Minnesota Road Trip, take two

Our desire to go to Saint Paul and visit our niece Amy was very disappointing last July, We had great plans, but all were dashed by the untimely and very much too soon passing of my brother, Bill. So our trip last July turned into a a detour on our way to Oklahoma for Bill's funeral.
This time we planned the trip again for a long weekend leaving Cincinnati on Thursday, staying at a Bed and Breakfast near Madison, WI and then spending the weekend with Amy in Saint Paul. This time the trip was completed as planned, well almost.
The first day's drive to Stoughton, WI was uneventful and the Bed and Breakfast was just as expected-wonderful!  I just love, love, love to stay at different Bed and Breakfast's when we travel- each so unique- and the food is usually outstanding! The host was a gay old gent who loved to cook and make people feel welcome. We had dinner at the local "best of Stoughton" and then retired for a good nights sleep and then a wonderful breakfast from our host Carl. The drive to Saint Paul was a scenic 4 hour drive north across Wisconsin before finally crossing into Minnesota and Saint Paul. Amy was at home when we arrived making an apple pie in the kitchen. Max and I realized the situation and moved into the kitchen to help. Now Amy didn't need a lot of help.  She'd already done the hard part- the crust.  But we arrived in time for Don to chop the apples- with Amy's supervision of course!  I can follow directions.

A 30th birthday party for a neighbor was planned for the evening and Amy was in charge of the desserts. We ended up making two apple pies and a French Silk Pie. No problem for two great cooks and one peeler, chopper and cleaner upper (me).

And Amy and Don didn't mind at all licking the beaters from the French Silk Pie Filling!


And look how fantastic Amy's Apple Pies are! Notice the "30" on the lattice pie! Not only did they look great- but they tasted even better!


A party with Lucas' friends is always a treat. She has developed a neighborhood that is more like a social club. Her porch is the center of activity and folks seem to gravitate there for libations, talk, laughter, and just plain socializing. Even better, they are all just really nice people who welcomed us just like we lived next door. From that first night last summer just sitting on the porch- talking and laughing until way past our bedtime- we've just felt right at home.  It wasn't long this time until the neighbors had gathered and we were "at home" again.

And we mustn't forget the gorilla in the room- well rather the yard- the neighbor's yard!

Amy and Don getting "in the mood" for the party!

But this trip Lucas had plans to show us more than her neighbohood.


But before we were out and about we started the day with a great breakfast of Lucas' French toast and coffee.

Amy is a wonderful cook!  And we really got to enjoy that this trip!

After breakfast we headed out to explore the Twin Cities. The first stop was the Mill Museum. If you look at a map of St. Paul/Minneapolis, you will see that the Mississippi River flows right through the middle of the Twin Cities, and it is this river that provided the energy to build these cities. Little did I know that there was a natural water fall, the only one on the Mississippi, right in Minneapolis. It is now well contained and stabalized by concrete, but in the early years the St. Anthony Falls and the drop in the River was channeled to drive turbines that fueled the development of flour mills. That, along with the railroad James Hill built to the northwest, resulted in establishing the iconic names of General Mills, Gold Medal Flour, and Pillsbury. The railroads brought in the wheat and the river provided the energy to mill the wheat into flour. The amazing thing is that those mills didn't use electricity to drive the mills, the turbines were connected to a main drive belt that drove other belts that milled the wheat, collected the dust, drove the augars that moved the wheat, and packaged the finished flour. We toured the museum that was built upon the last active mill.  This mill was closed in 1965 and the building abandoned and then in 1991 the building was finally destroyed by an explosion and fire.
The Mill is absolutely fascinating!  I loved it!

We took the tour and really enjoyed hearing the story, seeing the displays, and looking at the views of the river.

And I loved these views DOWN, onto the patio.  It looked like a "50s" Barbie house!

I couldn't help but take the picture below.  We were high above they they seemed to be doing a photo shoot of pictures for Halloween.  Her little brother was in the eye of the camera

And the views of the river and the locks from the top of the Mill were pretty spectacular.

 The sign still stands and the brand still exists, but the Mill is just a shell.

And after the tour, Max worked hard to stimulate the economy by investing heavily in the museum gift shop. It was no doubt a perfect storm of a person who loves to bake in a museum store packed with everything baking. I tried to show restraint- but it was hard- why it was a "gift" shop with me in mind!

But we were not done- oh no!  We were only getting started.  Next it was to the Guthrie Theater and the elevator to the top for the absolutely stunning views!

The windows are tinted yellow so the place has this surreal feeling of being both real- and fantasy.

Then Saturday night we were off first for drinks in the Saint Paul Hotel. As you see, Amy was NOT WEARING sensible shoes... I was of course wearing sensible shoes!

And then we were off to Mancini's for dinner!  Mancini's was all we expected it to be, an old standard Italian restaraunt featuring steaks, red leather booths, a local band playing oldies with a few oldies also dancing, and purely native waitresses.  The menu was simple, the food was ample, and quickly served.

And you'd think we'd be done by now!  But not when we go to St. Paul!  We had one last stop (we were taking cabs this night- must have that designated driver!).  We finished off at Cafe Latte for desert!

And then we were up Sunday ready to start again!  There are just so many places that you really must see in St. Paul/Minneapolis!  And we tried to see as many as we could!

We started with breakfast in Hell's Kitchen!  Now here is a true dining adventure!  And the food was so amazing!  The homemade peanut butter was like a dream come true! I was so busy eating- and also being quite overwhelmed with the ambience- that I really didn't get any good pictures of the restaurant- but it was so much fun eating breakfast at the bar!  We were in the FAR SIDES room- what fun- the wall was covered- absolutely covered with the FAR SIDES cartoons- all with a "hell" theme!

Now I just have to tell you of Mitch Omar- the owner and creative force behind this amazing resaurant (his story is amazing - I bought the cookbook- and then read much of it in one sitting when I arrived back in Cincy- and am totally overwhelmed with the strength- intelligence- creativity of this beautiful man- you can read about his amazing life here!)  I'm a big fan! And can't wait for another visit on my return trip the Twin Cities!

And then we were off....

First to the Minneapolis Scupture Garden...

Check out the "empty suit"- think we've all met this person at some time in our life.  "Knock, Knock- who's there"....

And then finally to the James Hill House!  The previously mentioned James Hill who built the rail roads to the northwest that brought in all of that wheat.  He was was one of those railroad barons who made millions and then built the biggest and most expensive house in Saint Paul.  We took the tour and it was amazing what they built in the early 1900's.  His house was the first in Saint Paul to have electricity.  And since he was a railroad man, the basement had two large boilers that looked somewhat like steam engines from a train that supplied heat to the house, and of course there was someone shoveling coal into those boilers on those cold Minnesota nights.

Well by now we were feeling just a bit tired...So decided we'd save some things for our next trip to Amy's.  We spent the rest of the day just watching movies and then eating pizza from Pizza Luce of course! I know you can't believe we were still had room to eat yet another meal.  I think I established a new personal best for great meals consumed in one short space of time!

But don't be mislead- what makes our trip north is our beautiful niece Amy- and the joy she brings.  Adventures with her just seem that much brighter- that much more interesting- that much more beautiful!  How very grateful we are! I'll never be sure if the Twin Cities is one of the most amazing places to visit- or rather if the world just somehow is a bit different when viewing from the bright light that shines upon it when you experience it with Amy!  Regardless, as long as Amy is there we will go back.

A Visit to My Girls: Brandy and Mikayla

I really hadn't planned a trip to Las Vegas this fall.  But then my life is often not quite planned.  I've been lucky that way.  Unexpected blessings.  And this was just such blessing. 
Brandy, Will and Mikayla will be moving to Niceville.  I know- you don't know where that is- I didn't either- and you're probably going- "Niceville, what the heck?"- kinda sounds like a TV show- Like Pleasantville. 

Well, Will has already started his new job the first of October (Will still works for the same company- but was given a promotion and transferred from Las Vegas) and since his new job is in Florida he is mostly not in Las Vegas. So I made a trip to keep my girls company for a long weekend.  I had SO MUCH FUN!  I mean SO MUCH FUN!  There is nothing like a GIRLS WEEKEND!

Now Brandy likes to impress, so she and Mikayla met me at the airport-

with Mikayla wearing the dress that I almost knitted.  I got off to a great start- a really great start, but then I got up to the armholes I couldn't figure out what to do next. 

Lucky for me (and Mikayla) Mary Ezra didn't have any trouble finishing the dress.  Mary really, really, really knows how to knit. I'm mostly doing scarves now.  Simpler. Works for me.

Now I've heard about GIRLS WEEKENDS before- though can't say I've ever been on a GIRLS WEEKEND.  I'm kinda thinking that most GIRLS WEEKENDS don't quite spend so much time at the park- or "painting" on the patio.  But then in the end all successful GIRLS WEEKENDS are the same- the pleasure of just "hanging out" with girls you love!  And this on was really, really, really successful!

I'm going to share the highlights with you- just the highlights, just the highlights with the pics and you gotta believe I was there with my camera.

Well of course there was the bath:

And there were walks:

This was my view on the walk:

And there was ART on the patio!

And sometimes in the morning we'd just "visit" on the patio:

And I must mention the absolute pleasure of starting your day with my angel- with her morning halo!

I must tell you that Brandy has been busy, real busy!  In addition to a busy life as Mommy to Mikayla, she's finishing her student teaching as a high school science teacher.  She'll soon get both her certificate to teach as well as her masters degree in education.  (She already has a masters degree in history!) Now if this isn't enough- and apparently for Brandy it wasn't quite- she is training- and competing in Triathelons!  So while I was there she did the training necessary!

The weekend after our GIRLS WEEKEND, Brandy competed in her third Triathelon of this season.  She came in 2nd in her age group- and 8th over all.  IMPRESSIVE!

And much time was spent at the park:

And of course we went down the slide (well I have to admit I was more of an "observer"...)

And we logged real time on the swing!

And I was really, really, really busy before my visit!  I made a puppy dog costume for Mikayla's first Halloween Costume!

Brandy tried on the hat- and is holding "Puppy"!

PS: Amber tried the hat on when she came for a visit in Cincinnati earlier in October!

And notice that there are "dog tags" that say "MIKAYLA" and "PUPPY"!

 And now presenting GRAMA'S PUPPY MIKAYLA!

Summer and Baseball

Max and I are not great sports fans.  We never watch pro football, although we will on rare occasion watch the super? bowl- I don't ever remember watching the super bowl with Don- so if we did I was definately not paying attention!  And given the experiences of our college days, we will sometimes watch Oklahoma University play football, especially if our son Clint is around.  I do love my Sooners!  Why the last time I ever cried because my team lost was at an OU football game.  And that was a long, long, long time ago- and I suppose I cried about a lot of things then that wouldn't even make me misty eyed now! And watching an OU game (Don and I share a total of 5 degrees from OU)- plus our very own OU legacy with our son Clint - has to be one of the highlights of any year for me!

But bottom line is that I love BASEBALL!  It was love at first "visit".  I didn't "grow up" with baseball- and think I must have been in my late 20s/early 30s before I saw my very first game in OKC at the minor league team- the 89er's- a AAA farm team for the Texas Rangers.  From that very first summer evening at the ballpark I somehow knew that a summer night spent at a baseball game was a "perfect" way to experience summer!  Why the kids and I even went to a couple of major league games in Dallas (we always cheered against Texas- that "anything but Texas" lasts a long, long time if you graduate from OU!) back in the old days- the really old days- pre Cincinnati!  
And then I hit paydirt!  I married into the Cincinnati Reds "family"!  From that very first visit to watch the Reds I was a fan- win or lose!  I do love my "boys". 
We never watch pro or even college basketball, but we do enjoy baseball, especially Cincinnati Reds baseball.  The Reds haven't been to the playoffs since 1995, but this year they won the NL Central.  Now I did arrive in Cincinnati in 1994- but I'm afraid the sharing of a home with 6 often very unruly children (I might mention that 4 were teenagers- I didn't notice that there was any life outside of the chaos that was my life!) So I have absolutely no memories of that 1995 success story. By the time the Reds entered my life they had securely established their reputation as a race for the bottom- not the top. But I loved them win or lose! 
We enjoy baseball for the pure enjoyment of going to a game, eating Big Red Smokies (hot dogs) on a bun with lots of mustard and saurkraut, eating peanuts and throwing the shells on the ground, and drinking a beer while watching the game go by. 

For the last few years Cincinnati Reds have been so far out of contention that there was never any hope of making the playoffs.  But we went anyway because we just enjoyed being in the stands with the slow pace of the game, our peanuts, hot dogs, and beverages. 
I must admit this year when they played so very poorly in the play-offs, I did worry that "my boys" would be too hard on themselves. They should have played better- not sure how they all fell apart so completely- so together- but they did. I'm sorry - but I hope they know how proud I am- and that next year I'll be back- again.
Most sports you actually have to watch with no time to catch your breath, but baseball gives you time to relax while the pitcher spits, scratches, and adjusts his equipment, then just as he is ready, the batter steps out to tighten his "batting gloves" and adjust his batting helmet.  At a baseball game you have time to look at the crowd, eat, drink and still not miss anything. Baseball is as lazy as any summer night might be.
But this year the Reds are in the playoffs but before that we enjoyed going to a few games and watching a whole lot more on TV.  I don't think I even noticed that the Reds were usually winning- instead of usually losing- until late in the season. Baseball is that way- it has a way of lulling you quietly- Even the worst teams win some- and the best lose some... Even better we got to see some games from some great seats (thank you Amber and Evan) and even from different stadiums ( thanks again Amber and Evan).

This is the view when we buy our tickets!

But when Amber and Evan treat us for a night of baseball this is our view!

And we had an absolutely wonderful weekend in Chicago with a trip to Wrigley!  It was like living a dream! Notice the rooftop seats!  So unique to Chicago!

And of course in addition to the baseball we had a wonderful time spending time with Amber and Evan.  They even cooked us dinner in their new condo!  We loved it!

We haven't been to very many ball parks in MLB.  Though I think an exciting "retirement" goal might be to see how many balls parks we can visit during the season. And for a bit I thought that spending a spring "working" the spring training season in Florida might be the perfect way to spend a spring (but the Reds moved to Arizona!). We went to games in Oakland and San Francisco when we were living out there, and this year we went to Wrigley in Chicago. Thank you, thank you, thank you Amber and Evan- you do spoil us!  

But the ball park in Cincinnati remains our favorite.  And even better it has a sponsor name that isn't embarrassing.  We don't have to go to PetCo Park, or Minute Maid Park, or Tropicana Park.  We get to go to Great American Park.  For the first few years I just thought it was called that because it is a great American park, but Great American is an insurance company here in Cincinnati, but I'll just keep thinking it is named correctly regardless of the source. 

The Reds have a great history ( Reds History ) given that they were the first all professional team in 1869 and were charter members of the original National League, and that they played the very first night game under lights.  But in Cincinnati going to a game is a real family event.  It is one of the few team sports that the opposing players often have cordial conversations during the game or congratulate one another after making a great play.  The game is non-violent, players rarely get hurt by another player, and fans will often cheer a great play by an opposing player. I do need to mention that these very "family" friendly behaviors can be noticed in Chicago at Wrigley- you can sit anywhere and be treated very nicely- or San Francisco- or Cincinnati.  But these "family" friendly behaviors are not often noticed in Oakland- and especially not in Philadelphia!

Consequently, baseball is one of our favorite activities in the summer.

But one of the best things about going to Great American is the aforementioned ball park food.  We always buy peanuts in the shell on the way into the park (cheaper than inside).   And at the ball park you can eat the peanuts and just throw the shells on the floor.  We used to try different foods but have now settled into our routine.  Going to a games means having a Big Red Smoky (well sometimes two Big Red Smokys) with mustard and saurkraut on a bun.  Some may call that a hot dog, but it is so much more.  I think I could eat them several times a week if I were to ignore the artery clogging attribute.  Max takes great pleasure in making "runs" to the consessions for our food, and she enjoys even more loading the bun with significant amounts of mustard, hoping that I will once again squeeze the mustard out of the bun and onto my face and/or clothes.