My Zany GAVOT

Saturday, June 9, 2012

Another Road Trip… this time with Hubby...

Today was an absolutely beautiful day in Minnesota… a little too warm to work outside (90s) but lovely for going on a road trip in our Mini Cooper with the windows down… ahhh!!

We were looking for something to do, something a bit off the beaten path… we just didn't want to deal with crowds, and we were in the mood for a bit of a drive in the country… so we headed to Scandia, a small town to the North of where we live, hunting down a rock shop I'd heard about online… We didn't find the rock shop (the address was faulty), but as we drove through town we saw a sign for the Gammelgarden Museum… so we went, not having any idea what it would be…

It is a museum of "Swedish Immigrant Heritage"…

This plaque on the ladies room door was too cute!!

We were able to get bio-breaks in the visitor center, and look around in there a bit, but this was a small town…

The museum was set to close at 4pm, it was 3:30, we were too late for a "tour" & at this place they insist you go with a guide… but the visitor center was cute! The lady in the museum store gave us some information to take home, we'll have to make it back there some day…

We decided not to head home yet, but to go a bit further North… Jeff had heard about the Alpine Slide at Wild Mountain in Taylor's Falls, so we headed in that direction… but before we could get there, what should we spot but the Franconia Sculpture Park… its an unusual place we'd seen before from the road on previous trips to Taylor's Falls, but today was the first time we stopped. Words don't do the place justice, I'll let you browse the pictures instead…

Jeff by a tower of boom boxes...

The Lizard Lounge

Jeff is still a kid at heart :)

New works, in process...

That was interesting… a little crazy/zany, and definitely worth the walk around the extensive grounds…

Finally we were back on track, headed to Taylor's Falls… once we got there we needed something to drink (it was hot today) & so did the Mini (she needed fuel)… I snapped these pics from the gas station (after buying a couple diet sodas)…

Over there, that hill going up… that's Wisconsin, the bridge is one
of a few that cross the St Croix River, a dividing line between
Minnesota & Wisconsin in this part of the state.

That's downtown Taylor's Falls, all 1-2 blocks of it…

To those who know the local area, no we didn't eat at the Drive-In… We checked, they don't make their home made Root Beer in diet, and since I gained weight on our Ukraine Mission Trip (see earlier posts) I'm keeping to my Weight Watchers points…

We went just a bit further North from downtown Taylor's Falls to Wild Mountain (ski resort in winter) and did a ride down the Alpine Slide… it was hot today (did I mention that?) and the ride up the hill was slow & in full sun… but the ride down was fast, shaded, and went through the woods… it was FUN!! Sorry no pics, left the camera in the car, they'd have been blurry anyway :)

Finally we decided to head back toward home, and decided that we just didn't feel like cooking… so we went to Punch Pizza - a local chain that makes wood fired pizza in an 800 degree F oven - this chain is a member of V.P.N. (Vera Pizza Napoletana).

The place was busy, I guess we weren't the only ones who didn't want to cook today, so we had to wait a bit - but not too long… The patio was already mostly in shade when we got there, there were birds singing & a nice breeze was blowing, and there were even some pretty flowers in the planter box next to our table…

After a short wait we were rewarded with yummy deliciousness… Mmmm… it smelled & tasted so wonderful!!

That's it… that was our road trip today… a very spontaneous & unplanned chain of events which made for a lovely time together… I'm a spoiled woman!!

Wednesday, June 6, 2012

Road Trip to the Pizza Farm

My friend Jen is one of those friends that gets me out of my shell… she can get me to go places & do things that I'm just not so likely to go and do by myself… everyone needs 1 or 2 "partners in crime" & she's one of mine…

Yesterday our outing involved a short road trip to a farm (click here for info) about 1 1/2 hours away from the Twin Cities in Stockholm Wisconsin, where they make pizza with ingredients straight from the farm…

We arrived in Stockholm, it's a cute little town along the Mississippi River in the Lake Pepin area.

Downtown Stockholm Wisconsin

Population: 66

We stopped in town briefly… we needed a bio break, and Jen had heard about this place that makes great Pie...

The Pie shop, on the main intersection in town.

I picked up a piece of Pie for hubby Jeff, who wasn't on the road trip… I resisted getting one for myself, I was holding out for Pizza Pie instead :)

I couldn't help but notice this little Sparrow singing his heart out…
Isn't that a beautiful piece of iron-work he decided to perch on?

We had an absolutely beautiful day for a road trip - weather in the 70s, sunny, little puffy clouds now & then, birds singing…

Parking along the gravel road, at the farm.

After a bit we were off of paved roads & onto gravel, but not for very long before we located the place (there are no signs pointing the way). Finally we arrived at the farm, toting in everything we'd need for our Pizza dinner - except for the Pizza of course.

Lots of people picnicking on the grounds of the Pizza Farm.
Some kept it simple: Lawn Chairs & Coolers & Paper Plates…
Some were fancy: Tables with Linens & Silver & Wine…
Some couples, groups of friends, families…

Some of the farm buildings, where you go order your Pizza.
How long you wait is determined by how many people
ordered before you… we were relatively early, and early
in the season, so we only had to wait about 10 minutes.
(We'd heard of people waiting several hours)

Jen & I brought along some Fruit, some Salad Fixings, some Beverages, a collapsable picnic table, and our own paper plates / napkins, and some plastic utensils that look metal…

We spoiled ourselves with a nice Salad & some Fruit...

Fresh Farm-made Pizza...

We had a lovely time enjoying our food, and each other's company, and Jen's little girl Larkin seemed to be having a wonderful time! Larkin's always a crowd pleaser, a very friendly toddler, and we had lots of people come to visit this adorable little one.

Larkin… the evidence she helped us eat our
salads is right on her chest… she loves her
fruits & vegetables!

Looking forward to our next adventure!!

A Fine Spring Evening...

My hubby Jeff has taken one of his hobbies to a new level… he plays Trombone, and is teaching himself to play Euphonium… and it's the Euphonium that's taking him new places… On Sunday it took him to Como Park Pavilion (St Paul) where a band he's only recently joined, Shoreview Northern Lights Variety Band, was giving a free concert - part of a Concert In The Parks program that operates here in the Twin Cities area.

Trees Just outside the Pavilion

I wasn't going to pass up an opportunity to go to Como Park, or to hear this wonderful band perform, so I went along… We got there about 5:20, concert didn't start until 7:00, so I did a couple walking laps around Como Lake (about 3 1/4 miles total)…

This friend stayed still long enough for me to get a nice picture.

The birds were adding in an accompaniment to the band across the lake…

Jeff's in there with the band, setting up & warming up…
I could hear them from across the lake where I took this shot.

It's Spring… so there are still flowers blooming, these are a couple I hadn't snapped before…

The weather was warm (70s), pleasant, breezy… there were clouds but they didn't threaten rain… I wish this shot captured how pretty the sunlight was coming through the clouds… but I'm guessing you get the idea…

Saturday, June 2, 2012

This Place is a ZOO!!

Ok… its actually This Place has a Zoo… I'm talking about Como Park in St Paul… and it was a picture-perfect Minnesota day to be out & about!!

Typical of Como Park: large mature trees, rolling hills,
paths lined with quaint light posts...

I love this beautiful park with its mature trees, beautiful lake, golf course, bandshell / pavilion, conservatory (a lifesaving oasis of green in Minnesota winters), multiple picnic grounds, a kids amusement park, and more… a real gem in the city of St Paul. Today our excursion was to the Zoo, or at least mostly to the Zoo… :)

What are those critters off in the distance, are they squirrels? are they
bunnies? No! They're Woodchucks!!!

As we were meandering toward the Zoo (not in the Zoo) we ran across some of our favorite friends… Jeff & I have always gotten a kick out of spotting the Woodchucks (a.k.a. Groundhogs, Whistle-pigs, …) in Como Park… these funny rodents just tickle us for some reason (and I'm not sure why)… when we see one we affectionately call it "Chuckie" (what else would you call a Woodchuck?)...

We tried to get pictures of them fully above ground… but they were a bit
shy, and not sure that Jeff & I were fans...

Today we spotted 3, though we only got descent pictures of 2… There was a great big one (Papa Chuckie), another mature one (Mama Chuckie), and a small one (Chuckie Jr.)….

Mama Chuckie pokes her head out of her burrow to see who has
invaded her family's land...

She looks straight at me and checks me out… she wants to make
sure I'm not a direct threat….

I guess she thought I looked ok, cause she let Chuckie Jr. take a
peek as well...

After being a bother to this furry family for a little while we decided to leave them be, let them have a little peace and enjoy this beautiful day. Next we passed by the edge of the golf course, so I took a couple shots… with my camera of course (I can barely handle mini-golf for heaven's sake!)…

Jeff & I were surprised there weren't more golfers on the course today, its a nice little course & it was a beautiful day… but maybe all those crazy golfers decided it was too pretty a day to waste golfing… whatever! So we continued our stroll, past the conservatory...

Como Park Conservatory, an oasis of green in mid-winter :)

Jeff thought he needed to be in the picture… what the heck, I think
he's handsome, so why not!!

We were almost to the Zoo when… I couldn't help myself, I got distracted by flowers… so I stopped and clicked a picture of this pretty pink Peony...

Isn't she lovely?

Did we ever get to the Zoo? Of course we did… here are some pictures from the little Zoo - it doesn't charge admission, just a suggested donation of $1/child & $2/adult, so don't go comparing it to the likes of the San Diego Zoo (I grew up near it, no comparison)… its a nice little Zoo!! Here's some of my nicer Zoo pictures:

Not going quackers, just out for a swim...

Nothing says "Zoo" like Pink Flamingos

Watch Out!! This big fella is on the move!!

This guy was simply resting peacefully by the Daisies….

Just Lion around, soaking up the sun...

This prisoner isn't going to get paroled anytime soon… good thing
stripes suit him!

Grabbing a bite where he can… trying to make sure he gets his greens...

Chillin' on a sunny afternoon...

A Joyous Reunion!!

This morning I had the privilege of getting to welcome home a young man that is a former Bible student, a fun young man, and a young man I'm very proud of… Ian!! His parents were meeting him at the airport this morning, and they invited friends & family to join them… I felt privileged to be included!