Smokin' Pandemic Dinner

Our neighbors proposed getting together for dinner before the cold weather sets in. Awesome! We hit Kowalski's for some perfectly trimmed ribs and threw them into the smoker for 5 hours. Then we dined with the neighbors on their deck under a propane heater. It was in the 30s, but fun. Can't wait to be out of this pandemic so that we can properly hang with friends.

 

Cedar Ave. Bridge

Last weekend we tried out a new place to stomp around and test our new binoculars (my 15-yr anniversary gift from work). It's a park on the MN River where Cedar Ave. used to cross. The 1919 bridge was falling and was slated to be demolished, but some people stepped in and got it restored. It's beautiful as a pedestrian/bike bridge on the National Register of Historic Places and it crosses a National Wildlife Refuge. We will definitely come back throughout the year to see the birds.

 

Black Dog @ Night

 

Last Night S slipped out of his collar at 9 PM at the end of his walk. He ran free all over the neighborhood for the next hour. He dashed across 50th St. and nearly ran into the side of a passing car. Then he ran down to the park at the creek and over the bridge to the next neighborhood. 

He finally stopped for a drink in the creek and JP snagged him as he was struggling to climb the steep bank. This is the 3rd time that he's broken free since we moved here. Time to go back to the 3-point harness that he hates.

Official Minnesotans

I suppose this makes it official: we are now Minnesotans. It's not about having a MN driver's license, or paying taxes. It's about wild rice soup and snowblowers.

JP cooked up a batch of the most amazing wild rice soup I've ever had. Once upon a time when we used to go out to eat, it was a staple for us at any MN restaurant (kinda like walleye).

We picked up JP's new snowblower yesterday. We actually waited on going for an hour because it was snowing!! While we were assembling it in the garage, the radio kept playing ads for Toro snowblowers.

 

Tonka

We picked up a Minnesota map book at REI. I was paging through it and noticed this weird smudge on the page by Minnetonka. I didn't have my glasses on and I couldn't make it out - it didn't look like any of the other map symbols.

I had never thought that much about it, but it makes sense that Tonka trucks are from Minnetonka.

Here are some interesting facts about the company: https://www.thrillist.com/cars/12-things-you-didn-t-know-about-tonka-the-history-of-america-s-most-beloved-dump-truck

 

Morning Creek Walk

For our morning walks, S & I go south two blocks to Minnehaha Creek. It's beautiful and there are no joggers, cyclists, or other walkers like at the lake. On weekends, we sleep in late enough that it's light out so we can stroll along the creek bottom.

The water is way down, so all the sandbars are exposed and collect the leaves. It's very tranquil.

 

Glowing Maple

The maple that grows over the deck is absolutely stunning!! It is the most amazing fluorescent yellow-orange that just glows.

The tree is high enough that it's in the sun all day and everything under it is awash in a golden glow.

The view from our bedroom is the best - it's like we're in a treehouse.

 

Lots of Walks

The fall weather means lots of walks with leaves to chase. The cat just likes to sleep, regardless of what's going on around her.

 

Rustling Overhead

On our morning walk in the dark and moonlight, S paused to sniff a tree. Overhead, I heard some rustling in the leaves. It was too dark to be a squirrel - what could it be? An owl? Nope - just two young raccoons looking for a way to get down. Fortunately S didn't notice them and we got away without a lot of barking.

 

Last Walleye Sandwich

We took advantage of a perfect fall day and did our 5k around the lake with lunch @ the Bread & Pickle. They close for the season on Sunday and I HAD to get in one more walleye sandwich. Since it's October, JP went all-in and got a bratwurst with kraut. We're going to try to hit it again for Sunday breakfast and get in one more smoked salmon sandwich.

S really likes the chill in the air. He told us that he is really excited about winter and the snow.

 

Driveway Campout

We have been talking about heading to the Northwoods for a weekend of camping and leaf watching. I couldn't remember what our small tent was like - I had bought it for the cub scout camping trips with the boys at Camp Cornhusker. It has only mesh walls! Not so good for Northwoods camping.

With our fearless president superspreading his virus in Duluth this week, we chickened out on a weekend of camping and instead bought a firepit for the back yard. We got the biggest one we could so that we can have friends over and all remain distant.

I've tried to keep the blog apolitical, but given the state of the world and what we know of the virus, what kind of person would still travel and hold rallies, knowing that he is infected? In addition to the Duluth rally, he did a private fundraiser here in a suburb with high-dollar donors. It will be interesting to see how that unfolds.

 

New From Old

I picked up a beat up Gibson LPJ for cheap a few years ago. It plays great, but looked meh, and was rather dull. Some new plastic and a pickguard solved that. It has been a fun guitar to experiment with. I wouldn't be comfortable screwing around with a $2,000 version. Note to anyone wanting to do this: Epiphone trim parts don't fit the same as Gibson. 

 

UW 5k Dog Walk

For work, we had a "Virtual 5k" fundraiser event for the United Way. Rather than a large organized run, everyone did their own thing and submitted proof that they did it online. We did ours around the lake. It's 5.28 km (3.1 mi) from the house around the lake.

Along the way, we stopped off at our favorite outdoor breakfast spot: the Bread & Pickle on the north shore of the lake. We split an egg & cheddar w/ham on an oversized english muffin. We are going to be sad when they close for the season next weekend, but we are Very Excited that the Sparrow Cafe just reopened this weekend. It's the coffee shop on the corner by the house.

S did well on the 5k. It was 55° and he didn't pant the entire way. He didn't even jump in the water at the beach.

 

Arboretum

JP took Nana to the arboretum for a few hours on a perfect fall afternoon.

 

Trimmed Ribs

The kitty helped me run the smoker for a batch of ribs. She is a good helper.

We got the meat from Kowalski's. At first I was a little put off with the price, but that all changed as soon as I went to trim them up. There was nothing to trim! They were trimmed perfectly and even had the membrane pulled off. All I had to do was season them and throw them in the smoker for a few hours. From now on, we are only buying our ribs from there.

The long day at the smoker tired out the cat.

 

Nana Visits MN

We brought Nana up for a week to see our new place and the sights of Minnapolis.

She got to experience a little bit of color.

We had beautiful sunny weather for the whole week. We hit the Bread & Pickle for lunch one day and it was packed. Everyone was getting out to enjoy the last of the perfect weather.

 

Workbench

Finally picked up a workbench from Menards and now have a clean flat place to work in the garage. Tore apart the lawnmower robot and repaired some stage lights.

 

Naptime

Being a fluffy pet is such hard work. Gotta nap when you can.

With the boys both gone, S has his own bedroom back.

 

Butterfly Hunter

One of our favorite places to go with S is the Bloomington off-leash dog park. It's a huge open prairie with sections of tall grass that make for great butterfly hunting.

 

Princess Bride

The original cast of The Princess Bride did a fundraiser for the Wisconsin Democratic Party. They read the entire script of the movie live from their homes. They did a great job and it was so fun to listen & watch.