Gone Fishin'

Is there a rule about the frequency one must post to a blog? If there is, I probably broke that rule. But when you are on a fishing trip, you just don't want to feel connected. No cell phones, no computers. How often in life do we get the chance to disconnect these days? I took the first opportunity I had. So I apologize for my absence. I'm now back in civilization and promise to return to my daily updates.

The fishing trip was everything it should have been...minus the fish. If we would have needed to survive on the fish we caught, we would be one hungry group this morning! Other than that, we had terrific weather, were in the company of some amazing family, relaxed, had good food, and enjoyed ourselves thoroughly.

This fishing business is hard work, let me tell you! Just ask Grandma and Aunt Lucy!

Uncle Hector played captain and I first mate for most of our outings on the water. We deemed Aunt Tammy "grounder". Why, you might ask? Let's just say she learned the importance of watching the depth monitor at all times. This would be the results of that incident. Poor Uncle Hector had to get in and actually push us out of the sand bar!

Another funny incident: Aunt Tammy was given the privilege of wearing Uncle Bob's special fishing hat. Right after she reiterated to us the importance of keeping it safe while we were out on the water, this happened:

No worries. We turned around and recovered it. We just won't tell Uncle Bob that his hat got a nice bath ;-)

And what would a family reunion be without a trip to the emergency room?Two days into the trip, Aunt Jeanie fell down a slight embankment and broke her ankle. 10 screws and 2 plates later, she was back at the cabin resting peacefully.

Albeit the little mishaps here and there, we've had a fabulous time. Tammy and I broke away to fulfill our antiquing fetish and happened upon a gold mine. Back on a little country road, tucked into the bluffs, we discovered a farm with 5 pole barns stuffed with treasures. 40 years in the making, this couple has been collecting antiques from various estate sales around the region. We drooled. We dreamed. We made promises to return with a U-haul. We just couldn't help it!

And then there was the ladies' outing to a local yarn shop. Unlike any store I've visited, this woman too had been collecting treasures in the form of fiber. Stacked from floor to ceiling, you only had to turn to discover some new color or yarn. My most interesting discovery there was the yarn made out of corn. Very cool stuff. Yes, one of you lucky readers just might get a corn-fiber scarf from me this next Christmas.

You see, Uncle Bob has been doing this annual fishing trip for years...without women. It has always been an exclusive outing for the men. This year he relented and allowed us females to join. 4 days later, his wife had broken her ankle, his boat got grounded in a sand bar, and no fish were caught. I think he might reconsider the guest list next year.

Yesterday we parted ways, my last taste of the Mississippi River for awhile and of the welcoming arms of the Iowa cousins. I met 19 of them in the last week, ever astounded that my family just keeps growing. They've all made it clear that I have quite a few new homes where I can come to visit, and I intend to do just that!

Aunt Tammy, Uncle Hector and I stopped in Wabasha, MN, to visit the National Eagle Center. What an incredible place. On the banks of the Mississippi, this center serves as a sanctuary for injured Bald and Golden Eagles. We listened in on a talk and met 2 of the eagles up close and personal.

When we left for Alma earlier in the week, I had decided to take backroads the entire way there. What better way to see the countryside, right? Kati, I promise to wash your car before I return it. The trip, however, introduced us to a quaint little town in southern Minnesota called Lanesboro.

This morning, I am typing this entry as I sit in a hand-crafted amish chair on the porch of the old stone feed mill in town, which has now been converted into a bed and breakfast. We had the pleasure of staying in the "Egg Basket"!

The town is located on the edge of amish country, boasts some of the most picturesque bike trails in the country, and has already made my list for the top ten most charming towns I've visited. While enjoying my morning tea, I've watched 3 bald eagles gracefully soaring above the bluffs that surround the town.

There's the three of us, enjoying grass-fed burgers and homemade cherry pie at Pedal Pushers Cafe.

We have plans to take an amish tour, and peruse the local shops. Then we'll head north to Minneapolis where Phill and I will be reunited after he flies in later today. I'm so looking forward to it!