NICE

Such a nice day today!!! Cor and I laid out on a blanket and napped, and we both got sunburned. Crazy that it's still March and so beautiful.

Now I'm just sitting here wishing the week would go faster. Kind of experiencing weekend let-down. After a wonderfully fun SLW, on Sunday a bunch of us went mudding. Out by Lehto's there is a big swamp, and the shore of it was a mudhole. Grease got his truck stuck right away, so the rest of the afternoon was spent trying to get it out (eventually they went for the tractor). Meanwhile, us girls had mud fights, push fights, ate mud, and laughed and laughed. Time just flew by. I love those kind of days.

I know this weekend will be almost as fun. Steph is coming down, and she is so much fun to be around.

This is from two weeks ago, the Sunday at the guys house:

Kurt just had to get involved in our jumping pics :)

SLW RE:new

I know you are all anxiously awaiting SLW pictures (haha), but as usual I didn't take very many on my camera. Jump on over to Auntie Jan's blog to see a good sampling.

When we arrived at the RE: spa, we were greeted by candles, flowers, coffee, treats, and these beautiful hostesses.

Our group was assigned the Friday night meal, and we decided to make a vegan meal, being that we were at a spa. We had bread and olive oil, spinach salad, soup, pasta, and chocolate pudding.

It seemed like most people enjoyed it. My mom and I hard at work...

The dining room all ready for our guests to arrive. The green stuff is wheat grass that my mom grew just for our centerpieces. Notice the handmade paper bag placemats. They only took Joce and Chrissy say, about 4 hours to make. :)

The rest of the weekend was by turns relaxing, exhilarating, serious, spontaneous (can you say dressed up visitors at kyds?) and truly wonderful. When I get ahold of my mom's camera, I'll add more pictures.

Back.

Back to school, work, normal routine, after a week and a half break.

I now have wedding class. Making bouquets in school has been easy thus far, and it's always nice to get more practice in. I'm pretty sure I'll learn some new techniques eventually, just gotta go over the basics first.

Last Sunday, a bunch of people hung out at the guys house on the lake. Check out Cor's pics on facebook... It was great to be outside! Some of the guys put on a show for us by driving their snowmobiles over the open water, and then one sunk, so we watched the pull-out too. I took my boots for a trek out on the ice chunks. Jump, jump, sploosh. Wet to my thighs. Luckily, I had established before going out that there would be dry duds for me to change into. Good times.

I'm gearing up for SLW. It always feels like there are a million things to do, and to get. But when we put all our things together, it makes for a creative, stimulating, enthusiastic, delicious weekend.

Mississippi River Mini-cation

Kayla and I were both on Spring Break this week, and since we didn't go with our friends to CO, we decided to do something nearer home (aka cheaper). Uncle Aaron, who works there, had told my mom that Dubuque, IA seems like a neat town. So we did some research and made a reservation at a b&b there.

We left Thursday morning and took our sweet time getting there, stopping in Winona at the Mississippi River. It was flooded of course, and churning angrily. Like the kids we are, we made a little boat from a styrofoam chunk, and sent it floating down the river.
Effigy Mounds National Monument near Yellow River, IA was our second stop. Since it was such a nice day, we gladly hiked the two mile loop up on the bluff above the river.


Another trail went under the road, and boy did we have fun taking pictures in it.

I just love the green water and rust red bridge. We may or may not have sunbathed here.

This is Pikes Peak, located in McGregor, IA, and is the highest point in Iowa. It is also opposite the confluence of the Wisconsin River (heh heh, just learned that word).
We finally made it to Dubuque, and after checking in at our bed and breakfast, went downtown for dinner. The town kind of reminds me of Duluth, with water on one side, and a hill on the other. It was more run-down then I expected. As was our b&b. It was old, with a lot of lamps. Very inexpensive too, which suited us just fine. Our bed was comfortable, and the food was delicious! We named our innkeeper "Aunt Cynthia". She reminded us of a character in teen books, the kind that is eccentric and has cats. She was genuinely nice though, and told us that it is against the law to talk on your cell phone while driving in Dubuque. I didn't take a picture of our inn, and regret it now. This is downtown...

On Friday morning, we went to the Mississippi River Aquarium and Museum. It was totally worth the $10.50 admission. There was so much to do and see, like this huge catfish (I think that's what it was).
And a lizard exhibit that you could crawl into and get a peek of the habitat at close range.
Along with seeing many tanks of animals, we got to go outside and tour a boathouse, a wigwam, and an old barge.

Next, we headed across the bridge to Galena, Illinois for some shopping. Galena is a picturesque town with one long main street of shops. We didn't actually go into many, but the fudge shop beckoned to us.
It made me think of SLW and Chocolate Lovers :) After lunch and browsing, the weather turned chilly, and we were ready to head back to MN. One last picture...
When we say we went to Iowa for Spring Break, everyone gets that why? look on their face, and yeah, it wasn't Florida, but it was honestly great. I wouldn't have traded it for anything.

Brothers and mud boots

Last weekend;
one brother gave me relationship advice
one brother texted me that the Xcel Center has gluten free chips
one brother handed me his beautiful daughter to hold
and one brother gave our mother a shout-out over the radio from MI.

My mom, dad, and I headed over to Joce's last Sunday to listen and watch the Tech girls basketball game for which Brad did the color commentary. This is his fifth season, and we have never heard him. It was neat to hear him, and I thought he did a great job! But then again, he has always been a smooth talker... During half-time, he said "My parents are listening all the way over in MN for the first time, and I have never said this, but today I'd like to: Hi Mom!" She was all smiles over that. The girls won that game, and then again on Tuesday, so now they'll be going to Missouri, and Brad gets to go with them. Best of luck to the team!

Mud boots. Everywhere I go, I get comments on them. At the guys house, Luke Aho just thought they were the greatest. He kept saying things like "I bet you just take huge puddles in them things". I would just laugh and agree. 'Cause I do take huge puddles in them things. They are unreal for keeping feet and pants dry. I love 'em.

A day out

I came around to the fact that spring is here, and now I'm excited about it! I've been rockin' my mud boots (more about them in a post yet to come), and my coat that is newish from last year :)
Kayla, Cor and I headed out one day last week to the Institute of Arts. I love that everytime I go there I see something new. The purpose of our trip was to look at the painting I chose for Art In Bloom. Art in Bloom is a show held at the Institute every year where florists choose a painting and make a fresh arrangement to go with it. I went to see it last year, and it was amazing! I decided to participate this year, and picked this Van Gogh painting...

I haven't decided exactly what I'm using yet, but probably some curly willow to emulate the trees. Lynda suggested mums because they have a similar look to the brush strokes, and I like her idea. We'll see how it turns out. The show is at the end of April. I get one free valet parking pass during that weekend, so if anyone wants to come, look me up!

After the art museum, we drove around looking for fun. We found some in just hanging out together, and then at Solos for dinner. It was a great day out!

Thanks for listening

A handful of ladies have told me that they leave my blog up to hear my playlist. I'm flattered. I like that you like the songs I like. Thanks for listening (and reading too)!

Baby Annika

Here she is, all 19 and 3/4 inches, 8 lbs 6 oz of her. Isn't she cute?! She is their first babe to have dark hair. I think she looks like her mother's family. And actually, she looks just like I remember Kaisa looking.

Ssssshhhh

Can I tell you a secret? I'm kind of sad winter is disappearing. Did I really say that?
I'm going to miss boot hockey. And I only went sledding once, and ice skating once. I should have gotten out more often!
Not to mention those great end-of-winter sales I hit up. Can't wear my new coats and boots anymore. Although they will be newish next winter. :)
It is nice to see the sun again, and I can't complain about the mild temperature. I don't love the mud, but spring is exciting because it means summer is coming!!!

Let's make that 8

8 grandchildren for my parents. Annika (pronounced AW-nicka) arrived quickly this morning, another bundle of joy for B & N. Baby Annika's middle name is my mother's name, which Mom was pretty proud of. :) I can't wait to see pictures!

Unexpected finish

There was a design show and competition at my school this week. Us students got to choose a combination of flowers, and then made a piece to be judged. I was really nervous as to how mine was going to work, and it took me almost three hours to complete (!). By the time I was done, I had almost forgotten that I had made it for a competition, and I was just enjoying the process.

Coralie and Kayla came with me to sample the hors d'ouevres and view the pieces at the show. We had a great time, and I got to introduce them to my group of school friends- two older ladies, and a guy my age.

At the conclusion of the show, my teacher stood up to announce the winners of the competition. She announced the runner-up, and I was so surprised to hear my name! My classmates had made some pretty neat pieces, and I felt mine was a little ordinary. It felt good, though, to hear that I do have some talent. Here is my piece:

It consists of three glass cubes, with curly willow and bear grass in the bottom of each, and then cut pieces of curly wilow across the top, with gerbs, roses, tulips, solidago, and leucodendron stuck through them. I really like the look of it, and we're still enjoying it on our dining room table. It is easy to rearrange the flowers too, if I don't like where one is placed.

100

This is my 100th post. Thanks to all of YOU that have muddled through my ramblings!

A smile for Monday

This can cheer anyone up. Viv was laughing as her mother blew bubbles with her gum. Something about baby laughter is so dang cute!

Excuse the poor quality please, it came off of my phone.