Tag Archives: St. Paul

I Love Farmer’s Markets
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I Love Farmer’s Markets


Who doesn’t enjoy a farmer’s market?  I simply cannot image anyone that would not.  The hustle and bustle of it all make the market a great place to spend some time.  The wonderful smells of food and flowers, the diverse individuals milling about and the sights and sounds of consuming local wares all contribute to the experience. The Saturday before Mother’s Day, Cyn and I made our way to the St. Paul Farmer’s Market.  We had been earlier in the season, but things were setup in an alley and there were not many vendors present.  This was our first trip of many I imagine.  Right now the market is void of fresh produce, but there is so much more to a farmer’s market than produce.  There were many things available:  lots of flowers, plants, meats, cheeses, sauces and breads to hold my attention for a while. At one point during our walk around the market it began to snow!  It was short-lived and everyone had a good laugh.  Thankfully, that has been the last sighing of snow in our area. I wish we lived closer to St. Paul as I could go every weekend; it is my Saturday morning cartoon equivalent.  We are lucky to have a nice farmer’s market in Red Wing as well.   I foresee a trip there this Saturday in search of The Grateful Bread – I’ve missed it over the Winter season.

In 1853 St. Paul was indeed a frontier town. Dirt streets, log cabins and steamboats were the order of the day. As early as 1852 the Minnesota Pioneer newspaper called for an organizational Farmers’ Market. A Market House, a two-story brick building, was constructed at Seventh and Wabasha streets. It was St. Paul’s first public market. While fresh produce was only available during the season, dairy products, flour, cakes and candies could be purchased year-round. For over 150 years The St. Paul Farmers’ Market has been proud to enjoy the support of the community.  That tradition of support continues today.  For more information regarding the farmer’s market, please visit http://www.stpaulfarmersmarket.com/

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Reunited and it tastes so good…


The last Sunday in April Cyndie and I went to the St. Paul Farmer’s Market – the alley edition.  The full farmer’s market was set to open the first weekend in May.  To my surprise and delight, LoveTree Farms was selling their absolutely wonderful goat and cow cheeses partway down the alleyway.  I no more than saw the name on the table and the memory of their cheese and pizza filled my mind.  I knew exactly what I was going to do with the goat cheese we purchased…make some semi-homemade pizza.  Yum.  Far from wood fired, but still plenty good.

Pizza 001 Pizza 002

Pizza 003

I first tasted this delectable cheese back in late October of 2011 at LoveTree Farms in the Trade Lakes area of Wisconsin (Approx 15 minutes Southeast of Grantsburg).  They make wonderful wood-fired pizza (Pizza by the Pond) on Sunday’s (after Memorial Day) from 2-8 p.m.  I didn’t make it back to LoveTree Farms in 2012, but am hoping to get their this season.

I live in a great area full of gems and wonderful surprises like LoveTree Farms and the St. Paul Farmer’s Market.  If you are out and about, check out LoveTree at their farm near Grantsburg, WI for Pizza by the Pond or at the farmer’s market –   you won’t be disappointed.

Here are a few photos from my original trip in 2011.  The original post from October 2011 is here:  Hugo, MN to Grantsburg, WI.

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Revisited – April 2013


April 2013 was an odd month weather-wise.  I am glad that old man winter has finally released us from his grasp.  The last bit of the wintry-like weather (in May!) was not pleasant at all.  Welcome Spring.  I look forward to milder weather and plenty of sunshine.

Here are a few of my favorite shots converted to black & white with a couple color photos mixed in.  There is quite a variety.  Roaming around Western MN, South Dakota and North Dakota, wildlife, Peyton (2 yrs old – share a birthday with Cyndie), one of the cutest 2 year olds there is and sites of St. Paul.

Pelican @ Colvill Park in Red Wing
Red Wing FD
Audrey
rail cars – SD
Old Car – ND
Calendar – SD
abandoned house – SD
Peyton
Peyton – love that smile
Peyton – twwwooo
wintry creek – ND
St. Paul
St. Paul
Sand hill Crane – WI
Sand hill Crane – WI
Sand Hill Crane
Whitetail @ backyard
Cardinal @ backyard
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2013: Week #16 Photography


It was a slower than normal photography week, but I am feeling much better about preserving our digital assets.  I did take one sunny afternoon out of this last week to get some shooting in.  We are still saddled with unseasonably cold weather and snow.  Not sure where Spring is.

I spent part of an early week sunny afternoon on the Smith Avenue bridge in St. Paul.  There is a wonderful view of the St. Paul skyline from that vantage point.  On the way home, that very same day, I came upon some raging snow melt runoff along a country highway.  Water is powerful stuff.  There are a couple of shots of the backyard critters mixed in as well, including the supreme ruler of the fenced in area and tree tops above, Mr. Nasty Red Squirrel.  That little turd torments everything in its immediate vicinity.  This was a rare moment of calm as everyone had their face full of food.

The supreme ruler of the backyard
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Assorted Photos – 2013: Week #12


Another week gone by and even though we actually arrived at the first day of Spring , there doesn’t seem to be any Spring in sight.  Lots of snow and cold here in Minnesota yet.  Possible 40′s late in the coming week – woo hoo, but I won’t hold my breath; I see a chance of snow beyond that…is there no end?

I had the privilege of viewing a nice sunrise Friday morning.  There is just something about sunrise on Hwy 50.  I never tire of it.

5th St Tunnel St. Paul, MN
Setting Sun Anderson Center Red Wing, MN
Hwy 50 Sunrise
Hwy 50 Sunrise
Hwy 50 Sunrise
Asking to get key’d
Gopher Fans
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Assorted Photos – 2013: Week #8


It was an eventful weather week.  It started out windy and cold and ended with lots of snow.  The wind really whipped down Lake Pepin on Tuesday; it was quite the sight.  The eagles were out in numbers fishing away in the wind.  There was a magnificent rainbow sherbet sunrise mid-week.  I spied a pile of discarded household crap on a country road.  What the hell are people thinking when they do that?  And to wrap it all up, Friday brought several inches of white-fluffy-commute-lengthening stuff.  Eventful week.

Lake Pepin
Lake Pepin
Minneiska
Minneiska
Rainbow Sherbet
Big Stupid Head
Refinery
St. Paul
Road I live on
Wabasha St Bridge
Halfsies
Plowed
Dead Ends
St. Paul Skyline Pano
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Rice Park all aglow


A quick shot of Rice Park all light up on my way to work the other morning.  We haven’t had the opportunity to get here in the evening and shoot, but I suspect we will sometime soon.  We also cannot wait to shoot in and around the St. Paul Union station.  The concourse  also know as “St. Paul’s Living Room” reopened last Saturday (12/8/12) after being closes since 1971.  Read all about the remodel –> here <–.

Rice Park - St. Paul, MN

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Minnesota Transfer Railroad Yard, St. Paul, MN


I decided to mix it up a little bit on my way home from work today.  I will modify my commute path from time to time; especially when there isn’t a rush to get home.  I stopped by the Minnesota Commercial Railway in South St. Paul.  I am amazed at how much gets loaded into rail cars and hitched together in one long train.  The switching yard is interesting if you can tolerate the screeching noise.  Trains are cool, but after about ten minutes I had my fill.

The Minnesota Transfer Railway Company, a Minnesota corporation, was incorporated in 1883 under the impetus of James J. Hill, who felt a need for a centralized terminal and transfer network to serve the nine major railway lines entering Minneapolis-Saint Paul.
 
The company was authorized to operate railway lines in Ramsey, Hennepin, and Anoka counties, and to provide terminal and transfer service to its nine owner lines: the Great Northern Railway Company; Northern Pacific Railway Company; Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul Railway Company; Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis, and Omaha Railway Company; Minneapolis and St. Louis Railway Company; Chicago Great Western Railroad Company; Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad Company; Minneapolis, St. Paul, and Sault Ste. Marie Railway Company; and Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railway Company. In 1898 it purchased the New Brighton stockyards and thereby acquired the Minnesota Belt Line Railway and Transfer Company.
 
The Minnesota Transfer operated extensive railroad yards in the Midway District of St. Paul, and served a variety of industries there. It was used as a depository for almost all LCL (less than car load) freight that was sent to the Twin Cities. Some twenty million cars passed through its yards between 1910 and 1916. In 1955 the company operated 103 miles of yard tracks and sidings, as well as terminal facilities, in St. Paul, Minneapolis, New Brighton, and Fridley.
A series of railroad mergers beginning in the late 1960s resulted in a major reduction in the interchange of cars among the owning railroads, and Minnesota Transfer’s work force was reduced accordingly. By 1982 the company’s main activity was shunting cars to and from some 150 industries located on its industrial leads. The Minnesota Transfer Railway apparently ceased business around 1987.
 
Now called “Minnesota Commercial Railway” after the union was eliminated there in the 1980s. The Minnesota Commercial Railway connects with all major railroads in the Twin Cities. 

|reposted from placeography.org

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Lots of action in Pigs Eye yard – St. Paul, MN <– YouTube video.  8:27 minutes of riveting railroad action :-) Wwoooo Wwooo!

 

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Como Park Conservatory & Zoo


There are plenty of things to photograph at the Como Park Conservatory & Zoo.  My eyes were drawn to its architecture first, plants second, and the animals third – evident by the number of shots on my camera.  lines, textures, and color captivate you before you even get in the door.