Windmill in Wisconsin somewhere...

I'm still working on learning how to use my Nikon d80 - I'm going to go back and shoot this one again now that I've learned a little more about lighting and exposure.  Unfortunately, I'm not sure where it is.  

Can we be done with old man winter now?

An old barge on the Mississippi River at Colvill

I've spent the past few months walking through snow and ice at

Colvill....can't wait to see these picnic tables spread out and
covered with ketchup, birthday cake and crying babies

Companionship on the river

A sure sign of Spring!

The Carlson kiln at the base of Barn's Bluff - great history.

The river is alive again after a long sleep...

Know When Enough is Enough

Great trouble comes
From not knowing what is enough.
Great conflict arises from wanting too much.
When we know when enough is enough,
There will always be enough.
-Lao Tzu

Do I have a great excess of possessions? Too many bad behaviors? Unrealistic ideas? Yes. What could I do without? That's where the situation gets dicey.

Junk or art?

A sea of garbage (plastic) most definately excessive and unnecessary junk.

Up on the bluff...

I decided to see what it was like up on the bluff today
- probably the earliest I've ever been up there in the spring. It was a beautiful day.

Yes, the Kiln is still there with some new graphics.

The city - looks like we need some Spring color.

The Kiwanis sign had paw prints all over it - no respect. :)

The steps were completely covered in mud and gunk. Nasty. It needs to rain hard.

It was a little scary with all the ice and snow.

You can see another empty marina.

Will be nice to see some green up here. Spring is on the way.

I did my part to stimulate the economy yesterday.  The Blair stimulus consisted of a car tune-up at the Nissan dealership $42.36, a new skirt, blouse, sweater from Bloomingdales $212 (needed for a wedding reception next weekend and a great value because of the versatility – yes, I can rationalize clothes shopping) and entry into Bogart’s for an evening of dancing -  $6.  I guess the entry fee was to help pay the salary of the Tom Petty Tribute band.  I’d kinda like my money back from Bogart's.  It was…ummm... depressing. An Oscar Wilde quote came to mind, "Either the wallpaper goes or I do." 

 I also started my little planting project for the community garage sale.  We'll see if these little babies show themselves in time for their May 1st debute.  

My morning started at Baypoint Park - it's still icy and frozen in parts, but where the sun shines it was almost balmy. There were a few signs of life with the hearty wildlife - birds and fishing boats - but it will be nice to see that marina filled with life again.  Soon...

Mirror image

I'm just not that into you...

Dear Winter,

We need to take a break. I know, I know...it's not you. It's me. Well, actually it is you. One day you offer up sunny skies and warm breezes and the next you are all frozen and chilly leaving dangerous pools of ice on the sidewalk. I'm sick of you. My dog is sick of you. My car is especially sick of you. Somewhere underneath all your snow and ice are the flowers I had planted last summer. Remember those? I'd really like to see them again.

I'm sorry winter. We're through.

And I only live a 1/2 mile away...

I left city hall today at 2 p.m. (during the height of the snow storm) to run over to the United Way office to sign some papers. I intended to be away from my desk for 10 minutes. One hour later I was pulling into my garage. I felt like this....

During that time I had to get out of my car to knock on the window of a car which was blocking the intersection on Hwy 61 (I waited through 3 light changes). He was scared and confused as the traffic was backed all the way from the bridge (which was closed due to an accident or something.) Three blocks of traffic had since piled up behind me.

Then I couldn't actually get to the United Way office so I dumped my car near the post office and walked further than I would have had I just left my car in the parking lot at City Hall. I actually ran. By this time my hair was soaked and stuck to my head and my wool jacket was white from the thick, clotted snow.

While dripping and signing in the UW office we then see a car swerve off the road and drive down the sidewalk (the same sidewalk I had just been on) as the road had now become a parking lot (apparently this guy had some where important to be). The message that the bridge was closed was being passed down car by car through the blocks of traffic by people (who were a little more law abiding) standing outside their cars scraping snow off their wind shields.

I then ran a few blocks back to my car and had no choice but to get back on 61 (in the opposite direction of the traffic jam thank god) and turned towards my house. I couldn't make it up the hill (or back to city hall due to the traffic problems) and had to do a U-turn in the middle of the street which put me near the gas station. I then decided I needed chocolate. So soaking wet and covered in snow I ran into the store, made my purchase and ran the 1/2 block back to my car.

While running into the store I remembered many years ago going out for ice-cream in the middle of a blizzard with my sister after my dad was admitted into a hospital due to a blood pressure problem. I still handle stress and weather the same way.

Turning into my alley I attempted numerous times to enter my garage. Just yesterday I paid $867 to have repairs done to my driver side door after I backed out and scraped and dented the door and broke off the mirror. I almost damaged the door again sliding around on the ice and snow. I jumped out - shoveled the snow, put down some salt and safely entered my garage.

I undressed by the back door - ran upstairs - jumped into a hot bath - changed into warm comfies and collapsed with my chocolate. It was 3:00 p.m.

The good news - the three places I needed to be tonight (still hadn't decided which meeting I was going to actually make it to) were all CANCELLED due to the weather. Yeah - I'm in for the night!!

In our daily actions,
let us concentrate on details with great care and attention,
let us make this an ingrained habit for the behavior of our bodies and minds,
like protecting a newborn child.
by Master Taisen Deshimaru

I'm learning this...but it takes a lot of mental effort to keep in mind that every action I do through out the day should be dealt with carefully and thoughtfully. No list of tasks that must be accomplished before I can do fun stuff. It's ALL fun stuff! Yeah, like I said...I'm working on it.

I spent President's weekend in Chicago and all I have

to show for it is pictures of my sister's birds "Phoebie and Nora".
One of them got loose and flapped around the living room which
was very exciting considering it was late at night and
there were dogs on the chase.

I think this is Phoebie.

Astute observation and deductive reasoning...

I've been to Hershey, PA and I'm convinced they are not making any chocolate there. The following I know to be true… The smoke stacks are smokeless. The conveyer belts are full of candy, but it’s all wrapped. There are no big vats of smooth milk chocolate turning over and over for curious tourists to ooh and aah over. Candy bar mascots roam the side walks, Hershey Kiss light poles light the streets and an enormous store in the center of town sells every type of Hershey candy imaginable. Upon asking a sales clerk if any chocolate was actually being made in town, I received a hurtful look. I think she believes it is.

All of that aside – what are they up to selling a milk chocolate buttery toffee bar under the names of Scor and the same with the name of Heath? I had a hankering for that smooth milk chocolate and buttery English toffee and have, over the years purchased one or the other. Today I purchased both. But NOT in the same store – aha! In one store I purchased the Scor, not seeing (or even thinking about)the Heath. In the other store I was looking for gum, noticed the Heath and then looked around for the Scor. Apparently they are not sold in the same location. Of course I'll have to do further research to see if this theory holds true.

Now, being in the possession of both I decided it was time for closer inspection. Scor has Hershey proudly displayed across the front of the package. The Heath bar has Hershey obscurely hidden in much smaller print on the back.

A taste tests leaves me scratching my head. They are different, yes – but only slightly. I couldn’t decide which one I liked better. What are you up to Hershey?

First lift ride up the mountain

Montana - Bridger range

Jay and I took a drive around the area last night after my plane landed.

This is my first look at the Bridger range.
Today we will be skiing at Bridger Bowl somewhere in these mountains.


Great sunset - looks like fire on the mountain.
Today it will be sunny and 40 degrees as opposed to -21 (air temp) in
Minneapolis. I told the people on the airport shuttle yesterday that I was
going someplace warm. They were going to Mexico - I think this is way better.

Last night we had dinner with Lisa and Greg in Livingston
at the Rib and Chop House.
After that is a blur.

Bozeman - a warm, winter vacation

I found this map of ski spots around Montana. We will be skiing at Bridger Bowl and Moonlight Basin - don't think we will make it to Big Sky, but we'll see how the week goes and how my legs hold out. More pictures to come - stay tuned! The weather is 35-40 degrees in Bozeman with sunshine and lots of fresh snow. I'm told the ski conditions are perfect. I'll let the pictures tell the story.

Daisy's are about to arrive

Pre-party - ready, set, go....
Everything is all set with minutes to spare.
I am woman, hear me roar! :)

Christmas is over, but....

2008 has come and gone, I've thrown away left over Christmas cookies, taken the left over candy canes to work and am basically working on becoming 'sugar free' again. I'm like a crack whore when it comes to sugar. Candy canes and gourmet jelly beans are my hidden addiction and I'm working on eradicating them from my diet. I like them in the morning - kinda helps me get going. But, I'm already back the Y for regular workouts and am slowly cleaning up and improving my diet after what seems like a very long holiday season.


However, I'm not ready to part with my Christmas tree yet. It's pretty. It gives off nice light in the living room and I'm wondering when the neighbors will start to whisper about the person who still has Christmas lights glowing from inside and outside of their house. Can I get away with it until February? Anyone have a ruling on this?

I know in time I will tire of it and want to put it away, but that time hasn't come yet. Maybe it's because I don't feel like messing around with all the boxes. I don't know, but this year I'm rather attached to my little tree and the angel that sits on top.

When do you take your Christmas tree down? In my family the rule of thumb use to be that the tree didn't go up until after Dec 15th (my brother's birthday), but I don't remember when we took it down. I guess in those days we had a real tree and by this time it would be dropping needles. My tree is artificial, although it is real to me :) and I like the silvery sage bulbs and the little white lights.

Violence over Benjamin Buttons

I read this weekend on CNN that a shooting took place in a movie theater. It seems someone was talking and for that took a bullet in the arm. At first my sympathies were with the shooter. I know, it's an extreme measure, but come on, people talking in the movie theater does lead to any number of extreme thoughts - most of which are never acted on - thank god. For most of us we might turn our head slightly in the direction of the talker, alerting them that we are on to them and annoyed. If that doesn't work maybe we will turn and make eye contact with the chatterer. I don't know about you, but shhing is a major move. Now, if the movie theater is nearly empty and a senior couple sits down near you and you start to hear "What did she say?" or mutterings along those lines we might decide to pick up and move elsewhere, but usually because we don't want to appear rude or hurt their feelings we will put up with it. It's that damn humanitarian in us. Having said that I think talking in the movie theater deserves to be dealt with severely (how about some bouncers sitting every few rows to deal with it for us?). There have been times in my life that if I had a gun with me....well, maybe, just maybe...No, no, I wouldn't do it. Come to think of it, why did the guy bring the gun into the theater in the first place?

Anyway....the shooter lost my sympathies. The movie where this tragic event took place was "The Curious Case of Benjamin Buttons". This is a slow moving three hour film. Beautiful, artsy, moving story, yes. But yeah, I said 3 hours. 3 hours! By the time this movie ended my popcorn had been gone for 2 hours and 54 minutes. I had applied lipstick, hand lotion, had 4 pieces of gum, took my coat off, put my coat on, checked my cell phone for emergency messages twice (nothing), found a couple of candy cane kisses in the bottom of my purse, ate them slowly, whispered to my sister more times than I can remember and laughed out loud when she said she felt like she was being tortured. I almost wish someone had shot me.

Obviously the shooter was bored and annoyed too and just looking for something to end his own torture. But why take it out on the poor smuck was was suffering right along with him? Shoot at the screen, shoot out the projector. I think the report said the shooter was at the movies alone, on Christmas. Kinda sad. He didn't have anyone to talk to. Can you imagine sitting through a 3 hour movie, alone and with no bag of tricks (a purse) to go through to occupy your time?

Movie makers should take note - keep the movies to 1 hour and 45 minutes, throw in a car chase, a sex scene and a street fight and everyone leaves happy and keeps their guns in the holster.

Laura's Favorite Things

Every year Oprah does a show about her "favorite things". This year because of the state of the economy and to be fair to her viewers, she only showcased things that were $100 or less. Gee, thanks Oprah.

So, in the spirit of favorite things and the economy, I thought I would highlight some of my favorite things ($10 or less) and in some cases free! Yeah! Here goes...

Tiramisu coffee creamer in a good, strong cup of coffee. I think the Tiramisu is a seasonal item.
The novel "Loving Frank" a first for Nancy Horan. I would describe this book as historical fiction. It's about the affair Frank Lloyd Wright had with Mamah Borthwick weaving fact and fiction. As is often the case, the woman behind the famous man is more interesting. There is barely a footnote in American History about Wright's love affair with Borthwick. She had much to offer the world with her writing and ideas about equal rights for women. I felt the same way about Mabel Bell when I read about Alexander Graham Bell after visiting the Bell museum in Nova Scotia.

Great book - the ending was a shocker!

A funny Christmas card from a funny cousin. We have an old joke about our kids needing therapy. So far they all seem pretty normal despite their upbringing.

Small, round, green doors; big feet; The Shire and Bilbo Baggins saying “I feel thin, like butter stretched over too much bread”. Today is the day I will watch the entire trilogy as I bake cookies, wrap presents and write out Christmas card. It's good to have a snow day the Saturday before Christmas.

Many years ago we purchased this for mom and dad. I think it was right here in Red Wing somewhere - years before I lived here. We thought it was hilarious.

I still have a tendency to say....
Merry Christmoose!

Dogs in sweaters on snowy days!

Last but not least....Candy cane kisses!

I think they are new this year - at least new to me...dangerously delicious!