Minnesota's Very Best Apple Pie. Yumm.

Nancy and I enjoyed the incomparable company of Grandma B on an outing this afternoon.  Off we went to University of Minnesota Landscape Arboretum -- for lunch in their 4-star restaurant, then tours of the Japanese Gardens, Hosta Glade, trees, bushes, dahlias, so forth and so on.

We love the TLC the gardeners and grounds people show with their work -- but some of us loved even more the apple pie, warmed up and slathered with organic whipped cream.  We ordered the rhubarb pie (grown on Arboretum grounds) but earlier diners beat us to the punch.

Arty Didact Steals the Lola Show.

Eclectic, creative, whimsical and successful commercially, Sharon Parker is Arty Didact.  And Arty D rules the annual Lola show this year.

I bought one of the hand-stitched note books Sharon holds in this foto, as well as an original pen and ink sketch of urban ruins awaiting rehabbing, and some very clever book plates.

While at the show it was impossible to resist cut glass artist Brian Western's work, and bought a piece from him for Poppina.

Love this local art revue and sale.  The Hoyts have attended -- and bought -- for several of the past years.  Lucky us!

1-2-3: Say, "Sweet Corn!"

"Desmond has a barrel in the marketplace, Molly is a singer with the band ..... "

Not quite that scene here in Long Lake, but worth signing about nonetheless.

Dennis has the cart with fresh, sweet corn on-sale a few precious weeks each summer. Customers swear by Dennis Corn -- none sweeter, none better they say.

Dennis wasn't on duty this afternoon but his associate (didn't get her name) was moving lots of ears as I pedaled by.

I managed to persuade her to pose for the Poppy Blog and here she, the ear, the sign, and the Giant Cypress all are.

Starfighter Lillies.

These beauts grow with considerable success in Poppina's Garden.  When the sun shines just right from the west, there's quite a story to tell.

Baking Breaking Bread at Rustica Bakery.

My buddy Dan and I met for coffee the other day at Rustica Bakery and Java Joint on Lake St. in Mpls.  Coffee is terrific, baked goods as good as they get. Conversation stimulating and caffeinated.

Where does this breaking bread get baked I asked Dan.

Right through that door replied Dan.  And you can see it from the window in front of the store.

Check out the baguettes.   I managed to catch the attention of the baker, persuade her to smile, but she wouldn't stop the progress of prep.

Dan and I recommend this place without reservation.  And you don't need a reservation, either.

Her Honor, The Mayor.

Our neighbor and friend Liz Weir is also our Mayor of our city.  Earlier this summer Her Honor hosted a reception for Medina staffers, members of the City Council, plus citizens active in the affairs of our town.

Her Honor is flanked by two members of Medina's Finest. Smiles abound.  Folks enjoy themselves here while working hard and intelligently.

This is a great place to live!

Really Into Thomas the Train and His Buddies.

My grandson has the plu-perfect Thomas set-up at home.  Miles of track, all the trimmings, even a round house where the magnet-couples go to get un-coupled.  To wit, and from the left:  Percy, Toby and Hero.  I love, love, love these toys, only wish they'd been in my basement when i was a kid !!

Joe Biden in Ray-Bans? 800+ page views - and counting.

I posted this VP-look-alike foto two years ago.  It's NOT Joe Biden, though the orig headline suggested it might be, maybe, what do you think, could be Joe B?

So far it's the most clicked-on post on the Poppy Velo Blog.  More than 800 page views, and the visitors keep on comin'.

The guy is my pal and NAMG colleague Jim Jowett.  He doesn't exactly resemble the Veep, but enough visitors clicked in to take a closer look-see.

Bike Friendly: Free Air, Loaner Tools, Velo TLC.

Talk about your city being velo-friendly!  

Check out this free-to-all comfort station overlooking Lake Calhoun in Minneapolis.  Sponsored by Health Partners, there's a hand pump as well as compressed air.  A set of tire irons. Allen wrenches of all sizes. And a pair of screw drivers, Phillips Head and regular blade.

This may be old news to you, dear reader; it's new, new, new to me.  And the whole rig is set up a few feet away from the Metro Bike Share check-in station.

So convenient. So forward thinking. So velo-friendly and considerate.

Three Weeks Later: Road Still Flooded.

Old Long Lake Road circumscribes, what else, Old Long Lake.  And three weeks after the humongous storms that blew our way, the road is still under water.  In the 14 years we've lived here in Long Lake, we've never experienced such flooding, tree destruction, power ourtages, sump pump nightmares, etc.  Climate change?  Could be.

Money Can't Buy You Love. A Bike, however, Yes!!

Four Big Shires, 10,000 lbs. Combined Weight.

The Shires were in harness this afternoon -- four-in-hand, and nearly 10,000 lbs. gross combined weight.  These guys are big and strong and fearsome, and pretty awesome to be around.

A half-mile from where the 'hosses were tied for a rest, a 50-year old Ford tractor sat mired to its differential in unforgiving Minnesota mud.  "I'll bet the Shires can pull the tractor out," a confident Lisa beamed. "Mike and I will harness the 'B' team first, then add the 'A' team if we need more horse power.

"Horsepower"  get it?!!

No go: the land was too wet, the mud too deep, and even four Shires couldn't  dislodge the Ford.  I witnessed patience, confidence, and a superb display of horsemanship.  But I think Lisa needs to call AAA and give the Shires a bucket of oats in gratitude.

My Hooker-Wife Made this Remarkable Rug.

My wife is a hooker.  Not THAT kind!  She's a highly accomplished rug hooker and created the masterpiece above -- one of many works of wool art to her credit.  This  stylized Pacific Northwest Salmon decorative piece measures 30 x 40, is made entirely of wool, and took Poppina an unimaginable number of hours to hook.

And the lucky recipient? Son Will and wife Jen. The rug rests in a place of honor in their San Francisco home.

Minnesota "Goldy" Gopher Feeds the World

Good news, hungry world citizens!  Abundant soy harvests here in Minnesota will feed us all.   And Goldy Gopher is the guy to git 'er done. 

Poppina and I met Goldy today. He's on exhibit in the Landscape Arboretum in Chaska. Our Goldy was one of ten like-characters, each telling a good-news story about MN  and our state's contribution to bettering the world.

Goldy's basket is filled with soy-based comestibles destined to stave off hunger.

The pretty lady with her arm on Goldy's is my Poppina.   

Sen. Al Franken (D - MN) is Proud New Grandad.

Just heard from Senator Al and lovely wife Frannie that the Frankens are proud new grandparents!

Little Joseph Bryson Greenwald could not be cuter, nor held more securely, nor behave in a more beguiling, more smile-inducing fashion!  Just look at his grandparents!  

Congratualtions from your constituents at Poppy's Velo Ventures.