Thorpe Park evening soccer

The Cross Fit Memorial Day Murph

Event Sign.

The Cross Fit Athletic Club held an unusual event at the Excelsior Commons on Memorial day. It was called the Memorial Day Murph: This from their Website shows a name fluctuation: “This amazing event will take place throughout the United States on May 25, 2015. Formerly known as ‘Memorial Day Murph’, The Murph Challenge is an extended version of the Memorial Day tradition that so many supporters have been taking part in for the last several years. In 2014, Forged® raised over $250,000 with The Murph Challenge for the LT. Michael P. Murphy Memorial Scholarship Foundation (501c3). With such overwhelming success, the Foundation was able to create and award three new scholarships out of the thirteen that are now presented on an annual basis. The ’MURPH’ is more than just a workout, it is an event that helps push us, humble us, and dedicate a bit of pain and sweat for those who have given so much! Are YOU up for the Challenge?” Frankly I am not up for the challenge. I can do some pullups, perhaps 5-8 continuously. But the event calls for 100. I think I can do 50 pushups, but the event calls for 200. The running part would be easy,...well sort of. I am injured. I was much happier to be a bystander, and I watched through the early events, which were mostly for women participants. I liked that too.

Memorial Parade Day in Excelsior 2015

It was a short parade. But it had its highlights. I stood on the street corner of Water and 4nd and watched in the broken cloudy light. The Fire Department. Boy Scouts, Campfire, Girl Scouts and Vets marched by to applausee. It lasted about 10 minutes, and that in and of itself had charm. I did not plug my ears for the four gun salute, but many did as the photo shows.

Excelsior Commons Concert

The Lamont Cranston Band. I took these early,perhaps 7pm, and I only stayed for an hour. It was mild and extremetly bright. Much to my dismay, but not atypical, my camera batteries went dead after 4 photos. I wandered around through the scattered, lounging crowd with my dog Cisco on leash - and plastic bag in hand. People were very relaxed. It might have felt like summer - but it was too cool.

Christmas Lake in the morning light.

The Green Heron in my back yard

Famous Daves, Minnetonka Highway 7

As I took this photo two large geese landed, with a lot of fanfare, on the pond. Honk! I have been a semi regular of Famous Dave's for years and enjoy their consistent good quality. I love their graphics! I have noticed the cut back in portion sizes, and other changes in amenities. This is the way of the world. BUT - They don't even send me birthday e-mails anymore. I will continue to go to Dave's, but I miss the old Dave with friendly e-mails and more sides. We were barbeque buddies. - My apologies for the crop on the flag. It is straight from the camera.

@ Tonka Bay

Carson's Bay 2015

Another photo from a previous visit. One asks shy a boat setting still in a near windless bay would be tranquil. Quiet, but still it seem to represent pensiveness to me, an unfulfilled quality. I sat in the office of Burnett Realty. There was a reproduction of an empty deck chair and in the distance a boat sailing away. The little story was apparent. The person sitting in the chair had abandoned one deck for another.

Radio Flyer

Minnehaha Creek after the rain

I walked down the embankment and foun that I could walk three quarters of the way across the creek. Gray's Bay Dam is closed, so the water level on the creek is going to be low. That is my assumption. I don't want this to be a water level monitoring site, but when you live surrounded by wetlands, the water level is something you notice. The wetlands are filling in a bit, and the little feeder streams are running lightly again.

Looking West on Carson's Bay

Excelsior Bay Thursday

Quiet beneath Carsons Bay

The X factor

Cisco in Shorewood.

Cisco is a Shetland Sheepdog. The recent World AKC Agility Trials in Hopkins were dominated by Shelties. These are remarkable dogs, and I was amazed at the concentration they exhibited - watching their master's every move. Cisco is excellent at performing at home, but he does not possess the temperament to show. Dylan, on the other hand is a natural. He is a miniature Aussie, an up and coming breed. But Dylan came with a bobbed tail, which is forbidden in some competitions.

AKC Agility Trials in Hopkins MN

 I will begin by posting a photo of the winner of the small dog agility competition, Laurie and Race.

I apologize for the poor quality of my photos. The indoor lighting and my auto setting just were not working together. On another note. Boy, the Shelties and women really dominated the "Small Dog" agility comptetition. One winner stated affirmatively "Sheltie Power!"

Thorpe Park, Deephaven last day of April, 2015