Shakopee flood waters rising

from flickr user cards_by_krisso
This photo of the Minnesota River flood in Shakopee was taken from the Highway 101 bridge in downtown and shows the rising flood waters in Huber Park which lies along the banks of the Minnesota River. The flood waters haven't yet reached the bandshell in the park but are a couple of feet over Highway 101 and predicted to rise multiple feet before cresting Saturday at levels near the 1993 flood. This year's flood is the latest on record.

Minnesota River Flood - Henderson, MN

The Minnesota River floodwaters immediately north of Henderson, MN (on Sibley County 6) reach the 1965 flood level. A house just beyond the trees on the left is accessible only by boat or in this case pontoon.

Minnesota River Flood - Henderson

The "wet" side of the flood gate on Minnesota Highway 19 in Henderson this morning.

Minnesota River Flood - Henderson

Minnesota Highway 93 in Henderson, MN today with flood waters approximately 6 feet deep on the road itself further south.

Minnesota River Flood - Henderson

Minnesota Highway 19 on the east side of Henderson. Further east it lies under up to 8 feet of water.

Maple Hill Church Fall Colors

from flickr use Bryan Hansel
This magnificently framed photo of Maple Hill Church in Grand Marais, MN showcases the area's burst of fall colors. Makes me wish my vacation to the area had happened a couple weeks later.

Flooding in Adams, MN

from flickr user kaaltv
Adams, MN, southeast of Austin, MN fell victim to flooding as torrential rains fell across the southern thrid of the state on Wednesday and Thursday. Classes in the city's SOuthland school district were cancelled today as residents sandbagged to hold off the flood waters which are expected to crest sometime today.

The vast emptiness of St. Paul

from flickr user Punchup
That's the only way to describe this photo of a nearly empty bridge with the St. Paul skyline visible through a veil of fog in the distance -- empty. It feels even emptier given the greyness of the day that this photograph was taken.

Flooding in Zumbrota, MN

from flickr user http://www.flickr.com/photos/kstp/5017968561/in/photostream/
The Zumbrota Covered Bridge, located in a city park in Zumbrota, sits across the swollen Zumbro River north of Rochester, MN where over six inches of rain fell overnight. Portions of southcentral Minnesota received over ten inches of rain. Flash floods and prolonged flooding are expected in many areas. Rochester TV station KTTC-TV has plenty of coverage as well as KSTP-TV's Flickr stream for a plethora of photos.

Fall colors on the Pike River

from flickr user reflectionsofnature
Near Tower, MN a long exposure of the water flowing in the Pike River balances nicely with the early burst of fall color in northern Minnesota.

Native Grass

from flickr user NVJ
The City of Roseville has been restoring the north east part of Lake Bennett. I was on a family walk as the sun was getting lower in the sky and this grass jumped out at me. Glad I caught it.

Standing on the dock

from flickr use JoanMN
The waning sun is captured as the silhouette of a scenery gazer is reflected in the water of one of Minnesota's over 10,000 lakes.

Lake Nokomis

from flickr user Elizabeth Carls
A collection of sailboats sits on the placid waters of Lake Nokomis in Minneapolis.

Foggy Solitude

from flickr user Doug Wallick
This is US-61 over the Mississippi River in Hastings,Minnesota on a very foggy morning.

Moon on Lake Superior

from flickr user mau3ry
The title says it all. A full moon over the largest lake in the country which I spent a fair amount of last week along the shores of.

A Gift at the Minnesota Renaissance Festival

from flickr user The Real Estreya
The photographer says: Alba and Twig the Fairy at the Minnesota Renaissance Festival today. I love how much passion this amazing artist devotes to becoming Twig. She is truly a wonder to behold in action! Just look at that intensity!

Beach at Zippel Bay State Park

from flickr user A. Johnson
While I'm not certain where this particular state park is, the photo of an evening camp fire does an excellent job of capturing the current fall atmosphere which has settled in to the state of Minnesota.

Lake Maria

from flickr user StefPress
Just to the west of Monticello, MN, the fall colors are beginning to show at Lake Maria State Park.

Calhoun Near Sunset

from flickr user carlyett117

Smile for the camera

from flickr user justacoolcat
The photographer says: My son Henry enjoying the petting zoo at the Minnesota Renfest. The Minnesota Renaissance Festival began its journey in September of 1971 on a 22 acre field in Jonathan, MN. More than 25,000 people visited the two weekend grand opening of the festival then named: “A Celebration of Nature, Art, and Life!” That celebration has since relocated to Shakopee, MN and has grown to be the largest Renaissance Festival in the United States with an annual attendance of 280,000.

Destruction

from flickr user devin.berg
The tearing down of an old building near the University of Minnesota campus.

Hibbing High School

from flickr user montanatom1950
In Hibbing, Minnesota this is the High School that Bob Dylan attended and I'm sure that yesterday it was bustling with hundreds of students on the traditional first day of school in Minnesota.

What Would Jesus Eat

from flickr user thomasbrandt
Sure, Minnesota State Fair season came to a close on Monday but that doesn't mean that a gem like this church sign in Golden Valley isn't any less funny.

Cobwebs in Minneapolis

from flickr user --Z--
The sunlight streaming in from the right and the resulting lens flares make this photo from Nicollet Island one of my favorites I've seen this year.

The Gold at the End of the Rainbow

from flickr user djsime
While you wouldn't find anybody saying "double rainbow, oh my God" as they filmed or photographed this rainbow it is a spectacular capture complete with Minnesota's own version of gold -- a starting-to-ripen field of corn -- at the end of it.

A twofer at the Minnesota State Fair

from flickr user erlin1
I've always said that two of the best things at the Minnesota State Fair are the food and people watching. This photo captures those two favorites in one still image. These teen girls, sharing a giant glob of cotton candy, look like they're in heaven but eating that much cotton candy leads to two things: gut rot and cavities. That's your Debbie Downer moment of the day. See, I can even put a damper on the fair...

Light Show

from flickr user gamelaner
This was only a two second exposure. The ride is called Techno Power. It's one of those spin-around-til-you-throw-up kind of rides.