Sunday Brunch at Water's Edge

Delicious surprise!

Water's Edge brunch at Shem Creek

Chocolate Cheesecake

After a delectable brunch I went looking for dessert, but was dismayed to find none.  I jokingly mentioned to Britt, a manager-type. that I needed chocolate after a meal.  Minutes later he surprised me with a chocolate cheesecake large enough to be shared at our table.  It was terrific.

I wisely chose a small plate and filled it with asparagus and sausage and (top right clockwise) grits and shrimp with a hot sauce, smoked salmon and sauce, potatoes, Crab Cake Benedict with Hollandaise sauce and biscuits with gravy.  The buffet was so very good!  I think that I'll go back and make sure that Britt knows I am patronizing the place again!!

If you want to eat well, come to this part of the country!!

"D" is for DELICIOUS and DELECTABLE at ABC WEDNESDAY

May my DARLIN' Grandson DOMINIQUE have a great birthday!!

Shem Creek

Restaurants & Dolphins

Shem Creek-a place to visit

Many boats to see

Mount Pleasant, across the river from Charleston, is aptly named.  We are renting for two months there in an area of "Old Town," and I couldn't be more pleased with the neighborhood, pleasant city, and ease of moving around the area. Being close to Shem Creek is also a plus.  Love the Low Country marshes and seafood and warm weather and...

Go here for a complete history of Shem Creek and Mount Pleasant.

MORA-#8-The Final Post

I can't stop posting the objects from the gift shop in the Museum of Russian Art without showing this hand-painted chest and embroidery. I am pleased that crafts have now been elevated to a higher art form than in the past.

Camera Critters; DA BEAR!

Bear with me awhile...

Until I get new photos

Enjoy this painting!

Go here to see what camera critters other bloggers have posted.

Theme Day, February 1, 2013-Umbrella

Visual Wonders

Utilitarian, too

Colourful Always

Today is our monthly theme day so be sure to check the CDP bloggers' contributions to see all the other   umbrella posts.

YUM!

Taking photographs while riding in a moving car often yields surprises.  I captured these buildings as we sped by Louisville, Kentucky.  I was amused to see that I had captured the "Kentucky Fried Yum! Center," home of the University of Louisville sports teams.  Here is what Wiki says about it: The KFC Yum! Center is a $238 million, 22,000-seat basketball and multipurpose arena that opened on October 10, 2010, on the Ohio River waterfront in Louisville, Kentucky, United States, on Main Street between Second and Third Streets. The project is part of a $450 million project that includes a 975-car parking structure and floodwall. On April 19, 2010, it was announced that Yum! Brands would pay US $13.5 million for the naming rights and would sell the products of four of its chains—KFC, Pizza Hut, Taco Bell and Long John Silvers —in seven concession stands within the arena.

I have eaten KFC products in the past and would hardly describe it as "YUM!"

MORA # 7-Large Chest ABC WEDNESDAY "C"

I found this chest in the gift shop at the Museum of Russian Art to be extraordinarily beautiful!

To see more posts of ABC WEDNESDAY photographs, please go here.

Cairn-ABC WEDNESDAY "C"

A Cairn Marker

Far from Gaelic Scotland

Why on the North Shore?

Cairn is a term used for a man-made pile (or stack) of stones. It comes from the Scottish Gaelic: càrn (plural càirn). Cairns are found all over the world in uplands, on moorland, on mountaintops, near waterways and on sea cliffs, and also in barren desert and tundra areas. They vary in size from small stone markers to entire artificial hills, and in complexity from loose, conical rock piles to delicately balanced sculptures and elaborate feats of megalithic engineering. Cairns may be painted or otherwise decorated, e.g. for increased visibility or for religious reasons.

In modern times, cairns are often erected as landmarks, a use they have had since ancient times. Since prehistory, they have also been built as sepulchral monuments, or used for defensive, hunting, ceremonial, astronomical and other purposes.

To view more ABC Wednesday posts, go here.

MORA #6-Angel at the Table

Yesterday at Tea

An Angel at the Table

Now, Mind your manners!

Tea Time? MORA #5

Delicate China
Perfect for Russian Tea Time
Sugar? One or Two?

Camera Critters-Foxfire

DH's cousin has a beautiful lake home "Up North" named Foxfire with a taxidermy fox above the mantle. 

For more Camera Critters posts from around the world, go here.

MORA #4 Christmas Bulbs

Even with an after-Christmas price reduction, I did not purchase these lovely bulbs. Plus they wouldn't be part of my planned Christmas 2013 tree. (See yesterday's post)

Post Christmas Sale-MORA #3

The painting below was on the poster outside of the Museum of Russian Art while Fechin's artwork was on exhibit there.  

Naturally we visited the gift shop at the Museum of Russian Art before we left the building and was delighted to see that Christmas objects were on sale.  I decided to decorate our tree next year in similar fashion to the one pictured . . . simple and elegant.  The skirt below it was a beauty of velvet and applique.

ABC WEDNESDAY "B"-BLOGGING BUDDIES

Leif Hagen from Eagan Daily Photo and I occasionally meet for coffee and pastries, but since our favorite cafe has just recently closed, Leif invited me to his office instead.  I was delighted to meet there because of the warmly decorated space, graced with pieces of art work that he has collected from various spots on the globe during his many travels. They also include beautiful objects given to him from friends he has made, starting with an after-college teaching stint in Japan, business travel and family vacations. Each piece has a story behind it, and I have urged him to photograph a few and post them on his daily blog, including the story behind it.

Visit Leif's blog and urge him to follow my sage advice.

If you want to see more ABC WEDNESDAY photos, go here.

A Lake Superior Birch-ABC WEDNESDAY "B"

A battered young birch

Resists the pounding huge waves

Standing tall and proud.

To see more ABC WEDNESDAY posts, go here.

Amazing Artist-MORA #2

Amazing Art Work

Russian Who Lived in U.S.

Russia's Gift to us. 

Many years ago I first saw Nicolai Fechin's art work in a museum converted from his former adobe home in Taos, New Mexico.  Like many of the artists of his time he lived for a number of years in Taos with his young daughter, and his residence is now a museum. I was thrilled to learn that some of his drawings and paintings were on exhibit here in the Twin Cities, next stop Seattle.  Recently DH and I spent several wonderful hours at the Museum of Russian Art as our "Friday Field Trip"excursion.  Unfortunately we could not take pictures inside the museum, except for the gift shop, where I picked up an unusual pair of Baltic amber earrings. DH got a CD, featuring the Russian National Orchestra with solo violinist German-born, Julia Fischer. The first image above is the cover of a book, which was for sale in the gift shop. The woman in the photo was a Taos Indian...my favorite painting in the exhibition.

.

Go here to learn about Fechin and the exhibition.

To see two pages of images of Fechin's paintings go here.  You won't be sorry! The second and third images above are from the link I provided.  Check it out to see his paintings!!

In 1927 Nicolai Fechin became embroiled in a messy and destructive divorce that necessitated his departure from Taos. At the urging of the Los Angeles art dealer Earl Stendahl, he moved to the Hollywood Hills. He also began traveling extensively, visiting Bali, Java, Mexico and Japan. In the late 1930s he attempted to live in Bali, but was driven back to the United States by the beginning of Japanese hostilities in the Pacific. He bought a studio in Santa Monica and became more sociable than was his custom. In October 1955, shortly before his death, a major retrospective of his work was launched in San Diego and La Jolla, at which Nicolai Fechin was able to see a number of paintings he had not seen for decades.

A Gem of a Museum, MORA #1

A real city gem

Museum of Russian Art

Come along with me!

Camera Critters-Moose or Cow?

I just inadvertently deleted the original post with all the comments,  but I am restoring the photo and quote again to provide continuity. 

“Hunters will tell you that a moose is a wily and ferocious forest creature. Nonsense. A moose is a cow drawn by a three-year-old.”

― Bill Bryson, A Walk in the Woods: Rediscovering America on the Appalachian Trail

To see more Camera Critters, go here.

Symbolic

Cornucopia

Symbolic of fruitful seasons

Simple Abundance

Fisherman's Secret

               Ask the Fisherman
     Could it be wild or farm raised?
               One that got away!

Ice Formations

North Shore in Winter

Cold Ice and Lichens Abound

Colours of Season

Aubade-ABC WEDNESDAY "A"

A North Shore Sunrise

Aubade - 7:43

A New Day Begins

To see more ABC Wednesday photos posted by bloggers from around the world, go here.

Aubade

HARK! hark! the lark at heaven's gate sings,
   And Phoebus 'gins arise,
His steeds to water at those springs
   On chaliced flowers that lies;
And winking Mary-buds begin
   To ope their golden eyes:
With everything that pretty bin,
   My lady sweet, arise!
   Arise, arise! 

William Shakespeare

North Woods Walk

A Walk in the Woods

Surprising,  Art with Nature

The Sound of Silence

Whimsy or Comfort?

A whimsical bench

But is it comfortable?

Try it for yourself!

Rudolph?

Favorite neighbor

Always dressed for holiday

Unresistible

Several times I have posted a photo of this artistic cow that gets dressed up for important holidays.  To see a 4th of July photo of her go here and to see her spring finery, check this out!   Isn't she cute?!

A México Dream

I Had a Fine Dream

Was I Sitting on This Bench?

Yes, it was a Dream!

Blocking the way

What's blocking the way?

It is hard to figure it out...

Must take a detour...

Playhouse?

Playhouse for adults?

Claims its a garden shed...

Neighbor's small retreat!

Tea time?

Tea Time Anyone?

A bit chilly I would guess,

A bit wet and damp.

Snack time

Snack time for the birds

Both empty within a day

Jim is the chief chef

Budding artist

Very fine young man

Working hard to meet his goals
With dreams of his own.

Tyrice is a freshman at the Minneapolis School of Art and Design. While carrying out my groceries from Lund's market in Highland Park, he described his passion for drawing, design, and learning about art. I urged him to find a mentor in the field that would supplement what he's learning in school to help build on and develop his natural talent. One of the more talkative and self-assured students I've met while shopping.

¡El Noche al casa de los abuelos!

Wise Words

Very good advice

Buy it or bake it yourself

You won't be sorry!

Idyllic?

Please do not be fooled

It really looks idyllic

But, it's very cold!

My neighbor's decoration looks very elegant with a simple swag and pine boughs.

Holiday in Minnesota

Typical Season

Waiting for New Snowfall

Minnesota Winter

This photo is emblematic of the holiday season in Minnesota: wreath on the door, bow decorative trim but a snow shovel on the ready.  

January 1st, 2013 Anno Domini

Anno Domini

Best Photo Twenty Twelve

Cuban Abuela

Click here to see more CDP member posts for "Best Photo of 2012!"  Leave a note of appreciation  for Gerald England who set this up for us to enjoy!

This is a HAPPY NEW YEAR post for ABC WEDNESDAY!