Unheralded

LA VALLEUR COMMUNICATES: Musings By Barbara La Valleur — Stand

It’s been a couple of months since I’ve blogged about my Metaboli Balance® journey. A lot has been going on in my life, and yes, I’m still on plan. I even did a month on Phase 3 at the recommendation of my nutrition coach since I’d reached my halfway goal (I’m down 45 pounds since Jan. 2) of losing 88 pounds. …


Unheralded

LA VALLEUR COMMUNICATES: Musings By Barbara La Valleur — Minnehaha Falls And Park

A perfect autumn afternoon presented an opportunity to explore Minnehaha Falls and Park, while close by, is a place we’ve not visited for several years. We had a picnic, a walk and I had a chance to take photos of the beautiful park. Enjoy! We sure did. At the end, we stopped for a glass of wine at the pavilion …


LA VALLEUR COMMUNICATES: Musings By Barbara La Valleur — ♪♫♫♪♫♪ Oh, Beautiful ♪♫♫♪♪♫ ♫♫♪♫ For Spacious Skies ♫♫♪♫

While out walking at La Farm with my husband this morning, I couldn’t help but notice how beautiful everything was. Then I noticed the spacious skies and my mind went immediately to the words of “America the Beautiful.” Given it’s the Fourth of July weekend, I’m sharing the words to this very precious song written in 1893 by 33-year-old Katherine …

LA VALLEUR COMMUNICATES: Musings By Barbara La Valleur — Goat Cheese; Who Knew

Before starting my Metabolic Balance® nutrition plan, goat cheese was not something I was familiar with; who knew there were so many choices? Not me, for sure. A quick Google check tells me that goat cheese, like goat milk, is easier on the human digestive system and lower in calories, cholesterol and fat than its bovine counterpart. In addition, goat …

LA VALLEUR COMMUNICATES: Musings By Barbara La Valleur — Fun Sun Day

On a rare day in which neither of us had calendars full of commitments, my husband and I went for a spontaneous bike ride today taking advantage of the brilliant sunshine and mild breeze. A native of Minneapolis who spends more time than me on his bike, Arnie would have been fine biking from our Edina condo. Me, not so …

LA VALLEUR COMMUNICATES: Musings By Barbara La Valleur — No News Is Good News: Day 150

A note to Fish readers: On Jan. 2, I began a nutrition plan complete with a certified nutritionist coach. After learning that I’m a journalist and blogger, she invited me to blog about my experiences. The following is the 13th of my weekly blogs. “No news is good news” we often say in my photojournalism profession. So I haven’t felt compelled …

LA VALLEUR COMMUNICATES: Musings By Barbara La Valleur — National Women’s History Museum And Women In Journalism

On Dec. 16, 2011, I became a card-carrying member of the National Women’s History Museum in Washington D.C. Founded in 1996, it is a nonpartisan nonprofit organization dedicated to educating the public about diverse historic contributions of women. A major focus of NHWM is to raise awareness — and funds — needed for a world-class permanent museum near the National Mall …

LA VALLEUR COMMUNICATES: Musings By Barbara La Valleur — Choosing Wisely

A note to Fish readers: On Jan. 2, I began a nutrition plan complete with a certified nutritionist coach. After learning that I’m a journalist and blogger, she invited me to blog about my experiences. The following is the 12th of my weekly blogs. For more than 20 years I’ve participated in a transformational educational program with the international company called Landmark …

LA VALLEUR COMMUNICATES: Musings By Barbara La Valleur — Prince Passing

I’m compelled to confess that I skipped church Sunday. A friend called Saturday evening and wanted to go to First Avenue and Paisley Park to mark Prince’s passing and leave some purple mementoes. It was surprising even to me that both my husband and I said yes to the spontaneous plan. We were curious. We’ve listened to more Prince music …

LA VALLEUR COMMUNICATES: Musings By Barbara La Valleur — Milestone Moments

A note to Fish readers: On Jan. 2, I began a nutrition plan complete with a certified nutritionist coach. After learning that I’m a journalist and blogger, she invited me to blog about my experiences. The following is the 11th of my weekly blogs. One of the practices I create taking on a new project is to set an end result goal …

LA VALLEUR COMMUNICATES: Musings By Barbara La Valleur — Keeping ‘On Plan’ While On The Road

A note to Fish readers: On Jan. 2, I began a nutrition plan complete with a certified nutritionist coach. After learning that I’m a journalist and blogger, she invited me to blog about my experiences. The following is the 10th of my weekly blogs. Keeping on plan at home, while not necessarily a “piece of cake,” is relatively easy once you’re …

LA VALLEUR COMMUNICATES: Musings By Barbara La Valleur — The Weekly Treat Meal

A note to Fish readers: On Jan. 2, I began a nutrition plan complete with a certified nutritionist coach. After learning that I’m a journalist and blogger, she invited me to blog about my experiences. The following is the ninth of my weekly blogs. When my nutrition coach Christine told me I’d be able to have a “treat meal” once a …

LA VALLEUR COMMUNICATES: Musings By Barbara La Valleur — Sister Act

A note to Fish readers: On Jan. 2, I began a nutrition plan complete with a certified nutritionist coach. After learning that I’m a journalist and blogger, she invited me to blog about my experiences. The following is the eighth of two month’s of weekly blogs that first appeared on the international Metabolic Balance® website on March 17.  Unheralded.fish will run …

LA VALLEUR COMMUNICATES: Musings By Barbara La Valleur — Be Adventurous

A note to Fish readers: On Jan. 2, I began a nutrition plan complete with a certified nutritionist coach. After learning that I’m a journalist and blogger, she invited me to blog about my experiences. The following is the seventh of two month’s of weekly blogs that first appeared on the international Metabolic Balance® website on March 9.  Unheralded.fish will run …

LA VALLEUR COMMUNICATES: Musings By Barbara La Valleur — The Eye’s Have It!

A note to Fish readers: On Jan. 2, I began a nutrition plan complete with a certified nutritionist coach. After learning that I’m a journalist and blogger, she invited me to blog about my experiences. The following is the sixth of two month’s of weekly blogs that first appeared on the international Metabolic Balance® website on March 1.  Unheralded.fish will run …

LA VALLEUR COMMUNICATES: Musings By Barbara La Valleur — Soup’s On!

A note to Fish readers: On Jan. 2, I began a nutrition plan complete with a certified nutritionist coach. After learning that I’m a journalist and blogger, she invited me to blog about my experiences. The following is the fifth of two month’s of weekly blogs that first appeared on the international Metabolic Balance® website on Feb. 22.  Unheralded.fish will run …

LA VALLEUR COMMUNICATES: Musings By Barbara La Valleur — My Inspiration: My Sister, Sharon

A note to Fish readers: On Jan. 2, I began a nutrition plan complete with a certified nutritionist coach. After learning that I’m a journalist and blogger, she invited me to blog about my experiences. The following is the fourth of two month’s of weekly blogs that first appeared on the international Metabolic Balance® website.  Unheralded.fish will run the first eight …

LA VALLEUR COMMUNICATES: Musings By Barbara La Valleur — Getting In The Groove

A note to Fish readers: On Jan. 2, I began a nutrition plan complete with a certified nutritionist coach. After learning that I’m a journalist and blogger, she invited me to blog about my experiences. The following, written Feb. 9, is the third of two month’s of weekly blogs that first appeared on the international Metabolic Balance® website.  Unheralded.fish will run the …

LA VALLEUR COMMUNICATES: Musings By Barbara La Valleur — Early Results

A note to Fish readers: On Jan. 2, I began a nutrition plan complete with a certified nutritionist coach. After learning that I’m a journalist and blogger, she invited me to blog about my experiences. The following, written Jan. 25, is the second of two month’s of weekly blogs that first appeared on the international Metabolic Balance® website.  Unheralded.fish will run the …

LA VALLEUR COMMUNICATES: Musings By Barbara La Valleur — Defining Moments

A note to Fish readers: On Jan. 2, I began a nutrition plan complete with a certified nutritionist coach. After learning that I’m a journalist and blogger, she invited me to blog about my experiences. The following, written Jan. 12, is the first of two month’s of weekly blogs that first appeared on the international Metabolic Balance® website.  Unheralded.fish will run …

LA VALLEUR COMMUNICATES: Musings By Barbara La Valleur — Spring Has Sprung — Until The Next Snowfall

We’re spending a few days at our family retreat, La Farm, between Ashby and Battle Lake, Minn., so I thought I’d share some spring photos taken in the area. Tomorrow’s forecast may bring snow, but as I glance over ― between playing our favorite card game Hand and Foot ― at the photo calendar I made for our family last …

RUSS HONS: Photo Gallery — University of North Dakota Vs. Idaho State, February 4, 2016

It was a milestone game for University of North Dakota men’s basketball players Adam McDermott and Quinton Hooker on Thursday night in Betty Engelstad Sioux Center. McDermott scored a career high 28 points, including eight three-pointers, and Hooker registered the first triple-double in UND’s Division I history — 13 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists — as the Fighting Hawks rolled over Big …

LA VALLEUR COMMUNICATES: Musings By Barbara La Valleur — Trash Trump

You can’t make these things up. We live in Edina, a Minneapolis suburb in a 392-unit condo complex. My husband, a retired Mayo Clinic administrator of 32 years, is ever conscious of people’s tendencies to throw away perfectly useful items and rescues them from the dumpster. When he first did this a few years ago, I questioned his motives despite …

LA VALLEUR COMMUNICATES: Musings By Barbara La Valleur — Hillary & Bill Up-Close — Kinda

I flew from Winnipeg to England the day after President Richard Nixon resigned, Aug. 9, 1974. It seemed like a good time to leave. I was fulfilling a high school dream to live in Europe. Despite leaving a terrific job as chief photographer of the Daily News in Wahpeton, N.D.-Breckenridge, Minn. and my bright red, new 1974 Plymouth Duster with very …

LA VALLEUR COMMUNICATES: Musings By Barbara La Valleur — MIA: Native American Exhibit

Last week, we went to “Delacroix’a Influence: The Rise of Modern Art from Cézanne to van Gogh”: at MIA [pronounced mee-a], previously known as the Minneapolis Institute of Arts. It was an extraordinary exhibit. To quote The Wall Street Journal, which said it best, “As one moves through the exhibition, the breadth of Delacroix’s imagination and authority becomes inescapable.” I …

LA VALLEUR COMMUNICATES: Musings By Barbara La Valleur — Facebook: The Good, The Bad, The Ugly

“For the record: I don’t play games on Facebook, so please don’t ask me. I also don’t repost even when close friends and/or relatives ask me to repost due to some cause they are passionate about ― unless I choose to. I dislike the “guilt trip style” when it says “if you care …” you’ll repost or “if you don’t care, …

LA VALLEUR COMMUNICATES: Musings By Barbara La Valleur — Decorating For Christmas At La Farm

An old 15-by-30 inch three-paneled window, its white paint scared by years of beatings from the elements, is the first Christmas decoration that is hung in the kitchen when we arrive at La Farm, our family retreat between my childhood homes of Ashby and Battle Lake, Minn. It was the home of our grandparents, the late John and Mabel La …

LA VALLEUR COMMUNICATES: Musings By Barbara La Valleur — What Matters In The End?

Every two weeks since June, someone in my family, someone I went to grade school or high school with or — as happened this week — a friend I respected, has died. It’s almost enough to get depressed about. Thankfully, that hasn’t happened. But it has given me considerable pause to think about death and dying. What really DOES matter …

LA VALLEUR COMMUNICATES: Musings By Barbara La Valleur — The Spook House

As Halloween approaches, I remember one year as a young girl growing up on a farm outside of Ashby, Minn., when we decided to create a “Spook House” in an old abandoned house on our farm. And charge admission. My two older sisters joined in. We were about 5, 7 and 9. We had different “spooky” experiences set up in different …

LA VALLEUR COMMUNICATES: Musings By Barbara La Valleur — Public Art: The Importance Of Conservation

For nearly three years, I’ve been involved with a group that meets quarterly called the Forecast Public Art Breakfast Scrambler. About 40 artists, public art administrators, art supporters, educators and Twin Cities area planners gather to share information, learn from each other and network. Started by Jack Becker 37 years ago, Forecast Public Art is one of the nation’s first …

LA VALLEUR COMMUNICATES: Musings By Barbara La Valleur — Mississippi River Ride

What a perfectly glorious autumn day for a ride on the Mississippi River! Saturday, my husband Arnie and I, enjoyed a three-hour tour from River Heights Marina at Inver Grove Heights north past downtown St. Paul. Our river tour was compliments of Winston Kettle. Thanks, Winston! He and his crew totally remodeled our home, La Condo, this past year. Winston’s …

LA VALLEUR COMMUNICATES: Musings By Barbara La Valleur — Side Trip To Bemidji

As a kid, I remember long drives to California. We never deviated from the planned route. Sometimes, our plan took us west to Washington, then south to Lakewood and Spring Valley, Calif., where our relatives lived. Once we went south to Texas to visit Mother’s relatives and then west along the old wooden highway that was featured in Steinbeck’s “Grapes …

LA VALLEUR COMMUNICATES: Musings By Barbara La Valleur — Downtown Minneapolis Adventure(s)

My husband, Arnie Bigbee and I went downtown today — my first trip on light rail — it felt like being on vacation in a different city seeing the sights from the train. Then, we went to the amazing new Star Tribune offices with Chihuly glass bowls behind glass cases to take in the discussion about the dining scene with …

LA VALLEUR COMMUNICATES: Musings By Barbara La Valleur — TV Ad Mayhem

I lied when I said my next blog would be On to The Daily News of Wahpeton-Breckenridge. Life happens. Like this past week spent in bed, not by choice mind you, with a wicked bacterial infection. Not functioning, I turned on the TV in a useless attempt to not feel sorry for myself in my pain and misery. I’ve missed my …

LA VALLEUR COMMUNICATES: Musings By Barbara La Valleur — My First Blog As An ‘InForumer’

“Write a bio to put up on the site,” Jeff Tiedeman texted. Geez, you want me to write who I am, a photojournalist of more than 50 years, in one paragraph? Sure. It wouldn’t be so bad if I didn’t immediately have the thought that it’s like writing my own obit. I’ve written a few hundred of those starting at …