Half price tickets, you say?

And then there was the Home and Garden Show at the Minneapolis Convention Center. I think I have the Groupon bug. I hope it is short term. We could end up spending quite a bit of money if we don’t watch out. 

It was actually a nice little Fri-Sat getaway. I noticed 1//2 price tickets on Groupon and mentioned it to Joyce. Right away she said she would be interested. We don’t really have any home improvement plans coming up, but we did remember the last time we were there. We had enjoyed all the garden suggestions we saw. It turns out that it was a bit of a let down. There was a ratio of 90 to 1 home to garden information. We were expecting more of a practical live view of what something might look like if it was put together to look like a custom landscape. 

On the plus side, because we agreed to walk every aisle and look at every display, we clocked 4 miles on our walk log app on the iPhone. 

The picture represents our trail from the Hilton Hotel to the convention center and back again. 

The highlight of the day actually turned out to be the cooking competition at the kitchen stage. We started relatively early and finished our walking by 4PM. We (I) decided that it would be okay to just sit and listen to all the cooking demonstrations for the balance of the day. It turned out that if a person were to sit around there all day they probably would not have to visit any concession stands for food. The first show was about “rocky mountain caviar.” Which turned out to be a black bean corn salsa. 

The second show was given by a relatively well known chef in the Twin Cities area. It was a jerusalem artichoke soup that was really quite good. I have the recipe and am going to try to replicate it. The fun part about the demonstration was that if the chef caught you clapping or laughing at one of his jokes he would throw a tin of his special Tagine spice. 

It has a bold smokey aroma.

Then, the actual reason we stayed was to see the food contest among three of the WCCO personalities. It was a chili cooking competition. They offered three very distinct flavors. We actually got to have seconds of the finished products if we wanted. 

When we first arrived at the show, we asked if the tickets were good for the weekend. They were not. So, we decided that since we were “relatively” close to the Ikea store, that is where we decided to do breakfast the next day. Oh, by the way, did I mention that we were able to get a great rate at the downtown Hilton in Minneapolis. The room was very comfortable, but we kind of felt out of our element in the swanky digs.

At Ikea, we were able to find a few of the items that Cole had requested and, of course, we managed to find a few things for ourselves. Breakfast was eggs, sausage and crepes and lingonberry for Gary and eggs, sausage and french toast for Joyce.

And, of course, if one is at Ikea, one is also next to the Mall of America. Yes, we decided to head over there. We thought we could get a few more miles in walking the loops. We did manage to get 3+ miles in for the day.

Joyce also suggested we stop and listen to Dr. Oz. He was there to give a health pep talk to the people in the rotunda. It was a great suggestion. It was very informational and entertaining. 

We did take the opportunity to purchase our first new scrabble board in about 36 years. It is in anticipation of our 1000th head to head match. That will be a future post.

Joyce was very very close to completing our Twin Cities adventure by agreeing to take the zip line at the lego land amusement center. 

We almost made it. The crowds got bigger and the lines got longer by the time we made our way there.

So, we decided that we would have a DQ cone instead.

We have decided that the zip line will have to wait for an early morning middle of the week adventure. But, then again, being (R)etired has that advantage.

Now, where did I put the Groupon app………… 

Guess who discovered Groupon

So many good deals, so little time in my life for so many massages, breweries and bistros. But, a person has to try, right?

As it happens, the one item that caught my eye was the discount for the night lighting of the Minnesota Model RR Association. 

It is an offering from the group that happens during the winter months. Some of you may know that I do like model trains and when I retired I planned and still do plan on setting up a display downstairs. Of course that was before I took all my tools down there and kind of left too little space for a display that would fit my "vision."

Oh, yeah, I was talking about Groupon, wasn't I. It is surprising what a 50% off coupon will drive a person to do. And speaking of driving, that is what we did. After all, what is a mere 80 miles to go see a bunch of "toy trains" right? It happens the model train museum is in Saint Paul. the viewing started at 6PM. But, I will get back to that in a while.

I have learned over time that our trips need to have an actual plan about them before we go. So, parts of the plan included a place to stay, a place to shop, places to eat, and places to rest. It seems like the resting places are becoming more important as we age.

the Holiday Inn Express in Roseville was gifted with our presence this time. 

It will be gifted with our presence in the future as well. A friendly staff, clean rooms, AYCE breakfast and good "age related" discounts combined to make this a great place to stay. And the bonus was that it was centrally located to all of our adventure spots.

The Friday night portion included a stop at the Roseville Mall. One might wonder why we (I) would choose the Roseville Mall. It might have had something to do with the Apple Store there. Of course there are many other stores there, but don't ask me to name any of them. Joyce might remember, but for me the rest of the mall was just a blur.

It takes a bit of creativity to figure out what to do from the check out time of 11AM until the Model show 6PM. We decided to go back bit in our history and visit places we had not been in a while. But, first, even though Joyce does not enjoy surprises, I thought if it involved chocolate, it would be okay. Just Truffles.

You may have heard of the place. This was the place that was tasked with providing one of the gifts for the Grammy's. And as the name suggests the specialty is truffles. Joyce chose the apricot brandy, I chose the key lime and we both agreed on the double chocolate.

The young woman asked if we wanted them gift wrapped, to which Joyce replied, no they are not going to last long after we get back to the car. The double chocolate never had a chance. We no sooner had our seatbelts on and it was history.

Recently the primate exhibit at Como Park and Zoo had a newborn orangutan. 

It had been quite a few years since we had been there. We were pleasantly surprised with all the improvements that had taken place. Inexpensive entertainment is a key drawing point. Free if you want it to be, and recommended donations of $3 for adults. With that a person can enjoy a really well maintained zoo and a really really maintained arboretum.

 

It is easy to spend hours there.

Did I mention that we were actually there to see model railroads. It did not disappoint. In the daylight, what has been done with the displays is amazing. Many of the historic landmarks are incorporated in the main layout, which is huge by the way. One of the architectural elements was a very realistic replica of the building in which were standing. But, when the sun goes down and the lights turn on, there is a totally different feel.

Oh, and Liam, Thomas the engine, invited me to fire him up and let him travel the tracks for a while. As a matter of fact, there were quite a few chances to run model trains around the tracks.

And to think, it was a chance encounter with the Groupon Fairy that lead us to a great couple of days away from Peaceful Pines. Now, did I see a groupon for hot rock massages.................... 

At least we made it home safely.

I suppose it is always better to start at the beginning. The lead sentence, " at least we made it home safely," makes it sound a bit more dramatic than it really was. But, I suppose, for a couple of "aging" travelers it was a trip that did not have to have quite as many "moments" to make us wonder if we had made the right decision to make our trip to visit Roxanne in Cheyenne, Wyoming.

So, let's back up a bit. Roxanne was a bit surprised that when I suggested I would help her install a router to give her wireless access for her laptop, I would be doing it in person.

After a bit of discussion, Joyce and I decided the Buick was the car of choice for the trip. It can hold more stuff and it is more comfortable than the pickup would have been.

In the end we did need space and we did need the slumber comfort since it turns out 800 miles seems longer than it used to in the past.

Our trip west was quite uneventful. Our original plan was to drive about eight hours and find a place for the night.

It turns out that Rosebud, South Dakota was the place to stay over night. It just happens to have a casino with a motel attached.

Our room was quite comfortable and Gary's luck in the casino garnered a $45 profit.

Our next stop was Fort Collins, Colorado. I know, you may be thinking, "I thought you were only going to Cheyenne." Yes, that was the plan. There were no good reviews for the motels in Cheyenne. As it turned out, it was a blessing in disguise (more on that later). We booked the Cambria Suites for our stay. It had the best reviews and was relatively affordable.

Our first day visiting Roxanne went well. We visited with her church group and from there went to her house.

 I was able to install her router without too many issues. Mission accomplished and knowing Roxanne had to get to bed for her work shift, we headed out for the rest of the afternoon.

We decided to visit was the flower displays at The Gardens at Spring Park.

It was alive with innovative displays. 

And here our adventure really begins. As we were taking our self guided tour the person in charge approached and informed us that we were almost locked in for the evening. They had done the security check moments before we arrived and thought that the area we were in was empty of visitors. She was very nice about it and we were invited to return the next day for a more complete tour.

Well, as it turned out that was not going to happen. In an empty parking lot, our car would not start. "No problem," I thought. In the past it was just a case of a vapor lock in the fuel line. 45 minutes later, I was guessing a bad fuel pump. 

1 1/2 hours later we were being towed to Houska Automotive where the car would rest until the next day. Oh, by the way, did I mention this occurred on a Sunday evening when no garages were open? Our tow truck driver was very helpful and even went out of his way to take us back to our motel. And that was it for our "adventure" of the day.

Monday started out a bit iffy. I called the garage to see if they had looked at our car and was told there were already 25 cars that already had appointments to be looked at, but they would see if they could free up a mechanic to see what was wrong with it. Yes, it was a fuel pump. The good news was that they would be able to work on it. The discouraging news was that it would not be ready for at least 8 hours. So, what does a couple do stranded in an unfamiliar town waiting? Of course the answer is always go shopping.

We were also able to catch up on our reading, take a nap, watch television, read the newspaper, take a two mile hike.........

The other good news is that the Buick did get fixed. 

I highly recommend Houska Automotive if you are ever in need of service in Fort Collins.

We altered our schedule a bit and made the decision that after our 2nd visit with Roxanne, from there we would head home. during our visit we had a nice time chatting. I was able to get her new printer up and running as well. And when it was time to head out Joyce and I agreed that we might just try to drive straight through and only stop if both of us were too tired to drive.

Our luck ran positive in Rosebud again. We pulled in there to get gas and we were informed that they were celebrating their 20 year anniversary. Gas was being discounted to $3 a gallon. Did I mention that we were going to try to drive straight through? That means, of course, that there would be some night driving. Of course that means that we were relying on our car to have headlights that stay on in the dark. I am sure you get the drift of where I am going here. 3:30 am is not a good time to lose the lights.

Luckily, Clara City has a cozy little rest area where one can park and sleep until daylight.

I am of the opinion that the trip was very successful. First and foremost, we were able to visit with Roxanne. We were able to get her technologically updated a bit. We met some wonderful, helpful people. We saw a lot of beautiful scenery. I got to drive a lot. The Buick averaged 30 mpg throughout the trip. We discovered that Fort Collins is a very friendly place to visit with many things to do.

And, in the end, the dysfunctional Buick is being set aside for a newer ride. While it has served us well, Joyce is okay with finding it a new owner.

Oh, did I mention we discovered that the rear wheel wells had rusted through and now we know how the pool of water was able to form in the trunk when we drove in the rain?

Mother Nature Mourns

Well, I will be darned. Look what time of the year it is already. Where has the time gone? One moment I am peacefully hibernating in the igloo here at Peaceful Pines, the next moment, poof, spring arrives.

I hope no one missed all that sarcasm. Here we are at the end of April and the last vestiges of snow are melting away.

I think Mother Nature is having a difficult time letting go of her winter child and letting it become the spring toddler it wants to be. So far we are ranging about 20 degrees below normal for temperatures and a few inches above for rainfall. Her sadness is pervasive.

On the brighter side, Joyce and I have accomplished quite a bit in anticipation of warmer weather. We have piles and piles and piles of branches stacked as evidence of Joyce's pruning adventure. 

 

I was able to boil off some sap for maple syrup. We decided to add two more trees to the collection process. It turned out to be a good decision. The sap only ran for about ten days. It was slow to start but quick to end. I have mentioned in another post the process. I really do enjoy the time outside.

The fact that I can use the gifts of the land to produce our year's supply of syrup is very satisfying.

I also decided that this was the year that I would try to design an implement to smooth the dirt area of the driveway. And, while my initial drawing looked hopeful,

 

it was not until my brother-in-law, John, with his welding expertise, brought my vision to reality. 

Thank you, John.

Remember the bricks? You know, the auction bricks. It seems not all of them were as sturdy as when they were first manufactured. We had plenty of broken pieces. Leave it to Joyce and her creative mind to make lemonade from broken bricks.

 

She can now proudly announce the names of all her growing plants on the reused broken bits.

So, we will continue to let Mother Nature wallow in her sorrow.

 

 In the meantime, there will be projects to finish in anticipation of the the fury of the temperature tantrums of her summer child. At which point, Joyce will be praising the wonders of the air source heat pump. Ah, the circle of life.

Okay, now we are done...

a short stay at Izaty's, 

followed by a longer stay camping near Isabella, brings our summer/fall adventures to an end. 

It was really quite pleasant. We were able to stay in the site we had scouted last year. It is at the end of the cul de sac and not visited by many.

behind our site ran the Little Isabella River.

It is a river that a friend of mine and I walked up, in the water, to fish for bass. It is also the area where my first, and last, bear hunting experience took place.

Now, it is all about seeing the changing of the colors 

 

and listening to the crackle of a warm fire.

There is just something liberating about being able to start, maintain, and cook over a fire in the "wilderness."

Next year already beckons us north. Or it could be Betty's Pies. Sometimes my beckoning signals get mixed up.

On the Road, er Rrail, Again

Have I mentioned that we, Joyce and I are “R”etired? I hate to rub it in, but we are.

So, what does a couple of “R”etired people do with their time when they are not tending gardens or building projects to check off the “to do” list? Perhaps check an item off Gary’s want to do list? Yes, that’s it. Check an item off Gary’s want to do list.

A train trip across half the US seems reasonable, I’d say. Combine that with a Schnoor family reunion, An Oregon Ducks football game, a trip to the ocean and a test drive of the newer electric car models, I’d say that is a way to spend time enjoying the fruits of the labors past.

Taking the train means one should not rely on an iron clad schedule. By the time we arrived in Minot, ND, we were a bit more than an hour behind the posted schedule. Since Joyce and I were not expecting to be met by anyone, it did not matter to us.

We were a bit wary of the choice of train to get us to the coast. When we last took a train, Joyce had an issue with the swaying of the train. Our seats were in the upper level and the movement seemed amplified up there. This time we purchased lower level reserve seats and we could tell a marked difference. It felt more like being at road level.

Yes, North Dakota is flat, even from the view of a train window.

But, once the flat gives way to the rolling hills and eventually the majestic mountains, I always remember the reason this train trip is high on my repeat adventure list.

Of course, it is nice when the train passes through the majestic landscape when it is light enough to appreciate nature in all its glory.

The reunion? It is always a treat to visit with Joyce’s family. Good food, fun conversation and visiting with relatives who haven’t been seen in a long time, is always special.

The game? I must say, the ducks do know how to throw a football party. The duck mascot was being "moshed" UP the section across from us. Can you see it in the vid?

I love the ocean. It doesn’t matter which one it is. I love the expanse. I love the power of the crashing surf. I love the sand under my feet. I love the smell of the salt spray.

And then there was the test drive. Well, actually, there was no test drive. We had plenty of things to do, so that remains something for a later date. But, a drive up into the Cascades is a wonderful alternative. Where else in the U.S. can one find lush forest and a treeless lava field all within about 60 miles?

And, yes, a great adventure also brings me to the realization that Peaceful Pines, emphasis on Peaceful, is the place to hang my hat at the end of the day.

Hmmmm, Wait a minute, is that Puerto Rico calling?

Done, done and done

Replace the lean to beside the shed, check.

Add to and redo the retaining wall down the driveway, check.

Finish the fire ring area, which was started before the others, check, finally check.

While the other two were satisfying and look nice, the fire pit area really is the favorite finished project of the three.

It started out, more or less, as a blank canvas. I kind of had an idea of what I would like to have the finished area look. But, at times I was not sure I was going to be able to realize the vision.

The brick pattern needed to be adjusted a few times. The number of bricks from the auction, I talked about those in a different blog, were not enough to complete the project without adding a few of the type that had been used in the lean to area.

First there was the bringing in of the fill,

then the laying of the brick,
















 and finally the building of the rear step exit area. 

What actually brought it to life, so to speak, was Joyce’s designer touch. When she added the geraniums in the planters I had constructed, I knew it was a finished project.

So, I spent the Labor Day holiday just tending the fire.

And tomorrow the preparation for our whirlwind three-week adventure begins.  There are clothes to pack, campfire wood to load, golfing gear to put in place and camping gear to get into the back of the pickup.

And that does not even count the trip we are going to take before we use all that other stuff!