HUMBLED....BLESSED....THANKFUL

Quick trip out west before the big festivities began: Kim reading to older boys

middle man loves cucumbersThis was a busy month to be sure. It started out busy with trying to paint, in between rainstorms, and me not being home. Then Stacie and Ralph were able to come home for a few weeks for their vacation. My kids had asked me what I wanted to do for my b'day, yes it was the big 50 (:, and I said if they could all be together that is gift enough for me. I always enjoy seeing everyone together enjoying one anothers company and watching all the grandchildren. So that is what I thought we were doing and having family pics taken by a wonderful photographer, http://www.laurabellephotography.com/. She is a friend of Chad and Nikki's and she did an awesome job!! When you think we had 13 grandchildren there and the oldest is not quite seven!!! So there were quite a few babies to be held in photos and trying to keep everyones attention, can't say it enough she did a FANTASTIC job!! We were all very pleased.
Then at the end of the photo session our kids told me what was going to happen the rest of the weekend. I truly thought this was gift enough, but they hired five girls to stay with all the children,so on the next day we could go to Old Spaghetti Factory for supper and they were taking us to the Orpheum Theater to see Mary Poppins the Musical. We had such a wonderful time. It was a great play. Then the day after that we all went to the Como Zoo. So it was a full, but absolutely wonderful weekend!!! I felt so very BLESSED that they went to all this work to plan, and pull all of this together. I am sure it was a lot of work and I am sooooo THANKFUL!!

Stacie and Nugget at the State Fair Ralph and Nugget at the State Fair
Not so sure of the big animalsWaiting for pics to be taken.........Hanging out at the houseOld Spaghetti Factory.....At Como Zoo

Much Needed Weekend Getaway (with a little work thrown in)

We have been trying all summer to get away for a vacation.....at first it was going to be for a week. Then we could tell that we really didn't have a week to use so then we thought a four day weekend would be nice......well,little did we know that would be hard as well to find time. Bob started this job a year ago Dec. so he is building a brand new territory and business is very different these days so you want to meet with dealers and customers when you can to keep what momentum is going to keep it going. So what we ended up doing he had to go to Biwabik,MN to touch bases with the dealer there building a house so we were able to tie in our weekend getaway with a "little" work. Well worth it and we had a wonderful time .

Our first day was the worst as far as weather goes. It was a rainy drizzly day. As we were driving to where the house was we noticed that the leaves are starting to change.

We had heard that this lodge was a very expensive place to stay;but we thought why not go in and see since we are here..so we did. And they had a great rate cuz of the bad weather so we stayed.

Lobby of Lodge Living Room

Its called Giants Ridge Resort. Its a ski resort in the winter, but has bike trails and such for the other times of year. Our room was gorgeous. Had a kitchen,living room,& bedroom

Since the weather was so rainy and we couldn't go for a bike ride we went for a drive, went through Embrass,MN. This town is known for one of the coldest spots in the winter so we wanted to see what is there.

Theseare statues in this little park Big Thermometer

There's even a bed&breakfast out of town a little ways. Looked very nice, didn't get a pic of the gazebo but that was there also. Very pretty yard.

After we left Giants Ridge we drove up to Grand Marais, Bob had a meeting with his dealer and customer. So after that we went to for a bike ride and to the Angry Trout for supper. This is the hill we had or fide up.....sad to say I didn't make it all the way, oh well was a good ride.

They catch fish daily, and that is the fish they serve . We had fish and chips it was delicious!

View of our hotel from the lake in Grand Marais Sailboat



This was a light house and of course Bob had to see if there was a way that he could get up in there, the door was pad locked shut.

From Grand Marais we hiked to Devils Kettle. These are the steps we went down, this is a pic of going up. You hike quite a ways up, then take the steps and ramps back down to the river. This is a river that has a hole that the water goes into and they haven't been able to figure out where the water comes out. Beautiful view.

Taking a rest Steps down

View of falls behind me


Devils Kettle

This is the back of Naniboujou Lodge.

We tried to stay here but it was full. We left our van here in the parking lot and hiked over to Devils Kettle. We came back here to eat lunch. It is a very unique place and wonderful food!!




Inside the dining room. It was painted in the designs of the Cree Indians. The fireplace is supposed to be one of the largest in MN.

Go to http://www.naniboujou.com/ to read more about this great get away.

From there we drove down to Beaver Bay and went on a 10 to 16 mi round trip bike ride to Split Rock Lighthouse.









These were some "chairs"along the trail to advertise this lodge so thought we should get a picture. This bike ride was a challenge for sure, quite hilly in some parts but well worth the ride. We can't wait to go back again.

From here we drove down to Duluth and stayed there for our last night. We walked down by the canal and ate at another unique resteraunt and looked around at some cute shops. For just a few days we found plenty to do and came home very refreshed!