The Cove - Order Lobster Rolls from Here!

For years The Cove in Mystic, CT has served the most delicious lobster rolls along the Eastern Seaboard.  Locals and visitors alike concur:  none tastes better.  And your server in her window, will take your order and get it to you before you can say:  "How 'bout some extra mayo!"

The Cove changed hands last year. Before the 2014 summer season began, new owners applied coats of paint to every square inch of the restaurant.  Picnic tables (outside seating) were replaced with patio furniture and big umbrellas. Shade trees were pruned. Lawns were seeded and flower pots placed in strategically welcoming positions.

Next time you're on Route 1A between Mystic and Stonington, stop for a lobster roll (I think the place is open all year).  See if you don't agree that the taste is something to blog home about.

Sun sets over Raspberry Lake, Medina, MN

Had to trespass on farmer's land to get this shot of the sun going down over Raspberry Lake.  The sky had been overcast all day, and it was late in the afternoon when even a hint of sun appeared amid the clouds.  Hand held, under-exposed by a stop+ and all in all, an enchanting reflection of God's Glory.  Very pleased to have come upon the scene.

Two Pony Gardens Prepares for Change of Seasons.

Heavy-duty canvas "tarps" are a sure sign that a garden is nearby. Hanging on the fence as these cloths do suggests that the beds -- primarily organic vegetables -- will be covered up soon, " 'ere the winter storms begin," as the iconic hymn goes.

Anna and Caitlin run the gardens here, and they are exceptionally competent at what they do.  Take a little loose hay from the wagon to the left in the foto, and spread over the tarps once in place, and the crops are likely to come up next Spring, stronger, healthier and more abundant than before.

The Weir Men of Medina.

My friend and neighbor Ken Weir, and his "boys" Conor and Ferg invited me to join them for coffee and chit-chat yesterday at Harvest Moon Co-Op in Long Lake.  Coffee was tasty and stimulating, but nothing like the conversation that took place at our table.  From parenting to politics,  hitting you sales numbers to keeping balance in your life, these guys have IDEAS that sure did influence me.  I'll write more; meanwhile, thanks to Weir Men of Medina for our special friendship.

Truck Month - 1958. One owner, not much rust.

They've let this old timer go to hell in a rust bucket as we used to say.  Nonetheless the F -150 Ford sits serene and only a little suspicious on the back lot at the nursery in Wayzata, MN.  

Looks like this baby's been parked here for a while, though full tires suggest it's ready to lurch into action at a moment's notice.

I've been thinking of taking this shot for a long time.  Had my iPhone at the ready today: success.

Jimmy Midnight's Stimulus Package - Watch it Live!

In 1971, when Jimmy Silin arrived at his Whitefield farm as a young back-to-the-lander, he had no idea that nearby Hallowell was on its way to becoming the, “Navel of the electric guitar universe,” or that the equally handy UMA popular music program even existed. So it was partly a matter of luck that he became Jimmy Midnight and brought a blues influence into what really could be called “The Hallowell Sound.” 

At gigs and jams and open mics from Maine to California, Jimmy has worked and played with many musicians of a variety of levels of skill. Four of the very best,Robby Coffin with his Combo, David Thibodeau, Peter Johnson and Alfred Lund, will be his supporting band at his upcoming show on Election Eve, Monday November 3 at Slates Hallowell. The lovely, Angela Plato Pitteroff, will be on hand to add some Trumpet solos, and a certain air of legitimacy!!!! ;) His recent CD, “Jimmy Midnight’s Stimulus Package, and an older vinyl, will also be for sale. 

Freaky Halloween in this Wayzata Yard.

Neighbors of ours have decorated their front yard in a way no goblin could do better.  Masks and spider webs and bad karma signs abound.  The lady of the house explained that the decor work was no where close to being finished and, "Just you wait til Halloween!"  Be sure to come back to trick or treat, she added.

You'll Find me Now at Goodwill.

I used to buy my shirts at Brooks, 

in colors white and blue.

They’d sew a monogram on my chest

there’d be no mistaking who …

I thought I was or hoped to be,

among the “shoes" at Fence.

Not just a guy from the Chill,

but one with taste and sense.

I’d charge the bunch to dear old Dad, 

who’d never know the diff, 

shirts and socks and ties and such,

buckle shoes as a spiff. 

My clothing muse was pal JI,

taste-maker all agreed; 

or was it Schenck of ALC,

or could it have been Freed?

That was all so long ago, 

a different closet and a time.

Nothing fancy I wear now,

not spendy nor sublime.

I’ve bid adieu to button-downs,

trousers made of twill.

If I ever need a new fall look

you’ll find me at Goodwill!

Had Dali Painted Pancakes Instead of Clocks.

Didn't Spanish artist Salvador Dali once paint a droopy clock?  Some surrealist image of time slipping away? And not so appealing to the senses even if one could stop the slide?

Imagine if our brush man had chosen sourdough pancakes instead of clocks?  His painting might have resembled what we saw this morning at Two Pony Gardens as we delighted in a tasty, healthy breakfast and some inspiring, spirited conversation.

Dali: move aside.  Time has passed you by.  The flapjacks rule the roost these days.

Body Art Rockers, Minneapolis Art Institute, Summer 2012.

There must be a tatt show -- "body art expo" -- in Minneapolis each summer.  I know I've come across plenty of "sleeves" as I've walked around town.  In this photo from the grounds at the Minneapolis Institute of Art, a young lady with a flower in her hair sips a rum drink and considers the sounds of an unknown rock band.

Loving the Caribou Lattes Today in Sunny Wayzata.

Me and the gals were taking in the sun and the sights and the sips this afternoon in Wayzata. It's Betsy on the left, then Pat, and on the right:  NTS, La Nancita, Poppina, Sammy. And the striped socks and beat-up khakis and the bare ankle?  An adoring friend and, of Poppina, her Poppy.

Girl-chiks at Russian Art Museum Today.

Betsy and Pat flew in from Steamboat Springs to spend a long weekend here in Long Lake.  Our dear guests and we get together a couple of times a year, and we never fail to have a blast.

Today's adventure?   The Museum of Russian Art on Stevens @ 35-W in Minneapolis. Our curious museum goers pose for old Poppy just before we discover the magic inside.

Special exhibits include folk art wood carvings --   prialkas -- used by young Russian maidens in spinning cloth, and highly prized as dowry items by families of the bride and groom.

Contemporary Russian Artist Alexander Viazmensky displayed detailed and exquisite water colors of  Leccinum  -- common and not so common mushrooms, all deliciously edible.

Favorite exhibit was the  nalichniki -- "window surrounds," in English -- window frames, built for the outside of village homes, carved with an artist's touch, and richly and proudly painted.  Nalichniki art reached its zenith in the late 19th century; homes throughout pre-Soviet Russia took part.   Today, many of the original "surrounds" remain, and a project is underway to photograph tens of thousands of the best examples for reference.

Went to the gift shop, of course.  Had some wonderful herbal tea. Bought a few items for the holiday so Santa can surprise good little boys and girls.  Keep your eye peeled.

Unity, Service, Recovery - St Paul Neighborhood Style.

I took this photo this afternoon in St. Paul.  The light, shadows, colors, design, composition, deep blue sky all spoke to me.  I pulled the car around the corner onto Annapolis Street, ducked traffic and got the shot.

AA meeting houses exist in hundreds of countries -- the promise of service and help offered in plenty of languages other than English.  To come upon this oasis in our Twin Cities, in Spanish (which I read, write and speak pretty well) and on such a splendid day:   MAGNIFICO! 

Pop Up Farm Store - Remember to be on Your Honor!

A couple of miles from our house there's a farm store. You can shop like a maniac for the very best home-grown tomatoes, garden veggies,  condiments (mint, parsley, basil), even prize-winning dahlias during the season, if you get there quick, and wait at the head of the line.

There's even fresh goat milk for shoppers braver than I.

Inside the barn at Two Pony you'll find a pop up "honor" store.  If no attendant is there to serve, follow the instructions on the chalk board seen in foto above:  leave a note and leave your money and thanks for shopping today with us.  Something like that.

OMG. Pea Hummus. So yummy, and only 5 bucks!

This was a first and I've been to plenty of farmer's markets: sampling Green Pea Hummus alongside Quinoa Salad.  

The quinoa was to die.  But the hummus,  whoa, made of green peas, was out of this world.  A fancy food writer could describe the experience better, but when you took a bite of the hummus you could absolutely identify the pea taste.  Somewhere between uncooked, right out of the pod, and steamed just enough to deliver its distinctive taste.

And the color! No mistaking what this goodness was made of.

Ingredients?  Fresh organic green peas (duh), garlic, ricotta cheese, black pepper, sea salt, lemon zest (whatever that may be) scallions and some lemon juice.   If you EVER come across this stuff in your culinary cruising, grab it.  Savor the pea hummus.  Write your friends about it.  Get another container or two.  What a treat.

                   

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Did Vogue Magazine Forget these Shoes along Lake Michigan?

Weird, don't you think?  Maybe even a little spooky? Here's a perfectly nice, empty pair of ladies shoes, placed with care in a parking lot along the beach of Lake Michigan.

Whose mules?  I didn't see a soul (no pun) as I walked miles along the lake.  No barefooted runners. No swimmers wake headed east across the big pond.

Maybe Vogue magazine was doing a photo shoot, took a break for lunch, left  behind the props to make their own special statement?

If YOU know anything about these sandals, please let us know.  Maybe I'll check Lost + Found in the meantime?

Pedal a Velo to Whole Foods for Organic Sorbet.

Looks like you can rig up a Nice Ride bike-share-velo here in the 'Cities, and get some tasty sorbet as a reward for all your hard work.  Saw this machine at a bike night at Minneapolis Institute of Art, and only sorry in hindsight I didn't get to sample the dessert.  Pretty soon it's going to be too damned cold here to wear tank tops, enjoy sorbet out-of-doors!

Sweets Chocolate + Ice Cream Shoppe and Hand-Made Cones.

The waffle cones are made by hand at Sweets in Lake Forrest.  And they look like curled-up waffles until staffers dip, cover, coat and sprinkle the cones so they achieve sinfully divine status.

How anyone can resist such goodness is beyond me.  Deedee took us to Sweets for a single scoop, which we ordered in paper cups. Not very imaginative, but we didnt' want to spoil our dinner  :-).

The maestros meanwhile worked their magic before our very eyes, and let the lensman slide behind the counter to record what we'll not likely see again in any candy/chocolate/ice cream shoppe.    

Borlands + Hoyts at Elewa Farm, Lake Forest, IL.

Nancy and I paid a visit to our pals  Bruce and Deedee Borland in Lake Forest, IL.  As couples we've known each other forever;  before that the gals were friends in college.

We made sure to take in the weekly market at Elewa Farm.  Deedee is very involved at Elewa, takes pride in what they grow and sell there.  After we'd finished loading carts with fresh berries, green pea hummus, pumpkins, honey and cut flowers, we asked market manager Lisa to snap a pic for posterity.

Cranberry Capital of the World !! - Warrens, Wisconsin.

Pina and I stopped by adorable Warrens in western Wisconsin yesterday.  We'd heard about the Annual Cranberry Fest, and wanted to check out the scene.  Turns out we missed the action by a week -- when 100,000+ visitors descended on this burg of 365 full-time residents.

We came upon a very helpful resident who gave us the proud history of her world - cranberry muffins, honey, caramels, even cranberry ice cream. As for her home town she said pretty much the following, which you can find on Wikipedia:

Warrens is the hub of a cranberry-growing region. The population of the small village of Warrens swells to over 100,000 each September when it hosts the annual Warrens Cranberry Festival. One of the largest such festivals in the country, Cranfest is held annually during the last full weekend of September. The festival includes over 100 farmers market booths, 350 antique and flea market vendors, 800 arts and craft vendors, and Wisconsin’s largest marching band parade.^[7]