Whittier Neighborhood

It warmed into the seventies last weekend.  For the first time in seven months I found myself overdressed and trying to strip of layers during a walk.  

Washburn Fair Oaks Park

Minneapolis Institute of Arts

Minneapolis Institute of Arts

At I-35W looking toward downtown

"Big Time" Minneapolis

California Building

Northeast Minneapolis has been revitalized over the last few years as older manufacturing era buildings have been made into studios and homes for local artists.

Every year the California Building hosts a bring your dog to the studios event.  The kids, Sparta, and I took the opportunity to check out some art.  

Everyone loves bunnies.

A mirror into the future?

Did Mom know about this?

The mermaid wanna-be stands transfixed.

No trip to the big city is complete without a stop at Jimmy Johns.

Lambing Season

She is the smallest live birth we've had in many years.  Hours old and she knows to shelter from the wind in the lee of mother's flank.

Do not feed

Dear Minneapolis,

If small wildlife is becoming a problem, Sparta would like to suggest an alternative solution.

It Ain't Me

Opening Day 2016

I've developed an Opening Day tradition over the years.

I head down to a ballfield, it matters little what kind of team it hosts: college, Major League, little league, Moose Lodge.

I head down and just walk around: respect the game and respect the values it instills and the traditions it teaches.

This year we went to Target Field in Minneapolis.  It was a quiet Sunday morning and beyond a few employees doing work somewhere in the concourse and one guy picking up some tickets at a kiosk, we had the place to ourselves.

You've got to hold your mouth just right.

On the shoulders of legends.

It's alright Sparta, we all get a little anxious in the presence of Lucy.

A game of catch.

Dude, there's ice in this bowl!

"It's going, going, going?  Gone!"

Wisconsin: April 5, 2016

It is not very often that the Wisconsin Primary makes the news.

It's not early.
It's not big.
It's not part of any day named "Super."

I won't tell you who to vote for,
I will encourage you to vote your hopes,
not your fears,
your ideals,
not your anger,

Paul Simon wrote a song about not wanting to "end up a cartoon in a cartoon graveyard." The joke is on him, outside of our own heads, we're all cartoons destined for the grave.

Still, each of us chooses our own cartoon.

As for me, I'll choose to be a cartoon of a man who believes in liberty, not shouting people down, that public service is more important than winning,

that character is not the most important thing, it is the only thing.

Space and Gods

Most of the "art" brought home from school is garbage and, as soon as their backs are turned, that is right where I put it.

Every once in a while, however, they bring home something that I really enjoy.  

"Space and Gods" by A.

Ain't Talkin', Just Walkin'