Growing season ends

We never did get a killing frost this year. Instead the growing season has ended on a more definitive note with temperatures last night descending into the mid-20s F. I am pretty confident that that should do it.

Today was only a little warmer than yesterday but the wind died down a bit and out I went.

Temperatures had risen only to the mid-40s by midday. Such temperatues required a few costume adjustments but I have the gear. Long sleeved base layer, heavyweight long sleeved jersey, winter gloves (well, late fall and early spring gloves, for winter I have, obviously, mittens), and balaclava.

The wind was south and I must admit that the south wind of October 29 is not that gentle southern breeze I went on about earlier in the year. At 44 even a south wind has a very distinct bite. I started with the balaclava in my pocket but my chin soon became painfully cold so I found the lee of the Fairgrounds grandstand and made the further adjustment.

EG:44 CB:44 AOWG:53.

I noted this very Minnesota signal of the oncoming winter.I have I think almost annually photographed the hockey boards at Langford Park but I am quite sure this is the first time I have seen the crew putting them up. Today's the day. Fortunately, it is still another month at least until they can flood, about six weeks until they expect to have reasonably good ice. I know, long ago I was responsible for producing one of those hockey rinks, I have done it. The school Christmas vacation is when your ice gets good, not until.

I headed down into the city at least partly to get this photo of the Saint Anthony Park Branch Library. I have published this library before but the other time I did so there were leaves on the trees. This time there is a much better view of the library building.As previously noted, and as cited in my American Institute of Architects Guide to the Twin Cities, this is one of three classically inspired neighborhood libraries constructed in the City of Saint Paul in 1916-17. The other two, also designed by the then city architect are Riverview and Arlington. All three are among the more than 2,500 libraries nationwide financed under a program sponsored by U.S. Steel titan Andrew Carnegie, including the library that I frequented as a child, the Carnegie Public Library of Coleraine, Minnesota. These three in Saint Paul are among the last Carnegie libraries to be built, Carnegie died in 1919.

According to the guide, the building has an enormously dignified and gracious presence in the community. It evokes timeless images of classicism yet manages to be inviting at the same time. Design features include ionic pilasters, arches, a simple parapet and strict symmetry and is cited as an excellent example of how even small public buildings of this period could achieve monumental effect.

On the front lawn they have one of those plazas with bricks engraved with messages from various sponsors. I was tipped off by a person who has listened to a lot of the same music that I have listened to in my lifetime to the presence of one brick that might have some special interest for a person with my musical tastes. The tipster notes that this brick has already been published elsewhere on the internet so there is no general need to alert the media.Here's why we find that brick interesting:

The Allman Brothers Band live at Fillmore East September 23, 1970, performing "In Memory of Elizabeth Reed", widely considered one of their greatest pieces (this is also considered one of their greatest performances). This is the band before the deaths of leader Duane Allman and bassist Berry Oakley, both in motorcycle accidents and both within the next couple of years after this performance.

On the way home I rode through the Saint Paul campus.Tonight in Dijon FC Nantes has played yet another nil nil tie. In some ways they are on a decent streak, now not having lost for 6 games. The problem, of course, is that the last 4 of those 6 are ties. FC Nantes loses ground in the table and now sits ninth.