Boundary Waters 2022

This year's Boundary Waters trip was very different. Our original paddle and portage trip was cancelled. So we opted for a late Fall trip up north to Jenny and Andrew's cabin situated next to Gust Lake just off The Grade.

We had no idea the weather would be as amazingly fantastic as it was. It was very late in the season, and it could have as easily been freezing temps instead of 60's.

Our foursome became a five-some with the addition of Maggie, my cat. Maggie has been to the cabin before, so she fit right in.

Brian cooked awesome meals...meatloaf one night and an incredible frittata another night. I made an apple pie with Jenny's apples. Reading (our normal BWCA activity) and puzzling were always active.

There was an excursion to Grand Marais on Sunday. We collected rocks for a project Jenny was working on. Also, a stop at the local bookstore resulted in several purchases,

I climbed up the mountain the hard way :-)

A hiking adventure at Oberg Mountain on Monday brought us back the big lake - Lake Superior. The park rangers had arranged a "monster" hike along the path. It was very clever and educational.

There were high hopes for northern lights (aurora) as the ratings were very high all weekend. However, no luck seeing northern lights, the stars were out in full force especially with the moon setting very early.

As is my thing these days, I created a video of the trip. Click here to view in YouTube.

Leaf Peeping

Landscape Arboretum

Had the opportunity to visit the University of Minnesota's Landscape Arboretum in Chaska, Minnesota. Friends Bud, Pam, and Susan strolled the Three Mile Walk enjoying the amazing sunny day with all the Fall colors.

Also, there were pumpkins, scarecrows, and a stop at the apple barn.

Highland Park Water Tower

The following day, Bud, Susan and I went to the Highland Park Water Tower in St. Paul. It is open to visitors just twice a year. Once you climb the 150 steps to the top, there are spectacular views of both Twin Cities (Minneapolis and St. Paul) and surrounding areas.

Click here to watch a video.

Nye's Polonaise

There is the dinner club in Minneapolis called Nye's Polonaise. It is an institution and I think I may have only been there one other time in my 20+ years hear. Like all good things it, too, must come to an end.

A developer wants to build a high-rise apartment on the site so Nye's is due to close. No one really knows when.

Thanks to Jennifer Coté for organizing a happy hour. So much fun. So many laughs. Our fantastic waitress, Roxanne, plied us with stories.

Pretty ladies, Bunny, Linda and Jennifer

JT

Me and Dave (back from ocean cruise)

Fish fry (last Friday of Lent)

Rose and Amy did last week's fish fry at St. Albert the Great church in the Seward neighborhood of Minneapolis. Amy won a handmade outdoor decoration so Loretta and I joined Rose and Amy at this week's fish fry... the last one of Lent. The church basement was packed and tons of fun.

Loretta's birthmonth party -- just happens to be on St. Patrick's Day

I think the photos kind of say it all. :-)

Linda, JT and Amy

Jerry, Bunny and Loretta

Bunny, Loretta and Kathy

Kathy, Jeff and Linda

Linda, JT and Amy from another angle

My neighbors are moving back east

I met Sari Ketter back in my Washington DC days at Arena Stage. It was because of her that I first came to Minneapolis and The Guthrie.

I ended up buying the house directly across the street from Sari and her husband Mather Dolph not knowing they lived there. Sari and Mather have one son, Charlie Dolph, who I have seen grow into a tall, handsome young man who now lives in Ohio.

The Ketter-Dolphs and I have been neighbors for over 20 years. I will miss them very much.

 

For those with Facebook accounts: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10202615917538037&type=1&l=b90d90a66b

 

Kathy Just birthday brunch

The gang for together to celebrate Kathy Just's birthday.

The 4th at Crystal Lake

Thank you.  Thank you.  Thank you, JT, Linda and Chad for hosting a wonderful July 4th gathering at your home on Crystal Lake.

Linda and Karen cruising the lake.

Capt'n JT

The stars and stripes waving while the gathered watch the neighbor's incredible fireworks.

Wizard of Oz sing-a-long

Another live action movie sing-a-long event. So much fun. So much laughter. So much good food and drink.

Hosts Linda and JT with tin man from Jackie and Ace

Dorothy, Auntie Em and Toto, too.

Dorothy laid low by the tornado.

House and ruby slippers prop.

Glenda greeting Dorothy in Oz

A member of the Lollipop Guild

Scarecrow

Apple tree fight.

Cowardly lion.

Carriage ride in the Emerald City.

Seeing the Wizard (or was it the Witch?)

Wizard curtain prop.

Finding the real Wizard behind the curtain.

Professor handing out the awards to Scarecrow and Lion.

Dorothy back in Kansas.

Cast and Crew.

Busy weekend

It was a busy weekend.

Rose kindly invited me to the opening night of And When We Were Married at the Guthrie on Friday night.

Saturday, a group drove down to Cannon Falls for a canoe/paddling adventure down the Cannon River. It was an 8 mile trip and lots of fun. We saw a young bald eagle and one of its parents take flight from a tree right next to the river.

We also saw turtles and lots of ducks. There were some easy rapids to make it exciting but it was mostly a very easy paddle.

Sunday, got to meet Stella finally -- Andrea and Jason's new born. She is seven weeks old and very very cute. Andrea's mom, Kathy, was also there at breakfast at the Egg and I.

Then I met Bruce Cochran at Dunn Brothers for an interview for my local paper, The Uptown News. Bruce is doing a story on my bodybuilding competition.

Also on Sunday there was a garden intervention at Loretta's. She had gotten behind on keeping the weed trees away. Congrats to Bunny, Amy, Jackie and Linda for tackling a big project.


We went to Old Chicago afterward to relax, have a couple of beers and eat. While there my phone rang and I found out I won a $400.00 rod and reel from the community pool fundraiser in Ashland, Oregon. Alicia and Jill use the pool and funds were being raised to keep it open.

They float rubber ducks down the river in Ashland. My duck came in 5th!

And finally on Sunday, Jenny (Moose Stalker), Brian (Swims With Loons) and Julie (Eats A Lot) came over Sunday evening to discuss our Boundary Waters trip in a couple of weeks.

Now back to Dallas this morning.

Minnesota Friends

FRIENDS VS MINNESOTA FRIENDS

FRIENDS: Never ask for food.
MINNESOTA FRIENDS: Always bring the food.

FRIENDS: Will say 'hello'.
MINNESOTA FRIENDS: Will give you a big hug and a kiss.

FRIENDS: Call your parents Mr. and Mrs.
MINNESOTA FRIENDS: Call your parents Mom and Dad.

FRIENDS: Have never seen you cry.
MINNESOTA FRIENDS: Cry with you.

FRIENDS: Will eat at your dinner table and leave.
MINNESOTA FRIENDS: Will spend hours there, talking, laughing, help you clear the table & do the dishes, then play dominoes or cards and just being together.

FRIENDS: Know a few things about you.
MINNESOTA FRIENDS: Could write a book with direct quotes from you.

FRIENDS: Will leave you behind if that's what the crowd is doing.
MINNESOTA FRIENDS: Will kick the whole crowds' back-ends that left you.

FRIENDS: Would knock on your door.
MINNESOTA FRIENDS: Walk right in and say, 'I'm home!'.

FRIENDS: will visit you in jail.
MINNESOTA FRIENDS: will spend the night in jail with you.

FRIENDS: will visit you in the hospital when you're sick
MINNESOTA FRIENDS: will cut your grass and clean your house then come spend the night with you in the hospital and cook for you when you come home

FRIENDS: have you on speed dial
MINNESOTA FRIENDS: have your number memorized.

FRIENDS: Are for a while.
MINNESOTA FRIENDS: Are for life.

FRIENDS: Might ignore this.
MINNESOTA FRIENDS: Will forward this to all their Minnesota Friends and those who once lived in MINNESOTA.