Hand Carved Holidays

My mother hand carved an entire Nativity scene over the past 3 years.  She finished it just in time for the 2011 holiday.  Amazing. 

Oklahoma.

Merry Christmas Saint Paul!

Rubber Ducky Nativity Scene

Lamb of God Rubber Ducky.  Hilarious.

Angel Rubber Ducky is on a cotton ball cloud!

GORILLAS!

This months gorilla yoga was held in the food bank warehouse for the Emergency Food Shelf Network.  It was kind of awesome.

Feline Precarious

 

Saint Paul is home to many beloved pets.  

Some of them are training to become acrobats and have dreams of running away and joining the circus.

They practice where they can until they can make their escape.

Dreary Days

 I'm all for the warmer weather, but it does come with a few drawbacks.  The Cathedral of Saint Paul as shot from my vehicle on John Ireland.

Eww.

 
Drive away please.  Drive far, far away.  Roseville parking lot.

Frosty....

...with the warmer weather we've been having, I fear old Frosty is not long for this world. 
I'm mellllllllllting!!!

Mural

Painted by the Saint Paul Star Program along Hamline. 

InVocation

It's a yearly tradition for me to go and see my awesome neighbor Sara perform in this holiday choir.  Proceeds benefit the Emergency Foodshelf Network. Macalester Plymouth United Church.

Winter Has Arrived Folks....

Dunlap & Laurel.

And the winner for the most lights ever on a giant tree goes to.......

Check out the person in the foreground for a size reference.  Summit Avenue

The Cedar

Saw 2 amazing bands there last night, but The Cactus Blossoms took me right back to my teen years spent busing tables at my Mom's country bar, The Lone Wolf.  Classic country with 2 guitars, 1 stand up base, a violin and the steel guitar.  Twangy heaven.

Cedar Avenue.

Hola Señor Sol!

The sun becomes somewhat elusive around here in the winter.  (It's grey and snowing as I type)  It's enough to drag a gal down in the dumps, so I like to take advantage of stopping whatever I'm doing and appreciating the sun whenever it makes an appearance.  Hola!  Agradable verle. Gracias por parar cerca. ¡Vuelto otra vez pronto!

Orpheum on the outside.

Orpheum on the inside.

Orpheum Theater

My first trip to the Orpheum.  Not thrilled with the show I saw but totally amazed at the gorgeous venue.  Hennepin Avenue.

 
Love this car.  It lives on Griggs Street.

Meals on Wheels

I'm a little late with this post but just wanted to share with you some of the visual treats I received when h and I did Meals on Wheels this Thanksgiving.  But the biggest gift of all was the sober reminder of how incredibly blessed I am.  Delivering Thanksgiving Dinner in a card board box to a family of 4 living in a Super 8 Motel will do that to a person.

The Bulldog

Shuffle board.  Darts.  Sunday drinking.  Awesome.  Love it.  Corner of 4th and Wacouta.

You just can't beat it!

Low prices. High quality. And some serious "ahhhhhhhhh" factor. Yes please!

Oh, and btw, OPI Grape Jelly is the best color EVER!  720 Cleveland Avenue.

Terrible Name, But Tasty Tacos

The reasonable price and tasty tacos make the brutal fight in the parking lot to find a space almost bearable....almost.



The Rusty Taco located in the Trader Joes Complex.  Randolph and Lexington.

Wild Turkey.....IN THE MORNING????

Yup!  Found this flock just behind my building on my way into work.  I've seen them once or twice before but this is the first decent shot I've gotten.  Loving my new camera's ability to zoom with such sharpness.

Just behind Colborne Street near the railroad tracks.

It just keeps on...........

 

The beauty of this autumn continues to amaze me.  No snow as of yet, motorcycle rides in mid November, leaves that just take your breath away.  Thanks Mother Nature.  You done good!

One little boy appreciates the joy of the season!

Bearing It

While I am not a fan of the silly Coke Christmastime Polar Bear AT ALL (way too cutesy for this chick) I did think this was a clever display.  Midway Rainbow.

Bring it on..

The Pleasure Barn is officially prepared to celebrate some holidays.

The 58 Club

 Of their 3 locations in the Twin Cities, we went to their Minneapolis branch which is the original location which opened as a speakeasy in 1928 during prohibition..

.

 Their website has tons of history about the place if you are interested click here. 

It was good, the fries were really great but the burger wasn't any better than what I can get right down the street from my house at The Nook.

I did take a shine to the restroom though.  Visually, I liked all the tiles and squares and green.

 5800 Cedar Avenue South

Best. Autumn. Ever.

After kicking the ever loving crap out of us hearty Minnesotans last winter, Mother Nature appears to want to kiss and make up, as we are having the warmest, loveliest, most beautiful autumn that I can remember.  Fingers crossed that she's not just prepping us for another ridiculous winter.  Could this just be Lucy holding up the football?  Egads I hope not.

New Shooter!

 After my last Elph met its tragic fate at the bottom of a toilet bowl, I picked up this new one.  PURPLE!!!  So far, it's taking pretty good shots.............or is that credit due to the photographer???

Gorgeous Sunrise!

Morning Light on the Schmidt Brewery.

Street Sweeping Day

It's eerie when all the cars are off the street for sweeping day.  Eerie but also beautiful.  Makes me want to just lay down in the middle of the road for a while and watch the leaves flutter down.

TERRIFYING!!!!!!

Saint Paul turned out in their frighteningly finest last night.  I loved seeing all my little ghosts and goblins!  I live on the best block in the universe!  BOO!!!!

Sweeney's Saloon

North Dale Street.  That's where I'm heading.  Uh-huh.