Happy Summer/Winter

What is with our weather?

One day it is so hot that I am sure that summer has arrived, then the next day it is cold enough to wonder if summer is over or not coming! 

I love it when it is really warm. 

How about you?

I just took a Red Hat trip to Minneapolis with a friend that is the opposite --- she likes it cool and I like it warm. This time I took a heating pad along to survive the night! It did work. 

Here are a few of the highlights of the trip.

We stopped for lunch at a fancy place.

We were supposed to eat on the patio, which was beautiful and overlooking the Mississippi River but it was raining so we were indoors. The food was very good. 

This is Kay, the tour guide for the trip. 

We stopped at the National Eagle Center. Quite an impressive place! There are a few eagles that live there permanently because they have been injured and can not be rehabilitated so are used for educational purposes. 

These are two of the eagles that live there. 

Our next stop was for ice cream at the Nelson Creamery. 

They had delicious ice cream and a nice gift shop. 

We drove past the Laura Engles Wilder house but didn't get off the bus. 

The Mall of America was next. It was evening but I sure thought it would be busier! 

Linda, a Silver Stamper friend,  met us there as she lives close enough to drive in for a visit. 

The visit was so nice that we didn't get any pictures! Mentioned it a few times and she took these of my travel partner, Nancy, and me in the Unicorn photo op. 

This is Nancy. She is fun.

I think Linda would approve of her as my travel partner. 

I had to have my pix taken also. 

We got something to eat and had a wonderful visit while the sun set.

Thank you, Linda, for taking the time to meet us for the visit.

I am looking forward to our next visit already! 

The next morning we boarded the bus and headed to St, Paul and the Wabasha Caves.

This is where the gangsters hung out. We didn't got into the caves --- that is another tour --- but that is our step on guide, one of the two documented female gangsters of the era, with our guide. 

The woman was awesome. Really knows her history and "became" that gangster! She pointed out many sights in St. Paul that had to do with the gangsters and the corruption that went on during the turn of the century. 

Of course, breweries figured into the mix during and after prohibition.

The Hamm Family was prominent. We did get out and walk the grounds.

There were three large homes on this stop that were all in the family. This one has the original  Hamm's bear on the front lawn. Photo op! The lady that lives there is elderly and doesn't mind the tours to come up and have their pictures taken. 

The bear won't be there much longer. When they did some renovations on the all wooden bear, they found that its arm has bugs. It cannot be repaired and may be a danger to surrounding trees so the bear will have to be destroyed. So sad! 

The house next door is privately owned and the third one is a facility for recovering alcoholics! 

Quite fitting!

We had several views of the capital throughout the day. 

We also saw many of the huge. beautiful homes in the area, all the while being entertained and enlightened by our wonderful guide! 

That took most of the morning. I think she could have gone on for, at least, another hour. 

She did mention that if we hadn't been such a good audience that we would have been finished much sooner! 

Our next stop was for lunch.

Very interesting! Not a place that many of us would have chosen, but it was very good although different. Good Russian food served family style. 

I will continue with the trip on the next blog. 

I know that you are interested in the cards that I will have for you at the Stamp Along next Monday. 

Here are a few of them. 

This one will be back.

It is made with the block stamping combined with the eclipse technique.

This one is also a return. 

This is the DSP that was free during SAB. 

This one uses that darn cute little squirrel since there are so many of them running around the yards right now. I enjoy watching the cute antics of the squirrels.

This is using the new, beautiful embossing folder along with some of the specialty designer paper.

It is gorgeous! 

The picture doesn't do it justice at all! 

That is it for this time. 

Sorry it is so long! 

Thanks for taking time to spend with me. 

Let me know that you are there with a quick comment. 

Thanks! 

The hostess code for this month is:

YC4SSKSV

Thank you to all of my on line customers! 

I appreciate you so much. 

If you need a catalog, please let me know and I will get one to you.