Contemplating.

Contemplating.
Wayzata, Minnesota

Tuesday, July 31, 2012

Thematic Photographic #206

THEMATIC PHOTOGRAPHIC #206



CLOUDY  is our theme
(with no chance of Meatballs falling)



St. Felix
Wabasha, Minnesota with white clouds sailing calmly overhead.


"There are no rules of architecture for a castle in the clouds." - G. K. Chesterton

 

Just a few of my hollyhocks reaching for the bright flash of sunshine while fluffy clouds rolled out of the west, as if they had some place special to be.







A lovely summer afternoon with ever-changing cotton ball clouds dancing over Lake Pepin in Lake City.




The clouds were drifting sluggishly while the rich blue sky was slowly fading away. Not a shadow in sight and in just a short while the skies opened up with a an afternoon rain shower.


"My land is bare of chattering folk;/ the clouds are low along the ridges,/ and sweets the air with curly smoke, from all my burning ridges." -

  Dorothy Parker





This was the sky that greeted me when I came home about 6:00 p.m. last night.



"Clouds come floating into my life, no longer to carry rain or usher storm, but to add color to my sunset sky." - Raindranath Tagore


For more Thematic Photography posts at Carmi's blog
go here

Monday, July 30, 2012

The Mag 128

THE MAG




Zelko Nedic
with dog
and boot.




Kinky Boots

He stood somber
head lowered
a forlorn feeling submerged
just below the surface
anxiously gnawing at his insides.


His old dog waited
as his master
cursed the malady of his soul
with tail undecided
lost behind this primeval instinct
which erected a fence of indecision
for both.


He chasing curiosities
his dog faithfully watches
his master
with a reputation
of a chambermaid.

His quick-breathing eagerness
tormenting him from the other side
a frenzy of passions
man against beast
his true self exposed

and yet
all the while knowing -
My friend waits for me.



I like to write my poem for magpie's picture prompt after first sight of it
and then by studying the artist.


Today's Magpie Tales has this man, Zelco Nedic- to thank
(besides Tess Kincaid)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qECxDH5bmMI

one more behind the scenes with Zelco Nedic

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KVMHHD4w-gk


If you want to see more Magpie Tales posts
go here

http://magpietales.blogspot.com/2012/07/mag-128.html

Saturday, July 28, 2012

Sepia Saturday - 136 - 28 July 2012

SEPIA SATURDAY



YOUR LOOKS INTOXICATE US


Greetings from, the "Gridiron Women" holding frolic while men fete President at Press Club, in Washington D.C.  Courtesy of the Gridiron Football (aka) American Football League December 16, 1938.

WHILE MOST ALL THE WORLD HAS THEIR EYES FOCUSED ON SPORTS

GOOGLE EVEN HAS ARCHERY ON THEIR PHOTO TODAY!

MY SPORTS ENDS HERE.


In favor of just a few fashionable clips.



Fashion at it's best even strolling down a street in Peru.




Oh yes, only the best of high fashion,
and sensible shoes!

Or another stunning location in Cusco, Peru chasing Llamas.



If we were to reach Paris before lunch we may catch these lovely ladies.



May I present ladies gathering in Paris with the latest of fine fashions in November of 1913.

Just what in the name of fashion is happening today?



Where are they all going in their finest of fashions, and sporting the latest of combs in their hair styles or best hats?


Could they be headed to an outdoor cafe?
Are we invited too?





Smiling faces....I see smiling faces....sometimes.



Yes, today is a superb day to frolic in the summer sunshine and gather around tables at outside cafes and just enjoy yourself...... even if you are all dressed up in the latest of -


Beach fashion - like these lovely ladies at Seal Beach, in sunny California.  It's all the rage!
Bathing suit fashion parade on July 14, 1918.


We learn and live fashion through all the days of our lives.  Sometimes we're lucky enough to know who we should follow and those that we should run far away from.



Eleanor Roosevelt
a strong woman of great common sense
a wise choice to follow.
"A woman is like a tea bag: you never know how strong it is until it's in hot water."

"No one can make you feel inferior without your consent."

 
Please take a moment and enjoy these two videos
which conclude my post of fashion today.


140 YEARS OF FASHION HERE


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lrmbwThy3Iw


and you should enjoy this as well!
What would fashion be with the finest in clothes designers


Mod en France History of fashion sequence

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=endscreen&v=QEGwDuGBfR0&NR=1


For more fun with Sepia Saturday
go here

http://sepiasaturday.blogspot.com/2012/07/sepia-saturday-136-28-july-2012.html

Six Word Saturday - 28 July 2012

SIX WORD SATURDAY




What's for lunch?



A WILD AND SCRUPULOUSLY
DELICIOUS LUNCH!


PLEASE SAVE ME A SEAT TOO!


Thanks for viewing my Six Word Saturday Post
if you want to see more
go here

http://www.showmyface.com/2012/07/six-word-saturday_28.html

Thursday, July 26, 2012

Alphabe-Thursday - Jones

ALPHABE-THURSDAY



THE LETTER "J" STANDS FOR -  JONES



HARRY WILD JONES





Harry Wild Jones born in Schoolcraft, Michigan June 9, 1859  became a popular Minneapolis architect.  Despite his abundant achievements, even outside of Minnesota, Jones is not as well known as he should be.
During his heyday he worked amongst other well known architects like, Cass Gilbert and Clarence Johnston.  All three men were premodernist designers, and each struggled with the upcoming, architectural modernism of the late 1930's that swept through Minneapolis as well as the United Sates.


I've been fascinated with Harry Wild Jones from the moment I learned about this talented and charming style.
Well known for his humor and friendly demeanor as well as being a devoted family man.

He brought much of the Tangletown neighborhood to life; including his Washburn Water Tower.

Jones had a special talent and a whimsical nature in designing roof-lines and a series of cones and circles evoking an almost witch-like-hat style in most of his accomplishments.

What follows is a mere pittance of Jones work.

Perhaps, Jones hoped his designs would be easily spotted around town.


B. R. Coppage House
built
1891

1912 Queen Avenue South
Minneapolis, Minnesota

Still a private residence.


Years after Jones designed this castle like house with a witch's-hat roof,
 it lost its porch as well as the clapboard siding (another favorite trend of Jones) replaced with stucco. Big mistake if you were to see Harry's first creation!


An almost naked feel without its porch.
A short distance away, sits Jones design built in 1889 where he
used a golden Mankato-Kasota stone, yes from our dear city of Mankato.
Next
The Henry Ladd House
1889



His design features a wraparound porch with a gridiron-like stone railing.  Henry Ladd was the first owner and he was in the real estate business.

 
Again with the witch's-like hat on a castle-like cone.


131 Oak Grove
Minneapolis, Minnesota


Next:
Jones didn't just dabble in private houses.  His accomplishments were industrial, from office buildings to churches, apartments and park structures as well.


Lake Harriet Women/Men Comfort Stations, 1892
Recently all were completely refreshed and returned to the glamorous style they once were.



The Restrooms - inside the women's area is an unbelievable fireplace for those chilly temperatures!


I've posted these lovely buildings before.  To the left is the Lake Harriet Band shelter, where we spend many Friday nights taking in the free entertainment all summer long.
To the right are more restrooms within the building that houses snacks inside what they call the refectory all under a pagodalike wooden structure.
Thank goodness Dairy Queen didn't get their way to tear it all down
and build their own modern day fiasco that we can find around too many corners.




Next hop on board!

This was when the Como-Harriet Streetcar line ran.


Lake Harriet has a street-car station too!
Designed by Jones.
There were three other pavilions located at this site, which all suffered disastrous ends.



Just a block away ........


The "Lynnhurst" houses series
two of the most interesting are attributed to Jones

4601 Fremont Avenue South
Minneapolis, Minnesota
just a short walk away from Lake Harriet.

and

4629 Fremont Avenue South
two doors down.








Behold what they call
The Johnson Triple House
106-8 24th Street East
and
2319 First Avenue South
Minneapolis, Minnesota



 A Romanesque-Gothic brick and sandstone triple house with Jones adding his marvelous witch's hat roof that caps his famous corner towers and is complete with exquisite stonework on the front porches.


It offers three tiny lancet windows about the entrance to 108 as pictured above.


Moving on
to the
Lakewood Cemetery
3600 Hennepin Avenue
Minneapolis

Harry Wild Jones died in his Elmwood House located in the Tangletown neighborhood on September 25th 1935 and was buried at Lakewood Cemetery
but before his death he designed the
Lakewood Cemetery's Memorial Chapel
an architectural centerpiece of the cemetery.

Jones modeled the chapel after the Hagia Sophia in Istanbul.

The interior was created by New York designer Charles Lamb, inspired by the mosaic design in the San Marco Cathedral in Venice.
It was completed in 1910.












From Wayzata, Minnesota
at
605 Rice Street East
built in 1916
as
Congregational










Side door entrance.



Front Entrance from Rice Street East.

If you want to view more of Jenny's Alphabe-Thursday posts
go here

http://jennymatlock.blogspot.com/2012/07/alphabe-thursday-letter-j.html


Also I put a quick video together with some of his work here on youtube

 
CHECK IT OUT!

Wednesday, July 25, 2012

Thematic Photographic - #205 Broken

THEMATIC PHOTOGRAPHIC


Carmi, from Written Inc. blog, has offered "Broken" as our theme for this week.


Is it the horrible shootings in Aurora that cries volumes of broken in our hearts of late?

So many forms of broken

all around town

and in the countryside as well.



 Broken fences need to be mended.








So many fallen trees and broken branches to gather from recent storms.


In my neighborhood sits this sad little alien house, broken and in ruins.  It's owners just up and left. 

When you try your best but you don't succeed
Is that what happened here?
***   ***   ***   ***   ***   ***   ***     


So many simple things that crumble away with time often remain broken.


If you never try you'll never know
Just what you're worth.

Our Minnesota weather has been rather out of character lately.


I took this photo in
 Northern Minnesota of a broken frozen lake broken, that soon melted away in early February!
So unheard of!





It's always good to have an extra plane for spare parts when your favorite plane becomes
broken!



Tears stream down on your face
I promise you I will learn from my mistakes
Tears stream down on your face
And I....



My face pressed against the glass outside looking in



to what once was an established place of business yesterday.  Today - broken.


I wonder who will rent this broken space next?




Lights will guide you home
and ignite your bones
And I will try to fix you.




If you're feeling broken here's a tune to fix you!

Coldplay with

Fix You

If you want to play along with Thematic Photographic
go here

Monday, July 23, 2012

The Mag 127

THE MAG




"Figure Eight" by Franz Kline 1952
prompt by Tess Kincaid


 

The Hidden One


 
Each insertion of ink upon her bare skin
like a mellow summer's eve slipping
in up-and-down motion.

The initial layout begins before
 the long stroke of a shader makes her
 one of the painted people.

Marked indelibly beyond her own skin,
defined by personal expression
 wrapped tightly in potency and duration
this art on man.






 
For more posts of The Mag
go to





Sunday, July 22, 2012

Saturday Centus - Once upon a statue

SATURDAY CENTUS



Jenny from "Off on my tangent" blog has declared "Birthday party flavor" as our prompt for this week.  103 words in any style writing and extra photos are fine.



Once upon a statue story....



Everyone was ecstatic - in anticipation
for an exciting
birthday-party-sensation

except for this lad and his pup

thanks to his rivals
this sad pouty lad
slipped into the harbor of lost dreams!


How could it be?




In this park where happiness spreads like a native weed
and such an important announcement was declared!
Flowers bloomed with excitement -
Birds chattered overhead, squirrels jabbered

yet one statue wasn't invited
to the
birthday party flavor


The others arrived


unfettered and alive with a bird in hand


or a favorite book -




and clothing optional....



So the lad decided to surprise them all


by bringing his cousin!

Who is a



baker that delivers! Let them eat cake!



If you want to see more Saturday Centus posts
or feel like a little flash fiction of your own
go here

http://jennymatlock.blogspot.com/2012/07/welcome-to-week-one-hundred-and-of_21.html