 |
| Fun times at home |
So last month, my seester came to visit us! It was her first time in Mpls and her first time visiting me in my own home in 10 years (I
know!). She flew in on a Wednesday afternoon and didn't have to leave until the next Tuesday evening, so we got to fit in lots of fun and fancy things, like seeing a play at the Guthrie and going to a Twins game, and also slow and quotidian things like eating at home.
 |
| Seesters! |
The day she got in was gorgeous, so we ate on the patio at Old Arizona and then had coffee on the patio at the Bad Waitress. We drove around town a little bit, met David at his office and walked down by the river, and had dinner at the French Meadow.
 |
| Birchwood biking brunch |
 |
| April on David's bike over the Mississippi |
Thursday, we rode downtown with David so we could have his car, and afterward we drove out to Nicollet Island and around St. Anthony Main before coming home to change and get the bikes for a long ride. We rode to the Birchwood and had breakfast there (this stunningly delicious tofu scramble with carrots, spinach, and a tomato coulis, plus a scone and an orange chocolate bread pudding!) before riding all over town: across the river, to Saint Paul, around Lake Calhoun, and along the Greenway. April was totally a trooper. David was able to come home early, so we picked him up and had dinner at home--sweet potato fries and black beans and rice with all the toppings. That evening was warm, so we drove down to St. Anthony Main, where we walked out to the falls and then had dessert at the Aster Cafe.
Friday was rainy, but we had David's car again, so I took April on an impromptu "Sketchy Minneapolis tour," which most out-of-towners' visits, alas, are too short to include. We started at Chicago Lake Liquors to pick up champagne for mimosas for the next day's brunch, and although Chicago Lake is far less sketchy at 10 a.m. on a Friday than it is at 10 p.m., we definitely go for the prices rather than the ambiance. After that was the
St. Vincent de Paul*, where we found eight glass plates and a mini muffin tin for about $3! Then we got pedicures at a little strip mall place. Afterward, we popped home to change and then to yoga in uptown. We got David, had a quick dinner at home, and then went to
Arsenic and Old Lace at the Guthrie, followed by fries at Town Hall.
 |
| Surrey with the fringe on top |
 |
| St. Anthony Main |
Saturday morning the brunch club met at our house for coconut macadamia nut waffles with homemade coconut syrup, lightly dressed greens, hashbrowns, fresh fruit, and pineapple mimosas. Afterward, the afternoon was sunny and shockingly warm, so April and David and I went to Minnehaha Falls, where we rented a surrey. It was the first time we'd ever done that, but it was such ridiculous fun that we'll doubtless do it again. We got home just in time to get dinner ready for another social occasion, this time with the downstairs neighbors. We did farfalle in a light cream sauce with cherry tomatoes, snow peas, and fresh basil; roasted asparagus; salad; and rosemary asiago bread (not homemade); with individual molten lava cakes with fresh strawberries for dessert.
 |
| Sweet potato fries at the Longellow |
Sunday I introduced April to hot yoga, and she did splendidly! Afterward we had brunch at the Red Stag, where our table by the window provided a great view of a crashing Midwestern thunderstorm. In the evening we met one of my friends at the Fancy Theater for
Water for Elephants, which I found pretty disappointing.
 |
| Lilacs at the arboretum |
 |
| At Target Field for the Twins |
 |
| Mill City |
Monday, I made
vegan waffles with fresh strawberries and Nutella and then we drove out to the arboretum in Chaska while listening to
Abraham's
new CD on repeat. (Have you heard this album yet? It's amazing. Seriously.) On the way back we stopped at Opitz Outlet, home of 70% Off Retail! We got David, had dinner at the Longfellow Grill, and then went to the Twins game. It was an ideal night for outdoor baseball: clear, warm, and perfect! They were even playing the Mariners, though David and I, at least, were rooting for the home team--who lost in the bottom of the 10th. Sigh.
 |
| Spoonbridge and Cherry |
Tuesday was April's last day, and I made French toast that we ate with leftover macadamia nuts and coconut syrup. It was kind of gray and chilly, but we went downtown and poked around the shops and skyways. We stopped by the Walker sculpture garden on the way back, and drove around the Kenwood neighborhood and the lakes admiring the architecture. Then April had to pack and leave, but we eased the pain with homemade pico de gallo and episodes of
Arrested Development before heading for the airport.
Whew! That was long. I guess I was just inspired by re-reading my account of
Hathor's visit; I enjoyed the descriptions of all the things we'd eaten, in particular, even if you all didn't!
Some of the sites and activities doubtless sound familiar from descriptions of other visits, but there's always something new--often discovered for the first time with the visitor--so book
your trip today!
*I love this place, but it really is sketchy. When we bought our table and David's desk, one of the workers offered us a discount deal, arranged a somewhat shady home delivery in his friend's truck, and then asked for (and received, because we're softies) a tip.
I tried to label the images directly, but as that didn't work for me, you can use this chart for reference: 
Left Box:
In case that's too mushy (eww), here are more pictures of ice: my frozen back porch, the handle of my screen door almost entirely encased in ice, and icicle daggers:
Happy IQD, all.
So I'm in Walla Walla! David and I arrived Tuesday night, and I'm settling in nicely. Heather has even offered me a bike for the summer, and once I've picked that up I'll feel even more at home.
To start off, here are the shots we took between Portland and Boise, beginning on Friday afternoon when we skipped out from the conference a bit early after I'd given my paper. Saturday we did the PSU farmers' market, hung out with friends at Mount Tabor and Joseph Wood Hill parks, and celebrated the news about my fellowship. Sunday we spent some time with David's cousins before heading up to Seattle, where we hung out and ate dinner with The Rockstar. Monday, after spending the night with April and Chris, we took the ferry to Seattle, where we met up with Dee, shopped a bit, and got to see The Rockstar again at his day job. Tuesday, after a run, breakfast, and coffee with April, David and I crossed the pass and made it to Hermiston in time to meet the family for dinner. Wednesday morning, after a wonderful but too-short visit there, we stopped in Walla Walla for an even shorter lunch visit (where I met The Peanut for the first time!), and then had dinner with Jan, Dennis, and Maddy before stopping for the night in Boise with David's cousin.
This afternoon I made what I think was a pretty awesome soup. I can't be completely certain, because I was absolutely ravenous and because I accidentally sacrificed a corner of a finger to the project. Still, I think it was pretty good.
I've been trying to eat even more fruit and vegetables than usual recently, because I'm fighting a sore throat. I'm blaming it it on the marathon's lingering immunosuppressive effects (and, frustratingly enough, the sugar I consumed at Sunday's party--not much, but apparently enough more than the very little I'd consumed in the past few weeks to totally throw my defenses). 
So I'm drinking a lot of water and tea, taking my vitamin, and thinking happy thoughts. Speaking of which, look! Flowers!
