July 31 - We're not in Minnesota, Toto

Thunder Bay? I thought Thunder Bay was in Canada. But it is, in more ways than one. The real Thunder Bay IS in Canada. This Thunder Bay Plaza is in Little Canada, Little Canada, Minnesota.

July 30th - Jumanji

The web, or as in the movie Jumanji, we are sucked into the game. The game called work. Held captive in our cubilces,, rather, fabric boxes. The only escape, retirement. Tomorrow, I bring in the hedge clippers to work.

The Sauna

So many people get it wrong, so many people think the sauna is something in hotels that is heated by electricity. They also believe the word sauna to be pronounced as SAWna. LOL

SAWna? What is that? Some sort of steam bath or something that yuppies use? LOL


The original wood fired sauna (SOWna) has it's origins in Finland, not in the U.S., where mass mispronunciation takes place. For more information; http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sauna


Here is a photo and a link to a series of photos of our SOWna at the cabin on Lake Vermilion. Not quite complete yet, but should be open for use within the month. Take a peek at the progress is you wish on Webshots;
http://home-and-garden.webshots.com/album/560073516ensHvw

July 29 - Dog Days...

...of summer. Hot, humid and sunny. A perfect time to catch some sunrays on the deck and take a quick dognap. A little hummingbird at the feeder woke up the little napster. Winsotn immediately resumed his nap in the warmth of the sun. It is what he does best.

The Response

I recieved a message from klbudd concerning my copied photo. Were it is:

"Hi. I hope you don't take offense to the Pillsbury "A" Mill picture. I actually thought it was quite good but could not get it to show up on my wallpaper, so I downloaded it and uploaded it again. I currently live in San Antonio but used to work in St. Anthony Falls. It was just a good memory that I found!
said klbudd"

I'm not sure if that cleared up anything. Still, I find it strange that he chose that photo out of al the photos depicting memories for him in Minneapolis.

http://northmetro.blogspot.com/2007/07/copy-cat-on-webshots.html

July 28th

Today is Saturday! Unfortunately, I had to go into the office for 6 hours. Thankfully, there is the overtime pay. Unfortunately, overtime is taxed at a higher rate. Sometimes I feel like I hit the wall and never proceed ahead. I owe I owe, off to work I go, to pay my bills, I owe I owe. Ah well, tomorrow is Sunday. Time to partake in a refreshment from yesterday.

July 27th - European Refreshments

Beer, so many varieties, styles, and brands. A lunch outing with two co-workers sent us on a shopping spree for some European beer. I chose beers, (pictured here) from Bavaria and Belgium. Wonderful tasting, so much flavor from the old world traditions. That is after I returned home from the office, not during, sheesh. ;-) Mm-mmm, now for some bratwurst, or bettter yet, Rouladen, Kasseler Rippchen with lots of spatzle. Dang, now I'm hungry for dinner at Gasthof Zur Gemutlichkeit in Northeast Minneapolis!

http://www.gasthofzg.com/

"Beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy." Benjamin Franklin.

COPY CAT on Webshots

On the left is a photo posted on Webshots by klbudd. On the right is my photo posted on Webshots, the original photo that obviously klbudd copied.

What to do?

Check out my photo I named - Pillsbury "A" Mill - taken on November 26 2006 and uploaded November 26 2006.

http://travel. webshots. com/photo/ 2854162640065247 733qNrZNS

Now check this photo named - pillsbury 'a' mill - uploaded by kbudd uploaded on July 18, 2007.

http://travel. webshots. com/photo/ 2077197690100607 150uQAXWc

So similar, you'd say they were the same photo from the same vantage point, same time of year. Notice the tree without leaves. klbudd cropped the photo to eliminate the manhole cover in the street. The cloud and sky pattern in both photos are identical.

But why? My Pillsbury A Mill is not exactly a stunning photo. Not a great composition at all. Just a historical building I found interesting. Why would someone copy such a meek photo when there are so many other better photos to choose from? Quite the compliment to copy my work, but I feel offended that this person chose this photo.

So strange.

I asked this person why as a comment on his/her photo:

Hi. Of all the photos on Webshots, I am just curious as to why you chose to copy and crop this photo. Is this for some type of project? My original photo wasn't all that stunning. Actually, it was a weak composition. I did like the historical aspect. http://travel.webshots.com/photo/2854162640065247733qNrZNS
said mtnets 23 min. ago

I await his/her response.

July 27th

I told you! The sign for the Sawmill Saloon in Virginia, Minnesota. A favorite restaurant and bar/grill.

King of the Load ore hauler. Virginia, Minnesota - Mineview in the Sky. Donated from LTV Steel Mining Company in 1998 after 10 years, 80,000 hours of service. The world's first 240 ton two axle diesel electric truck. This truck hauled an estimated 17 milion tons of earth and taconite materials. Truck weighs 300,000 pounds, 44 feet long, 24 feet wide, and 22 feet high.

Drill bit cutter heads, used in service for iron ore mining.

July 26th - Luminous Flux

Look deep into my crystal globe. Where is that missing flux capacitor? A simple pic of a floor lamp globe. Indoor sunlight fo rthe evening.

Moon Again

I just wasn't satisfied with my last attempts at taking a picture of the moon. This time, I think I'm getting closer to a decent pic. Perhaps I still need more practice.

http://northmetro.blogspot.com/2007/07/070107.html

http://northmetro.blogspot.com/2007/06/moon-view.html

July - Box

July's theme is boxes for Webshots Once A Month album. A tough decision to figure out how to create a clever photo for a box. Behind the Sawmill Saloon, (as many of you intimately know when staying at the old hotel next to the tracks), were these box cars. This one with it's graffitti caught my attention.

http://entertainment.webshots.com/album/558264402ZyxNVF

July 25 - Waves

Catching my eye, lake waves dancing about the shore. Work tomorrow, my head is heavy, the thought of leaving this tranquil watery oasis is too much to bear. Good bye boat. good be loon, goodbye eagle, goodbye moon. See you next week. (The Official Webshot's Daily Photo) http://entertainment.webshots.com/album/559593639QaaSKR

July 24th - Sauna

Yet another unofficial Daily Photo not involved with Webshots. The sauna is shaping up nicely. the steam room is complete but the front changing room needs to be finished. Patio was completted this weekend. Why we picked the hottest days to work on this project I'll never know. now to get the grass to grow. Sauna should be open for service within the month.

July 23 - Sawmill

An unofficail Daily Photo picture. Not to be submitted in the Webshgot's Daily Photo Album. We stopped in at the Sawmill Saloon for pizza and beers. Tall beers. Tall beers that were ice cold and refreshing! Glad to see their sign is back up. Don't be surprised if I use this photo for my Webshots 3 Photos a Week Challenge, folks!

A Bug's life in supermacro

Flambuoyance on my purple coneflower. This one is quite the good looking bug. Even the large bumblebees took notice and buzzed around, swooning over this flambouyant bug.

July 22 - Its a Small World

A small world for a small bug, this gentle bug caught my eye while surveying my bed of cone flowers. This morning before leaving out of town, I sacrifised myself and waded through the purple cone flowers and black eyed susans. This bed of flowers was over run with bumble bees the size of softballs. Well, maybe not softballs. They were big, they moved columns of air when buzzing about. One landed on a cedar fence, I swear I heard the cedar crack from the bumble bees weight. Crikey, I'm outa' here.

July 21st- Mini Tripods

For Shlomo, my Webshots friend from Isreal. Information for night photography. 2 tabletop mini tripods that I use regulatly with my Canon S5 IS. You can see they are about the size of a pop can, they pack nicely in or on your camera bag. The Ultrapod (smaller of the two) fits inside the camera bag, but has less adjustments. It is not as stable as the Sunpak (the larger one). The larger Sunpack tabletop mini tripod cost $22 US from BHVideo.com

July 20th - The Log

A short walk from the office, this pond is in a quiet natural setting. These Mallards were all sunning themselves on a log and paid no attention to the bipeds on the path.

For July 20th

Time to say goodbye to our Twins. Doree did a fine job raising them while we had theprvilage of watching over them.

One of my favorites; 'purple coneflower'. A happy bright flower. I hope to have a field of these in a few years.

Big bright leaves, these leaves are a part of a large grouping in a container on our patio. THe bright colors caught my eye.

July 19th - 3 Amici

3 scooters for 3 owners/boss's, lined up similar to Harleys at a biker bar. Dubbed te potty porter, for those quick trips to the men's room. There is a time for work and a time for play. These 3 scooters will surely get them around the cubicle farm in a hurry. Best thing about this is that we can now hear them coming with the whine of the electric motors.

7/18/07 - Empty Nest Syndrome

Today, our Twins spread their wings and took their first practice flight a full 3 feet to our deck chair. They did a great job in their solo flights. Now, if anyone wants to come visit us for refreshments on our deck, you can rest assured that our chairs are the most comfortable. mourning Dove approved for comfort. We hate to see them go. Bon voyage!

July 17th

Monochromatic. The CAT is on the roof truss again. It hasn't left yet. Darn that CAT 5 way above my head.

July 16th

The End of an era. Sadly, this year, we hang up our hats. The BWCA Walleye Club; June 1978 - May 2007. Farewell, thanks for years of wonderous memories.

July 15th

Purple Cone Flower. Just playing around with my new camera, the new Canon S5 IS. So far so good. More testing coming up.

July 14th

Chairs, When its time to relax...

For July 13nth

Trolling out of the sunset, miles from home. And time to put on the lights. A fine evening for trolling Lake Vermilion. Walleyes were not cooperative, maybe next time.

Island shoreline. Amazing what the glaciers create millions of years ago.

The log cabin. Old island cabin on Lake Vermilion. Black and white gives this that nostalgic feeling.

July 13th

Sorry, for more dove shots. It was a long day at the salt office. I get such a kick out of watching Doree raise her young. I was really hoping for a pair of Baltimore Orioles at our feeder station. But they are much too camera shy.

July 12th

Luois Jadot, what a great guy with his wine making skills. Some day, I'd like to meet him, but not yet. not for a long time.

July 11nth

Update on Doree. The following morning, we found Doree on her nest tending to the Twins. We are now involved in keeping our deck free from hawks. Thanks for your concerns and the great info on helping the potential orphaned chiks. This is the best shot I could get. Doree has been tramatized enough to suffer some silly biped with camera demanding her to say "cheese" for umpteen pictures.

July 10nth

Dinner time. A quick pic, qucik dinner, then All Star Game time, gotta' run, game on!

July 9

Doree had twin doves! Unfortunately, 2 hours after this photo was taken, a red tailed hawk was seen on our deck within feet of this nest. Mrs. mtnets chased the hawk away. Doree has not returned in 4 hours. We're worried now.

It has been a while

Cool, I have fans! I was just informed by one of my fans...perhaps my one and only fan, that this page has not been updated for quite some time. She misses the Doree Report. Sorry about that, M.K. , Iv'e been too busy to keep up with this lately. Its been very busy since the July 4th Holiday. So, I will spend time and get as caught up as I can....at least until the beer runs out.

There were no photos submitted in the Webshots Daily Photo album on July 4th thru July 8th. Sorry.

July 3rd

Doree is fidgety today during the thunderstorm. I don't blame her, shes out side sitting in the lousy weather. But what a lovely home she has.

07/02/07 Basil Bug

Dinner time; steaks and veggies. Some basil is needed. While out clipping some basil leavesfrom our deck basil planter, this green fellow hopped from leaf to leaf. No idea what he is, I'mm going with BasilBug.

For july 6th

For Friday July 6th submission to 3 Photos a Week Challenge. Five days ahead of time, but mid week is July 4th. So much to do with holiday feastivities, I'll be away from the PC until next week. Enjoy this series of 3.

Pulcinella, interior decor from the downtown Punch Pizza. Fabulous Neopolitan style pizza, just like the pizza we had in Piazza Navona, Rome. The Toscano pizza salad,and Punch salad was superb. Mirror - mirror, The reflection from this sign in front of Mill City Museum affords an amazing reflection. And the icon of Minneapolis; the Grain Belt Beer sign on Hennepin Ave. Today we walked 4.5 miles arounf this area of downtown. A dedicated Webshots album is now in the works. More later on that. Happy 4th of July!

Doree hunkered down

Here we find Doree hunkered down behind the flowers to find shaded relief from the blistering sun. Heat wave proves too much for her as we see her often cooling and soaking in the birdbath. She eyes our sliding patio door, and is envious when we open it to walk out on the deck and the waft of comforting cool air whisps by her. She lifts standing erectly catching all of the remaining cool air as the door is closed. Poor gal outdoors in the insufferable heat working hard to incubate the twins. They should be hatching soon, then the fun of raising the twins will begin.

07/01/07 RoseMoon

June 30th, full moon, called the Hay Moon. Also called "Rose Moon", Strawberry Moon, or Honey Moon. This one is for you RoseMarra! See her

Webshot's site; http://community.webshots.com/user/rosemarra?action=profile