|
Our Trip to Minnesota |
|
April 26th, 2006 - May 10th,
2006 |
| |
| We took a two week trip
to Minnesota to see Paul's sister, Mary, her husband, John, and their new
baby girl, Kezia. So we finally got to see the baby :) !! Oh,
and Mary and John and the house that they are building themselves.
What a house! Lots of blood, sweat and tears into it. We also
got to see Paul's mom and dad, who also came into town for the baptism of
Kezia. We had fun enjoying the open land of
Minnesota. Jared had fun, enjoying the birds, flowers and lots of open
space to run :) Jared also enjoyed the paddle boat ride we went on
down the Mississippi and the farm tour we got from Mary's sister-in-law,
Becky and family. |
| |
 |
Mary and
John have a couple of bird feeders.
Here, a Downy Woodpecker, a female Cardinal and a Goldfinch eat. |
| |
 |
| A Goldfinch |
| |
 |
| Jared, I
think you are too big for the swing |
| |
 |
| The Lemke
homestead |
| |
 |
| That's a
lot of house to build by yourself!! |
| |
 |
| |
| |
 |
Their
dining room and kitchen.
Lots of beautiful views |
| |
 |
| Views from
their wrap-around porch |
| |
 |
| |
| |
 |
| The
cousins, out for a ride |
| |
 |
| Some
wildflower pictures...these just grow in Mary's yard! |
| |
 |
| |
| |
 |
| |
| |
 |
| Okay,
dandelions are more of a weed than a wildflower :) |
| |
 |
| Mary had
Narcissus planted in her garden |
| |
 |
Some
outside time for the boy.
"Cheese" |
| |
 |
| A Downy
Woodpecker enjoying some food |
| |
 |
| Jared
rocking Kezia |
| |
 |
| We got
professional pictures taken of the Carlson cousins together...they both did
very well :) |
| |
 |
| Awe!
Them looking at each other |
| |
 |
| Jared
trying to dress himself for the cooler Minnesota weather :) |
| |
 |
More birds
on the feeder.
The blackish one is a Rose-breasted Grosbeak |
| |
 |
| Grandma
Carlson with Kezia |
| |
 |
| And Grandpa
Carlson talking to Kezia |
| |
 |
| "Hey,
is anyone using this car? I'm going to take it for a spin." :) |
| |
 |
| Walk time
again |
| |
 |
| More
wildflowers |
| |
 |
| Picked
flowers...smell so sweet! |
| |
 |
| Deer
running around in the yard |
| |
 |
| Yes, they
can be a nuisance, eating up your garden! |
| |
 |
| Paul and
Jared with Hiawatha |
| |
 |
| |
| |
 |
The La
Crosse Queen paddle boat.
We went on a Saturday morning tour up the Mississippi River. |
| |
 |
| A mallard
in the river |
| |
 |
| Mary and
Captain Jared :) |
| |
 |
| Jared,
ready for the boat tour |
| |
 |
| John and
Kezia on the boat |
| |
 |
| The Arizona
Carlsons |
| |
 |
| The paddles
of the boat |
| |
 |
| The mighty
Mississippi |
| |
 |
We saw a
couple of bald eagles, native to the area.
A close-up here of one in the air... |
| |
 |
| And another
close-up of one in the trees along the bank of the river |
| |
 |
| WOW!
Lots of turtles basking in the morning sun |
| |
 |
| One of the
many houses that is near the bank of the river |
| |
 |
The Winona
Railroad Bridge on the Mississippi.
Oh no! How do we get around or under it?!?! |
| |
 |
| What?
The bridge swings open?? |
| |
 |
| Yup... |
| |
 |
| It's
opening up! |
| |
 |
| Too cool! |
| |
 |
| A close-up
of the pivot |
| |
 |
| We went
through and now it's closing. |
| |
 |
The Lock &
Dam, #7 of 10 along the Mississippi.
Click here to read info on it. |
| |
 |
| Kezia
sleeping on the boat |
| |
 |
No, we
didn't attend a wedding.
We saw a
bridal party taking pictures outside, so Maria thought she'd take a picture too :)
Very beautiful dresses and colors! |
| |
 |
| The
Carlsons at Kezia's baptism |
| |
 |
| John and
Mary with Kezia's baptism sponsors |
| |
 |
| Dad and
Jared out for another walk :) |
| |
 |
| "I'm King
of the Hill!!" :) |
| |
 |
| Jared
expending some energy |
| |
 |
| Run Jared!
Run! |
| |
 |
"Cheese!
Did you know that we are close to Wisconsin, the Cheeseheads??" |
| |
 |
| More
wildflower pictures |
| |
 |
| |
| |
 |
| The coy boy
:) |
| |
 |
Ooooo!
The Cardinals are out!
NO! Not the Arizona Cardinals - HA :) ! |
| |
 |
| A female
Cardinal here |
| |
 |
| We took a
tour of John's dad's woodshop. Paul enjoyed it! |
| |
 |
| Jared with
a vice |
| |
 |
John's dad
has lots growing in his gardens
Pansies... |
| |
 |
| Tulips... |
| |
 |
| Lilacs...Ooooo,
do they smell sweet! |
| |
 |
| Guess what
this would be? |
| |
 |
| Asparagus! |
| |
 |
| Blossoms
from a Dogwood |
| |
 |
Jared found
the lawn ornaments...
"How do you feel cow? Let me check you out." |
| |
 |
| Ride 'em
Jared :) |
| |
 |
| Jared
checking out the weathervane |
| |
 |
| A house
finch in the bird feeder |
| |
 |
| Hi Kezia |
| |
 |
| Awe, she's
smiling! |
| |
 |
| Too cute! |
| |
 |
| Little
toes! |
| |
 |
| Uncle Paul
and Niece Kezia |
| |
 |
"Cheese!"
Yes Jared, you are Mr. Cheesehead :) |
| |
 |
Farm tour!
Mary's sister-in-law, Becky and her family, gave us a tour of their working
farm.
They have 200+ milking cows...and a few chickens to provide some eggs :) |
| |
 |
| Jared found
the farm cats :) |
| |
 |
| The baby
calves |
| |
 |
| "Hi Cow!
Moo to you too!" |
| |
 |
| We saw the
milking parlor |
| |
 |
| Jared got
an up close and personal tour of the parlor from Ed |
| |
 |
| The cows |
| |
 |
| Hi cow :) |