The Smiling Pelican part deux

Remember me whining awhile back about a certain bakery not being open during a motorcycle trip to Wisconsin? No pie?. . . Well, when I was in first grade and threw up in Mass one morning my teacher called me a sissy for crying about it. If Sr. Luett Freida could see me now! Yesterday we rode the Wisconsin and Minnesota back roads along the Mississippi River with six other riders from Dave's plant. Clear blue skies, colorful trees and 38 degrees when we took off. It never got much higher than 40 the whole day. Not that I could unbend my knees or unclench my jaw when I got home. But I'm no sissy!
The highlight of the day for me was stopping in Maiden Rock, Wisconsin at the Smiling Pelican Bakeshop on a day when they were open. I would have spent an hour over coffee, trying to decide what to buy, poking around their gardens and the delightful art sprinkled around their tiny shop. Oh, but for the gentle honking of motorcycle horns of the impatient male riders waiting for me outside in the cold.
I managed to grab the busy owners for a quick photo--an amiable, hard working pair. Their operation in this old house, no bread slicer, no credit cards, just wonderful creations and aromas.
Oh, and I did buy a loaf of Cranberry Wild-Rice Sourdough bread and a 2 inch thick piece of pumpkin pie. Life is good!

walk with me

The sky couldn't have been bluer today when I took a walk. I'm glad I decided to go back into the woods a bit because the trees were spectacular. Its those cold nights we have now--with snow predicted this weekend.

I have posted the bench from this spot in the spring and summer but have to say autumn has outdone herself this year.

See more spectacular sky views at SkyWatch Friday.

Love in the Library with Andy Carnegie

1909 view of the Carnegie Library, Pocatello, Idaho

The Carnegie Library In the early 1900s, steel industrialist Andrew Carnegie began a program to encourage education by financing community libraries across the United States. Carnegie was an immigrant from Scotland who had little education but who realized the importance of education, especially for the stream of immigrants who lacked sufficient education to compete in the American job market. His public program furnished libraries for thousands of communities across the country.

My first experience with a library was when I was learning to read and my dad and I climbed the many stairs of this imposing building on the corner of West Center and East Garfield. This Carnegie Library, built around 1907 from a 1906 grant, was one of ten in our state and cost $12,000 to build at that time. In the late 1950's it was vacated for a larger, more modern building on the east side of town. The newer building was only three blocks from St. Anthony School where I attended elementary and once a week I was one of the few bookish types who could walk there and back alone, loaded with books. Thus began my life long love affair with books and libraries. Returning to Idaho on occasion I've re-visited the new, even larger library that was built in 1994 on the original site, attached to the original Carnegie Library. It still smells the same to me.

[photos & facts from Idaho Museum of Natural History]

Many years later I am still a user and browser and haunter of libraries in every city I've lived in or visited. There's the massive urban library I'd visit in Chicago and the tiny Village Library in Jacobus, Pennsylvania where I read for story time. Once smitten, I'm always able to sniff out a library wherever I go. So I tip my hat to Andrew Carnegie!

Today's letter for ABC Wednesday is 'L' --for me it spells l-i-b-r-a-r-y.

Irish Blessings on 'ye

Even though it looks like I might have taken a trip to Ireland, this is the front of an old building in none other than Wisconsin! Visit Mary's colorful meme Ruby Tuesday for more surprises.

May you always walk in sunshine.

May you never want for more.

May Irish angels rest their wings right beside your door.

Give that lady a hand!

As soon as a person asks the question, 'How do I live my life the best way?' then all other questions are answered.

Leo Tolstoy

Last Friday I began my 59th year, mildly relieved it wasn't my 60th and yet, as I celebrated throughout the day, a peace invaded my day. It remains three days later. I think it was a result of laying my cards on the table and choosing to mine from these many years all I have to be grateful for, and for a Libra, that can't be easy. These are the cards I've been dealt.

One card is labeled my childhood, unfortunately full of abuse and a sense of impermanence. Another I've held in my hand is the card of a long standing relationship of love and respect with Dave for these many 38 years. Next card can trump any sadness I've accumulated because it has the faces of my two beautiful daughters. I can't imagine my life without the family I found in my adulthood. Privileged hours enjoying learning, travel, art, literature, music and nature that have enriched my life is a wild card--one I can use whenever I'm feeling a bit 'temporary.' A healthy future, as much as I can influence that, makes up for earlier losses as well. And there's the 'cupcake' card which means I can do something nice for myself every day and try not feel guilty any more.

Earlier in September I found this birthday card I thought I'd eventually send to a friend. Instead, I've kept it for me! A reminder and a token to get into my 60th year. Thanks for listening!

her name was Henrietta

Every autumn I gather different photos for my annual hommage to my mother's love of asters. . .a bittersweet project for sure.
These from Minnesota, Wisconsin and Illinois would have made her smile.

Pick more flowers at Luiz Santilli's Today's Flowers meme -- a perfect way to start the week!

The love of gardening is a seed once sown that never dies.

Gertrude Jekyll

October arrives and a squirrel's gotta eat

On the last day of September we woke up to a hard frost--scraping the windshield type. I took this photo after the fog lifted off a frosty field. Nearby I found the water in a small lake clear and still from the night. The sky was still murky but its reflection was peaceful and blue.

More sky views at Skyview Friday.

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Following Rune's example for Bench of the Week, I am posting a bench sighting photo I took this week. This rustic, most likely hand-made, bench sits on a quiet street in a beautiful old neighborhood in White Bear Lake.

Look closely at who was posing for the photo!

Happy Friday!