A little time away....

We went away for our 10th anniversary this weekend to a lovely place in the country called A Journey Inn. It is an eco-friendly Bed & Breakfast located on 66 acres of prairie and woods with winding paths throughout the property. We left on Saturday afternoon on a leisurely drive and arrived in the nearby artsty town of Maiden Rock, Wisconsin in time to visit a funky gallery owned by my friend's mom called Secret Heart Gallery. I had tried to visit it a while back when Janet and I visited Seed Savers in IA, but we arrived after hours and missed it. What a place! Ron and I found a few goodies to bring home to decorate our ever-expanding collection of Mexican-themed art in the upstairs hallway. I can't get enough of Frida!

Back at the inn, we enjoyed our stroll down the plush (and too buggy for being outside without bug spray) mowed paths through the woods and restored prairie. We dream of someday moving to our farm and maybe even turning the old house into a retreat center of sorts, so this place helped us to imagine what our lives could look like in ten years. The construction of A Journey Inn is very eco-minded and simple, with dramatic views of the nearby rolling hills and bluffs, as well as filled with thoughtful details like a walk-in shower, plush organic cotton towels, low VOC paints and a delightful organic brunch in the morning. The brunch is served at 11:00, with coffee and toast available for early risers (or coffee in bed fans, like me!).

We stayed on the 2nd floor and thought the view was amazing!

Our cucumber salad this morning featured house-grown cukes and tomatoes and was sprinkled with calendula flower petals and garnished with a nasturtium leaf. So beautiful!

For dinner we went to Norton's Downtown in Red Wing, MN. The restaurant is owned by a local MN musician and has been on our "must visit" list for years. Mmmm.

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We returned home 24 hours later feeling refreshed, well-rested and happily in love. And tomorrow... I return to work.

Happy 10th Anniversary to Us!

Ten years ago today... it was a beautiful 73 degree day. We were married in South Minneapolis, then proceeded to Uptown Lunds in our wedding clothes (where we met) for a little stroll and then to the reception at the Nicollet Island Pavillion. We've been busy... a house, a dog, three kids, a farm, lots of travel, and so much fun. I love you, Ronny!

We celebrated with a quick dinner at Pizza Luce but the real celebration will be this weekend when we take a little getaway to a Bed and Breakfast out of town. I can't wait!

Smokin' and Grillin'

Ron and his friend Pat are going to be in a Barbeque contest this summer. To prepare for it and to enhance his techniques, Ron recently acquired a very cool new addition to our entertaining palate. A smoker. A very big, sturdy, serious smoker.
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This weekend he went to the store and bought a little bit of everything, from a whole chicken to peaches, in order to give the smoker its maiden voyage on our driveway. I don't know who had more fun... Ron and his glass of scotch, thermometer and tongs, or me, watching him on the driveway totally immersed in his element.
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I'm looking forward to many, many more afternoons of the same this summer. Bon appetit!

The Birthday Man

I was going to type "the birthday boy," but considering that he's turning 40 today, I think that merits being called a man.

Happy Birthday, Ronny. I love you from your young art museum -going self, to your early beer-can collecting self, to the feathered look with your dog Lizzie, and hanging out with Craig and Grandpa Ronny. And to the man that I know best, the one in the last photo, a mere ten years ago when you proposed to me on New Year's Eve, I wish you many, many more birthdays together.

A tree house is growing at our house:: part three

Spring is blooming at our house. Actually, these photos were taken last week in the middle of flowering glory. We have two flowering crabs and an apple tree... each with their own beautiful color of blossom. The tree house is mostly complete, except for the roof. The kids got to hang out up there and enjoy the fun spindles Ron installed to make it safer for the little ones.
In the midst of all the building, he realized that another branch would have to come down off the apple tree, while in full bloom. Quickly I grabbed my clippers and transformed it into a monster sized bouquet for my dining room table. The scent of apple blossoms lingered in the house for days. Ahhh, spring.

A tree house is growing at our house:: part 1

Life around our house has been more fun lately with Daddy home more often. Ron has been working incredible hours these past few months as the owner of his own business. It feels good to know that every hour he's away from us, he's putting in an hour toward our future. Still, having him around here really feels good.

Last weekend the boys and Ron broke ground, or shall I say, cut branches on a tree house. Ron had been thinking about building one with the boys for quite some time when he received a great book on tree houses for birthday this year. It was inspiring for the boys to look at, drool over and dream about. Carl even took it outside one sunny afternoon a few weeks ago to study and then sketch out his dream fort with a visiting friend.

In addition to just having him home, I like that it is his project. Well, their project. I'm the gardener and flower tender in the family while he just mows. It makes me smile when the kids crowd around him and the old apple tree that will soon become their new home and I find that I actually have a few kid-free moments to do my own digging.Getting started: a post that was dug into the ground and concrete poured on top. (Please don't report our peeling paint to the city. It's on our list for summer tasks.)

I'll report back as the project progresses and the fun continues.

Happy Birthday, dear Ronny

Today my husband turns 39.

He's not the mushy-in-public type at all, so I won't go on and on like I'd like to. (But I might...)

He was 28 when I met him on a cool night in Uptown Minneapolis. For those of you readers who know our story, skip forward to the photos. For those of you who don't, read on for a sweet tale.

I was supposed to be shopping at my local co-op just blocks away from my house, but it was late and it was closed. Instead I drove to Uptown Lunds, an upscale and hip kind of grocery store, where I picked up my bananas and headed to the yogurt section. There I encountered a tall guy, freckled faced and just my type, walking down the dairy aisle past me. We stole glances briefly, then I followed him up to the register with my yogurt and bananas in hand. He was buying milk, just a quart. Of whole milk. Hmmm. Who buys just a quart of whole milk?

In line behind him I quizzed him on whether or not he liked late night milk and cookies (thinking, why else would anyone be buying that milk at this hour?). He informed me that he didn't really like cookies, but that he bought his milk there a few times a week. Then he left.

I checked out and dragged myself to the parking lot only to find him there, slowly getting into his car. Figuring that there was nothing else to do, I hopped into my car and drove home.

Weeks later I was looking at the City Pages, a local Arts and Entertainment newspaper, and discovered the "I Saw You" section. There it was:

Lunds Uptown 3/24

You: yogurt and fruit. Me: milk.

Had to run, would like to talk.

I was at work and I think I screamed so loud that a few co-workers ran to check on me. I called and left a message on the paper's voice mail system that night. A few days later, he called me. The rest is history! Almost 11 years later, a house, a dog, a farm and three kids later, I'm sitting here writing his birthday message. I love you, tall Ronny.

My New Camera

For our 8th anniversary a few weeks ago, Ron surprised me with a present for both of us: a digital SLR camera. I've been drooling over the photos of fellow blog-mamas for quite some time, yearning for the day when I could graduate to a more hefty camera. I told myself that I had to organize all my digital photos on the computer, backing them up, renaming the files... before I could allow myself to indulge in a camera. I think that at the rate I'm accomplishing things, that day would have never arrived. Thankfully, my dear Ronny decided that a digital SLR could be a hobby for both of us and did the camera research himself. Also included with the camera were certificates for us to take photography classes together, levels one and two. I'm thrilled!

The above photo is of Gus' hands chock full of cuke nuts, or what look like miniature watermelons but taste like cucumbers. It is my favorite photo thus far on the new camera. While we sort out the techical aspects of downloading from the new camera, I'll be using both cameras.

Happy Father's Day

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Happy Father's Day to Ronny, who is the best Dad I could imagine for our three small ones.

Letting them ride on your shoulders, sitting on the front stoop together, cooking a turkey, swinging at the park, watching parades, wearing the Bjorn, riding Thomas the train, teaching how to ride bikes without training wheels, holding, cuddling, rocking, being silly, wrestling,

and rapping... thanks for everything you do to make us who we are as a Welbaum family.

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We love you.

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Jenny, Carl, Gus, Louise and Molly