Just down the road...

Happy Weekend Dear Friends!

Today I would like to share with you a lovely and special place....

just a short walk from our home...

We are very blessed to live in a town with many beautiful parks, but this one is my absolute favorite...

An idyllic setting, reminiscent of the scene in Mary Poppins where they all jump into Bert's drawing...do you remember?

Down to the sweet little turtles!

Explore hidden gardens and cozy spots under the willows...

Take a paddleboat around the sparkling lake, or relax on one of the many swings built for two....

Look up!

and dream.....

If you're up for a walking meditation, the labyrinth will ease your mind and soothe your spirit....

It surrounds a most beautiful and gleaming sculpture of a pine cone...(Elizabeth, this one's for you!) 

A lovely rainbow in the mist of the fountains...

A beautiful weekend to each and every one of you....
Please take time to dream and smell the flowers!

Love and blessings....
xoxo

Happy 4th of July!

Wishes for a Happy and Safe

 Independence Day!

via

A bit of John Philip Sousa!

xoxo

A Little Getaway to the "Big Marsh"

all photos in this post are by moi









Sweet words to ponder when the Twin Cities weather 
begins to feel a bit too tropical....
especially in the middle of June.

So we pack some sandwiches, an overnight bag, and our winter coats 
(yes, we will need them!), and head to the beautiful North Shore...

 This time around, our stay in Duluth is short, so that we can travel up Scenic Highway 61 the following day to discover the beautiful town of Grand Marais.

But back to Duluth for a minute...

The air was fresh, the seagulls wild as ever, 
but am I glad we brought the winter coats!!
Cool off we did! :)
You can see in the photos that Superior looks chocolate brown...strong winds stirred up the iron-rich sediment...I would not want to be out on a boat on a day like this...

Although we were bundled up on this sunny Monday, it was very lovely....we had a chance to re-live Spring! Crab apple trees were in full bloom! There were even some lilac bushes that had not yet begun to blossom...

Lunch at our favorite cafe in Duluth, Northern Waters Smokehaus, 
was a must! You can even order their wonderful smoked delicacies 
to be delivered to your door.
I chose the local smoked salmon Cajun sandwich...outstanding!

This little guy (or girl) at the table behind us was ready to grab a bite too! :)

Early the following morning, we drove North for a couple of hours to discover a little town by the name of "Grand Marais".
The drive was gorgeous.

 glorious Lake Superior

heading for a tunnel in the Sawtooth "Mountains"

entering Grand Marais...I LOVE this view!!


 
The French settlers had named it "Large Marsh", but no one really knows why, since no sign of an actual marsh has been found...
We really did not know what to expect, but were relying solely on the raves of our friends who have been visiting this gem of a town for years.

I have never visited the New England coastal towns, but from what I understand, Grand Marais could stand in for one...

The town may be small, but it is home to the oldest Art Colony in Minnesota...and it's thriving!
Galleries, antique shops, and cafes dot the shimmering coastline, while the Sawtooth Mountains hug Grand Marais from the back...
And during our stay there, it was warm enough to keep the winter jackets off....hooray!

 I am obsessed with sailboats...

Don't you love the red? This one was in Duluth....

This lovely boreal forest perched on rugged rocks 
is called "Artists' Point"...
Painters and photographers cannot get enough of the spectacular view...it really is breathtaking. 
Truly a  place of renewal for mind, body, and soul.

We could not leave Grand Marais without a visit to their most darling book shop...
"Drury Lane"

And how could we resist a taste of the "World's Best Doughnuts"!?

I don't know if it was just the fresh Lake Superior air, but these may very well be the best doughnuts you will ever taste!!
:)





A grand adventure indeed.


My apologies for not having visited you, dear friends...this has been a whirlwind month, and I hope to see you all very soon!

Much love and many blessings!
xoxo