Vegans Beware!

Although I already posted this on Facebook several days ago, I think that these two entrees and the restaurant deserve more exposure! Several times a year, we drive to Ellsworth, Wisconsin to eat at a small roadside restaurant, Shady Grove, that serves scrumptious meals.  The 45 minute drive through a rural landscape in the summer months is a delightful visual greenery because of the magical transformation of vegetation after a long, cold winter.

On our recent visit I could not resist the rack of lamb while Jim enjoyed his huge order of prime rib. Over the years I have slow turned from meat and instead enjoy more fish, chicken, veggies and fruit, but we find the meat choices here totally irresistible. I did not plan to post this, or I would have taken a more creative photo that included the calamari appetiser and salads. I also enjoy the restaurant because they use some of my photos on their website!! Come to Minnesota during the summer months, and we'll join you for a meal at Shady Grove!

Public and Private Memorial Day

Fort Snelling National Cemetery

 Family Plot

A Different view of the Cathedral

The outstanding night photo of the St. Paul Cathedral shown below was taken by a friend, Sherril Toft, who gave her permission to me for its use on this blog. The one I posted above is one I took while at a traffic stop, and it pleased me because it gave a slightly different angle but, of course, it is not quite as splendid as Sharon's.  Both give you an idea of the magnificent structure that we are all so pleased to have, sitting on a hill overlooking our city.

Cafe Latte

I have often in the past posted photos from Cafe Latte where we often go for a quick bite to eat.  Latte bills itself as a modern day cafeteria experience, serving gourmet-quality food. One of the rooms includes pizza on the menu in a slightly more cozy atmosphere. Nice pizza "joint."

Retirement Reception

 Mickey Scott-Math and Lucy Polk-English

 Marty Nash-Fine Arts and Bill Boulger-Math

Yesterday four of my former colleagues were feted at an after-school reception, and we who had worked with them in the past were invited to attend. The place was packed with faculty, staff, parents, alumni, and current students. It was SO good to see all of them!  A former student of mine is now one of the faculty in the English department.  A little startling, but so good to "catch up" with many people.

The waiting game

Last Friday DH and I attended our last St Paul Chamber Orchestra concert at the Ordway Performance Center for our subscription series.  Jim drops me off while he parks the car, and rather than sit inside on a pleasant day as I wait for him, I normally relax in Rice Park and watch the world go by.  My eye caught the sight of two lone patrons across the way, waiting for more patrons to arrive for the concert.  From a distance the woman in red certainly stood out! On a sunny warm day, I think my choice to sit in the park was a better one!

Super Summer Sign

Normally I abhor billboards that clutter up a landscape. This sign speaks the truth and needs our attention!

Liking to signs, signs

Landmark Center

Landmark Center's clock gives the correct time!

This building is one of the few that weren't torn down during the frenzy in the past to build new contemporary structures. In the 1970s, a citizens' group saved the building from demolition and restored it to its previous grandeur. It was placed on the National Register of Historic Places and reopened to the public as Landmark Center in 1978.

 St. Paul’s historic Landmark Center, completed in 1902, originally served as the United States Post Office, Courthouse, and Custom House for the state of Minnesota. The exterior is pink granite ashlar with a hipped red tile roof, steeply pitched to shed snow and adorned by numerous turrets, gables and dormers with steeply peaked roofs; cylindrical corner towers with conical turrets occupy almost every change of projection. There are two massive towers, one of which houses a clock. The exterior is almost devoid of carved detail. The interior features a five-story courtyard with skylight and rooms with 20-foot ceilings, appointed with marble and carved mahogany and oak finishes.

Protecting or Serving?

During these splendid summer days, I often sit in Rice Park before I cross the street to the Ordway Center to watch the St Paul Chamber Orchestra perform on Friday mornings. There are always other people sitting and  enjoying the pleasant weather.  Often there are homeless or vagrant people sleeping on the benches. An inaudible exchange occurred between these two people, and trying to remain unobtrusive, I captured this moment.  After a few moments, the officer left and the woman remained upright rather than reclining as she previously had done. The newly remodelled Catholic Charities Dorothy Day Center is just a few blocks away so I wondered why she was not taking advantage of that facility. Our society seems to be trying to take care of homeless people yet I wonder if this social problem will ever be resolved?

Special Superior

I consider myself very lucky to have had two Great Lakes as a part of my life.  I was born in a small town on the shores of Lake Michigan.  I recall the lullaby of the waves as I fell asleep and have a special feeling for the lonely sound of a fog horn.  As an adult, I settled in Saint Paul, an easy driving distance to the North Shore where my children, grandchildren, DH and I have spent many happy summer hours in Duluth and northern cities along Lake Superior, up to Canada. The autumn colours are spectacular, making any road trip breathtaking. Skiing at Duluth's Spirit Mountain in the winter is a challenge, especially when the wind made every effort to freeze one's eyelashes and eyebrows. Although I have an affinity for sea, sand and surf, I would not trade these experiences for permanent residence in a different, warmer place. Yet, on the other hand. . . . .

At long last!!

At long last our crabapple tree is blooming. I wonder if I will be able to recall this photo next January?

My recent long absence can be blamed on a nagging illness.  Recovering now, I hope! Good to be back!!

Neighbors "Garden House"

Whenever I look across the street and see this "garden house" at this time of year, I get a little excited because I know that spring has finally arrived and I can plant my pots of herbs.  The building has always appealed to me and definitely is a harbinger of spring.  It makes me a bit sad, also, because the owner is getting on in years with corresponding health issues so I wonder how much use she will make of it.  This building obviously gives me a whole range of feelings.

Theme Day, May 1, 2018 "Laugh"

Smiles, snicker, grins, or just a flicker of a smile are all fair game for this month's theme photo.  Whenever I am in Mazatlán I head for the market to see what kinds of macabre images I can find among the butchers' handiwork. I don't think this porky has much to smile about; perhaps he knows something we don't know!

To see what other images the CDP photographers around the world have found to smile about, click the link HERE .

Art in Bloom, 2018

I haven't returned yet to the MIA to see the full display of Art in Bloom creations I told you about yesterday, but hope to get there this afternoon.  It's pretty essential to see the art and corresponding bouquets during the first day (or two) before the flowers start to wilt. I took these photos as we walked by during our American Modern Art tour on Wednesday so I didn't have time to dawdle. Loved the florists' rendition of the painting of the three women in the flower of womanhood! Don't you agree in the way the three women are represented by the strong blossoms?!

 Painting: "Three Women" Fernand Léger,  Oil on Canvas
 Floral Arrangers: Bob and Barbara Scott and Kathleen Steiger

This painting represents a group of three reclining nudes drinking tea r coffee in a chic apartment. While the reclining nude is a common subject in art history, these women's bodies have been simplified into rounded and dislocated forms, their skin not soft but firm, buffed, and polished. The machinelike precision and solidity with which Léger renders human form relates to his faith in modern industry and to his hope that art and the machine age would together reverse the chaos unleashed by World War I.

Art in Bloom Set-up

 While taking a class yesterday on modern American Art at the Minneapolis Institute of Art, I was able to watch some of the participants in the annual Art in Bloom exhibit setting up some of their work.  A cooperative effort of many floral artists worked on the figure at the entrance outside the museum, a floral greeting to visitors anticipating the event that is much anticipated by the public.

What is Art in Bloom?Free and open to the public, Art in Bloom exhibits imaginative floral interpretations of selected works of art from Mia’s permanent collection, created by more than 100 commercial florists and individual artists.

Over the course of the four-day festival, everyone is invited to experience the floral fragrance throughout the museum, enjoy a lecture or demonstration, attend a party or free docent tour, and browse floral-inspired merchandise in the Art in Bloom Pop-up Shop.

Art in Bloom is the principal fundraiser of the Friends of the Minneapolis Institute of Art. The Friends organization is dedicated to supporting, enhancing, and sustaining the collections, programs, and influence of Mia. (Credit: MIA)

A Sharp Bargain

What a deal, right!? Chefs always exhort the necessity of good knives, and these sharp tools look like a real bargain for the average family cook! Hustle over to Cooks on Grand Avenue to take advantage of the sale and watch your meals improve!

Link to Signs, Signs

Cosmetic World

Skin care certainly has changed so I need to hustle over to a cosmetic counter to get the lastest remedies.  I ask you, what's a grandmother to do?!

Another beautiful quilt

 Because of the weather and some family illness, I haven't been able to get out and about to take some new photos to share. Another quilt from the Evergreen Quilters at Unity Unitarian Church in St. Paul is the latest selection for your viewing pleasure.

This yellow beauty made by Ellen Wold is called "Summer Lanterns" and measures 56"x 56"—wouldn't you love to have this beauty?! If you missed photos of previous quilts I have posted, go here and here and here. The quilt photos are so much better than those of snow and ice, right?!

Wordless Wednesday-Winter Wonderland?

Choices

Because my posting of photos has been spotty of late,  I decided to include you in my decision of which snapshots I should publish so you could see what has been occurring in my life.  Which one do you think should or could be the most representative of my personal world?

April is the cruelest month…in St. Paul, Minnesota (with more predicted this week!) 

March in Magical Mazatlán, México

The Raffle Quilt

Is this going to be "The Year of the Quilt" for me? As I explained in an earlier post about the work of the Unity Unitarian Evergreen Quilters annual event and raffle, I try each year to be the winner on a handsome quilt by buying raffle tickets.  Perhaps I will finally be the winner? I will be the first to tell you if I get lucky!!

A Big Moon!!

Yesterday I introduced an annual event by the Evergreen Quilters at Unity-Unitarian Church in St Paul, Minnesota.  The quilts are all beautiful works of art.  Here is another wall hanging, created by Leah Doherty and  titled "Big Moon" measuring 34"x 36".

The Artist Herself!!

Every year about this time The Evergreen Quilters of Unity-Unitarian Church in St Paul exhibit many original quilts and wall hangings. In addition after some Sunday services, the quilters' table in the parish hall will have a variety of quilting items for sale. A large quilt made by many of the women is currently hanging in the foyer of the church and will be awarded at the end of the month to the winning raffle ticket holder. All proceeds are donated to several local non-profit organizations including Hallie Q. Brown Foodshelf, The Family Place, Jeremiah Program as well as 

Obama Elementary School.

These two wall hangings, "Evergreen Dreams" and "Blue Vase" are creations of Jeannie Spears, seen above. Jeannie has been a longtime quilter and is as lovely a person as are her creations!

Bonsai Room

Winter Snow Forecast

I'll go where the flowers bloom

Como's Bonsai Room

Another snow blast is forecast for this week-end, and I just cannot wait for colour in my life.  Back again to the Bonsai Room at the Conservatory at Como Park in Saint Paul.

Chihuly Chandelier

This wonderful glass chandelier, a creation of Dale Chihuly, hangs high in the foyer that is jointly shared by The Children's Theatre and the Minneapolis Institute of Arts. I was there to take a one day a week,  four-week class/tour on contemporary American Art in the MIA.  More on that follows next week.

Enough Already!

Photo taken the afternoon of April 3, 2018. Any bets on when this is going to stop?!

I'd rather be in Mazatlán! 

Flowers, Flowers, Everywhere!

No, spring has not sprung in St. Paul, Minnesota. 6-8 inches of snow was forecast for  last night and today. . . enough is enough. Yes, the ground is already covered with several inches. It is not a pleasant April morning greeting! I doubt that I will be venturing out for a photo shoot, so I decided to post more photos from my recent visit to the Marjorie McNeely Conservatory at Como Park.  Indulge me, won't you?

A spring bouquet

Last week I visited the Sunken Garden at the Marjorie McNeely Conservatory to see their spring display of blossoms.  This small bouquet was my favorite. Isn't it lovely in its varied hues of purple?

Theme Day, April, 2018-ONE COLOR: "My Cup Runneth Over!"

Another theme day to explore on the first of the month, and I had a great deal of fun with this one! Because I have not been out and about too much during this winter season, my photo outings have been limited. I checked my archive which badly needs editing yet I found literally dozens of photos that fit the theme.  While looking at them I enjoyed so many memories of past excursions.  I chose this photo because the cups were made by a former colleague of mine that were displayed during an exhibition of artwork created by a few of my artistic friends.  Enjoy!!

To see more CDP theme photos, click here.