And, we’re back with the weekly Cross-Country Connection!

Cross-Country Connections is a biodork weekly blog entry dedicated to telling stories in pictures of three family members – me, my sister and Mom – living in very different locations across the country. Every week we choose a different theme and then take a picture of something in our area that fits the theme. This week’s theme is Five Minutes from Home.

From me in Minneapolis, MN:

This is the Midtown Greenway, a former railroad corridor in south Minneapolis that was transformed into a 5.5 mile-long paved bike and pedestrian path.  The Greenway really is green – and quite a bit busier – when it’s not covered in snow.

From Mom in Carbondale, IL:

This is a store front in what remains of the old downtown Carbondale.  Longbranch Cafe is a vegetarian restaurant and coffee shop.  I have researched books for whole papers in the back room and the fact that their wi-fi is sketchy is a plus.  Food usually makes you forget that there’s no meat involved.

From Erin in Bellingham, WA:

This is a view that I see every time I leave my apartment complex: The Canadian Rockies (Ralph thinks these are the “Golden Ears” peaks of Mt. Blanchard, but I think that’s too far away to be possible).  It’s a little silly, but I’m still astounded by how close I am to Canada.  These peaks are probably 50-70 miles away and they look like I could walk to the foothills of them (Additionally, note the clear blue sky… in the Pacific Northwest… in January.  Color me shocked).

Cross-Country Connections is a biodork weekly blog entry dedicated to telling stories in pictures of three family members – me, my sister and Mom – living in very different locations across the country. Every week we choose a different theme and then take a picture of something in our area that fits the theme. This week’s theme is Art.

From Erin in Bellingham, WA

So yeah…. this started simply as one definition of art being handcrafting. I knit and have created what I think is a pretty cool demonstration of that art in a visual display in my home.  This is part of my sea wall, which I one day hope to move to a large glass fish tank.  I’m mostly a dork and think it could come out really cool.  Here is a crochet coral, knit nudibranch and sea star.  The aquarium of my dreams will have more crochet coral and various knit sea plants. There is a giant handsewn angel fish on the wall that just wouldn’t fit in the picture.

From me in Minneapolis, MN

This is a total cheat – I never made it to the Minneapolis Institute of Art like I had planned!  I took this picture a couple of months ago when I went to see Wicked.  This gigantic beast was rigged high above the stage.  I like that I can see some of the lights in silhouette iat the top of the photo.

From Mom in Carbondale, IL

This is one of the few pieces of art that I own that might actually be worth some money someday.  The Artist, Sarah Vaughn, won the total 2009 Ricket-Ziebold award.  It was the first time in 20 years that the prize wasn’t shared.  Her work is incredibly fragile and beautiful.

Cross-Country Connections is a biodork weekly blog entry dedicated to telling stories in pictures of three family members – me, my sister and Mom – living in very different locations across the country. Every week we choose a different theme and then take a picture of something in our area that fits the theme. This week’s theme is Tree, Trees or a Forest of Trees.

From Mom in Carbondale, IL:

This is my redbud which is so pretty in the spring.  Now, as winter arrives, the last seed pods are all that remain.

From Erin in Bellingham, WA

Brenner Creek in Granite Falls, WA.  This picture was taken by my husband, an archaeologist, who was working on a survey through a Pacific Northwest Coast rainforest.  The trees, and the sun shining through the trees, is one of our favorite things about this part of the country.

From me in Minneapolis, MN

 An early morning view from the office after our most recent blizzard.

Cross-Country Connections is a biodork weekly blog entry dedicated to telling stories in pictures of three family members – me, my sister and Mom – living in very different locations across the country. Every week we choose a different theme and then take a picture of something in our area that fits the theme. This week’s theme is Movie Theater.

From me in Minneapolis, MN

This single-screen, 1930’s era movie theater has a balcony, plays independent film and Saturday night midnight features (including the occasional Rocky Horror Picture Show!).   The Uptown is located on the corner of Hennepin Ave and Lagoon, and the 50ft tower announces that you have arrived in the heart of South Minneapolis nightlife.

From Mom in Carbondale, IL

This is The Varsity, the oldest theater in Carbondale.  “Back in the day” two graduating seniors, to say thank you for typing 300+ envelopes for resumes, took me and the other student secretary from the campus housing office here to see some god-awful “R” rated movie and then out for drinks.  A year later, I ran into one of the graduates, home for a visit.  He called me and asked me out.  We went to The Varsity and saw Judge Roy Bean.  The rest, as they say, is history.

From Erin in Bellingham, WA

This pic is kind of a cheat but it actually really does represent my movie-going experience here in Bellingham.  We haven’t been to a movie theater a single time since moving here, but we do watch a lot of movies with the amazing instant stream Netflix through the Wii on our 20+ year old tv.  The snacks are cheap and plentiful, attire is pajamas, and there are no loud children… a perfect movie experience for me.

Cross-Country Connections is a biodork weekly blog entry dedicated to telling stories in pictures of three family members – me, my sister and Mom – living in very different locations across the country. Every week we choose a different theme and then take a picture of something in our area that fits the theme. This week’s theme is Thanksgiving Dinner.

From Erin in Bellingham, WA:

The first Thanksgiving I hosted is resplendent in such lovely table decorations as a mini pumpkin and indian corn (and apparently a broom handle in the balcony window). It was small but it had family and that’s all that matters!

From me in Minneapolis, MN:

The Thanksgiving dinner table, all set and ready for noming.  What you don’t see is the hungry, excited family of four standing impatiently behind me, urging me to finish the shot so they can sit down to eat!

From Mom – usually in Carbondale, IL – but this week in Bellingham, WA:

Thanksgiving this year was very non-traditional for me. Spending it in Washington State we decided to go for Salmon – fresh from the monger. Of course, it wouldn’t be Thanksgiving without Green Bean Casserole.

Cross-Country Connections is a biodork weekly blog entry dedicated to telling stories in pictures of three family members – me, my sister and Mom – living in very different locations across the country.  Every week we choose a different theme and then take a picture of something in our area that fits the theme. This week’s theme is Landmarks: Iconic landmarks that illustrate where we live/work/love.

From Mom in Carbondle, IL:

This picture truly represents Carbondale at this stage of my life.  The clock tower in the background is actually quite a recognizable landmark.  However, the building in the foreground – the one many of us, including myself weren’t sure would reopen before graduation – has come to represent not only my struggle but also my success both old and new.

From Erin in Bellingham, WA:

This was taken from the base of the Needle in the Seattle Center during Bumbershoot 2010, a fantastic music festival that my husband and I attended on our 1 year wedding anniversary.

From me in Minneapolis, MN

The Gold Flour Medal Factory sign can be seen from many parts of Minneapolis.  The long-since closed flour mill is now part of the Mill City Museum.  The old mill is located directly on the Mississippi River waterfront, and is intricately connected to the history of this city I love.

Cross-Country Connections is a new biodork weekly blog entry. Contributors are me, my sister and my Mom.  Every week we choose a theme and we all take a picture of something in our area that fits the theme.  This week’s theme is Bird(s).

From Brianne in Minneapolis, Minnesota

On Sunday I ran across a large group of seagulls hanging out in the parking lot of the Eden Prairie Mall.  This was the morning after we received 8 inches of snow and the sky was still heavy and overcast.

From Mom in Carbondale, Ilinois

In honor of Veterans Day I submit the following.  The Carbondale National Guard Armory is an excellent example of Art Deco work done by WPA artists.  Built in 1937 concrete eagles standing 6 feet high guard the entrance into the fortress like building.

From Erin in Bellingham, Washington

This is an original artwork by Kevin Veara, a wedding gift from him and the only real art my husband and I own.  From Kevin’s website, “His array of avian life, native and migratory, are often pictured as encircled by menacingly sharp-leaved plants that remind us of human complicity in climate change, habitat fragmentation, invasive species, and genetic modification.”

Cross-Country Connections is a new biodork weekly blog entry.  Contributors are me, my sister and my Mom.  Every week we choose a theme and we all take a picture of something in our area that fits the theme.  This week’s theme is Changing Season.

From Erin, in Bellingham, Washington:

The summer, while not dry here in Washington, doesn’t really come alive with all of nature’s weirdness until it gets done right sloppy wet, like in the fall.  My contribution is the mushrooms that tend to grow everywhere.  This little guy was towering at 4-5″ in one of the islands in the grocery parking lot.

From me in Minneapolis, MN

One day the leaves dropped.

From Mom in Carbondale, IL:

Seeing the river through the trees.

Cross-Country Connections was originally inspired by Transatlantic Panorama and Happy Snappy.