Grackle in snow

This was also taken yesterday, as a grackle was getting food on my deck. It's strange that it feels like late fall, not early spring. The green was just starting to come up, so i hope this cold doesn't kill all the plants.

Snow in late April

This is what i woke up to this morning, snow on the ground and snow still falling in the afternoon. It's 37F right now, and it just feels wrong this late in April. They predict more as the weekend goes on.

Find the bunny

This is a very chilly and soaked yard bunny hanging out in the bushes in front of my house. I'm pretty sure it's the same one that i have sitting on the sidewalk. It's been raining pretty steady for a while now, going from hard to lightly, but i guess that is good for the plants even though south of here has flood watches. The thing that kind of surprises me is that they are predicting snow over night on a couple days this weekend. It won't stay long, but still, that's kind of depressing, snow in late April early May.

Theater

This is the theater in town, it's pretty well known for being very cheap, last time i was there it was about a couple bucks for ticket and the same for popcorn. I could see a film and get a snack for less than just the ticket at a normal theater. The only thing is the movies aren't the newest, not that old, but slightly behind the multiplexes. Sadly i haven't been out to a movie in a long time, besides not many i have been really interested in, i just haven't had it in me.

Yard bunny in sunset

Today is my 38th birthday, and yesterday as i had the front door open to air out the house, i saw this yard bunny sitting right in front of my door. He stayed there for at least ten minutes, just watching and sitting and listening. It's been a pretty rough time so far, but this was a nice moment of happy.

Mourning dove

This is one of the mourning doves that hangs out at my feeders, sitting on a frozen bunny bedding pan full of water. I just love the blue eyes and colors of the feathers. That pan needs to be emptied, i use the bedding to help fertilize the plants and such, but it got froze.

Snow again, and again

There has been snow the last few days, actually alternating between snow, rain, and a type of slush. Thankfully they say by tuesday it's going to be around 60F, and i can't wait. This was taken out of my kitchen window friday.

Downtown river

I'm pretty sure that the river that goes through downtown is the Kinnikinnick, and this is the view of it from Veterans Park near the bridge. No ice now, even though there is a winter storm coming soon. Spring keeps teasing us, but then snowing again. The bunnies are eager for spring, and are getting a bit "frisky", making them even harder to behave.

What's down there?

I was doing dishes when i saw this bird sitting on the deck railing. I just thought it was so cute, but couldn't see what it was looking at down there. He kept grooming, then stopping and looking down. Maybe another bird, maybe food, i'm not sure.

Hot Spot Coffee

This is one of the three coffee shops downtown, two doors down from another. The two near are trying to be able to serve wine and microbrews, if i remember right, in addition to coffee. I had a chai latte here, and it was pretty tasty.

"No Firearms"

Not long ago, Minnesota got a conceal and carry law, where people could have guns on them. This is one of the signs that went up in the area shortly after, although this one was on an empty business. You can sort of see me reflected in the window too. I understand the desire to have guns, but i also understand people don't always act the smartest at times, less when they fell invincible. I'm not sure about the current state of the law, but i do see more of these signs in Minnesota, the signs give me the feeling of the old west for some reason.

Edit: Odd synchronicity that the same day i post this, Charlton Heston, actor and famous gun rights advocate, dies at 83.

Crosswalk sign

This is one of the new crosswalk signs downtown. It seems a little more complicated than the old ones, which had just a walk/don't walk symbol, but that's okay. ;)

Veteran's Park Statue

This is the statue that was installed off Main street in Veteran's Park. There is a lot of controversy over it, mostly people say it doesn't represent veterans, and is ugly. I understand art is in the eye of the beholder, and there are sometimes symbolism that is missed by a lot of people. Honestly though, i don't get it, it reminds me of a child's colored paper art. This is coming from someone who likes abstract art and has gone to art school too, and i like public art. To each their own.