Dronie Sunday – 28 June 2020

Fargo, North Dakota.

A couple of weeks ago, a friend of ours mentioned Orchard Glen Park in the extreme south of Fargo along the Red River. What we learned upon our first visit is that if we headed further south and then east to the Red River, we would find another park known as Forest River Park. The two parks are less than a mile apart and we’ve discovered they are a popular place for people to explore and bird watch. Situated at an “oxbow” in the river, Forest River Park is about 2000 ft (609 m) by 900 ft (274 m), with the main trail and several smaller trails wandering through the trees. If you look carefully toward the top center of the photo, you’ll see a large house with a red and white roof visible just below the edge of the trees. That house is on the other side of the Red River in Minnesota, the river marking the north, east, and south borders of the park. If your browser allows it, you may have to select the photo to enlarge it for a closer view of the house.

Cellpic Sunday – 21 June 2020

Fargo, North Dakota.

Recently my wife, Lynn, and I discovered a park that’s new to us. In a future Travel Tuesday, I’ll feature a photo story about the park and its beginnings. Over the Memorial Day Weekend, I was busy capturing images of the apple orchard that is the signature feature of the park. In late May, the trees are in bloom and the soft light of a thin overcast allowed me to capture some detail of a pod of apple blossoms.

Cellpic Sunday – 14 June 2020

Fargo, North Dakota.

Spring flooding has been an issue for many years along the Red River of the North in Fargo. At Lindenwood Park in south Fargo, a pedestrian bridge has linked Lindenwood with Gooseberry Park in Moorhead Minnesota since 1978. During the summer, that bridge joined the two communities but each year during flood season, the City of Fargo would bring large cranes to the site to lift the bridge out of the water to keep the floodwaters from washing the bridge downriver. In 2013, construction was completed on a new lift bridge that features concrete abutments and a lift system that brings the bridge above the 500-year flood level.

About the photo: This image was captured on my Samsung S20U cell phone using automatic metering and exposure at f/1.8, 1/1000 sec, ISO-16. It was edited in Lightroom and Luminar 4. In most browsers, you can click on the image to get a closer look.

John Steiner

Cellpic Sunday – 7 June 2020

Fargo, North Dakota.

It’s mid-May as this is being written, scheduled for publication on 7 June 2020.  By now, we would be looking forward to opening the season at a Fargo-Moorhead Redhawks game as they begin their 25th season. Our 13-game flex pack of tickets sits on the shelf above my desk proclaiming the opening game will be May 26 against the Lincoln Saltdogs. At this point, however, it’s not entirely sure that there will even be games this year. The league (American Association) in late April announced that the regular season has been postponed until the beginning of July, but that will depend upon the pandemic and whether or not it will be safe to have games where a large gathering of people will be allowed.

Lens Artists Photo Challenge – At Home

Fargo, North Dakota.

This week Amy challenges us to share our thoughts and images from around home. She writes, “We are looking forward to seeing your photos and stories at home, and perhaps your yard/garden, pet, kids, collections, kitchen/cooking, and more.” You can read her entire challenge post here. This challenge gives me the opportunity to share a new technique I learned that has kept me busy learning photo processing software and creating new and interesting images.

Cellpic Sunday – 5 January 2020

Fargo, North Dakota.

Last week we were hoping to leave Fargo in time to miss the winter storm that was forecast. When we got a notice that the airline was offering a no-fee schedule change. Given that we may or may not have been able to get home, we opted to stay in Fargo until the storm subsided. The snow was heavy on Saturday night, but no wind, so it was not that big a problem. There was enough, though, that our snow removal company came late Saturday night and cleared the driveway.

Cellpic Sunday – 29 December 2019

Fargo, North Dakota.

“What a wonderful thought that it is some of the best days of our lives haven’t even happened yet.” – Anne Frank

Let me start off this week that begins a new year and a new decade with a wish to all my readers that the best days of your lives have yet to happen.

As this is being written, we are scheduled to fly back to Arizona tomorrow. It may not happen. A weather alert for the region promises at least a two-day storm with heavy snow, strong winds and North Dakota’s usual winter mix of yuck. With any luck, this post will publish the day after we touch down in Arizona. We shall see. 🙂

United States Air Force Thunderbirds – America’s Ambassadors in Blue

Fargo, North Dakota.

A couple of weeks ago, I shared the story about the USAF Thunderbirds Meet and Greet with Civil Air Patrol cadets. As far as I know their exhibition would be the first time that they appeared during our Fargo Airsho (spelled correctly). As you might imagine, their two-day show features some of the best pilots the Air Force has at their disposal. Their precision flight demonstration is something to be seen.

Lens-Artists Photo Challenge – Magical

Regular readers know of my affinity with all things aviation related. This week, Ann-Christine asks us to share our concept of the term “Magical.” She writes in part, “But Magical can mean so many different things to everyone of us – At Lens-Artists, we have already had Magical Light as a theme, (last year) but this time it is all up to you! What is Magical to you?” You can read her entire challenge post here. So, I’ve always thought that being able to get into an aircraft and visit places unknown is magical in itself. But what about those aircraft who don’t have the advantage of generating any power to keep themselves airborne?

USAF Thunderbirds – Meet and Greet

Fargo, North Dakota.

The USAF Thunderbirds were in town for the Fargo Airsho (spelling correct), and a couple of the members of our Fargo Cadet Squadron did the advance “legwork” to arrange a “Meet and Greet” on the day before the performances began. Thanks to their forethought, cadets and senior members from squadrons in Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota were able to visit with one of the Thunderbird pilots and some of the ground crew members. I must say, it was a thrill for this old man as well and I was glad to be in town when the meeting occurred. The image above features all of the CAP members in attendance as well as the Thunderbird crew members.