to upload lots of photos. This photo was taken on New Year's eve at the home of a friend who prepared a delicious French meal for us. Am contemplating getting a better camera,  but I am at the stage of "just thinking about it."

Added later:  When I got up this  morning, it was -15 degrees F this morning.

Snowman? Snowwoman?

Could they be friends?  Start a snow family?

Added later Saturday morning at 6:45 am.: It is currently -15.6 F right now! ! 

JANUARY THEME DAY, 2010- "Change"

                                                             Changing from 2009 to 2010    

                                                                   HAPPY NEW YEAR!!
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