Brain Fart of Epic Proportions

Interesting Labor Day!

We had a family day and headed for one of our favorite eateries: Cossetta's in downtown St. Paul, Minnesota. Cossetta's in just one block from the Xcel Energy Center, which is now hosting the Republican National Convention. But we both had a major brain fart and forgot. The blocked streets, police presence, and the large numbers of icky young men in suits reminded us of just who was in town. For those of you who don't know, St. Paul is a highly DEMOCRAT community and I'm proud to say the OBAMA-FRANKEN-ETC lawn signs were out in abundance.


The traffic was just too much so we headed up the hill to beautiful Grand Avenue and had the best ever lunch at Salut Bar Americain. I had the seafood crepes and we all stuffed ourselves with the best french fries I've ever eaten - or as they say pommes frites.

Then we enjoyed a lovely walk down Grand Avenue. Twin #2 and I had a spontaneous walk-in haircut while the rest enjoyed the $1 for 1-minute chair massages.

Then home to pack backpacks and fill out paperwork for tomorrow is the first day of school. I'll miss these little critters!!

First Night on the Screened Porch

We got all crazed with Spring Fever tonight and had supper on the screened porch. Ours is rather like the one pictured only older, more worn down, and dirtier. But the siding and sliding glass door are remarkably similar.
It was warm and humid in Minnesota all day due to the oncoming rain, and we soaked up every single minute. First we washed the thick winter dust layer off the table and chairs. Then quickly set the table with pasta, salad, bread, wine, strawberries, and brownies. We wolfed down the last bite just before the cold front blew in in a big way. We were wrapped in sweatshirts and holding down the tablecloth by the brownie course but by golly, WE ATE ON THE SCREENED PORCH!! Sometimes you just have to FORCE Spring to arrive here.

SLAP on the forehead

My kids have the uncanny ability to suck me into activities I just KNOW I'll regret in some way.

Today for instance.

I'm returning to the land of the living after a nasty cold, the sun is shining, and the temps are rather pleasant. My older kids and the 8-year-old BEG me to take them hiking at the Carleton College Arboretum. It's one of my all-time-favorites haunts so I'm happy to oblige.

First we drive north of town to my personal favorite Arb entrance. But alas it's still too icy - about 10 feet in we realized we wouldn't be coming out without a broken wrist or twisted ankle. So we drive back to town to the common entrance with it's nicely paved path. During this entire car trip the kids are fighting over literally everything - dog poop, whether or not the neighbor girl can be called "calm", how to pronounce Arboretum, god help me EVERYTHING! Perhaps I should have driven back home, but such was my mania to get outside and breathe air that wasn't tainted with cold germs and other people's recent exhalations.

The older kids walked well ahead - that's fine - I understand their need to distance themselves from a Mom who dares to wear layers and a HAT for god's sake. I also had on mismatched gloves which just enhanced my eccentric appearance and inflated the embarrassing Mom factor.

The 8-year-old bounded up the path with zeal, and of course stopping every five feet to examine something. I know this form of nature observance has it's merits but I just wanted to MOVE. She pleaded to wander up the earthen paths but I stated "no, it's too muddy, it'll tear up the paths and we don't have waterproof boots on and you'll be miserable" and blah blah blah blather blather blather. She threw caution to the wind and headed up the muddy inclines.

Within 10 minutes can you guess what I was hearing in a miserable whiny voice?
"My boots are muddy!"
"These boots are letting the water in!"
"I'm hungry!" (I offered lunch earlier, she refused)
"My legs are sooooooo tired!"
"If Daddy were here, he'd carry me!"

It was a very, very loooooonnngggg walk back to the car. Somethings just can't be thoroughly enjoyed by adults with kids in tow. And somehow I always forget this, and keep taking them on outings that make me want to drink heavily within an hour. Like our train trip to downtown Minneapolis last summer. But this is what good mothers do, right? RIGHT??!??!?!?!

A Beautiful Spring Day

It was a drop-dead beautiful day here in Minnesota. Temps in the 40s and lots of sunshine. It's weather like this that renews my faith in the Upper Midwest.


The sky was the most incredible blue, with big fluffy cumulus clouds on the eastern horizon about dinner time. We even got a little rain shower, which was downright cute.





The sunlight was streaming in our western facing screened porch, and the girls got the creative idea to pose behind the shades. Twin #2 is determined to be a photographer and I think she's got the eye.






We even made a "summery" meal that just enhanced the mood. We sliced up that big ol turkey and made the most incredible paninis. Mine included provolone cheese, pesto, roasted red peppers, and pepperoncini on plain old whole wheat - grill that sucker up and it was mighty tasty. We were so hungry that they didn't last long enough for a photo.


We also made some incredible salsas. Nothing gets me in the mood for Spring like chopping up a bunch of fresh cilantro. Lots of fresh garlic and green onion in there too, and I paid for it all night but it was well worth it. The salsa on the right is just your usual tomato variety with some chopped pineapple. The concoction on the left is BOOKCLUB BEAN SALSA. If anyone wants the recipe let me know.