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Wednesday, December 22, 2010

Seasons Greetings to my Bloggie Friends!


I will honour Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year.
I will live in the Past, the Present, and the Future.
The Spirits of all Three shall strive within me.
I will not shut out the lessons that they teach.
Charles Dickens
Accept the good, my friends!

Thursday, December 16, 2010

a two story Skywatch Friday

This photo was taken on the morning after our first big snowstorm of the season. Through the buttermilk sky the sun lit up the snow. I had never seen a two story gazebo before I moved to Minnesota either.

Minnesota factoid: did you know that some people here flood their back yards in the winter so their kids can ice skate and play hockey in their own yard? Very cool!

See many more cool skies at Skywatch Friday.

Monday, December 13, 2010

form follows function

Observe the official Minnesota winter grill: a fresh wreath entwined with an electrical cord to plug in an engine heater. Festive yet functional. Today's temp w/wind chill has been around -14 degrees. As I post it is -1. The old timers say this is much like the way winters used to be up north. . .

These are two pics I took before the town of White Bear Lake morphed into Siberia. Tis the season for red, including noses! Lots more @ Mary's meme, Ruby Tuesday.

Sunday, December 12, 2010

Snow had fallen, snow on snow. . .

Creatures more thoughtful--and with harder shells--than I could be seen here basking in the sun and wondering, 'where did our summer go anyway?'
Fast forward three months or so and Minnesota is hit with some record breaking snow falls earlier than usual. Yesterday's blizzard of 21 inches made everybody [with the exception of the Macy's delivery guys across the street] and virtually everything come to a screeching halt for the day.From the comfort of my kitchen I caught Dave up to his knees in still-falling snow, refilling the feeders for the brave, and hungry. He does seem a little short on one end. . .Finding the beauty in each season isn't really very hard, and for this I'm grateful.
Visit Misty Dawn's meme Camera Critters for much more.

In seed time learn, in harvest teach, in winter enjoy.
William Blake

Thursday, November 18, 2010

He will not see me stopping here. . .

Saturday last we 'received' over 6 inches of snow in one day which ushered in this whole winter in Minnesota thing in style. I took this photo Wednesday morning when the crunchy snow was sun-washed. Due to freezing day temps since Saturday, the lakes are starting to freeze too. Soon the less stalwart water fowl will leave us for several months.
There is a fragile beauty in the sky and on the morning snow now. More beautiful skies to be seen @ Skywatch Friday.

Whose woods these are I think I know.
His house is in the village though;
He will not see me stopping here
To watch his woods fill up with snow.
Robert Frost

Monday, November 15, 2010



In our California travels I stopped at a wayside farm stand in Carmel Valley which belonged to the organic gardening company Earthbound Farms. [the posters above are from their nifty site] These two gorgeous varieties of Passion Flower were growing around the place and since I had just come from November in Minnesota, they seemed to call even louder to me.

So, since I find myself inhabiting that strange place between home and where one has traveled, I offer these beauties for both memes, Today's Flowers and Ruby Tuesday.

Saturday, November 13, 2010

down by the seashore. . .

On our trip along Highway 1 in California, we caught up with these Sandpipers who were feeding as the tide came in along the beach outside of Cambria. They were energetic, speedy and brave in spite of really.big.waves and for that I was in awe of them. Plus, they provided the comic relief because they knew how to dodge the waves. . .and I didn't. Get it?

Gotta love creatures so small yet so smart--see more at Camera Critters a meme for animal lovers everywhere.

Thursday, November 11, 2010

'Roll on, thou deep and dark blue Ocean ...'

Our breathtaking view of the Pacific Ocean along California Highway 1 on the Monterey Peninsula. When the fog cleared and the sun came out that morning, one of Pebble Beach's greens became visible [lower left]. The tide was rolling in with its waves crashing. Perfection!

See more perfect skies from all over our planet at Skywatch Friday. [quotation from Lord Byron]

Wednesday, November 10, 2010

'I'd like to see Paris before I die. . .


. . .Philadelphia will do.
Mae West

Just flew in from Philadelphia and boy, are my arms tired! after spending a long Halloween weekend visiting Erica. We spent one day downtown and another out in the gorgeous Pennsylvania countryside at a pumpkin patch/dairy [read: pumpkin ice cream]. On Halloween night we took a trolley ride through old Philly looking for ghosts. The rest of the time was pretty much filled with eating pretzels or cheese steaks and watching scary movies. Below are some city views:

Above is a mural view of the hospital in Center City where she is doing her emergency medicine residency. The ER is around the corner.


More downtown views



Can you tell I had a great time? Its always hard to say goodbye to her. . .

Wednesday, October 27, 2010

Saturday, October 16, 2010

Indian Summer surprises

Walking in the September woods I came to a fork in the road and was surprised by this beauty just feet in front of me. The expression on his face matched what he saw in mine, I'm sure.
In typical deer fashion, I'm learning, his curiosity delayed his departure...much to my delight.
[note his whiskers]

The woods were full of my favorite autumn asters.

The aster greets us as we pass
With her faint smile.
Sarah Helen Power Whitman,
A Day of the Indian Summer

Visit Camera Critters and Today's Flowers -- two blogs that inspire me at the beginning of each week.

Thursday, October 7, 2010

Skywatch Friday, or off the beaten path

There is a harmony in autumn, and a luster in its sky, which through the summer is not heard or seen, as if it could not be, as if it had not been! Percy Bysshe Shelley Some sky views in our new abode: Above is the same path I walk each week but now emblazoned by autumn. Below is the view of the lake from our apartment, looking past our neighbor's deck to Lake Owasso and a cloudy September day.
When I just can't open another packed box, I remember that there is a truth to be found whenever I randomly look up at the sky.
Rest? Camaraderie? Harmony? At any rate, these three birds have the right idea.
See more sky views from all over our dear planet at Skywatch Friday.


Friday, August 27, 2010

Arrivederci!

Its not goodbye just a brief interlude. . .

Our long awaited MOVE has become a reality! If I had a dollar for every box of books I've packed, how many times I have planted my butt at the computer playing 'therapeutic' Tetras, or how many times I've screamed ' I'M TOO OLD FOR THIS!' I'd go on a shopping spree when this nonsense is over. After 4 years of living in three rooms in the 'pet building' I serendipitously found us a duplex with two bedrooms, lots of windows, one block from the lake --all reasonably rentable--and lovable.

The movers come on Tuesday next and luckily for all involved, our move is only about three blocks away. Very soon I'll be UN-packing all these boxes. But, wow, what a trade off.

Be back soon. Will miss your visits. . .send all good wishes anyway!