Morning Motion

This little flower has been sticking close to home in all this dark, cold, wintery weather so I don't have any fresh new Saint Paul pics.  But this morning, on my way to work, I captured some of the motion of the morning and thought it might make for a nice little photo essay.  Enjoy.



Dunlap and Grand Avenue about 7:20 am.



Grand and Lex.  LOVE the bus in motion!

RR tracks at Grace and Eerie.

Huge snowbanks along Grace Street.



Park next door to my office building.

Treacherous walk from the parking lot.



Coffee fixes everything!

The view from my office window.

Happy Friday everyone!

You're CHOKING me!!!!!

As our gutters struggle to emerge from the snow banks and make themselves useful again, they only find themselves beaten down by more snow.  Another half an inch is predicted for today/tomorrow.  It's only a matter of time before the residents of Saint Paul turn the corner and descend into total madness.

Making Room for More

When it snows as much as it has this December you just plain run out of places to put it all.  While gearing up for a threatened 7 more inches (of which we actually received about 2) there was a whole lot of snow re-arranging going on.  Parking lot at Jefferson and Colborne.

Cold? What cold?

It was -8 by my car's thermometer today.  The kind of morning that makes even your teeth cold.  While I headed for the warmth of a yoga studio, these guys went balls out and hit Grand Avenue for a pre-dawn-sub-zero run.  Bravo fellas.  Bravo!

Embracing the outer ugly!

Love it!  At least their are honest about what they have in stock.  The Mall of Saint Paul on Selby.

It's Official

We had the snowiest December in all of recorded history.  Wow!  That's a LOT!  I wonder what January will bring??

How Do I Love it Here? Let Me Count The Ways

In the summertime, this is a grade school play ground, but in the winter, it becomes an ice skaters haven.  I love the outdoor rinks here, how they start popping up in the fall anxiously awaiting the cold temps.

 This particular outdoor ice rink has 2 separate hockey rinks and a lap lane going around them both for recreational skaters.  If only there were outdoor lighting, the party would never stop.

St. Clair and Cleveland.

When the sun won't come to you.....

....you must go to the sun.  Planet Beach at Grand and Oxford.  12 minute mini vacations!

Longfellow Grill

They are still feeling the holiday spirit there.

And they celebrate with LOTS of whipped cream!

Where Marshall becomes Lake on the Minneapolis side of the river.

Snow Emergency

It's always a good thing when a snow emergency is called because it means the plows are coming through to do their business and make the streets a bit more useable.  But I have to say, it's completely eerie to see the street free of vehicles.  And while everyone loves having the streets plowed, nobody loves the giant snow berms we are left to deal with.  No snow shovel can manage those berms adequately.  Only a spade will take care of that icy business.  Man, I love Minnesota.  Even now.  Especially now.  Winter is what we do best.  :)

An evening at W.A. Frost

I typically only go here during the spring and summer because their patio is the loveliest one in all of Saint Paul. 

Currently, it looks like this....

 But I found the indoors to be charming as well and I enjoyed so much, my time with 3 fine girlfriends and a few glasses of wine.

Corner of Western and Selby.

Snow Falls in Saint Paul

More snow today.  If it's going to be cold, I say let the white stuff fall!!!  Summit and Syndicate.

Hot Spots

LOVE these prints of famous spots around the Twin Cities.  For sale as wall art or post cards at the Mill City Museum.

Saint Paul lost one of it's finest felines yesterday.  We'll miss you with all our might, buddy.

Gratitude

Being thankful and grateful can happen whenever people who care for each other are gathered together....and sometimes even when they're not.

Saint Paul Gives

Saint Paul waited HOURS in line this morning to be given the honor of driving meals to people who otherwise couldn't afford it.  Who cares if the temps outside were unseasonably cold and the wait was long and the gym was HOT and people's backs hurt and the warm gym started to stink!  What mattered was that Saint Paul made a difference to a whole lotta folks!  Happy Thanksgiving Best Place I've Ever Lived.....Happy Thanksgiving!!!!!!

Shamrock's

Fully enjoyed the ceilings while there.  I get distracted by shiney things.  So what.

Alexander Ramsey House

On Exchange Street.  I still need to go tour this amazing house!

Behind the Uptowner on the corner of Lex and Grand

Just liked the look of this.

And so it begins......

Nooks and Crannies

So many gorgeous hidden places!  Alley off St. Peter Street.

Mickey's Dining Car

Syrup warming bath.  Mmmmmmmmm.  Warm syrup.........
West 7th Street.

The Guthrie

Technically in Minneapolis, this picture was too good not to post.  Yellow tinted windows give everything a magical glow. 

The Little Oven

At the corner of White Bear Avenue and Minnehaha.  Buy one pie, get one free?  Yes please!

Shamrock's on West 7th

I'll take my chances, thanks......

Winner winner chicken dinner!

While I don't advise shooting from a moving vehicle (yes, I was driving and shooting...naughty!!!) sometimes you capture pure magic, like this shot of the Xcel Energy Center where the Minnesota Wild play all their home games.  West 7th and Kellogg.

Lancer Service Auto Care

Just kitty corner behind The Gopher Bar is Lancer Auto.  Best freakin' auto shop EVER!  Smart guys, treat the whole car, remember my name every time, OUTSTANDING customer service.  Not the cheapest out there, but their guys aren't just slumming it until something better comes along.  Their employees are passionate about auto repair and customer service, and that wins my business every time.

Midway Target

Nothing perks up the hellacious Midway Target parking lot like a beautiful autumn sunset.

Life is just a bowl full of......doughboys!

General Mills (including Pillsbury), Target and 3M are all companies that are headquartered here in the Twin Cities Metro area.

It's because we rock so hard here.  And best of all?  The cold keeps the riff raff out so only the heartiest of the hearty survive up here.  Brilliant!

Boo!

Halloween?  Saint Paul did you proud last night.