Here Comes the Snow...Plows

Oh, what to do on a Thursday night?

Option #1: Stay in a warm but somewhat boring hotel room, fix dinner and watch TV.

Option #2: Bundle up and drive a few miles to freezing Frazee, Minnesota to watch their 1st Annual Snowplow Parade.

Hmmm....decisions, decisions.

Here Come the Plows!

Big Ones...

...Small Ones...

...And  Baby Ones (sorry for the poor picture quality)

One Plow Even Had the Grinch

There was a great turnout for the parade down Main Avenue in Frazee. Approximately 60 plows participated including ones from the State of Minnesota, Otter Tail and Becker counties, the towns of Frazee, Perham and Detroit Lakes along with many private contractors advertising their snow removal capabilities. Most were decorated with lights and many drivers were tossing candy to the children lined on up the sidewalks.

Scattered up and down the main street were several firepits with nice little fires going to keep the parade watchers warm.

Warmth Station - Check out the Interesting Way to Burn a Log

The parade lasted longer than I did. Even with my gloves on, my hands were freezing. I stayed to see about 90% of the plows before they turned around and came back down Main Avenue. I couldn't take the below freezing temps any longer. It was time to head for the warmth of the hotel and a mug of hot cider.

Not sure a snowplow parade was on my bucket list, but I'll check it off any way! Gotta love small town life!!

Watery Wednesday - Catch Me If You Can!

Back in early October, we were at a group camping event in Winthrop, Washington. It just so happened that there were hydroplane races on the lake that weekend. They sounded like giant mosquitoes at times, but the racers were fun to watch for a bit. These weren't your typical unlimited hydroplanes, but fast little boats nonetheless.

Hydroplane Racing on Lake Pearrygin - Winthrop, Washington

Tricia at Bluff Area Daily is the host each week of Watery Wednesday. Click on the icon below and see what others are sharing. Don't be a wet noodle - click it!!

MSP in the Morning

Incoming Flight at Daybreak - Minneapolis-St. Paul Airport

Barn Charm - Sad Cupola

Sad Looking Cupola on a Barn in Eastern Washington

Tricia at Bluff Area Daily hosts Barn Charm each week. Click on the icon below to see what others are sharing.

InSPIREd Sunday - St. Lawrence Catholic Church

St. Lawrence Catholic Church - Perham, MN

Gobble Gobble

Thankfully, this guy won't get eaten today. We have about 2 dozen wild turkeys living around our house.

Wild Turkey

Happy Thanksgiving! What are you thankful for today?

Watery Wednesday - Over the Otter Tail River

For my first entry into Watery Wednesday hosted by Tricia at Bluff Area Daily, I am sharing this beautiful single lane covered bridge over the Otter Tail River in Frazee, Minnesota. I didn't drive over it -- just call me chicken. Not knowing if it was on private property, I parked a distance away and walked down the lane to see it. It was definitely worth the trip! And although the river is hard to see, it's there! It is just a small river.  :-)

Note: I was able to find this wonderful bridge and my earlier barn find that I shared thanks to Dale Travis' website. Go check it out...there might be one near you!

Over the Otter Tail River

Do you dare enter?

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High Tech Travel

The week before last when I flew out of Minneapolis-St. Paul airport to come home, the G14/15 gate area had some construction underway. I didn't pay much attention to it actually. The seating area wasn't affected and all I really noticed were some temporary walls in place on the left as you entered the gate area.

Last Friday I was scheduled to fly home again out of the G14/15 gates. This time I had a morning departure and arrived around 7 a.m. for my flight. I walked into the gate area and had to do a double take. There was a new restaurant open. I even asked the server if they had just opened. She said "Yes, on Monday."

I was totally impressed with the restaurant. Talk about high tech travel! At each seat was an iPad where you ordered your food, a card reader to swipe your credit card to pay for it and an outlet to charge other electronics if needed. While waiting for your food to arrive, you could go online and check email, catch up on news or do a little more damage to your credit card. You could even put in your flight info and it would show you the current status on the bottom of the screen. I'm sure as your departure time gets close, a reminder would pop up and tell you to scoot! You know, just in case you got wrapped up in your emails so you don't miss your flight!!

iPad at each seat

Looking out into the gate area

Breakfast choices - thank goodness for travel allowances!

What would you like to do?

Reading the news while waiting for breakfast

To top this all off, the food wasn't bad either. I had the egg & bacon croissant. It even came with a side of home fries.

I look forward to my next flight home out of MSP. Hope it departs from the G14/15 gates again!

Barn Charm - Lonely

Lonely Looking Barn in Eastern Washington

Tricia at  Bluff Area Daily is the host of Barn Charm. Click on the icon below to see what others are sharing.

InSPIREd Sunday - Holy Trinity Lutheran

Holy Trinity Lutheran Church - Ephrata, Washington

Barn Charm - Liberty

Barn near Liberty, Washington

Tricia at Bluff Area Daily is the host each week of Barn Charm. Click on the icon below to see what others are sharing!

InSPIREd Sunday - Veteran's Day & Sacred Heart

Remembering those who are in service now and those who have served our country in the past.

Veteran's Memorial - Freeport, Minnesota

Sacred Heart Catholic Church - Freeport, Minnesota

If You Are Gonna Be Away From Home...

...at least have your home away from home feel like one. I got lucky. I am spending about two months in central Minnesota for a temporary work assignment. The hotel I am staying at has mini-suites available for long-term stays. While it is definitely not the same as being home, at least I feel like I am less in a hotel than I am. It sure is nice being able to cook meals rather than relying on eating out night after night. Plus I am able to eat healthier, too. And bonus! The room has a dishwasher so it makes clean up that much nicer.

Best of all, the staff has been wonderful in making my stay as stress-free as possible.

My Mini-Suite Including a Kitchenette

Living Area - Check Out My "Fireplace"

Kitchenette Area

Bedroom

Gone Loon-ey

In Vergas, Minnesota, you can find the world's largest loon standing approximately 20 feet tall. The loon is the state bird and each year, Vergas hosts the Looney Daze festival.

World's Largest Loon - Vergas, Minnesota

First Canning

Several weeks ago, I bought a box of red anjou pears and did my first ever attempt at canning them. It was a lot of work peeling and coring them and I sure did make a mess in my kitchen. However, I like the idea of eating them come this winter when fresh pears will be much harder to get. I did pint size jars - more of a 2 serving size rather than putting up quarts of pears.

Canned Pears

Barn Charm - In The Round

Not too far from where I am staying in Minnesota is a beautiful round barn. I know there are a few more in the area, just need to find them.

Round Barn - Near Underwood, MN

I am sharing this photo with Tricia's Barn Charm on the Bluff Area Daily blog. See what others have shared by clicking on the icon below.

InSPIREd Sunday - St. Henry's

St. Henry's Catholic Church - Perham, MN