I set out to get some storm photos, but had to settle for some leftover clouds over downtown St. Paul.

Spring has finally arrived in Minnesota. Lawns are greening, trees are budding, birds are flirting. You can see it in the sky too. Clouds are beginning to look like they have some real moisture waiting to come down as rain, the air feels a bit humid, and unfortunately allergies are acting up for some.

Temps are going to be in the 80s today, and we’re supposed to get some thunderstorms this weekend. First of the season. I’m looking forward to it, though now I probably won’t be able to undertake another major vehicle maintenance challenge. After last weekend’s success (saving myself $500 now confirmed after getting a quote), I’m ready for another automobile repair challenge, like tackling that little leak in my truck’s transmission cooling line that apparently costs $100s to fix because ‘you have to remove many unrelated parts to get at it’. I have some ideas.

The Wells Fargo Center in downtown Minneapolis on a foggy January evening.

Today was the first day it really felt like spring. Befitting since it actually is the first day of spring. In typical Minnesota fashion many were sporting shorts. 60 degrees feels almost like summer after a long cold winter.

During our ice sculpture shoot, I noticed this young lady standing next to us either taking photos or being photographed. Don’t recall specifically because I was staring at those bare feet in -15F (-26C) windchill. Asked if I could take a photo of her feet and she said ’sure’. In fact she didn’t mind me taking several shots, patiently waiting as my camera was set up for long exposures, on the order of a few seconds, hence the blurriness of the dress. Amazing the amount of cold exposure one can endure when excited as she appeared to be, with her friends, on her way to something. Emily braved our cold weather a while back, but I think she’s beat on this one.

Taken a few weeks ago before it turned seriously cold. Even though the river was pretty much frozen, a warm day will melt the snow on the surface.

I know I am.

Taking my camera and tripod for a walk sometimes turn into mini adventures or learning experiences. I learned a few things taking this photo:

1. Walking on partially frozen creeks can be trickier than one would think
2. Even if the ice on a creek is weak enough so that you break through, it’s plenty hard on your shin on the way down
3. Hiking shoes full of ice cold water actually feel warm once you start walking, sorta like a wetsuit for feet

On the way back I went shopping for some dry aged steaks and alaskan king crab legs at Byerlys for Silvester dinner, wet shoes and pant legs. Nobody seemed to notice.