Snapshot in Time: North Shore 2007

The North Shore
July 2007

The summer I graduated from college, we took a family vacation to Duluth and the North Shore. None of us hadever been to Duluth before. We stayed right in Canal Park at the Inn on Lake Superior. It was a great location; within walking distance of all the cool museums and restaurants in Canal Park, and of course, it was right on Lake Superior. I loved watching all the big ships come through.

Memory 1: Biking along Lake Superior. The hotel had courtesy bikes (very dorky looking), but we had fun cruising along the boardwalk and lake with them.

Memory 2: Happy Hour at Little Angie's Cantina
Dad got the biggest margarita they had because it was half price. It was the size of his head! Mom, Christine and I couldn't stop laughing at him.

Memory 3: Rushing to the pier when the Lift Bridge alarm/bell went off to see a big ship go through.

 Memory 4: Split Rock Lighthouse
We toured the lighthouse and buildings which was very interesting. Then we went down what seemed like an endless staircase to get a view up at the lighthouse from the rocky shore. It wasn't so bad going down the stairs, but going back up wasn't so pleasant. The view from the bottom was worth it though.

Memory 5: The discovery of Rocky Taconite
We were driving around Silver Bay after dinner for mom and dad's anniversary, when I spotted Rocky Taconite. I made dad stop the car so we could get out and take some pictures. Rocky Taconite remains my favorite roadside statue surprise.










Memory 6: Canada
Christine and I begged mom and dad to let us go up to Canada and spend the night since we had never been there before. On the way we stopped at Kakabeka Falls. Amazing.

It was a great trip and was just the beginning of my love for Duluth, the big ships, and Split Rock Lighthouse.

Snapshot in Time: Christmas 2007

Christmas 2007

I'm very afraid of spiders - as in I see one, freak out, can't move, heart races, feel like I can't breathe. And forgot about actually killing it myself. Yuck. 

Yes, I know they're small in comparison to us. I've been told many times, "they're probably more afraid of you than you are of them." I sincerely doubt it. I'm pretty scared of them...

My mother likes to capitalize on this fear and give me spider gifts for Christmas and my birthday. Usually, this results in me leaving said gift at her house. Though sometimes she'll sneak it in with my stuff and I'll discover it when I get home. Lucky me.

YES! A spider pillow! Just what I always wanted!

Examples of the lovely spider gifts I have received through the years-
- Spider pillow (pictured)
- Beanie Baby spiders
- Stuffed animal spiders
- Miss Spider children's books (2)
- A gold spider pin
- A pen with feathers and a spider on top

Did I mention that when I open these "gifts" my mom and sister giggle gleefully? Because they do. Apparently it's hilarious.

At least they give me cartoon-y versions of spiders. If it really looked like the real thing, I'd be much less tolerant of this thoughtful little tradition. My mom said once I got married these lovely presents might have to end. How disappointing...

Snapshot in Time: Weekend in Duluth 2008

Duluth
December 2008

To celebrate our 2 year (dating) anniversary in the beginning of December, I came up with the brilliant idea of going to Duluth for the weekend. I had been there for the first time with my family in the summer of 2007, and loved it. I thought it would be a romantic weekend getaway and would be cool to see it in winter. The ships, my favorite, were still coming through in December as well. Adam thought it sounded like fun as well, so I booked a hotel in Canal Park. I don't think either of us were prepared for how cold it would be - definitely below zero! Of course the cold did nothing to damper my love for watching the big ships go under the lift bridge. So when one was scheduled to come through, guess where we could be found!

This was also our Christmas card photo in 2008!

Memory 1:
Splitting the best tiramisu ever with Adam at an Italian restaurant in Canal Park. It was heavenly. Their risotto was excellent as well.

Memory 2:
Going into the hot tub and warming up after walking back from dinner. I sat in the hot tub while Adam was a "dolphin" in the pool.

Memory 3:
Walking down to the lighthouse at the end of the pier in the morning. It had snowed the night before so we left fresh tracks in it. I loved watching the big ships come through with all the ice hanging off of them.

 



Memory 4:
It was so cold and windy standing there watching the big ships come through that I couldn't feel my face. I think Adam wanted to kill me.

Memory 5:
Making Adam take a detour on the way home so I could see the Frank Lloyd Wright gas station in Cloquet. Worth it!

I love Duluth. The last time we were there was the summer of 2009. We have our hotel booked and Chester sitter planned for our First Wedding Anniversary. I can't wait to spend time with Adam in one of my favorite places!

Snapshot in Time: Family visiting me in London

London
October 2005

I studied abroad in London the fall of my Junior Semester. It was amazing. I loved every moment of it. During my fall break, my mom, dad, Stine and the Kroner family came to visit. We did all the tourist-y things in London, and even took the EuroStar to Paris for the day.

For some reason, this is one of my favorite photos from their visit. Maybe because my dad and I didn't know it was being taken, and it was at the Tower of London.

Tower of London

We first visited the Tower of London on a rainy day in the late afternoon. We got there later than planned because we stayed too long at Madame Tussauds (boring, I wouldn't go back). Unfortunately for us, they canceled the last Beefeater Tour because of the rain. Luckily, we were able to talk the ticket desk into giving us return tickets for the next day so we could go on one of the tours. The Tower of London was one of my favorite things to see in London. There is just so much history there!

Memory 1:
The Beefeater Tour Guide teasing me about my eyebrow ring on the tour of the Tower of London. Something about it being a Medieval torture device.

Memory 2:
Watching the Military Parade in Trafalgar Square with my dad, and then having lunch at a cute pub we stumbled across. I can't remember where everyone else was though, maybe that's when they went to the Royal Mews.

Memory 3:
Venturing to Hampton Court with my family the day before the Kroner's joined us. It's a royal palace made famous by the court of King Henry VIII. On the way back we found a pub to eat at, but had to dine out on the back patio because Christine was with. It was actually quite charming.

Memory 4:
Taking a boat along the Thames at sunset with a gorgeous sunset/night view of Tower Bridge and then the Houses of Parliament.

Here's some more of my favorite photos:

The Houses of Parliament and Big Ben as viewed from a boat on the Thames.

Our favorite pub conveniently located next door to our hotel.

Adam's never been to London, so we're starting to plan a trip there for next year after the Olympics. So excited! I love London. It's my favorite city in the world. I can't wait to show him around and revisit some of my favorite places. Plus there's a few places I missed when I was there the first time that I would still like to see like the London Aquarium. We hope to make it to Scotland and Ireland as well.

Tuesday's theme would probably more appropriately be called "Travel Tuesday" since all I seem to post about is memories from places I've been. Oh well, I guess I would run out of those anyway. I promise next week I'll break out of the year 2005. I didn't realize the last 3 "Snapshot in Time" posts were from the same year.

Snapshot in Time: The Spam Museum

I will be blogging about the Bright Eyes concert next, but first I must do the Tuesday blog topic, which I have renamed "Snapshot in Time Tuesday." Here we go, another fun one from 2005 (how was that 6 years ago?!).

Oh yeah, that's the famous SPAM Museum in all it's processed "meat" glory

Spam Museum in Austin, MN

In the spring of 2005, mom, Stine and I went to the Spam Museum in Austin, MN. Lest you think we drove all the way to Austin just to visit this amazing place, I will tell you we were already there for our dress fittings for my cousin Kasey's wedding. Since we were there anyway, we decided to check out this museum.

As we walked in, we were greeted with the delicious aroma of Spam. Highlights of our museum tour included vintage advertising displays, the History of SPAM movie, and FREE SPAM SAMPLES(!). All joking aside, this museum was actually really nice and very well done. It was relatively new when we visited, and had displays that actually made Spam seem interesting. I was oddly impressed. If you ever find yourself in or near Austin, you should check it out. Plus, it's free and you can proudly declare you have visited The Spam Museum. What's not to like?!?

SPAM Museum

Tuesday needs a theme too

Every weekday on my blog has a theme (Weekend Recap on Monday, Wedding Wednesday, Naughty Puppy Thursday, Foodie Friday), except for Tuesday. I need to remedy that situation as I need to have something to actually post about on Tuesdays. I've decided that I will be posting an older photo (1+ years old) and a memory associated with it. That should give me something to do. I'm not sure what I will be naming this segment yet though.

So here we go, Week 1 of Photo Memory Tuesday (better name coming soon I hope):

Montana the summer of 2005

This was a fun family vacation with a lot of great memories associated with it.

Christine and I at Glacier National Park

Memory 1:
On our way out to Montana, we drove through North Dakota on I-90, which is a very flat, boring drive. Halfway across the state, Christine and I looked out the window to see a giant cowboy boot being pulled on a trailer ahead of us. This was one large cowboy boot - like you would see in a parade. It had the name Harold "stitched" onto it. Christine and I couldn't stop laughing at Harold. Just like it is now, once one of us starts laughing, it's impossible to stop because we both feed off of each other. Harold the cowboy boot was amazing, and a sign of good times ahead.

Memory 2:
We were staying by the cabins my dad's uncle has in the Little Rockies. We were there over the Fourth of July, so we drove the four wheelers down from the cabins to watch the fireworks in Zortman, a mining "ghost town." I thought this was going to be a planned display, but it was actually locals lighting off fireworks at random on the main street through town (graveled of course). Definitely an experience. It should come as no surprise then that I got firework remnants in my eye. Mom and I went to the local saloon to use the bathroom so I could try to rinse it out. When I came out, mom went in to wash up, and I went to the bar to get a bag of chips. While there I was accosted by an elderly cowboy who said, "Hey good lookin'" and proceeded to hit on me until I was rescued by my mom. Mind you, my eye was all red and puffy from the firework debris, and my face was covered with dust from the four wheeler ride. It was a funny story to tell everyone back outside.

Memory 3:
The beauty of Glacier National Park. I was leaning over to take a photo along the top of Going to the Sun Road in Glacier. All of a sudden, I felt something ice cold on my back. Christine had taken a snowball and put it down my back when I was bent over. It was a crazy sight to see snow in July!

Bonus photo just because it makes me laugh:

Wall Drug (on the same trip out west)