MEA Fun, postdated!

Off we go up north to Lutzen for a quick two night stay.  We left Wednesday after school and arrived at the lodge at Moose Mountain in time to make a cozy fire in our room and watch a movie before bed.

 On Thursday morning the plan originally was to golf - but it was cold and rainy, so after talking to Jane, who was on her way up to two Harbors to see Grandma Flo with Jenna and Mabel, we decided to head up to Grand Portage and go see the Voyageur's Museum there.  Really a cool place!

 We saw a movie while we were there and toured the museum.

 It was cold and rainy all day, but we didn't care.  Saw a new side of Lake Superior.

 There were still some pretty trees and a bit of color along the way.  We saw 11 deer (I counted!)

 We went all the way up to Grand Marais, too, but then headed south on 61 to a famous resort called Nannabougou (not sure exactly how to spell it) for lunch.


                                                
The resort was built in the late 1920's and has it's original paint in the restaurant!  Check out this ceiling!

 I can't remember all the details of this fireplace - I think it is the largest made from local stones in the whole state of Minnesota.

The food was really good, too!  I had a turkey and pear sandwich with some special cheese on it with cranberries, too - plus a really good soup.

                                                    

This is a view from our condo in the resort.  There was a hot tub type bubbly bath right in our room - nice way to end the evening!

 OK - Friday morning was NOT raining, so off to golf before heading home.

 It started out a bit cloudy, but ...

 ... ahh... the sun came out and it was a great day for golf!

 I hooked the bendy tripod on the golf cart and tried about three times to get a timer picture with me in it.  I ran down the hill, and the camera wasn't set just right, or the camera fell off, or I got my backside in the picture!

 Finally ... I got it set just right, and I made it down the hill just in time!

 I even found a few flowers still blooming to get a fuzzy shot of as we drove past in the golf cart.

 We were fascinated by these pine trees everywhere - thought they were dying!  But ... they are tamarack trees, and they turn yellow every year!  Aren't they pretty?

 Not much other color left by the 20th of October, but I managed to find a little.

 We hooked up with Jane, Jenna, and Mabel for lunch after golfing.  The had been down to Gooseberry Falls and Mabel was a happy camper.

 Charlie loved his mac and cheese.  Sorry Jenna - your head got cut off, but I was focusing on the little guy:)

 Jane and Paul - I think you should comb your hair, Paulee!

 We headed home after lunch and Paul dropped me off in St. Paul to join up with the Waterbrooke gals for the Women of Faith conference at the Xcel Center downtown.  We stayed at a hotel and got delivered right to the door on a bus with a group of about 75 women that Kristin Keppel connected us up with.  Good deal!

 The music, speakers, dancers, and artists were fantastic, as usual.

 These gals danced during several of the worship songs, and really added a lot to expressing the songs.

 Of course, we all had to light up our cell phones for one of the songs at the end.

Here's most of our Waterbrooke crew.  We headed home Saturday afternoon after the last session around 5:00 pm.  Ahhh!  A great weekend of relaxation and inspiration!

Bread Making Tradition!

Jane, Jenna, Nady's sister "Uncle Cole",  Charlie, and Mabel came up to Waconia to make Grandma Linburg's famous Swedish raisin rye bread on the day after Thanksgiving. 

Charlie thought five raisins would be a good amount - but I made him throw in five double HANDFULS!  Then he dumped in the flour and counted to four (Nicole scooped - good thing). 

                                                

Mabel was a great helper - not a peep out of her all day!



                                    

 Play time!  Do you want to read this book with me?

 Nope - guess we'll take a nap.

 Nap time's over - wake up!

 BFF!

 Let's read The Big Green Monster!

 Add his big, yellow eyes!

                 Put on his long bluish greenish nose and big white teeth.  Don't forget his purple hair!

 Lunch time!  Is the bread ready to eat yet?  Nope - it has to rise in the pans for an hour.

 Let's go to the Mocha Monkey while the bread is rising.  Mabel can take a nap in the car on the way there.

                              Yep - puts her to sleep every time - an it's only a five minute drive!

 Back home, Charlie watches his favorite movie, UP, while the bread bakes.  It's ALMOST ready to eat!

 Mabel has fun with Goldy, and Charlie wants to join in on it. OK, you two .. ride 'em, cowboy!

                                                                      Hold on tight!

Finally, the bread is done!  Brush on some butter for a nice tasty crust, slide and eat!  One baby loaf disappeared just like ...that!

We each have a big loaf to take home for breakfasts, and Jane an I each got a baby loaf, too.  Poor Ted - he'll have to wait until Christmas for his treat!

Thanksgiving 2012

We're off to spend the day in Cannon Falls/Orono for TWO Thanksgiving dinners!

                         
                               It all began around 10 am down at Jane and Chuck's in Cannon Falls.

 The table was even all set when we arrived.  I guess that's what being retired will do for you!

 The appetizer table was cleaned out in no time - dinner is not until 1:30, so fill up!

What a beautiful day - the boys went outside to get out some energy.

Maddox first.

Then Griffin. 

 

 Come on, Matthew, you can do it!  Me, too, says Charlie, me too!

 Uncle Corey to the rescue.

 Yea!

 It was girls against the boys in Bocci.  Hmmm - the girls were red:)

 The yard was VERY bumpy, but that's what makes it fun.  Nice throw, Teddy!

 Grandma Jane Jane has the BEST toys!  A whole room full, just for the kids.  Who would want to go anywhere else?

                                                

Ride 'em, cowboy!

Time to settle down a bit - but gee, Jenna - is that book a bit to exciting?  Charlie seems to think so.

                            Mabel and Andy enjoying the football game - now THAT is relaxing.

 Jenna, Mabel, Andy, and sister Nicole - where's Charlie???  Probably roughhousing with the big boys!

 Kids eat first - lucky - and they get their own table!

 Remember Paulee - we have another dinner coming up in just four hours!

 Mmmm ... sweet potatoes, and I can eat them all by myself!

 Aha!  I KNEW the boys were having way too much fun!  Time for another break outside, I think!

 Whoa ... wait a minute ... we left Cannon Falls around 3:00, picked up Allison at 4:00 and got to Orono around 4:30, and WHAT has happened to the weather???

 No outside fun at Lake Minnetonka today!  Let's just huddle up around the fire and communicate on our ipads and phones!  Anna and Callen are having WAY too much fun here!

 Drew and Tibbs

 Playing haristylist?  Callen has a great new job, but she can always fall back on this.

                Alison has normal footwear on - and can WALK!  Hooray!  She is giving Drew some great tips.

 Paul gets the honors with the bird.  He decides to give some carving lessons to the boys.

 Drew takes up the challenge, and finishes off the bird!

 Beautiful table - adults only!

 Well ... adults plus Brenner.  There was only room for four at the cousins table in the music room.  Bob came for dessert a bit later.

 Gee, Brenner, you could have found a space with the cousins, since Drew provided dinner music and left his spot open!

 Cousins just hanging out .. where's Alison?  We missed Christie, Tyler, Tessa, Annie, Ryan, Scarlett, and Jackson!

Brenner giving the girls self-defense lessons - hmmm - who is winning this take down?

All in all, a great day ... and I only gained two pounds!  Since I've lost 33, those two won't be noticed at all, and I'll be back on target next week. 

 God is good all the time, and all the time, God is good!