that old man river

The muddy Mississippi keeps rolling along through Wabasha, Minnesota. Beyond the trees into the clouds is Wisconsin. In spite of the heavy heat and humidity it made me so happy when I spied my first wild rose of the season growing along the railroad tracks. See more lovely skies @Skywatch Friday.

Wild roses are fairest, and nature a better gardener than art.
―Louisa May Alcott   

Skywatch Friday

Mercurial weather here all week: cloudy warm days, clear hot days, hazardous winds and some delightfully cool and bright days. The clouds have been gorgeous especially at day's beginning and end. I took this photo along the Mississippi River, from my car.

I captured this wild columbine blossom in the shady woods neighboring Snail Lake--the last one to be found in bloom.

Sharing our Minnesota sky with Skywatch Friday.

I urge you to please notice when you are happy, and exclaim or murmur of think at some point, 'if this isn't nice, i don't know what is.'– Kurt Vonnegut

small stones and skywatching

This awesome view was taken from the motorcycle as we were heading home along the Mississippi. The sunset seemed to have a Gypsy's life of its own behind us which I tried to capture in spite of our speed. More captures @ Skywatch Friday.



Listening to the Brubeck Quartet today playing Take Five for possibly the hundredth time I relived the 1960's in just under five minutes. A perfectly smooth small stone skipping across the river.

Winter's on the run

I've been under the blog radar for the past week or so, visiting Chicago and family. Because the days there were cloudy with rain and, no surprise, wind, it was lovely to be back up north to see the blue sky and measure how far winter had receded in my absence. Thus, these two photos this week as I scanned the skies. The first is the sun rising over the Mississippi casting its coat of many colors on Canada Geese rising. And who doesn't thank the Robins for coming back so soon!

You'll be than

kful for the opportunity to see many more skies @ Skywatch Friday.

Ruby Tuesday, or why I love 'Old Man River'

Last weekend we rode our motorcycle along the Mississippi River on the Iowa side as far as Dubuque, stopping in this little town called Guttenberg. The red house above actually sits square on the lot, but me, not so much on the bike. Note the wash hanging on the line.

This is the kind of red I am fond of: a bit more primitive. This building sits right on the Mississippi and was an old warehouse in the mid 1800's but now is divided into little shops. We ate at the Picket Fence Cafe where I hooked a lovely pink glass creamer for my collection. I've not spent much time in Iowa before but was agog at all the many miles of corn fields, the wholesome looking, friendly people and roadside produce stands galore. More photos to come. . .in the meantime, visit Mary @ Ruby Tuesday.

single owner, river view

This week has been full of *heavenly* blue skies. I took this photo early one morning as the sun was beginning to peek into the windows of the Riedel Farm Estate near where the Mississippi River cuts between St. Paul and Minneapolis. Looking out across the River from the farmhouse I was able to capture the last bit of the full moon and its reflection between the trees. All in all, a lovely way to begin a new day!
Visit Skywatch Friday for more beautiful skies from just about everywhere.