Hastings, MN

On Saturday I drove to Hastings to takes some pictures of Vermillion Falls Park, Ramsey Mill and Old Mill Park. Link to all pictures.

Quick history of the area.
The Ramsey Mill was built by Alexander Ramsey and Dr. Thomas Foster in 1856-1857 on the Vermillion River in the town of Hastings in the U.S. state of Minnesota. The river had a head of 19 feet (6 m) and a width of 50 feet (15 m) near the 4 story gristmill. An addition included a cooper shop and storage facility. Although Ramsey sold his interest in 1877, it retained his name. Maximum output was achieved in 1894, at 125 barrels per day. On December 22, 1894, the building burned, possibly due to arson.

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ConAgra Foods Inc Hastings, MN

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Happy Thanksgiving!

The Hunt

After walking WMA fields the past 3 weekends and not kicking up any pheasants it was a time for a change (Yes I know Pete, we could drive 5 hours to South Dakota and pay $110 for a license and find some birds but none of us have the time or money for that) so we found an alternative. The five of us pitched in $20 bucks and bought 16 Chukar Partridges to place in the fields. We placed 4 birds at a time in the field and let the dogs kick them up to shoot. It was a lot of fun! The 56 degree November day was also a bonus. We shot 13 of the 16 birds. This was only my second time hunting and so far I really like it. Its nice to get out, walk the fields and enjoy the weather that Minnesota has to offer.

Here are some pictures from the last couple hunts.

Open This!

Like its cheesy cousin Kraft Macaroni and Cheese, Velveeta Shells and Cheese boxes are also impossible to open. "Insert thumb and lift to open", if only it was that easy.

After decimating the side of the box you finally get to the goods.

Who's Da Mastah?

Does anyone else remember this classic 80's movie filled with so much awesomeness that you have to wear a nuclear radiation suit so you don't catch a fever?

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Messing around with texture.

What I am rocking out to

Not something I would normally listen to but this album is catchy as all hell. It kind of reminds me of Veruca Salt if they went pop.

Morningwood - Diamonds and Studs

Long Exposure

These were taken in the Minnesota Valley Natural Wildlife Refuge, also known as the Bass Ponds, along the Minnesota River.

101 second exposure.

71 second exposure. The streaks of light are two planes landing at Minneapolis-Saint Paul International.

Random Picture...My Baby Girl

I was fooling around with the 50mm 1.4f lens and flash today. This is one of my favorite pictures of Heidi so far. You can see the complete set of 6 Month pictures HERE.

Trains, No Planes Or Automobiles

A couple days ago Aimee and I were driving down Kenwood Trail AKA Co Rd 50 through Lakeville and I saw a boxcar with a picture of Marge Simpson so I had to go back and take some pictures. You can view them all HERE.

Rocking the Suburbs...

...or should I say downtown Minneapolis. Aimee and I went to see Ben Folds at Orchestra Hall Saturday night. Only a couple days prior to the concert did I realize that Ben was playing with the Minnesota Orchestra. I figured he was playing at Orchestra Hall because of the venue size and didn't think anything of it. We sat in the middle of the first row in the first tier. Orchestra Hall was a beautiful venue but more equipped for instrumental music (Duh). The vocals were not loud enough so you could hear Ben over the Orchestra. It was a very good concert but very toned down to what you would expect from a Ben Folds concert until the encore. Ben came back out and performed 3 encores. The 1st encore with the Orchestra which was obviously planned. Then the fans clapped and chanted for a couple minutes, the orchestra left and he played Rock this Bitch and Army. The energy in the room was through the roof. After he left the stage the crowd was chanting "Ben, Ben, Ben" and clapping for another 10 minutes straight until he came back on stage and played Rocking the Suburbs. At this point the crowd went nuts! Everyone on the main floor stood up and rushed to the front of the stage. You got the feeling that everyone was craving for the piano smashing vulgar language Ben to show up that night but got the toned down church lady version. Never the less the show was really good and the Minnesota Orchestra was a fine tuned machine. I will definitely be watching to see if Ben returns to Minneapolis, hopefully to First Ave this time.