MORE PHOTOS OF THE DEPOT MUSEUM IN DULUTH PHOTO ALBUM

I love the Depot Museum on the shore of Lake Superior in Two Harbors, Minnesota, north of Duluth.  I got to visit it the weekend Melanie and I stayed in Duluth - which was a little more exciting than usual because it included the first snowfall I have seen this year.

The museum has an awesome train display, but it is the setting of the museum that strikes a chord in me.  I'm from land-locked southwestern Minnesota, so I don't often get to see such wonderful architecture near a large body of water like that. 

It had that romantic maritime feel to it, and across the way

I could see the Lighthouse Bed and Breakfast that Melanie says we'll stay at sometime.  I don't plan these things.  I just go along for the ride.

SEE MORE PHOTOS OF ARCHITECTURAL ANTIQUES IN DULUTH PHOTO ALBUM

Architectural Detail Displayed at North Shore Architectural Antiques

When Melanie and I finished shopping at Harbor Antiques in downtown Two Harbors, we headed around the block to North Shore Architectural Antiques.  As we came around the corner, we saw a tall, very nordic looking gentleman standing outside his shop.  (His true roots are Irish.  Who knew?)  "Do you have a hot cup of coffee for us?" Melanie yelled at him.  She's always doing things like that - talking to strangers.

Lucky for us, the kettle was on.  We entered the building and saw the most wonderful collection of sinks, doors, windows, light fixtures and all kinds of rescued architectural elements.

When I was a little kid, my dad used to take a bunch of us kids along to the junk yard to find replacement parts for his farm machinery.  I guess we didn't care where we got to go, as long as we got off of the farm.  We'd poke around all over the place and I'd  admire how the junk was neatly separated into piles of matching items.  And I remember really being into copper for a while.   As a result of our trips, I still feel an affinity to reclaimed products. 

But clearly, reclaimed architectural antiques are at the top of the heap when it comes to products with a past.  You can sense they have a story to tell.  Oh, if only those items could talk!

More photos of Morelos Mex-Grill in the DINING PHOTO ALBUM

Kasey and I were doing some Christmas shopping in Richfield and stopped for lunch at Morelos Mex-Grill at the HUB shopping center at Nicollet & 66th Street. 

I ordered my favorite meal which is two of their authentic fish tacos.  I especially like the Morelos version of fish tacos because the fish is not breaded.  They are reasonably priced and served with the Morelo brand of guacamole.  Delicious.

The setting at Morelos Mex-Grill is colorful and friendly.  Sometimes they have live music.  The service we received was very efficient and we felt extremely welcome.

Now, I don't know why I get such a kick out of this, but they serve Mexican Coca Cola at Morelos.  I guess that's about as international as this country mouse will ever get.  At any rate, it's a nice touch.

When we left the Twin Cities on Saturday morning, it looked like we were going to be stuck with a cloudy day.  But halfway to the farm in southwestern Minnesota, the clouds moved east.  The whole works just rolled away and we enjoyed a wonderful, sunny Thanksgiving dinner with my big family.

On the way home we had an equally entertaining ride after the moon came out.  We had to stop and photograph it being reflected off the ice on a little lake near New Auburn.  For today, I need to take it easy and rest.  We had ourselves a big, noisy, happy and lo-o-o-ng day. 

SEE MORE PHOTOS OF HARBORS ANTIQUES IN THE DULUTH PHOTO ALBUM.

Babe, Co-Proprietor of Harbor Antiques

It's easy to miss downtown Two Harbors, Minnesota because there is so much commerce on the main highway passing through.  But if you find yourself in this charming community, north of Duluth, it is well worth your while to leave the major thoroughfare.

We went downtown and we were not disappointed.  It is a sleepy downtown, but the shops we found were gratifying to visit.  We spent a lot of time here at Harbor Antiques.  We met Babe, a sturdy dog who takes her job there seriously.  She seemed well-known and well-loved.

They had a nice supply of decoys available, which makes sense, since the community of Two Harbors is located right on Lake Superior.

Harbor Antiques had a large variety of collectibles and Melanie shopped her heart out.  I don't do much shopping, myself.  My job when I shop with Melanie, and her husband Dave isn't around, is to hold her purse and wait patiently.  This was an easy task in the antique store because it was a lot like visiting a museum - and I really like doing that.  We saw some other places we enjoyed in Two Harbors.  I'll tell you more about them later.

MORE PHOTOS POSTED IN THE DULUTH PHOTO ALBUM

Front Porch of Great! Lakes Candy Kitchen

When Melanie and I were driving along Lake Superior, we heard of a candy shop called Great! Lakes Candy Kitchen near Knife River, MN.  It's run by a set of twins who are third generation candy makers.  Their grandfather Gust Canelake founded  Canelake's Candies in 1905, and their father John, and his brother Leo,  followed in his footsteps.

Carmel Apples Cooling

Great! Lakes Candy is located in the former "Mel's Fish Store."

It is a sweet little place and it was busy while we were there.  They were kind enough to show me around and I loved that their refrigerator was plastered with photos of their dad and grandfather.  The twins, Pam Canelake Matson and Patricia Canelake are doing what we often hear we should be doing - following their bliss.

Refrigerator Door Plastered with Photos and Memorabilia

And what is my bliss?  Hmmm.  Running around Minnesota writing about other people's bliss, I guess.  Oh yes.  I forgot to mention - the candy is awesome!

I watched the movie Sweet Land this past weekend and I was struck by how much the film resembled a collection of paintings by folk artist, Arnold Kramer.  The landscape showed prairies that go on forever under clear blue skies.

Sweet Land was filmed at Chippewa Village in Montevideo located in southwestern Minnesota, just a hop, skip, and a jump from where Kramer raised his family.  Chippewa Village is made up of a collection of historically-correct preserved buildings from the very era in which the movie is set.

This family film tells the story of a German mail-order bride in the 1920's who faces the bigotry created by a war she had nothing to do with.  It is a love story told with stunning images and endearing characters. 

 This movie would make a wonderful Christmas gift for hardworking midwestern grandparents.  See reviews of Sweet Land at this link.

Vignette in Bathroom at the Vanilla Bean Cafe and Bakery in Two Harbors, MN

God is in the details.  Or is the the devil?  I've heard it both ways.  Regardless, the more I travel around Minnesota, the more I have come to appreciate the thought that goes into the bathrooms  businesses are kind enough to let us travelers use.  They could be absolutely utilitarian like your kitchen sink, but they're not.

VaBene Cafe Bathroom, Duluth, Minnesota

Some are colorful and full of personality and others are more dignified.  Fortunately, with companies like Moen, Koehler and Blanco around, we can emulate these wonderful designs.

Dramatic Decor in Hell's Kitchen Bathroom

Here's where my love affair with bathrooms began. 

I love my dad.  He's the best.  He really understands kids.  When I was a little girl, he'd take a half-dozen of me and my siblings on Sunday afternoon picnics or fishing trips out in the country. Inevitably, the only bathrooms available for our use while we were on the road were the cornfields.  They may have worked well for my brothers, who didn't care,  but my sister Crazy Annie and I found  cornfields decidedly inconvenient. 

Vintage Ladies Room at W. A. Frost in Saint Paul, MN

As a result, I have come to look upon public bathrooms with great affection and appreciation. On behalf of all of the travelers in the world, I thank the businesses that provide us with comfort along the way.  We'll be back again.

This was the first time I had ever visited Gooseberry Falls.  There we were, a couple of farm girls, out to take a walk.  Melanie and I started out at the souvenir shop.  I just love the feel of all of those home-spun Minnesota products.

Then we hiked through the Gooseberry Falls State Park and I got some snapshots.

The waterfalls were lovely, but it was the roots that captured my attention.

Throw in a little architecture, and you've got a perfect moment.

I caught the Greyhound bus to Duluth on Friday night and Melanie picked me up a little after 9 PM at the bus station.

This past weekend was the 32nd anniversary of the wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald which was commemorated in the song by Gordon Lightfoot.  And even though we didn't attend, we were told that Split Rock Lighthouse remembers the wreck every year with a memorial that includes tolling a bell for the victims of the wreck. 

Waves on Lake Superior

The weather was cold and windy with spells of snow flurries, so it was easy to imagine a nor'easter brewing.

Split Rock Lighthouse on the shore of Lake Superior.

We immersed ourselves in the nautical spirit of the region and were delighted when we found that the Duluth News Tribune carries the shipping news.  One of my favorite movies is The Shipping News and it hadn't occurred to me that a place like Duluth might have such a section in their newspaper.  They tell you which ships have come into harbor, what kind of freight they're hauling, where they came from, and where they're going.

Awesome Bed at the Sheraton

Melanie surprised me with a stay at the Sheraton which was simply beautiful and decorated with pictures of ships and scenes from Lake Superior.  And as you can see from the above photograph, the beds were extraordinary.  I had an amazing time in Duluth and surrounding area and intend to tell you more about it.  It's going to be a busy week, but I'll squeeze it in when I can.

Once a year or so, I attend the Saint Paul Art Crawl, just to experience life on the "other" side.

My purpose is to see the dance of Judith, which is always an otherworldly event. She never gives the same performance twice.

  One of the outstanding features of her performance is the music she dances to, which is far from the main stream thanks to Eric, her companion.  When I watch Judith dance, I imagine having her arms which have lovely curves that show strength without being cut.  They are a shape that only years of disciplined movement can produce. 

Judith's loft complex is old and has a whole different feel from my place, with creaky hardwood floors and exposed brick.  And in spite of it's age, it has been designed to be handicap accessible.

I just heard that Saint Paul is renovating another historic building for more artist lofts.  I think it's an excellent idea.  There is more than enough of real life to go around.  It's good for the spirit to take a flight of fancy and see how the creative and gifted other half lives.

Melanie selects tea at Houlihan's

My friend Melanie was in town this weekend and we decided to have lunch at Houlihan's which is just a stone's throw from my place.  I like Houlihan's because the prices are moderate and their potato soup is the epitome of comfort food.

The best potato soup in the city.

But the thing I really like about Houlihan's is that they put a lot of thought into their presentations. I know some people would consider it a waste of time and effort to present food in a manner that feeds the spirit, but we found it very filling.  Take, for instance, their new appetizer made up of three different dips served with chips and crispy brushetta.

New appetizer.  A trio of dips.

Three long-stemmed glasses filled with artichoke, white bean, and red pepper dip are delivered to the table in a wrought iron holder.  (Melanie and I found it hard to pick a favorite of the three).  Our server was delightful and you could tell he understood just what a treat his presentation was for us.

If you're trying to figure out where to grab a bite to eat, or if you want to get together with your friends, Houlihan's is a great choice.  They also have a sports bar.

I bought my first home when I was 21 years old and I enjoyed being a homeowner a good deal of the time.  But there were moments of despair, like when my basement flooded, or my taxes and insurance were due at the same time.  And let's not forget the time I had mice! 

But I left all of it behind when I moved to the city.  I became an apartment dweller and I am in love with the Twin Cities.  I found an awesome apartment near a shopping mall, wildlife reserve, and lots of restaurants.

I'm thrilled that maintenance problems are someone else's responsibility.  The lawn gets mowed and the snow gets shoveled and I don't have to worry about a thing.  BUT, I had to get used to the fact that other people lived above and below me.  And they make noise!

So here's the secret I wanted to share. Earplugs!  I know a lot of people might be thinking, "DUH," but this little invention made me and  my apartment manager happier.  No more complaints from me about the racket.  My upstairs neighbors can romp to their heart's content and I can get a good night's sleep.  I told my adorable co-worker, Rennie, about earplugs and they've changed her life.

So, thank you inventor of earplugs.  Life is good.

Jayvyn and Jojo examine a reindeer.

One might wonder what to do with a two year old and a five year old in the city, but we had a wonderful afternoon.  The boys began by checking out the new Christmas decorations in my yard.

Jojo showed Jayvyn how to cross the street properly.

Then we headed to Dunn Brothers in the Linden Hills area in Minneapolis for refreshments and recreation.  Dunn Brothers is just a few blocks from the trolley, so that was our next stop.

We got to ride in the oldest trolley, which is a beautiful little piece of architecture.  We're planning to ride the trolley at Christmas time when I bet they'll have it all gussied up for the holidays.

The house my family designed and built.

I recently spent a night at my parent's farm near the tiny community of Wabasso, Minnesota.  I don't get out there as much as I should, and rarely spend the night, so this was a treat.  I come from a large family, and one can usually expect siblings around on the weekend, and this visit was no exception.

This was the farm 80 years ago.

My brother Pete was down from Brainerd with his two kids, and my crazy sister Annie  showed up with her son, Ryan, who hugs me too hard and likes to ask me questions about biochemistry just to show me how dumb I am.

Gliding swing my old dad built                                          The gazebo.

The farm is amazing because it's much more like a park than a ranch.  It's quite a change from when I was a kid.  One of the most interesting changes I observed is at night.  It's still too dark on the farm once the lights go out and I require a night light. Big baby.  And I still take comfort from the lonely sound of a car passing on the tar road near our place. 

 But here's the new thing.  As I laid in bed in my too-dark room, somewhere near the wildlife preserve that runs along the south border of the farm, a pack of coyotes were drinking too much and having a party.  You should have heard them howl.  That was a sound I hadn't heard before.  I'm not sure where they've migrated from or why, but they were there.

Pheasant Hunter at Daub's Lake, Southwest Minnesota

In the morning, I awoke to the sound of a shotgun popping.  Welcome pheasant season. I'm not a big fan of guns, but I've always loved the sound of hunters at the lake in the fall.  I can't explain it. 

A boat named Tender on Lake Harriet

I know this may be hard for some people to believe, but the best part of my day is my drive to work in the morning and back again at night.  It's one of the reasons I keep working where I do, even though I'm probably better suited for other things.

Moon Over Lake Harriet Bandshell                         Abandoned Lifeguard Chair

My drive on the parkways in Minneapolis take me past Lake Harriet and Lake Calhoun.  This morning the water was so still, it was like a mirror and lights of Minneapolis were reflected in it so beautifully I could have cried.

Estate on Lake Calhoun Parkway.

And the houses!  I feel richer just driving past them.  To top it all off, my mom gave me a tape of heart-rendingly beautiful violin music to listen to during my drive.  Nope, it's not half bad, at all, to be a farmer's daughter living in the big city.