Minnehaha Creek Adventures

Just this past weekend, with a bit of sunshine and some late-fall temperatures on our side, Jarad & I took some time to walk along Minnehaha Creek. What a beautiful gem, right within the Cities! We will definitely be back, possibly with bikes, to explore some more.

Self-portrait on a bridge passing over the creek...

...just a great day altogether!!

Autumn

"Autumn is a second spring when

every leaf is a flower."

~ Albert Camus

A quick visit to Lakefront Park in Prior Lake this week turned up some beautiful fall colors. I wish we'd had more of these images this autumn, but for now, I will take what I can get. And...

...there's always next year!

Nine Month Anniversary

Saturday marked nine months since a very special person came into my life. I could get sappy, but sufficed to say, I'm a lucky gal.

We went to Maynard's in Excelsior for dinner, then out to Dunn Bros. to listen to some live acoustic music. It was a great night to be out with the one I love.

Fall Fun at the Corn Maze!!

So I finally got to visit Sever's Corn Maze - this totally random fall attraction in the Cities. This farm near Canterbury makes a maze out of their cornfield - awesome! They also have a pumpkin catapult called "The Slinger", pig races, a petting zoo, and all kinds of fun. I convinced Jarad, Joy, and Scot to come with me - good times were had by all!! (Well, by me for sure - I think everyone else enjoyed it, too!)


Jarad and I get acquainted with our agricultural sides...

Joy and I bask in our cuteness...

and I wind up for the pumpkin catapult...way too much fun!

My Family is Awesome

This weekend, we held the 2nd annual Smoger/Dugas/Otten/Rubesch fall picnic in Lester Park (Duluth, MN). My brother Jeff, his wife Sarah, and their son Ben were in attendance - I finally got to meet this cutie nephew of mine! We had a beautiful day and really got to enjoy one another!

Sunday brought a chance to watch the Vikings season opener together, which is always a treat. Jarad & I stayed through the 3rd quarter - the Vikes had it in the bag by then! My mom sported her Adrian Peterson jersey, and Bob enjoyed an amazing Skyline Bloody Mary - check that bad boy out, people!!

Weekend Getaway

This weekend, I took a few days off from TCF so Jarad & I could head up north for a little getaway. Destination: Leech Lake. Along the way, Jarad made a special trip into St. Cloud so I could see the Munsinger Clemens Gardens. This beautiful garden features various sections of beautiful flowers, foliage, and fountains. I particularly liked the hibiscus:


And there are several working fountains that just begged me to take pictures:


After this delightful pit stop, we were on our way up to Leech Lake. Jarad's mom and stepdad have a sailboat, The Renaissance, which they keep in a Marina at the Shores of Leech Lake. We were able to get up there and out on the water for a lovely sail. We anchored in a shallow end of the the bay, and had a great lunch cooked on the grill. Jarad and I both took turns sailing - I even learned a bit of sailor language (not the dirty kind - I already knew that!). But I think I figured out which side is "port" and what it means to "tack". Very exciting!!

Sunday morning, Jarad & I woke up early enough to see the sun rise over Leech Lake. There was a beautiful fog on the water, and the clouds were just striated enough for a really cool effect. It was chilly - down in the lower 40's - but it was worth it to get this view!

After a nice breakfast and some coffee, we took a bike ride of about 7 miles, seeing some more of the lake shore and enjoying the great trails that run around the lake. All in all, a wonderful little weekend getaway - I felt refreshed and ready to face Monday when we got back to town!

The Real Deal

It's been 7 months - seven amazing, wonderful, exhilirating months - since Jarad & I first met. This is the real deal, people...bask with me...c'mon, you know you want to!