Memorial Day Firepit

The Memorial Day weather was perfect; high 60s and breezy. Perfect weather for a firepit. 

S has been demonstrating excellent behavior when he is running free with his 6' leash dragging behind him. That lasted all thru our camping trip and most of the evening by the firepit. It ended when JP let him into the neighbor's rabit-infested yard. Then if turned into "GAME ON!!!"

As the fire was dying down, a little yellow cat came thru the back yard. He was no match for JP and her "Here Kitty hitty hitty" call.

 

Northfield

We took off to the south and checked out Northfield and Cannon Falls. Both were fun and on the list of places to visit again.

This guy reeled in a jumbo carp just below the falls in Northfield.

Little Cannon River falls/rapids.

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Twins, Timberwolves, Minnesota PWHL

No visit to the cities would be complete without a Twins game. We watched the Twins deliver a resounding, but chilly, pounding to the Rangers.

The game start was moved up an hour in order to not compete with the Timberwolves game happening next door at the Target Center. The city was electrified with energy, but we were grateful to be done an hour early.

Earlier in the day, the Minnesota Professional Womens Hockey League team beat Boston on their way to claim the national championship. 

 

Big Creek

It's hard to believe this is the same little creek that winds thru the neighborhood.

By us, it runs fast, but it's pretty lazy.

 

City Wildlife

Our morning dog walks are punctuated with an abundance of wildlife in the city limits. Not seen are a momma duick and her babies paddling thru the weeds.

 

Spring Falls

The Gs came up for a cool MN weekend. The every-other-day rains have the falls were running bigger than we've ever seen them.

 

Celebration

We hit our favorite places in town to celebrate GP's graduation: Vincenzo's

And of course Tipsy Tina's.

And the German Beer Hall for a giant pretzel and a few pints.

 

The Graduate

GP is a graduate!!! His graduation ceremony was a blast. 3-1/2 hours in Memorial Stadium with a blazing Nebraska sun. Fortunately, we had the foresight to find some seats tucked under the upper deck in the shade. 

It was bittersweet to stand in front of Archie for the last time. 

If anyone is looking for a really sharp recent grad from the University of Nebraska Business College, please give us a call.

 

Smoky Sunrise

The forest fires in Canada are already under full swing. Ft. McMurray (1400 miles north), which burned to the ground in 2016 is on fire again. It gives us beautiful sunrises & sunsets and it makes the air smell like a campground./

If you didn't know where to look, you'd miss the skyline entirely.

 

Northern Lights, Night #2

The first night, we tried to get to a place where we could look for the northern lights on the northern horizon. We quickly learned that was not necessary.

The second night, we didn't even try to get out of the woods. Both nights, the lights were directly overhead and even to the south. 

 

Waiting for the Lights

Since our campsite has the least standing water, it became base camp.

The Ks taught us how to play dominoes, and it's become our ritual group camping activity while waiting for the norther lights to appear.

 

Camping Day 2

We did a nice loop hike on the other side of the swinging bridge and found a spot in the sun for a snack break,.

The incredible thing about the river is that it has multiple channels everywhere. It is young enough that it has not established a single deep channel.

The dog likes being in the woods. It is his place.

 

Northern Lights Night 1

What's better than North Woods Camping? North Woods Camping with the Northern Lights!

The huge X-8.7 solar flare and coronal mass ejection happened to hit while we were camping and dazzled us with its impact.

 

Tired Pup

After our hike, it started raining. The tent was set up and dry, but we got caught in the car. 

The dog rode out the storm like a champ. He was exhausted and grateful for some down time.

JP found her spot in the back.

 

St. Louis River - Jay Cooke State Park

We hit Jay Cooke State Park for our spring camping trip. We learned our lesson last year and booked it in May rather than April. There was no snow in our campsite, but there was a fair amount of standing water (but no mosquitos yet!).

The St. Louis River was spectacular. Only one floodgate was feeding it from the lake up above and it was still an impressive amount of water. Last year with the record snow, the river took out this bridge. What you see here is the 7th incaration of it.

The river drops over 350 feet (higher than Niagra Falls) thru the park in a series of falls and rapids. It's one of those things that you never hear about, but should. It was a major portage back in the Hudson Bay Trading Company days.

We did a nice 9-mile hike with the dog and saw a porcupine along the way. For a while the birds went silent, which I think means that someone (wolves?) is about. We didn't see predators other than an eagle.

 

Moring Dog Walks

So far it's not getting old.

 

Team Outing

We had a big conference @ headquarters and my entire team got together for a team outing and celebration: a Twins game! The Blue Line was not working, so we took the next best mode of transport from Bloomington: the D-Line. It is not the same as the Blue Line or the #4 bus I normally take home. It was full of excitement and great conversations. This guy got on with his toboggan and it was the talk of the bus.

We had some great seats in Section 109 between 1st and home plate.

Twins Win!!!

 

Cinco de Mayo 2024

We hit Cinco de Mayo @ Nico's Tacos. Perfect day, pefect friends, and a few drinks & some nachos in the sun made for a great day.

 

Perfect Day

Today is going to be nothing but blue skies, no wind, and 70 degrees. Perfect day in Minneapolis!

 

Backyard View

This post is just a benchmark of where the aspens in the backyard are starting the 2024 season. I'm guessing that by the end of the season they will be blocking more of the alley view.

Everything in the backyard is coming back to life. The rabbits aren't as bad this year and we're getting normal spring rains, so hopefully we will get back to normal.