A Trip up North

We are on a trip to the northern part of Minnesota and I shot some pictures I thought were interesting and unique along the way. 

Here we had stopped at a rest park along the way and were going to walk to a scenic overlook but after a short time we decided to give it up not knowing how far it was.  This was a warm and fuzzy moment between father and son.  Father was a few seconds before doing the rabbit ear thing behind sons head and took them down and continued to act like there was something on Kevin's face that needed wiping off. 

I liked the big cow on the sign at Moes diner.

This was at one of the exits to the Wisconsin Dells.  We use the term knucklehead a lot at our house but nobody would stand under the sign.

We stopped at Chippewa Falls Wisconsin to take the Leinenkugle brewery tour and to sample many of their many flavors of beer.  I enjoyed the Summer Shandy and Berry Weiss. 

Here the guys are in front of the bar serving the samples in the Leinenkugle Lodge.

One of the old buildings.

There was a pretty little rapidly moving creek.

Our entrance into Duluth Minnesota.

Lake Superior

This is through the hotel window.  Yes that is an iron ore boat docked there and the city of Duluth at night.

Here Tom found a friend in Wisconsin who was selling some cheese.

A good sign that we are definitely in Wisconsin.

This was just a neat natural rock formation along the interstate. 

Tomorrow we will explore some and be on our way.  I hope to get to see Split Rock Lighthouse.

I am really hoping to see a moose in the woods.

I have seen the usual dead deer on the side of the road and then some smaller furry animals that are possibly fox.  I get really perplexed because the roads are not crowded with cars up here and how do those animals get killed along the road??

Book Review-My Father's Daughter by Tina Sinatra

This book was written in 2000 which was two years after Frank Sinatra's death in 1998 at the age of 83. He was a very generous person, a loving dad but never seemed to get settled or be totally happy.  This book interested me because Frank and I have always shared the same birthday and of course my mom just loved him.  I enjoyed this book because of having my parents decline and pass away I could relate very much to her feelings.  But she always shared her father with the world and having such an iconic person get aged and pass away was sad.  This was a 3 day read for me and that means it was very good.

Herbs

This is my little herb garden.  I just planted the seeds yesterday but you can see whats to come. 

I love the wrought iron planters bench.  It's just the perfect size, it came from Pottery Barn.  I really enjoy that place. So many neat ideas.

These are my Arbor Day trees I got at Saint Francis.  I did have 7, but 3 didn't make it.  At least potting them will give them a fighting chance. 

hutch

I have watched this hutch for over a year, and it wouldn't have fit in our previous home but this spot is just perfect for it.  It will display pictures and pretties and books.  The lower doors will have games and storage for candles.  It is very beautiful and useful.

I Love It!

Some new goodies

While waiting for our table at PF Changs this weekend there was a nearby Pier One Imports store across the parking lot.  It had so much "fun stuff" to look at.  I picked up these bright summer placemats. 

This I picked up at the IKEA store.  It is pretty storage for the cookies.

This is my new Pottery Barn rug.  It is bigger than the rug I had there before. That one has been put in the basement and fits really nice down there. 

I am going to replace the blue plaid chair with a chair the color of the tulips in the rug.

Weekend photos

We girls had such fun this weekend.  We ate at lots of different places, shopped at Home Goods, Ikea, Pottery Barn, a place that sells tea.  Went to a really nice rubber stamping convention stopped at a great crafts store called My Craft Room.  We then found in Fenton Michigan a magical herb farm.  The Heavenly Scent Herb farm.  Here are a few pictures from it. 

The front gate was the biggest I had ever seen.

Such Beauty.

Loved the giant rose for lawn sculpture.

Loved the Ginormous acorns

A pretty flower box.

My favorites....pansies

This had many different ground coverings.

Back on again

It has been a full week for some reason, it wasn't anticipated but I knew I needed to get some new pictures on here.  I have a couple of new purchases I would like to share.  I found a beautiful sunflower arrangement that fits perfectly on the kitchen island. 

Pretty blue and white and white bowl and the greenery is so full.

I am really happy with the way it looks on the island.

Here is a new chair purchase.  I liked it because it was a taller chair with the wide seat and it is not squishy, very firm. 

Say if you know of anybody looking for a home my Father-in-Laws is for sale.  Just e-mail me and I can send you a brochure about it. 

They are also having an estate sale at the house this weekend if you are interested in anything. 

I will have some new pictures as I am taking a road trip with the girls to Detroit.

It should be great fun.

I will tell you all about it when I get back.

We have lots of stops to make.

Jesus

This was a watercolor class assignment.

We were supposed to come up with our own superhero.

Jesus was the original superhero.

It's going to get framed soon and put near the cross wall.

starting the day

After my beautiful sunset I had to have a beautiful sunrise.

Oh what a beautiful morrrrrrrnnnnniiiiinnnngggg!

Oh what a beautiful daaaaayyyyyyy!

I've got a beautiful feeeeellllliiiinnnngggg!

Everythings going my waaaaayyyyy!

He is planning all the time.

Mothers Day

I had a really nice Mothers Day spent with my guys. We had our usual morning routine of Church, Breakfast and Grocery Store. Then we came home and I just did what I wanted to do as they did the same. I got some pretty Mom cards and a movie from Kevin. We had stopped before we came home and I picked up some pansies to plant and did that in the afternoon. I then picked Pizza Hut for dinner and it was all nice and low key. The best kind of day. I loved it. Here are my Pansies.

I have a few red begonias in there too.

A big puffy heart of love to my guys.

There is even harmony among the beasts in the family.

Notice Stonewall isn't in the picture.

Tom did one of his favorite things, mow the lawn and there he was spraying the weeds to get rid of them for our landscaping.

Here is a nice treasure from my Tom's Mom and Dads home.

It is a pretty wicker plant stand. 

I potted the plants we received from the funeral.

And have it on the little wall by the front door.

Here is a delicate china cup that was my Mother in Laws.  It is so thin.

Here is Sebastian on the Classic Car.

A car cover has been ordered.

A lovely, lovely sunset to end my Great Mothers Day.

ramblings

My school year is wrapping up this week and it is time.

Time to get into shorter work hours.

Have time for fun things I like to do and not to worry about what is due next class.

I have learned that the Muslims believe in one God.  I have learned that to be Saint like-you have to follow like the person that Christ was.  So when people tell me I am a Saint for living with my husband I can truly tell them-I am not.  I have also learned that multivitamins are helpful against colon cancer. 

Things have been happening.There has been a beautiful Royal Wedding. There were devistating tornados in the Southern U.S.  Osama Bin Laden has been found and killed.  Gas prices have hit $4.29 cents per gallon.  Seems like it is constantly raining and cool.  But it will be a new day  tomorrow and maybe the sun will peek out. 

My Father-in-Law passed away a couple months ago and Tom and his sister Ellen have been in the process of breaking up the house.  Here are a few things that have been brought home. 

The Classic Car

as Tom calls it.

A 1997 Gran Marquis

with 40,000 miles on it.

Mint Condition

It rides like a dream

My Mother-in-Law mostly drove it.

He is thinking of buying a cover for it.

I say "whatever".

He always has been a big car guy.

His dream is to buy a Lincoln Town Car. 

He would have driven it when he was 17 years old.

My Mother-in-Law loved dolls.

I have always thought this is just one of the loveliest dolls I have ever seen.

Her emerald green cape and beautiful black braid.

Her beautiful brown porcelain face.

And her shiny plaid dress.

This is a lovely old table that will probably go downstairs in the hallway. 

I love the way the leaves can go up.

That's a pretty feature.

I will put more treasures on later.

This little handmade pot with the bluebird on it was purchased on our trip to Indianapolis last week.

I was very drawn to it and love blue pottery.

I picked up a bag full of these nests on Saturday.

I just loved them.

Tom's Dad was 79 and had some health problems especially since my Mother-in-Law passed away. 

We hope that he has met up with my Mother-in-Law and is very happy and feels good.

He missed her so much.