The AKC Agility Trials are this Weekend in Hopkins

Dylan is a mere year old pup, but he is a fledgling agility dog.Credits to my wife for this. I am going to the Agility Trials and I hope to have some photos to share with everyone. I have been to this event before and it was cold and dark. This Saturday predictions: Warm and sunny! Stay tuned. Oh, here, this is from their announcement/site.

AKC Agility International World Team Tryouts: May 2-3, 2015 Hopkins Pavillion 11000 Excelsior Blvd. Hopkins, Minnesota 55343 7:30am - 5:00pm Course Maps and Results by Round/Jump Height Live Video Streaming

Minnehaha Creek is running low

I could walk across the stream on the rocks.

Excelsior Brewing Company Front

When you say you want to "Hoop it up", at Excelsior Brewing Company, you may be handed a multi-colored hoop and asked to "go for it".

Deephaven Nokomo Beach

The beach may have been decommissioned. The old sign was gone, only aboriginal handprints on the fence, a couple benches and the rules.

A New Memorial Bench at Excelsior Commons

"A memorial to Debbie Hart who founded and ran Art on the Lake for many years. She died in an auto accident about 3 or 4 years ago in Watertown. A great lady and pioneer of art in the area, and our famous South Lake 'Art on the Lake' event." - Tommy Drumond

The Ghost of Gray's Bay

A recent discovery of Native American burial ruins, here,  along Gray's Bay has been made. It should be no surprise, since this area of the Lake was part of a commonly tread Dakota trail. Many warriors returning from battle up North by Mille Lacs passed this way.

Christmas Lake @6am Friday.

Everyone deserves a classic dock shot on Friday morning.

The Burwell House April 2015

I veered from my course this morning. I decided to check on the creek levels and ghosts of the pioneers at the Burwell House. Lovely lighting on the hosue and the grounds looked inviting, even at 6am.
The place could use a ghost or 2, if nothing else  for publicity. You can buy them, but I might venture to invent one. Having an historic sawmill nearby could sawmill provide a little flavor....

The Viginia Piper kidnapping is examined. A poster.

William and Lydia

 As I read their story, these pioneers of the Lake Minnetonka area seem to have a lot of hardship that was self inflicted. One never reads about William the dreamer who neglected legal details, or his wife who was never happy with much of anything. If you read excerpts of her detailed diary this seems to be evident. William died when he fell through the ice while walking on Excelsior Bay. To me, this happens, but to novices who do not know the ways of a frozen lake.

Geese basking in the April sun. Lake Ann.

They enjoyed the warmth. I looked at the geese, and suddenly observed that they were standing in very shallow water. Normally a few feet deep, I think. We need rain.

Ice Out on Lake Minnetonka

Still a few stray shards of ice in Carson's Bay. The ducks and geese wind their way. I am sure there is quite a log jam still in the main body, but it is going down in the dark of night.

Shorewood shows signs

Snow, Ice and rocks. Ice out on Lake Minnetonka

Ice out is going to happen soon, although this photo of a few days ago would leave one doubtful. I will take a photo for reference later today.