An Anoka couple experiencing their first winter in Minnesota are embracing the season by turning a large pile of snow left over from clearing their driveway into a giant "snowasaurus."
"Everybody is noticing it," said Alan Papp, the architect behind the hand-sculpted dinosaur.
It's hard not to. The 25-foot neon green monster stands out in front of the Papp family home near Adams Street and 5th Avenue. Many onlookers have driven by to catch a glimpse, and some have even stopped to pose for photos.
"It's bringing excitement to the neighborhood," neighbor Melissa Lange said. "I think it is a cute idea."
Papp used to build sand sculptures a few times a year on the beaches of California, where he lived before moving to Minnesota in September. He and his wife, Marcelle, were looking for a home in a city with a "small-town feel," he said.
The couple bought the house in Anoka last summer — without ever stepping foot inside — so they could be close to their son, Nick, his wife, Mallory, and 1-year-old grandson, Miles, who live in Andover.
As the snow piled up over the holidays, Papp said kids across the street were building a snowman. Eyeing the huge mound of snow in his own yard, Papp said he knew he wanted to turn it into something, even though he'd never built anything out of snow.
In a couple hours he crafted his masterpiece, using only a shovel and his hands. He used a stake to dig out eyes and drag out the mouth line.
