394. A deadly problem that is not attended to.

The woman behind me has just cut in to the single lane that merges one major highway with another major highway (394 Eastbound with 94 Eastbound). She flips off the car behind her. Horns are sounding and she has almost caused a dangerous accident by by coming to a full stop with traffic moving in her lane at 55mph. This is a daily event. Many times accidents with injuries take place at this location. MDOT knows about this, and has known about it for years. The situation is simply ignored.
I have heard MDOT officials on the radio (NPR) talk about this isssue and simply verbally shrug. It should mean more to them.
I have an opinion about the "why", but I will refrain.

The pictures don't tell the story well, but then I am shooting from a moving car... well, sporadicaly moving.

Buffalo skin tipis

In the late 1700s the introduction of the horse, from the South, to the life of the Plains Indians allowed them to carry larger loads, build and carry larger tipis and generally live a better lifestyle than their pedestrian ancestors (according to the Smitsonian curator William Sturtevant).

The painting by Karl Bodmer depicts a plains Sioux camp, 1833, with heavy buffalo skin tipis and wooden peg openings.
I often dream of these camps on the plains with campfires wafting smoke and tales around the fire. I was raised near the historic "Kaposia" campground.

Sky, Water and in between. Carson's Bay.

The low down view.

Buffalo Bill, The Pony Express and I

I, ......, do hereby swear, before the Great and Living God, that during my engagement, and while I am an employee of Russell, Majors and Waddell, I will, under no circumstances, use profane language, that I will drink no intoxicating liquors, that I will not quarrel or fight with any other employee of the firm, and that in every respect I will conduct myself honestly, be faithful to my duties, and so direct all my acts as to win the confidence of my employers,so help me God."
Pony Express Rider Oath



At the age of 14, Cody was struck by gold fever, but on his way to the gold fields, he met an agent for the Pony Express. He signed with them, and after building several stations and corrals, Cody was given a job as a rider, which he kept until he was called home to his sick mother's bedside.

My wife has taken a new job with Wells Fargo which has it's roots in the Pony Express. Today she is buying a new horse, an Arabian named "Hardy". I once went shooting with one of the top trick shooters in the United States, who sincerely believed he was Bill Cody reincarnated. I did not disagree.

Excelsior "Art On the Lake" - Imaginary awards

My first award goes to Ron Benson - A Dulutian. Ron's idolotized imagery and cool blue glass receive my "Most Lake-Worthy" imaginary award. He's Mr. Blue.


My own fun-favorite; Award #2, goes to the St. Paul ceramicist Robert Brocken for ceramic fish real, and imaginary. A low fire ceramic artist, he is also really lake. Let's kilN!



Leilani and her pink pampered Poodle/Maltese mix "Angel" receive best pet platitudes.


Linda Nelson


They were vivacious!

Art On The Lake In Excelsior This Weekend

Minnetonkascenes will be on the scenes at “Art on the Lake” this weekend. I will be giving out awards in my own mind.
1rst qualification is that the artist must allow me to take a photograph. No photo, no imaginary award.

2nd qualification - that no popsicle sticks were detroyed in the production of the artwork.
I am an artist, but I do not have the mental stamina to exhibit at an outdoor art fair. These talented individuals enjoy (sometimes) and endure (always) drive-by commentary and criticism.


My Imaginary Categories:

1. Best “Lake-related” artwork.
2. Best Sofa-Size Art - this may include sofas.
3. My Favorite - eccentric.
4. Best Pet

My Convex vision

I can see clearly now...

At the water line on Lake Minnetonka

627

An ominous moment.

Summer returns to Excelsior

Tommy's - Gateway to the Excelsior Commons.

On Deck at The 318. I had chicken with black bean tacos.

Locust Hills housing

Very affordable housing. Not underwater.

"the real estate website Zillow.com calculates that more than 268,000 Twin Cities area single-family homeowners with mortgages owe more than their homes are worth. That number is about 41.2 percent of the total. That compares with an estimated national average of 23.3 percent of single-family mortgages with negative equity, according to the report.
Such “underwater” mortgages in the metro area swelled by about 14,000 from December to March and pushed the metro area’s ranking up one place to No. 25 among 135 metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs) tracked by Zillow."

Minnetonkascenes is back.

After being temporarily locked out of my blog, by natural causes. I am back.