The Stone Arch Bridge

You never know when you're going to have a good time. (like last Summer) We decided to go for a walk after having a brew and some Cajun 2 Geaux (my favorite food truck) at the popular 612 brew.  We decided to wander around at the Stone Arch Bridge. The balloon guy didn't disappoint! 

I like how the blurry guy is looking up in amazement.

Dean is looking down with unknown thoughts.

I never tire of looking at the skyline.

I spotted a cormorant.  Wild Bird Wednesday Saturday's Critters Bird d' Pot

Drying his wings almost out of my photo range.

Something old.

And bold colors!  I love this capture.

The evening glow is starting to illuminate.

And reflect.

There were interesting sculptures of some historic buildings on our tour.

This might be one of the most interesting art installations I've seen around town.  There were at least a dozen or more historic replicas.  Yup, you never know what you'll run into when you take a walking photo safari.

A classic shot of the bridge taken a few years ago.

5 random things I love about downtown Minneapolis.  But not for Random 5 Friday.  

That ship has sailed yet again.  Geez.

1)  In the winter you can walk in the skyways.  It is a lot more fun than mall walking.  Because you are rewarded with glimpses of the busy streets and downtown architecture every time you cross one.

2)  The Oceanaire has a great happy hour.  It includes Filet Mignon sliders, cajun shrimp with cheesy grits and a James Bond Martini.  Yum!

3)  Or (unrelated to downtown) how about a Vesper?  "I never have more than one drink before dinner.  But I do like that one to be large and very strong and very cold and very well-made"  James Bond in Casino Royale, 1967  Bond switches to martinis after his Bond girl du jour Vesper meets her maker.

"The Vesper"

3 ounces gin

1 ounce vodka

1/2 ounce blonde Lillet

Shake ingredients in a cocktail shaker filled with cracked ice. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass. Serve with a large, thin slice of lemon peel. Why?  Because that's the way Bond liked it.

4)  The farmer's market on Nicollet.  Since my husband works right by it he can easily pick up fresh vegetables and other local products.  Opening soon!

5)  When I meet my husband for lunch I can get a great cupcake at Cocoa and Fig.  It's right next door!

The Pier

Everyday is a beautiful day at the Pier.  Well, sometimes it is windy.  And maybe cold.  But as with any beach, there is always beauty to behold and discoveries to be made. I always see dolphins here.  And birds.  I think these are willets or sandpipers.  Or willets and sand pipers.

You never know what the tide will roll in.  I love how I caught my toe in this photo.

  A footprint.  Just not mine.

Out on the blue.

Out on the beach. 

A vivid inspection.

What lies beneath. My favorite photo from Naples last year.

The ibis were picking and pecking.

The pier might be full of tourists.  But it's just your feet in the sand and some birds for company a ways down.

Naples beach, Florida.  A glorious way to spend a day in March!

Bonus Random 5 Friday

5 things I love about Naples, Florida

1)  My sweet in-laws have a groovy condo there.  It's sure better than a condo in Fargo.  You betcha.

2)  No matter how old we get we are still the youngest people there. Ha!

3)  The people are so rich that they literally litter money all over the floor at the mall.  (My in-laws will understand this one) 

4)  There's a Waffle House!  I heart waffles.  And cheesy eggs.  Nuff said.

5)  Tommy Bahamas has a happy hour! And pina coladas and their famous coconut cloud martini are on it.   Nothing tastes better than one of those after the above photos.  A prescription for winter happiness.  You'll thank me later.  

P.S.  I just passed 100,000 blog visits!  Whoo Hoo!

Saturday's Critters

Bird d'Pot

Wild Bird Wednesday

Ruckus

I figure this old illustration I call Devil Cat fits the bill for Ruckus.  A www.illustrationfriday.com theme I can't ignore.  Because the word Ruckus is just plain cool!

Devil Cat is just busy and full of crazy cat energy.  Cats do create a ruckus where ever they go.  Especially at meal time.

Here are 5 random crazy cat tales about my old cat Baby. For Random 5 Friday

Baby

1)  Baby once got locked in a stranger's apartment. But before I discovered this I called my future husband Dean to lead a cat hunt. No baby. She was dog gone lost.  But then I heard a faint cry near the door of a future cat burglar.  "Baby, is that you?"  "Mew, meow.  Meow, mew" she whined.  I called the land lord and he came over with a key.  Disgruntled.  He opened the door and Baby made a bee line for my apartment. After that Baby was no longer allowed to roam the halls.  But it was almost impossible to keep her inside.  

2)  Baby hated everyone.  So when she met my future husband for the first time she creeped up behind him and gave him a hard paw slap on the cheek.  After this initial punishment they became fast friends.

3)  Baby went ballistic over other cats. One night while I was away on a layover as a flight attendant, my future hubbie Dean slammed the open window down on her paw.  Baby had woke him up in the middle of the night screaming at a cat outside.  You know the kind of blood curdling alley cat screech. Some how she used her super cat powers to heal herself because she was fine soon after.  But Dean worried that our relationship wouldn't be.  If she would have had a limp.....

4) One time I found a piece of cat poop in my bedside kleenex box. It took me awhile.  But I figured she was having one of those kook outs after she got one stuck in her nether regions.  You know like when they run at warp speed and scoot across the floor.  Well, she used to jump from my head board onto the mantle of the fireplace in my studio apartment.  That's when the poop hit the fan.  Or dropped into my kleenex box as it were.

5)  Baby left her DNA on all my artwork.  Here she is sitting on Devil Cat.  How appropriate.  She was mine.

Saturday's Critters

    

Lover's Key

Lover's Key State Park has been my favorite beach since childhood.  I remember fondly the cool mornings when we would sneak in before dawn.  We were on a mission to find sea shells.  You never knew what mysterious gifts the tide would unfurl.  First, you would cross the wooden tidal bridges that connect the key to the mainland.  The sun just a blush on the horizon.  Then, with flash lights in hand you would search the shore for precious jewels.  At least they were to me! 

By the time you reached the end of the key the sun was high enough to warm your back on the return.  I usually had a bag of conchs, tulips and cat's eyes. And the rest of the day to picnic, sun tan and watch for raccoons.  They would steal your lunch if you weren't careful. And the sea gulls would get the rest.

Nature's sculpture

Now days I'm happy to simply photograph someone else's shells. And stroll... 

But Lover's Key holds more than shells and sunshine.  Birds like this osprey love it too.

They were hard at work feeding their young. 

I love the pop up head!

I also love how their head feathers blow around in the breeze.  Majestic.

A white egret standing tough.

Lover's Key has changed over the years.  You probably can't sneak in anymore.  And the old wooden tidal walkways are now wide and strong enough for long trams. It's not quite so rustic and wild.  But still better than a beach lined with condos and restaurants.  The good old and new days.

And I'm giving a shout out to my friend Danielle who was at the beach with us on this day.  Hi Danielle!  We will have to do this again this year! See you soon. Siesta Key this time.

P.S.  I thought I'd share two new links. http://www.365daysofbirds.com/ A Minnesota bird blog.  The blog title says it all. And...

The Birds of Pandemonium

I recently read this book and I highly recommend it for bird lovers. Michele Raffin tells a humorous, heart felt and engaging tale of her life among the exotic and endangered!

Saturday's Critters

Bird d'Pot

Wild Bird Wednesday

Random 5 Friday

Bonus Random 5 Friday tidbits

1) I missed Random 5 Friday!  I love that I can do some creative writing.  Or post what ever trips my trigger.

2)  My birthday is March 1st.  My age?  None of your business. 

3) My father in law Jim and my Dad Sidney both have a birthday on March 10.  Go figure.  Happy Birthday Jim.  See you soon!

4) I have a date with Harry Potter in March.  Do you know where?

He wrote it in sea shells!  

5) My husband proposed to me on the beach at Lover's Key State Park.  We were shelling early in the morning.  I was on a mission to find shells.  Oblivious. Meanwhile, he dropped behind.  Then, on the way back he popped the question.  And look what he did!  He wrote it with sea shells.  He knew Lover's Key would be the perfect place.  It was.

Plus, if you missed last week's Scarlet Macaw photos, don't forget to scroll down!

Christ of the Mercy

I have the perfect post to send off into the world this Good Friday.  We visited the 2nd largest statue of Christ in the world in San Juan Del Sur this Winter. Christ of the Mercy was completed in April 2009.  Set to debut for Easter.

The statue overlooks this beautiful crescent bay.

And it serves as a beautiful overlook for us mere mortals as well.

Plus some critters.

Swing around and the bays reache out for miles.  We happily visited many of those inlets and beaches on our trip.  I picked the above 5 photos for Random 5 Friday  (I decided to post this even though the link up Random 5 Friday has come to an end) 

Now here are 5 random Easter memories...

1)  My Dad reduced me to tears one year in search of my Easter basket.  He hung it on the curtain rod behind the curtains.  After that I requested that they place it behind one of the chairs in the living room.  And that is what they did until the Easter bunny didn't visit me anymore. Sniff.

2)  I remember one lucky year getting a bonus solid chocolate bunny from my Grandma hidden in the dirty clothes hamper.  I was thrilled.  

3)  One year my cousin Donny brought out a home made go cart to entertain us.  I was too afraid to drive it. 

4)  My Aunt Pat made the best darn Ham dinner around.

5)  Our back yard Easter bunny foiled us again this Winter.  He just might be the smartest and most tenacious bunny in the world.  Every time my husband chased him out, he dug his way back inside.  Even chewing through our wood fence.  I guess you could say he devoured it faster than I chewed off the ears of my laundry basket bunny.  Now we don't have many raspberries.  And our hydrangeas didn't fair any better.

 And our energizer bunny lives on.  She'll be hatching more rocket scientists soon.  We might have to hatch a new plan.

Happy Easter!

Pinterest Propaganda

Pinterest.  Why do we love it?  I guess for me it is like looking through a free magazine everyday.  Plus, I can pin inspirational photographs that might help me with my art down the road.  And then there's the food porn.  And yes, I've actually made some of those recipes.  Here are 5 random Pinservations for Random 5 Friday.

1) Why do weird people that use celebrities for icons and only have health and fitness boards start following me?  Hello.  I only have decadent, indulgent and extremely fattening food boards.  And no beautiful toned people.  Only beautiful places, things, food obviously and cats.  Plus Morgan freeman up to the left.

2)  Which leads me to my next pinservation.  My favorite board is my Gray board.

3)  How in the world do people pin 100,000 pins on 1 board?  And for those of you that aren't on Pinterest I'm not joking.  People. Please.  Get a life.

4)  If you are following over 10,000 people you might want to step away from the computer.  Just saying.

5)  I really, really try to not pin every cute cat and all other eye candy I see.  Really! 

Catie Couric Confessions

Catie Couric

1)  I'm sometimes grossed out by all of Akua's dander.  His nickname is dander boy.  I hate it when his back is full of specks and loose fur and he guilts me into petting him.  I can only hold off for so long.  And I'm usually wearing black.  My pants end up looking like a head and shoulders commercial.  Gross!

2)  Sometimes I act like I'm sleeping when Akua runs into the bedroom looking for love.  The cat mom equivalent of a headache. 

3)  Sometimes I wonder how long the water bowl has been empty.  

4)  The other day I caught Akua licking my toast and I ate it anyway.  I was grossed out but figure I've consumed a lot of cat back wash anyway.  They persistently try to drink out of every water glass in the house.  I'm still alive.

5)  My husband stated that Akua gets 10 times more massages than him.  He's right!  

For more randomness visit Random 5 Friday

Poor Dan

I feel so bad for the person that lost their beautiful cat.  But my faith has been restored in humanity.  Look!  Someone went to the trouble of creating a poster just to find the loving home of this cutie.  So sweet. I am positive that if the cat is acting unfriendly and wild it is because the poor thing is scared.  Dan, you're the man!

I found this on Pinterest.  Where else.  I can't vouch for where it came from originally, but I found it at this link  It is just a hoot.  I wonder what happened after Dan posted this on his local electrical pole?

1)  Some poor sap with bad eyesight called Dan to claim her long lost tan, black and gray tabby.  She was shocked a year later when she picked up her new glasses. It finally explained why the cat had a hairless tail.

2)  Or maybe someone thought it was a new and rare breed of cat.  Unfortunately, all hell broke loose when she tried to mate her new pride and joy with a Maine Coon.

3)  Another theory is that Dan's wife called him and pretended to be an interested party.  She showed up with a disguise and a cat carrier.  The mysterious tabby was never seen in their neighborhood again.  Gulp. 

4)  Dan might not have gotten any calls.  And just decided to keep his new fe-male.  He might just be a sucker for good looks. 

5)  Obviously what really happened was Dan was inundated with calls.  But every call was from a scam artist.   They knew they had a sucker on the line.  Poor Dan.  

Visit Random 5 Friday for more randomness.

Surreal Snow

click to enlarge

I took this rather surreal photo before stepping in the door after a winter photo safari.  My photographic journey took me out onto my steps and onto the frigid sidewalk.  Snap, snap.  The end! 

 Of course I was being watched the whole time.  I actually was thinking about the life of my spoiled brats compared with all the animals out there as the snow swirled and the winds howled last night.  How do wild animals survive the winter?  Meanwhile, mine were curled up in luxury. 

Here are 5 random snow quotes for Random 5 Friday 

1)  “The snow began to fall again, drifting against the windows, politely begging entrance and then falling with
disappointment to the ground” 
― Jamie McGuire, Beautiful Disaster

2)  “A lot of people like snow. I find it to be an unnecessary freezing of water.” 
― Carl Reiner

3)  “The snow was too light to stay, the ground too warm to keep it. And the strange spring snow fell only in that golden moment of dawn, the turning of the page between night and day.” 
― Shannon Hale, Palace of Stone

4)  “Whenever she turned her steep focus to me, I felt the warmth that flowers must feel when they bloom through the snow, under the first concentrated rays of the sun.” 
― Janet Fitch, White Oleander

5)  “Snow flurries began to fall and they swirled around people's legs like house cats. It was magical, this snow globe world.” 
― Sarah Addison Allen, The Sugar Queen

Here's mine...

  "Old man winter can go %$#@ himself!"

Sweets for the Sweetie

5 random things I love about my husband for Random 5 Friday

1)  He gives more massages than he gets.

2)  He loves Downton Abbey!

3)  He warms up the car on cold days.

4)  He unloads the dishwasher.

5)  He lets me have the bigger slice of cake!

Happy Valentine's Day!  

Make this easy Vanilla Raspberry Lemon Curd Cake for your sweetie.  Yum!

The cake:

1 cup softened butter  (this is what makes it good!)
1 1/2 cups cake flour
1 1/2 cups all purpose flour  (I premix the dry ingredients)
1 tbsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1 3/4 cups sugar  (I use 1/2 splenda)
4 eggs
1-2 tbsp vanilla
1 1/4 cups whole milk

Beat the butter and sugar in an electric blender until fluffy.  Add the vanilla and eggs and mix.  Then alternately add the premixed flours, salt and soda with the milk.  Beat until combined.

Bake in two 9 inch round cake pans.  Be sure to oil and flour the pans so the cake won't stick.  Spread the batter between the pans and bake at 350 for around 30 minutes.  Just until set.

Cool 5-10 minutes on wire racks and then run a knife along the pan edges and invert to release the cake.

When the cakes are cooled spread a layer of purchased lemon curd and a good quality raspberry jam (I use homemade) on the bottom layer.  Add the second layer.

Frost with an easy ganache.  In a small sauce pan heat 1/2 cup half and half just until it simmers.  Then remove from the heat and add 1 1/4 cups of semi sweet chocolate chips.  (I use 1/2 semi and 1/2 bittersweet)  Pour over the cake. 

 Now for the important part.  Add a red sugar heart before it sets.  I cut a template out of paper.

Don't forget the love!  Everything tastes better with love.