Up North

Bob and I took a quick getaway to the Brainerd area last weekend. We drove up to Mille Lacs and stayed at Eddy's Resort on the Lake Saturday night. We took the shuttle over to the casino to donate play the slots. Since I am cheap, I walked out with the same dollar I put in the machine. I only play nickels (one or 5 at a time.) Since Bob is a big spender, he lost $10. In the morning, we had a huge breakfast at their restaurant overlooking the lake, then drove another hour to Cross Lake. We checked in at Manhattan Beach Resort on Trout Lake. The resort is a cross between a B&B and an upscale hotel. Very northwoodsy. Log furniture. Murals of Birch trees. Fireplaces. It was built in the 20's and frequented by the wealthy from Chicago and the Twin Cities who would take the train up there. During the depression and prohibition, the clientele were gangsters, but their money was welcome the same. In the 30's and 40's it was a stop for the big bands and a playground for Hollywood (according to the fact sheet that was in our room.) It's been added on many times, but all the rooms face the lake and it hasn't lost it's charm. Bob went for a bike ride and I went garage saleing in town. After his solo ride, we met up again for a car ride around the lakes to gawk at the houses and then went to the 'sister' resort to use the pool/hot-tub. When I realized we were the ONLY ones there, I pouted! I would've put on my suit too if I had known. (The front desk clerk told us there were only 7 people checked in for the night). We went back to our Inn, set up the beach front firepit for the evening, then ate dinner at the Resort. After a nice sit at 'our' fire and a stab at stargazing in the beach lounges, we went back to the hot tub. This time there was another couple, but I didn't care. We sampled the pool, hot-tub and sauna before bed. In the morning we ate a continental breakfast before heading out to try a couple hikes on the Paul Bunyan Trail. It was a warm and sunny weekend, and a not-bad drive. I look forward to doing it again.


Manhattan Beach Resort in Cross Lake.


The Lake was clear and calm. The docks seemed a little rickety to me, but Bob is brave! Of course he tried to sway the dock when I was standing on the end of it...


Hiking on the Paul Bunyan trail.



The old logging FireTower which was fenced off "for our protection"



The beginning of the beautiful fall colors.



I was hoping to see a bear or at least a deer, and this is what I got! I should have specified Blackbear instead of woolybear when I was wishing.

(Almost) Wordless Wednesday

Rapunzel sheared her own locks. She calls her New Do her "shortcut!" LOL

Junk Bonanza

Today was the opening of the Junk Bonanza weekend in Shakopee- a favorite once a year antique boutique show of mine. I went with my cousin Robyn and we walked our legs off for 4 hours trying to take a peek at everything. I really had my heart set on an antique dress-form, but unfortunately they were either sold to the early-birds who paid extra to get in or were way too pricy to buy just for fun in an upstairs sewing room that no one will ever see. And I would've loved to have found a crystal chandelier for Sophie's room, but the cheapest one I liked was almost a hundred bucks, so I passed. It will be a lot more thrilling when I find either one at a thrift store for $9.99! But I certainly didn't go home empty handed. As one booth proclaimed on their chalkboard, " It's the most fun you can have with your clothes on."



My Loot Shoot: A little red chair for $6, 2 thick wooden painted yardsticks for $4. A spool of pinkish-red cotton twill trim for sewing for $2, 2 artist-made vintage jumbo sewing notion cards- one of buttons and one of rick-rack, $15 for the two.The artist was really cool- she also made a giant vintage camera- I told her that I love that she's a weirdo like me. (You know how I am about Big and Little!) I also bought a set of vintage alphabet tiles for a buck apiece that spell out Kippels!

Luck, WI

We invited ourselves to Mark and Danielle's 200 acre retreat this weekend in Luck,WI. Molly and Jeff bought adjoining acreage and were coming up with their motorhome, giving us a family weekend. After we arrived in the morning, we packed a picnic lunch and headed off to their lake property 12 miles away. Polishing off a lunch of hotdogs and polish on the campfire, vegies, and a salad thrown together from Danielle's own garden, we headed into the lake. There were plenty of toys for the water, and chairs for the shade. The temp was a balmy 83 degrees.The lake looked like glass, and we had the whole damn thing to ourselves! Jake and Nate loved jumping off the dock into 10 ft. of water, and spent most of the time on kayaks- either fishing or paddling. I told Bob I wanted to kayak with him, but he tried to talk me out of it, worried to be responsible for me. Everyone else said to give it a try, so I did. Guess what? I did it! I was a little weirded out by not having a life-jacket, but I stuck near shore. It really felt pretty stable, and wasn't that hard to learn. I am not saying that I'm ready to portage in the Boundary Waters, but I can putz around a calm little lake in my comfort zone. Hooray for me! When we went back to the camp, we had a fish fry.


We then boarded the tractor and trailer that Mark outfitted with haybales for us and took a moonlight hayride through the woods with his parents. It was perfectly awesome. The harvest moon was shining brightly and the kids spotted wood fairies out of the corner of their eyes, and heard deer and bears with their own ears (and a little imagination!) We topped our perfect night with forays down the road to an open spot to gaze at the moon and some odd geometric contrails (driven in a golf cart courtesy of 10 yr. old Nate), and sat by a roaring campfire to roast marshmallows for S'mores.



The next morning we headed into the woods with 6 yr. old Jake to do some hiking before we left. Nature at her best.





We ate some of Danielle's homemade Eggplant Parmagiana for lunch, then took off for the 1 1/2 scenic ride back home. On the way Bob and I stopped in St.Croix Falls at a scenic overlook, funky Franconia Sculpture Park, http://www.franconia.org/about.html and Marine-On-St.-Croix for ice cream cones.



This weekend we discovered that I have hidden talents, that you are never too old for a hayride, and we aren't that 'arsty', but we still love us a good ice cream cone on a hot day. Even when it is September!

Congrats Dale and Jen!

My baby brother Dale and his fiance are on their way to Vegas this week to be married. Yeah! We had a party for them on Sunday at my dad's house. His yard looked beautiful, full of fall flowering plants and shrubs in their prime. The tents and tables and bouquets and tissue garland looked festive. The food was delish as usual, thanks to Twylla's Italian salad and Baked Ziti with meatballs, and Jill's sausage and peppers. The cupcakes and bars were icing on the cake, so to speak. It was a small party sendoff consisting of family and a few of Dale and Jen's friends. We spent the afternoon after dinner and the champagne toast playing yard games and laughing. The kids blew bubbles, fed the horses and chased butterflies. It was a great day capped off by a brief shower and double rainbow - certainly a sign of approval from above. Congrats Dale and Jen!


My dad making a last minute inspection of the yard.


The seating under the white party tents.


The fresh from the farmers market bouquets. (17 in all!)


Max making a mess having fun with the bubbles.


Nate, Jake and Max feeding the horses apples and pears from Grandpa's trees.


Nate and Grandpa partnering in a wicked game of beanbag toss.


Uncle Dean with Max, Jake, Luke and Sophie capturing butterflies in the wildflowers.


Cousins Zach, Hannah, Maddy and Laine enjoying the beautiful day.


My grandkids sitting on a log in Grandpa's woods. (As Dale always says to me,
"Grandma sounds old, but Great-Uncle just sounds fun!")


The approval signal from above.