Melanie suggested we take a drive through the country yesterday to look at the colors, so I hopped in my car and headed over to her house. Oh my! In spite of the day looking relatively gloomy in the absence of sunshine, the colors on either side of the highway were almost overwhelming. It won't last long.
I think a lot of the leaves are hanging on by a thread, and one big puff of wind will pretty much take them out in a whirlwind of color. You know how unreliable leaves are in the fall.
Melanie and I drove to Hastings, Minnesota, a community I had heard a lot about, but had never seen. Hastings is pretty close to the Twin Cities and it didn't take us long to get there. I wish we hadn't been on a such a tight schedule because there was so much to see, with a record number of historic buildings carefully preserved.
Our first course of business was to locate a good hearty breakfast which we found at Karl's Red Rock Cafe. This version of eggs Benedict featured country sausage and cream cheese. I was fully prepared to request one of those styrofoam boxes to carry half of it home in, when, what to my surprise, my plate was suddenly empty. It must have happened while we were admiring the photos of Paul Newman in a recent People Magazine.
We got to see boats and a train which appealed to my romantic side. I have a vivid imagination and even though I may have yet to experience the kind of amour I dream up in my head, I'm certain someone has.
Hub's Landing was especially wonderful. We closed our eyes and could smell wet leaves, brackish water, and the ashes of an old campfire.
Knowing we short-changed ourselves on this trip, Melanie and I have decided to skip work one of these days and really immerse ourselves in the community. I can't wait! I think I saw a chocolate shop.
