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Monday, July 4, 2011

The Neighborhood

Since a reader asked, I will include some background of this blog.  I realized most of the blogs I follow are in Swedish, Norwegian, or German, so I am used to merely studying the photos.  Consequently, in starting my own blog, I simply put up photos, not even thinking about the fact that most people are used to a narrative in a blog.

This is the neighborhood where I range about.  You may be able to spot Linden Hills and for sure the Minneapolis Chain of Lakes.  I have lived in this neighborhood for a few decades.  The foursquare is one of many, .7 miles from Lake Harriet, a fast walk, yet far away enough to avoid the traffic and parking issues that often surround the immediate lake area.  Once quite a few years ago, I ran around the three closest lakes in one session, which I think is 9.75 miles.  Now I limit runs to under 5 miles.  The neighborhood has the feel of a small town within a big city.
After walking or running about, looking for beauty in all of its forms, often with my little dog Teddy,

I return to my attic studio



to sketch or paint neighborhood homes and scenes that I've photographed, such as this little sketch of a rose covered home:
I sometimes take the finished paintings or prints or note cards I've made to The Linden Tree Shop (http://www.thelindentreeshop.com) at 44th and Beard Avenue to be sold.  Despite the Grand Opening sign, they've been in the neighborhood for almost a year.
I also sell paintings from my website http://www.mnartists.org/jeannelong
and the Grand Legacy Gallery in Rochester, Minnesota, across from the Mayo Clinic.

That is a capsule view of part of my life, but more importantly, I set up this blog to focus on sharing the beauty that I see, whether at home in the foursquare or as I am moving about this neighborhood.

Thanks for reading this.



Friday, July 1, 2011

Storm expected

Since they're predicting possibility of hail two and one half inches in diameter, I wanted to record the hydrangeas as they are about to peak.






A few years ago, hail took the plants just as they were getting started in May.  Hydrangeas last so long and are so beautiful that when they're not there it is so apparent!


Bay Window