Stillwater, MN: A Spiker-Bohlen Adventure

We spent Labor Day in Stillwater, MN with our friends Harmony and Adam. Though the day was overcast and a bit windy, we spent most of it outside!

We walked along the St. Croix, wandered in and out of little shops, had lunch by the water, went wine tasting and took a slew of silly pictures. (as always, click to enlarge all the pictures - some of them are definitely worth it!)


Gotta love the camera timer!


Dana and Harmony.


The Bohlens.


Girls.


And again.


Reminiscent of engagement pictures.


The Spikers.


Goofball!


Lunch by the water.


Ryan claims I've got a wingspan like Scottie Pippen - what do you think?


$0.50 provided entertainment for all of us!


A mini version of the much beloved candy shop that we frequented during my childhood in Hayward, WI!


Cool buildings.


Another angle.


For some reason this just cracks me up!


St. Croix Winery.


Cheers!


1...2...3...JUMP!


Aaaaand he sticks the landing!


A less adventurous jump!

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Home Make-over: Shutter Edition

This has been the year of outside home improvements. You've seen the landscaping and here's the most recent addition - shutters!

My parents visited for 6 days and we always utilize my dad's handyman skills when they come. I took a day off work and played assistant to my dad.

We're really happy with the end result. The house looks more finished and I think we're done with projects for a while.


Before. (Before everything actually - no shutters, no landscaping, no potted plants!)


After.


Love it!

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Bye Bye Birdies!

In a previous post I mentioned I was working to revamp and old lamp. It's done and has already been used by our most recents guests (my parents)!

Note the stunning design before. And lovely pleated lamp shade. A little all-purpose spray paint and a new lamp shade = much improved! It was more expensive than I had originally anticipated (lamp shades aren't cheap!) but it was still less than an entirely new lamp. Plus it kept me busy and out of trouble...


Before.


Just so you don't miss the true fabulousness of the birds.


Much better!


In the guest room.

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Twins Game with the Schmidts

We headed back to Target Field last week with our friends Ben and Katie. We planned this outing back in April or May and the day finally arrived! We had fabulous seats and a dry (albeit chilly) night! Unfortunately, the Twins lost in the 13th inning! They'd been ahead for most of the game and they blew it in the late innings. So frustrating! We did not stick it out until the end but it lasted long enough to catch it on tv when we got home.

Despite a sad ending, the Twins are still leading the AL Central. YAY!

(all the pictures are from my phone and aren't great quality)


Go Twins!


It gets cold when the sun goes down!


Sitting in the front row!


The view.


Our fellow fans.

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VCBC: Past Staff Edition

We spent the last weekend of August at Village Creek Bible Camp for the Past Staff Retreat. Ryan grew up going there and then was on staff in high school. I've come to love camp in the few trips we've made there. You may remember we were there in February for a retreat with our church - no crazy horse adventures this time!

We headed up Thursday after work and stayed through Sunday around lunch. It's a gorgeous drive once you hit southern MN - unfortunately, it was dark by that point on the way down. I did get some great views on the ride home (before falling soundly asleep for the rest of the ride - I'm terrible company in the car!)

While at camp we hiked up to Pulpit Rock and some of us did the multi-vine course. It's a cable strung between a cliff and a tree, about 60 feet above the ground. There's another cable about 10 feet higher with ropes dangling about 8 feet apart. We worked our way across, moving from one "vine" to another. They had recently loosened the cable to make the course the course the most difficult it had been. There was one point in the middle where I thought for sure I'd fall - it felt like ages that I was swaying back and forth unable to get my balance. The view from the tree at the other side was gorgeous (I may have been able to appreciate it a bit more had I had a little less adrenaline coursing through me!) Once we made it across we were eased down to the ground. When I got back to Ryan my hands were shaking so bad I couldn't get out of my harness. Totally worth it - a fun adventure! Ryan wasn't up for it but he did snap a lot of pictures!


Enjoying the new swings!


Heather and I all helmeted up and ready to go.


A few steps into my journey across.


Working my way across.


Made it!


Heading down.


Ryan enjoyed the bungies on the trampoline.


I enjoyed playing with beautiful baby Caris. (she's Ryan's second cousin once removed if we want to get all technical!)


Ryan and Eli.


Iowa countryside.





My chauffeur (and a filthy car!)

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Overnight Oats

I'm completely hooked on a couple food blogs. Here's one of the results:




Overnight oats.

1/2 cup uncooked oatmeal, a container of yogurt (peach Chobani in this instance), a splash of milk. Mix together, let sit in fridge overnight. Top with fruit and almonds, ENJOY! (the blog I read suggests half a banana mushed up with the oats and yogurt the night before but I'm anti-banana!)

YUM!

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