Rain- I don''t mind

Rain- I don''t mind
Originally uploaded by minnetonkafelix.

Rain- I don''t mind

Rain- I don''t mind
Originally uploaded by minnetonkafelix.

Weekend Rain

Weekend Rain
Originally uploaded by minnetonkafelix.

Cellular technology

Cellular technology
Originally uploaded by minnetonkafelix.

Technical note:

With the increased traffic on "Minnetonkascenes", I have decided to add a new improved Site Meter. Unlike auto dealers, I will not play with the numbers on the "meterometer".

Upcoming Minnetonkascenes Non-Events

Just a warning to everyone, cartoon thursday is coming up with one of my self-described fun cartoons. Also I will feature the season's first "Wacky Minnetonka boat names" photo issue this weekend. It does 'get better than this', just not here.

Finally, Hello! to everyone down in Redwing.

3 gallon Redwing Pottery

3 gallon Redwing Pottery
Originally uploaded by minnetonkafelix.

Luce Line Trail - Clue

I rode my bicycle along the Luce Line on a near perfect riding day. I met with very little traffiic, except for the occasional walker and a horse rider. I am sad to say the walkers were both talking on cell phones, and oblivious to my approach. That said, it was a beautiful, sunny day and I stretched my distance safely on this slow clay surface. The Luce Line is a converted railroad bed, as are most of the bike trails - quietly readying for light rail transit usage.

Rail History from the DNR:
"In 1908, the Electric Short Line Railroad Company was incorporated in Arizona by W. L. Luce and his son, E. D. Luce.
Their plan was to build a railroad from Minneapolis to Brookings, South Dakota, linking many farm communities as yet unserved by a railroad . . . Not long after, a short track was put into operation within Minneapolis.
Westward construction finally began in 1913, when approximately eight miles of track was completed and put into operation between the western city limits of Minneapolis (Glenwood) and Parkers Lake. The following year saw trackage constructed along the northern shore of Lake Minnetonka, past Stubbs Bay, and west to Winsted. By the end of 1915, the fledgling railroad had reached Hutchinson."

I only went as far as Watertown, but it extends more roughly (by my last excursion in 05) much further west.
The neighboring water levels are vey high so that adjacent lakes and ponds press up against the trail, in some places on both sides, for a lovely effect.
I will ride again and explore.

Purgatory Creek

Purgatory Creek
Originally uploaded by minnetonkafelix.

Along 101

Along 101
Originally uploaded by minnetonkafelix.

Wayzata & MacDonalds' Burritos

Across the street from the MacDonalds on Wayzata Boulevard there once was a Denny's restaurant.(Grand slam anyone?) Now boarded up, it apparently never overcame the Denny's bad reputation... I do not know this, but I do know that now it lays abandoned, physically boarded up.
Chipolte's Mexican Grill, the Starbucks of burrito francises, will replace it in a new building. One must ask, how Mexican is MacDonalds? The MacDonalds Corporation owns Chipolte's, and will be establishing one right across the street from the Mac and Dons on Wayzata boulevard. Neighbors include a defunct Burger King and a Kentucky Fried Chicken.
The problem is that this location is not visible or easily accesible from the adjacent highway.
I wish them luck. As far as authenticity - who cares?

Change of subject: I am going to make a sticker for my bicycle: "My other bicyle is an SUV"

Little scenes from the woods

Little scenes from the woods
Originally uploaded by minnetonkafelix.

carson'smarsh2

carson'smarsh2
Originally uploaded by minnetonkafelix.

Sun just peaking above the eastern trees, still very little green to be found.

Moon in marsh

Moon in marsh
Originally uploaded by minnetonkafelix.

The Redwinged Blackbird flew away while I was shooting...

My First Year Blogging

Minnetonkascenes is one year old today. I think it has grown nicely, and I have learned a lot about digital photography and blogging.
Here are my goals for the upcoming year:
1. More quality photos.
2. More fun cartoons- hey, they are fun for me!
3. Fewer typos- spelling police have issued warnings.

One Year Celebration

One Year Celebration
Originally uploaded by minnetonkafelix.

morningcofee2006

morningcofee2006
Originally uploaded by minnetonkafelix.

Yes, the landing is open just for my morning coffee enjoyment.

Fun Minnesota Lake Facts for A Rainy Day

Ten largest lakes (entire lake within borders of Minnesota):
Red Lake (both "Upper" and "Lower") - 288,800 acres
Mille Lacs Lake - 132,516 acres
Leech Lake - 111,527 acres
Lake Winnibigoshish - 58,544 acres
Lake Vermilion - 40,557 acres
Lake Kabetogama - 25,760 acres
Mud Lake (Marshall County) - 23,700 acres
Cass Lake - 15,596
Lake Minnetonka - 14,004 acres
Otter Tail Lake - 13,725 acres

Ten most common lake names:
Mud Lake
Long Lake
Rice Lake
Bass Lake
Round Lake
Horseshoe Lake
Twin Lake
Island Lake
Johnson Lake
Spring Lake

source: Minnesota Department of Natural Resouces

Rainy Sunday

Rainy Sunday
Originally uploaded by minnetonkafelix.

Insert quarter and turn knob to the right

Insert quarter and turn knob to the right
Originally uploaded by minnetonkafelix.

A blue carpet In our woods

Close-up view in the woods
Originally uploaded by minnetonkafelix.

Spring comes to our woods with reminders of the cycle of life.

Gone -Hollywood. Thursday Humor with apologies.

More suggestions for the uncreative in Hollywood:

- March of the Penguins Two -

In this follow up blockbuster the Felician and Dominican Nuns resurrect old resentments toward Sally Feilds. She could fly, but they can't. In a groundswell of protest they put on their habits and march on the Vatican, with surprising results!
We love them, we really do!

Putting Descartes before de horse

Putting Descartes before de horse
Originally uploaded by minnetonkafelix.

Parking Lot Intrigue

Parking Lot Confrontation
Originally uploaded by minnetonkafelix.

Intrigue in the parking lot.

While shooting a photo of a red-orange shopping cart confronting a yellow plow blade I found myself witnessing an apparent drug deal. I was in the very back of the parking lot shooting photos, and there was a Mini-Cooper with a lone driver sitting in the driver's seat. I looked at the driver and kind of shrugged. I had just dropped off some DVD's* at Blockbuster. He had seen me.
A white panel van came cruising across the lot and pulled up kitty-wampus (nice term isn't it?) next to the Mini Cooper and two guys got out of the side door. They exchanged a baggy of white 'something' -too much to be cocaine I think, so it was something else, for some cash with the Mini Cooper driver. They looked at me with my camera, then they all just sped away.
I guess even unshaven with a camera, I don't look like a threat to drug dealers. Perhaps it was because my cap was not on backwards, or even slightly kitty wampus.... Perhpas it is because I use words like kitty wampus.

* One of the movies I returned featured the woman who previously was called Demi Moore. She is unrecognizable. A case of plastic surgury gone bad.
- Pardon my random gliteratti observation.

Tune Up Time

Tune Up Time
Originally uploaded by minnetonkafelix.

Tune Up Time

Tune Up Time
Originally uploaded by minnetonkafelix.

My First Spring Bicycle Ride

I began my ride in the rolling hills of St. Bonifacious, starting from the Ox Yoke Stables. I forgot to bring my helmet, so I borrowed an English Riding Helmet from 'the barn'. These helmets come equipped with a sun visor in front. This limits your range of vision, especially if you are bent over a drop handle bicycle, have Glaucoma vision and are fighting a 30 mile per hour head wind .
I took off, up and down a series of hills and I quickly fatigued. After 4 miles out, I turned back and with the wind to my back shot down the open road. I detoured a bit and I practiced braking and stopping and putting my shoes back into the clips. Easy does it.

It was a short ride, maybe a grand total of 10 miles, - more like 9. But with the hills, and the wind, and the clown helmet, I endured my first outing.

I ride a 17 year old Trek Touring Bike that I still think of as new. It is a fine bike.

Sunday along 101

Sunday along 101
Originally uploaded by minnetonkafelix.

Thorpe Park Willow

Thorpe Park Willow
Originally uploaded by minnetonkafelix.

Minnetonka Ice Out Facts & One Year of Posting!

Last year I incorrectly posted the Minnetonka Ice Out date. Of course, since my blog was only one month old no one noticed. Now, nearing Minnetonkascenes One Year Anniversary, with a growing readership, I must assure you of my quality standards.

The following is from the official Minnetonka Web Site:

"On Lake Minnetonka, the ice is designated as "out" when it is possible to make way by small boat from any one shore to any other shore through any passage on the lake.  Ice-out dates have been determined by using this method since 1968.
Previous methods included:  When ice was 90% gone, when a boat could circle Big Island, when a boat could travel between Wayzata and Excelsior, when a car fell through the ice, or by visual observations from limited lake locations."
 
Freshwater Society Website, "Freshwater Society" Lake Minnetonka Ice-Out Dates: 1855-2003. 
 
NEAT FACTS   
Average Ice-Out: April 15
Earliest Ice-Out: March 11, 1878
Latest Ice-Out:May 8, 1856
Most Common Ice-Out: April 17 & 18 (9 times)

By looking at the Lake, we're going to be very close to the average date.

A dock on Carson's Annex on Friday @ 6 am

Dock Fiday am
Originally uploaded by minnetonkafelix.

This is a private dock. It is one of my favorite photo areas, but I am not sure the owners would approve.

Mondrian on Minnetonka

Piet Mondrian (1872-1944) is considered the father of modern architecture. His "Neo plasticism' reduced the representation of nature to its most basic elements; primary colors, black and white, horizontal and verticle lines with a careful sense of balance and composition.

Side bar: Loreal and The Brady Bunch Intro are wonderful kitchy Mondrianisms.

Imagine my surprise to find this bold house perched above St. Alban's Bay amidst the neutral toned, almost institutional homes featuring lofty vaulted ceilings, 3 car garages and arched window foyers.
This colorful house, not yet hidden by foilage, really stands out from it's neighbors. You have to admire the daring of these homeowners... who I admit I do not know. However - I would suggest that they replace most of the dominant bold blue with a more Mondrian white, blue in a more supportive role. Piet would agree I am sure.

A Mondrian on Minnetonka

A Mondrian on Minnetonka
Originally uploaded by minnetonkafelix.

A word game

A word game
Originally uploaded by minnetonkafelix.

First Boat on the Lake

I did not know that marinas shoot warm water out under the docks to create open water. I took the following picture on my morning photo excursion when I noticed this phenomenon. Frankly , Saturday morning was one minor misadventure after another. Cold and grey again. The shot of the lone boat was the first and last one before my camera batteries went dead. So I drove to the nearest convenience store to buy some AA batteries ( and yes there are inconvenient stores). The neon light said "Open", but the door said not. An apparent eviction notice was jammed in the door.
I drove another 7 miles to a Holiday Station, and then went back to the dock on the bay. Everything still remains the same. I can't do what 10 people tell me to do, so I guess I'll remain the same....ooops, my mind is wandering.
Thanks Otis.
Well I took one more shot, and then mother nature took powerful control. I hurried-home.

Excelsior - the first boat out.

Excelsior - the first boat out.
Originally uploaded by minnetonkafelix.