My friend, Angie, and I allowed ourselves to be picked up by some forty-ish rockers to ride along out to Fort Snelling in Saint Paul, Minnesota.  It was quite a ride.  We sat in back and got a chance to see a whole lot of air-guitar and head-banging.

It was actually kind of fun and reminded me of back in the days when being spontaneous was second nature and we understood how to be in the moment. 

The point of our trip was to attend an open house and step behind the veil at the Upper Post and tour the grounds which are in desperate need of preservation.  Wee doggies, it was hot!  Hello summer.  I'll be whining about the heat until it's time to complain about the cold again.  But, I digress.

I was surprised to see how run down these historic buildings are.  It was kind of sad.  Still, I have mixed feelings about anything related to war, and this fort is not without its dubious past.  I can't reconcile my feelings about the treatment of Minnesota's indigenous people which took place here.  There are those who would argue the land should be returned to Native Americans. The truth is, I never looked at the other side before.

I guess history is history.  The important thing is to remember all of it, and not pick and choose only the parts we care to remember.  These buildings are some of the oldest in the state, from the earliest part of the 1800's. 

While touring, we were circled by a number of buzzards.  I don't think they were interested in us, necessarily, but something in this overgrown and wooded area had captured their attention.

We  heard about the African-American buffalo soldiers who were stationed at the post 1882 and 1888 and about the many other soldiers.

The open house was sponsored by the Mississippi National River and Recreation Area, in partnership with Fort Snelling State Park, the Minnesota Historical Society, Hennepin County, the National Trust for Historic Preservation and the Mississippi River Fund.

As for those rebel rock and rollers Angie and I were riding with, well, I know it may give the wrong impression but I'm going to tell you the truth.  They ended the trip with an ice cream cone.  How cute is that?

My friend, Cindy, and I drove to Montevideo for my annual pedicure at the Nirvana Salon.  This was only my second one, and I resisted the first.  You know how you get an idea in your head about who you are?  I have always considered myself a no-nonsense kind of person when it comes to pampering myself.  Cindy, on the other hand, has always been a girly girl.

I was able to reconcile my ambivalence, however, when I considered that my self-indulgence was actually good for the local economy.  And besides, I loved all that personal attention.  Some of us don't get nearly enough physical contact, so I guess maybe I can scratch if off my "want" list and pencil it onto my "needs" list.  And, I have pretty toes now.  I let Cindy choose my nail color, a rich red like ripe cherries. 

Exhausted and starved from all that pampering, we walked across the street to Java River Coffee House for lunch.  Java River is a local mecca for creative, organic, socially conscious earth mother types.  It's the kind of place not typically found in the far reaches of Minnesota - although their popularity seems to be growing. 

I ordered my favorite item on the menu, a chicken gyro made with happy, locally raised chicken.  Java River supports regional agriculture, serving local products when possible.  Java River is the only food establishment I have known with a mission statement.

Although under new management, Java River continues to support the local arts.  I think it would be wonderful to head back across the state to Chippewa County to take part in the Meander Upper Minnesota River Art Crawl October 2nd, 3rd & 4th. You can find information about this and other creative endeavors at Java River, where a display rack is jammed full of fliers about local artists and events.

Autumn would be the perfect time to enjoy a treat in Java River's cozy courtyard.  Well, perfect for me, anyway.  I noticed there were others who didn't mind the heat and enjoyed sipping cool drinks in the shade.  I'm afraid if I had tried that, I would have have sweated the polish right off my pretty little toenails.

Life imitating art at the Historic Swensson Farm in Chippewa County, Minnesota.

Kinda.