WSU Volleyball
My first attempt at sports photography.
Lauren Brown, Senior at Winona State University saves ball during a Warrior volleyball game at McCown Gymnasium Tuesday. The Warriors went on to win their first match at home against St. Cloud State University.
Empty Space No. 2
Rinse. Savor. Repeat.
I contemplate the harmony between light and shadow.
From the beginning of time – formless and empty – darkness was over the surface of the deep. Light. And it was good.
There is darkness in all forms of light, and light penetrates all kinds of darkness.
Day is to night as light is to shadow. Considering the work of Light and Darkness, I see light from its source. Created for warmth, life, and existence. Shadows form, obscuring the light, forming shadow. Created for rest, a shadow can be cold, dark, and empty.
A concept of light or darkness considered in isolation cannot be valid.
Early morning alone. Idea. Capture. Edit.
I want to be a living creature who breathes in empty space that is like a landscape painting combining light and darkness.
A photograph, combining light and darkness. A photograph capturing light penetrating darkness. Light from its source. Darkness from interior shadow. A door to the light. Curiosity of what lies behind. Empty space [inside] created.
Excerpts from The Art of Encounter by Lee Ufan
Tomatoes & Bruschetta
Tomatoes – the taste of summer. It seems as though it were only yesterday when my mother would send me to the garden to gather a tomato for a BLT sandwich at lunch time. This of course would be after an early morning of weeding, hoeing, watering, and fertilizing the garden. I never enjoyed gardening as a child, however, I did enjoy a fresh tomato from the garden. Now that I’m all grown up, I have taken an appreciation for gardening. I admire the local farmers who bring their crop to the farmers market every week and those who tend the community gardens.
Early this summer, I had an inspiration to plant my own little garden. Because I live in the city, I didn’t have a place of my own to dig up and plant. So, I collected four large pots to plant three varieties of organic peppers (red bell peppers, jalapeños, and cayenne) and of course, a tomato plant. The four pots were gently placed in a row on the balcony of my second story apartment. It has been an adventure waking up every morning, pulling the shades to see how the plants have grown and changed. At noon, I would lovingly water each plant daily. There can be nothing better in life then to see the fruits of your labor grow – and to taste them too!
Oh the joy of the first, little round red tomato. BLT’s were to be made with the first fruit. A summer progressed; more fruit brought more experiments with the tomatoes. One recipe that has proven to be a winner among family and friends is the Tomato Bruschetta. It is simple to make and fantastic to eat. Dried basil can substituted but fresh is the best. It provides a light snack or appetizer for numerous gatherings of family and friends. Enjoy!
Tomato Bruschetta
Ingredients:
6 roma (plum) tomatoes, chopped
1/2 cup sun-dried tomatoes, packed in oil
3 cloves minced garlic
1/4 cup olive oil
2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
1/4 cup fresh basil, stems removed
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
1 French baguette
2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
Directions:
1. Preheat the oven on broiler setting.
2. In a large bowl, combine the roma tomatoes, sun-dried tomatoes, garlic, olive oil, vinegar, basil, salt, and pepper. Allow the mixture to sit for 10 minutes.
3. Cut the baguette into 3/4-inch slices. On a baking sheet, arrange the baguette slices in a single layer. Broil for 1 to 2 minutes, until slightly brown.
4. Divide the tomato mixture evenly over the baguette slices. Top the slices with mozzarella cheese.
5. Broil for 5 minutes, or until the cheese is melted.
Yield: 12 servings
Old Coal Building
All I ever needed to know I learned from Dr. Hamerski of the Winona State University Physics Department. Not really – I have learned several interesting tidbits of information from the couple of classes I have taken with him. Such things include: the amount of time it would take me to brake after seeing a goose in the middle of the road, how many decibels it would take for a church bell ringer to go deaf, where to find a nuclear power plant in the state of Minnesota, etc.
Yesterday in class, Dr. Hamerski introduced his next lecture on coal. He brought in a small piece of coal for the class to pass it around to look at and feel. He went on to tell us about Winona when it had a booming coal industry. In the year of 1910, the coal industry was brought to Winona because of its prime location of being a river town with a passing railway. Also, a brickyard that had been started 40 years earlier which used the coal. By now, I’m sure you’re wondering what the little white building pictured has to do with Dr. Hamerski and the coal industry of Winona. Well Dr. Hamerski went on to say, that the coal yard was near the corner of Fourth Street and Carimona Street and on this site, a little building was constructed out of large chunks of coal. Within the last couple years, the owners of the building painted it white and the memory of the coal industry appears to be hidden – the things you learn in physics.
Selling Corn
The father and son duo Mike Strachota Sr. and Mike Strachota Jr. of Buffalo City, Minnesota are enjoying their summer selling sweet corn in the hot sun. The Strachota’s started their corn selling business last year but a poor crop left them with purchasing wholesale organic ambrosia corn from another local farmer for this year. Named for its delectable taste, ambrosia means “food of the gods.” Strachota Sr. claimed the corn variety was the sweetest, juiciest corn out there. His son, Strachota Jr. was quick to add that they even guarantee their corn, if a customer goes home and doesn’t like it, he or she can return it the next day for a full refund. Strachota Sr also added the corn is planted in batches so they’ll be harvesting through the middle of September which also guarantee’s freshness. The Strachota’s are travelling around the area selling their produce for a fair price of five dollars a dozen. They’ll be in Winona selling from the Walgreens parking lot on Mankato Avenue through the rest of the weekend. Strachota Sr. is retired and with his son, Strachota Jr. at his side, the two become a charming pair, you’ll not only enjoy the corn but the company!