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I love the architecture in Chicago.

Fall

Yesterday it rained all day. First day of rain here in what feels like 100's of days.
The birds this morning are chirping so loud on the big tree in the front yard. This morning the sunshine is streaming in across my laptop. Fall days are so romantic. The brisk air and how it always makes me feel like staying in and sipping hot chocolate and power lounging all day. Jerry and I stayed in all day yesterday. Getting a lot of things done for the wedding while watching back to back movies.
Muriel's Wedding, Hollywoodland, Stranger then Fiction, mixed in with some E! news to satisfy my need to know what the celebs are up to. It was a perfect rainy day in our cute little warm home. It's 20 days until our wedding. I've enjoyed the transition period and am glad we gave ourselves so much time to go through this process together.

willa

visited my friends andrew and kirsten. this is their daughter willa.
named after the author willa cather.

I met my fiance at andrew and kirsten's wedding back in 2002. They are the guests of honor at our wedding.

These photos were taken about 3 weeks ago, and just this week Kirsten delivered a beautiful baby boy!

Nikola.

I went to high school with andrew so we go way back and it is amazing to be around through all the different phases of each others lives.

for suzi!

finally got the baby pictures scanned....

Seiner

I know I already posted today, but I was thinking about the fact that I am getting married in 25 days!!!!!
Changing my name to Catherine J Seiner.
But there is a conflict because my artwork up to this point, and my business name is all under Catherine Just.
I know that people keep the maiden name for the business but are the married name in all other areas. This is probably what I will do.
Go Team Seiner!

ode to wheat, dairy and sugar

gold medal flour

The Egg and I

it was closed the day we went to eat there. Labor day.
So we went to the French Meadow Bakery down the street. What amazing food they have there. Oh my god.
But I eat at the Egg and I every time I visit. And the crazy thing is - there are waitresses there that worked there when I was a hostess there in 1992. They never left.

bob's java hut

ok. Here is Bob's Java Hut. It's on Lyndale and 27th avenue in Minneapolis.
When I lived in Mpls, I was in my early 2o's and loved hanging out at the coffee shop with my friends. I lived a block away and we all had our motorcycles and in the spring after the last snow melted away we would line up our bikes at bob's and meet up. I used to bring my journal, calligraphy pen and dipping ink and spent hours there writing in my journal. I was smoking almost 2 packs of marlboro reds a day and drinking so much caffeine that I was revved up all the time. I wore vintage dresses and combat boots, had two nose rings, and had the same hair style I have now. back when I lived there the coffee shop was next door to the Egg and I where I worked in the mornings. Some gals from my art school worked there with me too. Once I started working at the Guthrie Theatre I still started my days at Bob's.

Before Bob's was Muddy Waters down the street. I will post those photos later.
Mpls. has so many coffee shops it is amazing. Now in my life here in LA the thought of going and "hanging out" at a coffee shop doesn't cross my mind.( but Peet's coffee does make me grin from ear to ear ) My idea of hanging out might be a walk around the rose bowl, smoke free, with a bottle of water, wearing my sneakers and yoga pants and top. Gone are the days of combat boots and motorcycles, but I am so glad I had that experience in my life. I remember those days fondly. I think the last little thing that is left from those days are photography and big silver jewelry. I feel minnesota when I write this. It feels dark and brooding.

I like it.

Vera Mae with her ladybug

After a glorious breakfast at the Birchwood Cafe, Amy, Sean and their daughter Vera Mae entertained us all day long. It felt like 5 minutes!

sunday bliss

This photo was taken right outside Dunn Brothers coffee in Saint Paul Minnesota.
It was a glorious day....as is today. Hope yours was too!

day by day

this place is fabulous. Great food, atmosphere, and the wait staff was friendly and prompt with the food. again - that outdoor patio just made our day.

Minneapolis/Saint Paul

Just back from a 6 day trip to Minneapolis/Saint Paul. It was fabulous. The best weather you could imagine. Lucky for us we missed the heat wave here in LA.
The beginning of our journey was the honor of photographing our friends wedding. Adelle and Duane. You will see some photos from that shortly. What a beautiful couple. Love them. Then we all ( bride and groom, bridal party and Jerry and I) went to the Minnesota State Fair together. Loved seeing the baby animals the best. I pet a baby pig that was just born, and a baby lamb. what could be better. Jerry's favorite parts were:
A. Cheese Curds
B. Tom Thumb Mini Donuts
C. Martha's Chocolate Chip cookies
D. taking photos while on a ride.
We stayed at the Saint Paul Hotel for the first two nights. If you ever visit - STAY THERE! Really amazing place.
The rest of the trip was about re-visiting my past.
Visited my favorite restaurants
my art school
the guthrie theater where I used to work as a wardrobe dresser backstage and as an assistant stage manager
and saw a few really great ( best ) friends of mine.

So amazing to be back in a place I lived 20 years ago. I moved there when I had just turned 19. Went to art school, worked at the egg and i, and the guthrie, and after 8 years of those winters and summers I relocated to Oregon - which is another long wonderful chapter in my life...

So the next few posts will be a walk through our trip....

Here in the photo above is a wasp catcher - which were hanging EVERYWHERE on the back patio of the Day by Day Cafe in Saint Paul. This is our favorite place to eat breakfast in Saint Paul. We just LOVED the patio, and the food.