CHANGE!

Guess Who!

Yesterday I showed you a photo of Olivia during a riding lesson. Retirement has many benefits; it allows the realization of long-held wishes, dreams, and fantasies. Olivia and her grandfather, whom she calls Da, are taking riding lessons together! What a twosome!!

A Budding Equestrian

What child doesn't love horses? Tuesday was a red letter day because Olivia got to trot her horse!!

My Neighborhood-Restored house

If I had a before-photo this picture would have more meaning. The rundown house was sold about a year ago after the elderly resident died. It was a neighborhood eyesore with rotting wood trim, peeling paint, holes in the roof caused by squirrels who were living in the attic and dismal landscaping or lack thereof. I had thought it would be torn down because renovation would be too costly. An enterprising individual bought it, restored it inside and out, and sold it for a handsome profit. Not bad, eh?!

Beautiful Babe!

The daughter of friends of ours adopted Anthony right after his birth. The grandparents couldn't be prouder!!

Kellogg Fountain

The top photo is easy to take of Kellogg Fountain and a favorite of photographers. It is pleasantly situated in downtown St. Paul in a small park near the corner of Wabasha Bridge and Kellogg Blvd, overlooking the wonderful Mississippi River. The small photo, however, is one that I previously posted several years ago, but I think that the comparison is worth a look. Wonder what caused all that foam?!

University of Minnesota Meat Lab

The University of Minnesota has two salesrooms, one for meat and the other for dairy products, which are open for 3 hours of each week to sell items made from production classes or from control labs of student projects for the sole purpose of recouping funds for teaching and student research projects. I've known about them for years and just recently went to the St. Paul campus for the first time to sample the food. Silly me! All those wasted years! What a find! As I do at the Farmers Market, I over-bought and brought home ice cream, cheeses, yogurt, rib eye steaks, lamb shoulder chops, salami, Canadian bacon, ground turkey and lamb. Everything is so very fresh!!Students operate the salesrooms. Vegetarians wouldn't be interested, but I am!!

Choices!!

Selecting and buying a new high definition television set is not an easy task!

New Exhibit

The Science Museum of Minnesota is a wonderful facility with exhibits, films, and activities that are both entertaining and instructive. I haven't seen this one yet but I intend to go before the RNC hits town. Some of the facilities in this building will be reserved for large groups of Republicans to meet and greet...good time to stay away because of the crowds. Had to laugh, tho, when I thought about Republicans and "Star Wars."

Lucky

Lucky is lucky to be tooling around town in this cool convertible. Temperatures are soaring in the '90's this week. Lucky dog!

Former Colleagues

The school in which I used to teach has an annual luncheon for retired faculty and staff. Here are just a few of my former colleagues, some of whom I see regularly, others I see only at this annual get-together. It's a good way to keep friendships alive.

Get Ready!!

What a photo op this is going to be!! I wonder if I'll be able to get photos of the protesters without being jailed with them? I wonder if I'll be able to get close enough to the party regulars, both national and local, to snap them? We'll soon see; stay tuned!! PS. The convention is really being held in SAINT PAUL...not the "other" city!!

Farmers' Market

Usually when I visit the downtown Farmers' Market on Saturday or Sunday, I overbuy and come home with more vegetable than we can possible use and eat. On Friday I decided to go to a satellite market held on a church parking lot. There was less variety and fewer vendors, but I came home with...guess what? Too many vegetables...more than we can eat! People watching was also abundant!

Back in St. Paul

Salut is a restaurant that opened on Grand Avenue about two years ago. I had a delicious lunch there on Thursday, and although claiming to be French, it's a far cry from a truly French bistro. I was amused by the quote painted on one of the walls.

#26-Bandelier-Final New Mexico Vacation Posts

Bandelier National Monument probably was my favorite spot during our too-brief vacation. It has an antiquity with corresponding spirituality that appealed to me. The large picture is a reconstruction of a Talus house that were built on the rock debris (talus) slopes on the sunny sides of canyons and mesas. The small photo is an archeological stabilization (see the blue tents?) of Tyhonyi, on the floor of Frijoles Canyon, which was occupied at the same time as the dwellings that were built along the base of the cliff.

#25-La Muerta Cart?

The first time I saw these carts many years ago was on the High Road to Taos, behind a small adobe church, San Jose de Gracia, in Las Trampas. Whether it is an urban legend or fact, I was told that the carts were used by the Penitentes and supposedly held a statue of the death angel, Dona Sebastina, better known as La Muerta. Hmm! I think I need to do a little research on this!

"Columbines in Bloom"#24

I think I'll end the quilt theme with this one made by Donna Barnitz, who was featured already with "My Sister's Truck" on August 10. The small photo is called "Hummingbird Migration" by Jean McLaughlin who lives in Silver City, NM. Hope you enjoyed them; I know that we did!

#23-"Black, White, Red Bargello"

For a little change, I thought that this contemporary, abstract pattern can illustrate the broad range of quilt patterns in the exhibit. The information with this quilt reads: Sarb Khalso/Pattern-Chris Timmons, Espanola, NM

"My Sister's Truck"-#22

I loved this quilt because these trucks are a familiar sight on the New Mexico landscape. Donna Barnitz of Rio Rancho, NM is the crafter of this wonderful quilt.

#21-Another Quilt

Yadi Flannery of Santa Fe crafted this beauty called "Oldzia in Pink at 90."