tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2549129454431109522024-03-12T18:39:57.789-07:00Farm Girl on the North ShoreFormer farm girl.
Former city girl.
Currently a Gitchi Gami Girl.
Owner/Operator of www.superiorpaddle.com
Amanda Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02569490920296364157noreply@blogger.comBlogger87125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-254912945443110952.post-14623454497615137862017-10-09T16:10:00.004-07:002018-08-02T07:18:28.246-07:00Thoughts on the Wild Women Yoga Retreat at Wolf Ridge <div class="MsoNormal">
I struggle with balancing my external life with my internal
life. I love planning events, activities, and get-togethers. I’m well known for
intense itineraries that start at sunrise and go well past sunset. I love
laughing, storytelling, dancing, adventuring, camping, traveling, and living
life in big, bold, colorful strokes. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This often results in months of consecutive weekends full of
activities. It also means sacrificing a rich internal life to meet the
obligations of my external life. It means I go to happy hour or drive to the
cities instead of spending time reading or hiking with Drew. It means I trade
off an orderly closet for a chaotic space with suitcases never fully empty
between weekend excursions. It means that I don’t prioritize my own fitness and
wellness. Inevitably, it leaves me exhausted, drained, and deflated. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This is a cycle I’ve self-perpetuated since I can remember.
I’ve always been a busy body. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Once, an acquaintance gave me what she thought was a
compliment by saying, “Amanda, you are always flying around like a big ball of
mess but somehow still get everything done.” <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I was really hurt by that comment. After all, no one really
wants to be perceived as a “big ball of mess.” The truth is, that description can
be pretty accurate. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I do fly around a million miles an hour. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I do overextend myself. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I do believe in being generous of spirit, but at what cost?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
At the last retreat, we were… busy. I logged around 30K
steps per day, practiced yoga several hours per day, rose to see the sunrise,
and hauled paddleboards 4+ miles. On Saturday, I was walking back from Raven
Lake with Bryana and said, “I don’t think I can do this. I’m too tired.” Months
of running around all hit me at once. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
By Saturday night, I reached a level of exhaustion that I
haven’t felt for a long time. The same level of exhaustion I’ve felt after
coming home from a funeral, after completing a long race, or after a 10+ mile
hike. In the depths of exhaustion, I see things with new perspective. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
On Sunday, I drove home from the retreat totally exhausted
but also fulfilled and satisfied, I had an overwhelming sense of calm and
clarity.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I hardly spoke for a nearly a full 24 hours. I simply
allowed myself to rest and reflect silently. In that silence, I realized the
toll my extroversion can take on both me and on my introverted husband. I made
a commitment to work on my personal wellness this fall. That has meant learning
to say no, setting boundaries for myself, asking others for help, letting go of
control and allowing others to assume responsibility, setting aside time to do
nothing, stopping myself from planning things when an idea strikes, getting
back into the habi<span style="text-align: center;">t of running, drinking more water, consuming less alcohol,
and spending more time in silence.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The retreat at Wolf Ridge genuinely surprised me. I did not
expect to feel so exhausted and simultaneously fulfilled. I did not expect to
walk away with such clarity. I did not expect to have to face my own
shortcomings and insecurities so squarely in the face. It was humbling and grounding. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I’m entering this fall retreat with a few months of practice
under my belt, but I still have a long way to go to achieve the balance I need
between an external and internal life. Heck, I’m still super busy with all the
plans I made BEFORE the last retreat. It’ll take me through the end of October
to get back to a calendar that is beautifully blank. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
I am so excited to find out what this next retreat holds for
me. Yoga, when practiced several hours a day, offers healing through intensity.
We stretch our limits, find vulnerability in our discomfort, and achieve new
depths in the process.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FdvuSpatg60/WdwB7Q4jSDI/AAAAAAAADIg/QJdVHN957xE1Xhp7acX4dUJD83EB4z92ACEwYBhgL/s1600/yoga2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="843" data-original-width="1080" height="249" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FdvuSpatg60/WdwB7Q4jSDI/AAAAAAAADIg/QJdVHN957xE1Xhp7acX4dUJD83EB4z92ACEwYBhgL/s320/yoga2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
Amanda Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02569490920296364157noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-254912945443110952.post-63076180897399453122017-10-09T16:00:00.002-07:002017-10-09T16:04:42.667-07:00Drew's 2016 Holiday Letter<div class="Body">
This year Amanda and I took our relationship to a whole new
level. We’ve already been best friends, spouses, and business partners, to
which some people say, “wow, don’t you ever get sick of each other?” To which
we say, “why do you think we have a TV in the basement?” But still, being the
perfect couple, just wasn’t enough, so Amanda decided she had better add
becoming my teacher to the list. This came about one evening when Amanda asked
me if I was aware that she was putting on an 11-week bi-weekly journaling
workshop and that I was signed up for it and that the first class was tomorrow
and that if I missed it I might as well just start packing my bags. Needless to
say, I did not know any of the above and was slightly taken aback by the sheer
audacity of her just assuming that I had time to attend a journaling class for
11-weeks when she knew perfectly well that I was very busy re-watching all of
the Star Wars movies to prepare for the new one coming out this holiday season.
However, I was also keenly aware of the look in her beautiful, deadly-blue
eyes, so instead I said “What time, dear?” I know what many of you are
thinking, that is, that having your wife as the teacher would be awesome and
that it basically guarantees that you will be the teacher’s pet and ace the
class. Well, let me be the one to tell you that anybody that thinks that is an
idiot. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Body">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body">
My attendance in the class, has proven, without any doubt, that
being married to the teacher in any of <i>Amanda’s</i> classes does not buy you
brownie points. Actually, it makes things twice as hard. Of course, it also
didn’t help that I was the only male in the class and that many of the writing
exercises involved writing about <i>feelings</i>. Amanda clapped and praised
the other students as they recited heartfelt poems dealing with serious issues
such as divorce, depression, eating habits, parenting, love lost, and love
gained. Amanda frowned and shook her head when I recited my epic space saga
full of flesh-eating aliens, mutant assassins, laser-eyed-lizards, battle-axes,
piles of corpses, and zombie bears. In fact, Amanda was so appalled by my
inability to write thoughtful, emotionally charged literature that she decided
that she would take on the additional role of becoming my X-mas card editor.
This is the main reason why you are receiving this letter after Christmas. This is (I’m not lying) the fourth version of
the X-mas letter. The first was too vulgar, the second too childish, and the
third too politically insensitive. I was becoming so disheartened from my
apparent inability to write an acceptable X-mas letter that I was forced to
take desperate measures in order to actually get something in the mail. Long
story short, I waited until Amanda was put under general anesthesiology for her
ankle surgery to write the letter. Then, when she was all doped up on morphine
and other powerful narcotics, I told her the X-mas letter was all done and
ready to send, to which she responded “why does it taste like purple in here”,
which I took as, “it’s perfect, let’s send it to all of our loved ones”. In
other words, what you now hold in your hand is the unedited, uncensored version
of the 2016 X-mas letter. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Body">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body">
Besides spending most of the year in journaling class, we did
manage to do some other stuff this year. We spent a week in the Bahamas
snorkeling with the Thoe family. It was a wonderful trip. We are continually
amazed by the culinary evolution happening in the Caribbean. It was the
gastronomical adventure of a lifetime as we joined the native Bahamians at
little Ma and Pa places like Dominoes Pizza and Burger King. Can you believe
they have a conch burger? It’s number 6 on the drive-thru menu.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Body">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body">
We also took a trip to see glaciers in Glacier National Park.
Seeing glaciers in Glacier National Park is more challenging than one might
think. This is mainly due to the fact that there are none, unless of course you
consider a dirty pile of snow, much like something you would find after you
plow your driveway, a glacier. Not satisfied, we travelled north to Canada to
see the glaciers in Kootenay, Banff, and Jasper National Parks. These glaciers,
although much more glacier-esque, were receding at a pace that made them nearly
invisible to the naked eye. All in all, it was a great trip and we both
returned home more depressed than ever.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Body">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body">
Other than that, we didn’t do too much this year. By we, I mean
me. Amanda did lot’s of stuff. Here’s a list of some of the stuff Amanda did:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Body" style="margin-left: .75in; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]-->•<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->Became a board member on the St. Luke’s Hospital
Board of Directors. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Body" style="margin-left: .75in; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]-->•<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->Taught an 11-week journaling class that was a
smashing success. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Body" style="margin-left: .75in; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]-->•<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->Put on a number of fundraising events to raise
money for local charities and other good causes.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Body" style="margin-left: .75in; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]-->•<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->Joined Mentor Duluth to be a role model for
young children in need of such things. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Body" style="margin-left: .75in; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]-->•<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->Was on the news and in the newspapers for all
her good deeds and special talents; virtually a local celebrity if you ask me. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Body" style="margin-left: .75in; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]-->•<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->Continues to teach yoga and win awards at her
smarty-pants job at Maurices HQ. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Body">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body">
Here’s a list of everything Drew did:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Body" style="margin-left: .75in; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]-->•<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->Fell over and broke his face.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Body">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body">
Which reminds me. If you ever want to get lots of nice letters,
tasty treats, and cool stuff in the mail, all you have to do is seriously
injure yourself. I was unaware of this until now, but I feel like I might be on
to something. If I can just seriously hurt myself three, or maybe four times a
year, I wouldn’t ever have to buy groceries again and people would always be
saying nice things to me like: “<i>Wow, your face looks even better than it did
before.</i>” (On second thought, maybe that isn’t so nice. What did I look like
when I had teeth and a solid facial skeletal structure?) On a serious note, we
can’t thank everyone enough for the support we received during my little
mishap. I did write lovely thank you letters to everyone, to show the true
depths of my appreciation, but I lost them somewhere in Glacier National Park.
I’m not lying, I really did. If you don’t believe me, just look next to the
glacier, if you can still find one.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Body">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body">
Season’s greetings and Happy New Year to all. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Body">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body">
With love, <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Body">
Drew and Amanda Imes<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="Body">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ugKTTcuXzC8/WdwAgQBD31I/AAAAAAAADIM/S9rg-Ko49WYhyDM3OZPw8DPuU3Snb15TgCLcBGAs/s1600/enhance%2B%25287%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="720" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ugKTTcuXzC8/WdwAgQBD31I/AAAAAAAADIM/S9rg-Ko49WYhyDM3OZPw8DPuU3Snb15TgCLcBGAs/s320/enhance%2B%25287%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Oz3NTzDjRRU/WdwAgY0xt6I/AAAAAAAADII/8ZaqeP1PUo4uJKxv42EUEzddBeDn72pcACLcBGAs/s1600/enhance%2B%25288%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="720" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Oz3NTzDjRRU/WdwAgY0xt6I/AAAAAAAADII/8ZaqeP1PUo4uJKxv42EUEzddBeDn72pcACLcBGAs/s320/enhance%2B%25288%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-H2Okb6cabuI/WdwAgrjg3rI/AAAAAAAADIQ/B_o8yaKRqBQItobIexG-NVw8vl3i0BfkQCLcBGAs/s1600/enhance%2B%25289%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="720" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-H2Okb6cabuI/WdwAgrjg3rI/AAAAAAAADIQ/B_o8yaKRqBQItobIexG-NVw8vl3i0BfkQCLcBGAs/s320/enhance%2B%25289%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VLI3h1Q5i9o/WdwAg2CTiQI/AAAAAAAADIU/JQmtdaoYWBIcr_SQ3gMu6SV26bAqT-9XACLcBGAs/s1600/enhance.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="720" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VLI3h1Q5i9o/WdwAg2CTiQI/AAAAAAAADIU/JQmtdaoYWBIcr_SQ3gMu6SV26bAqT-9XACLcBGAs/s320/enhance.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div class="Body">
<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
Amanda Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02569490920296364157noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-254912945443110952.post-55568554812070843252016-03-15T07:20:00.002-07:002016-03-15T07:20:20.165-07:00Drew's 2015 Christmas Letter <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]--><br />
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/>
<w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/>
<w:OverrideTableStyleHps/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="267">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin-top:0in;
mso-para-margin-right:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt;
mso-para-margin-left:0in;
line-height:115%;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
I’m beginning to wonder if starting the tradition of writing
an annual Christmas letter was a wise decision. I have numerous concerns about
the whole thing. First and foremost, is the fact that Amanda and I have to
continue to try to do cool and exciting things in order to have “Xmas letter
worthy” content. That is a lot of pressure. In prior years, we’ve gotten
married, bought homes, moved to a new city, accepted new jobs – you know, big
life milestones and things like that. Sure, that made writing the letters easy,
but it also set the bar high right off the get go. If I was more smarter, I
wouldn’t have mentioned any of those things in the first few letters. That way,
I could have gradually built the letters up, year after year, until finally, at
the ripe old age of 62, the grand climax would occur – which I imagine will be
the year Amanda finally kicks me to the curb for a younger, better looking, higher
functioning model. At that point, I will be too depressed to continue writing
Xmas letters and you (the reader) will finally have one less piece of paper to
immediately discard into the recycling bin. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
My other major concern about the pressures of an annual Xmas
letter is that we will start doing things we don’t really want to do (or simply
shouldn’t do) just for the sake of having something to write about. This
concern, I fear, has already begun to manifest itself in the happenings of this
past year. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
For example, if someone were to ask me what motivated us to
start putting uncoordinated and/or aquaphobic people on thin slabs of floating
foam and take them out paddling on the coldest lake this side of Pluto, I would
only be able to respond: “Oh, ummm, well you see, we started SUPerior Paddle
Boarding because there is this Xmas letter thing we have to live up to….”
Honestly, I’m not sure there is a better way to explain why Amanda and I
decided to start our own paddleboard outfitter. The fact is, we did, and it was
a great first year, I think. We were featured in numerous publications,
partnered with other local businesses to put on some really cool events,
received positive reviews, and no one died. So that was good. But why? Why did
we decide that we basically don’t want to have a single minute of free time in
the summer if not to get some decent Xmas card content? </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The same question must be asked about our trip to Iceland. The
place has the word “ice” in its name for crying out loud. Why would we leave
Duluth during its only nice month of the year (August) and head to a tiny
island country a stone’s throw from the Arctic Circle renown for poor weather,
flesh-melting volcanic eruptions, and the tasty national dish of<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> harkal</i>.<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=254912945443110952#_ftn1" name="_ftnref1" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn1;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[1]</span></span></span></span></a>
Why indeed? Again, I’m not certain why, but Amanda and I did find Iceland to be
a fantastical place. The only way I can describe it is like something out of
J.R.R. Tolkien’s Middle Earth.<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=254912945443110952#_ftn2" name="_ftnref2" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn2;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[2]</span></span></span></span></a>
We camped around the entire (and I mean entire) island and loved every minute
of it. Mostly. There was that one night in which I decided to partake in a
scientific study of the national pastime of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Runtur</i>.
As it happens, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Runtur</i> mainly consists
of staying out all night enjoying a potent variety of schnapps made from a very
specific type of highland moss intermixed with sips of some sort of liquor
fondly referred to as “Black Death”. As a man of science, I took my studies
very seriously. Amanda did not partake in the Runtur, but she did create a new
event called the “ranter” when I returned from my studies. Amanda’s “Ranter”
has now eclipsed the great eruption of Skaftaredar as the most violent and
earth shattering event in Iceland’s history. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Sadly, we didn’t do anything else worthy of the Xmas letter
this year. We got settled into our new home here in Duluth. We went on a ski
trip to the Keweenaw Peninsula with old friends, became the first documented
paddle boarders in the Boundary Waters National Canoe Area with new friends,
cross-country skied to an old logging camp in the Superior National Forest with
best friends, and generally had a great year – but nobody wants to hear about
that crap. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So that’s it. There is nothing left to say. I mean, I could
say some of the obligatory things like that Amanda is still excelling at
everything that she does, such as being a Real Estate Analyst for Maurices
corporate headquarters and teaching some type of inferno yoga designed to suck
every last ounce of sweat from your body. She also ran the Grandma’s
half-marathon this year. I drove it, but still couldn’t keep up. Amanda has
also spent a lot of time making friends. I’m from Duluth, and yet somehow
Amanda knows more people here. Go figure.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
That really is all there is to say. Except that we loved
having family and friends visit us this year in our new home. We really enjoyed
when our nephew Lane could come visit and steal my childhood toys. He is so
cute the way he can find boxes full of my treasured childhood items and walk
out the door with them. We also loved it when our nieces from Alaska came down
during Halloween. They are so charming the way they pelt you mercilessly with
rotten apples when you play “Ghosts in the Graveyard” with them. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I’m done. Besides to say that we really, truly, from the
bottom of our hearts, can’t thank everyone enough for helping Amanda’s mother
this autumn when she broke both her arms. It is those acts of kindness that,
especially during this busy holiday season, make us stop and think about how
lucky we are to have such great friends and family. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
That’s a wrap folks. Until next year. Maybe. After the whole
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Runtur</i> thing, Amanda could decide to
make that upgrade a few years early. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! Sincerely, Andrew,
Amanda and Loki Imes</div>
<div style="mso-element: footnote-list;">
<br clear="all" />
<hr align="left" size="1" width="33%" />
<div id="ftn1" style="mso-element: footnote;">
<div class="MsoFootnoteText">
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=254912945443110952#_ftnref1" name="_ftn1" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn1;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[1]</span></span></span></span></a> <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">A delightful treat consisting of putrefied
shark which has been buried in a shallow pit for 12 weeks and then hung outside
to dry for six months before it is deemed worthy of testing the limits of one’s
gag reflex.</i></div>
</div>
<div id="ftn2" style="mso-element: footnote;">
<div class="MsoFootnoteText">
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=254912945443110952#_ftnref2" name="_ftn2" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn2;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[2]</span></span></span></span></a> <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">For you cooler people out there, Middle
Earth is the world in which <u>The Lord of the Rings</u> books take place. If
you still don’t know what I’m talking about, I’m not sure you were meant to
receive this letter.</i> </div>
</div>
</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sLV5iK-zK74/VugZ521h5YI/AAAAAAAACbc/KvAb2_YekYspM1PHmDkyPx8FsAkv7k6aA/s1600/IMG_2435.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sLV5iK-zK74/VugZ521h5YI/AAAAAAAACbc/KvAb2_YekYspM1PHmDkyPx8FsAkv7k6aA/s320/IMG_2435.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hxG_GlU7zRo/VugZ6NVFrYI/AAAAAAAACbg/OwInpqD3_DYf3F3XG5AWG7ae6hv_Nkmdg/s1600/IMG_2503.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hxG_GlU7zRo/VugZ6NVFrYI/AAAAAAAACbg/OwInpqD3_DYf3F3XG5AWG7ae6hv_Nkmdg/s320/IMG_2503.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0jvnjgCS0ac/VugZ5w-6vRI/AAAAAAAACbY/igA_f38o-3kmCcCRB3h3l36S1Tr9-hcEw/s1600/IMG_2552.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0jvnjgCS0ac/VugZ5w-6vRI/AAAAAAAACbY/igA_f38o-3kmCcCRB3h3l36S1Tr9-hcEw/s320/IMG_2552.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TFYzgGHMvd4/VugZ6kTV6lI/AAAAAAAACbk/eR9_l1ghwsI7F0MVNzcUHKhApPbqhTZtg/s1600/IMG_2609.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="193" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TFYzgGHMvd4/VugZ6kTV6lI/AAAAAAAACbk/eR9_l1ghwsI7F0MVNzcUHKhApPbqhTZtg/s320/IMG_2609.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vhXm1WLSUXQ/VugZ6mgFp6I/AAAAAAAACbo/FmtTBw5v1zsTakp57bxD1h_J5xDljx62g/s1600/IMG_2610.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vhXm1WLSUXQ/VugZ6mgFp6I/AAAAAAAACbo/FmtTBw5v1zsTakp57bxD1h_J5xDljx62g/s320/IMG_2610.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Rd_orIjTh3M/VugZ6zz2OAI/AAAAAAAACbs/XxHP0v9yAUIVFmJWfxQ3uAAkj_jCXwPuw/s1600/IMG_2614.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Rd_orIjTh3M/VugZ6zz2OAI/AAAAAAAACbs/XxHP0v9yAUIVFmJWfxQ3uAAkj_jCXwPuw/s320/IMG_2614.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JNVcOvfAGHQ/VugZ7Cj-l5I/AAAAAAAACbw/pfK-uol2228IuFkFmv7A3C8-HqhITkN7g/s1600/IMG_2635%2B-%2BCopy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JNVcOvfAGHQ/VugZ7Cj-l5I/AAAAAAAACbw/pfK-uol2228IuFkFmv7A3C8-HqhITkN7g/s320/IMG_2635%2B-%2BCopy.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ipDsHOmVgZA/VugZ7Ho2BuI/AAAAAAAACb4/OH6agNI0EBwtVOLkQ5BJ1EcZUXlzBDABw/s1600/IMG_2645%2B-%2BCopy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ipDsHOmVgZA/VugZ7Ho2BuI/AAAAAAAACb4/OH6agNI0EBwtVOLkQ5BJ1EcZUXlzBDABw/s320/IMG_2645%2B-%2BCopy.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vE421GSPCIE/VugZ798HqdI/AAAAAAAACb8/haRhtXaIFuUsixj_JdFfIgQL61DjE79pA/s1600/IMG_2875.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vE421GSPCIE/VugZ798HqdI/AAAAAAAACb8/haRhtXaIFuUsixj_JdFfIgQL61DjE79pA/s320/IMG_2875.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4fk7neBar3o/VugZ8fyAcJI/AAAAAAAACcA/4w5Spsv7MYMkUQ0vcqgHAMUcC7kODkazw/s1600/IMG_3012.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4fk7neBar3o/VugZ8fyAcJI/AAAAAAAACcA/4w5Spsv7MYMkUQ0vcqgHAMUcC7kODkazw/s320/IMG_3012.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wuQ3AC4xrkU/VugZ8bURTmI/AAAAAAAACcI/IHrOo8LKilQO-_taaWbjwcFTSpoiRtmqg/s1600/IMG_3190.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wuQ3AC4xrkU/VugZ8bURTmI/AAAAAAAACcI/IHrOo8LKilQO-_taaWbjwcFTSpoiRtmqg/s320/IMG_3190.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9Kr9jCd1lwU/VugZ8VWpV1I/AAAAAAAACcE/fCbcUxoLqPkgOFoxYbgySuBE66oAho0uA/s1600/IMG_3234.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9Kr9jCd1lwU/VugZ8VWpV1I/AAAAAAAACcE/fCbcUxoLqPkgOFoxYbgySuBE66oAho0uA/s320/IMG_3234.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AV12F3nTcyM/VugZ8yNmolI/AAAAAAAACcM/meVmNTOteJYExlYSaC-oeHeC2ag2ujVxQ/s1600/IMG_3324.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AV12F3nTcyM/VugZ8yNmolI/AAAAAAAACcM/meVmNTOteJYExlYSaC-oeHeC2ag2ujVxQ/s320/IMG_3324.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VuJu-6mTKDU/VugZ9N3Q3_I/AAAAAAAACcQ/A1Dwoie940glqHz2E25WORe-RElVLfs6A/s1600/IMG_3404.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VuJu-6mTKDU/VugZ9N3Q3_I/AAAAAAAACcQ/A1Dwoie940glqHz2E25WORe-RElVLfs6A/s320/IMG_3404.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YBwY24ynyMs/VugZ9R5-6XI/AAAAAAAACcU/FoYYKWCPYOEx-JCnOK0HirxZ8Pu4gpGYQ/s1600/IMG_3487.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YBwY24ynyMs/VugZ9R5-6XI/AAAAAAAACcU/FoYYKWCPYOEx-JCnOK0HirxZ8Pu4gpGYQ/s320/IMG_3487.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />Amanda Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02569490920296364157noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-254912945443110952.post-50254583814642033112015-06-27T05:41:00.002-07:002015-07-06T10:02:48.724-07:0011 things I've learned since starting a small business<ol>
<li style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS'; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;"></span><b>I use way more hashtags than I care to admit</b>... because, #marketinng!</li>
<li style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS'; margin: 0px;"><b style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">I am now that annoying person on Facebook </b><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">(sorry guys, I’m trying not to flood your newsfeed with events and posts from our business… I know you are looking for pictures of puppies, babies and buzzfeed listicles).</span></li>
<li style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS'; margin: 0px;"><b style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">There is an unhealthy correlation between my feelings of self-worth and the number of new "likes" our page receives in a day. </b><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">Hey, admitting you have a problem is step one, right?</span></li>
<li style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS'; margin: 0px;"><b style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">Friends are incredible resources</b><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;"> with seemingly infinite skills and talents you may not have even known about (like graphic design, web design, video editing, photography, race organization knowledge, local permit requirements, just to name a few)</span></li>
<li style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS'; margin: 0px;"><b style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">Friends & family members will do almost anything to support your small business, just shy of tattooing “our friends’ small business is THE BEST”</b><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;"> across their chest- and let’s be real, there are even a few who might do that… </span></li>
<li style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS'; margin: 0px;"><b style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">Oh em gee, I have a network?!</b><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;"> I remember how desperate I felt to “make connections” after college because everyone stressed the importance of networking. Now, at 28, I am astounded by the network that has organically woven itself around me. All my bright, goofy, outgoing, fun-loving and talented peers are becoming successful entrepreneurs, academics, government officials and business professionals. </span></li>
<li style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS'; margin: 0px;"><b style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">I’ve learned the value of a dollar.</b><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;"> It took months of hard work, planning, investment, anxiety and self-doubt before we finally used our Square app for the first time. I will never buy another sub sandwich or coffee without thinking twice again.</span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;"> </span></li>
<li style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS'; margin: 0px;"><b style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">Warning: the people working at Square,Inc will do nothing to alleviate your start-up anxiety.</b><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;"> Speaking of number 7, just a heads up- if you purchase a square app, the square app people will send you bi-weekly emails saying things like, <em>“we’ve noticed you aren’t using your square app</em>” and </span><i style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">“is there anything we can do to help you get started with your square app?”</i><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;"> right up until you finally process that first payment….</span></li>
<li style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS'; margin: 0px;"><b style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">Technology has made entrepreneurship a viable option for young people with limited resources. </b><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">At every turn, there has been an app, website service, meet-up group, or online company available to meet our small business needs. From marketing, payment processing, and online scheduling to hosting a race, finding sponsors, connecting with consumers, and finding local printing companies, technology has altered the capital requirements that would normally be a significant barrier to young people trying to enter the market.</span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;"> </span></li>
<li style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS'; margin: 0px;"><b style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">People are good, kind and generous.</b><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;"> We have been overwhelmed by the kindness and support of the community, strangers, clients, other businesses in Duluth and of course, our friends and family. (Have I mentioned how much this process has revealed to me about the awesomeness of my friends?)</span></li>
<li style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS'; margin: 0px;"><b style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">Go for it. </b><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">Ideas are a dime a dozen- for all your great ideas, there are one hundred others with the same great idea. Be the rare person who takes a risk and acts. Don’t be afraid to pursue that wild idea you’ve been contemplating for the past few years- all the world will conspire to help you succeed.</span></li>
</ol>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS'; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 36px; min-height: 12px; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">“When a person really desires something, all the universe conspires to help that person to realize his dream.” </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">― </span><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/566.Paulo_Coelho" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">Paulo Coelho</a><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">, </span><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/work/quotes/4835472" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;"><i>The Alchemist</i></a><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;"> </span></div>
<br />
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS'; min-height: 12px; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">“All The Woulda-Coulda-Shouldas</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">Layin’ In The Sun,</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">Talkin’ ‘Bout The Things</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">They Woulda-Coulda-Shoulda Done…</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">But All Those Woulda-Coulda-Shouldas</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">All Ran Away And Hid</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">From One Little Did.” – Shel Silverstein, </span><i style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">Falling Up</i></div>
<br />
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS'; font-size: 11px; min-height: 12px;">
<b></b><br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS'; font-size: 11px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 36px; min-height: 12px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS'; font-size: 11px; margin-left: 36px; min-height: 12px;">
<b></b><br /></div>
<br />
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; min-height: 14px;">
<br /></div>
Amanda Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02569490920296364157noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-254912945443110952.post-23036296896550034282015-04-26T10:24:00.001-07:002015-04-26T10:24:23.309-07:00SUPerior Paddle- Rentals, Delivery and Adventure on the North Shore<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
Some exciting news! We decided to share our love of the outdoors with friends visiting the lovely shores of Gitchi Gumi through stand up paddle boarding (SUP). We will offer a variety of services, from inflatable boards and hard boards, to guided tours, yoga, and paddle board delivery. Over the past year we've had so much fun paddling with friends, and introducing them to the grandeur of the north shore from the vantage point of a board, that we wanted to share this unique experience to those less familiar with the area and the sport of paddle boarding.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
The inflatable boards are great for a number of reasons. If you don't want to deal with the the hassle of strapping boards on top of your vehicle, the inflatable boards are ideal. The inflatable boards fit into pound backpack you can easily throw into your trunk. For the more adventurous folks, the inflatable boards are great for hike-in campsites and paddling in more remote locations along the lake. The boards take about 5 min to inflate, and another 5 to deflate and roll up. They look, feel and operate just like a hardboard, with all the perks of easy transportation.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
We'll also offer guided paddles, outdoor yoga classes followed by an hour paddle and other fun events- calendar coming soon. For more info, check out our website at www.superiorpaddle.com or check out our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/superiorpaddle.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
We hope to see you! Stand Up Paddleboarding (SUP) is really amazing on the big lake. The water is deep and clear, offering amazing views into the depths below as you paddle alongside cliffs. We have countless suggestions for great paddles, places to stay, hikes along the way to your destination and places to grab a bite.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
I imagine I'll keep y'all posted on the progress as we get our little business rolling. The boards arrive this week, and we can't wait!!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--hoIyG8GfLw/VT0TjR3t63I/AAAAAAAACU0/LZAmxucblnU/s1600/pb17.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--hoIyG8GfLw/VT0TjR3t63I/AAAAAAAACU0/LZAmxucblnU/s1600/pb17.jpg" height="198" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OrmPYMFAyfk/VT0Tj0SzeeI/AAAAAAAACU4/BLIfk8_jWyc/s1600/pb11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OrmPYMFAyfk/VT0Tj0SzeeI/AAAAAAAACU4/BLIfk8_jWyc/s1600/pb11.jpg" height="232" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nCQq31Rf81w/VT0Tp3WcauI/AAAAAAAACVE/74b_rZ1JcKY/s1600/pb15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nCQq31Rf81w/VT0Tp3WcauI/AAAAAAAACVE/74b_rZ1JcKY/s1600/pb15.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />Amanda Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02569490920296364157noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-254912945443110952.post-18369166123347920862014-12-31T06:23:00.001-08:002014-12-31T06:23:34.651-08:00Drew's 2014 Christmas Letter<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zTvg_1ZH7j0/VKQGiuYYWTI/AAAAAAAACS8/_1ORcgBGI-s/s1600/DSCF1155.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zTvg_1ZH7j0/VKQGiuYYWTI/AAAAAAAACS8/_1ORcgBGI-s/s1600/DSCF1155.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I really hate to start off this year’s Christmas letter with
bad news, but due its magnitude, I simply must. Even now, as I attempt to write
this letter, I can feel my blood run cold and my hands begin to tremble.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But after countless hours of therapy, I now
understand that the first step to healing is to talk about it with the people
you love and trust. So to all of you, my family, friends and loved ones, I
confide in you this most horrid news with the hopes that you can help me to
regain my trust in humanity. Brace yourself now. My Christmas list has been
hacked.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">At first glance, it appeared as if the cyber-criminals that
were responsible for the Target Store credit card scanner data leak were the
culprits behind this grievous crime. However, further investigation showed
signs that the original point of infiltration originated from within the
borders of North Korea. Whatever the case, it was obvious that these devilish
cyber-thugs were attempting to use my Xmas list to undermine the fundamental
meaning of this most glorious and holy of holidays– which, as everyone knows,
is that I receive hundreds of ultra-expensive gifts. Using highly advanced
cyber-trickery, my Xmas list was being hijacked and filled with things like
throw pillows and fancy sheets rather than snowboards and skis. Sixty-inch TVs
and video games were replaced with hand towels and new plates. Even as I
mourned over the idea that Santa would never get my request for a new Fat Tire
Bike, I was struck with an even harder blow. My inside contact at the CIA
Cyber-Terrorism Division uncovered a code within the deepest layers of the
matrix that traced back to an address in Duluth, MN – the very address we just
recently moved to. Then it hit me like a sack full of naughty-kid coal. This
was an inside job from the very beginning. Amanda was the hacker.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">What could possibly motivate a person to do such a thing? To
dedicate 5 years of her life getting close to her victim just to fill a poor
boy’s Xmas list with girly knickknacks? Perhaps it was her desire to furnish
the new home in Duluth we have purchased and will be moving into in January. True,
this new home is much larger than the condo we owned in St. Paul and will
require more furniture. It is also close to Lake Superior, which Amanda hopes
will attract many visitors to fill the spare rooms. And of course, with
visitors comes the need for fancy new bed sheets and hand towels. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Or perhaps Amanda was just overly tired from the stress of
starting a new job and accidently added stuff to my Xmas list rather than her
own? After all, her new job at the Maurices Corporate Headquarters as a real
estate analyst does require using massive amounts of brainpower. She helps to
determine where new stores should be built by analyzing more data than I knew
existed. Maybe, just maybe, her eyes were all loopy after looking at all those
spreadsheets and she just didn’t realize she was editing MY list.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Or was it that she thought that since I’m working as a sheet
metal worker I’d be so tired and cold after a long day outside that she took it
upon herself to ask Santa on my behalf for decorative throw pillows on which to
rest my weary head.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Amanda’s true motivation will forever remain a mystery. Whatever
the case, the holidays are a time for peace and goodwill to all, and so, with
that spirit in mind, Amanda has been pardoned of her holiday hijinks, with only
one stipulation: She has to add a new Fat Tire Bike to HER Christmas list next
year.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! Please come visit us
at our new home 2323 Boland Drive, Duluth MN, 55804. I’ll be more than happy to
share my plush new hand towels with you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Sincerely,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Drew, Amanda, and Loki <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1TbgYVrqE7E/VKQGjzfEh2I/AAAAAAAACTE/-2WbJpBox1k/s1600/DSCF1156.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1TbgYVrqE7E/VKQGjzfEh2I/AAAAAAAACTE/-2WbJpBox1k/s1600/DSCF1156.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />Amanda Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02569490920296364157noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-254912945443110952.post-63341970200609673552014-11-07T07:39:00.002-08:002014-11-07T07:40:01.264-08:00Moving North! Well, I guess this blog might need a new name. Farm Girl in the Far North? Farm Girl on the North Shore? Today is Drew's last day in the office. Below is the email he sent to our coworkers. <br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">To all my dear PropTax friends (and others),<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I have had many significant, life-altering things happen to
me during my life. But I was either too young or too dumb to recognize them as
being significant at the time. I guess I must be getting old, and perhaps my
brain has finally developed beyond the adolescent stage, because this is the
first time in my life that I remember actually stopping to take the time to
think about a decision and how it will impact my life going forward. And I
don’t like it one bit. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">This stopping and thinking about stuff is really hard.
Because now I have to think about how I am going to miss everyone here so much.
And I have to remember all the great things that this division does, and all of
the acts of generosity and kindness that I have witnessed here every day over
the last 7 years. I have to think about if this is the right choice; to
say goodbye to something that has given me so much and to the people that have
become like family. Will I ever find a place like this again? Will I ever find
someone to hire me again? What the heck am I going to do with my life! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">So I am done thinking about it. I will leave the thinking to
the philosophers and those really deep, introspective poet-types. Instead, I am
just going to do what I have always done: savor the past, enjoy the present,
and let the future bring what it will. I’m not worried about it. It’s like my good
buddy Danny Kaye said, “Life is a blank canvas, and you need to throw all
the paint on it you can.” And that’s what I’m going to do, start
splashing paint like I’m Jackson Pollock. Happiness to me is an ever-changing
horizon, the thrill of going around that corner and not knowing what is on the
other side, and those butterflies in your stomach the moment you drop off into
the unknown. And so I’m going to venture down the road and let all those
unknown bumps and curves shape who I am. To what end, only time will tell. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">So that’s it. This is goodbye for now. I am so thankful for
what everyone has done for me, and what they will continue to do for this great
state. I was lucky to be part of it. I wish everyone the best in everything
that they do. If you find yourself in Duluth, look us up and come hang out.
We’ll go jump in the big lake. It’s totally rejuvenating, trust me. Bon voyage!
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">“<i>What is that feeling when you're driving away from
people and they recede on the plain till you see their specks dispersing? -
it's the too-huge world vaulting us, and it's good-bye. But we lean forward to
the next crazy venture beneath the skies.</i>” – Jack Kerouac, <i>On the Road</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wP48p49OtRE/VFzmRJT7ORI/AAAAAAAACR4/jdSq12FWhdQ/s1600/4F9A6849.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wP48p49OtRE/VFzmRJT7ORI/AAAAAAAACR4/jdSq12FWhdQ/s1600/4F9A6849.JPG" height="320" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is the super cool photo the Department took of me to accompany any articles I submitted to assessment magazines.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XfrEvy2Jg8E/VFzmXQzx3tI/AAAAAAAACSA/y0RhhIDpcPw/s1600/SBE7.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XfrEvy2Jg8E/VFzmXQzx3tI/AAAAAAAACSA/y0RhhIDpcPw/s1600/SBE7.jpeg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Angela and I in front of the state seal, the state flag and the American flag on one of the biggest days of the year for my division (State Board of Equalization).</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fzMRhoGsmoM/VFzmd5IHxgI/AAAAAAAACSI/i8VEy34JZVg/s1600/angela%2Bcapitol.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fzMRhoGsmoM/VFzmd5IHxgI/AAAAAAAACSI/i8VEy34JZVg/s1600/angela%2Bcapitol.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I will miss the close proximity to the Capitol. I've enjoyed many lunches on the Capitol Mall and was able to head over to the lawn the day the Marriage Equality Amendment passed. Minnesota is awesome, and I am proud to have been part of the public policy process in some small way. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
Amanda Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02569490920296364157noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-254912945443110952.post-44012162008001370082014-08-14T12:08:00.001-07:002014-08-20T12:25:19.073-07:00TBT: Butterheads old and new<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">One week from today the gates to the Great Minnesota
Get-Together will open wide. Today is also Throwback Thursday. What a great day
to talk about the state fair, and more specifically, butterheads past and
present. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Growing up, my Dad offered to pay us $5 for every
calf we successfully trained. At the time, I thought he was funding our state
fair dreams. In retrospect, I think he greatly valued the amount of time we
spent towing uncooperative calves around the yard “training” them, and as such,
leaving Dad to work in peace. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">For country kids, the fair was, and remains, a <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">very</i> big deal. The fair is the
one week all summer parents allow, and even encourage, their children to spend
time at the fair with their 4-H pals. Of course, a good deal of work is
required to keep their animals well cared for at the fair, but there are plenty
of opportunities for rides, malts, and hijinx as well. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">For a dairy farmer’s daughter, the only dream that
exceeds a Grand Champion Ribbon at the State Fair, is the opportunity to serve
as Princess Kay of the Milky Way. <span style="color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;">To
be eligible to represent the dairy industry as Princess Kay, you must work on
an active dairy farm. Each county sends three young women to compete at the
state level. Some counties have more than three contestants at the county
level; however, the county must narrow it down to three candidates to send to
the statewide competition. Of the 261 eligible candidates, only 12 finalists
are selected to represent the dairy industry at the state fair. The 12 finalists
compete for the title <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Princess Kay of the
Milky Way</i>. They are judged in 7 categories: etiquette, mock media
interview, panel interview, extemporaneous remarks, panel interview, speaking
ability, writing ability, and a one-on-one interview.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Bonnie, my older sister, was a finalist for Princess
Kay in 2001. All 12 finalists have their likeness sculpted into a 90-pound
block of Grade-A butter. The process takes 6-8 hours in a 40 degree, revolving
room. It is a must-see at the fair.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Monotype Corsiva"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-themecolor: text1;">Bonnie: Butterhead ’01 </span></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ypWjdR5CgHk/U-zKkVZlVwI/AAAAAAAACO4/H8xmEPEWeV8/s1600/bonnie's%2Bhead%2B2.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ypWjdR5CgHk/U-zKkVZlVwI/AAAAAAAACO4/H8xmEPEWeV8/s1600/bonnie's%2Bhead%2B2.bmp" height="251" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">I was lucky enough to be a finalist in 2006. I was
not selected as Princess Kay, but I did receive an ice cream cone charm made of
Swarovski crystal, which is basically the next best thing, am I right? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Monotype Corsiva"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-themecolor: text1;">Amanda: Butterhead ‘06</span></b><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Monotype Corsiva"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-themecolor: text1;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AfNFL9VVPMM/U-0JwHgKFUI/AAAAAAAACPw/4ZZ9AtYrmNs/s1600/bh2.bmp" height="320" width="289" /></span></b></div>
</div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
</span><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;">
</div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
<br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-themecolor: text1;">
For three blissful years, the butter avatars coexisted in a freezer in my
parent’s basement. Yes, my parents actually bought an extra freezer to store
all 180 pounds of buttery goodness.<o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
I had big plans for our butterheads. It was a long-term plan. Very
long-term. I wanted to save our butterheads just in case my younger sisters
followed in our footsteps and brought home their very own malleable statues.
When Bonnie was crowned in 2001, our youngest sister Katrina was only two years
old. As I said, long-term. Anyway, my big idea was to put all four butterheads
together- a Mount Rushmore of sorts. For good measure, I thought we could put
Santa hats on the heads and send out the most epic Christmas Card of all time!
It would read, "Hope you have a Dairy Good Year!" <o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
But alas, my sisters did not share my dream. More importantly, my parents
did not support the idea of purchasing another freezer to warehouse
butterheads. So the day after Bonnie's wedding in 2009 we had a giant corn feed
and butter Bonnie bit the dust. In 2012, I followed suit the day after our
wedding. I was <strong>not</strong> happy about it. <o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-themecolor: text1;">While it may be too
late to create a Mount Thoemore Christmas Card, my younger sister McCayla is a
finalist for Princess Kay this year. We are all so thrilled and excited to see
her pursue this childhood dream. Princess Kay will be crowned next Wednesday,
the night before the State Fair opens. Regardless of the coutcome, McCayla will
always be my little Dairy Princess! XOXO Sista! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
</span> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><br />
</span><br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;">
<strong><em><span style="font-family: Georgia;">McCayla Thoe: Butterhead Coming 2014</span></em></strong></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-inRZRwFv8eA/U-zK5ucmoSI/AAAAAAAACPM/Q0GIJdvuNUU/s1600/Mac%2Bagrinews%2B1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-inRZRwFv8eA/U-zK5ucmoSI/AAAAAAAACPM/Q0GIJdvuNUU/s1600/Mac%2Bagrinews%2B1.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2ARo_0VqtZg/U-zK5etcp0I/AAAAAAAACPQ/V4V0XQ3Iw5s/s1600/Mac%2BAgrinews%2B2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2ARo_0VqtZg/U-zK5etcp0I/AAAAAAAACPQ/V4V0XQ3Iw5s/s1600/Mac%2BAgrinews%2B2.jpg" height="285" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1Tpf-eKz5Qc/U-zK5bjMsJI/AAAAAAAACPI/Gm0zS0iXhSM/s1600/Mac%2Bagrinews%2B3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1Tpf-eKz5Qc/U-zK5bjMsJI/AAAAAAAACPI/Gm0zS0iXhSM/s1600/Mac%2Bagrinews%2B3.jpg" height="255" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RS1Bg3Q5_Zc/U-zK6pRIeUI/AAAAAAAACPc/zopNu1sM9aI/s1600/McCayla%2Bwith%2BFountain.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RS1Bg3Q5_Zc/U-zK6pRIeUI/AAAAAAAACPc/zopNu1sM9aI/s1600/McCayla%2Bwith%2BFountain.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-themecolor: text1;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span> </div>
Amanda Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02569490920296364157noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-254912945443110952.post-49064272295984588632013-12-31T12:31:00.002-08:002013-12-31T12:31:57.924-08:00Drew's 2013 Christmas Letter
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.5pt;">The
day was November 9, almost three full weeks before the Thanksgiving Holiday
even took place, when I opened up the trunk of our car and discovered it was
crammed full of Christmas decorations. I thought to myself, “surely Amanda
plans on storing these decorations in here until after Thanksgiving.” I
discovered how wrong I was moments later when my dear wife, with a look of
holiday-induced fanaticism on her face, anxiously informed me that we had to
hurry up and get the decorations up post-haste and while I’m at it I better get
started on our annual Christmas letter. “Geez” I thought to myself, “how can I
start our Xmas letter when there are still practically two months left until
Xmas and a lot could happen between now and then – <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>like I could get a motorcycle and take it on a
cross-country trip to Seattle where I would trade it for a small sailing skiff
which I would use to sail across the ocean to Tahiti where I would trade it for
a surfboard and become famous for surfing the biggest wave ever.” I was about
to express these concerns to Amanda when I looked into her big beautiful blue
eyes and became acutely aware that if her eyes could speak they would say
something along the lines of, “I dare you to argue with me, chump.” “Yes dear,
I’ll get started right away” I said. You learn a lot in your first year of
marriage.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.5pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.5pt;">And
it has been a great first year. First and foremost, Amanda graduated and
received her Master’s degree in Applied Economics from the University of
Minnesota. Her program was very grueling and stressful and when it was
completed we not only celebrated her great accomplishment, but the fact that
she would be able to live a normal life again. I wish I was able to tell you
more about what she studied, but the extent of my knowledge concerning the
intricacies of applied economics is that it involves some impossible form of
mathematics brought to Earth by space-aliens in an attempt to make our puny
human heads explode. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.5pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.5pt;">While
Amanda was advancing her career opportunities by becoming more educated, I was
trying to strike it rich with a new business venture I learned about on the
backstreets of St. Paul. It’s called Pedal Cabbing (or bike taxis if you
prefer). Basically, I ride a bike with a giant bench seat around town and try
to pick up people that are too inebriated to walk. The “striking it rich” part
hasn’t quite come to fruition like one would imagine it would, but it has been
good exercise and entertaining to say the least. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.5pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.5pt;">We
also got a new dog named after the Norse god of mischief, Loki. So far he has
lived up to his name. His favorite game is stealthily breaking into our closet
to steal our socks. I don’t appreciate this game as much as he does because I
am already perpetually suffering from a severe shortage of socks. Our dog
trainer told us to put hot-sauce on the socks in an attempt to deter this
behavior, but I don’t like this either because the hot sauce burns my feet. I
think the secret is to not wear the socks. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.5pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.5pt;">We
also did a bit of traveling this year. Most notable would be our trip to Nova
Scotia. Why Nova Scotia you ask? Well, we saw it on the cover of a magazine
once and it looked nice. What other reason do you need, really? It turned out
to be a great trip. We kayaked through uncomfortably large swells in the Bay of
Fundy and camped in secluded coves right on the ocean; we boiled fresh lobster
in the very saltwater from whence it came; we went whale-watching on a Zodiac
raft that went 10,000 nautical miles-per-hour and when the maniacal captain
wasn’t doing his best to launch us out of the raft we got so close to the
whales that I could have dropped a marble right down their blowhole; we had a
close encounter with a giant bull moose; and we met amazingly nice people who
were more than eager to invite complete strangers (us) to their homes to help
ourselves to their woodpile. In the end, we did not want to bid farewell to
Nova Scotia. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.5pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.5pt;">There
was also a little trip down to Charleston, South Carolina with our younger
sister, McCayla. We took the trip because Amanda can do space-alien math and
some other smart people wanted to hear her speak about smart stuff at a big
conference for smart people down there. While Amanda was hanging out with those
nerds, McCayla and I hit up the beaches. The first day on the beach I did some
surfing and some sun burning. McCayla did some tanning and some laughing at my freakishly
red skin. The following days McCayla continued to do some tanning while I hid
from the sun underneath fishing piers like some grotesque ghoul muttering in
the shadows about how much I loathed everyone with bronze skin. When Amanda was
done with the conference we all had a good time paddle-boarding with dolphins, playing
in the waves, touring a “haunted” Civil War era prison, and generally enjoying
Charleston’s old-south charm.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.5pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.5pt;">We
did some other stuff too, but I won’t bore you with those details. Okay, maybe
just a little. The Alaskan Imes’ made their way down to the Lower 48, so we
enjoyed time spent with them. We were also blessed with a new nephew, Lane. He
is a real cool dude, but I will let his folks, Bonnie and TJ, tell you more
about him. What else? Oh yes, we started a book club in which we meet with
friends to have very loud, ultra-dorky conversations about the books we read.
As for the future, I will be coaching a snowboard team again this winter and
Amanda will continue to rock out in her new band, Adults on Bikes. We still work
together at the Minnesota Department of Revenue because we just can’t get
enough of each other. Who knows, maybe I can even convince her to jump on the
back of that motorcycle with me. We’ll be in Tahiti in no time. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.5pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.5pt;">---<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Merry Christmas to you and all your loved
ones </i></span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Drew and Amanda Imes</span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
Amanda Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02569490920296364157noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-254912945443110952.post-45510685614874594942013-12-04T14:10:00.000-08:002013-12-04T14:10:15.444-08:00The Perfect Christmas Tree IIFootage from our second-annual Christmas Tree Quest with the Austin Family! <br />
<br />
Here's the link: <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uBTIOA_eO9U" target="_blank">The Perfect Christmas Tree II</a>Amanda Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02569490920296364157noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-254912945443110952.post-64642298659278465322013-12-03T14:27:00.002-08:002013-12-03T14:27:56.274-08:00Thanksgiving 2013<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays. All you have to do is show up in some elastic wasted pants, eat until you physically feel ill and enjoy the company of family and friends. That is, unless you are hosting. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">This was the second year I “hosted” Thanksgiving. I’m using quotes here because this year we were at my Mom and Dad’s house, so I co-hosted with my mom this year. My primary responsibility was to take care of the meal essentials (turkey, mashed potatoes, gravy, stuffing etc) and my mom took care of everything else. (My mom is pretty awesome like that.)</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">My favorite part of hosting is decorating the table. It’s the time of year you can really whip out all the things from your wedding registry and put them to good use! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Last year, I went a little crazy and carved out dozens of tiny pumpkins and turned them into candles. It made for very romantic lighting but was also a major fire hazard. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FeRyPXvoXYA/Up5XtDrct-I/AAAAAAAACKw/-gvSSC5oacI/s1600/photo+2+(2).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FeRyPXvoXYA/Up5XtDrct-I/AAAAAAAACKw/-gvSSC5oacI/s320/photo+2+(2).JPG" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<br />
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5RDD_uoG3jk/Up5YDHLgXNI/AAAAAAAACK4/QvR-DvFvDX0/s1600/photo+4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">This year, my mom and I had a great time mixing and matching her place settings with some things from my house. We used two table cloths from Grandma Luker. We used my mom’s china and silver place settings with my chargers. The mix of new with old was a little different but somehow still worked. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5RDD_uoG3jk/Up5YDHLgXNI/AAAAAAAACK8/ZSHTVdInap4/s1600/photo+4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5RDD_uoG3jk/Up5YDHLgXNI/AAAAAAAACK8/ZSHTVdInap4/s320/photo+4.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">I was extremely lucky last year and somehow, the timing of everything worked out perfectly so I naively thought, “wow, hosting Thanksgiving is such a cinch! I can definitely do that again!” This year, things didn’t go quite so smoothly. I over-roasted the garlic (see: burned) and dumped it into the mashed potatoes anyway. As they say, a little garlic goes a long way, but I forgot that little piece of advice so the potatoes were very-very-garlicky. As in, none of us need to worry about vampires for a few months. The stuffing turned out great- all four varieties! Once again, I went a little overboard on the stuffing… but everyone likes leftovers so no problems there. I drove 45 miles one way to pick up these rolls from my favorite place, Omar's Café in West Concord, MN. Totally, completely worth every mile.... mmmm.... </span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tadapUe5I6Y/Up5YpveU4BI/AAAAAAAACLA/7nFas7sW_Ts/s1600/photo+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tadapUe5I6Y/Up5YpveU4BI/AAAAAAAACLA/7nFas7sW_Ts/s320/photo+2.JPG" width="240" /></a></span></div>
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Both years I’ve used the <a href="http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/2010/10/my-favorite-turkey-brine/" target="_blank">brine recipe from Pioneer Woman</a> (basically bay leaves, rosemary, apple cider, garlic, brown sugar, pepper and orange rind). After I pull the bird out of the brine, I lather it up with a mixture of soft butter, rosemary, sage and thyme. The real key is to lather the bird under the skin. Both years this has made for a very moist and delicious bird! I probably left it in for a bit too long this year, but it was still yummy. Unfortunately, the timing wasn’t great. Guests arrived but I wasn’t ready for about half an hour. The mashed potatoes had cooled a bit and the turkey didn’t have ample time to cool before we carved it. I guess the timing is one of those elusive things that sometimes you are able to nail and other years you totally botch. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JR_JdJnXvlE/Up5YzYd3gYI/AAAAAAAACLI/bz0Vchku7DI/s1600/photo+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JR_JdJnXvlE/Up5YzYd3gYI/AAAAAAAACLI/bz0Vchku7DI/s320/photo+1.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">All-in-all I just want to reflect on the new appreciation I have for the people in my life that have hosted countless holiday meals without a flaw. Candace Ryan and Jim Luker stand out where hosting is concerned. They somehow manage to make you feel completely at home the whole time they were slaving away in the kitchen without ever exhibiting even the slightest sign of stress. Of course my parents and grandparents have also pulled off parties for more than 40 guests year after year. I think you cannot fully appreciate a good host until you’ve attempted to host yourself. So thanks again for all those past parties people! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Here is a cool picture of the amazing apron my mom made me as a hostess gift! (Also my adorable nephew Lane and my sister Bonnie!)</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-l72sNd82nJs/Up5Zj8MasGI/AAAAAAAACLQ/48vebuTh1hA/s1600/photo+4.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-l72sNd82nJs/Up5Zj8MasGI/AAAAAAAACLQ/48vebuTh1hA/s320/photo+4.PNG" width="213" /></a></div>
<br />
</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Unfortunately, I do not have the same grace as the hosts listed above. It is safe to say that I definitely show signs of stress and anxiety throughout the entire process. This year, my dad and Bonnie helped me remove the turkey from the brine, lather it in butter, insert the stuffing and place in the roaster. My dad kept telling me to relax and at one point Bonnie told a story that I completely ignored and my dad suggested I work on my listening skills. “This is NOT the time to relax or to listen to stories, if anyone should be listening, you should be listening to my instructions!” I retorted! (See, I’m a hostzilla, a turkey monster!) I apologized and everyone forgave me because deep-down they sort of knew I was half-right. Later my grandma even took my side, saying that getting the turkey into the oven on time is not a good time to relax. </span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">I am pretty pumped to be ‘into the fold’ or ‘in the big leagues’ or a quasi-real-adult- however you want to say it. I guess I’m a grown up now and I think it’s pretty awesome and fun. Roasting turkeys, setting tables and getting jazzed up about things like a perfect pie crust. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">One last pic of my slightly burned turkey just for fun! Now... on to xmas! </span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-itnpkxTzCMY/Up5ZzSqdRPI/AAAAAAAACLY/GFrGBboEowc/s1600/photo+3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-itnpkxTzCMY/Up5ZzSqdRPI/AAAAAAAACLY/GFrGBboEowc/s320/photo+3.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
</div>
Amanda Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02569490920296364157noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-254912945443110952.post-24183776434847272152013-10-14T05:19:00.000-07:002013-10-14T05:21:59.962-07:00Lefse- A Norwegian Family Tradition<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">On Sunday the women of the Thoe family gathered to practice
the time-honored tradition of making lefse. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Our great-aunts have been making lefse for family
gatherings, the church bizarre and <span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">smörgåsbords</span><span lang="EN"> </span>for years. When
we put together the lefse party, we didn’t realize that my great-aunt Martha’s lefse
is something of a legend, and her recipe a well-kept family secret.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I headed to Grandma’s house on Saturday night to boil and
rice the potatoes. Grandma filled me in on Martha’s prowess in the art of
Scandinavian culinary delights. I then suggested that we could use our lefse at
the family thanksgiving, but Grandma didn’t know if our lefse would be suitable
to serve guests. I started to sense that I was in over my head… <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">
We all gathered the next day, added the flour and started rolling balls. The
aunts started to discuss the going-rate of lefse over the years. They figured
$1.25 was the current rate for a package of 3 lefse rolls, but they also
acknowledged that really good lefse could go for $1 apiece. After our first few
attempts, Connie remarked, “Well you wouldn’t get a dollar for that one!” </span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">It was a really wonderful day, and Michelle and I have high
hopes that someday soon we will be able to make lefse suitable to serve to
guests!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Bonnie made an awesome video of the day, you can watch it
here: </span><a href="http://youtu.be/bHupFZ7dGCg"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">Lefse- A Norwegian Family Tradition</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
Thanks Grandma, Loretta, Connie & Martha for such a great day! xo<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-KRDtysjDdpk/UlKkaSUEQ7I/AAAAAAAACJA/7SblbI2tMDM/s640/blogger-image--1848251860.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-KRDtysjDdpk/UlKkaSUEQ7I/AAAAAAAACJA/7SblbI2tMDM/s200/blogger-image--1848251860.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-WCeY8_-n6PE/UlKmxGrM4OI/AAAAAAAACJM/1fydlerhgw0/s640/blogger-image--422936593.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-WCeY8_-n6PE/UlKmxGrM4OI/AAAAAAAACJM/1fydlerhgw0/s320/blogger-image--422936593.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-I67Zm7muVYA/UlKiqwciVyI/AAAAAAAACIk/Wmv97OdHbXk/s640/blogger-image--1222062929.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-I67Zm7muVYA/UlKiqwciVyI/AAAAAAAACIk/Wmv97OdHbXk/s640/blogger-image--1222062929.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-bfctVUXuGHw/UlKm7DEPbcI/AAAAAAAACJc/1vyFDKU0sGY/s640/blogger-image-864946556.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-bfctVUXuGHw/UlKm7DEPbcI/AAAAAAAACJc/1vyFDKU0sGY/s640/blogger-image-864946556.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-A4XZiVQcuVs/UlKiw7KTKrI/AAAAAAAACIs/MRhWk0KsODA/s640/blogger-image-1376243870.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-A4XZiVQcuVs/UlKiw7KTKrI/AAAAAAAACIs/MRhWk0KsODA/s640/blogger-image-1376243870.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-SyBlOEz0ZF8/UlKm19HmQ8I/AAAAAAAACJU/_uJDJOn1kPw/s640/blogger-image--1581349198.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-SyBlOEz0ZF8/UlKm19HmQ8I/AAAAAAAACJU/_uJDJOn1kPw/s640/blogger-image--1581349198.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-XX9ywpV5op0/UlKkT3OTjxI/AAAAAAAACI4/M5Tr4EFrk4w/s640/blogger-image-2049733786.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-XX9ywpV5op0/UlKkT3OTjxI/AAAAAAAACI4/M5Tr4EFrk4w/s640/blogger-image-2049733786.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-xRW9hwswvjg/UlKm_36HsTI/AAAAAAAACJk/x3XRAJibh10/s640/blogger-image-41724264.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-xRW9hwswvjg/UlKm_36HsTI/AAAAAAAACJk/x3XRAJibh10/s640/blogger-image-41724264.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-S9w8R4EcZGs/UlKqkfMDsZI/AAAAAAAACJw/SaFV_6iq-nI/s640/blogger-image--1440859360.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-S9w8R4EcZGs/UlKqkfMDsZI/AAAAAAAACJw/SaFV_6iq-nI/s640/blogger-image--1440859360.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-LLaYoytjOC8/UlKvYEJKg3I/AAAAAAAACJ8/1jcMlhH5CkE/s640/blogger-image--427665363.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-LLaYoytjOC8/UlKvYEJKg3I/AAAAAAAACJ8/1jcMlhH5CkE/s640/blogger-image--427665363.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ocyq5bvDgqM/UlafufUbA8I/AAAAAAAACKM/iSfhpxsFlw0/s640/blogger-image--2040118572.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a> </div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-BFvLUR7kvpw/Ulafy6acSXI/AAAAAAAACKU/W7dJopp_0TA/s640/blogger-image-594074664.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-BFvLUR7kvpw/Ulafy6acSXI/AAAAAAAACKU/W7dJopp_0TA/s640/blogger-image-594074664.jpg" /></a></div>
Amanda Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02569490920296364157noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-254912945443110952.post-91421304086076513562013-09-15T12:49:00.002-07:002013-09-15T12:49:59.761-07:00Nova Scotia<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-J9zN6JlePPY/Uh9gAKW1qdI/AAAAAAAACDI/0IDQ8RpjZeQ/s1600/IMG_1968.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="138" osa="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-J9zN6JlePPY/Uh9gAKW1qdI/AAAAAAAACDI/0IDQ8RpjZeQ/s640/IMG_1968.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">A little overdue, but I wanted to put a recap of our trip to Nova Scotia together. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">We arrived in Halifax late on the 5<sup>th</sup> and began our adventure bright and early on the 6<sup>th</sup>. We headed out in our little Fiat toward the Bay of Fundy. Almost immediately we were enchanted with the charms of Nova Scotia, a place where you can eat lobster at almost any restaurant, even at the local McDonald’s. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2gvPg0OwbI4/UjX95vwlNZI/AAAAAAAACEk/0lrZVkUemww/s1600/photo-1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2gvPg0OwbI4/UjX95vwlNZI/AAAAAAAACEk/0lrZVkUemww/s200/photo-1.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">We made it to the quaint little town of Five Islands on the Minas Basin by 9 am and decided to pull into the Five Islands Provincial Park. When we arrived the coast was blanketed in fog, but luckily the fog lifted about a mile into our hike. We had a great hike to the Red <o:p></o:p></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Calibri;">Head and were reluctant to leave before the free clam digging lessons.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7EMEhe7WKZk/UjX-jVa5u9I/AAAAAAAACEs/SoBMA74lPzM/s1600/photo-3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7EMEhe7WKZk/UjX-jVa5u9I/AAAAAAAACEs/SoBMA74lPzM/s320/photo-3.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">We then continued down the coast, stopping at Spencer’s Island to visit the Mary Celeste lighthouse. The lighthouse was<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>named for a very famous ship that was found floating, completely intact, without a soul onboard in December 1872. Our final stop before reaching Advoucate Harbour was at the Cape D’or Lighthouse. While the road that takes you out to the Cape is a bit treacherous at times, the views from the lighthouse were breathtaking. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EJlswnARZvg/Uh9gBvzHkTI/AAAAAAAACDQ/-HAxkydE8Hk/s1600/DSCF1704.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" osa="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EJlswnARZvg/Uh9gBvzHkTI/AAAAAAAACDQ/-HAxkydE8Hk/s320/DSCF1704.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BpHKOa8p5zA/UjYEC5SsThI/AAAAAAAACGU/eo_u_j68epY/s1600/photo-15.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="138" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BpHKOa8p5zA/UjYEC5SsThI/AAAAAAAACGU/eo_u_j68epY/s640/photo-15.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Cybh6QpXCLo/UjYD_FN9lDI/AAAAAAAACF8/DINKwmr81-8/s1600/photo-12.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Cybh6QpXCLo/UjYD_FN9lDI/AAAAAAAACF8/DINKwmr81-8/s320/photo-12.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Finally, we made our way to Advoucate, where we planned to spend our first night. At the gas station we asked if we could buy some wood for a campfire. The sales clerk looked at us in confused astonishment and then simply said, “well, if you go to the beach wood is free.” We paid for our things and as we were leaving she came bursting out to tell us that we should just stop by her house if we couldn’t find any wood on the beach. Nova Scotians are really, really nice.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">We left the gas station and headed to a little campsite and asked if we could buy some wood. She gave us a smirk and said, "well, I shouldn't be telling you this, but you can camp on the beach for free and there's plenty of wood along the beach!" We camped out on the beach the first night and made a fire out of driftwood. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CxtbbGCLYbo/UjYEBz5FTpI/AAAAAAAACGM/LMepMBP18Js/s1600/photo-14.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CxtbbGCLYbo/UjYEBz5FTpI/AAAAAAAACGM/LMepMBP18Js/s320/photo-14.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The next morning we made our way to the Cape Chignecto Provincial Park to meet our kayaking crew, Nova Shores Sea Kayaking Adventures. The road to Cape Chignetco is also a bit treachorous at times, but worth the drive. our kayaking adventure was wonderful. The paddle was difficult and at times the waves were quite large, which made for a really fun trip. We kayaked past the three sisters, pictured below. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mQVY92wooJU/UjYD2dIKyQI/AAAAAAAACFE/jEd6f8BsvL4/s1600/photo-5.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mQVY92wooJU/UjYD2dIKyQI/AAAAAAAACFE/jEd6f8BsvL4/s320/photo-5.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kayaking past the Three Sisters.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-p0XvVd5e-gU/UjYD3tCSJoI/AAAAAAAACFM/uEEr9NyF0pw/s1600/photo-6.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-p0XvVd5e-gU/UjYD3tCSJoI/AAAAAAAACFM/uEEr9NyF0pw/s320/photo-6.JPG" width="240" /></a></span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-D5kM0zDa2r8/UjYD6LupcgI/AAAAAAAACFc/XfiHJGzv2k0/s1600/photo-8.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-D5kM0zDa2r8/UjYD6LupcgI/AAAAAAAACFc/XfiHJGzv2k0/s320/photo-8.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pHW062eOhjo/UjYD7wYQm8I/AAAAAAAACFk/8kO5Px0aSh8/s1600/photo-9.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pHW062eOhjo/UjYD7wYQm8I/AAAAAAAACFk/8kO5Px0aSh8/s320/photo-9.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Beach Picnic prepared by our guides.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xcreqaL8LL4/UjYD-XRN0AI/AAAAAAAACF0/d_vfmls_zWk/s1600/photo-10.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xcreqaL8LL4/UjYD-XRN0AI/AAAAAAAACF0/d_vfmls_zWk/s320/photo-10.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A restroom with a view at Cape Chignetco Provincial Park.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_8g21hdy6Vw/UjYD-Lcsc5I/AAAAAAAACFs/EWkt3FdQNSs/s1600/photo-11.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_8g21hdy6Vw/UjYD-Lcsc5I/AAAAAAAACFs/EWkt3FdQNSs/s320/photo-11.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The beach at Cape Chignetco Provincial Park.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-B47bURgzNKw/Uh9gDdgPSuI/AAAAAAAACDg/ZredFkxwN8c/s1600/DSCF1784.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" osa="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-B47bURgzNKw/Uh9gDdgPSuI/AAAAAAAACDg/ZredFkxwN8c/s200/DSCF1784.JPG" width="200" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"> That evening, we met up with our kayaking group on the driftwood beach. We enjoyed lobsters boiled in saltwater right on the beach. That evening, we headed back up the road a bit and camped in a cove on the ocean. </span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EFYW8oiMRH4/UjYEG5QfYEI/AAAAAAAACGk/8IGkpmxAccE/s1600/photo-16.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="246" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EFYW8oiMRH4/UjYEG5QfYEI/AAAAAAAACGk/8IGkpmxAccE/s320/photo-16.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VQmY1QhfG6c/UjYEJKQDTII/AAAAAAAACGs/pu3H9E-AKkY/s1600/photo-17.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VQmY1QhfG6c/UjYEJKQDTII/AAAAAAAACGs/pu3H9E-AKkY/s320/photo-17.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></div>
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mUqdPnAtcX8/Uh9gEXIWCxI/AAAAAAAACDo/UOTThjuRik8/s1600/DSCF1806.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" osa="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mUqdPnAtcX8/Uh9gEXIWCxI/AAAAAAAACDo/UOTThjuRik8/s320/DSCF1806.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YkcFCDirt-k/UjYEAKGdMhI/AAAAAAAACGE/16B83l5TfFI/s1600/photo-13.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YkcFCDirt-k/UjYEAKGdMhI/AAAAAAAACGE/16B83l5TfFI/s320/photo-13.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Campsite #2<br /><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Reluctantly, we left the Bay of Fundy the next morning and made our way up the coast to Cape Bretton Island. We drove the Cabot Trail, stopping frequently to take pictures and enjoyed the view. We made it to the Skyline trail at dusk and debated whether we should risk the hike. We knew the hike would take a few hours and we'd have to hike back in the dark. We decided to go for it and took off down the trail. We devised a master plan in the event of running into a moose (climb the nearest tree as fast as you can). Just a mile into our hike, we entered a clearing and sure enough, a bull moose was munching away not thirty or forty yards away. We froze, unsure of what to do. After standing there silently for about twenty minutes, we finally decided that the moose didn't really care about us so we decided to quietly slip past. We made it to the end of the trail just as the sun set, and were so thankful we decided to make the hike.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-D3Jgw467J3Y/UjYJyCONJDI/AAAAAAAACHE/ZsqqooGhJDU/s1600/photo-18.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-D3Jgw467J3Y/UjYJyCONJDI/AAAAAAAACHE/ZsqqooGhJDU/s320/photo-18.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--Cj49PuxX5E/UjYJynsjJNI/AAAAAAAACHI/1ZuSPdUGz8U/s1600/photo-19.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--Cj49PuxX5E/UjYJynsjJNI/AAAAAAAACHI/1ZuSPdUGz8U/s320/photo-19.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
The next morning, we took a zodiak whale watching tour. We were the only two on the first tour and made the mistake of telling our captain that we had been hiking and camping throughout Nova Scotia. I think he decided we were the adventurous sort that would appreciate a wild ride, and a very wild ride it was indeed... I honestly felt a little afraid that I might fly out of the boat on the 4 mile ride out into bay. We saw dozens of pilot whales, at least ten of which were within an arm's reach at times. For great whale watching, Pleasant Bay is the place to be. There are several whale watching tours, larger boats for families and small zodiacs for other yahoos like us.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-45v1HxRY45Y/UjYJ073SRVI/AAAAAAAACHc/QjSGtGhtC1Y/s1600/photo-21.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-45v1HxRY45Y/UjYJ073SRVI/AAAAAAAACHc/QjSGtGhtC1Y/s320/photo-21.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
After whale watching, we stopped for a dip at Ingonish Beach and took a nice hike out to Middle Head.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-P4ZihReG8no/UjYJ2kC619I/AAAAAAAACHk/T4xFSdPoDF4/s1600/photo-22.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-P4ZihReG8no/UjYJ2kC619I/AAAAAAAACHk/T4xFSdPoDF4/s320/photo-22.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5n420b970-8/UjYJ4ZYCgZI/AAAAAAAACHs/23AKMvvVIcw/s1600/photo-23.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5n420b970-8/UjYJ4ZYCgZI/AAAAAAAACHs/23AKMvvVIcw/s320/photo-23.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Finally, we made our way back to Halifax for our last day. We loved our little rental Fiat, we sure put it through the ringer! In Halifax we enjoyed sea food, poutine, the naval museum and watching the ships come and go. The Maritime Museum of the Atlantic is a must-see in Halifax, as Halifax has been home to several historical maritime incidents. (Rescue ships were sent from Halifax to pick up Titanic survivors and bring home the deceased. In 1917, a French munitions ship accidentally collided with a Norwegian ship, setting off the largest explosion prior to the atomic bomb, devastating the city and killing thousands. There have been 10,000 recorded shipwrecks off the coasts of Nova Scotia, which also makes for some very interesting exhibits and history.) </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
We also took a tour of Keith's brewery. Founded in 1820, the brewery is now one of the oldest commercial breweries in North America. The tour was far from your run-of-the-mill brewery tour. Actors guide you through the brewery and portray the dress and customs of the first patrons of Keith's brewery, thoroughly entertaining you while also providing you very large samples of Keith's ales. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
We were very sorry to say "farewell to Nova Scotia" but we are very certain that we will be back to camp on her shores once again! </div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UHKhitfW_YM/UjYJzOYpUaI/AAAAAAAACHU/_-1_XkV_N-4/s1600/photo-20.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UHKhitfW_YM/UjYJzOYpUaI/AAAAAAAACHU/_-1_XkV_N-4/s320/photo-20.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cleaning up the fiat before returning it to the rental company!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NL6oT_ZOJ0A/UjYJ5qfVUzI/AAAAAAAACH0/Ybeg5wDFC4Y/s1600/photo-24.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NL6oT_ZOJ0A/UjYJ5qfVUzI/AAAAAAAACH0/Ybeg5wDFC4Y/s320/photo-24.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of the actors that led us through Keith's brewery.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-km36WlGo75o/UjYJ7GSp9II/AAAAAAAACH8/LbgKS4Dat3s/s1600/photo-25.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-km36WlGo75o/UjYJ7GSp9II/AAAAAAAACH8/LbgKS4Dat3s/s320/photo-25.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Drew aboard the CSS Acadia, the only ship to survive WWI, WWII and the Halifax explosion of 1917.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AQrFamtmMrE/UjYJ8qYBtlI/AAAAAAAACIE/vVU1rskyYkw/s1600/photo-26.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AQrFamtmMrE/UjYJ8qYBtlI/AAAAAAAACIE/vVU1rskyYkw/s320/photo-26.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Drew, sampling some poutine! </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GYsMEO6CyXI/UegcVMnYOuI/AAAAAAAACCQ/2JrX1zfqNDc/s1600/Capture.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="374" iya="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GYsMEO6CyXI/UegcVMnYOuI/AAAAAAAACCQ/2JrX1zfqNDc/s640/Capture.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our route.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Amanda Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02569490920296364157noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-254912945443110952.post-82405193908800686052013-06-28T14:19:00.001-07:002013-07-02T05:14:59.779-07:00Bonnie's John Deere bridal showerLast Sunday Bonnie had her second (and final) baby shower. We are very fortunate to be able to spend time with our extended family on a regular basis. Four of our great aunts made it to the shower, as well as first and second cousins from both the Aakre (Grandma) and Thoe (Grandpa) side. <br />
<br />
My aunts hosted the shower and they went all out with a John Deere theme. My cousin Clay collected John Deere tractors growing up, so Kari hauled them down from the attic for some adorable centerpieces! <br />
<br />
Lindsay and Miranda grew marigolds in green and yellow tins for centerpieces that doubled as prizes. They also helped their mom put together the diaper cake and John Deere overalls for the bear! <br />
<br />
I was so impressed with the treats they whipped up! They had Rice Krispie "straw bales" and cow cookies on a "pasture" of dyed shredded coconut. They also made adorable personal cheesecakes. <br />
<br />
We played two games. First we had to write names for each letter in John Deere and we received a point for each name that matched Bonnie's list. She made the game tough with names like Napoleon and Holden... We also cut twine we thought would fit around her belly. Most of us were way off- especially Michelle; as you can see, two or three people could wrap in her twine. <br />
<br />
It was a great shower for a farm girl! I can't believe that little future farmer is about to meet us!!!! <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-WbphPJZ-13o/Uc373_Eh8cI/AAAAAAAAB_4/OV7Pzz524sM/s640/blogger-image-681663126.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-WbphPJZ-13o/Uc373_Eh8cI/AAAAAAAAB_4/OV7Pzz524sM/s640/blogger-image-681663126.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Cig4_H2xAkg/Uc393EXJQWI/AAAAAAAACBY/E-Df9M5u6Sw/s640/blogger-image-349813619.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Cig4_H2xAkg/Uc393EXJQWI/AAAAAAAACBY/E-Df9M5u6Sw/s640/blogger-image-349813619.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-9mqEQXagORQ/Uc39ys87FeI/AAAAAAAACBQ/uCEEFcNkojM/s640/blogger-image--1991338230.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-9mqEQXagORQ/Uc39ys87FeI/AAAAAAAACBQ/uCEEFcNkojM/s640/blogger-image--1991338230.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-JMa3sDZUZ4c/Uc39vspDArI/AAAAAAAACBI/lwFDsT1UAls/s640/blogger-image-1265849968.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-JMa3sDZUZ4c/Uc39vspDArI/AAAAAAAACBI/lwFDsT1UAls/s640/blogger-image-1265849968.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-EjL7WEDvk3M/Uc29pEzMCNI/AAAAAAAAB_Q/0Tw_zsriNPQ/s640/blogger-image-1361931033.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-EjL7WEDvk3M/Uc29pEzMCNI/AAAAAAAAB_Q/0Tw_zsriNPQ/s640/blogger-image-1361931033.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-08duOxjYmtM/Uc38o2CMyYI/AAAAAAAACA4/sxTCvnX5RoA/s640/blogger-image--226631259.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-08duOxjYmtM/Uc38o2CMyYI/AAAAAAAACA4/sxTCvnX5RoA/s640/blogger-image--226631259.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-BtlTNtv6P5o/Uc371ZexEJI/AAAAAAAAB_w/xBdhaX5m00c/s640/blogger-image--2144422836.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-BtlTNtv6P5o/Uc371ZexEJI/AAAAAAAAB_w/xBdhaX5m00c/s640/blogger-image--2144422836.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-2n2i94H86cY/Uc38F3YUIsI/AAAAAAAACAg/0RURc3FFMP8/s640/blogger-image--492356405.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-2n2i94H86cY/Uc38F3YUIsI/AAAAAAAACAg/0RURc3FFMP8/s640/blogger-image--492356405.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-Ry8-hB_4VfY/Uc376UquPlI/AAAAAAAACAA/7GkDpHi2Ih0/s640/blogger-image-721155151.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-Ry8-hB_4VfY/Uc376UquPlI/AAAAAAAACAA/7GkDpHi2Ih0/s640/blogger-image-721155151.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-rv8cuM_tdEA/Uc38Cytt6wI/AAAAAAAACAY/D-ax01BU2_o/s640/blogger-image--1026925149.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-rv8cuM_tdEA/Uc38Cytt6wI/AAAAAAAACAY/D-ax01BU2_o/s640/blogger-image--1026925149.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-WRNBri5vGv8/Uc38IxWXkxI/AAAAAAAACAo/DpZXy2ocjjw/s640/blogger-image-860765636.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-WRNBri5vGv8/Uc38IxWXkxI/AAAAAAAACAo/DpZXy2ocjjw/s640/blogger-image-860765636.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-JoZp_2tAolc/Uc37yjPqngI/AAAAAAAAB_o/C1AGg0l9rYA/s640/blogger-image-1286367788.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-JoZp_2tAolc/Uc37yjPqngI/AAAAAAAAB_o/C1AGg0l9rYA/s640/blogger-image-1286367788.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-cFaETJ2dZmA/Uc38jj-l2CI/AAAAAAAACAw/eHHp_aarirw/s640/blogger-image-149171120.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-cFaETJ2dZmA/Uc38jj-l2CI/AAAAAAAACAw/eHHp_aarirw/s640/blogger-image-149171120.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-AAg0guqglvc/Uc38AeTyMxI/AAAAAAAACAQ/4iH5Mj1xyrM/s640/blogger-image--512937930.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-AAg0guqglvc/Uc38AeTyMxI/AAAAAAAACAQ/4iH5Mj1xyrM/s640/blogger-image--512937930.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-zbyzOLGttgM/Uc379gTcmgI/AAAAAAAACAI/Fdh0N2mNTog/s640/blogger-image--1866002835.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-zbyzOLGttgM/Uc379gTcmgI/AAAAAAAACAI/Fdh0N2mNTog/s640/blogger-image--1866002835.jpg" /></a></div>
Amanda Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02569490920296364157noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-254912945443110952.post-79649450150476058782013-06-22T08:05:00.003-07:002013-06-22T08:11:35.506-07:00"He's a Keeper!" Fishing Themed Baby Shower<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
Last weekend I hosted a baby shower for my sister Bonnie with two of her best friends, Amber and Joanie. </div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<br /></div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
Thanks to a little help from pinterest, and the imagination of Amber and Joanie, we were able to incorporate some cute fishing themed ideas into the event. </div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-RKz_dDedeXw/UcWkSFXO_iI/AAAAAAAAB8U/6rEA7MZ0INM/s640/blogger-image-949271366.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-RKz_dDedeXw/UcWkSFXO_iI/AAAAAAAAB8U/6rEA7MZ0INM/s640/blogger-image-949271366.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-nFId68s0n_s/UcWkcHbGv8I/AAAAAAAAB80/n5xAMWKgoi4/s640/blogger-image-727942139.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-nFId68s0n_s/UcWkcHbGv8I/AAAAAAAAB80/n5xAMWKgoi4/s640/blogger-image-727942139.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-DoFUzsBkH48/UcWkj6SzcNI/AAAAAAAAB9E/o5jb1WID1XQ/s640/blogger-image--1337753985.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-DoFUzsBkH48/UcWkj6SzcNI/AAAAAAAAB9E/o5jb1WID1XQ/s640/blogger-image--1337753985.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-nAJ5G_eeim4/UcW4XAOSoFI/AAAAAAAAB90/IK6LtamdD-Y/s640/blogger-image-194252088.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-nAJ5G_eeim4/UcW4XAOSoFI/AAAAAAAAB90/IK6LtamdD-Y/s640/blogger-image-194252088.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fishing cupcakes and dirt cups, yummy!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-XQ9EHMGiUNg/UcWkZsutVZI/AAAAAAAAB8s/hIESoyGHC_8/s640/blogger-image--1807162398.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-XQ9EHMGiUNg/UcWkZsutVZI/AAAAAAAAB8s/hIESoyGHC_8/s640/blogger-image--1807162398.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-XhPw_-RTaiY/UcWkm6DS3xI/AAAAAAAAB9M/s-faZ1kCQmY/s640/blogger-image--1744151924.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-XhPw_-RTaiY/UcWkm6DS3xI/AAAAAAAAB9M/s-faZ1kCQmY/s640/blogger-image--1744151924.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-Pa_8B7JoJxA/UcW4Ut3crEI/AAAAAAAAB9s/dQPxYvCV3fs/s640/blogger-image--1837702273.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-Pa_8B7JoJxA/UcW4Ut3crEI/AAAAAAAAB9s/dQPxYvCV3fs/s640/blogger-image--1837702273.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-dWkwFuLmxB0/UcWkPs7KfAI/AAAAAAAAB8M/jurOhDi_7Qc/s640/blogger-image--184092443.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-dWkwFuLmxB0/UcWkPs7KfAI/AAAAAAAAB8M/jurOhDi_7Qc/s640/blogger-image--184092443.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Goldfish snacks! </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Ozi3G9WxiYs/UcWkMjQbxII/AAAAAAAAB8E/Hfvx52y6ct4/s640/blogger-image-866284411.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Ozi3G9WxiYs/UcWkMjQbxII/AAAAAAAAB8E/Hfvx52y6ct4/s640/blogger-image-866284411.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-hGZDG7uXWKw/UcWkXb8rzuI/AAAAAAAAB8k/s54jiWSz4EM/s640/blogger-image--1465377802.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-hGZDG7uXWKw/UcWkXb8rzuI/AAAAAAAAB8k/s54jiWSz4EM/s640/blogger-image--1465377802.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-n8p4IKesHxk/UcW9uR3qsLI/AAAAAAAAB-4/j2yLZrl0ia8/s640/blogger-image--1113962540.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-n8p4IKesHxk/UcW9uR3qsLI/AAAAAAAAB-4/j2yLZrl0ia8/s320/blogger-image--1113962540.jpg" width="212" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We tried to put swedish fish into blue jello, but it's tough to find the exact moment to put the fish in when the jello is firm enough that the fish won't sink, but not firm enough that the top will still be smooth. If I were to do it again, I'd just make the jello and put a ducky on top! </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-_SJf1oScESU/UcW4P2IXEGI/AAAAAAAAB9c/kF3qmDt1IhE/s640/blogger-image-1922332942.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-_SJf1oScESU/UcW4P2IXEGI/AAAAAAAAB9c/kF3qmDt1IhE/s640/blogger-image-1922332942.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Caprese skewers: mozarella balls, grape tomatoes, basil leaves drizzled in balsamic glaze.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-LMMhxgaHWRc/UcWiB3MrOvI/AAAAAAAAB70/bZ2bgs8lmWk/s640/blogger-image--668627704.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-LMMhxgaHWRc/UcWiB3MrOvI/AAAAAAAAB70/bZ2bgs8lmWk/s640/blogger-image--668627704.jpg" /></a></div>
<a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-Wle_wQ_Ytxc/UcWh8PkO3RI/AAAAAAAAB7s/_PuSXEysCiQ/s640/blogger-image--1700574277.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-Wle_wQ_Ytxc/UcWh8PkO3RI/AAAAAAAAB7s/_PuSXEysCiQ/s640/blogger-image--1700574277.jpg" /></a><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="635" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-1cTiuls2248/UcW5-1FxaUI/AAAAAAAAB-M/82KNggk3o4s/s640/blogger-image-1565600655.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The sperm and the uterus...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-29KDbCNCDFM/UcW4SOta1HI/AAAAAAAAB9k/7a3O9wnbuWA/s640/blogger-image-375366746.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-29KDbCNCDFM/UcW4SOta1HI/AAAAAAAAB9k/7a3O9wnbuWA/s640/blogger-image-375366746.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pin the sperm on the uterus! </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ZA67ert6hHk/UcWkUhSfbDI/AAAAAAAAB8c/XwbPw_UEr1o/s640/blogger-image--1420411127.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ZA67ert6hHk/UcWkUhSfbDI/AAAAAAAAB8c/XwbPw_UEr1o/s640/blogger-image--1420411127.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mix and match to determine what the baby will look like! </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-et2dDCcbq44/UcW859cK0sI/AAAAAAAAB-s/ljLgi3tMgQY/s640/blogger-image--119360557.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-et2dDCcbq44/UcW859cK0sI/AAAAAAAAB-s/ljLgi3tMgQY/s320/blogger-image--119360557.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fish the pacifier out of the pool game! </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-LR_mmAZsfaI/UcW4ZWxVFTI/AAAAAAAAB98/eWyuwRK20vU/s640/blogger-image--999403197.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-LR_mmAZsfaI/UcW4ZWxVFTI/AAAAAAAAB98/eWyuwRK20vU/s640/blogger-image--999403197.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The hostesses! </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-G8Gntl1ayL8/UcW6BN0BPPI/AAAAAAAAB-U/D0EZbuQPqQg/s640/blogger-image-255650950.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-G8Gntl1ayL8/UcW6BN0BPPI/AAAAAAAAB-U/D0EZbuQPqQg/s640/blogger-image-255650950.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The two best friends, due dates only a few months apart!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-1cTiuls2248/UcW5-1FxaUI/AAAAAAAAB-M/82KNggk3o4s/s640/blogger-image-1565600655.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Amanda Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02569490920296364157noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-254912945443110952.post-79160181113193664782013-06-05T07:47:00.002-07:002013-06-22T08:04:25.132-07:00KangapouchingIt's been an exciting week around the Imes household. Before we brought the new puppy home we made a trip to PetSmart and, well... as you can see, things got a little out of hand. <br />
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-lus9l5Ge_aQ/UaTXFqAox8I/AAAAAAAAB6w/WL4KLfpFVPM/s640/blogger-image--1908223559.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-lus9l5Ge_aQ/UaTXFqAox8I/AAAAAAAAB6w/WL4KLfpFVPM/s200/blogger-image--1908223559.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<o:p></o:p><br />
We have also read three different puppy training books, one of which stressed the importance of three types of toys: chew toys, stimulation toys (brain-teasers etc) and comfort toys. Consequently, we spent about thirty minutes evaluating the various plush comfort toys and debating the pros and cons of the various squeakers and textures of the various stuffed-animals available before we finally settled on the giraffe blanket we refer to as <i>Jambo. </i><br />
<br />
Loki and <i>Jambo </i>the Giraffe are good buds already!<br />
<a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-UJftHr3Z2gk/UaTWkFI69JI/AAAAAAAAB6I/kCVFIRml1Ms/s640/blogger-image--895237800.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-UJftHr3Z2gk/UaTWkFI69JI/AAAAAAAAB6I/kCVFIRml1Ms/s200/blogger-image--895237800.jpg" width="200" /></a><o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">Recently, Drew and I were discussing the words Shakespeare introduced to the English syntax. It’s amazing how many words and phrases that we use every day were actually something dreamed up by the playwright, such as the word “eyeball” and the phrase “dead as a doornail”. Naturally, this motivated us to try to come up with our own words. Since most of our time is now spend doting on Loki, the winner was “kangapouch” as in, “Amanda was kangapouching Loki all weekend”. ™ <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-QQpjSGjYOc0/Ua9PZnlVH7I/AAAAAAAAB7Q/6DdSGI2PCm0/s1600/photo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-QQpjSGjYOc0/Ua9PZnlVH7I/AAAAAAAAB7Q/6DdSGI2PCm0/s320/photo.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me kangapouching Loki at Split Rock Lighthouse with the Alaskan nieces. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">So anyway, we spend most of our time these days staring at Loki and praising him for doing things like pooping outside or going up stairs unescorted. Yes, the joys of a pet owner are boundless.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-SSDwai8VU2M/UaTWm400JhI/AAAAAAAAB6Q/yYmDoxvsL1s/s640/blogger-image--139409849.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-SSDwai8VU2M/UaTWm400JhI/AAAAAAAAB6Q/yYmDoxvsL1s/s400/blogger-image--139409849.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-YGP2mtBhrcA/UaTWrnR7qTI/AAAAAAAAB6g/XyZw9wpn6PU/s640/blogger-image--811058899.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-YGP2mtBhrcA/UaTWrnR7qTI/AAAAAAAAB6g/XyZw9wpn6PU/s640/blogger-image--811058899.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-eDsdbamchKg/UaTWuBhj8nI/AAAAAAAAB6o/FZF_zzIhmWs/s640/blogger-image--1925103547.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-eDsdbamchKg/UaTWuBhj8nI/AAAAAAAAB6o/FZF_zzIhmWs/s640/blogger-image--1925103547.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-JVA9D2bZXek/UaTWpCcpMMI/AAAAAAAAB6Y/Ng6nFs2OidQ/s640/blogger-image--872471713.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-JVA9D2bZXek/UaTWpCcpMMI/AAAAAAAAB6Y/Ng6nFs2OidQ/s640/blogger-image--872471713.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-XozbV6OFo8s/UaTXHwPbUUI/AAAAAAAAB64/-42zoNGv5AA/s640/blogger-image--1982440044.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-XozbV6OFo8s/UaTXHwPbUUI/AAAAAAAAB64/-42zoNGv5AA/s640/blogger-image--1982440044.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-FoU6Rm4WlGc/UaTXKfShwsI/AAAAAAAAB7A/PHKidJMDq4o/s640/blogger-image-1144137669.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-FoU6Rm4WlGc/UaTXKfShwsI/AAAAAAAAB7A/PHKidJMDq4o/s640/blogger-image-1144137669.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-OSUZGPQfZ30/UcW8Mgktc6I/AAAAAAAAB-k/zPYOM46MEwU/s640/blogger-image--1020410697.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-OSUZGPQfZ30/UcW8Mgktc6I/AAAAAAAAB-k/zPYOM46MEwU/s640/blogger-image--1020410697.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">KANGAPOUCHING! </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Amanda Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02569490920296364157noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-254912945443110952.post-76533630947400375042013-05-20T08:45:00.003-07:002013-05-20T08:45:54.049-07:00Name GameWe've narrowed down our top names to the following: <br />
<br />
<div>
</div>
<div>
Cosmo (Kramer) - Origin: Seinfeld</div>
<div>
Thorin (Oakenshield)- Origin: Lord of the Rings *bonus points for the duality of nickname 'Thor'</div>
<div>
Hubcap- Origin: This is his "birth" name</div>
<div>
Loki- Origin: Norse Mythology, God of Mischief</div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
Honorable Mentions:</div>
<div>
Yoshi- Origin: Super Mario Bros</div>
<div>
Yoda- Origin: Star Wars</div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
But what will we name him... what indeed. T-minus 48 hrs until the Imes condo is puppy-central! </div>
Amanda Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02569490920296364157noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-254912945443110952.post-54010923991192818632013-05-14T10:59:00.001-07:002013-05-15T05:23:00.574-07:00Glamour Shots for PuppiesMeet our new puppy. <br />
<br />
We don't actually have him yet, as he still lives with his owner in Arkansas. <br />
<br />
She sends us pictures of him every 2 weeks- apparently she is really into pictures of puppies in buckets. I mean, there is no denying it, a puppy in a bucket is pretty darn cute. <br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<strong><span style="font-size: large;"> Here's the little guy at three weeks. </span></strong></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QiRn38P-zVo/UZFL9lBdpMI/AAAAAAAAB3g/4T8WM62vi_w/s1600/Hubcap_002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="199" pua="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QiRn38P-zVo/UZFL9lBdpMI/AAAAAAAAB3g/4T8WM62vi_w/s320/Hubcap_002.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UhNlgLbXxXI/UZFMAYYl55I/AAAAAAAAB3o/fWWHOiFIi1s/s1600/Hubcap_001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="199" pua="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UhNlgLbXxXI/UZFMAYYl55I/AAAAAAAAB3o/fWWHOiFIi1s/s320/Hubcap_001.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GkfSoTeT0Ho/UZFMD029wjI/AAAAAAAAB3w/99F9ZxhU5S0/s1600/Hubcap_004.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="199" pua="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GkfSoTeT0Ho/UZFMD029wjI/AAAAAAAAB3w/99F9ZxhU5S0/s320/Hubcap_004.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Hofnevz2KKk/UZFMHi3sBjI/AAAAAAAAB34/tQmbZ3moF7I/s1600/Hubcap_006.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="199" pua="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Hofnevz2KKk/UZFMHi3sBjI/AAAAAAAAB34/tQmbZ3moF7I/s320/Hubcap_006.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-brW5LSTNWA0/UZFL27gxJNI/AAAAAAAAB3Y/O8KxLPH5t1I/s1600/Hubcap_007.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="199" pua="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-brW5LSTNWA0/UZFL27gxJNI/AAAAAAAAB3Y/O8KxLPH5t1I/s320/Hubcap_007.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Here he is at 5 weeks, only 3 lbs 2 oz! </span></strong></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gwoqhqBQHk0/UZFMbJjoQKI/AAAAAAAAB4A/I8sb2GFQi_o/s1600/Hubcap_003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="199" pua="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gwoqhqBQHk0/UZFMbJjoQKI/AAAAAAAAB4A/I8sb2GFQi_o/s320/Hubcap_003.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6ITcLZ9SxfA/UZFMd7bimmI/AAAAAAAAB4I/XVLLuSo_up0/s1600/Hubcap_005.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="199" pua="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6ITcLZ9SxfA/UZFMd7bimmI/AAAAAAAAB4I/XVLLuSo_up0/s320/Hubcap_005.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HgJUNlEgfPE/UZFMg-kbF0I/AAAAAAAAB4Q/3-HGzVBbXKs/s1600/Puppy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="199" pua="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HgJUNlEgfPE/UZFMg-kbF0I/AAAAAAAAB4Q/3-HGzVBbXKs/s320/Puppy.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Here he is at 8 weeks... only 9 more days until he comes on home to us! </span></strong></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xeypaMgTqM8/UZFMs4ay-gI/AAAAAAAAB4Y/KXUn632qrEc/s1600/2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="199" pua="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xeypaMgTqM8/UZFMs4ay-gI/AAAAAAAAB4Y/KXUn632qrEc/s320/2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-E04z8aroFoo/UZFMvkRz_7I/AAAAAAAAB4g/K-BAamYk-uM/s1600/Hubcap_001+(2).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="199" pua="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-E04z8aroFoo/UZFMvkRz_7I/AAAAAAAAB4g/K-BAamYk-uM/s320/Hubcap_001+(2).jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-R6ZnLcmAcaw/UZFMy1zpl-I/AAAAAAAAB4o/bbDQjStv6Ak/s1600/Hubcap_002+(2).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="199" pua="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-R6ZnLcmAcaw/UZFMy1zpl-I/AAAAAAAAB4o/bbDQjStv6Ak/s320/Hubcap_002+(2).jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This picture reminds me of those internet memes that say, "go home puppy, you are drunk." LOL</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4MqvuA63AVI/UZFNOr7pfvI/AAAAAAAAB4w/WSzvSHVya74/s1600/Hubcap_007+(2).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="199" pua="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4MqvuA63AVI/UZFNOr7pfvI/AAAAAAAAB4w/WSzvSHVya74/s320/Hubcap_007+(2).jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Look at that little tummy!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-237jM9K-ugo/UZFNR77oyGI/AAAAAAAAB44/1OCIwjlTfAc/s1600/Hubcap_0062.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="199" pua="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-237jM9K-ugo/UZFNR77oyGI/AAAAAAAAB44/1OCIwjlTfAc/s320/Hubcap_0062.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Amanda Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02569490920296364157noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-254912945443110952.post-23508435769641476712013-05-13T13:15:00.000-07:002013-05-13T13:15:02.777-07:00Happy Mother's Day!To the best mom, mother-in-law and grandmas in the world! <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-ZSkq7YeyTEI/UY-xi2WvCTI/AAAAAAAAB1s/jt7Pt9ycmqQ/s640/blogger-image--882468369.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-ZSkq7YeyTEI/UY-xi2WvCTI/AAAAAAAAB1s/jt7Pt9ycmqQ/s640/blogger-image--882468369.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-a43xmkVlSsc/UY-xgWc8nDI/AAAAAAAAB1k/qDPz7AuoHuQ/s640/blogger-image-942486500.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-a43xmkVlSsc/UY-xgWc8nDI/AAAAAAAAB1k/qDPz7AuoHuQ/s640/blogger-image-942486500.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-iEesGn3Mr_g/UY-xdfE-4MI/AAAAAAAAB1c/AWkSf6iHrkc/s640/blogger-image--923088989.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-iEesGn3Mr_g/UY-xdfE-4MI/AAAAAAAAB1c/AWkSf6iHrkc/s640/blogger-image--923088989.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-2QKlODzbIc4/UY-0u_R_1VI/AAAAAAAAB2g/3t851opsvMY/s640/blogger-image--848877064.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-2QKlODzbIc4/UY-0u_R_1VI/AAAAAAAAB2g/3t851opsvMY/s640/blogger-image--848877064.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-jyG6xLP9CF8/UY-5kRpxvDI/AAAAAAAAB2w/yp9cccKPv1Q/s640/blogger-image--1944370797.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-jyG6xLP9CF8/UY-5kRpxvDI/AAAAAAAAB2w/yp9cccKPv1Q/s640/blogger-image--1944370797.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-SbgE-Paj0q4/UY-5qDYhZGI/AAAAAAAAB3A/uRmpkZQiy54/s640/blogger-image-332480876.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-SbgE-Paj0q4/UY-5qDYhZGI/AAAAAAAAB3A/uRmpkZQiy54/s640/blogger-image-332480876.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-ZYC-ac0bbrk/UY-59f2YsCI/AAAAAAAAB3I/oRLSy_KNbfU/s640/blogger-image-1983971772.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-ZYC-ac0bbrk/UY-59f2YsCI/AAAAAAAAB3I/oRLSy_KNbfU/s640/blogger-image-1983971772.jpg" /></a><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-LqD7Ulx5XEM/UY-5nWd77kI/AAAAAAAAB24/DsGB9Xi1cD0/s640/blogger-image--1963206577.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-LqD7Ulx5XEM/UY-5nWd77kI/AAAAAAAAB24/DsGB9Xi1cD0/s640/blogger-image--1963206577.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />Amanda Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02569490920296364157noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-254912945443110952.post-76261073934834333282013-05-06T05:53:00.000-07:002013-05-06T05:53:10.636-07:00Glitterin' Grad<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">As you probably know, I’ve been a graduate student in the Applied Economics program at the University of Minnesota the past two years. I entered with a cohort of twelve, representing several different countries.<span> </span>I’ll admit, the road was very long and I can’t say I’m at all sad to put it behind me. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">While I have yet to defend my thesis, I was able to walk for commencement last Friday. Bonnie recently graduated with a Master’s in Technology Education from Texas State. At her commencement, most of the girls decorated their caps. Bonnie felt a little left out that she hadn’t thought to decorate her cap, and being the loving sister that she is, she didn’t want me to make the same mistake. So she decorated my cap with glitter, the letter “M” for Minnesota, a “π” representing profit in economic equations and a check symbol, meaning, “grad school, check!” Katrina added some googley eyes and a peace sign. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I have to admit, I was a little embarrassed about wearing the hat. I was planning to just blend into the crowd. I was going to wear my plain-jane black hat for the ceremony and throw on the glitter cap for some fun pictures after. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I arrived at Mariucci Arena, checked in and was about to find my cohort when I saw a girl crying and explaining to one of the coordinators that she had forgotten her hat. Before I even really knew what I was doing, I went up and handed her the black cap. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I went off in search of my cohort. Economists tend to be a rather serious type, and as such they found my cap both perplexing and amusing. They said things like, “wow, you are really brave” and “it’s not <i>that</i> noticeable.” </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I was feeling more and more excited and soon forgot about the cap. As I walked out, I spotted my family amongst the huge crowd almost immediately. They were waving and cheering, and soon they began signaling that my cap was on upside down so the “M” looked like<span> </span>a “W” (!) Of 1,000 graduate and Ph.D. students, I was the only one that wore a glitter cap, but at the end of the day, it was the perfect way to march across that stage. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">My poor sister had to listen to so many phone calls about how I thought I failed a test or couldn’t finish my thesis, wearing that hat allowed me to honor my family and their support. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">It was a great day, and I’m so thankful to have a family that has supported me through nearly 21 years of schooling. They’ve proofread papers and offered words of encouragement time and again. Probably most importantly, they listened to me complain and put up with me when I was cranky and stand-offish. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Now I'm excited to move on with my life. School- you were fun (well sometimes fun), but I won’t miss you. At all. Like not even one tiny bit. (Family, force me to re-read this if I ever decide to go back for a Ph.D.)</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Bonnie made a super awesome video montage of the day, check it out here: <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d5yBmpOIlmA" target="_blank"><span style="color: #1155cc;">http://www.youtube.com/watch?<wbr></wbr>v=d5yBmpOIlmA
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DHAJkdMe26M/UYenkOxXeEI/AAAAAAAAB1E/GPZ8I2a2OY8/s1600/IMG_3648%5B1%5D.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" mwa="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DHAJkdMe26M/UYenkOxXeEI/AAAAAAAAB1E/GPZ8I2a2OY8/s320/IMG_3648%5B1%5D.png" width="213" /></a></div>
</span></a></span></div>
Amanda Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02569490920296364157noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-254912945443110952.post-18159659904271070442013-05-03T05:06:00.001-07:002013-05-03T05:06:57.864-07:00Merry SprinterThe snow missed St Paul, but my parents woke up to over a foot of snow yesterday. Normally we're in the field by April 15, but not this year! <br/><br/><div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-qudfCji5_sA/UYOoXi7YIaI/AAAAAAAAB00/2uAiwPJKKtU/s640/blogger-image-1329486844.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-qudfCji5_sA/UYOoXi7YIaI/AAAAAAAAB00/2uAiwPJKKtU/s640/blogger-image-1329486844.jpg" /></a></div> <br/><br/><div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-4pwBP5gUZug/UYOn5JALXhI/AAAAAAAAB0s/cRXZqmPiFJs/s640/blogger-image-549401719.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-4pwBP5gUZug/UYOn5JALXhI/AAAAAAAAB0s/cRXZqmPiFJs/s640/blogger-image-549401719.jpg" /></a></div>Amanda Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02569490920296364157noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-254912945443110952.post-43287019310428633512013-03-28T06:13:00.001-07:002013-03-28T06:13:30.955-07:00Bosco<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">On Monday, Drew and I went to two movies. The cool, dark movie theatre distracted us from our new reality of life without <a href="http://ajthoe.blogspot.com/2012/09/meet-bosco.html" target="_blank">Bosco</a>. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Afterward, not wanting to go home, yet not having anywhere to go, we found ourselves aimlessly wandering around Barnes and Noble. We passed through the aisle of kits and projects and contemplated taking on new hobbies like painting rocks or building model airplanes. We stared at the puzzles for at least thirty minutes, considering whether we should take on a 3,000 piece puzzle. We split up, and I found myself cross-legged in the pet section, crying over a book titled “Goodbye, Friend.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">When it comes to dogs, we all think our dog is the best dog that ever lived. Of course, they can’t all be the best dog. They can’t all be the best dog because, in fact, <em>Bosco</em> was the best dog in the entire world. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">His crooked little tail, his love for popcorn, his hatred of the vacuum cleaner, his particularities regarding the proper placement of his food and water bowls are the little things that bring tears to our eyes now, but that someday will bring a smile to our face once again. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The absence of his paws clickity-clacking across our cement floors is louder than any sound I can remember. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Never let it be said that Bosco wasn’t popular. Our friends and family have been overwhelmingly supportive.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For that, we thank you, we love you & we know you miss the Boz too. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I have done mostly what most men do,<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">And pushed it out of my mind;<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">But I can’t forget, if I wanted to,<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Four-Feet trotting behind.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Day after day, the whole day through—<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Wherever my road inclined—<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Four-feet said, “I am coming with you!”<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">And trotted along behind.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Now I must go by some other round, --<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Which I shall never find –<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Somewhere that does not carry the sound<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Of Four-Feet trotting behind.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Rudyard Kipling<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-yQGbdPJ-2V4/UVRBMQ2fp1I/AAAAAAAAB0I/BmYfr8o23_E/s640/blogger-image-582587584.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-yQGbdPJ-2V4/UVRBMQ2fp1I/AAAAAAAAB0I/BmYfr8o23_E/s640/blogger-image-582587584.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-UzrXnedsLHo/UVRBQ5MOy1I/AAAAAAAAB0Q/S3dmZi8ThpE/s640/blogger-image--1461007796.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-UzrXnedsLHo/UVRBQ5MOy1I/AAAAAAAAB0Q/S3dmZi8ThpE/s640/blogger-image--1461007796.jpg" /></a></div>
Amanda Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02569490920296364157noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-254912945443110952.post-6672463767038986032013-03-05T06:35:00.001-08:002013-03-05T09:12:07.209-08:00Farm Girl in the OfficeClassy cow, milk carton robot and a bouncy pig keep me company in my cubicle. You know what they say, you can take a girl out of the country... <br/><br/><div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-FbzDuW2GVgo/UTYCo0Bqj5I/AAAAAAAABz4/YTHul3ah1a4/s640/blogger-image--69593486.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-FbzDuW2GVgo/UTYCo0Bqj5I/AAAAAAAABz4/YTHul3ah1a4/s640/blogger-image--69593486.jpg" /></a></div>Amanda Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02569490920296364157noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-254912945443110952.post-72296764386374158642013-02-24T08:30:00.004-08:002013-02-24T08:30:49.486-08:00La Vie BohemeFor Valentine's weekend, Drew and I took a trip to the UP. We went to Mount Bohemia... the promotional video for Mount Bohemia is so bizarre... http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=Zf9VXkCpRjk<br />
<br />
Needless to say, the video had me a little worried. On the way up we were amazed by how much snow the "snow belt" has. They are at about 170 inches this year. At the gas stations, we were far more likely to see snowmobiles than cars. I particularly loved it when someone pulled up in that little number with the snow tracks.<br />
<br />
We lost service on our cell phones about an hour before we even made it to Mount Bohemia, which is truly off the beaten path! We loved Mount Bohemia, none of the runs are groomed and there was plenty of "pow" to keep us happy. As all the runs are black diamond, double black diamond or triple black diamond, I was a little nervous most of the time but I made it out in one piece! The main chalet is a string of three yurts linked together, it is so unique!<br />
<br />
We also enjoyed a nice long xc ski on the Snake River in Duluth and stopped to play on the icy shores of Lake Superior. Thought I'd share the pics! <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-Gm-7sLcLKVA/USo87PSGsHI/AAAAAAAABxk/52W5UEbuKm4/s640/blogger-image-875540832.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-Gm-7sLcLKVA/USo87PSGsHI/AAAAAAAABxk/52W5UEbuKm4/s640/blogger-image-875540832.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-QI6SjTb4las/USo4IFwKmEI/AAAAAAAABv4/yU7FD0NZKew/s640/blogger-image-534954128.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-QI6SjTb4las/USo4IFwKmEI/AAAAAAAABv4/yU7FD0NZKew/s640/blogger-image-534954128.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-hJ6BwWchl1Q/USo-CfUKSHI/AAAAAAAABx8/Hf_jhVnyerA/s640/blogger-image-1941375544.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-hJ6BwWchl1Q/USo-CfUKSHI/AAAAAAAABx8/Hf_jhVnyerA/s640/blogger-image-1941375544.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-r4dPK4pOzL8/USo3zhwUJDI/AAAAAAAABuw/cb9WbS6GEds/s640/blogger-image-1771909099.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-r4dPK4pOzL8/USo3zhwUJDI/AAAAAAAABuw/cb9WbS6GEds/s640/blogger-image-1771909099.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-7m7q4pQbhhQ/USo9AXox8DI/AAAAAAAABx0/DVCzSo1Vnas/s640/blogger-image-1835781855.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-7m7q4pQbhhQ/USo9AXox8DI/AAAAAAAABx0/DVCzSo1Vnas/s640/blogger-image-1835781855.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-jIhrJU_Bf0w/USo4F4yVfsI/AAAAAAAABvw/OUPcWlupySg/s640/blogger-image-1412596622.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-jIhrJU_Bf0w/USo4F4yVfsI/AAAAAAAABvw/OUPcWlupySg/s640/blogger-image-1412596622.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-SuOY0rKIgiY/USo812tBFUI/AAAAAAAABxU/bocNdqcidJY/s640/blogger-image-143808667.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-SuOY0rKIgiY/USo812tBFUI/AAAAAAAABxU/bocNdqcidJY/s640/blogger-image-143808667.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-N3vDQDNNlF0/USo39Shme7I/AAAAAAAABvQ/0HbteQokH3U/s640/blogger-image-1941746652.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-N3vDQDNNlF0/USo39Shme7I/AAAAAAAABvQ/0HbteQokH3U/s640/blogger-image-1941746652.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-mAHcOPcsdVI/USo84awUMpI/AAAAAAAABxc/3drRTcxVvsk/s640/blogger-image--749703070.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-mAHcOPcsdVI/USo84awUMpI/AAAAAAAABxc/3drRTcxVvsk/s640/blogger-image--749703070.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-sExxIVUhvww/USo4Mj-7dfI/AAAAAAAABwI/3voTEanxw-0/s640/blogger-image--1183378507.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-sExxIVUhvww/USo4Mj-7dfI/AAAAAAAABwI/3voTEanxw-0/s640/blogger-image--1183378507.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-9cHcKJsXWLo/USo37MTHpDI/AAAAAAAABvI/5-UxF5D58-I/s640/blogger-image-305985731.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-9cHcKJsXWLo/USo37MTHpDI/AAAAAAAABvI/5-UxF5D58-I/s640/blogger-image-305985731.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-eVrVr7MdTCQ/USo4KVcPIUI/AAAAAAAABwA/7K7B47W5oHg/s640/blogger-image-1043834552.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-eVrVr7MdTCQ/USo4KVcPIUI/AAAAAAAABwA/7K7B47W5oHg/s640/blogger-image-1043834552.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-bYNUEVKZ_58/USo4Bf7rZnI/AAAAAAAABvg/3JCTOq8ZFtI/s640/blogger-image-1891485601.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-bYNUEVKZ_58/USo4Bf7rZnI/AAAAAAAABvg/3JCTOq8ZFtI/s640/blogger-image-1891485601.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-F2JzCt-IfJs/USZRlWYNAXI/AAAAAAAABtw/_8_hjhgMKSk/s640/blogger-image-1236701675.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-F2JzCt-IfJs/USZRlWYNAXI/AAAAAAAABtw/_8_hjhgMKSk/s640/blogger-image-1236701675.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-bcG0ip19Nlc/USo89jjbXZI/AAAAAAAABxs/DLxGsqKkuhc/s640/blogger-image--541352527.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-bcG0ip19Nlc/USo89jjbXZI/AAAAAAAABxs/DLxGsqKkuhc/s640/blogger-image--541352527.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-5JYJg7otgjs/USZRfDJKnTI/AAAAAAAABto/BGpBwHoGTfo/s640/blogger-image--324254842.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-5JYJg7otgjs/USZRfDJKnTI/AAAAAAAABto/BGpBwHoGTfo/s640/blogger-image--324254842.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-PSDczrjFlY4/USo35JmFG7I/AAAAAAAABvA/RcEooxlFZVs/s640/blogger-image-522380800.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-PSDczrjFlY4/USo35JmFG7I/AAAAAAAABvA/RcEooxlFZVs/s640/blogger-image-522380800.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-OOAK_06PMeo/USo4DnY_kYI/AAAAAAAABvo/-EnPS2XOzNc/s640/blogger-image-2138834860.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-OOAK_06PMeo/USo4DnY_kYI/AAAAAAAABvo/-EnPS2XOzNc/s640/blogger-image-2138834860.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-MHIoTNqRgxg/USo31kKsT0I/AAAAAAAABu4/zGMqWEJF1_0/s640/blogger-image-1000249173.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-MHIoTNqRgxg/USo31kKsT0I/AAAAAAAABu4/zGMqWEJF1_0/s640/blogger-image-1000249173.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-1nsPWauHFYw/USo8y-kgSYI/AAAAAAAABxM/fYHohibMUME/s640/blogger-image-570099550.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-1nsPWauHFYw/USo8y-kgSYI/AAAAAAAABxM/fYHohibMUME/s640/blogger-image-570099550.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-vLagG26oydE/USo3_XSJM-I/AAAAAAAABvY/PJrGK03V-S0/s640/blogger-image-1914907716.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-vLagG26oydE/USo3_XSJM-I/AAAAAAAABvY/PJrGK03V-S0/s640/blogger-image-1914907716.jpg" /></a></div>
Amanda Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02569490920296364157noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-254912945443110952.post-244959707622231992013-02-05T13:30:00.000-08:002013-02-05T13:32:42.910-08:00MinnesnowdahRecently my friend said, "the ironic thing about Americans making fun of Canada is Minnesota." Oh, how right he was. Thought I'd post some pics of the shenanigans we've been up to to keep ourselves busy in the depths of MN winter! <br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ol7Jnqhopuk/URF3FhExJtI/AAAAAAAABq4/Ckyop6G546Y/s1600/3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" jea="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ol7Jnqhopuk/URF3FhExJtI/AAAAAAAABq4/Ckyop6G546Y/s640/3.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Of course... we ski & snowboard... but that's a given.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Wf3uvKWbaDg/URF3HpftILI/AAAAAAAABrA/7587Y3Q3phw/s1600/4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" jea="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Wf3uvKWbaDg/URF3HpftILI/AAAAAAAABrA/7587Y3Q3phw/s400/4.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fzt2m3UJ82U/URF3LGg-fyI/AAAAAAAABrI/Cn1OxMZoGO4/s1600/10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" jea="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fzt2m3UJ82U/URF3LGg-fyI/AAAAAAAABrI/Cn1OxMZoGO4/s400/10.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We have autonomous snowplow competitions.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-iZ7jXiTP_vI/URF3QhQQoGI/AAAAAAAABrQ/5mARDIbP2c4/s1600/11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" jea="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-iZ7jXiTP_vI/URF3QhQQoGI/AAAAAAAABrQ/5mARDIbP2c4/s400/11.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We have ice queen pageants.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-znl2OshO0ZE/URF3TRhECFI/AAAAAAAABrY/mD2RoPWogBM/s1600/6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" jea="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-znl2OshO0ZE/URF3TRhECFI/AAAAAAAABrY/mD2RoPWogBM/s400/6.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></div>
</tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We have something called "crashed ice" which involves men going down a huge obstacle course made of ice on hockey skates. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-uQ7q-3S_5I0/URF5IKV2EFI/AAAAAAAABso/Adng0J1ZKxM/s1600/2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" jea="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-uQ7q-3S_5I0/URF5IKV2EFI/AAAAAAAABso/Adng0J1ZKxM/s400/2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-U_tCnPpRyPI/URF3VUM1tJI/AAAAAAAABrg/P44lZgjnWcw/s1600/7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" jea="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-U_tCnPpRyPI/URF3VUM1tJI/AAAAAAAABrg/P44lZgjnWcw/s400/7.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">You can see the crashed ice course in the background!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hbs1oXTiIyc/URF3ZvOOa7I/AAAAAAAABro/e-Ks_1nXcMw/s1600/9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" jea="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hbs1oXTiIyc/URF3ZvOOa7I/AAAAAAAABro/e-Ks_1nXcMw/s640/9.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We make replicas of "crashed ice" out of ice. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Uc0zcF0c3pQ/URF3cBH9CgI/AAAAAAAABrw/tZgmYiJlAcE/s1600/5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" jea="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Uc0zcF0c3pQ/URF3cBH9CgI/AAAAAAAABrw/tZgmYiJlAcE/s320/5.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We have huge beer tasting festivals that take place outside... all day.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NrEg_196kK0/URF3eO96FFI/AAAAAAAABr4/QcStRoPPKHU/s1600/8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" jea="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NrEg_196kK0/URF3eO96FFI/AAAAAAAABr4/QcStRoPPKHU/s320/8.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Someone wore this brilliant accessory to the beer dabbler.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yhuFSY58RXA/URF3gkJ2bPI/AAAAAAAABsA/nT2BAKxyAm4/s1600/17.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" jea="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yhuFSY58RXA/URF3gkJ2bPI/AAAAAAAABsA/nT2BAKxyAm4/s640/17.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We vacation on frozen lakes. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MJWW9jgAX5Y/URF3jl-_bRI/AAAAAAAABsI/SlM_ZYBDzzc/s1600/15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" jea="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MJWW9jgAX5Y/URF3jl-_bRI/AAAAAAAABsI/SlM_ZYBDzzc/s640/15.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Best of all... we play ice bocce. It's hard to explain but it's a combination of curling/bowling/bocce ball. Basically we hurl split logs down the ice. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Co6n-4qHtQ0/URF3mNk7hPI/AAAAAAAABsQ/Kk8-SkXUGYs/s1600/16.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" jea="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Co6n-4qHtQ0/URF3mNk7hPI/AAAAAAAABsQ/Kk8-SkXUGYs/s400/16.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Prepping the lane. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eW4b0kNKHwY/URF3voQQfMI/AAAAAAAABsg/I7Uk_YouVBM/s1600/12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" jea="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eW4b0kNKHwY/URF3voQQfMI/AAAAAAAABsg/I7Uk_YouVBM/s400/12.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Next week Drew is in an "ice golf" tournament with his buddies & my cousin is doing the polar plunge. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Gotta love it! </div>
Amanda Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02569490920296364157noreply@blogger.com0