It was bitterly cold today and this morning steam rose from Lake Superior as a lone ship boat waited outside the harbor. It made an interesting site. The Lake is usually about 42 degrees Fahrenheit. The temperature on land was below zero. The tempature shown below says it was only 6 below, but it felt much colder. The windchill was 21 degree below zero.

From iGoogle

0°F | °C Current: Clear Wind: S at 10 mph Humidity: 73% Thu 7°F | -6°F Fri 14°F | 5°F Sat 21°F | 20°F Sun 29°F | 20°F

-4 °F Clear Windchill: -21 °F Humidity: 76% Dew Point: -10 °F Wind: 10 mph from the West Pressure: 29.92 in (Rising) Visibility: 10.0 miles UV: 0 out of 16 Clouds: Clear - (Above Ground Level) Snow Depth: 3.0 in Elevation: 1427 ft Rapid Fire Updates: Enable Disable Source for Current Conditions: PWS & Airport Airport Only » Weather History for This Location

Radar Webcam Click Radar to Enlarge Local Radar WunderMap Regional Radar Local Satellite Marine Forecast Ski Conditions Snow Depth Trip Planner Weather Stations

One of the great things about living in Duluth is seeing Lake Superior. Today a couple people expressed concern that this empty coal train would be parked here for the winter and block the enjoyment drivers get seeing the lake. I am not sure if this is train is destined to spend the winter parked here or not. The cars are empty. The train extends from several blocks from the tunnel at about 14th Avenue East to the 21st Avenue East exist of I-35. If the plans are to have the train there all winter it is too bad it could be taken up a few block north so the view would not be hidden.

We had a snow storm last night. It was NOT too bad for Duluth, but our neighboring state to the south, Wisconsin, was essentially closed for the day.

This photo was taken from the top of the Radisson Hotel. The building to the left is the Duluth City Hall. The highway to the left is Mesba Avenue. See Mesaba in Daylight here.

This year Doug and Lois Hoffbauer return to the Famers Market in East Hillside at East Third Street and Fourteenth Avenue East to sell their Christmas trees and wreaths. Do you wonder if real trees and wreathes are sustainable? Read about it here.

Here is a blurb about Farmer Doug from the Farmer Doug website: Farmer Doug lives this life because he's good at it, but his passion is growing Christmas trees.  Graduating from U of M in Forestry 30 something years ago, he has used his education to produce the best local Christmas trees in the Duluth area.  You can find Farmer Doug selling his trees at the Duluth Farmer's Market daily from the day after Thanksgiving until December 23rd.  You can also send a fragrant gift from the northland by going to www.balsamwreath.com.

16°F | °C Current: Partly Cloudy Wind: SW at 3 mph Humidity: 75% Mon 25°F | 15°F Tue 25°F | 18°F Wed 19°F | 3°F Thu 14°F | 1°F

The morning sun is filtering in through the trees by the entrance of Chester Creek trail near Fourth Street. In actuality  Lake Superior can be seen in the background. It is not defined in this photo.

16°F | °C Current: Clear Wind: N at 0 mph Humidity: 83% Sun 21°F | 14°F Mon 23°F | 16°F Tue 25°F | 16°F Wed 20°F | 5°F

These tall trees are on the 300 block of Fourth Street. There is now a sprinkling of snow on the ground. I never really paid any attention to these trees until today. Usually this area is full of vehicles which belong to  employee's of St Mary's Hospital (SMDC). SMDC and it's paved lots now cover a large chunk of this area of the Central Hillside. Even though SMDC has a couple ramps, it still isn't enough to hold all the cars. Other businesses and a branch of St. Luke's Hospital/Clinic also contribution the landscape being covered by pavement. Click this Google map to see.

This building is at 131 E. Second Street. It looks especially pretty during the Christmas season. The new owners of the building, the Living Word Church, always make sure it has a pretty doorway and entrance. In the summer they have flowers. You may read more about them here. The building housed Crawford Funeral Services until July of 2002. At that time Crawford merged with another funeral home, Johnson Mortuary at 514 E. Third St.

There is a biting chill in the air here are the stats:

21°F | °C Current: Cloudy Wind: W at 10 mph Humidity: 69% Fri 21°F | 21°F Sat 27°F | 18°F Sun 25°F | 18°F Mon 24°F | 18°F

This gilded pillar decoration is inside of the old YWCA Building in downtown Duluth. Here are some tidbits from thier website: The YWCA in Duluth was started in 1893. In 1900, every third girl in the state of Minnesota between the ages of 16-20 was a wage earner. The YWCA was concerned for the safety of these young girls as they left home and entered the job market. Classes in typing, bookkeeping, and domestic service were offered and a building that would provide safe housing was designed and built.   

The main building at 202 W 2nd St. was built in 1908 at a cost of $130,000. It was completed and dedicated on June 6th, 1909. It included a residence, a lunchroom, a pool and fitness area and meeting rooms. In the 2000's strategic planning and financial planning resulted in the decision to put the original building up for sale and to develop new programming that reaches broader audiences. 

The corner of Lake Avenue and Superior Street is often the site of groups who want the traffic to see their message. In this photo to the left is Lake Avenue, which can be taken to access I-35 or to reach Canal Park, which is a favorite among tourists. One Wednesdays at noon Grandmothers for Peace and Women in Black can be seen at this corner. Other shots of this corner include: Christmas City of the North Parade
Lake Avenue Construction (looking the opposite way)

A Wet Post About Clean Water http://duluthdailyphoto.vox.com/library/post/a-wet-post-about-clean-water---thu-oct-29-223003-2009.html

No Jackets (April 17) (Speaking of the weather, today was the first day that the cold felt very nippy.

This gate is at a driveway to a home on Rice Lake Road near Marshall High School. The home is the farmstead of a an old dairy farm and Marshall High School is located at what was once the farmland. The house used to be the home of the nuns when the school was Cathedral High School and was also the home of the Marshall School janitor.  Ironically exactly one week ago there was a post about Brewery Creek. Brewery Creek does run right through this area, but it is underground.

Another fun tidbit: these stones are from the debris when the road tunnels up the North Shore were built.