Microblog

The smell of baking taunted me all afternoon. Dwight went through 1½ pounds of butter, and I overheard him asking Google to add sugar to our shopping list. ‘Tis the season.

Movie night tonight: pure confection, with a dollop of Izzy’s ice cream in the intermission. The Prom, just released on Netflix.

On my way to a pharmacy counter, walked past extraordinary quantities of Cheez-Its that were insisting they’re 100% real.

Cancelled the one winter trip we thought might be possible: a nonstop to Palm Springs. We’ll stay home, playing the hand we’ve been dealt, grateful for our health.

Maintained social distance in the Downtown post office.

Our cycle route included several diversions to avoid construction of a light rail system. This elaborate bridge and viaduct will take the cycle trail over an existing freight track, light rail tracks, and a busy road.

Walked under a span of the 10th Avenue Bridge that had been wrapped for repair. Thought about how artists Christo and Jeanne-Claude had wrapped the Pont Neuf in Paris. For a moment, imagined our Pont Avenue Dix as art.

Looked out at a glowing Minneapolis skyline before watching a recording of last night’s Saturday Night Live. We’re always in REM sleep by the time the show airs live.

On my cycle ride, stood under the Brackett Park rocket. Originally a piece of playground equipment from around the time of President Kennedy’s moonshot speech, it’s now a sculpture.

Bought a birthday card.

Hiked Afton State Park: St. Croix River bluffs, prairie, woods, undulating trails, overlooks.

Our hall table, items for a state park hike tomorrow. Earlier today, ducked into Trader Joe’s to pick up supplies. The store had been reorganized yet again, I couldn’t find gorp in the usual spot, so grabbed the first things I saw. Lunch on the trail will be good, it always is.

Got in a 30-miler through long shadows to St. Paul’s Lake Phalen. When you’re a fair-weather cyclist, any chance to ride in December is a bonus

Lunch included homemade potato lefse, a gift from friends who made these fine examples of the traditional Norwegian flatbread.

Had fun with a pop rivet gun and sheet metal shears making adjustable mounts to attach fans to our grow rack.

On my cycle ride through Nordeast Minneapolis, stopped to enjoy this mural by Japanese artist Yuya Negishi.