Cartoon car

I spotted this car parked at the YMCA. It's painted with a famous American cartoon show. Who knows the name of the show?

Cupcakes & Russian dolls

My 9 year old Matryoshka, my 4 year Matryoshka and I attended the family-friendly cupcake reception celebrating the opening of: Matryoshka: The Russian Nesting Doll exhibit at the Museum of Russian Art in Minneapolis on Saturday afternoon. It's a vast and impressive accumulation of amazing Matryoshkas on loan from the Brokop Collection, the first of its kind at a US museum.

The Museum of Russian Art is the only museum in North America dedicated exclusively to the presentation of Russian art and artifacts housed in a wonderful, former church.

www.tmora.org

Samples anyone?

Ted the O'Mara's Irish Creme wholesaler was offering samples at Cellars liquor store. I tried both the Chocolate Mint and Carmel flavors before proceeding on to find some Thanksgiving wine. His lack of accent told me that he's not from the "old country." I'll have to come back for a bottle of O'Mara's another time! I just wonder how many samples I could have tried before he would have cut me off . . .

Thanksgiving tradition

My parents, my family and my twin brother's family ate a traditional Thanksgiving noon dinner at my twin brother's house. The menu included turkey, mashed potatoes with gravy, dressing, carrot dish, lingonberries, cranberries, bread, pumpkin pie and some "Beaujolais-Villages" red Burgundy wine.

Praise and pies

Easter Lutheran Church (on the hill) held a Thanksgiving Eve worship service at 7 p.m. Immediately after worshipping in the sanctuary, everyone rushed out to choose a piece of pie: pecan, pumpkin, apple, cherry, or chocolate silk. Steven & Allison Butler brought the pumpkin pie which rested on the pedestal; Steven made the crust by hand and Allison made the filling!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Silly pizza models

On my way home, I spotted these two girls dressed up as a bull and an ostrich along busy Cliff Road. They were trying to attract customers to nearby Pizza Hut with their jumping, dancing and funny actions. "Moo" and "Cluck" seemed happy to pose for my camera.

For the good of Eagan

Community leaders representing 29 charitable organizations in Eagan gathered for a photo after the Wednesday, November 18 Rotary lunch meeting. During our annual community grant program at the Eagan Community Center, these representatives each received a check from the Eagan Rotary club and spoke briefly about their charity and how their money would be used. The grant recipients included the Cub Scouts, a homeless shelter, transportation for disabled, birthday gifts for needy children, a food-shelf, Eagan Art House, July 4th Funfest and a 4H club; to name several. Those dollars are raised every February at our annual Eagan Rotary art gala, a black-tie optional dinner with silent and live auctions, entertainment and corporate sponsors.

Eagan Rotarian series #10

Eagan Rotarian Jerry Schommer serves as the Senior Pastor of Woodcrest Church. The inter - denominational church is connected with the Minnesota Baptist conference with about 1,000 church members. Two other pastors, three ministry directors and four other staff people shepherd the growing flock of believers. Woodcrest church offers contemporary worship with a community orientation. They have been at 525 Cliff Road since 2000.

Autumn fun in the park

We played on Saturday afternoon with a friend at Blackhawk Park under blue skies in 50 degree temperatures! One more Autumn afternoon outside before next week's snowfall...

Coffee, treats & blog talk

Eagan Daily Photo blog met St. Paul Daily Photo blog! On Friday morning, great Kate and I met for coffee drinks, treats and talk about blogging at the "Pardon my French" cafe' in Eagan. I savored a mocha and a melt-in-your-mouth chocolate dessert while Kate enjoyed a cappuccino and a yummy pumpkin tart.

Finished construction

Do you remember this house from my posting on June 27? Now it's finished; it appears the new owners have moved in. The house received some prestigious awards from a homebuilder's association!

Eagan dog series #14

I saw these doggies at the last Eagan Market Fest of summer. Two German Short Hairs named "Panzer" and "Piper." Spotted Panzer and its owner are posing on the left side; a Golden Lab was watching in the background but too excited to sit still for a photo with the other two dogs. Ruff ruff!

Navy and Army WWII veterans

These two WWII heros were honored last week at our weekly Eagan Rotary lunch meeting during our annual Veterans Recognition program. Burt Eppen, on the left, served on a naval ship in the Pacific Ocean while Harold Brick ended up as a prisoner of war in Germany. Both of them told amazing stories and accepted a special award. Bravo, boys, bravo!

Jerry Swanson, a fellow Rotarian and professional photographer, took this photo.

www.SwansonPhoto.com

Garbage Tuesday

Tuesday is Garbage Day at our office building, Oak Cliff Place. Waste Management empties our dumpster at 8 am every week. I still have to convince the building owners to do recycling!

une francaise perdue aux etats-unis

I spotted this Citroen car and wondered whose it is?! I think our Montpelier CDP blogger friend, Marie, took a wrong turn and ended up in the Twin Cities! Zut alors!

Christmas wreaths already?

Cub Foods, our local grocery store, has been selling Christmas wreaths and swags already for several days. Isn't it too early?

Evening falls in Eagan

Walking out of my office after 5:30 PM, I caught this view behind my car! 'Twas a beautiful day earlier this week!

Japanese in Eagan

"Kyoto" is a new Japanese restaurant in Eagan. They specialize in sushi and hibachi. Allison, Steven, and I went there recently for an early lunch. We enjoyed the "all you can eat" lunch special, a great way to try many dishes!

Eagan dog series #13

"Tas" the Weishla - what a beautiful dog! Just like my sister's dogs out in Oregon. Another doggie photo from Summer.

Eagan Rotarian series #9

Sharon Zauhar, Vice President of facility management in the Midwest and Canada, is happy to show the world the Thomson Reuters Legal corporate office located in Eagan. Sharon has worked there for 12 years at a huge campus with 7,200 employees. Over 50,000 employees in 100 countries are employed by Thomson Reuters. Its corporate world headquarters is located in New York City at 3 Times Square.
www.thomsonreuters.com

Sharon joined the Eagan Rotary club in 1988 and served as club president in the 1993 - 1994 Rotary year. She serves as the club foundation chair.

Kick Off breakfast at YMCA

These YMCA board members warmly greeted me before the start of the Y-Partners kick off breakfast on November 5. Eagan Mayor Mike Maguire, Rosemount Mayor Bill Droste, some fellow Rotarians and other community leaders gathered for the 2010 campaign kick off of the $130,000 goal for the Southwest Area YMCA.

A Service of Praise & Thanksgiving

On Sunday afternoon, 800 relatives, clergy, organists, musicians and friends gathered at Gloria Dei Lutheran Church in St. Paul for an extraordinary, eucharistic memorial service for Paul O. Manz. Paul was renowned in the Lutheran world as an amazing organist, composer, recitalist and teacher.

The National Lutheran Choir sang "E'en So, Lord Jesus, Quickly Come" by Paul Manz and the Nunc Dimittis by Alexander Gretchaninoff.

Paul Manz's son, John, is one of the associate pastors at our church.

www.GloriaDeiStPaul.org

Soli Deo Gloria

Along the Mississippi River

My family and I drove 15 minutes north of Eagan into St. Paul on a perfect, sunny, Saturday afternoon. Blues skies and 63 degrees! We hiked along the Mississippi River in Crosby Farm Park and these were the two best photos.

Daisy Girl Scout Investiture

The Daisy Scouts held their special ceremony recently at the Eagan Library. These 6 year old girls processed in with the American flag and Girl Scout flag, lead us all in the "Pledge of Allegiance" and said the Girl Scout Promise.

Hot Lunch at school

My daughter treated me to hot lunch with her at her elementary school this week. Cheese pizza, peaches, carrots, Scooby-Doo crackers, milk and corn. The lunch room wasn't full as classes eat at different times.

Low voter turnout

November 3, Election Day, saw a small number of voters. Stopping at a local school, I was told by a voting judge said that only 45 people had voted there by noon. The judge permitted me to take this photo since no one was using the voter stands at that moment.

Z is for Zoo!

The Minnesota Zoo is located in the adjacent suburb, Apple Valley, just across the Eagan city line. Created in 1978, the Zoo's motto is: "Changing how you see the world."

Lions and tigers and bears, oh my!!

www.mnzoo.org

Maguire for Mayor

On Monday evening, November 2, current Mayor Mike Maguire and the Eagan council members held a 2010 pre-election reception at Al Baker's Restaurant. Former Mayors Egan and Geagan, many friends and other supporters joined to show their support for the re-election efforts of Mayor Maguire. Tuesday is election day across the entire United States.

www.maguireformayor.org

Halloween Night

Neighbors Derrick and Angie won the prize for the best adult costume at Ken and Lana's neighborhood party. Angie was a superhero; what was Derrick? Any guesses?!

Ken and Lana invited us over for a neighborhood Halloween pizza dinner party in their garage.

The neighbor kids gathered for a group photo before running off to "trick or treat" from door to door.

Elvis and a neighborhood couple out of the "roaring 20s" stopped by to say Happy Halloween!

Spooky Doorway

Mr. Peterson worked really hard to decorate his Halloween doorway this year. Kids who "trick or treated" at his house heard spooky music, saw a scary creature hung from above and maybe encountered a few surprises!

November 1 is City Daily Photo's theme day: "Doorways!"

Enjoy Doorways from around the world!
Click here to view thumbnails for all participants