Giants in the earth

We have been having more than our share of thunderstorms this summer. Did you read about the one in Duluth this week? Following a recent downpour I captured this gorgeous sunset at the power station on Highway 280 and Hennepin Avenue.

Going down... or up?

The Walker is currently showing an exhibit entitled Lifelike featuring works that challenge our notion of scale and turn everyday objects into art (think Warhol). This piece is a real crowd pleaser. Overhead: Oooh! I want to see Stuart Little here!

P is for pretty in pink

Early spring weather has brought the tulips out. These, from my front garden, are almost gone now so I was glad to capture them when they were at their finest.

For more ABC Wednesday photos, click here.

Theme day: Cobblestones

Cobblestones are not found very readily any more on Midwestern streets, but my neighborhood has maintained a block-long stretch that is teeth-jarring. No wonder most cobblestone or brick streets have been paved over. If you'd like to see more theme day photos, go here.

K is for kneehighs

My vantage point at the St. Patrick's Day parade in St. Paul this year. The crowds were incomparable; the week had seen our earliest reading of 80 degrees ever!

There are more ABC Wednesday entries here.

J is for jetsam

On a spookily warm later winter day (St. Patrick's Day morning to be exact) this rower was out on the long unfrozen Mississippi getting ready for what will be an extended rowing season, I suspect. The jetsam piled on the levy behind him is left from previous floods. There won't be any this year. The river is already low.

For more ABC Wednesday photos, go here.

I is for imagery

Don't miss the ladies' loo at the Gaslight in Des Moines.

For more ABC Wednesday posts, go here.

D is for door knocker

A lovely iron door knocker on an entrance to a grand Presbyterian church on Summit Avenue. To see more ABC Wednesday entries, click here.

Theme day: C is for curious

Theme day on City Daily Photo and ABC Wednesday arrive simultaneously today. When you go to a cabin in Minnesota the ground squirrels want to know who has moved in and whether there's anything in it for them.

For theme day thumbnails, go here. For more ABC entries, go here.

A is for adult toys

No, not those kind! These kind. When friends get together the urge to play is irresistible. You can see more ABC Wednesday entries, here.

Floyd B. pontificates

Floyd B. Olson was a socialist governor of Minnesota in the 1930s. He's enshrined in this spot on the grounds of the Minnesota State Capitol.

Z is for zoom

Look what happens when you zoom your lens in the middle of an early morning time lapse photo. St. Paul in double vision!
For more "Z" photos, see ABC Wednesday.

Winter moon rising

Last month I cheated a bit and posted the lunar eclipse which was not actually visible from the Twin Cities. We are at the full moon again, but this time we see it from an oddly brown St. Paul (still no significant snow).

Y is for yum!

When it starts getting cold, head for the warmth (and yumminess) of a winter squash. For more ABC Wednesday entries, go here.

Theme day: Photo of the Year 2011

My favorite photo for 2011 was published in July after I'd been to a street fair in Northeast Minneapolis. I loved the colors and styles of the vintage sunsuits these young women were wearing (and the 21st century hair coloring to set them apart from their grandmothers!).

To view thumbnails for all theme day participants, go here.

Rockin' New Years Eve

I recently saw the Black Tibetans who had a rockin' show. Hope you have a similarly flashy New Years Eve.

X is for Xcel

Can't wait to see what others do with "x." Luckily, we have this big entertainment venue right in downtown St. Paul that makes it easy for me to come up with a word for today's ABC Wednesday. To see more, click here.

Better watch out

They're on their way! Don't forget the cookies and milk... and a lawn chair.

Take me to your leader

Another view from Highland Park though these are the modern water towers sharing space in the park with the tower from yesterday's post. This view, taken at sunset, makes them appear slightly extra-terrestial.

The images this week complete my 365 days of posting on this blog. It has been a challenge to find something representing the Twin Cities to post every day for a year. I will continue to post periodically notably for ABC Wednesday and the monthly theme days, but the bulk of my photo work will be devoted to other projects.

Late season golf

Though this photo of Highland Park in St. Paul was taken in November, it could've been a scene from much of December, too. We are not going to have a white Christmas. Whatever your opinion is about that, winter will eventually catch up with us. The water tower, built in 1928, is one of the iconic images of the urban Twin Cities much like the one I posted on Tuesday from Minneapolis.