State Fair 2011

Bill and I enjoyed a low-key visit to the Fair Weds.

Some highlights:

How disappointing!

All that was left behind was his pig-ear hat.

Although the official contest began Friday,

LOTS of practicing was going on when we were there.

Sign pointed out no deer were harmed for this exhibit.

Apparently they were all suicidal.

The love of fries unites people of many stripes.

healthier veggies.

photo class

I am taking a photo class.

Spending lots of time trying things out.

I have beeen reviewing so many of the photos that I am getting worn out

so I am just inserting my current favorite.

"Up North"

We spent time on the North Shore and Ely last week.

Good to escape the heat of the city

and nice to have some down time.

At least they were not all wearing plaid.

Weather for the Birds

It poured almost all day so no biking.

But during a break in the rain I was able to photograph these birds

I saw while passing Sucker lake in Vadnais Heights

The picture below is virtually "painted" .

National Geographic photo link

Best Rare-Bird Pictures of 2010 Named

Dinner with Mrs Han

We had a nice evening with our friend Mrs. Han tonight.

Eight courses of her wonderful Korean cooking and plenty of left overs that we were "forced" to take home.

We enjoyed visiting and hearing Mrs. Han's stories.

In this photo they are laughing at ME because they think I take too long to take a picture.

( I think it is time well spent!)

Blooming

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Birds

My new camera is slowing down my walks quite a bit.

Too much to photograph.

This week I spent and hour with a green heron on the shores on Minnehaha creek.

He was caught up in fishing so did not bother to fly away from me.

He got many small fish but at one point was surprised to catch a sunfish that he dropped.

It looked too heavy to hold and too big to swallow.

The red legs indicate a breeding male.

These are details of his feathers

These turkeys were at Hyland nature center.

I think they were upset about an impending storm.

They did a lot of yelling.

A little later there was a tornado north of the area.

Spring HAS arrived!

Finally. Spring.

This fellow was stalking a heron.
The heron did not see him but luckily was startled by me and flew.








Birds and their songs were everywhere.


Kingfishers, Orioles and many I could not identify.

Spring?

No. I can not say that Spring has arrived but it seems to be arriving.

A few buds .

Greenhouse plants sprouting.

A Turkey nests.



This heron looks like a monk to me.

While I was watching birds,

this guy was watching me!