Colors from the North....

Rick and I took advantage of the beautiful afternoon we had here at the lake yesterday and 

hopped on the boat to seek out some shoreline color. It' proved to be beautiful.

 Our neighbors have their boat lifts and docks out of the water, 

They will soon be leaving for the season as will we.

From afar.

 Pictures never do it justice

 From the dock

That big blue sky reflecting off the lake 

Love the colors of fall, especially at the lake!

Bemidji bound...

Rick and I enjoyed a long weekend up north, we had friends stay with us, we did some projects, had a little R & R, and we took a little road trip.

I don't believe I have ever been to Bemiji, Mom???

  Rick only remembers photo's of when he was a young boy and a visit to this Paul Bunyan.

Sometimes referred to as the Standing Paul Bunyan it's not as big as I expected.

Much smaller then the Sitting Paul that we visited in Brainard as a child.

 Can you spot my "lumberjack" propped up next to Paul leg?

(dressed like him too)

 Bemidji is only about 45 minutes from Our Lake cabin, 

We took the back roads as we often do on a road trip.

It was a perfect day trip on a somewhat cool and cloudy day,

especially in the fall as the leaves are beginning to turn.

The town of Bemidji was quiet on this given day. 

A bit past tourist season, and most shops are now closed on Sundays.

No worries there was plenty to see as Rick and I walked around 

the city park that boarders Lake Bemidji. 

 A lot of towns now display large murals on sides of buildings featuring scenes from their city

 This one was open

This city has lots of art displays at the street corners

Two cute metal pigs

a couple of mean looking wolves 

This park appeared to be quite new, 

 either that or really well  maintained. 

Everything was unique to Northern Minnesota

A  3-D mural etched in this playground piece 

You cant see it but this green slide was made up of little rollers to slide down. 

 A swing fit for a king 

This might be a fun day trip for the grands,

 I look forward to a return visit to this fun little town.

My photo won....

Just for the heck of it I decided to enter a small town photo contest this spring.

I found the contest on the Park Rapids web page. 

Park Rapids is our other town, about 4 1/2 hours from Rochester, 

it's where we spend a lot of time in the summer at our cabin up north.

To my surprise, I was chosen as the winner for one of the three categories....."Lake Scenes" 

http://www.parkrapidsdowntown.com/contents/promotions/newsReleases.php

We three winners had our photo taken and publish on the Park Rapids website.

 "Reflections of a morning fog"

 I snapped this shot one day early last spring when the fog was still on the lake, 

the cloud pattern was so beautiful.

 Max Bailey Photography of Park Rapids sponsors the contest and awards a professionally finished, 11X14-inch mounted picture of the winning photograph in each of three categories

Here's me showing off my prize. 

Before the contest winners had been announced, 

I had it developed on a 16 X 20 canvas which hangs in the "green bedroom" at the cabin.

My first Photo contest entry... I kind of like this.

There may be more entries in the future for this girl.

Drive-by shootings....

 On our way home from the cabin last week I decided to have camera-in-lap,

 I knew there would be some photo opportunities as we drove through the country

 before running into big hwy 10 that takes us back to I-94.

I am usually driving this leg of the trip but we switched it up.

 I took advantage of the landscape and surroundings. 

* Picture quality isn't the best due to a moving car.

Up North is also farm country, lots of barns and crops 

 I wish I had a better photo of this place. 

The guy who lives here must collect old gas station stuff, his yard is FULL of these things.

 Someday I might get brave and stop  (if he's out)

No, we're not in south Dakota.... 

There is this buffalo farm about 1/2 hour from our cabin. 

A little Americana, Up north in the country. 

Potato fields & watering systems are BIG up north.

The soil is sandy, so I suppose they need to have the back-up in case 

Mother nature is not cooperating.

On to Hwy. 10 where trains are a plenty.

I remember when we were kids we used to try and count the cars as the train sped by....

 we usually didn't get to far, but we always tried.

Part 3, Up North....

On a recent trip Up North we came home a different way, 

 down Hwy 71 to stop by the little town of Wadena.

We walked up and down main street as we always do in the small towns we visit...

...taking notice of the old buildings, and signage.

The 2nd floor windows were painted with sports figures.

I love these old movie houses,

 reminds me of the old days when Rochester had a few of these. 

On one of the buildings we walked past we saw these painted portraits on what looks like

 puzzle pieces, about 10 of these puzzle pieces lined the brick wall. I was curious to see who some of these people were, here's what I found...

Charles Eastman was a native American Indian writer who had ties to Minnesota 

Martha Ripley founder of a maternity hospital in Minneapolis

James Goodhue published Minnesota's first newspaper in 1849 

Jane Grey Swisshelm  was an American journalist, 

who at one time wrote a paper in St. Cloud MN

The former storefront of Hanson's Art Gallery.

Now the window display exhibits lawn mowers, 

maybe overflow from the local hardware store.

The building is for sale 

 Rick really wanted to have lunch here at Boondocks cafe. 

It's good old home cooking at it's best.

Last but not least, a visit with our littlest!

(Riding on Grandpa's back)

We are blessed in so many ways!!!

Part Two... Up North

If we are gonna be up in Park Rapids we might as well visit Walker too!

Walker and Leech Lake go together. 

It's great little town that sits on the edge of a gigantic lake.

Rick and I spent last Sunday in Walker, walking the streets, shopping the shops...  

...then parking our lawn chairs on the shore in the city park.

Ahhhh, so relaxing

A little ways from where we were sitting there was lots of action,

we watched the boats race in with their catch's for the day. 

The fishermen were competing in a fishing contest, with a 40,000 dollar purse.

This guy was hoping for some food...no such luck buddy!

Had my "zoom lens" on and caught this beauty flying overhead.

This loon was really putting on a show for us, he was cleaning his feathers...

and just swimming by, minding his own business

You can only read for so long...nap time  :)

 after a nap, it's time for a little Mexican food

Good stuff  :)