Candy Cane Lane

I've kinda got a Christmas display theme going on, so I might as well run with it. 

Christmas Dreams

There is a house a few blocks from me that has a big beautiful Christmas display.  I stopped by around 10ish this evening to take some shots.  This is just a small portion of the display, but I liked it the best.  I've always loved snowmen. 

It was so peaceful out there.  No traffic.  Cold, crisp air. (11 degrees above zero, which is a lot nicer than some of the weather I've been out shooting pics!) Twinkly lights.  The soft humming of the air machines for the blow ups.  It was a nice little moment.

Beacon in the night

This is the most beautiful light-wrapped tree I have ever seen!  I first noticed it last night as I was driving over the Cedar Avenue bridge.  It is so huge and shines like a beacon from the river bluffs.

I decided to try and find it, so I got off the highway and took a couple turns and there it was.  I didn't add any light to the house, that is all glow from the tree!  It is so breathtakingly beautiful  in person and so big.

I went back tonight with my camera and tripod to take some shots.  My iPhone pics from last night just didn't do it justice.  As I was taking pictures, a cop came slowly down the street and rolled down his window.  Oh oh, now what?  I'm just taking pictures.  When I got close enough to hear him, he said he was gawking too.  Too funny.

Got Snow?

We got our first "real" snow of the season today.  The trees looked very pretty when they were flocked.  Unfortunately, the snow was so wet and heavy that it was snapping tree branches off all over the neighborhood.

The first snow is always wondrous and pretty.  I'm sure by April I'll be wishing it was gone.

A beautiful day in the neighborhood

I saw this home today while out on a fall color trip with some ladies.  A pretty home on a pretty fall day.  I especially like the solarium on the back.

I looked it up on the internet when I got home and found a few more details.  The house is currently 5,927 square feet and is worth $1 million dollars.  As near as I can tell from tax records, it has been completely remodeled and redesigned.  I wonder if it looks anything like the original house that was there.  Oh well, it's still pretty.

Audrey is still blooming

Audrey is my Fireball Hibiscus plant.  Audrey, as in Little Shop of Horrors, as in "FEED ME!"  Audrey has been bred to survive Minnesota winters, unlike her tropical cousins.  I named her after the movie plant because she has been getting bigger and bigger every year and now has a whole corner of a flower bed to herself.  I'm really surprised to see her blooming into October, but very pleased too.  I still expect her to start talking one of these days.

Here is a previous post if you want to see what she looked like in years past.  She is just finishing her fourth season  in the garden.  Look below to see how she's grown this year.  I took this picture a while back using my iPhone instead of my Pentax.

Three seconds of mayhem

Kitties can do a lot in three seconds, as evidenced in the photo above.  No matter how many times she's sat in this chair before, everything has to be scrutinized all over again.

Don't mess with this mama

Did you skip your vegetables?  Thinking of staying out past curfew?  Planning on getting into a mess of trouble?  Maybe you'd better re-think that.  Mama is watching you.  And she'll kick your butt!

Contented Kitty

This is Squeaky's brother.  Both he and Squeaky have the prettiest blue eyes.  He was chillin' on the screen porch last Saturday, so I made it a photo op.

All this attention made my kitty's green eyes even more green with envy.  She was having none of it.  First she walked between us as I was taking his picture.  Then she walked around me, walked back to him, hissed, smacked his face, and stalked away.  I guess she told him!

Sun Patch

My kitty likes to move around the house from sun patch to sun patch throughout the day.  Even more so since I gave her the annual "lion cut" a couple weeks ago.

She liked her new do at first because it was hot weather, but now we're having cooler weather and she can't seem to get enough sun patches.  I console her with the fact that by November she will be a big warm fuzzball again.

After the Rain

It rained all day Saturday, but it finally let up in the evening.  I had the urge to take pictures, so I went out and took some foliage pictures.  All the plants looked so happy and glowing in the evening light. 

I planted my garden on Memorial Day, so there will be more plant pictures to come as we move into summer.

Baby Cardinal

We've been watching the progress of a baby cardinal nesting in a bush outside our window.  Today I watched it leave the nest at the prompting of mommy and daddy.  You can still see tufts of baby down on it.  I hope the little tyke enjoys its new-found freedom from the nest.

Techie Corner
Shooting through a window screen at slow speed.  Not a chance at a crisp image, but it's still a cute birdie.  Shot at 1/8 Sec at F5.6, ISO 200.  Heavy editing in Photoshop and Lightroom.

You Talkin' to Me?

Squeaky looks like he means business, but he's really just a scaredy cat.  Squeaky isn't his real name, but if you ever hear him meow, you'll know why I call him Squeaky.

I'm not sure he appreciated me interrupting his afternoon nap,  but that's the way it is when there is a photographer in the house.

Historic Bottle Cap

When I was a little girl, we used to drive by this sign all the time when taking my dad to work.  I was mesmerized by the letters of the sign as they lit up in sequence.  I sure wish someone would restore it and light it up again. 

Techie Corner
Most people are used to seeing this sign in color.  I guess I'm just in a contrasty, black and white mood this week.  Desaturated and bumped up contrast and clarity in Lightroom.

Strollin'

I was out for a walk with a dear friend on Saturday and was struck by all the converging lines on this pathway. 

Techie Corner:
I took several shots, but I liked this one the best.  I liked it even better after I converted it to black and white and made it very high contrast.

Pot O' Gold

Thursday night was a mixture of rain and sun, a combo that's bound to make a rainbow sooner or later.

I was thinking at the time that I should probably go looking for the end of the rainbow so I could claim my pot o' gold.

M-O-O-N Spells Moon

The moon is shining brightly this evening.  It looks like a full moon, but I guess it isn't officially a full moon until Wednesday.

I didn't think I'd get too much because it was already high in the sky, but with my longest lens and some Photoshop cropping, it turned out pretty decent. 

I especially like the shadows of the craters in the upper and lower left.

Candy Stripe

My Candy Stripe Creeping Phlox is the only Phlox I have with variegated flowers.  They look good enough to eat right now.  I wonder if they taste like candy canes.  Probably not.

Walking around and enjoying all the flowers gives me the "warm fuzzies."

Bleeding Hearts

I have several bleeding heart plants in the yard.  The flowers are so delicate and dainty. 

Oh Dandy Lion

Nothing heralds in Spring like dandelions.  We spend the rest of the growing season trying to eradicate them.  But if you can get past the weed aspect, they are pretty in their own right.

Spring is in the Air

When I came home today, the smell of Spring was overwhelming.  Our Snow Crab trees are in full bloom and most of the Spring flowers are showing their blazing colors.  I just had to start taking pictures!  I will probably do a short series since they are so plentiful right now.

My tulips are almost done, but these variegated ones were putting out one final effort today.

Flowers just seem to have a way of bringing out the best in people.  Last Saturday, a stranger rang our doorbell.  It was a man who lived down the street a few blocks.  He was obviously drunk--smelled to high heaven, could hardly stand up straight, slurred his words, and I think he had some booze from the local liquor store under his arm.  Still, he came to the door and politely asked if he could have a tulip for his granddaughter because it was her birthday.  He could have stole some, but he didn't.  We gave him one of each color and he went happily on his way, with tulips in one hand and booze in the other.  The beauty of God's creation is so obvious, even a drunk man could see it.  I hope they brightened his granddaughter's birthday.

150th Blog

For my 150th blog, I thought a splash of gold would be appropriate.

While I was at the State Capitol on Saturday, I took a quick shot of the shiny gold statues on the capitol building.  I did a search online and found out that this sculptural grouping is called "Progress of the State."  It is in the style of ancient Roman sculptures and everything has a meaning.  The four horses represent earth, air, fire, and water.  The women represent agriculture and industry, and together they represent civilization.  The charioteer represents prosperity.

The statues are steel, covered in copper, and gilded in gold leaf.  They were taken down in 1994 for a yearlong restoration, and they continue to get gold leaf touch-ups as needed.

They sure do shine in the sun!

Bagpipers Piping

Yesterday there was a Tartan Day celebration in front of the State Capitol.  Before Friday night, I had never heard of Tartan Day.  According to information I found online, April 6, 1320, is when the Declaration of Arbroath (the declaration of Scotland's independence) was signed.  Tartan Day is a celebration of that and of Scottish heritage in general.

Even "Nessy" put in an appearance.

It was a beautiful day at the State Capital.

According to the announcer, these two are brothers, ages 4 and 6.  They were having a good time smacking each other and pushing each other around.  I guess boys will be boys, even in kilts.

The Minnesota Police Pipe Band

The Scottish American Military Society

A taste of a "highland fling"

Ever had...

...one of those days?  I think my kitty is having one right now.

Amen

I have a little plastic cross that still manages to glow in the dark, even though I think I got it in Kindergarten, or close to it.  For the past few months I've had it hanging above my computer to remind me, above all, that Jesus never fails.

I know a lot of people going through a lot of things right now,  but Jesus is willing to help you through anything if you ask Him and do what He says.  Sickness, family discord, financial troubles, splintered marriages, pain and suffering, whatever it is, Jesus never fails.

Happy Easter!  He is risen!  He is risen indeed!  JESUS......NEVER......FAILS

Night Views from Raspberry Island

Wednesday, one of my co-workers talked about going and getting some night shots, so I invited myself along.  The water levels have receded since last week, so we were able to get to Raspberry Island with no problems.

The lights were reflecting beautifully on the water and timed exposures left interesting light trails from the passing cars on Shepard Road.

I took a shot through the bandshell with more light trails in the background.

I also took two different shots of the staircase leading from Raspberry Island up to the Wabasha Bridge.  I thought it was so cool looking.  It really looks pretty at night.

Tuf-N-Uf

This one definitely takes the prize as the biggest bike at the show.  It's named "Tuf-N-Uf" and I've never seen a bigger bike in my life.

I'm not sure how well this bike would corner.  That is a behemoth back tire!

Trying to show a little scale here.  That back tire would come up to about chest height.

Another attempt at scale.  With normal size choppers all around it, it really sticks out.

Big Wheels

I think the custom chopper industry is getting some inspiration from the Big Wheel toys of the 70's.  It was definitely a theme at the bike show this year.

This is a ridiculously large, 30" front tire.

All I can say is if you happen to hit a puddle while riding this, you'll end up with a black streak down the middle of your face!

Not sure how big this one is, but at least it has faring to protect your face from road splash.

This one is 26" and has a nice full fender.  Love that blue.

Victory!

I went to the Donnie Smith Bike Show Sunday afternoon.  This was my second year, and there were another fine batch of custom bikes, and in the case of this bike, a fine model sitting on it too.  Victory never looked so good.

And same as last year, this will be the first in a series of blogs from the show.  Too many good bikes for just one blog.

Spooky Moon

When I was putting out the recycle bins last night, I looked up and saw a lovely, misty, spooky moon.  The moon rises fairly quickly, so I had to hurry inside to get my camera and tripod.  Then I had to hurry back in and change lenses to a longer one, but I finally captured it.  I just looked on the calendar and it was officially a full moon too.  Spooky