little things of Spring...

Introducing Rosie - the sweetest dog!

and a pretty red bird.  Is it a cardinal? 

a perky Spring daffodil!

and a hungry squirrel.

Fort Snelling - April 2010

I’m only mildly freaked out.

No line bifocals.  I’m physically old enough to know what this is, but mentally not even close.   Yesterday I made my final selection on a pair of regular glasses and sunglasses that have progressive lenses.  That’s a nice way of saying BIFOCALS!  The glasses are really cute though – the regular pair is a coppery, orange metal – very funky and the sunglasses are a cool black that will be great for riding motorcycle, hiking and outdoor photography.  

And all I could think about was what the "Lost Puppy" flyer would look like..

Got a phone call at work today from my neighbor, Yobaby.  Yep, her name is Yobaby, but that's a different story for another time.  She called to tell me my dog was loose in the neighborhood. Somehow Lily got out of the house when I wasn’t home?!?  For some reason the neighbors seemed to think of Lily as a pampered mama's dog – not street savvy -  and me as a weak, emotional empty-nester dog owner who would be traumatized by the news.  As I turned off 4^th at 3:30 in the afternoon I found a little entourage of worried, hand-wringing neighbors in my yard. Yobaby, her husband Terri.  Dave his wife Pam (who had been tipping the moonshine jar) and a couple other on-lookers wondering what all the excitement was about. 

Lily’s last known location was heading south on Pine so off I went.  An hour later my daughter and her boyfriend showed up to help with the search.  Eventually I found Lily making her way along the base of the bluff a few blocks away – likely completely lost.  When I called her name she stopped dead in her tracks, looked for a minute or two and then took off running as fast as she could towards me. She had been running the neighborhood for a few hours and was pretty excited to be going home.  

The tourist season appears to have started...

The urban outfitters have arrived....

The rock climbers come to Barn Bluff to climb the old limestone quarry on the bluff.

I hike the bluff for the amazing views of the city and the solitude.

Peaceful Sunday in downtown Red Wing.

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Not so peaceful at the entrance to the bluff.
(this parking lot is normally empty)

Talked to some very nice people on my hike today, but the point is not talking to anyone.

Sunset drive

April 7, Section 107, Seat 7 (and 6)

Stacy Jo used the sidewalk chalk I have put away for the neighbor girls to decorate my back steps.  I think she likes Bon Jovi.  He puts on a dandy show!

Spring on Barns Bluff

I love you big, strong tree!

City Hall looks a lot better from up here. : ) 

Oh Red Wing, you're so cute.