Minnesota weather - gotta love it

I got 2 bike rides in this week Monday when the head index was 105F.  And this morning we had our weekly Saturday ride - and based on how it was reported the day before based on windchill it was 38.
Welcome to the wonderful and crazy world called Minnesota.

Minneapolis - Lecy Design does the Iron Chef

Great night at Saffron in downtown Minneapolis.  The owner competed on the Iron Chef.  It was an Iron Chef evening for all of us.
Everything served was stunning and almost too beautiful to eat.  We got over that and enjoyed it all!

Dawit Graduation...finally some of the videos

We seem to have some upgrades to the blog site and they are letting me load larger videos.  We will see if I can get the good ones loaded as well.  This gives you a bit of a taste of both early and a bit later in the evening!

Saint Paul Minnesota - Aunt Liz arrives from the East

We completed a month of July visitors and Aunt Liz started the August group.
She arrived for our hottest, muggiest and ugliest week of the summer - but just another day to a veteran resident of the Washington DC Area.
Davide rolled in as well from his summer travels and work. >
So the house was full the air conditioners got their work out.
We gathered, found enough to fill the table and covered the summer and laughed the evening away. 

Red Wing Minnesota - a day on the farm

Oh the stories to be told over the 35 plus years at the Mason-Johnson farmstead.  And a few were recalled as we enjoyed great Saturday afternoon...and many more have been blocked or forgotten to never be told again.

Saint Paul - Lara's last supper before heading home

It was the hottest most humid day of the summer and we planned a bbq before Ed and Lara headed home.  Unfortunately, we spent much of the night inside waiting for the mega storm to clear the air so we could all sleep. 

Stillwater - more Cirque de Soleil wantabees...

New strap right next to the deck.  So both access and an audience readily available throughout the day. Jimbo has achieved 5 full steps - with witnesses...or so he says.  

Oops - let the cake roll but don't spill the wine...

Good thing we went for the rock solid ice cream cake to celebrate John's birthday. It rolled real well when Margie was asked if she needed help and oops over the edge the cake went - but at least she didn't spill the wine!
Oh by the way, don't tell John...

Stillwater - Lara does Minnesota too!

Ed and Lara have now come to enjoy the wonders of the Minnesota summer.  Lara noted that if she lived on a lake she would never leave...sounds like Jimbo.
Always easy to find enough family to join the party and Friday was no exception - and perfect weather always helps.  We came from many directions despite the excessive road construction we are enjoying this summer.
Jimbo has installed his own strap between the trees and has mastered the first 5 steps...hmmm will he make it to the other end before summers end?
And more birthdays - this time John Sandor got to celebrate his big day. 
Christopher made a new friend  - Jack the dog.  And was the perfect partner for throwing the ball over and over again until both were satisfied.