Lollypops

Midnight on Nicollet Mall

Monochrome Weekly

Two Things Challenge - Early / Late

Midnight on 6th Street

We're either way too early, or way too late. The crowds are gone, most people have already gone home this Thursday night in downtown Minneapolis.

Two Things Weekly Challenge

Fallen Umbrella

This unclaimed umbrella can be found in the old elevator in Minneapolis. I think it may be usable for just one more rainstorm.

The Green Chair

Comfortable outdoor seating at The Freight House Restaurant in Stillwater, Minnesota

Cold War Relic

I wonder how many Fallout Shelters are left and what they are now used for. Oddly enough, this Fallout Shelter sign was spotted on the exterior of a building in the Warehouse District. As we walked by along the sidewalk, I was tempted to enter. But the door was locked. Besides, the Capacity is nil, notta', nothing. What was it exactly that this Fallout Shelter to protect if the Capacity isn't marked? Good thing the Cold War is over otherwise we'd be lined up outside trying to come up with a solution to this capacity dilemma.

Lost?

No, we're on Nicollet Mall, downtown Minneapolis.

Zooming in on Gameworks on Block E

Yoker

Yoker was here.

Outside the old grain elevators along Hiawatha Avenue in Minneapolis. Is there no end to the mindless tagging?

Monochrome Weekly

Two Things Challenge - Cause/Effect

Cooking with wine can be tricky - Cause/Effect

You must sample the newly opened bottle of wine to make certain it will compliment the entree you are preparing. Otherwise you risk ruining the entree with a corked bottle of wine. The home chef has a recipe of 2 to 1 when cooking with wine. For every one cup of wine in the recipe, the home cook gets two cups.

Risotto, one of my favorite dishes, has layers of flavors and aromas. The first aroma is melting butter sauteing diced onions. Following is the aborio rice and and dry white wine. The wine sizzles when it hits the hot pan burning off the alcohol leaving a wonderful aroma of the wine.

Chicken broth is next added slowly with a lovely poultry aroma. The risotto begins to build a creamy texture as the starches break down and cling together. Added flavor of Kosher salt, fresh cracked pepper and the ultimate creme de la creme, freshly grated Parmigiano-Reggiano.

For the chicken, rub with olive oil, salt, pepper, and add the pleasing aromas of rodemart, thymeand oregano. Fry in olive oil, butter and white wine. Too much wine was consumed, I forgot to add the Saffron in the risotto.

Cause and Effect. For every cause, there is an effect. More ingredients, layers of flavor. too much wine, forgetting the saffron. Preparing this post and reading this post, hunger beyond comprehension.

Buon Appetito

Please join 2 Things Photo Challeenge.

Blue Thistle

Busy bee collecting pollen. Somewhere is a hive full of tasty honey.

Pipe Bends

Abandoned on the Fringe

Dandelion Fountain

The Dandelion Fointain on the north side of Loring Park in Minneapolis.

Thrifty

The Warehouse District in Minneapolis has undergone many changes over the years. Located near the new Twins baseball stadium, I am sure this building will be leveled.

A lesson in cropping. Mark at Highton-Ridley suggested i relook at cropping this photo. The yellow brick in the first image really does nothing for the image, except detract from it. At the time I shot the image, I was thinking how the newer yellow brick was in contrast with the older blue bricks. A new/old theme was on my mind. We need to take a moment and rethink our images and the story we wish to convey. Sometimes less is more. Thanks, Mark.

New Photographer

My 11 year old niece has shown great talent in art and school. She also has shown an interest in photography by watching me with my camera. She wants to get involved and will tell me what to take a picture of and from which angle of view.

So last year, for Christmas, I bought her a Canon point and shoot camera. Now she can shoot what she wants. (hopefully in the future she will stick with a Canon DSLR camera so I can borrow her camera equipment)

On a recent family outing, she forgot her camera and wanted to take pictures of the puppy she fell in love with. Mrs. DL lent our camera and these photos were the pictures our niece captured.

Closed

Another business abandoned.
Monochrome Weekly

Sandbox Construction

From Blog

Expect Major Delays
Construction is booming in this sandbox thanks to the 2009 Stimulus Package.

Yellow Master

...with kryptonite.
Even superman can't break this lock. Lex Security; do you suppose that security company belongs to Lex Luthor?

Back Lot

In the Warehouse District of Minneapolis
Their lawn needs mowing and a bit of cleanup behind this warehouse.

Benchform

Loring Park gardens in Minneapolis are quite lovely this time of year. Grab a spot on one of the benches and enjoy the day.

For All You Foodies

For you Foodies out there.
Last week I made dinner, a recipe from Nick Stellino. But I substituted chicken for the shrimp. Easy to make and delicious! I paired this with a glass of Sangiovese. Not bad, but I wish we had a bottle of Brunello. Check out this recipe and video.

Roses Aren't Always Red

Rail

The old railroad trestle heading into St. Paul across the Mississippi River. Old wood beams, planks, and rusty steel are captivating.

Monochrome Weekly

Peaches and Cream

Going deep into the rose.

Revenge of the Turtles

Care must be taken at the Turtle fountain at Lyndale Rose Garden in Minneapolis. You may get spat upon by these turtles.

Barger

Barge in the process of spinning around to head down the Mississippi River in St. Paul. Check out the guy relaxing on the barge. Always best to stay seated on a moving river barge.

Martini Blue

Sharing a martini glass.
Detail on the the Heffelfinger Fountain

River Slips

Walking on the Wabasha Street bridge across the Mississippi River allows one to view the St. Paul Yacht Club's marina.

The basilica of Saint Mary

The Basilica of Saint Mary in Minneapolis, Minnesota is America's first Basilica. Constructed between 1907 and 1915.

Basilica in HDR

Alter view in HDR

Cheap Sunglasses

Now go out and get yourself some thick black frames
With the glass so dark thay won't even know your name
And the choice is up to you cause they come in two classes
Rhinestone shades and cheap sunglasses
ZZ Top
Trash found in or along the banks of the Mississippi River.

Monochrome Weekly

Two Things Challenge - Star / Appeal

This week's 2 Things Challenge is Star / Appeal
This daisy looks like a star and appealed to me when I took this photograph. I was impressed with this particular "white" garden in the larger Munsinger & Clemens garden in St. Cloud, Minnesota. All of the flowers in this particular garden were all varieties of white colored flowers. It had marvelous appeal.

The Birds

An encounter with a Green Heron. Mr. MB and I were on a photo-walkabout along the Mississippi River at Coon Rapids Dam Park when we spotted this green heron wading in the shallows and spearing minnows. Surprisingly, he flew into the tree behind us directly overhead. He was not camera shy either.