Austin's travel tips.

Really run they till they fall over.

I know it's been a long time since I wrote, however, my human has hogged the blog. I decided the best thing I could do for all new travelers like I once was, is to put out a few tips.  My travels this summer made the dog I am today, confident, traveled, and yes loved by so many. 

1) Make sure you have your own bed, I don't see how humans can stand sleeping in someone else's bed.
2) Bring your own toys, just in case you need a little stress relief, you can chew and they don't care.
3) Choose your own suitcase. This way you can get all your treasures together when on the move.
4) Always keep an eye on your humans, if you haven't planted a chip in them, and you loose them, you will probably be very sad.
5) Be on your best behavior, act like you know what your human is saying. This gets them every time.
Last but by no means lacking in importance, play with your humans. One toy should be a ball. Tired is the answer to a great nap, always retrieve the ball till they are ready to quit.

I hope this helps all traveling dogs. Because of these tips, I am now the proud owner of two great humans. And the families we spent time with, think they are great trainers.  If only they knew.

Wag to you all.
Austin

Fall Harvest

Drool all you Northerners.

If you saw my pictures of my sisters tomatoes and mine, you realized how too much heat can ruin a great crop.  Well here's to my Minnesota family.  I just picked these yesterday and still have blossoms on the green beans.  I rule now.  John and I have learned a lot this summer on how heat can hinder growth as well as the short season in Minnesota.  Next year we will blow my sisters tomatoes away. Well easy to say because by next year my treat will be forgotten.

Moral of this story, gloat when you can.
Carol

No words, just an ah.

Stepping into the garden brings immediate peace.

This is the view from the back of the house.

Gazing ball only highlights the beauty of the flowers.

Where the heart is.

As we drove into my sisters driveway, I felt at peace with the end of our vacation.  The house was so welcoming, but for the people who lived in this house, they were even more welcoming.  My sister is the yard person.  My brother-in-law is truly a motor head, so each have their hobbies. 
For my sister, each step in the process of making their home beautiful, is thrilling and labor intensive.  But she seems to enjoy it.  We have more in common as we get older. Flowers, and greeting cards are the top two.  But as I said before, age seems less important as we grow older.  We are no longer big sister and baby sister, we are friends. 

We have always been miles apart, but our hearts have stayed close.  More pictures to come. This one picture doesn't show the beauty of her deck and garden.  Vacation soon to end, but for now, I will be with my sister, that little time will be well used. 

God Bless those who travel through my little world.
Carol

Go South Vacationers.

We had to leave the Brainerd Lakes Area and go south.  Six hours of farming land is something the eye never tires of. The small towns that dot the highway, bring you back to another time, maybe a slower time. However, the small towns buzz with activity.

One thing that takes my breath away are the wind power windmills.  They are hug and graceful.  Southern Minnesota has so many of these and every time we travel through there are more.  Cows graze under the calming woosh of the blades going around.  I always make my husband stop so I can take in the grace and soothing sound. 

We are on our way to my sisters, we will be welcome with a hug from her and my brother in law.  We will again eat and laugh.  Oh yes, also drink some too. But for now I want you to enjoy the picture of the windmills.

God Bless you all
Carol

Fish, no Walleye.

Walleye is the king of fish in Minnesota. And the best way to serve it, for us Minnesotans is fried. Yummy. Our last night at their house, after the great walk, was a dinner with ex co-workers and friends. I couldn't believe they came and shared a meal. A meal we all got to take part in, the guys grilled, the gals worked at the salads, and Kristie fried walleye. Oh my gosh.

The meal was not just the food, but the friendship we had that night. The laughs the food and the dessert, no pictures of that, private joke. We even shared a bottle of wine my brother bottles.

We were on the last days of our vacation, and yet we were once again enjoying, laughing, and eating way too much. Lots to remember from the area we called home for over 20 years.

Carol

What, exercise?

Kristie and Joe treated us as tourists. But maybe they knew by this time in our vacation we need to get off our back sides and walk. These mines in Crosby have lots of trails, this is just one of the many. I have to say, that all the years we lived there, this is another thing we had never done. Thanks guys for MAKING us go. Not really, we were willing.

That evening we knew of the benefits to the walking that afternoon. I will write more about this in my next post. I have to say, it warmed my heart and brought so many laughs and memories to an already great vacation.

God Bless everyone.

Carol

How did we miss this?

This massive group of water are formed from mines in Crosby, Minnesota. John and I had never been here. Can you imagine, living near here for 20 years and not seeing this. Shame on us. Sometimes being close to beauty and too busy to enjoy it, is a sin.

God Bless everyone on this beautiful Sunday. Prayers for those in the path of Irene.
Carol

We make ourselves at home

One thing about having us for guests is that we know how to relax. Our next stop was Joe and Kristi's, they started out my bosses and turned into our friends. What an unexpected blessing.

The story goes, ours that is, that we arrived before they came home from work. So, John and I decided to enjoy their deck, we always carry wine, two crystal glasses and fine hors d' oeuvres. I bet you didn't know these were hors d' oeuvres? John and I pride ourselves in good wine and finger food when traveling. Not to say the napkins, yes fabric. Oh my.

Just because they weren't home doesn't mean we had to wait to start the party. When they did arrive we welcomed them as if they were the company. Lots of laughs and memories made.

This was just the start to a fine visit. What great friends we have.

Carol

No tears over spilt wine.

Why you ask? I think five minute rule works for wine also. While setting up for the picture, someone, who knows for sure, spilt some wine. As we sat and laughed about it, we realized if I took a picture fast, we could, and would reclaim the wine. Great to the last drop.

As I always say, anything can happen at our next stop. Vern and Dorothy's more to come. Kevin check out what made it to Minnesota. Sweet, right?

God Bless my family who are also my friends.

Carol

Breakfast with B&J.

No that doesn't mean breakfast with butter and jam. It's Bob & Joni. No matter our differences one thing remains, our love for family and that makes us love one another. Bob and Joni have gone through their lives with many ups and downs, none of them breaking their bond. They celebrated their 50th anniversary this summer. Their love for each other is overshadowed by their love for the family.

In all families there are members that are not best of friends, what ever the reason, it matters even less as years go buy. I know in my case that I can be a pest, talkative, and probably annoying. And yet my family still loves me for me. They look beyond the face value and find the positive. I told a family member once. If not for being together as family, you would probably not like me. Because of what I believe it makes us complete opposites. But that's what family does. Breaks the walls of indifference. Isn't that great?

Bob is my brother, but after all these 50 years and some, Joni is now my sister, not sister in law. How can someone remain with the title of sister in law after all these years. I like calling her sister, it feels good.

I wrote a post about mom making a quilt. It was May 8, 2009, the title was Pieces of fabric sewn into love. Just look under 2009 and find it there.

I love my family and this breakfast was the best. We also celebrated Dar's 39th... birthday again. By the way she didn't share the cupcake. Naughty girl.

Love you all

Carol

Para what?

One thing my brother is, is resourceful. As we pondered over the problems of the world, not, he brought this thing out. It's a parachute. A guy was really cleaver and re marketed these for covering a porch or where ever you would like more shade.

These parachutes didn't make the cut when inspected. When he put it up, I had to giggle, than was surprised at it's beauty and function. Wow, what next, I just looked at Gene and said...I am impressed.

So I leave you with this. He, my brother, not only can grill but can find something this clever. When you sat under it, it felt so graceful. The wind gave you a feeling of what it would feel like if you jumped from a plane. Without the fear of God striking you.

This was a great day.

God Bless those who visit my little blog.

Carol

Steak fry and laughs.

Gene is known for his steak fries. Every year, Dar and Gene host a steak fry for the family. It has become an event worth waiting for. Because we weren't going to make it this year, they decided they could make a personal steak fry available to us, only us, so we wouldn't feel left out.

As I took a picture of my husband frying mushrooms and onions, it was brought to my attention, by my brother, that he has been left out of my blogs regarding him being the chef and maybe I should think that over. So here it my little effort to make it up to my dear brother.

Gene you may have been left out, but you are truly the king of the grill.

Love you

Carol

Always room for more family.

I wanted to post this picture because I believe this is an important part of the first visit. This is the better half of Kass, and we took a great picture. Even Austin is in a photo mood.

By the way, don't we look good? It's always about me.

Carol

With arms open.

We are always blessed to be loved by family and friends. Our first stop was at my husbands daughter. We found a quiet bedroom awaiting us. And a dinner to die for being grilled. Settling is was easy, if nothing else, due to a glass of wine.

Kass and family have a great patio, and that's where we spent many hours enjoying each other. Laughter abound and the welcome mat was surely out. This was a wonderful time. How can one say thanks.

This fun photo is John, his niece and daughter. Oh yes Austin. Not sure why he has to go through this.

God Bless those who travel though my little blog.

Carol

On our way.

Away we go, oh my gosh, it's 5:00 am and we are backing out of the driveway. Austin was ready to go and so are we. I'm never on vacation until we leave home. Now I am on vacation. We have 12 hours to go and the weather is wonderful. Both John and I love early morning driving. I was blessed to marry someone with so much in common. Through North Carolina, Tennessee, and Indiana. Our stop will be in Illinois. See ya later.

Pray for our safe travel.

Carol

Be still my heart.

This picture was in a Minnesota newspaper. Photographer unknown to me. But I think he or she is blessed to have gotten the shot. I hope you like it and tears come to your eyes as they do mine. Thanks to all that serve, to protect our freedom.

What more can be said.

Today while packing up the car for our cross country trip to Minnesota, I realized how blessed we are to be able to take a vacation, with clean rest stops,good roads, being able to pay for gas, and family willing to house us. Which explains this picture.

We just bought this licence plate because we only need one state plate on the car. When I saw this one on the Internet, I could hardly wait to order and have it on our car. Well I have to say, it was more awesome than I expected. It makes me realize during the busy process of life that I am loved by my husband, my family and protected by God. And I know God loves me also. What a great way to start Vacation.

Well as usual my plan to write everyday was well say we say, derailed. My sister-in-law and my brother have dial up and guess what. I ran out of patients. So here I am after a week on the road finally logging in.

Our trip was so very pleasant. Of course with my husband driving it was great. We listened to talk radio all the way, there went my reading. But as I said it was great.

I will write again soon. But for now, God Bless those who said a pray for us.

Carol

John's new best friend.

I have to say that our neighbor again made us trendy by letting us use this small tiller. I say that because John prefers to use bruit strength to unearth, earth. But with temperatures being hotter than usual and the humidity higher than we are used to, this machine is heaven sent.

In Minnesota, June is a very productive month to get landscaping done. Mostly because it still is mild in temperatures and easy to work. We are finding living in the south a challenge. A good one but neither the less a challenge. All of our life we have spent in Minnesota and hence think like a Minnesotan. No problem if you live there. We always had times during the year when things happened. Especially all surrounding the weather. So, this morning while talking to John I said, hummmm we need to think Southern. Working in the middle of the day in June is hot. Working after 7:00pm is when most of our neighbors come out to do the little lawn things.

We will learn and change from Minnesota thinkers to South Carolina thinkers, until then, we will sweat more, drink more and shower more.

Have a great Sunday all, this day is the Lords. Relax and thank Him.

Carol