60,254 All-Time Pageviews.

To loyal and curious followers of Poppy's Velo Ventures:  thank you for reading my blog!!

I checked "stats" just now and was astounded to see that the Poppy Blog had registered its 60,254th all-time pageview.

Holy smokes, I said to myself: I'd better post a hearty thank-you to the good and curious folks who read my view of the world.  

PVV is always interested in your feedback. If you'd like to post more Comments, have it.  In the meantime thanks for 60,254 (and counting) check-ins.

Everything AND the Kitchen Sink.

Mom used to have a saying:  "it's got everything but the kitchen sink."  

And I was reminded of that yesterday when our water tech specialist came to the house to stop a leak under the sink and install a classic new faucet.  This guy is an awesome professional,  and only mildly annoyed that I took his picture.

The sink no longer leaks, the faucet performs flawlessly, and I'm just about to sit down and write a check to the water man  :)

Minneapolis Greenway Rush Hour Traffic.

Love this nearly surreal shot of the empty Greenway, with shadows of maple leaves complementing traffic direction icons.  Took it from the bridge along 1st Street in North Loop.  Lucky shot.

Macalester College Public Art, er .., Permit Parking.

Takes a Big Set of Cojones to Wear These Purple Shoes!

Some guy name Sam arrived at our house last weekend wearing these seriously purple mocs.  Of course some of the more traditional guy guests felt obliged to heap all sorts of s**t on Sartorial Sammy.    Our guy stuck to his guns, allowed a foto to be taken for the blog, and pretty much had the rest of us more than a little envious at our prosaic and pedestrian (get it?) choice of party kicks. 

Minneapolis's Foundry Home Goods Celebrates B'day!

Retailer Anna Hillegas celertates 1st Birthday of Foundry Home Goods, her super-successful accessories and furnishings store in the North Loop of Mpls.  Ruby the Chocolate Lab pokes his nose into the party action. Meanwhile bluegrass phenom "Pocahontas County" provided musical inspiration and entertainment to eager well-wishers and shoppers.  Congrats on your first year in business, Anna, and best wishes for many more!  

Veterans for Peace Stage anti-Syria War Rally Today.

"How 'bout a show of hands," the now-tired voice implored into the mic.  "For how many of you is this the first anti-war rally you've attended?"

My right arm went up, cautiously at first, then with confidence and enthusiasm.   Imagine: 70 years old, grew up in the 'sixties and 'seventies, was drafted during Viet Nam, and never attended a peace rally !?

Today was my first.  How glad I am I made the trek to town -- corner of Hiawatha and Lake  -- to be part of history in the making. Organized by Veterans for Peace (I'm a vet), I qualify to attend, express my fears, outrage, hopes for a better world.

Like so many Americans I sure as hell don't have the answer for Syria.... or, Iraq, Iran, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Israel, Yemen, Palestine, Egypt, Libya, Saudi Arabia, for that matter. Which Middle Eastern country have I missed?

What can the U. S.  do?  What are are our limitations:  civically, militarily, economically, morally? You all know the other priorities of our nation as well as I do.  Wouldn't we be better off inviting China, Russia, Japan, France, Germany and the UK into one room, locking the door, and figuring this out diplomatically?

Enough of the sword rattling, please; naval show of force, drones, threats of missiles, boots on the ground.  I know I'm exposed to a tiny part of the reality from that part of the world, but it seems to me that one more "wham, bam, thank you, ma'am," is not the answer.

What do YOU think?

2400 Block of St. Paul's University Avenue.

Velo Vibrations?  You betcha'.  Spotted this baby out front of a Fair Trade java joint the other day.  Took fotos from several angles and appreciated most the humor of the handlebar-headset region. What do YOU think?

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 !!