Mystery Cave Field Trip

Today we went on a field trip to Forestville State Park, in southeastern Minnesota, to the Mystery Caves.

Since I didn't have my camera, you have to make do with a photo I lifted from the website. It's such an amazing place, you would think they would have more photos for someone to "borrow" for a blog, but no, just this one.

The caves were discovered in 1937 and within 7 months the landowner was charging admission! The DNR bought the caves in 1988 and have done an incredible job making the caves accessible and safe without damaging the site. They have about 13 miles of caves totally mapped out, with another 2 or 3 partially mapped, but they think there are really closer to 20 miles of pathways and openings down there underneath the ground. We want to go back with Steve, maybe camp overnight in the park, and do a longer tour. And we'll take the camera so you can actually see our smiling faces!

Another Book Review, Part 1 of 3

Well, since I have no new photographs to share, it's time for another book review. This one I am not done reading yet, though, so this is part one of the review, I guess.

Eat, Pray, Love is the autobiographical story of the author's life over the span of one year. You are allowed glimpses into her past to better understand the choices she is making during this year, but mainly it is the chronology of her year of self-discovery and self-healing. (I know that sounds cliche-ish, but trust me, it's OK!)

A successful writer and journalist, the author goes through a drawn-out and ugly divorce, and decides to spend a year of her life exploring three countries she has felt drawn to during this tough period of her life - Italy, India, and Indonesia. The book is written in three distinct parts. I just finished part one, Italy, which (no surprise here) is also the "eat" section of the book. After I finished that part, I felt the need to set it down and digest (no pun intended but there you are) the first section.

This woman has a wonderfully wacky sense of humor that I relate to so very well. I tend to read pretty late at night, on the couch with the dog curled up next to me. I giggled, snorted and laughed so many times while reading this that Colby would frequently raise his head and look at me, clearly wondering what in the world was going on with his noisy owner.

Early on in the book she talks about praying for the first time as an adult. She found herself crying on the bathroom floor, night after night, while still married but trying to come to terms with the idea of divorce. One night she looked up, and through her sobs, and with tears streaming down her face, she thought maybe she should turn to God. It seems, she thought to herself, that she had heard somewhere that people did that in times of despair. OK, so I guess you have to read the book yourselves to get the full force of that scene, but here she is telling about the lowest point of her life but she still has the ability to see, and point out unselfconsciously, the humor in it.

I am truly loving this book. Hmm, I'm feeling a bit deja vu-ish here as I seem to remember writing "I love this book" once or twice before on this blog. This book is different, though. Yes, it's entertaining, but it's also thought-provoking and challenging in that you can't help but examine your own life and your own choices as you read about hers.

So, stay tuned for parts two and three, as I travel to India and Indonesia with the author.

The Blogger Blues

I'm suffering. My digital camera is in Russia right now, with my parents, and I am amazed at how many times a day I find something I want to take a picture of to post here, and CAN'T. You know if I had the camera I wouldn't be feeling this way, it's one of those "wanting what you can't have" things.

Like our front walkway. I went to the Farmer's Market with a friend and found an absolutely wonderful garden sculpture that I had to buy. It's a duck, made of stone and iron. I named him Francis. He is so way cool, so full of personality, and he NEEDS to have his portrait here on line.

Not today.

Then, in the afternoon, Steve & I went to Bloomington Garden Center and finally started buying some perennials to plant along the walkway. I planted like mad yesterday, and would love to show off the fruits of my labors.

Not today.

Last Tuesday, Ty started Tae Kwon Do. I had such a wonderful time watching him as he bounced around, learned some kicks, did sommersaults, all the while beaming with excitement. We bought him his first uniform, and he looks so gosh-darn cute in it. A picture would surely speak more than 1000 words.

Not today.

The list goes on. And the real rub is, probably by the time my camera is back safe and sound, I will have moved on past thinking of all these things, and they may never get their moments to shine.

Oh well, at least you know I'm thinking of you today!

The Wisdom of Maya Angelou

Words to live by, from Maya Angelou. Many are things you have no doubt heard before, but I find that sometimes it can be motivating to really read - think about - and apply - these sayings. I really try to be intentional and deliberate in the way I live, in the choices I make. I screw up a lot, I forget a lot, I have a ways to go. Reading lists like this one help get me back on track.

• I've learned that no matter what happens, or how bad it seems today, life does go on, and it will be better tomorrow.
• I've learned that you can tell a lot about a person by the way he/she handles these three things: a rainy day, lost luggage, and tangled Christmas tree lights.
• I've learned that regardless of your relationship with your parents, you'll miss them when they're gone from your life.
• I've learned that making a "living" is not the same thing as making a "life."
• I've learned that life sometimes gives you a second chance.
• I've learned that you shouldn't go through life with a catcher's mitt on both hands. You need to be able to throw something back.
• I've learned that whenever I decide something with an open heart, I usually make the right decision.
• I've learned that even when I have pains, I don't have to be one.
• I've learned that every day you should reach out and touch someone.
• People love a warm hug, or just a friendly pat on the back.
• I've learned that I still have a lot to learn.
• I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.

More State Fair Food

For the record:

Eggrolls on a stick = YUM

Cold Sweet Martha Cookies = not so much

Another Book Review

On the recommendation of a friend, I just read Shannon Hale's Princess Academy. As you can probably guess since I'm writing about it here, I loved it!

It's the story of Miri, a young girl who has lived in a mountain mining town all of her life, but everything changes when a messenger from the King comes to the village and announces that all the girls between the ages of 12 and 17 must attend a "Princess Academy" for a year. At the end of that year, the prince will come and choose his bride from among the girls.

It's actually recommended for grades 5 - 9, but I really enjoyed it. It's a very fast read (took me just over 2 hours) and a pleasant story that doesn't require a lot of thought, but there are some strong messages about the power of education, strength through self-knowledge and self-confidence, the importance and rewards of loyalty and teamwork, and the healing power of love and friendship.

Oh, and there is a type of mountain ESP and telecommunicating that makes things interesting, too!

Highly recommend it!

FINALLY!!!!!!

Woo-hoo, Blogger finally let me upload more pictures. Here is our baby cow, about 3 hours old. Isn't he just the cutest thing you ever saw? And here is Ty on Machinery Hill.
And my boys and my parents, all munching on Pronto Pups.
And finally, Ty on the radio. That's the Human Calculater in the background with the big orange microphone.

(just pretend this was all part of the blog below.)

The Great Minnesota Get-Together

158 years of Minnesota Fun! We have been twice this year, and I will be going at least once more as Ben, Ty & I are all hopelessly (and willingly) addicted to the State Fair.

This year I have to say our favorite part of the fair was the newly-expanded Miracle of Birth Center. It's now a very large barn, next to the Hippodrome (which, Ben likes to point out is now officially the Warner Coliseum but I have been calilng it the Hippodrome since I was a kid and old habits die hard), filled with pregnant farm animals. Our first day (opening day of the Fair) we got off the bus, walked into the Fair, and saw a baby calf being born. It was incredibly awesome. Ty found it a little gross but was still watching closely. When the calf slid onto the hay, the entire building erupted in cheers! That little guy was the first calf born (there were a few lambs and several piglets born before him). I had a picture of him RIGHT HERE when he was about 3 hours old and standing steadily on his own 4 feet, but Blogger ZAPPED it away and now I can't bring it back. I am very frustrated!

When we went back to the barn one week later, 139 animals had been born in the barn in those 7 days! These little piggies were just a few hours old when I snapped their photo. Gotta love digital cameras that you can just hold out over your head (and the heads of the crowd around you), snap a picture, then immediatly see if you got what you were aiming for! "Our" baby calf was no longer in the barn - he was already too big and too old for that center. No doubt he was on to bigger and better things already in life.

The second time we went, the boys & I took Grandma and Grandpa along. Here we are outside the DNR building, looking lovely as always!Inside the new DNR exhibit we were thrilled to find our very own paver brick! About 7 or 8 years ago we got something in the mail saying the DNR was building a new exhibit and did we want to buy a brick. I sent off our money and eagerly went to the fair that year ... nothing. Next year, nothing again. I decided the project had been scrapped or something and forgot about it. So I was very surprised - pleasantly so - to look down this year and see our names!Of course there is the State Fair Food. What would a day be without mini-donuts, ProntoPups, French Fries, corn-on-the-cob, milkshakes, pizza, and Sweet Martha's Chocolate Chip Cookies!
After reading other blogs and chatting with those in the know, I decided to try something new this year -- a deep fried Snickers bar on a stick. Here I am after bite #1, note the powdered sugar sprinkling down my shirt front ...
And you know, it was good, but not the incredible, mind-blowing, life-changing event I was led to believe it would be. In fact, I didn't even finish it. So, now I can say I've tried it, and move on to other new things in future years.

Ben & Ty were special guests on the Eleanor Mondale & Susie Jones radio show (WCCO), talking with the "Human Calculator." They shared their birthdates with him and before you could even blink he told them what day of the week they were born on. This guy was incredible. He's in the Guinness Book of World Records. I hoped that his mathematical prowess and celebrity would inspire my offspring to achieve great things mathematically, but it doesn't appear to be the case.
Machinery Hill is more of a speed bump than a hill now, with only a very few machines larger than riding lawn mowers, but the boys still had to sit and try as many as they could.

On Saturday, Steve & I are going back for a Grandstand Show, and that will most likely be the end of my Fair obsession for 2006.

It's been a good year.

Book Report

I just finished reading Cage of Stars, Jacquelyn Mitchard's latest novel. It's the story of a girl, Ronnie, who is about 12 when the book opens. She is witness to a horrible tragedy when her two younger sisters are killed, and the book is about her life growing up and learning to deal with the emotional aftermath. She lives in rural Utah and is Mormon, and I found it very interesting to read the detail Mitchard went in to, showing how Ronnie's faith and religion affected her life and the decisions she made.

I am intrigued by Mitchard's choice of topic. Her first big book was about tragedy involving a young child (Deep End of the Ocean) and this one also centers on the loss of young lives. She is the mother of 7 and lives in Wisconsin. I don't think that I, as the mother of young children, could write about topics so emotionally trying. I never read Deep End of the Ocean because it came out when Ben was young and the little boy who was lost was also named Ben and it just hit too close to home. This book was hard to read, but was also so incredibly good - I do recommend it. You don't know how it is going to end - there is foreshadowing, but not enough to give anything away. I ignored my sons while I finished it - it was that engrossing!

I am hoping Calandria will read it and share her thoughts on how Ronnie's being Mormon shaped the story, and how Mitchard did representing the church. It seemed to be well done to me, but I realize my ignorance. Mitchard clearly thought it integral as it is such a central theme throughout the entire book. So, Calandria, let me know!

This is a sign at a hotel in WIlliamsburg, VA. Apparently the pool is strictly ornamental?

Found this and more at this great website of signs ... when you have a minute and want to giggle, browse through!

Happy Birthday, Steve!

Tuesday was Steve's birthday (August 22 - he turned 43) and we celebrated with a cake ... complete with candles carefully placed, and then lit, by Ben & Ty. Once all the candles were lit the heat thrown off was quite impressive ... had it been a cold winter night, we would have been just fine!The light was strong, too - here's Steve with out a flash - it's almost campfire-ish, isn't it?
And finally, with a really big from-the-side blow, he got them all out! Guess his wish will come true!

More (final) Cabin Pictures

We can't end the cabin photo posts without including some of our friends who joined us for the final days. We had a great time on the sand bar walking around, finding clams and shells. Colby enjoyed exploring the sandbar and reeds, too.


All was great - until it was time to leave and the boat wouldn't start! Steve eventually walked back to shore (thankfully we were on the sandbar so this was an option, it would have been a long swim!) and then walked to the cabin, where he got the other boat to come get us. He threw us the waterski rope, and we tried our best to hang on -- it took a couple tries, though, to get the stranded boat deep enough where it could easily be pulled. The boat worked fine the next day (figures) but we got some good laughs and memories out of the experience!

Ben and yet more Frogs

This summer has been the time to catch and study frogs for Ben. While at the cabin, he found 3 more. He made them a temporary home in a bright orange sand toy, and was just fascinated watching them closely. Maybe he'll be a herpetologist someday?

More Cabin Pictures

Well, blogger seems to like it if I only upload two photos at a time, make new posts for each two new photos, sit up straight, say pretty please, and blink three times during the process.

Who knows.

It's working right now so I won't change a thing. (I wore my Twins sweatshirt the entire World Series - every single day - [I did wash it at night] - in 1987, and they won! So whatever works ....)

Above is Shawn ready for her first ever innertube ride. And then there I am, ready for my first in a few years innertube ride. We both had a blast!

Gretel the Greyhound loved riding on the boat! She kept her nose in the wind for quite a while, then went and relaxed under the table - the only shady spot - when she got too hot. She did not, however, go swimming.

It was really windy this day on the boat. That's Ben & Ty and our friend Hannah with windswept hair.

Cabin Fever!

We spent a relaxing week at my in-laws' cabin west of the cities earlier this month. Here are a few photos ... blogger.com is being hinky again so I have been trying for days to get any photos at all to post. I don't know yet how many it will accept this time, but I'll keep trying!





Down the shoreline a ways from our cabin is a spit of land that becomes a sandbar extending most of the way across the lake. Here's Ty in the middle of the lake!


We had a lot of fun at the sandbar. We would get out of the boat and dig for clams - yes, there really area few and no, we didn't try eating any (or even opening for pearls - I made them put them all back safely and unharmed). Even Colby was brave enough to climb out of the boat into the shallow water!




And here is Ty again, in the same place ... hee,hee, this time he is STANDING! (he thought that was pretty funny!)

The lake is quite large, with a lot of open expance for skiing and innertubing. Every year when we go up we are astounded at the number of cabins that are being replaced by McMansions ... sometimes year-round housing, sometimes "just" very luxurious cabins.

We did a lot of boating and innertubing. Here's Ben about to go on a ride.

A Recipe Challenge

So Steve sent me this recipe he found online ... I don't think I will be making it any time soon, though you just never know ... the longer I look at it the more appealing it sounds. Thought I would share the recipe, in case one of you is brave enough to try it!


Chocolate Pistachio Stuffed French Toast

1 1-pound loaf unsliced French bread
2 1 to 1-1/2-ounce milk chocolate bars
1/3 cup chopped pistachio nuts
1-1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs
8 beaten eggs
2 cups milk
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
Maple syrup or sifted powdered sugar

Cut French bread into 12 slices, each approximately 1-1/2-inches thick. Cut a pocket in each slice of bread by starting from the bottom crust and cutting horizontally to, but not through, the top crust.

Break candy bars into 12 pieces. Fill each bread pocket with 1 piece of candy and 1 rounded teaspoon of nuts.

Place graham cracker crumbs in a shallow bowl.

Beat together eggs, milk, and cinnamon in another shallow bowl. Dip bread into egg mixture; letting bread remain in egg mixture about 15 seconds on each side. Then dip bread into the graham cracker crumbs, turning to lightly coat the other side of the bread.

Place coated slice on a greased baking sheet. Repeat dipping remaining stuffed bread into egg mixture and graham cracker crumbs.

Bake in a 450 degree F oven about 6 minutes or until golden brown. Turn slices over and bake 5 minutes more. Serve warm stuffed toast topped with maple syrup or powdered sugar.Makes 12 slices.

Make-Ahead Tip: Place the baked slices in a freezer container; seal, label, and freeze up to 1 month. To serve, place the frozen stuffed bread slices in a single layer on an ungreased baking sheet. Heat, uncovered, in a 400 degree F oven for 15 minutes or until the slices are hot.

If someone dares try this, be sure to take pictures (when it's fresh from the oven) and tell us all how you liked it!

My friend Calandria has the delightful occasional habit of posting recipes that she has tried - sometimes they are family favorites, sometimes something new. She talks about the process of cooking, and almost always has the presence of mind to prepare a plate like a food editor with distinctive tableware or perhaps fresh flowers. I love reading her cooking posts, so was inspired to put in a new recipe that I tried for the first time at the lake last week.

Thai Spiced Barbeque Shrimp

3 Tbsp fresh lemon juice
1 Tbsp soy sauce
1 Tbsp Dijon mustard
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 Tbsp brown sugar
2 tsp curry paste
1 pound medium shrimp - peeled & deveined

Mix together all ingredients except shrimp in a resealable bag. When mixed well, add shrimp and let marinade at least one hour in the refrigerator.

Preheat grill for high heat. Lightly oil the grate if using skewers, otherwise use a lightly oiled grill basket.

Transfer excess marinade to small saucepan and heat to boiling. Boil 3-5 minutes.

Grill shrimp approximately 3 minutes per side, basting with marinade.

The recipe was quick and easy, and oh-so-delicious! Ben especially loved it as it has a spicy flavor.

Now for the photo. Here's where Calandria has me beat, hands-down.

I forgot. Until after the meal. So, for what it's worth, here is the plate of a satisfied diner!

2006 Relay for Life

A week ago, we spent our Friday night wandering in circles ... seriously, we were making laps at the Bloomington Stadium as part of our city's Relay For Life - a fundraiser for the American Cancer Society. Along with our friends the Johnsons (and quite a few others, too!), we spent 12 hours walking ... dancing ... singing ... playing ... remembering ... and sleeping a little bit, too.

If you have never been to a Relay, you ought to come see. For months prior to the event, we collected donations and made luminaria in memory or honor of those we know who have fought cancer. All the luminaria are set up to ring the track, and then at dusk they are lit.

This year there were about 1500 candles, each representing someone who successfully battled cancer, or currently is dealing with it, or who has lost their life to the illness. Once they were all lit and the stadium lights were dimmed, the power of the love represented by those bags was overwhelming.

The first lap after the opening ceremonies was for all the cancer survivors present. That's our friend Shawn at the end of the banner, waving.

Throughout the night there were a variety of activities and mini-events like tugs-of-war (all the kids vs one firefighter was pretty fun! It took 3 firefighters to beat the team of kids), pie-eating contests, a duct-tape fashion show, and musical chairs. Ty and Ben found a place where you could win Beanie Babies.

The Bloomington Firefighters had a dunk-tank, and they themselves were very inspiring as they made their rounds in full fire-fighting gear, complete with oxygen tanks. We were sweating in our t-shirts and shorts - we can't imagine how they felt. One strong fighter even did a lap in full gear plus his daughter on his shoulders! When the night got a little slow, they took a quick trip over to the Bloomington Ice Garden and brought back enough snow to make a snow man firefighter!

At one point a group of our neighbors came over to say hello - we are all celebrating one neighbor's successful bout with cancer, so here we all are by the bags with Marty's name on them.

In the wee-hours, they played a lot of great music from the 70's. I could sing along to everything! They played songs from Grease which really got Shawn and I moving, then Ben had a blast trying to capture me dancing to Footloose - the one song in the world that I absolutely cannot stay still to.

I haven't heard yet how much money was raised, but we had a great time - both at the event itself, and in the knowledge that we helped raise funds for this important cause. Thanks to all who supported us - and if you didn't this year, we will most likely be doing it again in 2007!

Books Worthy of Re-Reading

After I wrote about My Antonia, one response I got was that it was a book my friend plans to re-read every so often for the rest of her life! That made me think ... what books do I re-read? And I have to admit I can't think of any off the top of my head.

What books do you re-read? Or what books do you plan to re-read, even if you haven't done it yet?

Calandria, were your ears burning?

This week we are at my in-laws' cabin for a mini-vacation. I am home right now for a class in the morning (and to get my computer fix!)

Calandria, I thought of you a lot over the past couple of days ... I read My Antonia by Willa Cather, and can't believe I have never read any of her work before. Now I know you prefer British authors, but I still thought about you as I read this one. Then I was just at your site and you mentioned Cather in another context, so I feel justified in having you on my mind!

I assume Calandria and Carla have both read it. The rest of you - if you haven't read this book, read it. (especially you, Laurie, you Nebraska girl!)

When I head back out to the cabin, I have more Jane Austen waiting for me...

Thanks, Steve!

My husband alerted me to the presence of an exciting experiment going on RIGHT NOW in Australia. I pooh-poohed him at first, and didn't even want to look at the live video clip because I was too busy doing other things. Finally, though, I did look ... and now I am hooked.

Here's the link.

This is an experiment that was started in 1927. Nearly 80 years ago! It's one of those "who in the world thought of that and why?" type of things... Pitch, which used to be heated up and applied to boat bottoms to make them waterproof, is quite solid at room temperature - so much so that if you hit it with a hammer it shatters (and there is, indeed, a video of just that at the link I posted earlier.) However, one Professor Thomas Parnell got fixated with proving it is really, in fact, a liquid. He set up an experiment - took him 3 years to get it set up properly - to see how quickly pitch would drip. And, wow, if he wasn't right! In 76 years, 8 -- yes, EIGHT - drops have dripped!!!! (or should I say 8 drips have dropped?) And the 9th one is set to drop ANY MOMENT NOW!!!! (don't be confused by reading the website where it says only 7 drops have dripped - that text was written a few years ago. Another whole drop has dripped since then.)

Now the real kicker is that no one has ever witnessed a drop actually dropping. So there's the challenge. They have a live video cam set up watching the drop about to drip, 24/7, so that all of us out here in cyberspace can watch to see what no person has ever seen before.

So, I admit, I will be watching - or at least checking in frequently. Go stare at it a while. It grows on you. As the website says, thankfully people occasionally walk past the background of the live feed, so it is more exciting than watching grass grow.

Thanks, Steve, for giving me one more thing to do each day!

Oshkosh Air Show

Last week, my Dad, my Grandpa, and I went to the Oshkosh Air Show. I have been there before, maybe 5 or 6 times. Usually we camp on the landing site area, but this year we only went for one day, so we just parked the plane in a different town and rode the bus over. This picture is at the main gateway to the actual air show.


The air show was awesome! It had many airplanes and most of them did either loop-de-loops or spirals, or flew upside-down. It was really fun to watch and I enjoyed it a lot.


Some planes flew in tight formations, while doing tricks. Occasionally the planes would separate and each one would do a few treicks seperatly, and then re-form in formation and fly around.

There was a big military tribute, where there were old military plans and military vehicles on the ground. This is a tank which pretended to be shooting, and actually fired a blank with the big cannon. They were trying to recreate what it was like during World War II. It was cool to see, but when you really think about it, it would have been very scary if you were in the real thing.




It's not all airplanes at the Airshow -- there are also a lot of tents that different companies set up to show their new products and technologies. Anything that pilots or people who like airplanes might like can be found. I tried sitting on a new Honda Scooter which was really cool. It actually wasn't that expensive, about $2000 (I think.) Maybe when I have my driver's license I will try to get one. It's a lot less expensive than a car.


(text and photos by Ben - except for the ones he is in, those are by Dad)