Tuesday, September 11, 2012

Snapshots from a Road Trip...

...to Minnesota for a nephew's wedding reception.

Last Friday evening, after work, we travelled north and west under a glorious summer sunset sky...




...stopping only for supper (forgettable fast food), then later for dessert (highly memorable) at a renowned Norwegian bakery and restaurant.



The Norske Nook, in Osseo, Wisconsin, has a statewide reputation for food and pie - especially pie. Bakery cases are filled with uncountable variations of fruit, nut, cream, and mousse pies, as well as cookies, bars, and other goodies.


This picture is for Astri :)

Mr. M, a notable pie-eater, was in bakery heaven and dithered delightfully over the menu. Somehow he managed to confine himself to two flavours - pecan and peach-raspberry - while I opted for peanut butter-chocolate. Since it was already late and we had miles yet to go, we carried our pie away with us to be consumed later in the comfort of our motel room. (Alas, there are no pictures of this gluttonous feast, which took place under the disapproving eyes of DCI Barnaby and DS Troy [of Midsomer Murders] who were capering across the television screen at the time.)

On Saturday, we followed Interstate 94 west as it gradually dropped towards the state border. We crossed the St. Croix River, which splits off from the mighty Mississippi just south of here...



...and entered Minnesota. With miles to go, and hours yet to drive, we passed through St. Paul, catching a (somewhat fuzzy) glimpse of the Capitol...


...onwards through Minneapolis, and farther north and west until we reached our destination, the bride's university - a beautiful campus, charmingly landscaped...


...and surrounded by trees and water.


The reception was held in the university's former abbey church, now called the Great Hall.





With its stained glass...



...banners hanging from a vaulted ceiling...


...and rather gorgeously painted apse, it made a lovely setting for the celebration.




Hours later, happily full of good food and company, we exchanged hugs with the newlyweds and left to start the long drive home under another spectacular sunset (which was behind us this time).



We drove through the evening and into the wee hours of Sunday, where the stars shone overhead and a not-quite-half-moon rose in the night sky. What a relief, after the long drowsy drive, to pull into our dark driveway, shut off the car engine, stagger into the blessedly quiet house, and fall asleep in our own bed.

East or west, home is best. :)

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18 comments:

  1. What a big car trip with lots of different things happening: passing through gorgeous sunsets and stopping off at 'pie heaven'! I loved the stained glass windows in the great hall.
    I agree, there is nothing more lovely than one's own bed after a long drive and return home!

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  2. I was in Minnesota this past summer, it is such a gorgeous state. Glad you had a great time and good pie never hurts.
    hugs,
    Meredith

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    1. Good pie actually helps, I think. And I didn't even mention the artisanal chocolate shop we visited ... no pictures I'm afraid. :)

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  3. Lovely trip to/from a lovely wedding. :-)

    "Auntie"

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  4. I love those sunset pictures. So pretty! I ate at the Norske Nook last October. I had a ice of apple pie. It was delicious.

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    1. Apple pie is my favourite - I don't know why I didn't get that too. Confused by the selection I guess!

      Thanks for commenting! :)

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  5. You Americans have to drive loooooong distances. I think it's a long drive when it is more than half an hour. If it's more, I take the train. :-)
    Great sun rise and sun set, beautiful church and the pies look delicious. Now I'm hungry ...

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    1. We would LOVE to take a train - unfortunately our train system is very limited here in the US. I think this is partly because most Americans prefer to drive their own vehicles. Something to do with independence, I suppose. :)

      Thanks, Regula!

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  6. The flowers there are beautiful this time of year! But then again, so is the sky. I can't believe you had two marvelous sunsets in a row.

    While we were in Seattle, we couldn't resist stopping for sundaes one night, even though I'm supposed to be staying away from that stuff. And the characters on our hotel room TV watching the ice cream go down were from the Weather Channel.

    You're right. Home is best.

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    1. We definitely got lucky on the sunsets. :)

      A sundae sounds wonderful right now...I'd better go eat my supper!

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  7. Min-E-Soooh-tah? Ah, shooah, you baytcha'! See I speak Norwegian. I may, in fact, be the only American goat who does. The Goatmother taught me. The Goatchildren used to live there. :)

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    1. Ah, that explains your excellent accent. Some Wisconsonians (Wisconsinites?) speak it too ... those long Os are really hard to spell though, donchaknow? :)

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  8. Mmmm, pie. Now you're making me want some! Sounds like a lovely wedding and a nice little getaway.

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  9. Oh my goodness, Sue...you know what got me...that Norsk bakery. After my father's bakery closed here we have nothing like that in Utah anymore. I will be thinking of lefse all day! The plate is lovely. I think I will move.

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    1. Thanks Liz - and you already know I had you in mind when I took those pictures. :)

      There were plates like that all around the walls - I wish I could have gotten pictures of them all.

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