Chateau Dumpeau

I think it's now time to update this blog! I'm still in Mexico (see my Mazatlan blog), but I am no longer in the casa that had originally excited me in my earlier posts. The bed looks quaint and romantic doesn't it? Well, it wasn't: long story--the net protected me from mosquitos and bats. Yes, bats that fluttered freely above me at night, visiting from a nearby bat cave. I lasted two weeks before I moved out. Happy where I am now. I shall continue with this blog after I return to St. Paul in April, 2007!!

Mi Casa Floorplan

I'm leaving tomorrow and can't resist one last post to show you where I'll be living. You've seen mi casa click here and this is the floor plan of the house in the oldest part of Mazatlán. I shall try real hard to establish a blog while I'm there. Hurt my back this week, but I'm going anyway--in pain but I'll rest when I get there--lying in the sun and reading the live long day!!

Adiós-January 7, 2007!

I know that most of you will not be able to relate to this, but my plans for my trip to México are a tad behind schedule. So.......I won't be posting photos for awhile. I hope to establish a site from Mazatlán after I arrange for some kind of internet service. I leave you with this thought:

"We can begin to expess love within our daily lives. When more and more of us awaken our hearts to universal love, harmony and peace will prevail on earth." Masami Suionji.

Street Art

Mazatlán, México Countdown: 5 more days!

Purely Personal

January 2007 Theme Photo-My Very Favorite 2006 Photo!!


I can't think of a better way to begin my 2007 blog than with a photograph of my granddaughter, Olivia. The photo was taken in front of my house after a trip to the St. Paul Farmers Market last summer.

52 Daily Photo sites are participating in the 1st January theme, please use the links below to visit them. Due to time zone differences and other factors, the theme photo may not be displayed until later if you are viewing early in the day.Porto (Portugal) -Albuquerque, NM (USA) -St. Paul, (USA) Kate -Greenville,SC (USA) -Stayton, OR (USA) -Szentes (Hungary) -Hyde (UK) -London (UK) -Dubai (UAE) -Buenos Aires (Argentina) -Shanghai (China) -Nelson (New Zealand) -Twin Cities, MN (USA) -Joplin MO (USA) -Stavanger (Norway) -Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia) -Not Strictly Seattle, WA (USA) -Jakarta (Indonesia) -Auckland (New Zealand) -Sharon, CT (USA) -Evry (France) -(Aust) John -Newcastle upon Tyne (England) -Paris (France) -Bandung (Indonesia) -Brussels (Belgium) -Minneapolis MN (USA) -Aliso Viejo, CA (USA) -Seattle, WA (USA) -Budapest (Hungary) -Singapore by Zannnie (Singapore) -Tenerife (Spain) -Santa Clara, CA (USA) -Houston, TX (USA) -Sydney by Nathalie (Aust) -San Diego, CA (USA) -Vancouver, BC (Canada) -Singapore by KeropokMan (Singapore) -East Lansing, MI (USA) -Sydney by Sally (Australia) -Tucson, AZ (USA) -Nottingham (UK) -Sequim, by Norma -Hong Kong -Vantaa, Finland -Kyoto (Japan) -Tokyo (Japan) -Chattanooga -Santiago (Chile) -Berlin (Germany) -Trondheim (Norway) -Delta, CO (USA) -

Libations

The last mural of 2006!

Happy New Year Everyone! Auld lang syne!

Another Rice Park Statue

As noted in last Wednesday's post, there are several large holiday statues in Rice Park, which is a small downtown square, surrounded on four sides by the Ordway Performing Arts Center, The Central Library, the St. Paul Hotel, and Landmark Center (a former courthouse). I do believe that this will be my final holiday photo! Onward!

Today in Minnesota History: 1948- Minneapolis Symphony Orchestra conductor Dimitri Mitropoulous announces that he has taken a position with the New York Philharmonic Orchestra. Antal Dorati is hired to replace him. (Referenced: MNHS:ORG)

Mi Casa in Mazatlán, México!

Target Date: January 7, 2007!

I realize that I'm violating the rule of posting photographs from one's own city only, but since it may be awhile before I'm able to establish a Mazatlán Daily Photo Blog I assume it's acceptable. So my friends, here it is--my humble abode in the heart of El Centro in Mazatlán!! (I'll keep posting from St. Paul until I leave, though!)

The St. Paul Hotel

This is a sign above one of the entrances to the downtown St. Paul Hotel. Nice, but not that special, right? Well, recently the corporate executive suite in the "penthouse" was just opened to the public--to the tune of $5,000 a night. Worth it? Check out the description and photograph below from the article in the Minneapolis Star Tribune, December 21 issue. Perhaps you'd like to visit and book it for New Year's Eve? (Photograph copied from the Tribune article referenced above)

How Did I Miss This?

While driving downtown I passed Rice Park and noticed several holiday statues that I hadn't seen before--all larger than life. This trumpeting angel is in front of The Ordway Center for Performing Arts

Today in Minnesota History: 1906- Mahnomen County is formed. Mahnomen is an Ojibwe word for "wild rice." (Reference: MNHS:ORG) An aside: Wild rice is a wonderful regional grain, absolutely delicious when prepared correctly,which is a challenge if you are unfamiliar with it!

Want a postcard?

This photo of my daughter Kati and husband Jim was taken a few months ago. The first person who can identify what is happening here gets a postcard from St. Paul, Minnesota! Good luck!

Today in Minnesota History: 1990 - Sister Mary Giovanni Gourhan, founder in 1963 of Guadalupe Area Project alternative school, dies. A native of West St. Paul, Gourhan ran an unorthodox school, teaching the basics plus Mexican history and effective living and meditation techniques. The school continues her mission today. (Reference: MNHS:ORG)

More Street Art

The holiday keeps one busy, and time for photos has been limited. This flag painted on the outside of a building caught my eye. An uninspired post, I know!

On December 25 in 1842 - The first U.S. flag in St. Paul is raised on a pole in front of Richard Mortimer's house. Born in England, Mortimer had served successively in both the British and American armies and been a commissary and quartermaster sergeant at Fort Snelling before settling in upper St. Paul. The flag flies briefly and then is cut down by "some wicked scamp" from the lower—and rival—part of town. (Reference: MNHS:ORG)

Christmas Eve, 2006

May the spirit of Christmas remain with you throughout the year, filling your heart with generosity, happiness, and much laughter and joy.

Mazatlán, México Countdown: 13 more days!

Moose Drool?

How many of you would be willing to take a slug of this brew?! I seem to be chasing down my photo ops lately because when I saw this truck on the road, I followed it to the local store to be able to post this little bit of local lore from Montana. The driver said they sell lots and lots of this product. He used to work for Budweiser Beer but now drives "the moose" around. Think I'll stick to red or white wine. But....if you're interested, go to their website (on back of truck) for some interesting information about the brew and the company.

Today in Minnesota History: 1926 - Robert Bly is born in Madison. A poet, translator, editor, and activist in the men's movement, he would write numerous books, including the best-selling nonfiction work on men and myth, Iron John: A Book About Men.

You Got News?!

México Countdown: 16 days!!

Christmas in My Neighborhood #8

Christmas is getting closer--wreaths are disappearing from the wall as sales are made. I think that I am saturated with Christmas posts so I need to find something else now. If we're lucky we'll get some of that snow that has paralyzed Colorado--then I'll have a new challenge to photograph!

Today in Minnesota History: 1881-This winter may be the snowiest winter in St. Paul history, but there are no consistent records to prove it. (Reference: MNHS.ORG) Unlike this year!!

México Countdown: 17 more days!

Our Mantle-Christmas # 7

Can you guess which two stockings belong to the grandkids?!

México Countdown: 18 more days!!

Oh Tannenbaum! Christmas in My Neighborhood #6

This is probably a familiar sight in many neighborhoods right now.

Countdown: 19 more days and I'll be in México!

Christmas in My Neighborhood #5

Green boughs without colour just don't cut it, but these scarlet ribbons make the swags much more festive!

Today in Minnesota History: 1985- Mary Lund is the first woman to receive a Jarvik-7 artificial heart, in Minneapolis. The device keeps her alive for about a month, until a real heart is transplanted. (Reference: MNHS:ORG)

Christmas NOT in My Neighborhood!!

These lawn decorations are real car stoppers! This is a neighborhood in which these kinds of decorations are commonplace. I have to admit, though, that I hesitated to stop and take these pictures. They are in front of a home where someone has taken pride in decorating their property for the holiday, and I wonder if posting and commenting on them is an intrusion and unwarranted criticism. My taste is not their taste so perhaps I'm just being critical and insensitive. On occasion I've run across photos and comments that generated a wee bit of discomfort on my part because of the subtle criticism of the subject. What do you think?