Skunk House, Fences and History

Linking to GOOD FENCES

and celebrating our one hundredth post this week of sharing all things about  fences, their posts and places where they fence naturally.


This post also fits nicely with my historic Minneapolis posting for
SEPIA SATURDAY


Click on the photos to enlarge.

The Washburn Water Tower

On August 14, 2013 I wrote about this tower here.

How about a summer view of the tower?

"We shape our buildings; thereafter they shape us."
Winston Churchill 


Downtown Minneapolis 
delivered tastefully designed-

Stylish fencing which
still exists today.

Exquisite lamp post at Minneapolis Federal Building

 and SEPIA SATURDAY

For those of us who cherish architectural history you should enjoy this glimpse back to a time where a place like, the Skunk House and eagles protecting a water supply (which survives yet today) actually existed in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

One fascinating story connected to the Skunk House (aka the Foster House) during the time the No Name Gallery arrived to spread their artist charm, the space was once owned by John Linsmayer, (his family was in the fur trading business) and his office on the second floor which originally belonged to his grandfather earlier, this is my favorite part,  his business cards read, "Head Skunk" for his title.  

Click here to learn,  how the purchase of a building for one dollar is now the stuff of legends.

The Skunk House
aka the Foster House

Notice the small section of chain link fencing in the lower right corner of the photo?  Not sure what it is/was fencing out.

S.E. Foster built 1882

Stephen E. Foster arrived in Minnesota in 1850 as the first Blacksmith in St. Anthony Falls 

and built his business in a wood framed building at 100 First Street North and rebuilt in 1882 with a three story brick structure.

From Skunk House to art-space artfully named, "third space" it's not a museum or commercial gallery, you can't buy and sell things there, it's a place where art is made and exhibited.

So how does 100 First Street North look today?

I believe you're really going to like it-

see it here.

I think it's even more beautiful then when it was first built, and it has a lovely little wood fence next to it as well.

Thanks so much for stopping in and may your "Thank goodness it's Friday" become an even better weekend ahead.  Enjoy.

Cold

Welcome to  THEMATIC PHOTOGRAPHIC 

Carmi, offers Cold as our theme this week.

So here it is-

COLD

I begin from a vast emptiness cold as ice
 with Frosty.

A fierce, biting-glacial-coldness surrounded him
deep outside my house.

But he's not in denial, see his smile?

Sure Frosty knew his humans lingered
(inside swimming in uncrushable excitement)
 while sipping and clinking their glasses of

cinnamon Kinky Flame.

A most delicious, hot fusion of premium Canadian Whiskey over ice  

warming their very souls.
Frosty could not blame 

them for shutting him out in the 
fierce, biting-glacial-coldness

it keeps him together in this
COLD 

winter air.

So, life continued out in the cold dampness of Frosty's backyard -
Where he stood proud, he was after all, a stone-cold-frozen snowman in his own winter moment.

Although,

during this spell of cold air consuming the backyard
Blue Jays and Cardinals flew in, just to bask 
in a cold pocket of air
dining on tasty offerings
living in their moment-
and still
In this oppressive air one might ask

Is Frosty

stuck on the moon 

or just in my backyard?

See Mr. Cardinal?

Oh, and did I neglect to mention Frosty had several snowmen friends to freeze along with?

Will the real snowman please stand up!

and so life continues-

In the misty morning light,
with a
hovering rising Fahrenheit
by the frosty snowbank.
Any place is all right
 as long as you are there
with a dream of spring in sight.

"October extinguished itself
 in a rush of howling winds and driving rain and November arrived,
 cold as frozen iron, with hard frosts 
every morning and icy drafts that bit at exposed hands and faces." 
J.K. Rowling

and yet we survive knowing spring would arrive again.

Thanks for stopping by. Enjoy your day and stay warm.

Between the Idea

Good morning and welcome to 

SUNDAY SELECTIONS

Between the idea

and the reality

Between the motion

And the act

Falls the shadow

T. S. Elliot

Since going to the beach is far too icy of an idea, why not brush up on our history.

Welcome to the Minnesota History Center

Time is running out to catch the Suburbia Exhibit.

"Prosperous suburbia was one of the end-states of history. Once achieved, only plague, flood, or nuclear war could threaten its grip." - J.G. Ballard

New neighborhoods were being built everywhere.

When I was little and we were out new-house-hunting my mother always remarked-
"They all look like breadboxes."

The photo below reflects a time before suburbia.

Inside looking out.

Where students on field trips may eat their bag lunches if weather permits.

Live from the Weather Permitting Exhibit.

From the Open House: If These Walls  Could Talk

 Various stories told of families, from the first German immigrants, through the Italians, African-Americans and Hmong.  All of their stories speak through each room representing different eras of living on St. Paul's East-side, and they share things like shown in this photo above.   Beautiful keepsakes of their very own creations of artwork and other handicrafts throughout as well.

"The best moments in reading are when you come across
something- a thought, a feeling, a way of looking at things
which you had thought special and particular to you.
Now here it is, set down by someone else, a person you have never met.
Someone even who is long dead.  And it is as if a hand has come out and taken yours." Alan Bennett

Thank you for stopping by, enjoy President's Day today, 
whether you have it off or have to work.
Maybe you'll have cake to celebrate!

Imagine this critter move

Good morning and welcome to 

SATURDAY'S CRITTERS

First critter for today

Scooby-Doo and his little green twisty friend.

As much of a dog person that I've always been, this Saturday I'm featuring Kitty, our inside house cat.

Her alpha like tactics are still sweeping through my thoughts, (and yes I bragged to everyone I saw yesterday) Kitty, has much more than a crisp wit and steely realism to her wonderful complex catting life style hanging our house. 

Add paramedic to her job title.

 Let me explain.

Oh she looks innocent enough, but she's really a tiger, or perhaps a K-9 dog in disguise.

Who knew?

Imagine if you will, a world where critters aren't  just wandering around the countryside or stuck in a world of retrieving balls for their masters, but dutiful protectors.

Seriously.

and-
she really loves me.

Just give me the treat okay? MeOW!

I accidentally discovered this yesterday while doing exercises flat on my back and obviously totally out of key in my musical-vocal-countdown.

Please don't, imagine that off key idea.

Okay, we all know how intelligent and empathy-charged dogs are, (while two of my dogs were climbing and sniffing me) as if, well something might possibly be wrong with their master! 

But did you ever consider a cat in the same capacity?

Yes, for those of you that remember my post long ago (she is the kitty I sadly interrupted in her cat fight with my daughter's kitty) 

This dear sweet kitty came sniffing to see what Dash and Misty were worried about-
and what to my wonderful surprise,
she actually grabbed hold of my shirt sleeve with her TEETH to drag me up off the floor.

I kid you not.

I love you Kitty!

Yep, she's a real tiger!

Thanks for stopping by so I could share my Kitty's story, (she got extra kitty treats too) and enjoy your weekend in whatever you do!

Stay warm if you're in cold country and if you're headed to a sunny beach, send warm thoughts for those of us tangled within the squalor of winter!

Be safe, be happy!

Fences With a Chance of Gnomes

Greetings!

If I ever figure out how to go back in time-

I might track down a Gnome or two-

Yesterday being Wind back Wonders for Wednesday 

I offered this lovely angel (one of two) found inside Rice Park in Saint Paul, Mn.

 I'm hoping your Wednesday,

 (aka Hump Day) was everything you planned it to be-

Because Wednesday is history, and today is Thursday
and we're celebrating 
GOOD FENCES

and 
THROWBACK THURSDAY

I've been reading the book Do the KIND Thing by Daniel Lubetzky, founder and CEO of KIND Healthy Snacks.

THINK

Boundlessly

WORK

Purposefully

LIVE

Passionately

Be yourself.

I'm also
Sharing a few Throwback-Thursday Photos

Another kindness is

Be the top dog, share with kitty.

Photobomb someone's picture!

Jump so high you can reach the sky!