Ponderings & Wanderings

San Francisco
(Just ignore the tree.)

On the grounds at the Charles A. Lindbergh Museum in Little Falls, MN

For those who know of my baking affinity, it’s easy to see why this collection of antique blenders earns a no-brainer 4-star rating from me. Too bad it’s located on a concourse at the Oakland Airport.

Just outside of my favorite ice cream shop in Kansas City:

From the timeline at the Spam Museum:

My semi-annual pilgrimages to MN typically have me travelling on the same well worn roads I grew up on. The landscapes and landmarks are like old friends I rarely see but hold close to my heart.  On this trip, I had a rare reason to leave the familiar paths.

In the middle of a sparsely populated blue-sky-and-forest-speckled stretch of road, I caught a glimpse of something strange peering over the tree tops. As I passed by I tried to peer through the trees, but saw nothing.  I tried to shrug it off until i saw it again in the rear view mirror. And I turned right around.

I parked on the side of the road, pulled on a long sleeved shirt to protect my slightly sunburnt skin from further scratches, and slowly made my way through the trees and overgrown grasses (some taller than I was), camera in hand. Behold: a deserted building…though even now i’m not sure what kind.

Treasure City //  Royalton, MN

See also: Pirates and Indians were partners!

There’s one day a year I feel pretty confident I’ll have an opportunity to practice snapping some spiffy photos in less-than-easy conditions…and that’s Independence Day. Crazy low light, long vs short exposure, and wide vs short lenses. Oy! As is par for the patriotic course, I’m unimpressed with the results for this year. It goes to remind me some things are better experienced without a lens in between.

Being a fan of typography, I coudn’t help but admire Annie Vought’s work. Check out her website to see more papercuts and letterforms.

Theres a little London restaurant, The Place Below, in a most unusual location. The story of how it came to be is kinda charming. Bonus points for their rotating menu.

I can only hope such wonderful food will be available in the afterlife.

The setting calls to mind an Atlanta restaurant, The Abbey, which operates out of a defunkt church. The waiters are dressed as monks. The winelist is impressive. The foodfare arches off the beaten path, offering an ostrich dish, for example. (*upon search for restaurant link, it appears to have turned into….a nightclub?! Whoa! )