Too soon

These are in my local grocery store. Way too soon.

Crazy lightening

This is from last Wednesday. We had another crazy storm. The lightning was fantastic and so was the thunder. I thought for sure you would be able to hear it but all you can hear is the pouring rain.

Apple Fest - soggy but still fun

The day started with rain then the sun came out then clouds then rain and sun and clouds. All the weather in one afternoon. I was super prepared this year. It helped having the later start of 3pm. I even got the garage ready in case of rain. And we used it.

Had a really good turn out, too. Lots of apple-inspired treats. I didn't get a chance to try everything. I have to figure out a better way to host so I can talk with more guests and eat more. I was so busy and enjoying the event, I forgot to take photos.

Apple cake. I took it out of pan too soon. It broke.

Major favorite. Lil' smokees wrapped in bacon with apples and brown sugar. 

Another use for my Gorilla Cart

Visit with mom

Some of you may not know that my mom has been in the hospital lately. She is home now and on hospice care.

She first went in the hospital about 3 weeks ago for 3 or 4 day. She was sent home with medication for coronary heart disease. She has two major blockages and an aneurism. She was only home for a few days and had to go back to hospital.

The second hospital stay was a total of 7 days. She is home now with my niece Kathy staying with her and a hospice nurse and aide visiting occasionally.

I visited her while she was in the hospital the second time and the first days of this last home stay.

Sunrise at the MSP airport waiting to fly to DCA

I picked up my brother John from Union Station downtown DC

We passed the new Museum of African American Culture and History

For the first time ever, I stopped to see the Abingdon House site at National Airport.

I have passed the site dozens of times over the decades. The moments of reflection were very welcomed.

Another busy weekend. Running, walking, cycling, bowling

Another busy weekend started with my usual run Saturday morning to meet the gals for coffee at Starbucks in St. Louis Park. I need to get some running miles in before the Twin Cities Marathon 10 miler in October.

Saturday evening was the Chinese Lantern Lighting ceremony at Lakewood Cemetery. Lakewood is about five blocks from my house so I walked over. Lakewood is a very large and old cemetery near lakes Calhoun and Harriet.

Kay and Christine drew and wrote on their lanterns. I wrote on the bases.

Our lanterns weren't floating out into the lake so I waded in to encourage them along.

I had not visited the cemetery's chapel. It is famous for the glass mosaics. This is a photo of the ceiling. It was stunning in the artificial light.

Early Sunday, Jenny and I rode the intermediate route (25 miles) of the Minneapolis Parks Bike Tour. It was a perfectly gorgeous day.

Sunday evening was the start of Sunday Goers bowling league. After all that I had already done this weekend, I thought bowling a 172 and 173 was pretty good. The third game was only a 115.

Product Registration - example Gorilla Cart

Earlier this Spring I bought a Gorilla Cart wagon. I blogged about it here.

I nearly always register products that I purchase. Primarily in case there is a recall for some reason then the manufacturer can contact me. In the case of my Gorilla Cart wagon, I was contacted by the manufacturer for a marketing survey. The three lovely people with me in the photo came to my house and PAID ME to give my opinion.

They asked me questions about how I use my cart and general life questions even. I also got to provide feedback on possible future products. I had a great time.

By the way I really like my Gorilla Cart.

Weekend athletics

I am going to count helping Kathy recycle her TV as an athletic activity. The thing weighed a ton. We pushed it down both her indoor steps and outdoor concrete steps. Then rolled it to her SUV. Thank goodness she has a hatch back so we could just slide it in.

From Kathy's place in Apple Valley, I rode my bike home. Total mileage was 26 miles. All but about a mile was on dedicated bike/pedestrian trails.

We are so fortunate in Minnesota to have a great trail system.

Crossed the Mendota Bridge for the first time. From the bridge you can see Minneapolis to the west and Saint Paul to the north.

On Sunday joined the Minnesota Martial Arts Academy fighters for hill sprints in Theodore Wirth Park. There were only four of us so it went quickly without much rest between hill runs. Ugh.

Twins game....so close we could talk to the players

Front row! Yep. Rose got tickets from her work provided by US Bank and we were in the front row next to the Twins dugout right at first base. Trish from the Guthrie was also there.

There was a family of five next to us. Husband, wife and 3 little girls. The dad was holding little baby and all of the sudden she had my beer and was going for a drink. Too funny. Joe Mauer tossed a ball to each of the older girls for souvenirs and the two EMTs at field level gave the girls special stickers.

We all had a blast. And the Twins actually won!

The white thing in the middle is the actual first base waiting to be put in place.

Joe Mauer (still with Twins) and his old friend Justin Morneau (now with the White Sox)

Lake Superior Adventure

Imagine sailing on Lake Superior on a beautiful, sunny summer evening. Okay?

I got to do this yesterday evening! Thanks to friends Trish and Jason for inviting me and Jenny for joining even though she can get sea sick.

It was actually kind of magical. The weather was perfect. I have never sailed and for my first to be out of the Duluth harbor onto Lake Superior was about as perfect as one could want.

motoring out of the harbor

waiting for the lift bridge to lift

Jason manning the lines

sailing toward the sunset

the famous Duluth lift bridge

the main sail

Click here for more photos.

North Shore Adventure

Jenny invited me to go with her to scout out some possible hiking trails along the Superior Hiking Trail. She is putting together a day trip for middle school students as part of a Project Success experiential learning curricula.

We were only able to get in one full hike. We did the Split Rock River trail...about 5 1/2 mile hike up one side of the river then back to Highway 61 via Lake Superior overlooks.

We left Minneapolis at 6:00am and arrived in Two Harbors to talk to the Superior Hiking Trail staff at 9:30 just as we planned. We made it to Split Rock River trail head by around 10:30.

It was a beautiful day for a hike. This trail has some steep and narrow sections especially on the up-the-river side. The hike back on the opposite side of the river is actually easier though it is higher up.

The views along the way both out and back are spectacular. The coolest sites are of the "split rock" itself and the views of Lake Superior on the return leg.

selfie at the trail head

the "split rock"

crazy bridge to cross the river

the "split rock" from the other side of the river

birch forest

Lake Superior view

Click here for more photos.