A Saturday for the Books

Today was an epic Saturday, a Saturday for the books. Every part of it was wonderful, every detail wonderful and full of merriment. 

I love those Saturday mornings where you can lounge in bed and leisurely get ready, not be rushed, not have a deadline but lounge and relax and enjoy a slow start to your day.

Bestie and I had an amazingly fun date today. A trip to North East Minneapolis to visit a beautiful hand crafted store - I Like You. I was first introduced to this store while at the Minnesota State Fair. Everything sold in this store is hand crafted and from local Minnesota artists. Bestie and I got a *bit* lost on our way, the streets were definitely messed up during the numbering process, who would put SE 8th Street right before NE 1st Street? 

Bestie really is the bestest, after the store we took a detour and strolled across the Stone Arch Bridge in the frigid 10 degree weather. Gazed at St. Anthony Falls & talked the Guthrie. 

The perfect ending to our perfect date? White Vanilla Mocha and Christmas in January. 

The icing on this epic saturday? I ate wonderful delightful food. Pretty much all comfort food. A pear for breakfast - I am really loving pears right now so tasty! A lunch of homemade tomato basil soup with grilled cheese - I could live off of that stuff. A medium non-fat White Vanilla Mocha - my absolute favorite and really just liquid comfort right there in a mug. And for supper homemade mac n' cheese, not healthy by any means but fast, tasty and comfortable along with a healthy side of brussel sprouts. Yes I like brussel sprouts, I'm not sure when that happened since I did not eat them as a child but still just as tasty. 

Staycationing!

My last few days I have been staycationing! It has been marvelous. Lots of family time, seeings friends and a little bit of relaxation!

Snow

{First Snow Fall}

Hiking in Wisconsin

Willow River State Park

Beauty is in the Eye of the Beholder

A Weekend in Snapshots

A Wander in the Woods

{Hidden Falls Regional Park}

Saturday my friend KB & I went on a little hike around Hidden Falls Regional Park in St. Paul along the Mississippi River. The day was a bit overcast but still so much fun. We hiked for about two and a half hours, searching for the falls. We gazed at gnarly braided & twisted trunks. 

 Still we found no falls, we searched inland amongst the trees. Nothing. We finally decided that it was in fact hidden. Hence the Hidden Falls. Even though it had rained the night before there was not enough water to make the falls reappear.

We may not have found the falls but we still had a glorious wander in the woods and along the river. 

 Beautiful life moments, things to treasure & hold dear to your heart.

LIFE IS GOOD. 

. : don't let anyone tell you differently : .

Girls heading North: Bayfield

Here is the final (second) post to recap the glorious Girls Heading North mini series of my small & short but glorious little fall excursion. {Part 1 - Duluth can be found here}

{Bayfield}

We arrived in Bayfield late in the afternoon and decided to head right on over to Madeline Island where we were staying for the next two evenings. We checked in to the hotel and proceeded to drive around Madeline Island. If the colors were beautiful in Duluth, they were gorgeous in Bayfield/Madeline Island. 

We also started looking for someplace to eat supper at. Madeline Island, also known as La Pointe Wisconsin is mostly a tourist vacation spot. Madeline is the biggest island in the chain of Apostle Islands.  Madeline Islands' population ranges from 220 in the winter to a whooping 2500 in the summer. Most of the homes on Madeline are summer homes. 

Tom's Burnt Down Cafe

After driving around half the island we decided to park and visit a few of the local restaurants and establishments. We finally decided upon a local watering hole, Tom's Burnt Down Cafe was the lucky winner of the night. Let me tell you we did not choose this place for their award winning food or the fact that they were clean. If ever you were looking for a place that all the locals went to this was the place,  The place consisted of a old semi trailer as the kitchen and bar area, most of Tom's Burnt Down Cafe is located outside with a big tarp as the tent covering about a third of the entire cafe, in the back at the "entrance" there were two wood burning stoves going (keep in mind it was 40 degrees). In the "interior" every quote and never sold garage sale item finds its home here at Tom's. There were no words to exactly describe this place, but it did not seem to fit in Wisconsin, but we did enjoy this eclectic place none the less.  

{Applefest}

Saturday was the big Apple Fest, we headed back on over the ferry to Bayfield and disembarked and immediately started looking at wares. We met up with some friends and headed about 10 miles out to of Bayfield to the Hauser Winery for complimentary wine tasting as well as some free apples. At the winery Fiery C & I had the most amazing smoked pulled pork, were able to check out the view of Lake Superior from their barn loft, sample apple wines, and walk in the woods. 

 Hausers' "Superior" View (har har har)

We ended the day with a glorious sunset over Lake Superior and star gazing. 

{Big Bay State Park}

We ended the weekend with a quick jaunt around Big Bay State Park. The day was simply gorgeous, the warmest of the entire weekend. It was amazing to see the large rock shore underneath the crystalline waters, simply gorgeous. 

It was a beautiful end to a beautiful weekend. 

Smiley, Incognito, & Squinty 

Girls heading North: Duluth

{Duluth}

Fiery C, Curly Locks and I rolled into Duluth late into the evening after checking into our hotel we walked along the boardwalk making our way to Fitgers for super, where we all partook in the best burger I have every had, a wild rice burger, the pattie was PURE wild rice and so delicious. Fiery C had a flight of beer (they were shot size), Fitgers makes their own microbeers, as well as the Lake Superior Oatmeal Stout Syrup from several months ago.

Our hotel was located right on the lake and the following morning the sight from our hotel room window was utterly gorgeous with a slight haze over the lake. Unfortunately the rain and drizzle came and camped out over Duluth for the morning but that did not stop 3 midwest girls from showing Fiery the rest of the town.

We drove along beautiful tree lined streets bursting with colors

We did a driving tour of Duluth downtown as well as ended up at the beach. The beach in Duluth is such a difference from the rest of Duluth.

Fiery C & Curly Locks on the beach

A storm brewing in Duluth

We ventured up to Enger Tower, saw magnificent views and beautiful trees. And rung the peace bell .... several times.

 Pretty soon it was good bye Duluth and hello scenic drive to Bayfield. 

Minnesota: Enger Tower

{Enger Tower}

Enger Tower & Gardens is located on Duluth's Skyline Parkway. The main attraction is the 80 foot high tower that was dedicated in 1939 by Crown Prince Olav & Crown Princess Martha of Norway. The tower provides a bird's eye view of the city of Duluth and the harbor, as well as Enger Golf Course and Bayfront Park.






    {The Gardens}



 Located in the garden is a Peace Bell Tower from Duluth's Sister City in Japan, Oh Ara as well as a Japaneese rock garden.

Enger Tower is definitely a place to visit when in Duluth. The drive up is always gorgeous as well as the view from Enger Tower is magnificient and can not be beat!

Minnesota: Renaissance Festival

Renaissance Festival 

It is time again for the Minnesota Renaissance Festival, this year they are celebrating their 40th anniversary. This was my first year being able to attend RenFest, I was so excited to finally see what all the hype was about. I'm not sure what I exactly expected but whatever I expected was blown out of the water by what I was met with!


Instead of a smorgasbord of tents there were buildings, beautiful buildings painted with charm, I died every time I saw the gorgeous banners hung with beautiful fabrics from trees and buildings. I loved seeing the fair goers as well as the employees dressed up in gorgeous dresses and other festive fare. Hands down the best thing about the Renaissance Festival were the shows. Everything from dramas, comedy acts, stand up, dare devil extreme and magic. I loved attending so many different shows and just wandering around feeling like I had just landed in another country and time.

Psalm 19

"God's glory is on tour in the skies, God-craft on exhibit across the horizon. Madame Day holds classes every morning, Professor Night lectures each evening. Their words aren't heard, their voices aren't recorded, But their silence fills the earth: unspoken truth is spoken everywhere. God makes a huge dome for the sun - a superdome! 

The morning sun's a new husband leaping from his honeymoon bed, The day-breaking sun an athlete racing to the tape. That's how God's word vaults across the skies from sunrise to sunset, Melting ice, scorching deserts, warming hearts to faith. The revelation of God is whole and pulls our lives together. 

The signposts of God are clear and point out the right road. The life-maps of God are right, showing the way to joy. The directions of God are plain & easy on the eyes. God's reputation is twenty-four-carat gold, with a lifetime guarantee. 

The decisions of God are accurate down to the nth degree. God's word is better than a diamond, better than a diamond set between emeralds. you'll like it better than strawberries in spring, better than red, ripe strawberries."

Psalm 19 1-10

Message

The Worth of a Picture

I love looking back through pictures. Pictures that I forgot existed, pictures that I didn't know where even being taken, pictures that tell a story, a story of my friendship, my love for that person, my total enjoyment and wonder at that time. They say a picture is worth a thousand words, I'm sot sure I could even begin to explain my love of these photos and the reasons why I love them.

These are pictures that I am loving right now for more reasons that I can explain in a thousand words.

Bestie & I making goofy faces.

Liv's wonderful sign welcoming me as I walk through Colorado's terminal.

What a beautiful surprise. 

Two Harbors

Little Bro & I celebrating his graduation

First picture in Spokane, WA

So breath taking

Old School

Kaar & I representing at a college football game... those were the days

the days of no money, not being a "adult" yet, fewer responsibilities

Still one of my favorite weekends

Two of my favorite girls

College Friendships are everylasting

L - one of my favorite girls to take crazy pictures with 

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder