Minnetrista magenta

An Eastern Bluebird on the west side of the Lake

The Rabbits Among Us

It is the time of the year when rabbit themes spring up. From "Bunny Bingo" as previously noted, to "Bowling with Bunnies" at Tuttles in Hopkins (April 11). To various "eggstraveganza" - like a visit from the Spring Bunny at the Minnetonka Community center.
Then, after this pagan ritual recedes, we can curse the little devils as they devour our gardens, plants and folliage.

A Cottagewood Driver Alert

Minnetonka Ice out 2009- status

A walk to the end of the block tells the story. The winter sails have been pulled along the shoreline, the ice is a dirty color, pocked and rutted, but still a force to be reconned with. Historically the ice goes out about the first week, to 10 days, in April. Hooowever, April is the cruelest month.

Down On Chowen's Corner

Joseph Chowen moved to section 18 of Minnetonka Township in 1853 and built a home at what is known as "Chowen's Corner". He was joined by his brothers George and William Chowen, and his Brother-in-law James Shaver. Nearby Shaver's Lake retains his moniker.



Today's Chowen's corner in the am,- Deephaven 1. An early morning shot. My apologies for the hand-held quality.

The snow recedes in St. Bonifacious

The snow recedes just in time for Bunny Bingo, and that in turn gives way to Ham Bingo.

Rejected Winter Apparell

March onto my back porch

Moonlit docks

I just can't shoot the moon@ 6 below.

The Northome Stone Arch

Built for R. M. Bennet and E. Clifford, early Northome residents.
Northome's entrance had a double arch when it was built early in the 1900s. The left arch was taken down in 1925 to accomodate trucks. (from the book "Pictureque Deephaven")
I took this photo on a gray and dreary March day, but later in Spring and Summer, when the trees and plants are in full bloom, it is difficult to see the whole structure.

More helpful household hints from Felix

In a continuing effort to aid the hapless bachelor or bacheloress I offer advice on cooking and housekeeping. In this illustration I offer the novice a simple manner to retrieve an english muffin that is stuck in the toaster. One does not want to burn the muffin. Quick, decisive action is required.

Wayzata Keyboard

An Opening for Spring

Before the ice houses dissappeared- Deadlines, deadlines

A purple sky, A single contrail says goodbye to the village on the lake.
A lone picnic table at a cold beach in Deephaven.
From the DNR:
"The fish house/shelter removal deadline for the southern part of the state is March 2, rather than March 1 as originally printed in the 2008 Fishing Regulations handbook. The deadline for shelter removal in the northern part of the state, March 16, remains the same. Shelters must be removed from the ice by these dates"

About deadelines: Online Etymology:
"time limit," 1920, Amer.Eng. newspaper jargon. Perhaps influenced by earlier use (1864) to mean the "do-not-cross" line in Civil War prisons:
"Seventeen feet from the inner stockade was the 'dead-line,' over which no man could pass and live." [Lossing, 1868]