Summertime!

I took some much-needed time off last week! First, I spent a few days at Carol's cabin on Lake Zumbro, an annual June tradition. We have lots of memories of putting around the lake on the pontoon boat. I'll have to admit, Carol's driving skills have improved immensely over the years!

Look, Ma - no hands! She isn't even watching where she's going!

We really lucked out with the weather. Rain was predicted for both days, but we only had sprinkles Wednesday evening.



It's always fun catching up on families and events from the past year, and of course, there's always some "teacher talk," even though I'm the only one not retired! Hmmmmm...
Jo just finished cleaning out her classroom the day before, after 38 years, so she was feeling really free. Sandy, Jo, and I all started teaching the same year - way back in 1971!



Sandy passed on the boat ride on Thursday and opted for some embroidery instead.

Good food and wine are always on the agenda, too, and this year was no exception. Delicious! We ended Thursday evening with a fire and some smores, although the wood was too wet to burn - we roasted our marshmallows over burning paper!

I got home Friday morning in time to wash a few clothes and then repack my suitcase for a long weekend/business roadtrip to Winnipeg with Chuck. We left late Friday afternoon and drove as far as Grand Forks, ND, and then drove the rest of the way Saturday morning. We were able to check in early to our hotel, and then we started exploring the city. We were surprised that it was still hot and humid 500 miles north of here.

This walking bridge spans the Red River as it winds it's way through Winnipeg. Saturday night, we ate at the restaurant 1/2 way across the bridge (in the center of the picture). We had some very interesting views of boats going under us as we ate!

After dinner, we went to an outdoor concert celebrating Aboriginal Days in Winnipeg. The concert was at an amphitheater at The Forks, a huge market place full of shops and restaurants at the juncture of the Red River and the Assiniboine River near downtown. The music and native dancing was great!

On Sunday morning, we were among the first arrivals at the Museum of Manitoba in downtown Winnipeg. We toured many interesting galleries, and learned a lot about Canadian history. One of the guides suggested we go to Fort Garry, a living history fort just north of the city, so we got directions and headed north. The fort was headquarters for the Hudson Bay Co., and the governor who lived there was in charge of all the outposts from Manitoba to the Pacific Ocean. Imagine trying to keep track of that large a territory with no e-mail or internet!

The fort was the center for fur trade for all of Canada.

All supplies for the fort came south from Hudson Bay, through Lake Winnipeg, and then down the Red River in wooden boats similar to this (although in better shape).

Aboriginals lived outside the walls of the fort.

The walls certainly weren't high enough to protect anything! The building on the right was the company store, with all supplies shipped in from England. The 3rd floor was full of hundreds of fur pelts.

This was known as the Big House, where up to four important families lived, along with many servants.

Of course, anytime we are in an historical site in the Midwest, I am on the lookout for George Catlin paintings, and even though we were in Canada, I wasn't disappointed! This picture was hanging in one of the museum information buildings.

My only purchase was at the Manitoba Museum. I'm a sucker for cute t-shirts! The saying on this one is "Canadian Polar Bear in Snow Storm."

Chuck met with one of his suppliers on Monday morning, while I hung out in the shops back at The Forks. We started for home at about 2:00 pm, and arrived home around 10:30 - long drive!!

Since we were gone over Father's Day, we got together with all of the kids on Wednesday night at Mall of America. We were also celebrating Andy's 26th birthday. Somehow, I missed getting a picture of Chuck with his kids, but...

Happy late birthday, Andy!