Images captured in southwestern Minnesota.
Rural America…
Tag Archives: Minnesota
From here to there and around the globe…
Blend of two images: Background was taken in the French Pyrenees while the foreground, including the couple, was taken on the county road in front of my home in Lac Qui Parle County in Minnesota.
Foreground taken with Canon 5D Mark 2 with Canon 70-200 IS L lens. Background taken with a Panasonic Lumix camera. Click on the image for a larger viewing window.
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A Recipe for Escape
Escape…
In the deepest, darkest days of Minnesota winter, I feel the need to escape. It is often not practical to escape in the physical sense, but an escape inside the mind is possible anytime.
When you think about it, the sky is the limit whether reading a compelling novel, historical account of days gone by or fulfilling love of travel with reading and exploring travel blogs. Mix it together and winter isn’t so bad.
Below are some links to explore:
University of Minnesota Alumni Reading List
We Made it Through Winter Memoir of Mr. O’Meara’s 9th year – 1906 – in the timber-logging town of Cloquet, Minnesota.
Best Travel Blogs and Websites
Fashion and history buff? Try FashionBackwards for a unique , quirky and historical take on fashion trends.
Read about the Deadly Children’s Blizzard of 1887-1888
Does yoga sound appealing? Try Yoga For Beginners at DoYogaWith Me.com
Netflix has some interesting documentaries involving cultures around the world, thought-provoking topics and history. I especially enjoyed Living On One Dollar a Day, an inspiring film of life in Guatemala.
Cuba has been in the news lately with a lifting of travel restrictions and Anthony Bourdain’s No Reservations, also on Netflix, shows us life inside of Cuba, as well as delicious food choices.
Combine an interesting program with the treadmill or exercise bike and you have a double delightful day.
Yes… the sky is the limit. Now, excuse me while I dream of faraway lands and exotic places.
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Epic Ice Storm of 2006
I was lying in bed early this morning listening to Minnesota Public Radio and they reminded me of the anniversary of the horrendous ice storm of 2006 along the Southwest Minnesota and Northeast South Dakota border.
I remember it began with rain that morning, changing to freezing rain which froze to any surface it touched, eventually in heavy proportions. Power lines sagged with the weight of the ice and outages quickly ceasing any activity requiring electricity. Some were out of power for up to two weeks.
While this power outage was inconvenient, it did force us to go without electronic devices and interact with family on a deeper level. Playing cards, board games, talking, etc. were activities often engaged in when there was no electricity. Neighbors helped neighbors by opening their homes to those still without power and helping in whatever capacity was needed. Creative thinking was put into force as we tried to come up with Innovative ways to prepare meals and feed the family.
I captured this image near our home as the last rays of light danced across the ice on its branches. This tree is now reduced to a pile of wood as it was demolished last summer.
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Redefining the County Fair
What? No carnival?
Education has been a part of the county fair since its beginnings. All ages enter home-grown products and projects for judging through 4-H or the Open class, hoping to win the coveted purple grand champion ribbon. These items entered did not just happen overnight, as research and hard work have been utilized to give the best possible effort.
The Yellow Medicine County Fair, held in Canby, Minnesota, is a free fair with its grounds and exhibits open to the public. The fair board works very hard, year round, to provide educational opportunities, entertainment and still keep the county fair affordable and family friendly.
The arts have been added as this year with displays and demonstrations educating the fair audience on a variety of art forms. Different styles of painting, photography, fiber arts, sculpture and mixed media were presented in two-hour slots of time. A free movie was shown at dusk which, for me, is reminiscent of the old drive-in movie days.
For the music lovers, jazz , old-time , blue-grass, Native American drum and dance group entertained audiences.
Scandinavian comedy was represented by an extremely talented and hilarious duo with local connections that always leave its audience in stitches.
A history element was also added with a very interesting father/daughter history of magic show that was spell-binding and included fun involvement with the audience. Highly recommend this team of magicians. Rope making and yarn spinning were demonstrated to give a glimpse of how the pioneers did these tasks many years before our time.
It was also fascinating to see the program put on by the Raptor Center from St. Paul, Minnesota. Real birds that had been injured so could not survive in the wild were brought out for an educational event with a dust of humor.
Add races and a ranch rodeo… I’m sure I’m missing a few events.
Carnival rides are extremely expensive and this county has been burnt the past two years in a row with rides that never showed up as contracted. Would you keep throwing money this direction after such experiences? An appeal was made to community groups and organizations to help fill this void. Maybe you were that person or group and I applaud you.
So, rather than taking one glance and saying, “Nothing at the fair this year,” maybe you took advantage of the events and programs that were at the fair.
The Yellow Medicine Fair board needs volunteers to help with planning and executing these events so that it doesn’t become merely a time to judge 4-H projects.
Maybe you are that person…?
RJMeyerArts 