Summer Comes to Minnesota
Since our departure from Vermillion, we've been kickin' it in Minnesota with our families.
Early on, after the U-Haul was returned and our possessions safely stowed in a 10x15 square foot storage cube, we ventured north and visited Molly and Doug in Bemidji. We introduced Adelaide to the Mighty Mississip at Itasca's headwaters; we took a glorious 12-mile bike ride up hill and down at Itasca; we shook hands with Paul and Babe on Lake Bemidji; we met the tigers, lemurs, camels, and deer of Animal Land; we took a strolling tour of the farm, picked countless woodticks off of one another, happened upon an Indigo Bunting and a Grosbeek at Molly's feeders, and patted Numa and Breezy (the horses) often. We enjoyed a relaxing, memorable time at Molly and Doug's, and left the camera at home ... Growl.
Upon our return to St. Cloud, all of our Ready-to-Move energy has been put to good use in the form of Household Projects ... Joel and Dad have tackled landscaping projects. We've painted walls at nearly everyone's house, all the while scheming about our own color schemes and plans. But, we're managing to relax and see the sights, too!
Beginning with Golf ... We have been golfing a lot. And by we, I mean Joel. Joel can be found out on The Links every other day, shaving points off his score and trying to improve his drives. Adelaide and I are mostly along for the ride.
One beautiful Saturday, we took in the sounds and smells of the animals of the Minnesota Zoo ... Adelaide had a blast at the petting zoo and successfully rattles off the names of the animals she chanced to see: "Goat, Chicken, Bunny, Cow ... Shark." It was a good day.
Today we took advantage of the family children's museum membership we purchased in Iowa City and played for nearly three hours at the St. Paul Children's Museum; our membership in Iowa allows us free access to other cool museums in the US. Adelaide and I pretended to munch plastic corn cobs, oranges, tarts, and chicken legs at a mock feast.
We have encountered many turtles in our short Minnesota stay, including a timid painted turtle at a park/wetland behind my parents' home, so when Adelaide had a chance today to "try on" a turtle's vestments she dove right in!
All day long Adelaide played and pretended, but to Joel and I said only the necessary words, like "Me need 'nack" (translation: I would like a little something to eat, please) and "Me go 'dere" (translation: I would like to explore that exhibit, please). The exception was an animated conversation she had with Joel via a beaver puppet.