Bad Blogger!

So I have been HORRIBLE at blogging lately. I think I have just been lazy. I have 3 weeks of CSA's to blog about, a friend's surprise birthday party, and this weekend we are going to paddle 54 more miles down the Altamaha River. I have a lot to write about! So hopefully soon...I will get to it :)

4 Years

Four years ago we packed up our one bedroom apartment in South Minneapolis in a moving truck and drove off to Georgia to move into our first house and start a new life. I cant believe that much time has flown by! We have done so much since living here!!

Trips to Savannah, Charleston, Boone, Asheville, Baton Rouge, New Orleans, Oregon, Costa Rica and of course several visits to Minnesota. I completed my MBA and Eric has started teaching his own classes as he works on his Dissertation. We now have two grown cats (one FAT and one skinny). We have hiked several trails in GA and along the Appalachian Trail, paddled down the Altamaha River, and camped at a few State Parks. Bought a new car. We have participated in two CSAs. We have made a lot of new friends. We have had a lot of visitors from MN. We have fallen in love with College Football and have gone to several UGA games "Between the Hedges". We have grown fond of some Southern foods (Hush-puppies, grits, BBQ pork, Brunswick Stew & SWEET POTATOES!) We have also celebrated 4 Wedding Anniversaries since living in GA (soon to be 5!).

We have done a lot and have created a lot of wonderful memories here. You never know where life is going to take you but we are hoping that in 1 more year life will take us back to MN. A lot needs to happen in the next year but our goal is to be in MN next summer we are reaching for it!

MN Part 5

The last part of our trip we spent in Stillwater with my family. Thursday night we went to dinner at Phil's Tara Hideaway an old restaurant in Stillwater. They have awesome Greek inspired food! After dinner we had dessert at Nelson's Ice Cream. Check out some of their pictures to see how AMAZING this ice cream is. A CHILD's size is $3 and is about 4-5 scoops of ice cream! I usually have to save 1/2 for the next day. My mom and I love their peanut butter chocolate flavor...it is SOOO good!

All day Friday we spent time on the St. Croix River. Eric and I hope to paddle the river someday because it is so beautiful!!




Eric has a nice spot in the shade overlooking the St. Croix and the high bridge.


After hanging out on the river, we joined our old friends at a great pub downtown Minneapolis called The Local. I was super bummed though because I forgot my camera! After dinner and drinks we headed to our friends Tim & Sarah's new home in South Minneapolis. This home was a fixer-upper and they have done a great job! It is so beautiful! Seeing all of our friends and Tim & Sarah's home in the city AND spending the week with family really made us miss living in MN. PLUS or friends J&J announced that they are having a baby in February! We are so thrilled for you guys!! :)

On Saturday before heading back to Georgia we went to the Washington County Fair in Stillwater with my parents. We had fun looking at all the farm animals and eating fair food. We couldn't leave MN without eating some batter fried cheese curds!!



Overall we had a great trip home to MN! I cant wait until Christmas! :)

MN Part 4

After three days on Rainy Lake we started the drive to visit Eirc's Aunt and Uncle in Castle Danger, MN. Once we got to their place on Lake Superior we were greeted with a beautiful rainbow!



Ada and Chuck have beautiful flowers all over the property but they are especially proud of their roses. The second picture shows all of there potted rose bushes next to their house.





Unfortunately, we could only stay with Ada and Chuck for one night since we were in MN for a short week. We got a group picture before we said our goodbyes and starting or drive back to the Twin Cities.

MN Part 3

We had such a great time on Rainy Lake with Eric's family. We were also very happy to have his Grandpa with us so we could spend some quality time with him. When we weren't on the lake we spent time hanging out on the deck Eric helped build last summer. We had such a great time is was very hard to leave, all we could think about was spending weekends there when someday we move back to MN.

MN Part 2

We spent two nights in Zimmerman before heading to Rainy Lake in International Falls. Eric and I got to stay in the boat chalet that used to be his grandparent's. I mentioned the Chalet in a post from last summer when we got a painting of the place. His aunt and uncle now own it and they have fixed it up real nice! We enjoyed sleeping close to the water, it was nice hearing the waves!


As always, Rainy Lake was beautiful...I couldn't help taking many pictures of it.



Our first night on the lake called for a boat ride to see the sunset. Below is a picture of Eric, his grandpa Jim, and his mom Becky.


As always the sunset was beautiful!


Here is a picture of Dan, Becky, and Rachel



Our second day was devoted to a boat ride up the lake to Blueberry Island and Anderson Bay. We spent the time here having lunch, relaxing, and of course looking for blueberries!



Below: Grandpa, Dan, Becky, Rach, Me & Eric

Side Note on Figs

We tried a Maple Fig Rice Pudding recipe last night and it was AMAZING! :) For those of you CSA members that are getting figs....here is the recipe from Oprah.com

• 4 cups milk
• 3/4 cup pure maple syrup
• 1/2 cup long-grain rice
• Pinch of ground cinnamon
• 1 large egg , lightly beaten
• 6 Mission or Kadota or Calimyrna figs
• 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• Sweetened whipped cream , for garnish (optional)

Directions:

In a heavy 3- or 4-quart saucepan, whisk together milk, maple syrup, rice and cinnamon. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat; reduce heat and simmer, stirring occasionally, until rice is very tender, about 1 hour.

In a small bowl, whisk 1 cup hot rice mixture with egg. Return mixture to saucepan and cook, stirring constantly, about 5 minutes or until thickened.

Meanwhile, slice 4 figs lengthwise into sixths. Remove saucepan from heat and stir in sliced figs, vanilla and salt. Quarter remaining 2 figs and use them to garnish pudding; serve warm. Top with whipped cream, if desired.

MN Part 1

We arrived in MN Saturday (July 31) at 10:30am. Our wonderful friends Jason and Jenessa picked us up from the airport and we headed to one of my favorite places in Minneapolis, the MN farmers market! It was packed with people and we had a lunch date with other friends so we only picked up a few things before heading leaving.

We met our other friends Tara, Brian, their son Tyler and Tara's sister Megan at a great little Pub in St. Paul called The Blue Door. We ate WAY too much friend food and felt VERY full when we were done.

After lunch with went with Jason and Jenessa to their cute apartment in a great neighborhood in St. Paul called South St. Anthony. We spent the rest of the afternoon with them hanging out, talking, and playing a little Frisbee. It was great to spend some quality time with them!

At about 5:00 Eric's family picked us up to go to their house in Zimmerman, MN. Remember, they have the beautiful log cabin home? It is still beautiful! We spent only a day there hanging out. While in Zimmerman we checked out a county park and did a short walk around it. I have to say MN really does a great job with their parks. There are always paved and unpaved trails, picnic areas and they are clean and well kept up.



Dan, Becky, Me & Eric

We are back!

What a wonderful week with our friends and family in Minnesota! I will have a lot of pictures and stories to share with you soon. First I have to unpack, do laundry, get food for the house and rest a little. :)