Uniquely Minnesota Artful Distractions—Hometown Version: GIANT Pizza Chef in Linwood, MN

Last week as I drove a car full of teenagers to go skiing at Trollhaugen through Lindstrom and Center City, my son mentioned our excursions to get photos of unique giant hometown art. We were passing the giant hotdog and miniature statue of liberty (small compared to NYC standards anyway) in Lindstrom, when the subject came up. As we drove past the Lindstrom teapot water tower, his friend mentioned how the giant chef outside of Linwood Pizza always cracks him up as they drive by. My son told his friend about my photo blogs and I said the pizza man was going uup as soon as I had time.

Okay…I have been keeping this guy in my camera since October and now it is time to share! Along County Road 22 about half way between I35 in Wyoming and Hwy 65 in East Bethel, stands this rotating pizza chef outside of Linwood Pizza. You can’t miss him and I’d bet he puts a smile on your face too!

Other Uniquely Minnesota Hometown Artful Distractions:

• Uniquely Minnesota Artful Distractions-Hometown Version: The North St. Paul Snowman


• Uniquely Minnesota Artful Distractions-Hometown Version: Giant Mouse and Buffalo in Center City


• Uniquely Minnesota Artful Distractions--Hometown Version: Lindstrom Teapot Watertower


• Uniquely Minnesota Artful Distractions-Hometown Version: Giant Polar Bear in White Bear Lake


• Uniquely Minnesota Artful Distractions--Hometown Version: East Bethel's New Resident Black Bear

Don't be distracted when making YOUR important real estate decisions! If you are buying, selling or relocating to Minnesota and need help from a professional REALTOR®, give me a call or visit my website for a FREE Relocation Packet or Homebuyers Success Packet. I specialize in acreage and lakeshore properties in the north and east Twin Cities metro area including Ham Lake, Lino Lakes and all communities in the Forest Lake School District! Serving Anoka, Chisago, Ramsey and Washington Counties in Minnesota.
Buying a Home? Check out my new HOME BUYER'S BLOG!
Copyright 2008 terieckholm.com

Uniquely Minnesota Artful Distractions—Homeowner Version: Pumpkins Year Round in Wyoming, MN

While visiting one of the favorite pumpkin patches in Wyoming, MN last month, I noticed a bit of permanent décor among the display for the festivities. Long after October, people will be able to drive down County Road 22 and know from this Uniquely Minnesota Artful Distraction where the pumpkins will be next fall.

This carved set of pumpkins is in the front yard of the Lendt Pumpkin patch year greeting the family and friends of the owners year round while providing a bit of artful roadside distraction for those passing by. No doubt left in anyone’s mind what grows in these fields, even in the dead of winter.

Have a VERY Happy and Safe Halloween!

Other Uniquely Minnesota Artful Distractions:

• Uniquely Minnesota Artful Distractions-Hometown Version: The North St. Paul Snowman
• Uniquely Minnesota Artful Distractions-Homeowner Version: Grrrr....Black Bear in Columbus
• Uniquely Minnesota Artful Distractions-Hometown Version: Giant Mouse and Buffalo in Center City
• Uniquely Minnesota Artful Distractions-Homeowner Version: Forest Lake Steam Train
• Uniquely Minnesota Artful Distractions--Homeowner Version: Ham Lake Bald Eagle in Nest
• Uniquely Minnesota Artful Distractions-Homeowner Version: Little Gnome Facts in Forest Lake
• Uniquely Minnesota Artful Distractions--Hometown Version: Lindstrom Teapot Watertower
• Uniquely Minnesota Artful Distractions-Homeowner Version: D'oh! Homer at Home in Centerville
• Uniquely Minnesota Artful Distractions-Hometown Version: Giant Polar Bear in White Bear Lake
• Uniquely Minnesota Artful Distractions--Hometown Version: East Bethel’s New Resident Black Bear
• Uniquely Minnesota Artful Distractions--Homeowner Version: Steel Dragons in Blaine
• Uniquely Minnesota Artful Distractions--Homeowner Version: Move Over Tiger! Yogi’s Ready for the Links in Forest Lake!
• Uniquely Minnesota Artful Distractions—Homeowner Version: Skol Vikings! Minnesota Viking in Roseville, MN!
• Uniquely Minnesota Artful Distractions—Homeowner Version: Not Paper Roses…Wooden American Beauties in Blaine, MN

Don't be distracted when making YOUR important real estate decisions! If you are buying, selling or relocating to Minnesota and need help from a professional Realtor, give me a call or visit my website for a FREE Relocation Packet. I specialize in acreage and lakeshore properties in the north and east Twin Cities metro area including Ham Lake, Lino Lakes and all communities in the Forest Lake School District! Serving Anoka, Chisago, Ramsey and Washington Counties in Minnesota.
Copyright 2008 terieckholm.com

Uniquely Minnesota Artful Distractions—Homeowner Version: Skol Vikings! Minnesota Viking in Roseville, MN!

One of my favorite parts of being a Realtor is in December when I make my way through Anoka, Chisago, Ramsey and Washington Counties making my holiday visits to the homes of my past and present buyers and sellers delivering two foot tall, live Christmas trees. The trees are a beautiful holiday centerpiece and in the spring can add value to a homeowner’s landscape. Last December, as I made my holiday trek through the north and east Twin Cities metro, I was distracted by a Viking!

In Minnesota, there are many fans of the purple and gold hometown football team but not too many go so far as to have a carved likeness of a Minnesota Viking on their front lawn. At the time, this fierce warrior was covered with snow so I made a mental note to return at the start of the football season and capture this artful distraction to share. This wooden tribute to the Minnesota Vikings is located at a home on a side street in Roseville, MN. The purple pride of this football fan is further evidenced by the sign on the front of the home. I don’t know if this is supposed to be Regnar, the mascot of the Vikings, but Regnar or not, this is one committed fan! Skol Vikings!

In case you were wondering…Skol is a Swedish salute to an admired group and it is the beginning of the Minnesota Viking Fight song:

Skol, Vikings! Let's win this game.
Skol, Vikings! Honor your name.
Go get that first down, then get a touchdown,
Rock 'em, sock 'em, fight, fight, fight, fight!
Skol, Vikings! Run out the score;
You'll hear us yell for more.V-I-K-I-N-G-S!
Skol, Vikings, let's go!

Other Uniquely Minnesota Artful Distractions:

• Uniquely Minnesota Artful Distractions-Hometown Version: The North St. Paul Snowman
• Uniquely Minnesota Artful Distractions-Homeowner Version: Grrrr....Black Bear in Columbus
• Uniquely Minnesota Artful Distractions-Hometown Version: Giant Mouse and Buffalo in Center City
• Uniquely Minnesota Artful Distractions-Homeowner Version: Forest Lake Steam Train
• Uniquely Minnesota Artful Distractions--Homeowner Version: Ham Lake Bald Eagle in Nest
• Uniquely Minnesota Artful Distractions-Homeowner Version: Little Gnome Facts in Forest Lake
• Uniquely Minnesota Artful Distractions--Hometown Version: Lindstrom Teapot Watertower
• Uniquely Minnesota Artful Distractions-Homeowner Version: D'oh! Homer at Home in Centerville
• Uniquely Minnesota Artful Distractions-Hometown Version: Giant Polar Bear in White Bear Lake
• Uniquely Minnesota Artful Distractions--Hometown Version: East Bethel’s New Resident Black Bear
• Uniquely Minnesota Artful Distractions--Homeowner Version: Steel Dragons in Blaine
• Uniquely Minnesota Artful Distractions--Homeowner Version: Move Over Tiger! Yogi’s Ready for the Links in Forest Lake!
  

Don't be distracted when making YOUR important real estate decisions! If you are buying, selling or relocating to Minnesota and need help from a professional Realtor, give me a call or visit my website for a FREE Relocation Packet. I specialize in acreage and lakeshore properties in the north and east Twin Cities metro area including Ham Lake, Lino Lakes and all communities in the Forest Lake School District! Serving Anoka, Chisago, Ramsey and Washington Counties in Minnesota.
Copyright 2008 terieckholm.com

Uniquely Minnesota Artful Distractions--Homeowner Version: Move Over Tiger! Yogi’s Ready for the Links in Forest Lake!

As a Realtor I get the opportunity to canvas the countryside looking at homes and properties throughout the north metro. Time and again I stumble upon unique treasures. This time, I discovered an artful roadside distraction because of a detour just over two months ago. The tornado devastation in Hugo rerouted me from many of my regular real estate routes to and through Anoka and Washington Counties. On one such detour, I drove past this guy who acts as part of a welcoming committee in a Forest Lake home. Now this is a bear that is ready for one of Minnesota’s favorite summer activities…GOLF! I knew that I would have to take this detour again with camera at hand soon!

So this past week on my way to show homes to out-of-town buyers in White Bear Lake and Stillwater, I made a scheduled detour to get the shot. This guy stands on one side of the driveway while his friend (BooBoo maybe?) who is not decked out in golf attire, stands stately on the other. There was some thought put into the clothing as the beautiful two story home of the owner has the same whimsical color scheme: butter yellow siding with forest green trim.
In my real estate travels, I tend to take the same roads so if it wasn’t for the tornado detour, I would never have traveled past this pair of distracting bears. But this gets me thinking…Maybe I should take alternative routes more often as you never know what uniquely Minnesotan artful distraction could be around the next bend in a Minnesota roadway.

Other Uniquely Minnesota Artful Distractions:

• Uniquely Minnesota Artful Distractions-Hometown Version: The North St. Paul Snowman


• Uniquely Minnesota Artful Distractions-Homeowner Version: Grrrr....Black Bear in Columbus


• Uniquely Minnesota Artful Distractions-Hometown Version: Giant Mouse and Buffalo in Center City


• Uniquely Minnesota Artful Distractions-Homeowner Version: Forest Lake Steam Train


• Uniquely Minnesota Artful Distractions--Homeowner Version: Ham Lake Bald Eagle in Nest


• Uniquely Minnesota Artful Distractions-Homeowner Version: Little Gnome Facts in Forest Lake


• Uniquely Minnesota Artful Distractions--Hometown Version: Lindstrom Teapot Watertower


• Uniquely Minnesota Artful Distractions-Homeowner Version: D'oh! Homer at Home in Centerville


• Uniquely Minnesota Artful Distractions-Hometown Version: Giant Polar Bear in White Bear Lake


• Uniquely Minnesota Artful Distractions--Hometown Version: East Bethel’s New Resident Black Bear


• Uniquely Minnesota Artful Distractions--Homeowner Version: Steel Dragons in Blaine

Don't be distracted when making YOUR important real estate decisions! If you are buying, selling or relocating to Minnesota and need help from a professional Realtor, give me a call or visit my website for a FREE Relocation Packet. I specialize in acreage and lakeshore properties in the north and east Twin Cities metro area including Ham Lake, Lino Lakes and all communities in the Forest Lake School District! Serving Anoka, Chisago, Ramsey and Washington Counties in Minnesota.
Copyright 2008 terieckholm.com

Uniquely Minnesota Artful Distractions--Homeowner Version: Steel Dragons in Blaine

A decade ago when we made our move to Anoka County, unique sites along the road often surprised us. There were the little buildings resembling outhouses near the end of every driveway. These of course are shelters for children waiting for the school bus. There were hawks on roadside power lines looking down to the road or a sod field looking for its next meal to run by. And then there would be something to really stop you in your tracks…Something that looks like a steel dragon!

When we first saw this Artful Distraction in Blaine, it was nose to nose with its mirror image. The pair of shining steel sculptures glistened as they blocked the driveway and guarded the entry to the property. I have to admit, I have never noticed the actual home they protect but when looking at these entwined serpents, I imagined a castle.

In my real estate travels, I get to past these metallic serpents on a regular basis. Lately the pair has been apart, leaving access wide open to the property. From the looks of things, overgrown grass and unattended trash receptacles, I imagine there is a new owner in the home who doesn’t need the added security of a pair of silver steel dragons. But even apart, the spectacle doesn’t go without notice and remains a favorite and very unique distraction along a Minnesota roadway.

Other Uniquely Minnesota Artful Distractions:

• Uniquely Minnesota Artful Distractions-Hometown Version: The North St. Paul Snowman


• Uniquely Minnesota Artful Distractions-Homeowner Version: Grrrr....Black Bear in Columbus


• Uniquely Minnesota Artful Distractions-Hometown Version: Giant Mouse and Buffalo in Center City


• Uniquely Minnesota Artful Distractions-Homeowner Version: Forest Lake Steam Train


• Uniquely Minnesota Artful Distractions--Homeowner Version: Ham Lake Bald Eagle in Nest


• Uniquely Minnesota Artful Distractions-Homeowner Version: Little Gnome Facts in Forest Lake


• Uniquely Minnesota Artful Distractions--Hometown Version: Lindstrom Teapot Watertower


• Uniquely Minnesota Artful Distractions-Homeowner Version: D'oh! Homer at Home in Centerville


• Uniquely Minnesota Artful Distractions-Hometown Version: Giant Polar Bear in White Bear Lake


• Uniquely Minnesota Artful Distractions--Hometown Version: East Bethel’s New Resident Black Bear

Don't be distracted when making YOUR important real estate decisions! If you are buying, selling or relocating to Minnesota and need help from a professional Realtor, give me a call or visit my website for a FREE Relocation Packet. I specialize in acreage and lakeshore properties in the north and east Twin Cities metro area including Ham Lake, Lino Lakes and all communities in the Forest Lake School District! Serving Anoka, Chisago, Ramsey and Washington Counties in Minnesota.
Copyright 2008 terieckholm.com

Uniquely Minnesota Artful Distraction—Homeowner Version: Little Gnome Facts in Forest Lake

Or should I say it is a fact that a little gnome is yard art in Forest Lake, Minnesota. This amazing tree carving and Uniquely Minnesota Artful Distraction makes its home just off of Broadway, the main street of Forest Lake commerce. As a Realtor working in the northeast metro, I see this type of art in yards all over Washington and Anoka Counties. I discovered the little guy one day when I was driving a different route to pick up one of my son's friends. Now, I take my family by it often, as we love its whimsy. He is pretty good sized too with the mushrooms, the sculpture is about 5 feet tall.

As a lover of fantasy literature, “Gnomes” was one of the first tabletop art books I ever purchased as a college student and I still own it today. I never understood why others think of Garden Gnomes as creepy unless it is like the people with the unnatural fear of clowns. Love ‘em or hate ‘em this gnome is a pretty unique piece of landscape art.

Other Artful Distraction and Forest Lake Posts:

• Uniquely Minnesota Artful Distractions—Hometown Version: The North St. Paul Snowman


• Uniquely Minnesota Artful Distractions--Homeowner Version: Ham Lake Bald Eagle in Nest


• Relocating to Forest Lake MN? The Schools are Full of Ranger Pride!Forest Lake, MN


• Forest Lake, MN Real Estate Market Statistics 3rd Quarter 2007

Featured Listing in Forest Lake Minnesota: 20685 Georgia Ave N
If you are relocating to Minnesota, are looking for Homes for Sale in the north and east Twin Cities metro area and need help from a professional Realtor, give me a call or visit my website for a FREE Relocation Packet. I specialize in acreage properties! Serving Anoka, Chisago, Ramsey and Washington Counties in Minnesota.

Copyright 2007 www.terieckholm.com

Uniquely Minnesota Artful Distractions

Minnesota is full of roadside art. Distractions or attractions? It’s probably a little of both.

People love the beauty along the scenic highways and byways of Minnesota. A Sunday afternoon drive in the country is an occasion that becomes a perfect family adventure. If you are the perceptive sort you will notice the roadside art that pops up along the landscape showing the humorous side of Minnesota residents.

Communities have tranformed utilitarian watertowers into gigantic icons. Cities have welcoming mascots that tower over mainstreet. Businesses have created massive sculptures of logos and trademarks. Many are quaint but all are memorable.

Homeowner’s have gotten into the act of landscape decorations too. With the popularity of chainsaw artisians at craft shows throughout the north and east metro, it wasn’t long before these local artists were asked to transform dead trees into masterpieces. Working like a cross between Paul Bunyan and Edward Scissorhand’s many front yards now have wooden sculptures to welcome visitors and delight passersby.

As a Real Estate agent, I drive through many communities and areas throughout Anoka, Chisago and Washington Counties. I have noticed, laughed at and marveled at many a decorative distraction along the road or in someone’s yard. From Ham Lake to Lindstrom and North St. Paul to Forest Lake…I have seen the wonderful and whimscal aspects of many examples of roadside art. Driving to a new listing can often be the opportunity to discovering a new unique piece of neighborhood art hidden a few blocks off the main road.

Here is to the start of my new series of Uniquely Minnesota Artful Distractions. There will be Homeowner and Hometown versions of this periodic photographic series. I hope you enjoy the uniquely Minnesota art as much as I enjoy seeing it along side the roads.

If you are relocating to Minnesota, are looking for Homes for Sale in the north and east Twin Cities metro area and need help from a professional Realtor, give me a call or visit my website for a FREE Relocation Packet. I specialize in acreage properties! Serving Anoka, Chisago, Ramsey and Washington Counties in Minnesota.

Copyright 2007 www.terieckholm.com/