I have been delving into minimalist blogs as of late. You see, I have been on a quest to simplify and declutter my life. I'm still in the planning stages. To date, I haven't made noticeable progress… but I plan to. There's really very little we need in life. Colorful mixing bowls… essential.  An outing with Dick…

Each year over Labor Day Weekend, a Steam Thresher's Reunion is held in Rollag, Minnesota, which is near Fargo, North Dakota. Today, Dick and I returned from a similar farm show near Avon Park in central Florida, where we spent three days with our friends Ron and Sue from Illinois. The most popular transportation of choice to navigate the grounds…

Dick and I have become members of the Tin Can Tourists Organization. Our membership became official during our initiation ceremony over this past weekend at a rally in Cedar Key, Florida. After learning  the club's hand symbol, handshake, and song, we were welcomed into this vintage travel trailer club that was started in 1919. Here is a photo of the 1940 (?)…

Dick and I are enroute to New York and New Jersey to vist our daughters, Heather and Lisa, and their families. A regular stop at the halfway point in our cross-country journey is the Round Barn Theater in Napannee, Indiana where, this year, a Cinderella musical was playing.  The architecture of the theater is as…

This morning, Dick and I attended the funeral of a lifelong friend. It was sad… a tragic, unexpected death. We had previously made plans to attend a concert in the evening, not knowing that it would provide the comfort we would need today. The performance by Ellis, a Minneapolis folk artist, was the 251st in a series of Grassroots Concerts debuting in 1988 in…

Bayfield, Wisconsin, a New England-feeling town located on the Lake Superior Shore, held its 49th annual Apple Fest this past weekend. Its population is only 611, but during this event it swells considerably. Dick and I increased the total by two.   We toured some of the many orchards surrounding Bayfield. My favorite was North Wind Organic Farm,…

What an amazing autumn day! The morning started out crisp with temp in the 40s, but quickly warmed to the high 60s. I chose to spend a portion of the day picking raspberries at Brambling Rows Berry Farm south of Brainerd (Minnesota) on St. Mathias Road. Perfect serenity… just the bees buzzzzing.    The owners provide pickers with an ice cream bucket…

The Paul Bunyan Amusement Park in Brainerd (Minnesota), that I knew as a child, was moved to "Paul Bunyanland's" new location 6 miles east on Highway 18. Despite a sadness that is rooted in nostalgia… stemming from my wanting things to remain the same as they always were, the present owners have done an amazing job of recreating their…

Look at this little cutie… It's the most perfect size.  We have completely stripped the inside and are presently researching the manufacturer, year it was built, and photos to determine authenic interior styles so that we can accurately recreate its period look. We want to include a refrigerator and a kitchen sink but no stove. We'll use a…

Lupines along the roadside from just north of Duluth all the way to Grand Portage… Miss Rumphius must have been here.  Miss Rumphius is the title of a children's book by Barbara Cooney. It is based upon a true story of a little girl named Alice who lived in a city by the sea. Her…