farewell to summer...

This summer, as always, is FLYING by. In growing up in Wisconsin/Minnesota, I've learned a few things about the summer. Summer in the upper-Midwest only lasts 12 weeks. Just twelve very short weekends and it's done. So, we've been trying to make the most of this beautiful summer so far... hence my lack of blogs.

To fill you in (again), here are some of the activities with which we fill our Minnesota summer weekends:

We spent a Friday afternoon/evening in Uptown with friends visiting Lake Calhoun, eating at Stella's, and travelling from one rooftop bar to the next.

I spent an extra-long weekend with my favorite girls in the world doing some REAL camping. We spent our nights along the St. Croix National Scenic Riverway and spent our days doing some hiking, canoeing and kayaking. We made real fires and cooked delicious meals over the campfire. Camping is one of my favorite things to do in the world. With the absence of traffic, people, cell phones, internet, and even showers... life just is simpler. It was perfect weather and amazing fellowship with friends.

Of course we spent another beautiful weekend at home/up north. We made an appearance at the 28th annual Hell Hole party with the Cremins. Time was spent eating corn on the cob, canoeing around the lake and listening to music by the fire and a hayride.

Now that we are Minnesotans, we've learned that you cannot live within 100 miles of the Twin Cities and not go to the Great Minnesota Get-Together. We spent a night at the State Fair doing all the fair-type things... eating, walking, collecting free junk, eating, and looking at 4H-type things.

I also took a trip to the St. Paul Farmer's Market... another one of my most favorite things to do. It was filled with fresh fruits, veggies, and flowers and I went home with a bag full of fresh goodies. (Eco-Bag courtesy of the State Fair). We also had our annual church picnic which signifies the end of summer.

This coming weekend is Labor Day and we again are trying to cram fun into every last minute of the weekend before the summer officially comes to a close.