Six-year-olds have got it figured out.  Their conversation can move seamlessly from UFO's to dinosaurs, and on to God without any effort at all.  As a grown up, I have to work a little harder to keep up with Jojo's conversation, but I think I do ok.  I've been told I make things up in my head and then I believe them, so Jojo and I really get each other.

When Jojo came to visit this weekend, we took a walk through the wildlife center near my place, and he provided me with a continuous monologue through the entire hike. We saw the most amazing things, which put his imagination into overdrive.  I never observe anything quite as interesting when I walk by myself as I do walking with Jojo. 

For instance, we saw a skull on the boardwalk that crosses the little lake.  For the life of us, we couldn't figure out what kind it was.  Jojo felt it confirmed his fears about the crocodiles he's convinced live among the reeds.

We then came upon what looked like a fairy massacre.  We saw a pile of sparkly fairy wings on the side of the path.  So sad.  We also found a toad, which Jojo caught and chased me with, because he knows I'm afraid of them. (I have my reasons)  Neither the toad, nor I, was happy about Jojo's questionable behavior.

We ended our hike at the interpretive center which houses living reptiles and preserved animals.  It's the first time I've been inside and I was amazed at their collection.  We would have spent more time there, but Jojo had other commitments.  Come back again soon, Jojo.  There's nothing humdrum about a day spent with you!

This was my first visit to the Schells Brewery in New Ulm, Minnesota this year, and it was our good fortune to stumble upon a photography session for a fluorescent wedding party in the Schells Gardens.  It was a feast for the eyes but we missed out on the cake.

I would have been perfectly contented to stroll around the grounds taking snapshots and palavering to Melanie on how lovely it all is, but when I saw the brilliant, young wedding party having their pictures taken,  I couldn't help myself.

I can remember hearing older people remark how beautiful the young people were at different gatherings I attended as a child, and I'd look at myself and my friends and siblings and wonder what they saw. 

But now I understand.  I saw exactly what the old folks were talking about while I watched the wedding party.

I think the beauty lies in their youthful spirits, their healthy bodies and even in their naivete.  We admired the gardens and wedding party for a while, accidentally got in the photographer's way for a moment, then, wishing to give them their privacy, we sighed and left.  I had forgotten what a beautiful and peaceful place it is.

The 2nd Annual Wild Goose Chase 30 K Run/Relay around Lac qui Parle Lake

         Saturday August 2 starting at 7:30 a.m.

         Lac qui Parle State Park Headquarters

         14047 20th street NW

         Watson MN 56295

It is not too late to register and get your team together for this premiere running event of the Southwest Minnesota Region.  Any proceeds from the race go towards the advancement of the Minnesota River Trail.  Get race details by visiting Talking Lake.

It is lovely outside.

Patrick J. Moore

www.curemnriver.org

See more vintage postcards here.

My favorite collection in the vast and stately Minneapolis Institute of Arts is the collection of Modern Paintings and Sculpture where painters like Monet, Van Gogh and Degas are gracing the walls.  Sometimes I feel so overwhelmed standing in their presence, I almost have to sit down.  (My aunt Irene understands.  She feels the same way about turn of the century furniture.)

When Kasey told me that our friend, Sylvia, just returned from France and had visited Claude Monet's home in Giverny, I just knew I had to post some of the photos. 

Thank you Sylvia for sharing these images.  I've started a guest photo album where you can see a few more pictures from France.

See more postcards here.

Jim's Apple Farm

(952) 492-6380

Open 7 Days a Week, from 8:30 AM - 7:00 PM

From July 15 - The Week After Thanksgiving

Located Between Jordan & Belle Plaine on Highway 169.

Lucky Melanie and I arrived at Jim's Apple Farm while the lite was on and the pies were baking.

Jim was putting his gorgeous pies out for display and they looked delicious.  Jim's Apple Farm is a family-owned business that's been providing apples, cider, canned (as in jars) goods, hundreds of types of candy and numerous other wholesome products for 30 years.  Jim's daughter-in-law told us they still do everything the old-fashioned way.

Melanie pointed out to me that Jim's Apple Farm has the air of a county fair - and believe me, we farm girls know our county fairs. 

It's hard to miss Jim's Apple Farm when you're zipping along Highway 169 because the colorful signage pretty much shouts at you to slow down and turn in.

The retail shop at Jim's Apple Farm is immense and it was plenty busy while we were there. 

I understand Jim is unimpressed with the internet, but I say, "Thank goodness we're not all like Jim."  Some of us bake, and some of us, uh . . . don't.  I guess we'll just let Jim do what he does best, and the rest of us will take care of the world wide web. 

Earlier this year I took new photos of some of the glorious monuments at the Lakewood Cemetery located between lakes Calhoun and Harriet in Minneapolis.  I don't know anyone personally, but there are some famous people residing there, and it's such a remarkable place to visit.  Some of the monuments are as tall as the trees. 

I've said it before, and it still holds true, this beautiful place is like an out-door art museum.  And now, at the risk of being silly and possibly irreverent, and because I can't stop myself, I have to say - it seems to me that the individual in the photo above looks like he has better things to do than hang around a cemetery.  (Was that bad?)

There are some famous people buried here, like Tiny Tim, the ukelele player (remember Tiptoe Through the Tulips?) and Karl Mueller from the band Soul Asylum.  You'll also find politicians like Paul Wellstone and former Vice President of the United States, Hubert Humphrey.

Lakewood Cemetery was designed after the famous Pere-Lachaise cemetery in Paris where Jim Morrison of the Doors is buried, and considered one of the most beautiful cemeteries in the country. Surprisingly, the Wikipedia page for Lakewood Cemetery lists Carl Pohlad as a famous person (almost) buried here.  How's that for planning ahead?

More vintage postcards here.

My mom is a former teacher and a graduate of St. Catherine's College in Saint Paul, Minnesota.  She is a voracious reader in her retirement.  You can hear it in her descriptions of everyday life.  For instance, one day this spring she saw a deer come "kiting" across the bean field.  Another time she complained that the was "winged" against the car door when my dad took a corner too fast.  I think my favorite description, though, is when she told me she saw a short, little friend of mine just "popping" along the street one summer afternoon.

When I visited the farm recently, my mom sent a bunch of books home with me, and one of those was Main Street by Minnesota author Sinclair Lewis which she definitely wants back again.  It's a story about a big-city girl who marries a small-town doctor and moves with him to the fictional rural community of Gopher Prairie, Minnesota. 

Sinclair Lewis House on Summit Avenue in Saint Paul

My mom has always told me not to try and tell other people about the TV show I saw the night before because it's painful to listen to. I am going to assume the same would hold true if I were to try and give you a report about Main Street.  So, let me just say this . . .  City girls, always think twice before you marry a small-town doctor from Minnesota.  It's not going to be easy.  And you can take that to the bank.

I'm not looking for perfection.  I much prefer quirky and interesting.  And if like attracts like,  that's probably why I'm so crazy about Jordan, Minnesota located about 20 minutes south of the Twin Cities.  While Melanie was digging around in the antique shops, I was poking around where I didn't belong looking for, who knows what?

I wasn't disappointed in the gems I spotted.  Jordan is full of little old, imperfect buildings and old-fashioned gardens.

There were courtyards between buildings and surprising spaces along Sand Creek which runs through the city. 

 It couldn't have felt more like a Sunday afternoon from bygone days if it had tried.  Jordan has the most wonderful small town feeling about it.

Then, to top things off, there were some great places we could stop to have a treat after our antiquing expedition. 

Jordan has maintained its integrity and not given way to the kind of "improvements" that turn towns from charming to commercial.

There's just something soulful about a river town . . .  

Melanie called this morning and invited me to brunch with her and Crabby Dave.  Dave was crabby this morning because Melanie wanted to purchase some metalwork to attach to the side of their stucco house for decoration. 

Their destination was a home and garden shop called Twiggs at 4753  Chicago Avenue South in Minneapolis, which sports a large assortment of unusual indoor and outdoor merchandise. Inspiring!

I thought the effect of a rustic decoration against stucco would be beautiful, but practical Dave pointed out that rusty iron leaves marks on stucco and who can live with that?  Now, I hadn't thought it through when I suggested to Melanie that the big, blank space between her windows would look great with some type of architectural accent.  My decorating suggestions and the extra work they create are some of the reasons Dave is so fond of me. 

They went outside to confer about the Egyptian detail pictured at the top of this article, while I hung around inside taking pictures. It turned out Crabby Dave had a solution.  He decided to hang the metalwork in a manner that keeps it from touching the stucco.  Dave is a very gifted woodworker, so the solution came fairly easily to him. 

With that settled, we wandered down the street to Michael's Cafe where Melanie and I shared The Athenian, a Greek inspired frittata of eggs, leeks, feta cheese and spinach.  Yum.  The neighborhood at Chicago and 48th Street is delightful. 

I would have been happy to sit outside and watch the traffic go by for some time, but there were more pressing matters.  Melanie had to go save lives and I needed to buy a cake.  Big old Minnesota.  So much to see and so little time to do it.

From the Angie Bergen Postcard Collection.