Snow and Sun

It finally snowed on Friday through Saturday. Not a big storm nut enough to shovel and plow. The best part of the winter storm was that it cleared out quickly and left us with clear skies and sunshine, only the second day with sun since I returned from Cozumel, Mexico on December 6th.

A Polish Christmas Eve

Martha Kulig hosted another wonderful Christmas Eve celebration, Polish style. Along with a new tradition of the guests helping decorate the upside-down Christmas tree.

 

American Swedish Institute and visit from my sister

My sister Lea visited for the first time. She has been here before but never stayed to visit me. The weather was really awful and not because it was cold but because it was rainy, cloudy, dark and dank. I also had to work.

But she spent the time relaxing after a trip to Hawaii to pick up her grandson, Alex, and traveling with him to Minneapolis-St. Paul. Alex is spending the holidays with his dad in Wisconsin.

Today we went to the American Swedish Institute. The museum is dedicated to Sweden and other Scandinavian countries. Decorated for Christmas, the museum is housed in the mansion built by Swan Turnblad. For the season the museum was full of lights and extraordinary designs for all the Scandinavian countries.

Lea and I agreed that the best part of ASI is the café called Fika. Fika means coffee break in Swedish but the café is much more than a coffee shop.

It sounds like a cliché bit the Swedish meatballs were fantastic. They lay in a bed of mashed-potatoes with lingenberry jam and a dill infused olive oil. Also the brussel sprouts with fig and some amazing dressing that I think included yogurt. Highly highly recommend the café at ASI and you don't have to pay admission to eat there.

We took selfies in front of most of the trees in various rooms.

And my one 'art' photo... the ceiling of the grand hall.

Christmas decorating

My mix of nativity, ornaments and technology.

Too cute

Frankie and Uno often play together... usually a game of tag or chase... but they rarely hang out together. But yesterday and today they are cuddled up. The photo does not truly represent just how cute these two are.

my two fur balls

The construction

Uploading these photographs so I that have a record of what the construction project looked like when I am at Coral Princess for my next vacation.

The construction project provided an endless number of stories between mostly the vacationing men. The general agreement was that it would not be done the way it was in US.

Start of the week.

End of the week. Controversial canopy.

End of the week. New wall and bar area nearly complete.

End of the week. Lots of tiling completed. Lots of tiling to go.

Chankanaab and Punta Sur - Cozumel Adventures

Thursday we went to the national marine park, Chankanaab. It is a great place to hang on on the beach, snorkel, people watch and nature walk.

The underwater crucifix statue and me.

A water selfie - me, Dave and JT

Chankanaab beach selfie - me, Dave, Linda and JT

The Taylor's rented a car and we drove over to the east side of the island. We drove down the coast and decided to pull over to see the amazing Caribbean water. We got stuck in the sand instead. A very nice couple from New Prague, Minnesota helped push is out.

We went to Punta Sur where the lighthouse, crocodiles and sea turtle habitat is. We had lunch and went swimming and snorkeling

selfie from on top of lighthouse

Punta Sur coral and fish

two fish friends

Random photos

Feeling much better. Dave and I ent for a long walk up the road to Barracuda, a beach side sports club and bar. I think they are set up for the cruise shippers but no one was there except for 5 staff, Dave, me and two alligators (cocodrillos in Spanish).

Because the beach access at Coral Princess is closed, we go to Hotel B just up the street. They have a nice cabaña area, pool, hot tub and veranda. Access to the ocean is very easy too.

A very blue cow fish

look closely to see Jill's favorite fish - blue with blue spots

This is the sunset using the reflection setting on my camera.

This is the sunset using the dramatic setting on my camera.

two guys and a bougainvillea

I think it is a blowfish.

A cold in paradise

For the second trip in a row, I have managed to get a cold. My trip to mom's in November and now this trip to Cozumel. This cold is worse though. I spent the nearly an entire day in bed but when you can hear the ocean out your bedroom window, it isn't all bad.

Before the worst of the cold, we did get some festivities in. This year I am joined by Dave, who came last year, and JT and Linda, who also have a timeshare at Coral Princess.

Sunday was the Cozumel Ironman. We went downtown for dinner at Casa Dennis and to cheer on the competitors. It is such an amazing thing to watch these men and women push themselves to physical and emotional places even they could not imagine.

The reconstruction bug has caught on downtown as well as the Coral Princess. The main square, plaza major, is being rebuilt -- again.

It is a construction zone

We were warned that there would be construction at the Coral Princess and is there ever. From the entry to the lobby to the restaurant and out to the pool and beach.

The dolphins are wrapped in plastic tarps because they will be remaining. I'm not really sure what they are doing that is different in the entry.

The pool and pool deck are the big projects. The pool is getting and infinity edge. The hot tub is gone and cinder block walls are being constructed at that end. Rumor is that the property where the hot tub and massage tables were is not part of Coral Princess though it was being used by the Coral Princess.

The pool bar is still there but is getting a new roof. The workers start around 7am so sleeping in isn't really an option.

Thanksgiving (Christmas) cactus

Just in time for Thanksgiving, the biggest Christmas cactus ever is in full bloom. So pretty.

A very cold Turkey Trot

The Running For Brunch running group ran the St. Paul Thanksgiving run again this year. And this year we ran the 10k! Costumes were a repeat from last year with the addition of a cornucopia and sweet potatoes with marshmallows.

The temperature at race time was zero! Every runner arrived back at the finish line with frost on some part of their body and or clothes... from frosted eyelashes and hair to frozen glasses and frost-covered shoulders.

Aurora northern Minnesota November 15

Jenny took these amazing photographs of the northern lights at her and Andrew's cabin in northern Minnesota. Mt reaction was "WOW!" And yes, that is the big dipper in the second photo.

icicle art

A week of freezing temperatures and another week of same or colder is forecast. This cold be the longest stretch of below freezing in over a hundred years.

Fall Sisters

Mom, Aunt Donna and I went to Warrenton to find some fall color. We found it on the site of the old elementary school.

A Celebration of Ninety Years

My mom, Gracie, celebrated her birthday on Sunday November 9th. She is 90 years young.

Family and friends gathered in the party room of her apartment building. Lots of balloons. Lots of stories. Lots of food.

Mom's sister Donna came from Kansas.

Looking through the picture book.

Mom and her children - Carol, John, Jeff, Lea and Loyd

Grandma and her grandchildren - Kevin, Kristine, Ken, Raymond and Kathy

Great-Grandma and her great grand-children - Jasmine, Anoka, Lotus and Austin (great-great-grandson) 

My pretty girl

Uno got another full hair cut. She wasn't too happy at first but after a couple of hours, she was running around. She is now sleeping under the covers with me at night to keep warm.

Her head is actually attached to her body though it kind of looks like it isn't in this photo.

And yes, that is her normal grumpy face.

My sister, Betty, in memoriam

My sister, Betty, was diagnosed with breast cancer seven years ago. I do not like calling it a battle or a fight. It is too unfair for that. I celebrate her strength, her loyalty and most of all her fun.

Horsin' around (1980's?)

Betty loved her convertible cars.

The one trip to Minneapolis (Walker Sculpture Garden)



This photo really represents her spirit.