Shareology and small, spooky nature lovers October 24, 2010

Shareology stumbled into an annual Halloween party a few years back when she was out for her walk in Wood Lake Nature Center.  A weekend or two  before Halloween, Wood Lake opens its doors to wee ones in all manner of costumes.  To whet your appetite for next weekend’s celebratory events, here’s how the wee ones party:

this is one popular party: get there early!

One fun feature is a petting zoo.  Beyond the usual ponies, chickens and rabbits, this year two unusual animals came:

kangaroo or wallaby????

wallaby or kangaroo???

african porcupine....

He won’t shoot quills, but watch out if he’s backing up towards you…..

Remember the horror if two women show up with the same dress? 

Above, size small, below, size tween:

Let’s take a look at one final princess:

As we bid farewell to tiny tots and their spooky Halloween party, a final few photos of Wood Lake and why it’s a walker’s paradise:

Turns out the mystery animal above is a two-year old red kangaroo!

For more information, check out:  http://www.woodlakenaturecenter.org/

Happy Halloween!!

Kay Roseland  @KayLoire

Stuff Shareology saw in Stillwater October 12, 2010

Shareology had a lunch meeting in Stillwater, MN on what could be the last luscious 70 degree fall day.  It seems to take a lunch appointment to get her to the St. Croix river town, but once she lands, the camera just goes bananas with opportunities:

Bronze staircase railings from Federal Reserve Bank, Minneapolis

Staircase now in Grand Garage, Stillwater, MN

stone carved eagle from Labor Temple, Minneapolis

Shareology is going to have to find a book on Stillwater houses....

Shareology played B & B roulette and just drove down some Stillwater streets; look what she found above!  For more information and photos of the inside of the house, go to http://www.sauntrymansion.com/accommodations.html   Ya gotta love leaf-kicking weather!!

Kay Roseland   @KayLoire

Kingfield Farmers Market October 11, 2010

Shareology hit Kingfield Farmers Market in Minneapolis for the first time Sunday and was veerrrrrrrrrrrrry impressed!   Lots of variety in a small space.   She was motivated towards Nicollet Avenue by Rick Nelson of the Strib, and he does not disappoint!

He recommended SunStreet Breads and he was ever so right; Shareology got a loaf of bread to go with vegetable soap she had just made.  Mr. Nelson recommended getting there early, and he was right about that too!  SunStreet was sold out of turnovers by 9:30 am, but lots of other delights remained:

There’s been an outbreak of lavender flowers that look like roses but are probably more likely a relative of those cabbages folks  like to plant in their yards come fall.  Purpleholic Shareology lingered in lavender:

Kingfield is known for  local food, good music, and handmade crafts  …  http://www.kingfieldfarmersmarket.org/  

or on twitter at   @KingfieldMarket

Open Sundays from 8:30 am to 1 pm at 43rd and Nicollet; look for the white tents on the west side of the street.

Find out more about SunStreet Bakery at www.sunstreetbreads.com or follow on Twitter:  @SunStreetBreads

Kay Roseland   @Kay Loire

Microsoft to open November 6 at Mall of America! October 7, 2010

Shareology first broke news on June 20 that Microsoft is opening in the Mall of America, directly across from Apple.   Three and a half months later:   (October 7) the Star Tribune published this same news, along with the opening date of November 6.  To see photos of the build out and read the stories Shareology has published on this topic in the last few months, put Microsoft in the search box to the right.  Enjoy! 

Kay Roseland   @KayLoire

Common Good Books hosts Metro IBA October 6, 2010

Shareology was in St. Paul this week for a Metro IBA meeting hosted by Common Good Books.  Not once, but twice, a fascinating fact emerged:  apparently, Amazon did not hit the friendly neighborhood bookstore.  However, Barnes and Noble and Borders have been badly wounded.  As a result, the neighborhood bookstore is making a rebound!

In St. Paul, is there a finer example of a local bookstore than Common Good Books, about to celebrate its fifth birthday soon.    You may have heard of the proprietor, a Mr. Garrison Keillor.  Shareology has been hearing the phrase “multiple income streams” lately, a phrase Mr. Keillor practically invented.  Let’s take a tour of this local bookstore, tucked away in the basement of 165 Western Avenue at Selby in St. Paul:

One entrance to the store is through Nina's ....

Nina’s Coffee Cafe is located just above the bookstore at 165 Western Avenue.

Pretty sure who owns the store....

A younger demographic is engrossed.....

The Metro IBA Business meeting starts …

and on the way out….

above:  as you exit       Live Local,  Read Large

For more on living and buying local,  go to www.metroiba.org or follow them on twitter at @MetroIBA.

For more on Common Good Books go to  http://www.commongoodbooks.com/   or follow them on twitter at @CommonGoodBooks

Kay Roseland  @KayLoire

October Flowers October 1, 2010

Shareology especially loves October flowers….this morning she found five pink morning glories greeting the new month on the 11th floor balcony!  Enjoy!

Kay Roseland  @KayLoire