Saturday, March 29, 2014

InSPIREd Sunday - Sacred Heart Chapel

On the grounds of the College of Saint Benedict in St. Joseph, Minnesota is Sacred Heart Chapel. Built in 1914, the unassuming entrance leads to a much larger and grander building. Although I didn't have enough time to get out and explore more (maybe on another trip), you can see additional photos including interior shots here.



Also on the college grounds I spotted this other tower.



Linking up to InSPIREd Sunday - a weekly meme of religious architecture.

http://inspiredsundaymeme.blogspot.com

Monday, March 24, 2014

Monday's Barn - Ottertail County

Near Butler, Minnesota

Well Kept Barn Near New York Mills, Minnesota

Better Days Near New York Mills, Minnesota
Near New York Mills, Minnesota

Another View of the Barn

Saturday, March 22, 2014

InSPIREd Sunday - St. Nicholas

If I have the extra time, I enjoy taking the backroads whenever I am going somewhere. Sure, the interstate or highway will get you there faster, but you can miss so much just a few miles from the endless four or six lane wide ribbon of pavement. When I am repeatedly heading to the same destination, the desire to change up the route is even greater for me.

On one of my trips to the Minneapolis-St. Paul airport, I took yet another back road as I made my way over to the interstate. Out in the middle of the country I found St. Nicholas Catholic Church near Carlos, Minnesota. The cornerstone was laid in 1916.





Linking to InSPIREd Sunday - a weekly meme of religious architecture.

http://inspiredsundaymeme.blogspot.com

Thursday, March 20, 2014

Skywatch Friday - Sun Dogs Up Close

It was dark when I left for my morning drive to the airport a couple of weekends ago. After all, I was on a hunt for a giant snowman.

I watched the sun come up as I headed southeast towards Minneapolis. It was a cold and clear morning, perfect conditions for sun dogs. What I wasn't expecting was to see one literally in front of my eyes at ground level as I rounded a corner. It was in front of the trees and buildings. Oh, what a wonderous sight!

Okay, so maybe there are one or two good things about living in cold weather environments. But I am happy that today is the first day of Spring! Hooray!!





Linking to Skywatch Friday - a weekly meme celebrating beautiful skies from around the world. Come watch with us!

http://skyley.blogspot.com

Wednesday, March 19, 2014

Wacky Wednesday - Out of the Corner of My Eye

As I was flying from Wenatchee, WA to Seattle this past Sunday, I was taking pictures of Rocky Reach Dam on the Columbia River far below the plane.

Rocky Reach Dam

Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed the airplane prop. So guess what? I took a picture of it with my cell phone. Or two. Or three. This was my favorite. It looks like it is missing blades. Eek!

Airplane Prop

Why be normal?

Monday, March 17, 2014

Monday's Barn - Winter Barns

I just noticed how all of the older style silos have the checkerboard pattern at the top.

Eden Valley, Minnesota

Kimball, Minnesota

Watkins, Minnesota

Clearwater, Minnesota

Sunday, March 16, 2014

Sunday Bridges - More from Fargo

Another Sunday, another Fargo bridge (taken last Fall).

Bridge Over Creek - S. University Drive, Fargo, North Dakota

Railing Detail

Linking to Sunday Bridges - a weekly meme for bridge enthusiasts.

http://bayphoto.blogspot.com/2014/03/serie-de-ponts-de-dimanche_15.html

Saturday, March 15, 2014

InSPIREd Sunday - Seven Dolors

Seven Dolors Catholic Church is located in Albany, Minnesota. Seven Dolors is a reference to the Seven Sorrows of the Virgin Mary.

Here is a nice history of the church on the Seven Dolors website.









Linking to InSPIREd Sunday - a weekly meme featuring the architecture of religious buildings.

http://inspiredsundaymeme.blogspot.com

Friday, March 14, 2014

Friday Fun - Snowman

I saw a posting on facebook two weeks ago about a giant snowman somewhere in central Minnesota in town called Gilman. So I Google-mapped it.



I knew I had an upcoming trip to the airport in Minneapolis and decided it wouldn't add but maybe 30 minutes to my trip. I just had to find this snowman! When last Saturday morning arrived, I got up at o'dark thirty which was a half hour earlier than I normally would and left on my journey down to the cities.

Gilman wasn't that hard to find and I did find a beautiful church for a future InSPIREd Sunday post, but locating the snowman was a different story. This is farm country and I figured the snowman wouldn't be in town. I was getting ready to ask for directions at the local gas station when I spotted a sign that said "Giant Snowman" with an arrow pointing me which way to go. It was on the same road as the church and four miles out of town. Off I went in search of Mr. Snowman.

I knew he was going to be big. I didn't realize HOW big. It didn't take long before I spotted him.

Giant Snowman (notice the person standing in front of him)

I left the van in the picture for size reference

50 Feet of Fun
I love that a farmer and his family took time to build this snowman. It has been a long and cold winter and they were probably going stir crazy like many of us when they came up with the idea. Pretty clever, I say, building this giant creation. Everybody should have neighbors like this! For me, it made an otherwise boring trip into something fun.


Thursday, March 13, 2014

Skywatch Friday - Winter Sunset

Most of the fish houses were off of the frozen lake when these photos were taken a few weekends ago. The lake is totally devoid of them now that the March 3rd deadline has come and gone. Hopefully Spring is not far behind!


Detroit Lakes, Minnesota

Linking to Skywatch Friday - a weekly meme sharing skies from around the world.

http://skyley.blogspot.com/

Tuesday, March 11, 2014

I Am A Lineman for the County

This gives new meaning to the lyrics of the old Glen Campbell song "Wichita Lineman".  Along Interstate 94 in West Central Minnesota, new power poles are being installed. This is how they are stringing the wires. How would you like to be the guy sitting on the helicopter skid doing that job? Not me!

They have signs posted as you enter the work zone that helicopters may be active in the area. On this particular day, I happened to have lucked out and saw one in action. I so wanted to pull over and take a picture but you can see the state patrol car in the photo below with his lights flashing to try and keep drivers aware and moving on (at least that is my theory). No rubbernecking allowed!




Monday, March 10, 2014

Monday's Barn - At the Farm

In addition to the large barn, there were lots of outbuildings surrounding it.

Nice Farm Near Sebeka, Minnesota

Sunday, March 9, 2014

Saturday, March 8, 2014

InSPIREd Sunday - Church of St. Joseph

The Church of St. Joseph in St. Joseph, Minnesota is a beautiful church. Built in 1867, the lower half is composed of native field stones and the upper part is granite brick obtained from a nearby quarry. The church became the first consecrated church in Minnesota on June 29, 1871. What you see here is the original exterior although the interior has undergone several renovations with the last being in 1971.

The bell tower on St. Joseph's has the world's only operating Schwalbach Mechanical Clock that rings an Angelus Bell.  This historical clock is still in its original operating condition. (from the Church's website).

The clock was built in 1906 by Mathias Schwalbach, a master builder of tower clocks from the Rhine Country.  Although six clocks with Angelus bells were made, the clock in the bell tower at the Church of Saint Joseph is the only one still functioning as originally designed.

According to the original catalog citation, the clock shows the time on four faces that are each five feet tall.  The quarter hours are struck on two bells and the hours are struck on a bell weighing 3500 pounds.  The Angelus bell rings three times each day — at 6:00 am, 12:00 noon and 6:00 pm.







Linking up to InSPIREd Sunday, a weekly meme highlighting great architecture of religious buildings.

http://inspiredsundaymeme.blogspot.com

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