Strike a pose!

A birthday bash is a blast with best buddies!

I was right behind you

Sunday afternoon proved to be a very popular time to ice skate at the Eagan Ice Arena. And it was much warmer than the outdoor skating rinks!

sunny Saturday's skate skiing

The outdoor thermometer read 10 degrees Fahrenheit (-15 Celsius) on Saturday afternoon at Lebanon Hills Park. But the sun was shining for skate skiers who glided around the snowy, groomed 2.5 mile trail.

A juicy start

If you're looking for a healthy, fruity beginning to 2011, then zip over to Kowalski's on Johnny Cake Ridge Road for great organic or non-organic fruit! Check out their wine shop, fresh meat counter, delicatessen, bakery and more!

Gas over $3

Dang! Our gas prices have gone over $3.00 per gallon at our neighborhood Holiday station. How does that compare with gasoline where you live?

Not just in China

We stopped at Panda Express near Bylery's for a quick Chinese dinner. Do you like Chinese food? Can you use chopsticks well? See other yummy "food for thoughts" here.

Sworn in for duty

Senator Ted Daley took the oath of office on Tuesday morning at the Minnesota State Capitol building from a Minnesota district judge. Ted will serve Eagan and parts of Burnsville as our new senator representing District 38.

Congratulations, Senator Daley!

Photo: Greg Buck, CPA

Meet my "womb-mate"

My 9 minutes younger identical twin brother, Luther, and I both donated a pint of blood at the Red Cross blood drive on Monday afternoon at the Eagan Community Center. He earned a two gallons pin and I'm working on my three gallons pin.

Give blood. Give the gift of life.

Almost ready

This new Think Mutual Bank at 4245 Johnny Cake Ridge Road next to Kowalski's grocery store will be opening soon! If you have money to deposit or if you're looking for a loan, THINK smart about banking! Click here to see their construction last summer.

First pastry of 2011

I baked "Swedish Kringla" for my family on New Year's Day morning. We watched the Rose Bowl parade on TV while sitting next to the Christmas tree in front of the fire dancing in the fireplace.

New Year's Eve celebrations

Steven & Allison hosted a lively New Year's Eve party at their home with a smorgasbord of appetizers, scrumptious wines, some silliness and a New Year's countdown at midnight! Celebrating with friends makes this my best snap of 2010! Happy New Year - 2011!

The City Daily Photo blog community's theme for January is "Photo of the Year."

Click here to view thumbnails for all participants

"Champagne" preview

Cellars wine shop was sampling three New Year's Eve "champagne" options. Did you know that only "champagne" produced in the Champagne region of France can be called "champagne?" All others are called "sparkling wine." Cellars carries 25 varieties of champagne or sparkling wine bottles ranging from $5.99 to $200. Their options come from France, Italy, Spain and California.

Cheers! Happy New Year - 2011!

'twas nice on the ice

Our daughters met another family ice skating at a city outdoor rink at the corner of Pilot Knob Road and Cliff Road at dinner time on Wednesday evening. Their 4 and 3 year old sons were trying the ice for the first time!

A lipstick trophy

An independent beauty consultant with Mary Kay Cosmetics has earned this pink Cadillac. She's a hard working business owner who sells lipsticks, mascara, hand lotions and much more to women in our area. She must have been one of the women in the huge line at the post office...

W is for "Whiskey plate"

In Minnesota, if you have been arrested and convicted three times with a "Driving while intoxicated" offense, then you receive mandatory "whiskey plates." These white license plates beginning with the letter W designate prior drunk driving offenders. (Numbers after W - altered for confidentiality)

Groceries from the net

Coborns Delivers brings fresh groceries to your front door from your internet order, quick and easy. They used to be called "Simon Delivers;" click here to see a previous summer delivery.

Celebrating Christmas together

We drove to neighboring Apple Valley to visit my twin brother and his family on Christmas Day. Our parents and my brother's parents-in-law were also there. The dinner menu included: mashed potatoes & gravy, turkey, baked carrot dish, cranberry fruit salad, raisin stuffing, lefse, breads, and cranberry cake with butter sauce for dessert.

Christmas blessings to you

My family and I wish you a very Merry Christmas and hope that you are enjoying a special holiday season! This photo was taken after the Christmas Eve worship service at our church, Gloria Dei Lutheran Church in St. Paul.

Santa says "Merry Christmas!"

It's Christmas Eve day and we drove to the nearby Burnsville Center shopping mall this afternoon for a photo with Santa. I felt like the GRINCH because they wouldn't let me take my own photo but I was able to scan our purchased photo later....

Ho Ho Ho

The Reason for the Season

This Nativity scene greets parishioners at St John Neumann Catholic Church on Pilot Knob Road. Through Advent, Christians worldwide have been anticipating the birth of the baby Jesus. On the evening of Christmas Eve, Jesus will be placed in the manager.

Merry Christmas to you and yours!