Minnetonkascenes: August 2005

August 25- A Maple on Minnetonka Boulevard

august_tree
Originally uploaded by minnetonkafelix.

A Welcome To the Fall

early_sunrise

early_sunrise
Originally uploaded by minnetonkafelix.

Western Lake Minnetonka

The western side of Lake Minnetonka still maintains a rural, country feel. Horse stables and working farms nestle against the lake. The Carver Park Reserve is made up of some of the the most beautifull rolling hills, woods and wetlands. The biking/skiing trails are spectacular. A Fall photo shoot is in order.
I took a few photos of the Ox Yoke Stables, where my wife keeps her horse "Rainey".

Grazing horse at Ox Yoke

Grazing horse at Ox Yoke
Originally uploaded by minnetonkafelix.

At the Stables

St. Bonifcious
Originally uploaded by minnetonkafelix.

St. Bonifacious

St. Bonifcious
Originally uploaded by minnetonkafelix.

St. Bonifacious

St. Bonifcious
Originally uploaded by minnetonkafelix.

Answers to Questions - From the Corn King, Deposed

I submit these answers to questions from the previous post "Will I Be Accidentally Crowned Corn King"

1. Was I crowned Corn Days King?

There it sat on the official's table. A Corn Crown. The top was a golden ear of corn,
the brim was made from neatly bordering corn husks... a variation of "Jug Head's"
crown cap, but more glamorous of course. I wanted to take it and put it on, and I did for just a second.
I was the Corn King. An event worker frowned at me, and I took it off. Deposed.

2. What was the "All you can eat for a small fee"? As my posted photo shows: $5.00 a day. Well it was a charity for St. George Church after all. - Hot dogs: $2.00. Brats $4.00.

3. Ice cream was standard Kemps and other commercial varieties.

4. Searching for Bob Fischer - Corn Days Grand Marshall. It turns out that Bob Fischer is a homess advocate who sponsors year round "Sleep Out with Bob" events for homeless advocacy. He has raised 1.4 Million this year. He is also a shoe repairman, owner of Bob's Shoe Repair in nearby Wayzata.
5. There was no 'carni' section, as there was in the past. My aging throwing arm has been spared.

Finally, I was impressed by the young garage band 'Absolut Gruv". Youthfull, energetic and playing Southern Rock in Minnesota for God's sake! My apologies to St. George's Church.

At the Long Lake Corn Days

At the Long Lake Corn Days
Originally uploaded by minnetonkafelix.

At the Long Lake Corn Days

At the Long Lake Corn Days
Originally uploaded by minnetonkafelix.

Will I Be Accidentally Crowned Corn King?

The Lakeshore Weekly News ad states: "All the Corn You Can Eat! - for a small fee." at the Long Lake Corn Days Festival August 13-14th.

In small towns around Lake Minnetonka during the summer, for just a few days, things slip back in time. People eat sweet corn, brats, and drink beer from paper cups. Crafts festivals feature things made with popsicle sticks, jigsaw cut pine boards and macramé. High school garage bands step to center stage. Marching bands perform percussion & brass renditions of 70s pop songs. The mayor's niece aces out the daughter of the Local Hardware Store owner for Corn Queen. Bingo abounds.
I will be on hand to photograph the splendor. The Corn Days Grand Parade will have Bob Fischer as the Grand Marshall. The dance stand will feature "Stampede", "Sensations Latina", and local fave "Absolute Gruv".
My job is to get answers!

Who is (Grand Marshall) Bob Fischer? Not the infamous chess player, I am sure he is in a Japanese prison.
What is the 'small fee' for all you can eat corn on the cob? I'm guessing it is about $1.50
What kind of ice cream is available?
Is the 'carny section' fixed as usual - I will test it!
- More news and photos to come!

sunflowers

sunflower
Originally uploaded by minnetonkafelix.

My Morning Coffee Place

My Morning Coffee Place
Originally uploaded by minnetonkafelix.

Festivals empty lake

The relative calm on Saturday could be attributed to 3 major art Festivals in the Twin Cities; The Metris Uptown Art Festival, the Powderhorn Park Art Festival, and the Fringe Festival. Back on Lake Minnetonka, the sounds of children diving from docks into the lake and the gentle breaking of waves on the shoreline were predominant. Frankly I found it a bit eerie for a warm Saturday night, but then it is August.
I spent the morning having a cup of coffee at 5:45am at Greys Bay Public Marina (photo shown), then heading off to the Metro Paint-a-thon, where in our case, volunteers painted the tree obscured house of an elderly woman. Scraping, priming and painting, the volunteers did a professional job - but note: I entered the house once, to use the toilet, to find it filled to capacity....every room with the rummage of an advanced lifetime. Norrow tunnels were cleared in the rummage to allow passage. It was simply a crypt. As I searched in the dark for the restroom I heard a thin voice speak out from behind a partly opened door. "It is down in the basement" she squeeked. Then the plywood sliding door snapped closed.