St Paul Undressed

Pretty In Pink

Yes they really are that pink. Azaleas at Marjorie McNeely Conservatory, Como Park

Snow & Wind

Snow is hard to photograph because it is just so white. I think I am getting the hang of it maybe because we have had so much of the stuff this year that there isn’t much else to photograph. This shot was taken in sub-zero weather on a windy day with wind chills in the -20 range. I tend to take the shots fairly quickly because the conditions are hard on the camera and I have not figured out how to take a shot with gloves on. :)  The trick is to jump out of the car, take a couple of shots, and then get back in the car and repeat the process until the picture looks like the scene outside the car.

A touch of Spring

Hyacinths bloom at the Home & Patio show.

A horse of a Different Color

I am not sure this is a horse but I found it at the Mall of America, they have everything at the mall including the worlds largest in door amusement park.  Another nice place to go on a cold day.  Did I mention it is cold in Minnesota?  Yup you betcha, cold it is.

Walking in the Warm

When it is cold out there are some great places to take a walk, inside where it is warm, or at least not below zero.  Last Sunday I took a walk through the skyway’s in downtown St. Paul.  There are about 5 miles of skyway, certainly enough for a walker.  It is the only day of the week they are almost deserted, so I brought my camera. I would have like to bring my dog, but it doesn’t work that way.

Ground Hogs Day

I am not sure if the ground hog saw his shadow and it doesn’t much matter becasue here in St. Paul we will have another 8 weeks of winter either way. It has warmed up a bit from the sever cold of the past few weeks.  It is now warm enough for snow and four inches are on the way.  So I am posting some pictures of flowers because I am posting pictures of flowers.

Have a great day.

Winter Fun

I can’t beleive I just used the words “winter” and “fun” in the same sentance. Maybe there is something wrong with my keyboard. Here is St. Paul we have a tradition that dates back to 1888. The St. Paul Winter Carnival of course. Here are some pictures I took of the ice sculptures. It is a contest. Yes blocks of ice can be carved using chain saws and blow torches. An interesting hobby to be sure. I can and have operated chain saws. I am thinking I am too big of a klutz to use one to carve anything.

If you have a camera and like a challenge, photo graph ice against snow. There isn’t much contrast so I had to get creative.

A fun place to work

I lied work is never really “fun”.  This is one of the coffee shops I use as an office.  My clients like the environment and I like it because it is warm, well lit, has lightening fast internet access and the coffee isn’t bad either.

The fresh Grounds coffee shop is run by a non-profit and is part of a job training program for at risk youth.  Located at 1360 W. 7th Street.

Thinking about Spring

People sometimes ask how we get through the coldest part of the Winter in Minnesota.  Today it is -13 degrees, with a wind chill of -25.  The highest temperature this week will be 8 above.  So it is time to start thinking about spring.

Spring is so beautiful here that it is more than enough of a reward for our patience during the winter.

Cold and snow

I often get home from appointments later than I expect. Yesterday I had to stop and get this shot on my way back from showing a house. When I walked in, late for dinner, my husband said “I know where you were. . .taking pictures”. I told him I can quit any time I want to, he says I can’t.

The picture was taken on the river bluff near my home. Some of the river has open water on it but much of it is frozen. The steam in the photo is from the district heating plant. When it gets cold enough the steam cloud blocks out most of the view of downtown.