Morning reflections

Sail boats have romantic names... like; "Seas The Day", "Summer Daze" "Dream Weaver" and "Second Chance".

From the Landscape Arboretum

Ojibwa woman gathers maple sap circa late 1800s to make maple syrup and sugar.

While at the Landscap Arboretum this weekend, I visited a little cabin with historical photos and commentary. I was interested in the stories of tapping and creating maple syrup. The Landscape Arboretum shows photos of native Ojibwa tapping sap from the tall maples for their yearly sugar, syrup and confection supply. There were also letters written by early settlers about their night time shifts stirring and boiling sap. To this day, in spring, you will see sugar maples with tubes running from them into white pails as the locals drain the sap for real maple syrup.
Historically Native American Dakota gathered maple sap in the spring at “Big Island”. They called it “Wetutanka Island”. Wetu means: “ Springtime move to sugar camp”. Tanka means “great”.
Recently I chatted with a Deephaven resident who taps his trees, and his neighbors trees yearly to collect and sell maple syrup, and to carry on the tradition. He told me that 40 gallons of syrup make one gallon of pure maple syrup.

(Most consumer syrups are only a percentage pure maple. 100% is pretty intense)

Tuesday at 6:30am: Thorpe Park

Heading out for Memorial Day

Regular gas is 2.45 a gallon at the Holiday Station. As I pulled in I saw a man just finishing filling his car and boat tanks with gasoline. His well worn little fishing boat had camoflage paint, and was hand painted in white letters: "Nautical Nightmare". He pulled away before I could take a photo.

Wayzata Art Experience 2009

They were holding their tents down with both hands on Saturday, while wearing winter apparrel. This was "The Minnesota" weather experience. Sunday was a different story, with a happy ending. Warm sun and a light breeze: The Wayzata Art Experience blossomed. (Personally, I am going to devote some creative thought to a better name for this event)

I was pleased with the quality of the artist work this year and with the mix of skills and mediums. When competing with the Minneapolis "Art-A-Whirl" things can be a little competitive. As an artist myself, I was impressed with the congeniality of the artists. They field a barrage of questions smiling.

The high-energy Bill Gordon of Clive, Iowa. No need for coffee with this highly color-saturated work.

Greg Heihn kicks back behind a flurry of his glass spheres (decorative plates) .

Bill Romness of Nickerson, MN. "When in doubt, sand". Handmade, ultra-custom cedar canoes.
In the background a yute text messages.

Power Up Wayzata!

Shot from a moving boat, the photos take on a painterly quality. More highlights from the "Wayzata Experience":

Later Sunday afternoon the wind dropped off to nothingness....

Lone goose

The medium is the message -my low res reality.

At Deephaven Beach. Some how my camera settings slipped to a low res setting. I made the shot into a black and white to complete the look.

Liar, Liar

Photo from Martin Keller - The Minneota Music series. A short collection of notes and recollections about the early 60's Twin Cties Rock scene - available at magazine stands.

The Castaways played at my high school (So. Saint Paul) homecoming dance 1969. I had never seen a band light their cymbals on fire. Rock music and controlled pyromania, The Castaways had aged, and had gotten a little more theatrical since the classic "Liar Liar" circa 1965 when they played at Reggie's Danceland. It also marked the first time I had heard a band "cover" the amazingly creative slow rendition of the Supreme's hit "You keep me hanging on". -(Vanilla Fudge)
I was thrilled with the band and the music. My date was less impressed with me, I looked more like the drummer in the photo above.

Liar, liar, pants on fire
Your nose is longer than a telephone wire

Ask me, baby, why I'm sad
You been out all night, know you been bad
Don't tell me different, know it's a lie
Come kill me, honey, see how I cry

Why must you hurt me, do what you do
Listen here, girl, can't you see I love you
Make a little effort, try to be true
I'll be happy, not so blue

If you keep on tellin' me those lies
Still goin' out with other guys
There'll come a day I'll be gone
Take my advice, won't be long

When that day comes, won't be mad
Be free of you, but I'll still be sad
In spite of your cheatin', still love you so
I'll be unhappy if I let you go

A revisit at daybreak to the Burwell House

Built with a commanding view of the "Millpond" is the Burwell Mansion. The Burwells were afflent wood millers of 19th century Minnetonka Mills. I was given a very congenial tour of the mansion in 2008. I was surprised at the dimintive rooms, and lovely restorations. The mansion is smaller than it appears and has tight winding stair cases and rustic amenities.

Ridgewood Road Revisited

A bit different.

With many a winding turn.

I stood in the middle of Ridgewood Road and I drew a few bewildered stares as I took this photo. But one must ask the question: Why didn't the sewer workers align the yellow stripe?

Sailing