Gracie

It seems like it has been awhile since I shared photos of Gracie, the precocious Ginger cat, so here she is...getting into places she doesn't necessarily belong, and trying to be helpful.

I guess she really wanted to help, huh?

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ALS Ice Water Bucket Challenge

Yes, we at the library got on the bandwagon, and participated in the ALS Ice Water Bucket Challenge.  As soon as I told Allison I was going to be going back to the library last night and why, she says, "Can I do it too?"   All the way home last night after doing it, "That was so AWESOME!  That was AWESOME!"

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The Girls!

It's the best thing in the world to have a bestie....and this is Allison and her bestie, Carolyn.  Unfortunately (and perhaps fortunately) they do not go to the same school together, so sometimes it is hard for them to actually get together and see each other.  We tried to make more real efforts to get the girls together more over the summer, and all in all we were able to do a pretty good job of that.  The school year sometimes proves even more difficult, but we continue to try.   This picture was taken the day before school was to start, kind of a "last hurrah" so to speak.  We went bowling at Landoll Lanes, and then she came over to the house to play.   Notice the mustache sunglasses.  They are the "Mustache Girls" for sure!

 Allison gets her hair deep conditioned periodically, and am adding this pic because it makes me giggle.....

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Minnesota Vacation....near the end

Starting to head back home.  We stayed in Bemidji, MN, Friday night (pretty nice community), and it is "known for" Paul Bunyan and his blue ox, Babe, so the Visitor's Center had some "stuff" for photo ops of course. 

 Then went to the county historical museum/historic depot where they were having "Depot Day" and Allison painted a little train engine.

Continuing the home journey through Fargo, ND, and then south....through....S....o....u....t...h....D....a....k...o...t...a and N....e....b....r....a....s....k....a... .   I don't know how active either of these states will be on a Sunday, but I guess we'll soon find out. 

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Minnesota Vacay continued....

Our evening tonight was pretty close to perfect.

Allison had heard people talk about their bucket list so this week she made her list.  It included zip lining and fishing.  She got to do both this week.

Bruce had been wanting to find somewhere someone who would hire out or something so Allison could fish.  He mentioned it again today.  Another thing we had talked about seeing was the Mississippi River Head Waters.  I was reading on TripAdvisor  that someone recommended people check the park website for activities that the park schedules.  I found the website and lo and behold the 4th activity down is Kids Fish Friday!!!  It was a free activity, could borrow poles and everything. It was perfect.  The only thing that would have made it better is if she would have caught a fish!

It was simply gorgeous.  The water was Crystal clear.

Allison waded to the other side of the Mississippi River.

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Minnesota Vacation ... whatever day plus one

Glensheen Mansion just outside of Duluth.

 A 'moose chair'...sorta...outside of a museum in Two Harbors, MN, on the drive up the North Shore Drive area of Minnesota.

 Split Rock Lighthouse on the North Shore Drive in Minnesota.  We just happened to visit the lighthouse on "National Lighthouse Day".  How about that?

 We ate dinner at a place called Valentini's in Chisholm, MN.  I had the Linguini Portofino Pasta.  It was very tasty.

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Minnesota Vacation....whatever #'d day it is

Bay tour in the Duluth downtown area.

 Allison absolutely loves anything mustache, so when we saw these sunglasses, of course she had to have them.  She has been wearing them everywhere.

 Another picture of what the lupine coasters looked like backed up, ready to go down the hill one by one.  It was an incredible amount of fun.  You could make yourself go fast or slow, you chose your own speed.  When I was going down, I was like I want to go really fast and feel the speed, but the faster I go I know the faster I will get to the end, and I didn't want the ride to end!!!! :)

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Minnesota Vacation - Spirit Mountain

Spirit Mountain of Duluth, MN is an outdoor sporting/camping area.  There are winter sports etc.  but there are also these lupine sleds and zipline.  Yes, I went on both.   They were fun.  Allison was tickled that I would actually go on them.  Bruce wouldn't for some reason. 

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