Vibrant, Bold and Fiery

How else to describe this sunrise from last week while working in Minnesota?

Perham, MN Sunrise

Skywatch Friday - St. Patrick's Day Sunrise

St. Patrick's Day Sunrise - Perham, Minnesota

Linking to Skywatch Friday - a weekly meme of skywatching enthusiasts.

Skywatch Friday - Morning Drive

Drives to work in the morning are much nicer when your day starts off like this.

Perham, Minnesota Sunrise

Linking to Skywatch Friday. Come join us!

Barn Charm - Sunset on the Farm

I passed by this barn and had to turn around and come back to do a sloooow drive by capture. I like the brickwork on it. This was a neat and tidy farm - well cared for even though the top of the silo is missing.

Near Perham, Minnesota - late January 2013

Linking to Tricia and Barn Charm at the Bluff Area Daily. Click on the icon below to start your journey this week.

Barn Charm - Big Pine

Big Pine Lake - Perham, Minnesota

Even though I am not linking up this week to Tricia's Barn Charm at the Bluff Area Daily because I am not sure if I can get my visiting done, I encourage you to see what others are sharing. Click on the icon below. There are some FABULOUS barns!

Skywatch Friday - Red Sky in the Morn

Vibrant! That's the word that comes to mind with this Minnesota sunrise from earlier this year.

Perham, Minnesota Sunrise

Linking to Skywatch Friday. Click on the banner to see what others are sharing this week.

InSPIREd Sunday - Perham Art Center

Constructed in 1922, St. Stanislaus was one of two Catholic churches in the tiny town of Perham, Minnesota. The St. Stanislaus Parish actually dates back to 1876 when it was established as a mission for Polish immigrants. Due to a lack of priests, the last Mass was held on October 4, 2009 and the congregation merged with nearby St. Henry's Catholic Church.

Today it is the home of the Perham Arts Center.

Perham Art Center

Digging Out

A nice little blizzard came through West Central Minnesota on Sunday. At times like this is when I miss having a garage or a snowblower. It was not fun digging my rental car out of the snow at the hotel.

I was parked at the end of the hotel where the snow was blowing and drifting.

Interestingly enough, the drifting snow left a walkway along the passenger side of the car.

It was the left rear corner that accumulated the most drifting. And I liked the way the snow drifted around the wheel.

Even though I had to shovel out the car, at least I didn't have to scrape the windshield. It was as clear as ever!

The snowmobilers were sure enjoying the new snow but I am ready for Spring now.

Barn Charm - White Barn in the Snow

Two pics - different times - same barn. First one was a drive by shot taken back in December.

On this one, I actually pulled over, rolled the car window down (too cold to get out!), and took the shot.

Perham, Minnesota

Linking to Tricia's Barn Charm at Bluff Area Daily.

Friday's Fences - Arvig Park

Arvig Park Fence - Perham, Minnesota

Linking to Jan & Jer's Friday's Fences.

Watery Wednesday - Ice House City

This is very typical of the Lakes area in west central Minnesota this time of year. Lake after lake with ice houses on them for fishing. Sorry, I just can't see myself spending much time in one of these looking a hole cut in the ice waiting for the fish to bite much less driving my vehicle on the frozen lake.

Nitche Lake Ice Houses - Perham, Minnesota

Big Pine Lake Ice Houses (this is just a small fraction of them) - Perham, Minnesota

Closer shot at Big Pine in the late afternoon

Linking to Watery Wednesday at Tricia's Bluff Area Daily. I am still catching up from last week's posts so bear with me. :-)

Friday's Fences - St. Lawrence

St. Lawrence Cemetery - Perham, Minnesota

Linking to Friday's Fences hosted by Jan & Jer.

I Learned Something New Today

The past month here in Minnesota, and especially this week with the brutal well-below freezing temperatures, I have seen several sun-dogs that were almost vertical on the horizon. Of course, these sightings have been in the morning and late afternoon hours on my way to or from work. When I saw two at once, I knew I had to find out more information on the cause.


This is what I found (information courtesy of livescience.com):

Patches of light that sometimes appear beside the sun are called sundogs. The scientific name is parhelion (plural: parhelia) from the Greek parēlion, meaning "beside the sun." Speculation is that they are called that because they follow the sun like a dog follows its master. Sundogs (or sun dogs) are also referred to as mock suns or phantom suns.

Sundogs are formed from hexagonal ice crystals in high and cold cirrus clouds or, during very cold weather, by ice crystals drifting in the air at low levels. These crystals act as prisms, bending the light rays passing through them. As the crystals sink through the air they become vertically aligned, refracting the sunlight horizontally so that sundogs are observed. 

So now I understand why I am seeing these with increasing frequency lately. Of course, I might trade seeing these for seeing palm trees in 70 degree weather instead.

Morning of January 9th near Perham

Morning of January 21st near New York Mills

Afternoon Double with the Sun in the Middle on January 23rd near Perham

Linking to SkyWatch Friday.

Skywatch Friday - Big Pine Sunset

Sunset over a frozen Big Pine Lake - Perham, Minnesota

Parting Shots

I'm heading home today to Washington state for the holidays but I'll return to Minnesota early next year.

Perham, Minnesota Sunset

Wow...this is post #100 of the new blog. My how time flies!

Here Comes the Snow...Plows

Oh, what to do on a Thursday night?

Option #1: Stay in a warm but somewhat boring hotel room, fix dinner and watch TV.

Option #2: Bundle up and drive a few miles to freezing Frazee, Minnesota to watch their 1st Annual Snowplow Parade.

Hmmm....decisions, decisions.

Here Come the Plows!

Big Ones...

...Small Ones...

...And  Baby Ones (sorry for the poor picture quality)

One Plow Even Had the Grinch

There was a great turnout for the parade down Main Avenue in Frazee. Approximately 60 plows participated including ones from the State of Minnesota, Otter Tail and Becker counties, the towns of Frazee, Perham and Detroit Lakes along with many private contractors advertising their snow removal capabilities. Most were decorated with lights and many drivers were tossing candy to the children lined on up the sidewalks.

Scattered up and down the main street were several firepits with nice little fires going to keep the parade watchers warm.

Warmth Station - Check out the Interesting Way to Burn a Log

The parade lasted longer than I did. Even with my gloves on, my hands were freezing. I stayed to see about 90% of the plows before they turned around and came back down Main Avenue. I couldn't take the below freezing temps any longer. It was time to head for the warmth of the hotel and a mug of hot cider.

Not sure a snowplow parade was on my bucket list, but I'll check it off any way! Gotta love small town life!!

InSPIREd Sunday - St. Lawrence Catholic Church

St. Lawrence Catholic Church - Perham, MN

If You Are Gonna Be Away From Home...

...at least have your home away from home feel like one. I got lucky. I am spending about two months in central Minnesota for a temporary work assignment. The hotel I am staying at has mini-suites available for long-term stays. While it is definitely not the same as being home, at least I feel like I am less in a hotel than I am. It sure is nice being able to cook meals rather than relying on eating out night after night. Plus I am able to eat healthier, too. And bonus! The room has a dishwasher so it makes clean up that much nicer.

Best of all, the staff has been wonderful in making my stay as stress-free as possible.

My Mini-Suite Including a Kitchenette

Living Area - Check Out My "Fireplace"

Kitchenette Area

Bedroom

InSPIREd Sunday - St. Henry's

St. Henry's Catholic Church - Perham, MN