Minnesota Travles Part III

After the big breakfast I wasn't sure when I'd be hungry for lunch; but at noon I was hungry. We had lunch on Main Street at das Wurst Haus. I really like these "hole in the wall" places because it was a real "mom and pop" kind of place, unpretentious and the food was yummy!

I think it's owned by the guy in the picture below. Here's Aunt Frieda putting in her order; she wanted a chicken sandwich but he convinced her to order a brat because he makes them.

We had entertainment during lunch - it was very festive.

Joseph enjoying his ice cream.

We all enjoyed ice cream despite the sign:

Minnesota Travels Part III

After the hearty breakfast we went for a bike ride. Lanesboro paved the railroad tracks and it's sort of a bike trail mecca. Here are Uncle Ken and Dad (Al).

Mom (Joan)

We biked to the Red Barn, an old barn along the bike trail that has been converted to a hostel, campground, restaurant. At first I thought there were massive bee hives all over the barn but they are the nests for made by the Swallows. Gotta love those Swallows - they eat the skeeters - yeah!

The barn had some old farming tools on display.

Weights & measures?

More tools - they look dangerous.

All of the biking crew (except dad who is taking the photo) - it was gorgeous biking weather.

Top row (l-r) Uncle Ken, Joseph, Renae, Larry.

Front row (l-r) Mom, me, Hannah.

Minnesota Travels Part II

All 10 of us stayed at the Hillcrest Hide-Away B & B. I rate the place five stars - if you're in Lanesboro this is the place to stay!!! At 7 a.m. freshly baked bread and a beverage of our choice was waiting in a basket outside our door. Here we are gathered at the table for Saturday breakfast.


This is Marv, he and his wife, Carol, own the B & B. They are the nicest people and most wonderful hosts.

Our first course was this elegant fruit dish drizzled with carmel yogurt and the flowers are edible.

Joseph, Uncle Ken (Todd's uncle), and Al (Todd's Dad).

The second course was lemon yogurt coffee cake - THE BEST I ever had! I remembered to take a picture before I ate the last couple of bites.

Aunt Frieda and I; we're smiling because our tummies and taste buds were so happy.

The last course was french toast with cherries and whip cream and a couple of bacon slices on the side. For all who know me well, you know I can put food away, but I had a hard time finishing this.

Minnesota Travels Part I

This year, the Wellnitz family reunion took place in Lanesboro, Minnesota, a town of less than 800 people in the southeast corner of the state. Lanesboro is about 100 miles from Eau Claire and on my drive I was behind this thing. It looks like some John Deere version of a Star Wars ship. Thank goodness I wasn't behind it for long.


The first evening we gathered for dinner then some conversation and wine. Here I am with Joan (Todd's mom).


This is Todd's cousin, Renae, from South Dakota.


Aunt Frieda (Renae's mom) and Joseph (Renae's son).


Aunt Shirley.

4th of July Part III

After we filled our tummies, we headed for the fireworks show. We didn't want to fight the crowds in Carson Park, though it would have provided the best view, so we took our lawn chairs and wine, and watched the show from Phoenix Park.

4th of July Part II

After strawberry pickin', I headed to Jodi's house where we had a grilled feast with two other friends, Kate and Mike.


Yum, sweet potato!


and chickent with fresh herbs from the garden!

4th of July Part I

I had to pick strawberries again because I gave a lot of the first batch to friends. Plus, I had to pick them with the friend who took me on my first strawberry pickin' adventure last year. Here I am with one of the dogs.


Jodi and her strawberry. It was a beautiful day and we arrived at the patch about 7:30 a.m.; we were the only ones out there for a half hour. Then two other ladies came but that's it. We had the patch all to ouselves.


I really did pick strawberries but the dogs needed attention too.

Pooch Party

Misty's day care hosted an evening party; here's Misty with her doggy popsicle. She wasn't quite sure about it at first; but once she figured it out she inhaled it in no time.
Sniff it first to make sure it's edible..................


The open wide and chow down!

Curious Puppy

Misty is an inquisitive girl; sometimes its not good, other times its funny. One day we went out to the back yard and she immediately saw something in the plants growing in the rock wall so she went to check it out.


I went over and saw this slithery, brown tail in the grass and immediately thought it was a snake. So I did the "safe" thing and got a pair of chopsticks to wrestle it out of the grass.


Turned out not to be a snake but some amphibian lookin' lizard thing; here it is.....


Here it is in full length; it was at least 5 inches or so. After being in the ice cream bucket for a bit, I returned it to the rock wall and I'm hoping it doesn't grow much bigger.

Working Hard

Here are a few of my awesome co-workers on our last day of orientation. Julia, Signe, and Erik. They are a fun bunch and I'm lucky to work with them. Unfortunately for them; they have to put up with me.