Autumn Colors: Nearly Caught Up

Sunday, November 1, 2015. I'm nearly caught up on 'autumn' photos.


Near the corner of Ash and South 9th: I like the clouds in this scene. (October 7, 2015)


I got a little closer, getting a better look at this tree. (October 7, 2015)

Halloween's come and gone, we re-set clocks after the seemingly-inevitable 'fall back' part of daylight savings time, and I'm getting used to the sun setting an hour 'earlier' than it did on Saturday.

Still more fall colors

Sunday, October 25, 2015. Still catching up. It's still autumn in Minnesota: beautifully clear skies followed by overcast, drizzle, and wind. Not necessarily in that order.


Fall color, just one, red. (October 6, 2015)


Looking east on South 9th, toward the public school. (October 6, 2015)


Still more fall colors. (October 7, 2015)

Halloween's coming this week. I'm looking forward to that.

New Hard Drive, Fall Colors

Sunday, October 18, 2015. I'm back, finally. A few weeks ago, my son heard my computer's hard drive clattering, and said that it was about ready to fail. I agreed with him, so he installed a new drive: upgrading to Windows 10 while he was at it.

The process took a little over a day, after which I started re-installing software, fonts, and all that. I also took a sort of in-house vacation from my usual routines. But now I'm "back," and catching up.


Construction at St. Paul's, a few weeks back. (September 30, 2015)


Fall colors. (September 30, 2015)


More fall colors. (September 30, 2015)


Lots of pumpkins outside Coborn's. (September 30, 2015)

I found what I'm quite certain is the house being driven down Ash Street on September 25. It's now in what had been a vacant lot: the one I showed in the September 20 post.


House movers, at their destination. (October 6, 2015)

I'll try to stay current, and show a few more photos I've taken this month.

Very Slow Moving Vehicle

Sunday, September 27, 2015. The 'supermoon eclipse' is happening as I write this. It's overcast, and likely to stay that way, so I won't actually see it. Wikipedia has a pretty good page on the eclipse, including background on what's happening.

Other than that, and a photo I caught from my webcam, I don't have much to say this week - - -


Friday morning: a very slow moving vehicle on south Ash, seen through my webcam. (September 25, 2015)

- - - except that it's starting to feel like autumn, and some trees are changing color.

Last Photos from the Stearns County Fair, School Year Coming

 Sunday, August 23, 2015. The school year will be starting soon. I've seen a few recreational vehicles go by outside, probably being driven home after the summer's: recreating?

It's been overcast and raining about half the time this week, including Friday and Saturday: when I made an unexpected delivery to North Dakota. I was filling in for my son, who wasn't able to go: and so spent a few hours visiting with the kids and granddaughter up there.

These are the last photos from the Stearns County Fair.


In the 4-H building, mostly photography displays. (August 1, 2015)


I always stop by the model rocket table, remembering when I made that sort of thing. (August 1, 2015)


Nicely-framed clouds, seen through the 4-H building's west door. (August 1, 2015)


And walking back through the midway, on my way home. (August 1, 2015)


A patch of blue sky, branches being blown about: today felt like autumn. (August 23, 2015)

After spending much of Friday and Saturday either getting as much as what I'd planned to do finished, or driving to and from North Dakota, I'm fresh out of stuff to say. For me, that's an odd sensation.

Autumn Colors and All That

Sunday, October 12, 2014. Previously-green trees started turning, so we've got a fresh set of autumn leaves.


South Ash Street. October 8, 2014.


Wildflowers, or weeds, by Sauk Lake: depending on your point of view. That's the band shell, in the background.  October 8, 2014.


A quiet backyard: ours. October 9, 2014.


Rummage sale across the street. October 10, 2014.

That's all for this week. Next week there'll be more: probably.

Outpost Mercantile and Autumn Colors

Sunday, September 28, 2014 There's a new(ish) business in town: Outpost Mercantile, near Lake Wobegon Trail and the Ding Dong Cafe. I gather that it's an eatery.


Seen from the north-northeast, their new sign doesn't stand out all that much. September 27, 2014.


Outpost Mercantile, seen from the west. September 27, 2014.


A little bit of 'everything:' the rear of Outpost Mercantile, someone's boat, and autumn foliage. September 27, 2014.


Fall colors, some trees still green, and lots of sunshine. September 28, 2014.


The corner of 9th Street South and Ash, this afternoon. September 28, 2014.

That's all I've got for now: see you next week.

Snow, Seasons, and a Sunset

Sunday, November 24, 2013. We're almost halfway through the Halloween-Thanksgiving-Christmas triathlon of holidays. We've had the usual Minnesota weather: warm, cold, clear, overcast, and a little snow. The snow didn't last, but it probably won't be the last of the season. It wasn't the first, either, come to think of it.


It was starting to look like winter on Thursday. November 21, 2013.


These folks started putting out Christmas decorations early. November 21, 2013.


Saturday was a cold day, with bright blue sky. November 23, 2013.


Neighbors putting up Christmas lights. November 23, 2013.


Sunset. November 24, 2013.

That's all I've got this week. See you next Sunday.

Blue Skies, Fog, Wind, and Christmas Decorations

Sunday, November 17, 2013. "Thor, the Dark World," is playing at Main Street Theatre downtown, along with several other movies. #1 daughter and I went to the matinee this afternoon: and enjoyed ourselves enormously.

It's been a foggy few days here, and a windy Sunday. That's quite a contrast to how the week started, but I'm not complaining: at all. Folks Illinois and Indiana are cleaning up after tornadoes: and some didn't survive.

On a happier note, I took some photos of this week's pleasant weather.
Sauk Lake Park's gazebo. November 13, 2013.


Birds on Sauk Lake, Wednesday afternoon. November 13, 2013.


Same birds, a closer look. November 13, 2013.

The service I use to get my webcam and the Internet on speaking terms has been telling me that either the the Internet connection or my computer is slow. I've checked, and it's not my computer. The household's connection is a bit below-par now and then: mostly, apparently, after rain: or mist; or really heavy fog.

I tried reducing the video's quality, which kept 'we've got trouble' messages from coming quite as often: but also resulted in a view like this:


My webcam's view out the north window. November 11, 2013.

The picture's not bad, but it's not good either. the sky outside never has that pattern of little squares you see. So I put 'quality' settings back to something that looks presentable. Most of the time.

I'll be back next week, with something else. One of our neighbors has most of their Christmas display out, so I won't be lacking things to show. Now, if the sun will come out for a few minutes when I have a camera handy - - -

Harvest Time, and Looking Forward to Winter

Sunday, November 10, 2013. It's harvest time, we've had rain, snow, and dry spells. The dry spells are good, since harvesting goes easier then: but the process kicks up an amazing amount of dust, grain, dust, and assorted respiratory irritants. That's probably why I feel like I've had a cold for more than a month now.

I'm not alone, but 'misery loves company' doesn't apply in this case. I'm looking forward to winter.


Southern sky, where Ash Street crosses Lake Woebgone Trail. November 4, 2013.

Just one photo this week. I'd been taking a walk, and caught one of our more interesting skies.

Blue Skies and Sunshine: also Coughing

Sunday, October 13, 2013. I'm still 'on the mend,' but my voice still has a frog-like quality to it. I sometimes feel as if I should be sitting on a giant lily pad somewhere. It's been two weeks since "I got what I asked for." (Through One Dad's Eye (September 29, 2013))

Some of what I'm experiencing may be allergies, or whatever a person who isn't exactly "allergic" to stuff kicked up by harvesting experiences this time of year.

It's afternoon as I write this: one of those beautiful, clear, October days.

There were some wispy high clouds earlier, but they're gone. You could check out current conditions on the webcam looking out my north window: or not. Your choice. Aside from the occasional computer crash and maintenance, it's on 24 hours a day, seven days a week.


Another autumn day, just before noon. October 13, 2013.

Local parishes have the annual chow mein supper later this week. It's a major fundraiser for the school. Folks around here don't get chow mein very often, so it's a change of pace from the more common sausage breakfasts.

I Got What I Asked For

Sunday, September 29, 2013. A few days ago I expressed the desire that my body make up its mind: either be sick, or stop feeling slightly 'off.'

I got what I asked for: and have been inside, coughing, since the next morning. In a strange way, it's an improvement.


About 4:50 this afternoon. September 29, 2013.

We've had some beautiful, 'picture postcard' days this week. That photo is a pretty good example.

Blue Sky, or Not Much Happened This Week

Sunday, September 22, 2013. The calendar tells me that it's the first day of autumn. The sky is right for that season: clear blue; but trees generally haven't gotten around to turning color. Not that I've seen, anyway.


My house has a yard, some folks have lawns, others maintain displays of landscape art. September 18, 2013.


First day of autumn. September 22, 2013.

My parish is organizing their annual chow mein dinner fundraiser. Folks keep coming back: possibly because not many places serve chow mein around here.

Rain, Blue Skies, and Photos

Sunday, September 15, 2013. I drove about 125 miles through more-or-less heavy rain yesterday afternoon. That's not my favorite thing to do, but we needed the precipitation. Today was more inclined to provide drizzle and finally clear skies.


Early evening, looking north from the St. Paul's church parking lot. September 10, 2013.


The end of a street on the north side. Most of the field there was green, happily. September 11, 2013.


Near a quiet corner on Sauk Centre's north side. September 11, 2013.


Not a particularly cheerful scene, at the corner of Ash Street and South 12th: but we needed the rain. September 15, 2013.


Grass on vacant land between (The Original) Main Street and Fairlane Drive. September 15, 2013.

It's starting to feel autumnal: which figures, since it's the middle of September.

First Snow

Sunday, October 28, 2012. We had a little snow on the ground this morning, and on some roofs. Most of what came down melted, making streets and sidewalks wet. They'd have been slippery, I think, if it had been a little cooler. Not that I'm complaining: we'll most likely have plenty of winter later.


Snow: just barely, Sunday morning. October 28, 2012.

That Halloween comes on Wednesday. I hope to have some photos of Sauk Centre's more exuberant yard displays next week.


A dusting of snow on Halloween decorations. October 28, 2012.

That's all for now, though.

October's Dim Gray Weather

Sunday, October 23, 2011. Last Sunday was one of those wonderful October days. Today was another sort of October day: roofed over by gray ribs of cloud, dampened by drizzle, all a chilly reminder that summer is over.

I've had my flu shot for the season, at Coborn's pharmacy. There were only four pages of paperwork to fill out: and the injection itself was an anticlimax. I barely felt it. Not that I'm complaining.

Next week we'll be having a polka Mass at Our Lady of the Angels church. I'm looking forward to that: but then, I don't mind loud music.

Not Quite Autumn, Online Health Records

Sunday, September 25, 2011. I was out, as usual, grilling burgers after church today. It's been one of those picture-postcard days, except the autumn colors haven't quite come yet.


Clear sky, sunshine, trees not quite showing autumn colors yet. September 25, 2011.

Hey! This is cool: The Sauk Centre Herald says that CentraCare Clinic - Sauk Centre (www.centracare.com/clinics/sauk_centre.html) (that used to be Lakeview Medical Clinic) has medical records available on their website. You're supposed to be able to access yours and your children's, to get information like immunization records and medical history. I haven't tried it yet.

Or, rather, I haven't filled out the paperwork: which the article tells me I could do over at Lakeview, or at www.centracare.com. The CentraCare Clinic - Sauk Centre's "Online Health Information" menu gets visitors to a sort of newsletter with general information.

Halloween, 2010: Jack 'O Lanterns and a Butterfly

Sunday, October 31, 2010. I no longer have much of a cold. Instead, both ears are so plugged that I can barely hear. At least it's a change of pace.

One more thing: It's Halloween. Which meant trick-or-treaters coming to the door, and a little temporary redecorating of the entry.


The family got a little creative this year. That blond wig on the plastic Jack 'o lanterns is a new touch, I think. October 31, 2010.


Clear skies made for near-ideal conditions. The young trick-or-treaters and their folks started showing up around 6:00. At least, that's when I noticed them. October 31, 2010.


Some of the costumes were downright cute: like this butterfly. October 31, 2010.

One family had quite a variety of costumes for their kids: including a sort of horse - with four legs - for one of the little girls. Maybe it was a unicorn. I didn't get a very close look.


By nightfall, almost all of the younger kids have made their rounds, and returned home. October 31, 2010.

That last photo, with the glowing set: grinning pumpkins, a purple spider on the roof, and someone with a greenish complexion, is the work of our across-the-corner neighbors.

The O'Reilly Auto Parts store looks like it's just about ready to open: but I mentioned that on Wednesday.