Wednesday, August 5, 2009

Our last vacation of the summer...

Got our first glimpse of Lake Superior in Duluth at 2 p.m. when we arrived today. Found the Great Lakes Aquarium and Mary burned off some energy from the car ride on the play structure outside. We walked around down by the water for awhile watching the big ships making their way through the lift bridge canal. Then we met up with our friends Jon and Kristine and took our tour of the Aquarium.

Sampled the local fare at Grizzly's Grill, and then checked into our room at the Country Inn & Suites in Hermantown. Mary and I checked out the hotel pool complete with a water slide. Then Mary hung out with Jon and Kristine while Joel and I headed back down to the canal for an evening stroll of the waterway between the lighthouse and the lift bridge.

Tomorrow we take our drive up along the North Shore to Lutzens.

Saturday, June 20, 2009

As the sun sets over the lake on our last day here, we reflect on the many wonderful friends we’ve made, the fantastic experiences we’ve shared, and the amazing food we’ve tried and enjoyed.

Today, we attempted to pack in as many fun, lake activities as possible (before having to pack to go home)--wave running, shuffleboard, swimming, soccer, basketball, horseshoes, croquet, fishing, reading, picture taking, eating 7-layer dip, going to Famous Dave’s Original Restaurant for more of the best BBQ, and viewing our own private, spectacular fireworks display on the lake put on by our hosts and our cabin caretaker.

You’ve all heard my daily descriptions, Ross’s eloquent way of writing, and Mary’s musings, and now in honor of Father’s Day and fathers everywhere, Joel will share his perspective on our last day in Hayward, Wisconsin at the Tamarack cabins on Round Lake…

Perfect is the only word to describe our week here with Dave and his wife Kathy. We really have enjoyed getting to know them and the extended group of family and friends that made us feel so welcome. Paul, Mark and Chris, James and Colleen and the kids, John and Lance, Chris and Eric and all of the other Original Famous Dave’s people too numerous to mention.

The weather was absolutely amazing and to walk out of our cabins in the morning and to witness the sun hitting the lake surrounded by trees is something out of a nature mural. Taking the pontoon boat out around the lake and watching a bald eagle soar out of its nest was amazing. Deb’s family has always been such a joy to be with and the lively discussion and superb food are what I always look forward to. One surprise was getting to try Dave’s Wild Rice soup. I am a huge fan of soup, and I can honestly tell you that it was the best wild rice soup I have ever had! We will hate to say goodbye tomorrow but the memories and friends we have made will always be very special to us. I will also hate saying goodbye to the ribs, brisket, catfish, soup, and pizza! I know I will have to see Bev soon for more 7 layer dip, pizza, and quesadillas along with her incredible wit and charm she brings to the table. This has been just one more incredible trip with Deb’s family, and I am so thankful they think to include us on their many adventures. I could go on and on but one word describes the people, the food, and the location….perfect!

Friday, June 19, 2009

At 4:45 a.m., the lightning and thunder were a spectacular beginning to a torrential downpour with wind and what we thought was some hail. Turned out it wasn’t hail, but pine cones from the tall pine trees surrounding the cabin that were plopping down on to our deck. Sleep had eluded Joel and I for much of the night prior to the storm when Mary had come in and climbed in our bed after a nightmare about bugs. I can’t imagine why she was having a bad dream about bugs—there are only triple the amount of creepy crawly and flying things here than there are in Iowa. Joel had to get up and go help out with a computer issue at the Famous Dave’s Restaurant at 7 a.m. and I went back to sleep for a couple more hours. I’m still pretty wiped out, so I’m going to let Mary tell about the rest of our day…

This morning we went downtown and we went to all these stores. Some were cool and some were interesting. So when we get to this candy store called Tremblay’s Sweet Shop where I drooled and drooled and drooled…it was so good I had to go back. We went to the bakery store which had huge danishes that I decided I must be in heaven. And so I had to skip the ice cream and go right to the bakery. Then we went back to our cabin and we had quesadillas for lunch which were so good. We went to a restaurant called Old Hayward Eatery and Brew Pub so Ross and Daddy could eat since they were out on the boat fishing when we had our quesadillas. Then we went back to town once more and went to some stores that we didn’t see before and some that we had seen.

When we went to the candy store again I bought some candy for myself and we watched the guys making the fudge on the big marble slab. My candy was taffy from taffy town which was flavors chocolate chip, chocolate malt, and chocolate—yeah, I know, mostly chocolate. And then we showed Dad the bakery, and then he was like let’s go straight to the ice cream, because I am so hungry. And so when we got there, the name of the ice cream store was West’s Hayward Dairy. We were the first people in line to pick the choices of our ice cream. My mom got the flavor Minnesotas Nut So Goody, and my brother got the sinful something and I was thinking of getting chocolate since that’s what I usually get, but when my mom told me about the s’mores, I went straight to the s’mores and my dad got that, too. We thought our ice cream was so good, we didn’t think we could eat supper.

We went back to our cabin and went onto the boat over to Famous Dave’s Restaurant where we got t-shirts. While the grown-ups were buying their t-shirts, me and Andrew went to the arcade. Andrew was playing a hunting game, and he showed me like this stampede scene of the game and at the end of the stampede, there’s this lion that comes at you closer and closer each time you chuck this thing at it. I don’t usually play hunting games, but we were just laughing about it. Back out on the boat, me and Andrew were playing a game of gibberish words.

Ross went on a sailboat ride and mom just stayed at our cabin and read her book.

I played on the swing and then we went to Dave’s cabin for supper where we had his Chicken Wild Rice soup, Bev’s pizza, and Dave’s burgers. I ate so many pieces of pizza, I could not count. After I ate some pizza I did so many things like watching Baby Brad; playing soccer games with Andrew, Christopher, and Chris; and going crazy, while the grown-ups played horseshoes and talked.

We’re back at our cabin relaxing a bit now before we go out for our nightly bonfire. See ya tomorrow!

Thursday, June 18, 2009

Started the morning off early once again, when the temperature is still cool and the air is fresh and crisp and the constant mixed orchestra of the overly enthusiastic song birds is practically an assault on the hearing. The faint scent of fried breakfast foods filtered through the air attracting hungry little children and coffee carrying adults.

Throughout the day everyone found something to keep themselves occupied. Some ventured out on to the lake to sink into a deep depression as hooks kept being reeled in wormless and fishless. An occasional note was left by a few sarcastic fish stating that we should keep trying; maybe we'll get lucky. An hour later, it never changed.

Some went into town to do some shopping and endulge on the pleasures of many seductive candies, chocolates, and heavenly homemade ice cream. Still some decided to slip into a deep state of unconciousness and prepare for the day's later events.

For lunch Bev created a preview of her famous pizza to try for those that would not be around in the evening for the endless pizza buffet.

At 2:00 PM the meeting of the minds was in session. The majority of the people sat and endured the endless streams of information at the meeting. While the minority stayed and fished, swam in the lake, and pushed the jet skis to their limits.

When the meeting was over the battle of the best pizza maker was on. Bev the wise and legendary Collins vs. Dave the Cunning and Famous Anderson. I'm not sure how many people were actually comparing whose pizza was better, it was just a matter of how many pieces you could eat before everyone else got to it.

A vigorous competition of badminton, soccer, and croquet followed after everyone had reached the point of discomfort and agony, of course. Once the night fell upon us, the mosquito population seemed to quadruple and chased the crowd into the safety of their cabins. The night finished with everyone peacefully relaxin' and letting the day's many events creep over them and drive them into a much needed sleep--in order to prepare for another day in paradise.

Deb's Note: Today's blog was written by my son Ross. He does me proud--I couldn't have said it better myself!

Wednesday, June 17, 2009

There’s something about waking up, peering out the window, and gazing out across a lake that just makes the day start off great! It doesn’t hurt that just three doors down in Cabin #7 Bev has eggs, bacon, and toast cooking for anyone hungry for breakfast.

First item on the agenda after breakfast today was the purchase of fishing licenses and bait. The fish got fed well off the dock this morning with the catch and release method of fishing. What was funny was that the kids (who didn’t need to purchase a license to fish) caught the most fish. It was such a delight to see their faces light up and hear their squeals when reeling in each fish. They all picked up on casting and became pros. I had great fun “catching” their expressions in pictures.

I got to do one of my favorite relaxing pastimes (after my first favorite pastime of photographing my vacation): sitting on the deck overlooking the lake, reading a good book, and sipping my coffee. While sitting there, Dave (THE Famous Dave) drove up and extended an invitation to come hear him speak at his restaurant. Bev and I went over and listened to his motivational speech that he was giving to some 70 realtors and bankers assembled to hear the advice from this multi-millionaire.

Back at the cabins, Bev was in her kitchen (again) preparing quesadillas for our lunch. I taught everyone how to wave a pizza pan at the smoke alarm to get it to stop beeping. Thankfully, Bev will be teaching everyone what she does best with a pizza pan tomorrow!

Out on the pontoon boat, we took another tour around the lake; and then the kids cooled off in the water before we got ready for dinner. For our meal tonight, we were guests of Dave Anderson at his original Famous Dave’s Restaurant which he built 15 years ago. Dave ordered the feast for all of us consisting of the best ribs, brisket, corn muffins, coleslaw, BBQ baked beans, corn on the cob, BBQ chicken, and fries. To top it off (as if eating with THE Famous Dave at the Original Famous Dave’s is not enough), his bread pudding is a melt-in-your-mouth delicacy not found anywhere else.

Following the fabulous feast, several members of our party as well as some of Dave’s family and staff met in a conference room on site for an Internet Marketing meeting. Brainstorming and picking the brains of top Internet Google experts is energizing as well as inspirational. We adjourned some three hours later to meet the rest of our group back at the cabins who were sitting around the bonfire.

The weather today was again perfect as was soaking up more of the surroundings. We’re looking forward to more of the same tomorrow.

Tuesday, June 16, 2009

It's been a few days since my last post, and although we did make it back from our Disnsey World vacation, I will continue to use this blog as we are off on our next adventure.

After returning home from Disney, we celebrated Mary's 10th birthday with several parties--a weiner roast with ice cream cake, lunch at Hickory Park with ice cream, and a friend overnight so they could finish the ice cream cake.

But now we are off to Hayward, Wisconsin, where we will be guests of Famous Dave at his Tamarack Cabins on Big Round Lake also home of the Original Famous Daves. We'll be sharing the cabins with my aunt Bev and her family and we're really looking forward to all the great cooking Bev has planned. She and Famous Dave will be having a pizza cook-off and I'm sure we'll get in on some of his Legendary Pit Bar-B-Que as well.

Arrival at the cabins was around 2 p.m. After Mary found out that we had been having a little fun with her and there really weren't outhouses but actual working bathrooms in each cabin, she could settle down and begin enjoying the surroundings. Andrew immediately became Ross's new shadow and the kids had to try swimming in the lake and horsing around on the play structure at the bottom of the hill from our cabins.

I'm sitting here in my Adirondack chair on the deck of (blue) cabin #2 enjoying the view and trying to decide how I can afford my own lakefront property. It's serene paradise here. The peace and quiet is only punctuated with the occasional lapping of the waves on the shore or the call of a loon. The temperature is a perfect 70 something, and I'm basking in the glow of having just eaten my fill of Bev and Denny's 7-layer dip.

After a pontoon boat ride, we will be lighting the campfire for s'mores and singing (except for Beth--no singing for Beth!) In the meantime, I'm going to following the advice of the posted Beach Rules sign: RELAX, ENJOY, RELAX, ENJOY

Wednesday, June 10, 2009

Checked out of the Clarksville Days Inn and drove to “the highlighted route.” Beth decided a good mid-day stop would be around the St. Louis arch. I began texting my sister Pam to see if she could get away from work for a bit to meet us.

Beth took the kids up in the arch for a view of the city while Bev and I met Pam and a couple of her work study students outside the entrance of the arch. We visited in the hot humid heat and shared Disney stories before they had to get back.

Our lunch stop on “the hill” at Rigazzi’s was very disappointing. I’m afraid our fabulous experience at Sal’s has forever set the standard by which we will judge all Italian cuisine—and Rigazzi’s just didn’t measure up.

After lunch, our Garmin had a little difficulty navigating us back out of town because of some unexpected road construction. By the time we found our way, we were all ready to just be out of the car for the day—so I made a phone call and got us a place for the night. Thanks Pam and Matt!!!! The kids watched TV, and we shared videos, pictures, and stories with our hostess.

Six more hours on the road tomorrow and we should be home.