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Despite Government Shutdown in Minnesota, Residents Still Face State Taxes

By Mike Tobin

A bicyclist rides on the road leading out of the closed Fort Snelling historic site Friday, July 1, 2011 in Minneapolis after negotiations over the state budget between Republican lawmakers and Democratic Gov. Mark Dayton broke down and the government shutdown at midnight.

Even though the Minnesota government has shut down, halting all non-essential services, residents still need to get their state taxes paid. However, no one is at work to process the return.

Campers planning to spend the July 4 weekend under the stars have been turned away from state parks. Highway rest stops are closed. Road construction projects are left as obstacles that need to be dodged as you drive through the Land of 10,000 Lakes. State employees are furloughed and uncertain about the future of their paychecks. In short, Minnesotans have all the tax burden and few of the services or security offered by the state.

This as Republicans and Democrats in the capital, St. Paul, failed to meet a deadline Thursday night to agree on a budget that addresses the state’s $5 billion deficit. Therefore, the government shutdown went into effect. The two parties are about $1.5 billion apart on paper but worlds apart ideologically.

Republicans won control of the state Legislature pledging no new taxes. Democratic Gov. Mark Dayton came to power on the promise that he would preserve state services and put the burden on the wealthiest Minnesotans.

As details of their failed negotiations went public, we learned that Dayton had bargained down to raising taxes only on Minnesotans who earn at least $1 million a year. Republicans refused.

“Instead of taxing their friends, they would prefer damaging cuts to health care, K-12 education, state and local public safety, mass traffic and other essential services to the people of Minnesota,” Dayton said.

Minnesota Democrats want to blame Tim Pawlenty, the former governor and current Republican presidential hopeful. They say the structural budget deficit is the result of his reckless spending policies over the previous eight years.

But Pawlenty disagreed.

“If this state government would simply live within the revenues it has available, it wouldn’t have any deficits at all,” he said.

Now, 23,000 state employees are off for an extended holiday weekend with no idea when the holiday will end. They were told to take their plants home if the plants needed to be watered. One state employee carrying home a couple potted plants said, “You never know how long it’s going to be. So, I don’t want my plants to die.”

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2011/07/01/despite-government-shutdown-in-minnesota-residents-still-face-state-taxes/

 

 

 

I’m disgusted!!!

For more ‘That’s My World Tuesday’ photos please click here!

zzzz….uh HI…

I’m Renner and I like to lay like this:

 

I just don’t know why people think it is silly looking. I find it quite comfortable myself and well….

zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz….

 

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This week’s pet blog hop hosted by Life With Dogs, Two Little Cavaliers and Confessions of the Plume. If you’d like to participate, please follow the rules and follow your three hosts, add your blog to the Linky and copy and paste the html code into your html editor (found at Life With Dogs, Two Little Cavaliers and Confessions of the Plume). Thanks again to our hosts for putting on the hop!

This past holiday weekend we took some time out to visit Stillwater. The day was very hot and humid however, it was enjoyable to take in the sights and do a little antiquing at the same time.

The photos below are typical of what you will see around the main tourist areas of Stillwater on just about any warm, summer weekend here in Minnesota.The only exception being all the rain we have been getting this year has left the rivers and lakes very swollen.  In the photos of the river you will be able to note the flooding if you look for things under water such as stairs, sidewalks, street signs and so on.

It was a very nice 4th of July weekend here in Minnesota…plenty hot and lots of sun. However, today we were awakened by thunderstorms and, as I sit here writing, it is again….raining.  I think the only things that are still actually benefiting by the copious amounts of rain we are continuing to get in this area are the mosquitoes.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

For more information regarding Stillwater, Minnesota please click here!

 

For more ‘That’s My World Tuesday’ photos please click here!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

For more Wordless Wednesday please click here!

‘Red, White & Roo by Kent Roberts   

                                            

For more Wordless Wednesday photos please click here!

Some rocks from inside the mine.

 

The above-ground facilities at Soudan Underground Mine State Park have  reopened, but the park is unlikely to be able to offer underground tours this summer. Until clean-up, repairs, and thorough safety inspections are completed, the DNR is unable to speculate on future underground tours. In March 2011 there had been a fire down inside the mine. You can see the story here.

The park plans to offer guided tours of the historic buildings above ground this summer. Like the underground tours, the above-ground tours will focus on the contributions of mining to the history and culture of Minnesota’s iron range.

Worn stairs.

Thanks for joining us!

For more Weekend Reflections click here to take you to James’ site!

This ABC Wednesday brings us to the letter ‘Q’. First thing that comes to mind is Quandary for it is not the most commonly used letter of the alphabet. What the heck can I do that starts with ‘Q’?

Quinoa is pronounced Keenwa. This is a Gluten-free product that I didn’t even really know about until I was diagnosed with Celiac Disease and had to find new ways to eat whole grains other than wheat, barley, rye and oats. It looked kind of strange, and has a different texture, BUT I was pleasantly surprised once I actually tried it. Now it has become a staple of my household. I just about always have Quinoa around and it can very often be ‘changed out’ with rice.

Looks like this when it is growing.

And like this when I get it at the store. The Quinoa photos are all courtesy of the Quinoa Corporation.

One of my most cherished possessions is my lovely, handmade Greyhound Quilt!

This Quilt was made and given to me by a friend’s mother as a gift while I was running Greyhound Pets Of America – Minnesota. (a retired racing Greyhound rescue/adoption group). I draped it out over my couch for the photo. Toward the top center you can see a greyhound stretching out on a couch and it says ‘Home Stretch’. I drew the picture as a ‘logo’ for the group’s newsletter, which I did each month. We had a contest to ‘name’ the newsletter the second month it came out and one of the group’s volunteers won with the title ‘Home Stretch’. There is actually Quite a bit of me portrayed in this Quilt. (at least I think so) I will always love it and think it is one of the most beautiful gifts ever. 🙂 I will be forever grateful for it.

*As a side note if you click on the link and go to the GPA-MN website you will find a short video on the website that I did titled ‘Camping With Retired Racing Greyhounds’…short and fun was all that was intended….not really an informative clip. And of course a lot of information about Retired Racing Greyhounds.

Today the letter for ABC Wednesday is ‘S’.

Sand…purple Sand.

I got this purple Sand for my grandson to play in on days he Stays with me. It is supposed to be ‘dustless’ and I thought it was pretty cool until we actually ‘played’ with it. Sticks to everything, doesn’t come off easily and has me wishing now that I’d just gotten the plain old fashioned Sand for him. I fully intend to try mixing it first and if that doesn’t work – out it goes and back to Mother Nature’s intended.

Sitting on top of the bucket of Sand is Sidewalk Chalk. Also another fun outside toy. As you can see in the background we even have a little rake you can fill with different colors and walk around making fun designs with.

 

Sitting….. look at the way my little 2 year old Grandson Sits. Long ago are the days I could Sit like that at all, and he does it effortlessly and for long periods of time (well long in toddler terms).

Our Sweet Shasta. Racing name: Mr. Shasta. Status: retired.

This True Colors Thursday we are on the color Gray. You say Grey….I say Gray….  😉

Whatever the case, this is Monty my Gray tabby dilute kitty who is over 20 years old, and still liking the ‘sleeping on my head’ business.

Then I have a Greyhound that is Gray….which is actually called blue colored… who is named Blew….ummmm, I think he still qualifies.  Here is Blew with Ruby cooling off a little in the lake.

Went to an air show this last Sunday and saw a fascinating Gray plane.

This is a photo of the back of a Gray semi…and if you look carefully you will see the reflection of our Allegro RV as we waiting in traffic behind it.

There was a very Gray sky when we were coming back from White Water State Park. Terrible storms were in the area that chased us away from our camping spot earlier than we had planned.

 And a very Gray snowy day, all too common in Minnesota. This is a photo of my back yard during a spring snow storm. Nope the photo is not in black and white…it is just THAT Gray outside.

Last, but certainly not the least…

Grandson in Gray playing on my light Gray tile floor.

   This ABC Wednesday’s letter is ‘R’!

This is Roni, our White and Brindle Retired Racing Greyhound girl. She loves everyone and is so happy she even smiles in her sleep. Her nickname is Roni-Roo.

And Grandgreyhound Ruby!  She is a Red and white Retired Racing Greyhound.

Also Renner who is our white and brindle Retired Racing Greyguy.

 

Rust: This is an old barrel found in a historical water tower in Charles A. Lindberg State Park, MN

Of course I can’t leave out our RV. Here is a view of it from a trail high upon a hill looking down. The little blue car behind it is an HHR and we tow it along with us everywhere we go.

Here are Retired Racing Greyhounds Scooter, Renner, Ruby and Blew Resting outside our RV.

A little hard to see, but the 3 ex-pens with stakes are in place. When we are not hiking with our Greyhounds  and they are not inside the RV, that are contained within a fairly good sized area by our ‘portable’ fencing.

 

Yesterday I posted a photo of Blew that was an earlier photo and Jay mentioned he did not look ‘over 11’. I guess I didn’t think about that when I put it up, I just liked the photo and used it.

Here is a photo of Blew taken just a week ago…he is getting the typical senior ‘graying of the face’, particularly around the muzzle and eyes. If you look back you can compare, interesting to see how age changes coloration of their faces.  In this photo I believe Renner is allowing Blew to use his tail as a chin rest. Considering their bony tails, I’m thinking not all that comfortable. 😉

Also, Monty is doing a little better today I started him on something new so I am hoping it helps him out a little. That was not a up to date photo of Monty either as, sadly, he is getting quite thin.

 

                  Monty – 20 years old.

 

                         Blew – 11.5 years of age.

 

The color for this True Colors Thursday is Turquoise.

Below you can see Scooter’s collar has real Turquoise set into silver mounts.

Here you see Greyhounds Roni and Tyler sleeping on a Turquoise couch in our family room.

A cat with Turquoise eyes

Turquoise paper

A Turquoise toy

The Greyhound laying on a Turquoise rug is Wally.

Each Mother’s Day, for the last several years, we Race for the Cure at the Mall of America and yesterday was no different. Though it always seems to start out in a bit of a hassle, in the end I think we are pretty pleased and happy with ourselves for doing it. Well at least I am, and I am very thankful that my OH, daughter, son-in-law and grandson join in with me in my support for ‘the cure’.  Breast Cancer is an awful disease and has touched just about everyone I know in one way or another.

Part of our ‘team’ getting ready for the walk.

Getting placards in place.

 

I am all set.

Readyyyy….Set…… Go!

 

Though the subject is dead serious, people can still have fun! There is a very upbeat atmosphere for the most part.

 

It is over before you know it and it is photo op time!

Before leaving we always stop by a pond for a few reflective moments which never fails to bring tears to my eyes. It is filled with memories of loved ones lost to this disease.

Though upbeat…..

We do NOT lose sight of why ‘WE WALK’!

Pats on the back to all for a job well done and heading out to meet the rest of the day. We celebrate Mother’s on this day….we celebrate life… we celebrate ourselves!

We live, We love, WE WALK!

The color for this True Color Thursday is one I had never heard of before, so first I had to define the color: Cerise.

ce-rise – n.  A deep to vivid purplish red.

---

[French, from Old French, cherry; see cherry.]

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Adj.
1.
cerise – of a color at the end of the color spectrum (next to orange); resembling the color of blood or cherries or tomatoes or rubies

Noun
1.
cerise – a red the color of ripe cherries   

There are many Shades Of Pink, just click on the link and you will see an array.

And upon definition of the color all my notions about today’s blog went down the drain.  It is a purplish cherry red, and at least for me, much harder to find.

Here is a pair of Cerise earrings:

I knew this shirt would come in handy one day. There is some Cerise in there somewhere…just have a look!

A close up of Cherry Blossoms.

And what about this smiling critter….the Cheshire Cat!

                          “We’re All Mad Here!”

 

A friend sent this to me and I thought it was pretty funny. (Caution…a ‘discouraging word’ is within its contents)

This afternoon Vinni decided, like he often does, to take over a dog beg in the sun. Generally this leads to pacing and whining at me to let me know that one of the kitties have taken their bed. Occasionally though, the hounds just find a way to sleep around the cat. Due to the limited sunshine streaking though the windows, today was one of those ‘sharing days’

They took turns sharing. Here is Blew with Vinni.

Here Scooter shares with Vinni.

 

Renner is now sharing with Vinni.

And if you look closely you will notice that during all these hound transitions, Vinni doesn’t give an inch….doesn’t move from his spot. He is large and in charge!

Greyhounds and Cats get along pretty well most of the time as long as the hounds don’t mind sharing. ZZZZZZZzzzzzzz…….

My first inclination is to say this ABC Wednesday Letter is ‘P’ for ‘Pain’! My back is still causing a lot of Pain and I am hoping soon it will GO AWAY so I can get back to normal. That said …I’ll move on.

Meet A Puddle Monster!

 

Some lovely Peonies growing outside my daughter’s house.

Sitting Poolside

Playing In the Pool

Pipestone at Pipestone National Monument in Pipestone, Minnesota.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Path Up Pipestone Stairs

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Pups At Pipestone National Monument

AND

A Pissed Off Pussy Cat (Vinni)

We see the flower garden starting to ‘POP’!

Grass starting to grow and trees starting to sprout bright green leaves. 

Finally, proof  that spring has indeed sprung!

Hopefully by mid-June it will look like this:

And I am trying something new this year! We used to have a garden plot as well where we grew tomatoes, cucumbers, bell peppers and a variety of peppers like banana peppers. Years ago we gave that up. However, I have really been missing the home grown tomatoes so this year, inspired partially by a tour of a place that grows veggies and such in a hanging position, I am going to give this a try! We purchased this little device that I will try growing tomatoes while they hang ‘upside-down’ .

The container I will use for this looks like this:

I will try and keep posting on how it goes.  I already have the tomato plant (starting with just one) and am keeping it inside until it is warm enough to plant it outside. Here in Minnesota the general rule of thumb is not to put tender plants out until Memorial Day weekend (end of May). So just before that I will be moving the plant in and out in order to harden the plant and acclimate it to the outside. Then will put it out the end of May. It will hang from the eaves of our house over our deck. Should be interesting and I hope will yield some yummy tasting home grown tomatoes.

I am at the last couple of weeks in this session of school, trying to finish things, taking exams, just one hassle after another pops up. I’m just trying to fit everything into, sometimes, seems like an impossible time frame. To add to this more ‘normal’ bustle, TA-DA, camping season has begun for us.

“TA-DAA! Let The Camping Begin!”

We start a little earlier than others do because ‘we can’. Yes, no kids in school and the heat of a furnace in our RV…in Minnesota it is still in the 30’s Fahrenheit at night right now. That temp is only for the hardiest tent campers to be sure.

ANYWAY so it is like running two houses then, instead of one and I am all into getting the house on wheels ready, washing up things that had been stuffed away, getting food in and so on. Though very tired at that point, it is worth it just to GET AWAY!, go some place else, walk some trails, have a campfire….ROAST MARSHMALLOWS (which I am well known for!).  So it has come time to go, OH home from work is changing his clothes then we will be off. He moves a cargo trailer, which sits in front of the RV most of the time while parked by the house, to drive the RV down to the road. Then I generally push the trailer back to where it belongs so I can drive the car down as we hitch the car to the back of the RV.

The problem came when I pushed the front trailer wheel right over my right foot. OUCH!  Couldn’t move or even breath there for minute or 5. Yep…I got it off, but couldn’t even utter a word. I have broken my little toe and caused a lot of bruising. Then after the first pain came and went, my foot was numb. Even though my OH had then suggested we call off the trip, heck…I couldn’t feel my foot (not much pain in that) so I was GOING!  I’d done a lot of work to get this thing in gear, and wasn’t stopping for anything.  Once inside the RV I took some Alieve and the pain had returned….I rode with my foot up on the dash the whole way.

Here is the culprit, the little hard wheel in the front , that did in my foot and started this whole messy week!

I hobbled around pretty well though considering and my two year old grandson (we met my kids there at the park they have a tent trailer) wanted to walk so fortunately his small steps were a really good excuse for me *not* to hurry along the trails. 

We didn’t  do much trail walking though, turned out to be a rainy weekend, so the hiking was off and on small trips. I used a hiking stick that we have tucked away in the closet most of the time and relied on it so heavily that my arm muscles were sore. I must have walked so oddly trying to protect my right foot that my back began to ache.

Once home I went about normal chores both for the  RV and house until Friday. When, after mopping the tile in the kitchen and rolling around with the vacuum cleaner on the floor to clean under the couch, I suddenly was in so much pain I could hardly stand taking a deep breath. My back decided enough was enough and was protesting it the loudest voice it had. PAIN! 

(Ok, that’s not me and he is really not in a lot of pain…just being forced to wear a cow rain slicker and boots…but thought you could use a little visualization at this point.)

I was miserable and could hardly find a position to sleep in. Saturday I woke up only to feed the animals, take them out and then went back to sleep. By Saturday afternoon it was better, but I was still having problems moving and this has pretty much persisted and is ongoing as I am taking time to sit here and write about it.  Most likely I will give it a little more time and then if it doesn’t improve go to see a doctor, though I have not a lot of faith that they will do much. Not big on going to doctors and have seen way more of them than I ever wanted to.

So that is the way it is here right now…. to think that all this because I was an idiot who pushed a trailer over her foot…. from now on I will let someone else do the pushing….or my daughter suggested steel toe boots, that might be the ticket.

 

Rainbow is the color of choice for this True Colors Thursday. Rainbow, to me, can mean a plethora of colors.  They don’t have to be the brightest colors, just a range of colors.  So for my first photo for this week’s True Colors I give you:

A Rainbow of Greyhounds! All reporting for their monthly heartworm preventative.

Wrapping paper with a Rainbow of Colors.

A Rainbow of Balls In Motion

Rainbow colors of a handmade music box doll.

Last but certainly not least is a True Rainbow during a spring storm.

This ABC Wednesday brings us the letter ‘O’ and I will start of with a photo of a friendly little Opossum.

Also an Owl who occasionally hangs out…maybe looking for an Opossum for its lunch. (Yikes!)

A scene from an apple Orchard

A bright Orange bird at Busch Gardens, Florida

A Greyhound Outside

More Greyhounds looking Outside from an Open door.

I give you Rust, which is the color of choice for this week’s True Colors Thursday.

Cat Feet On Rust Rug

 

Rust Colored Pipestone At Pipestone National Park

 

Leaves of Fall – Camden State Park, MN

 

True Rust of an old Railroad bridge spanning high over a trail at Camden State Park, MN.

Rust Painted Walls

 

A Greyhound With Rust Spots

 

Rust Colored Greyhound

For Alphabet Wednesday I will start the letter ‘N’ off with a photo of a bird’s Nest, though oddly placed, I think it is lovely in design. 

 

Next a lovely collection of Noses.

Greyhound Noses

 

Big People Noses

  

A Nose Profile

A Little Person’s Nose

A little person’s Nose smeared with chocolate cookie.

 

Goat Nose.

Cat Nose

 

My Nose

True Colors Thursday brings us to the color Lime!

Baby looks good in his Lime bib while playing with his Lime toys. 

A shiny bow!

A funny greeting card….

The color of new spring growth.

Kicking off ABC Wednesday – ‘M’ is Minnesota, my home state.

The photo below is of the Twin Cities: Minneapolis/St. Paul.

The Mississippi River flows through Minnesota, look at the photo below and this is the Mighty Mississippi  River at a not so ‘Mighty’ spot.

But then Minnesota has a lot of waterfalls – the following on is Minnehaha Falls.

And the next one is Minneopa Falls which is actually a double waterfall.

 

The photos that follow are photos taken while driving from Minnesota to Florida.

The Mountains of Tennessee (please pardon the reflection of the windshield)

Coming back down  through the Mountains they feel it necessary to provide Runaway Truck Ramps

For some reason I found this Motorcyclist’s Jacket fascinating. It declared him an ‘Iron Pig’.

 

We also saw a Mega-Cross.

And then of course I’d also like to celebrate Monty who is one of my kitties, turning 20 years old this  Month!