The Minnesota Duty

To live in the state of Minnesota it is required that one attends the Minnesota State Fair...so I followed state requirements. Poor photo quality, but here is the local beaver welcoming me to the excitement. His facial expressions don't even describe the thrilling and overwhelming aura that is exuded throughout the fair.

The fair is filled with ssssoooo many people. This is just a small sampling of the amount of people at the fair last weekend.
The guy was so trilled about selling his product. The "Shamm-wow!," we all need one. I was tempted.
Everyone also needs a mold of their own hand made for the mantle. This of the things that I could display...smashed beer cans from the side of the road, dead flowers, or even better something that a taxidermist created. I should have gotten one now that I think about it.
I was totally enthralled with the guy at the hot dog stand. He looks more relaxed than anyone else at the fair. I also thought that he looked as if he had just stepped right out of a 50's movie. I hope he ate one of the foot long corn dogs. Natalie did and she loved every minute of it!
Baby blue corn...extra cute.
Love the sales.
Agriculture was one of Natalies favorites. The corn was cool to look at all lined up.
I did not get to witness last years talk of the fair, Farah Fawcett immortalized in beans and grains. This year I was really most impressed by American Gothic. I might need to find this person to do a whole family portrait.

Vintage seed bags, they were awesome to look at.

Ragnar

I know that most of you remember my running days. I am always sad that those days are gone. Running was my sanity and nothing has ever made me feel quite the same (except hiking). Well, I have found a new calling in life. My friends were running a Ragnar (jealous) and I was volunteering for them. While directing traffic I came to discover that I was meant to be in the colorguard. I totally missed my high school calling in life. Check out the evidence captured by my aunt Laura.

Cheap

DID I TELL YOU THAT I LOVE THAT MY DEGREE COSTS ABOUT

$2-3, 000 A SEMESTER?

No debt this semester.-$2,300.

I love going to a cheap school.

School starts Monday!

Thanks and Sorrow

When I go to my pottery studio there are only a few people with whom I talk. The majority of the time I spend in thought as I work on different projects. I find the repetitive motions, the clay moving through my fingers, and the creative process to be therapeutic. There was one guy in particular that I would talk to when I was working on hand-built vases or decorating. He was a little quirky (skinny jeans and definitely an art major). I really liked to talk to him because he was a guy who was accepting of people. Looking at him, I thought his skin color looked a little yellow/gray. I wondered if he had a medical condition. After a few weeks of talking with him I discovered that he had a heart transplant 15 years or so ago. Now he was needing another heart transplant. He was also in need of a kidney transplant. He never complained, although I do remember once when he told me that he could not use the kick pottery wheels anymore because he did not have the energy to do that anymore. He made such vases, cups, and teapots. He used a lot if leaves and nature themes. I did not see him for a month and saw that he no longer had a shelf in the studio. I found myself wondering when he quit coming. Then this past month in our studio newsletter I saw that he had died. I have often thought that my work with people who frequently die has made me calloused, but I relieved I am not. I feel really sad that this guy, Luke, is no longer on earth. Sometimes, I wish I felt this way about my patients, but I also think if I let myself feel this way, I would not last very long in my job. I just want to thank my Heavenly Father for placed inspirational people in my life who make an imprint on my soul, making me a better person.

The Pirate's Booty

It is time once again for another Minnesota adventure!
Duluth had a "Tall Ships Festival." Ships from all over sailed into Lake Superior where we were all able see them and got to board the noble vessels. I was pretty much overtaken by the ropes. I wanted to climb up and play with them.
I was totally excited! Could I appear any more enthusiastic? I think not. It had been a round morning. I went to bed thinking that I would wake up at 5am. Nope. I was awoken at 6:30am by my friends at the door. It was time to leave on our journey northward. So, you are seeing me in all of my splendor....I look pretty much just as pathetic the second, as I do the first. It is great when your appearance can't get worse.
I always have to thank Carrie and Natalie for all of the activity planning. We always find the greatest things to do in the state. Plus, we always do them in style.
I loved to look at the neatly wrapped ropes. There were hundreds of them. It was a beautiful site to behold.
Doesn't this make you want to be Peter Pan?
This is the same ship used in Pirate's of the Caribbean, Dead Man's Chest. It was a beauty.
Marla and Melissa were some of the beauties who woke me up bright and nearly...Amy was the other one, but she managed to evade the photography.
One of the ships compasses. I think it would be easier to use GPS, but it sure is sweet looking.
All the boats lined up in a row.

I was so warm that day. I was so exhausted after having so much fun! I ate a Tobies, when traveling up north tradition says that we have to stop and eat cinnamon rolls. We checked out some stores in Duluth. As soon as I drove home I was ready to climb right into bed. Success!