Okay, maternity leave is over! Braeden is one year old, in stable condition and all around amazing. Time for me to be Amanda and do my writing stuff which I didn't even realize how much I missed until I got back into it.
When we were at Grammy and Grampy Rogers' house two weeks ago, I had a revelation about it. I was walking down a dark, gravel road with only the twinkling stars as my light. I thought, Hmm, when I walk down the road in da Harbor, the street lights are shining. This is completely void of lights from civilization. Awesome.
Then I noticed that I should be more grateful about where I am even though I can't be in my favorite place all the time. I should appreciate where I am all the time. Bam! I got an idea for a book. And when I thought of the memoir I am currently working on, I realized, Well, I better write that, so I can get this next one going!
All the sudden, ~zing~ across the sky. A shooting star! And at that moment I made a wish for myself for the first time since Braeden was born. It's been a whole year since I wished something for myself! So it's about darn time I get things rolling.
Here's a picture of the sunset from that night. It's so lovely there.
Then our little family was reunited in Crosby, Minnesota. Where the heck is that? It's part of a little cluster of towns in north-central Minnesota in a rural, recreational setting. Lots of lakes, trees and trails. Plus history from iron ore mining. Really cool, actually. I've enjoyed my time here.
Just a few places to note.
The Spalding House is a historic bar/motel/apartment building recently renovated in the past year to cater to the trail enthusiasts and locals. The bar has awesome drink specials that I think my own little town could add to its weekly routine. $1.50 taps on Tuesday nights? Try and keep me out of there! Okay, so maybe my town shouldn't do that. Wink.
And here is a picture of their fabulous tapper selection! Whatever makes the wheels go round!
Aaron, Braeden and I sleep above it in one of their cozy little rooms. I thinks it's cool, and the owners are super sweet. They recognize what's happening in their town, and they are progressive about what their visitors are looking for.
I also enjoyed my Americano and sandwich at Mixed Company. Quaint, friendly atmosphere and cute crafty things on the walls. The owner thought Braeden was adorable, but so far I haven't met anyone that doesn't. KJ's Mini Mart was also perfect for me to set up an impromptu birthday party for my one year old! Plus I even got him a nice second hand blazer for his Halloween costume. It's an interesting combo of retail, but it worked for me!
Another place of note it the park at Serpent Lake. The playground there is amazing! It's decked out like a ship with things to crawl through and pretend drive and dig and swing and slide and hang. Man, if Braeden was a little older, we would have been there all day. Except poor Duce felt dejected tied up by the entrance. Sorry buddy, no dogs allowed.
The lake there was lovely. They had a skate park with actual people using it! And camping and tennis courts and restrooms and all that. It was really well kept up. If I could have let my doggy run loose there, we would have gone back more often.
Then there's the Cuyuna Lakes State Trail. It's a paved double-wide trail that snakes between the lakes and around the little towns. It was perfect for me on my touring bike pulling B in the trailer. Lots of great vistas heading west out of Crosby. And it seemed like after every turn there was another lake! And sometimes there were lakes on both sides!
I liked the feel of this town. Nothing classy, but functional. I actually hope that Aaron has to come back and build more trails here. I would hang out and adventure and cook and write. I even got to take Braeden on his first singletrack ride in the trailer. I think he liked it because he threw up on himself!
Well, I've got a couple more stops in Wisconsin, then back to da Harbor for a month! I hope...
See you sooner rather then later!
When we were at Grammy and Grampy Rogers' house two weeks ago, I had a revelation about it. I was walking down a dark, gravel road with only the twinkling stars as my light. I thought, Hmm, when I walk down the road in da Harbor, the street lights are shining. This is completely void of lights from civilization. Awesome.
Then I noticed that I should be more grateful about where I am even though I can't be in my favorite place all the time. I should appreciate where I am all the time. Bam! I got an idea for a book. And when I thought of the memoir I am currently working on, I realized, Well, I better write that, so I can get this next one going!
All the sudden, ~zing~ across the sky. A shooting star! And at that moment I made a wish for myself for the first time since Braeden was born. It's been a whole year since I wished something for myself! So it's about darn time I get things rolling.
Here's a picture of the sunset from that night. It's so lovely there.
A northwestern Wisconsin autumn sunset
Then our little family was reunited in Crosby, Minnesota. Where the heck is that? It's part of a little cluster of towns in north-central Minnesota in a rural, recreational setting. Lots of lakes, trees and trails. Plus history from iron ore mining. Really cool, actually. I've enjoyed my time here.
Just a few places to note.
The Spalding House is a historic bar/motel/apartment building recently renovated in the past year to cater to the trail enthusiasts and locals. The bar has awesome drink specials that I think my own little town could add to its weekly routine. $1.50 taps on Tuesday nights? Try and keep me out of there! Okay, so maybe my town shouldn't do that. Wink.
And here is a picture of their fabulous tapper selection! Whatever makes the wheels go round!
20 draft beers at the Spalding House
Aaron, Braeden and I sleep above it in one of their cozy little rooms. I thinks it's cool, and the owners are super sweet. They recognize what's happening in their town, and they are progressive about what their visitors are looking for.
I also enjoyed my Americano and sandwich at Mixed Company. Quaint, friendly atmosphere and cute crafty things on the walls. The owner thought Braeden was adorable, but so far I haven't met anyone that doesn't. KJ's Mini Mart was also perfect for me to set up an impromptu birthday party for my one year old! Plus I even got him a nice second hand blazer for his Halloween costume. It's an interesting combo of retail, but it worked for me!
Birthday bash with the Rock Solid crew!
Another place of note it the park at Serpent Lake. The playground there is amazing! It's decked out like a ship with things to crawl through and pretend drive and dig and swing and slide and hang. Man, if Braeden was a little older, we would have been there all day. Except poor Duce felt dejected tied up by the entrance. Sorry buddy, no dogs allowed.
B under the Serpent at Serpent Lake
The lake there was lovely. They had a skate park with actual people using it! And camping and tennis courts and restrooms and all that. It was really well kept up. If I could have let my doggy run loose there, we would have gone back more often.
Then there's the Cuyuna Lakes State Trail. It's a paved double-wide trail that snakes between the lakes and around the little towns. It was perfect for me on my touring bike pulling B in the trailer. Lots of great vistas heading west out of Crosby. And it seemed like after every turn there was another lake! And sometimes there were lakes on both sides!
A lake along Cuyuna Lakes State Trail
I liked the feel of this town. Nothing classy, but functional. I actually hope that Aaron has to come back and build more trails here. I would hang out and adventure and cook and write. I even got to take Braeden on his first singletrack ride in the trailer. I think he liked it because he threw up on himself!
Aaron on the job in his mini-ex
Well, I've got a couple more stops in Wisconsin, then back to da Harbor for a month! I hope...
See you sooner rather then later!
