Weekend Recap: Duluth Day 3

Sunday was our first anniversary and our third and final day in Duluth. After breakfast, we wandered over the lift bridge and walked around in Canal Park. I enjoyed just sitting on a park bench with Adam looking at the lake and boat traffic.

Adam by the lift bridge with our hotel in the background

Trying to replicate our photo from the summer of 2009

We checked out of our room at noon, and drove over to Leif Erickson park and the Rose Garden. I can't believe that I had never visited the rose garden before. It's beautiful! Roses are one of my favorite flowers.

The Rose Garden overlooking Lake Superior

Adam really likes taking photos of flowers, so I handed over the camera for a while and just wandered around smelling the roses.

Photo by Adam

Photo by Adam

 After about a half hour, I reclaimed the camera before we left.

Leif Erickson Park

Then we drove to Lester Park where we sat on a rock and had sandwiches for lunch. We then began our scenic drive on Seven Bridges road.

We also made a brief stop at Hawk's Point.

We tried to continue our drive on Skyline Parkway, but somehow ended up losing it. It was getting late, so we decided to just skip it and head home. I did enjoy seeing the University of Minnesota Duluth where Adam went for a year.

We picked Chester up around 5 pm, and he was so excited to see us! We were exhausted after our weekend in Duluth, but we had a great time celebrating our first wedding anniversary.

Sleepy mom and puppy!

Weekend Recap: Duluth Day 2

We woke up to a very cool and windy morning - 50° in summer is not so fun. Luckily, I had read the weather reports and expected this. However, unlucky for me I forgot my sweatshirt. I've always wanted a Duluth sweatshirt and didn't have one, so after breakfast, the first thing on our agenda was a little sweatshirt shopping. After looking at a few stores I found an aqua one I liked and I was toasty warm after that.

Much to Adam's chagrin, I really wanted to take some photos of all the waves. I think I overexposed my ear to the cold windy air because it still hurts today.

Look at those waves!

The seagull was in the air, but not going anywhere because of the strong winds

Waves crashing into the rocks

Waves with a slow shutter speed

Cold and ready to be done with pictures

 On the way back to the car, I found a fountain to take some photos of for practice.

Slow shutter speed

Fast shutter speed

At 3:30, we took an hour and a half long expanded tour of Glensheen. I've always wanted to tour Glensheen, so it was really interesting. Unfortunately, they don't allow you to take any photos inside the mansion so we had to settle for a few shots outside. We would have liked to have roamed the grounds more, but they were setting up for a wedding.

Adam by the front doors of Glensheen

Adam loves when I use the timer on my point-and-shoot...

The path to the dock by the boat house

Another timer shot. This time the camera was on the park bench

Gardens at Glensheen with the Carriage House in the background. We were impressed with the lack of weeds!

After Glensheen we went back to the room and relaxed before dinner. We went to Bellisio's in Canal Park. We remember it being a lot better than it was, but still had a good time. At least the tiramisu was as amazing as we remembered it being.

Adam with his wine flight and my bellini

Weekend Recap: Duluth Day 1

I have so many pictures to share from our weekend because I finally have a good camera (even if I'm still kind of bad at it) to use in one of my favorite cities, Duluth. Given my obsession with Duluth, I'm going to spread this post over three days.

Friday - Day 1
I worked a half day on Friday, and Adam is on summer hours, so we were able to get going relatively early. I came home and was greeted by Adam, Chester and a dozen roses! After dropping Chester off at his grandparents (thanks again) in the care of Aaron, we were off. Our first stop in Duluth was at Spirit Mountain's new Alpine Coaster. It was like an alpine slide except on a roller coaster frame. We went down together and it was so much fun. Even Adam the skeptic really enjoyed it.

Adam on the coaster car out front. They don't let you bring cameras on the coaster itself.

After the coaster, we drove to Canal Park, and our hotel, the South Pier Inn. This is the hotel located just across the lift bridge from Canal Park. I thought it was charming and cute. I'd definitely stay there again. At the hotel we opened our anniversary presents for each other.

Then we made our way over to the port where we learned a big ship would be leaving shortly. So we waited... and waited some more... Finally the James R Barker departed. I love the big ships. They make you feel so small.

Waiting for the Barker.

Still waiting...

Finally, the James R Barker!

I was excited!   photo by Adam

By this point it was getting late and we were really hungry. We went to Little Angies for dinner. The food was good, but we weren't very impressed with the service at the bar while we were waiting for our table.

After dinner, we walked along the lake boardwalk.

In the distance, we spotted another ship approaching, so we hurried (fine, I ran and Adam walked somewhat quickly) to the lift bridge to see the Trott arrive.

Look, a ship in the approaching!

The Trott

More lights on water - I may have a problem

I took quite a few photos; I love lights reflected on water...

By then it was almost 10, so we headed back to the hotel to sleep.

The lift bridge as viewed from right outside our hotel

Happy Anniversary to Us!

This Sunday is our first wedding anniversary! I can't believe how quickly a year has gone! Even with the brutal winter we had, time has flown by. I'm so lucky to have Adam in my life. He's my best friend.

Photo taken by Tiffany Brubaker Photography
www.tiffanybrubaker.com

Photo taken by Tiffany Brubaker Photography
www.tiffanybrubaker.com

Photo taken by Tiffany Brubaker Photography
www.tiffanybrubaker.com

 It's hard to believe that a year ago around this time we were finishing off the final touches before the wedding (and I was stressing out hardcore). This summer has been so much more relaxing without a wedding to plan!

This weekend we are taking a mini-vacation up to Duluth, one of my favorite cities. I first visited Duluth in 2007 with my family, and have been back twice since then with Adam. In the winter of 2008 (whose idea was that?!?) for our second dating anniversary, and then in the summer of 2009. I kind of feel like it's "our" city. I can't wait to spend the weekend together! Though I will miss little Chester. I'll post pictures on Monday when we return.

December 2008 - the white streaks are snow

Much better weather in August of 2009

A/C Finally Arrives and I can function once again

I was very cranky yesterday morning after trying to sleep in an 88° house - unsuccessfully I might add. We have ceiling fans, tower fans, regular fans, lots of fans, but at that point they were just redistributing hot air. That's why yesterday was such an exciting day at the Dang Household - our new built in A/C finally arrived! The other had quit working and was ancient, so after lots of research we finally ordered a GE a few weeks ago. Of course we didn't get around to ordering it until there was a heat wave, so we've been suffering in an 80°+ house the past few weeks.

So long old A/C

The delivery men took away our old A/C, but Adam had a heck of a time getting out the old casing. One of the bolts attaching the sleeve case to a support beam was rusted and wouldn't come apart. 

Adam with the problem bolt

I don't think he was too happy I took these photos...

 After a lot of sweat and frustration, he pounded it out. Once that was done, he had the new sleeve and A/C in and running in no time. The cool air was most welcome!

The old A/C as viewed from outside. I need to take one of the new one viewed from outside still.

The old A/C we never used. Hideous. I've also circled the wood cover we put over it to blend into the wall, because well, it was super ugly.

Beautiful new A/C. It's shorter than our old one (they don't make them as large anymore), so we're going to have to do some wall patching and insulation work.

Now a wall A/C is hardly ideal, but it's better than a window A/C. We have radiant heat in old school radiators, so central air isn't really an option. We'd basically have to convert to forced air and destroy our walls. Our house is 2 stories and we're never up on the second floor, so adding A/C in the attic really isn't an option either. I guess it's part of the charm of living in an old house. 1880 represent.