Colleen Carpenter
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colleenmcarpenter.bsky.social
Colleen Carpenter
@colleenmcarpenter.bsky.social
500 followers 740 following 180 posts
Author, educator, public speaker. Leaving academia (prof of theology + environmental studies) for the great wide world, with my rescue dog Marigold keeping me company. St. Paul MN resident; grew up in Chicago.
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colleenmcarpenter.bsky.social
I'm sure I will! Does she like dogs? Miss Marigold loves meeting new people, but would also happily stay out of sight and far far away from the front door if that's more appropriate.
Medium-sized brown dog sitting on a green wingback chair, next to a table covered in books.
February 17, 2026 at 1:26 AM
colleenmcarpenter.bsky.social
Miss Marigold would love to be Franklin's valentine!
Medium-sized brown dog wearing a red coat, standing on a floral rug and looking up at the camera.
February 15, 2026 at 1:08 AM
colleenmcarpenter.bsky.social
This is Marigold, usually known as Miss Marigold, Sweet Miss, Silly Girl, Miss Floppity Floppity, Miss Softness, and of course Devil Dog.
A medium-sized black and brown dog with a purple collar is lying on a floral rug, looking directly at the camera with big soft brown eyes, floppy beagle-y ears perked as far as floppy ears can perk, and a very serious expression on her face.
February 8, 2026 at 3:54 PM
colleenmcarpenter.bsky.social
Looks just like my Marigold! What's her (his) name?
Brown beagle-sized dog wearing a red winter coat standing inside on a floral rug. A yellow toy duck is next to the dog, who is looking at the camera.
January 29, 2026 at 9:55 PM
colleenmcarpenter.bsky.social
Just voted! Come on down, 64A folks, there's still time. No line (but a steady flow of voters!!) at Merriam Park library.
Round red sticker reading "I Voted"
January 28, 2026 at 12:10 AM
colleenmcarpenter.bsky.social
Time for season 2. What happens in Ghorman will almost certainly freak you out. But remember: We have friends everywhere.
Star Wars resistance symbol modified to show a (Minnesota) loon with wings up, instead of just an abstract symbol. Bright star over the loon; the word "RESIST!" underneath
January 25, 2026 at 2:35 AM
colleenmcarpenter.bsky.social
A scene from Andor: one senator says, "They don't even bother to lie badly anymore," and the other responds, "I suppose that's the final humiliation."
January 24, 2026 at 11:55 PM
colleenmcarpenter.bsky.social
MIRAC sponsoring
Poster: ICE shot another community member. Vigil and Rally Today, January 24th, 1 pm, E 26th and Nicollet. Sponsored by MIRAC, MN Immigrant Rights Action Committee
January 24, 2026 at 5:24 PM
colleenmcarpenter.bsky.social
purple poster saying "No one thought the revolution would start in Minneapolis . . . except Prince"
January 23, 2026 at 11:11 PM
colleenmcarpenter.bsky.social
Minnesotans are amazing!
Huge crowd filling a street in Minneapolis, protest signs, big American flag in the center
January 23, 2026 at 10:35 PM
colleenmcarpenter.bsky.social
Today's 2nd finished novel was Colleen Cambridge's Murder at Mallowan Hall (book #9 for the year). Lots of fun—M Hall is Agatha Christie's home; of course there's a Body in the Library! The detective/narrator is Christie's housekeeper. Think Downton Abbey with a female Hercule Poirot—perfect!
Book cover, dark blue background with three old-fashioned keys positioned over the title and author's name. Typewriter at the base of the cover; spilled ink and a pen are also in the background, with unreadable cursive writing behind all.
January 22, 2026 at 12:44 AM
colleenmcarpenter.bsky.social
The news keeps getting worse, so I finished two novels today. Book #8 of the year was You Are Here by David Nicholls. Sweet love story set on a trek across England, "sea to sea," which is of course about the narrowest distance across Minnesota, North Dakota to Wisconsin (just under 200 miles).
Cover of David Nicholls' novel You are Here. Blue background, yellow lettering for the author's name, black lettering for the title. Rough sketch of a path and a stone wall with a gate.
January 22, 2026 at 12:38 AM
colleenmcarpenter.bsky.social
I've been reading a lot of fiction lately to calm down after reading the news. Book #7 of 2026: Ann Patchett's Tom Lake. Beautiful novel. Mom and daughters and a cherry farm—perfect balance to the insanity of living in St. Paul right now.
Cover of Tom Lake. Text reads Tom Lake: A Novel. Ann Patchett. Background is a field of daisies.
January 14, 2026 at 11:03 PM
colleenmcarpenter.bsky.social
Art. Beauty. Resistance.
Image of a map of Minnesota decorated with flowers, text reads “ICE out of MniSota”
January 12, 2026 at 4:34 PM
colleenmcarpenter.bsky.social
Book #6 for 2026: Kaliane Bradley, The Ministry of Time. Thought it would be light and fun but it ended up weirder and darker than I expected. Will be thinking about it for awhile . . .
Cover of The Ministry of Time, with the title in multi-colored letters against a black starry background. LA Times review on the top: "Witty, sexy, escapist fiction that packs a substantial punch"
January 9, 2026 at 4:46 PM
colleenmcarpenter.bsky.social
Book #5 for 2026: Erin Morgenstern, The Night Circus. I adore her work; I'd read this one before and I'm sure I'll read it again!

"The circus arrives without warning . . ."
Front cover of The Night Circus, black background, white lettering, and silhouettes of a man in a bowler hat, a woman in a ball gown, and circus tents
January 7, 2026 at 1:54 AM
colleenmcarpenter.bsky.social
Book #4 for 2026: inspiration from Choctaw elder and Episcopal bishop Steven Charleston, entitled Ladder to the Light.
Cover image of Ladder to the Light, white letters on striped earth colors of green and rust Back cover, with short synopsis, several reviews, and author bio
January 5, 2026 at 8:00 PM
colleenmcarpenter.bsky.social
Book #3 for 2026: The Soul of an Octopus, by Sy Montgomery
Front cover, featuring a purple image of an octopus, all 8 legs spread out and looking like they’re dancing Back cover, featuring short blurbs, short description, and author bio
January 3, 2026 at 4:49 AM
colleenmcarpenter.bsky.social
Book 2 for 2026 (ok, I started this one a couple days ago): The Long Way to a Small Angry Planet, by Becky Chambers. I'd enjoyed her Monk and Robot books but wasn't sure the straight sci-fi would be for me BUT I LOVED IT!!
Front cover of The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet, featuring big green text, a small planet, and a thrown-together junk spaceship Back cover of The Long Way to a Small Angry Planet, featuring teaser summary and author photo
January 1, 2026 at 11:06 PM
colleenmcarpenter.bsky.social
Going to keep track of my reading this year. Here’s book #1.

Everything I learned about America during 2025, C. T. Vivian had figured out in 1970.
Cover of C T Vivian’s Black Power and the American Myth Back cover of C T Vivian’s Black Power and the American Myth
January 1, 2026 at 4:58 PM
colleenmcarpenter.bsky.social
The "little neighborhood protest" in Highland Park (Saint Paul) extended for blocks and blocks—so many people, so many awesome signs! What glorious fun!!
Photo of protesters, including a few inflatable dinosaurs No Kings protestors lining Fairview Ave, lots of people and American flags
October 18, 2025 at 7:14 PM
colleenmcarpenter.bsky.social
Me too. And we always looked at it in contrast to Charles Hilliard’s “Reversing Manifest Destiny”
Painting of a “reversal” of American Progress, showing a Native woman leading Native people towards a polluted, “civilized” American landscape, intent on reclaiming and healing the land
July 24, 2025 at 9:01 PM