We just returned from a day trip to the Minnesota Marine Art Museum in Winona, Minnesota. Located right on the banks of the Mississippi River, the museum is a hidden treasure. The main reason for our trip was to see a special exhibit of 70 Ansel Adams prints. I was thrilled and amazed to see and study the creativity that Adams brought to his final prints. His use of black and white filters and his burning and dodging brought his images to the final representation of what he was seeing and experiencing when he captured the image. On our way back to the Twin Cities, we crossed over the River and followed the highway north along the Wisconsin side. Just outside of Pepin, Wisconsin we passed this amazing fence. Amidst the snowy landscape and the overcast sky that mimicked the ground cover, we stopped to marvel at this bright fence made entirely of winter skis. The color was eye-catching and the whole idea reminded me that just like we had observed at the Ansel Adams exhibit, there is creativity all around us.
A new year with a look back to 2014
I was reading another photographer’s blog and she had posted her 12 favorite photos of the past year. With a nod to Kim Manley Ort, I culled through 4,142 images to pick 12 photos that were my favorites. Some have personal meanings, like the family photo after my mother’s death or the Royal typewriter that has been passed down through my father’s family. Others transport me to a cold winter morning (much like today!) or an unusually emerald-green lake with a sandy beach in north central Minnesota. The year took twists and turns that weren’t expected, yet I’m learning to embrace the changes, meet the challenges, and appreciate each day that is given – with joy and wonder. May the coming year be filled with 365 such days!
Free air in a winter landscape
After a “brown” Christmas with many Minnesotans grumbling about the lack of white, we awoke to a 6-inch snow on Saturday morning. The landscape was once again white and clean. I was wandering around the St. Paul campus of the University of Minnesota and found these bicycles and “Free Air.” The snow had piled up precariously on top of the handlebars, tires, and bicycle seats – almost like frosting on a cake. The colors of the bikes and the chains added a bright contrast to the white and brown scenery all around. With the forecast of colder temperatures I doubt this snow will be melting anytime soon.
This week of Christmas
Amidst the hustle and bustle of this week of Christmas, I wish for everyone the quiet moments to remember the family and friends that contribute to our lives, the events both small and grand that make us the people we are, and the love and caring that’s exemplified by the celebration of Christmas.
Merry Christmas!
A quick trip to New York City
We’ve just returned from a quick weekend trip to New York City, my first time in the Big Apple. So much to see and do, as well as to revel in the atmosphere and festivities of the Christmas holidays. Thanks to the experience and knowledge of our family guide, we covered much ground and got a true taste of the different boroughs and much of what makes the city so unique. The architecture of the city amazed me with its blend of new and old, so often within the very same block. Our trip included a stop at the 9/11 Memorial – a reflective and moving tribute to those that died at the site. The new One World Trade Center Building rises above in a fitting tribute, and on this late afternoon, it soared into the sky reflecting the blue and the surrounding clouds.
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