West Seventh Freelance

Photography, seeking, writing…and learning along the way. Want to come along?!

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  • Practical Goods or The Shop Around the Corner: Update!!!

    There is new stock at Practical Goods, so I updated pictures from the store!

    PRACTICAL GOODS, owned by Wendi Ward, has been a local business fixture since 2002. An offshoot of her interest in historical reenactment and the fur trade, she amassed  a huge collection of trading post blankets and memorabilia and decided it was time to open a shop.

    A holdout against the ever present threat of corporate land grabs and takeovers, Wendi remains a stalwart presence on Randolph Avenue in Saint Paul, MN. Her business sits near a busy intersection and has been the subject of a take-over, along with the other locally owned establishments on her block. For now, Wendi is secure, and the passer-by and shopper can take in the array of color and variety of objects for sale (or barter!).

    PS: The Raggedy Ann Doll photo- the doll on the right is mine- brought her along for the picture (she is REALLY old!!)

  • Family: Girl goes South

    Thank you family!

    We are a geographically scattered lot. Though begat from five siblings who grew up in Alfred, New York, the ‘extendeds’ (three generations and counting) live coast to coast.

    The stark contrast to this is my partner’s clan- all Minnesotan, most in the Twin Cities. There is no need to catch up after months- or years. It is difficult to explain this dilemma to people who have not lived it.

    When I go to see ‘my people’, the rough edges and deepest emotion of family bloom.

    This year I traveled to St. Augustine, Florida for the newest tradition- the 2nd Annual Southern Thanksgiving, hosted by my 2nd cousin Jess.

    There is some inevitable name fumbling and awkwardness, but only for a few moments. Jess handed me a glass of Médoc and one of the Boston terriers dropped a tennis ball at my feet and, well…it is family- blood. The green bean casserole tasted better somehow. The cranberry relish superlative. The laughter and jokes are, well, genetic.

  • Travel Theme: liquid

    Cooling off in St. Paul, MN:

    Izzy

    This was a chance photo-op along the Mississippi this fall…

    Two Ships Passing

    Check out all travel themes at:

    http://wheresmybackpack.com/2012/11/23/travel-theme-liquid/

     

     

  • Weekly Photo Challenge: Thankful

    To soar and to begin to understand. I am very thankful.

  • Practical Goods or The Shop Around the Corner: Update

    There is new stock at Practical Goods, so I updated pictures from the store!

    PRACTICAL GOODS, owned by Wendi Ward, has been a local business fixture since 2002. An offshoot of her interest in historical reenactment and the fur trade, she amassed  a huge collection of trading post blankets and memorabilia and decided it was time to open a shop.

    A holdout against the ever present threat of corporate land grabs and takeovers, Wendi remains a stalwart presence on Randolph Avenue in Saint Paul, MN. Her business sits near a busy intersection and has been the subject of a take-over, along with the other locally owned establishments on her block. For now, Wendi is secure, and the passer-by and shopper can take in the array of color and variety of objects for sale (or barter!).

    PS: The Raggedy Ann Doll photo- the doll on the right is mine- brought her along for the picture (she is REALLY old!!)

  • Weekly Photo Challenge GREEN!

    Thank you for a reason to post a favorite pic taken while hiking in Waimea Canyon…would love to feel the embrace of this green again soon!

  • GiveMN Earle Brown Elementary Cool Kids!

    Good Morning, Afternoon, or Evening WordPress family!!

    Today is a very special day. Non-profit organizations all across the state of Minnesota are raising money, which will be matched, to support the wonderful work they do.

    I am so proud to help Earle Brown Elementary in north Minneapolis, MN. 1300 children attend this school, many of whom are transient, due to the hardships faced by their families.

    Principal Jane Ellis, her staff, and all the kids, hope to raise funds to buy books and equipment for the school media center/ library.

    Please feel free to share, tweet, pin, or donate!!!!

    http://givemn.razoo.com/story/Earle-Brown-Elementary-School

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    🙂

  • Cats Crash

    Nice day on the porch…mamakat too busy writing or WHATEVER…

    NO PHOTOS WE SAID! TALK TO THE PAW!

  • Weekly Photo Challenge November 9th Renewal

    Perhaps I am cheating on this one?? Renewal, for me, means quitting my serious job at age 54 and doing things I really want to do! I created a photo collage.

    In the photo: me, at age 7 (lots of ideas!), the sea turtle (my honu friend), photo cards from W7th Freelance, a children’s book (currently selling at somewhere around 1,250,300 on Amazon.com- guess I have some work to do on THAT project), and some shots of amazing children I met a few weeks ago while on a job…

    This is renewal..

    RENEWAL

  • WWII, Dad, MN History Center and Discovery

    The plane seems to pitch and roll, noise fills the interior and the shouts of the men are deafening. Enemy fire tears holes in the cabin. We are hit! Flames leap past the windows. A green light guides them to their destiny. Jump! Jump now!

    A voice covers a new silence, informing me that all but two perished that day.

    I am sitting inside a replica of a WWII Douglas C-47 Skytrain. The faces and voices are real, the effect stunning and emotional. For me, this is the core experience of the Minnesota History Center exhibit, Minnesota’s Greatest Generation.

    It resonates on a personal level; my father served in the 19th General Hospital (Rochester, NY) in the European Theater. I realize there are quite a few people like me; children of WWII vets, born later in life perhaps. We learn about our parents through family artifacts, books, letters and exhibits, such as the one at the History Center. My dad did not speak of his WWII.

    Tragically, we lost touch when I was 28; his mind captured by a different sort of enemy: Alzheimer’s. I had not begun to formulate, or even imagine, the questions I would later want to ask.

    The Minnesota History Center is perched on a hillside overlooking downtown St. Paul. Intersected by streets that also lead visitors to the Cathedral of St. Paul and the Minnesota State Capital, it provides sweeping panoramas from its expansive windows.

    The Generations exhibit covers birth, the growing up years, the cultural influences of the times, and what society looked like after the war: the boomers…

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    Via the Minnesota Historical Society, a portal opens to over two dozen historic sites across the state. From the History Center to Split Rock Light House and Jeffers Petroglyphs, or living history at Oliver H Kelley Farm; the story of Minnesota unfolds.

    For me, my visit inspires me to continue the project of reading and archiving my father’s letters and memorabilia. He and I have a great deal of catching up to do.

    November 9, 2012