Leaf Peeping, Wine...The Perfect Day

The perfect day began with a Groupon and e mail early this summer. The daily deal was a wine tasting, cheese and chocolate for two at the Chateau St Croix vineyard in Wisconsin. Mark and I visited last year and had a fantastic time. We knew we wanted to return with friends. I sent Jenny an e-mail shout out - "Hey.... let's buy this and go."

Late this summer Jenny proposed three October Saturday's to spend the day doing some Minnesota wine tasting. This was the Saturday. The plan - get relatives to watch our children, get a room in Stillwater, head up Highway 95 to a handful of local vineyards, and return to town for dinner.

Yesterday we started our perfect day with a quick lunch at Chipotle in Stillwater, then set off on our adventure. The sun was shining. The leaves were brilliant. The air was crisp. The company was enjoyable.

Initially, the plan was to go as far as Highway 8, then jog west to Chisago City, making our first stop the Wine Haven vineyard. After turning, we only made it a few miles down the road when we happened upon the Crossroads Bar in the tiny town of Shafer. I yelled to Jeremy, "Wait! Turn off!! RIGHT HERE!"

Jeremy hit the brakes and made a louie. The timing was perfect for Bloody Mary's and tap beer from plastic keg cups.

The men made an executive decision to skip Wine Haven, and head directly to St. Croix Falls. Soon we were at Chateau St Croix, with wine in hand.

Jenny and Jeremy Lyons.

Outstanding friends. Outstanding day.

Relax! Laugh! Smile!

Sip - Drink!

I had created a wine tasting outfit to perfectly reflect my carefree, happy mood for the day -Flirty flower dress purchased from Marshall's that morning, cashmere wrap purchased at a second hand shop in Park City, Utah years ago when I was pregnant with the twinners, tights, and my favorite brown leather boots I picked up last year for $30 on uber-clearance at DSW.

After a bottle of wine, we crossed back over the St. Croix River and headed to the Wild Mountain Vineyard outside of Taylors Falls. After a wrong turn, circling back into town, and back out, we were finally seated for tasting. We enjoyed talking with two of the three owners about their very first season as entrepreneurs in the wine industry.

We purchased a bottle, and saddled up.

We stopped at a field approach somewhere between Taylors Falls and Stillwater, trespassed onto a farmer's hay bales, sipped wine, and watched the sun go down on a glorious fall day.

Our men!

We returned to Stillwater for 8 pm dinner reservations at Reve 324, where the talk and pleasure of the carefree day continued into the night......a cocktail up the street.....a return to our room with chatter about all the moments we loved throughout our day....

We woke in the morning with memories to last until we can do it AGAIN next year!

Go Gophers! Go Bison!

Last weeknd we got to go our first Gophers game at TCF Stadium. My Dad asked a cousin with season tickets to get him 10 tickets to the UND game, before they went on sale to the public. My dad, Brett and the Thomberg's were joined by the Paulson's.

Although my Dad is a VERY proud Alumni of the Carlson School of Management with a masters, Mark and I are SCSU Huskies through and through. Thus, none of us have any Gophers gear. In fact, I accidentally dressed Dean in Bison colors!

Chad is a graduate of the University of North Dakota, and my cousin Michelle went to Moorhead State.
Marly decided to cheer for the Bison (which was encouraged by Michelle), and they won.

No matter the score, everyone had a fabulous time. If we get to attend next year, I will make sure we have the appropriate attire/gear!

Charlie's Baptism

This Sunday we celebrated the baptism of Charlies Lester Melberg, Child of God. Little Man Melberg was baptized at Faith Luthan Church in Waconia

Sponsors - Rachel's sister Sarah, and Mark and I.

After the 11 am church service, a big gaggle of family from both sides enjoyed dinner at Brett and Rachel's. Here is proud Grandpa David and Nana Chris on the deck.

Family - A Blessing!

Goodbye Summer Season Friends

This summer on Riverview Lane, we had new neighbors. We have enjoyed having them, but as expected, they are gone before the snow birds fly south!
Our neighbors were three chickens in a small coop! Rex and Jaci up the street got the birds this spring to try and combat some sort of bugs that have infested their two apple trees for more then a dozen years. It seems they have tried all kinds of sprays and organic methods to deal with these slugs, with no success. So, this year they tried CHICKENS! They explained the poultry were suppose to eat the eat the insects before they matured and infested the apples.

Well, as you can imagine, the three new neighbors were a hit with the kids of Riverview Lane, and especially Marly and Dean. Jaci invited Marly and Dean to come and visit the trio whenever they wanted.

The Twinners pedaled up the street to check out the chickens at least once a week. When the grandparent's would come over, they kids trucked them up the street too.

Dean named one the brown birds Charlie.

This might be Charlie, or it might not!

Charlie and his pals layed green and brown eggs.

Just yesterday I noticed the pen was empty. We knew this day would come. Since our summer friends arrived, I have made it no secret we eat chicken. I haven't mentioned it to the kids yet, but I suspect Charlie, the white chicken, and the other brown chicken are destined for the dinner table!

I believe Rex has mentioned the birds did not provide the answer to the slug problem, so I am not sure if we will see any new poultry with the return of spring.

Renaissance Festival 2011

Once again this year, Dad and Chris took us to the Renaissance Festival. This year it was a HOT September day, but we still had a marvelous time. When we picked Dad and Chris up, Chris had a pirate costume for Dean and a princess costume for Marly. Where is my costume????

Camel Ride.

Elephant ride.

A quick detour to check out the ducks.

Llama Ride.

Horse ride. (Last year the kids rode the ponies. This year Dean spotted the real deal.)

Dean easily convinced Grandpa to say yes to any animal he wanted to ride.

Eventually we headed home hot, dirty, and happy.

Thank you Dad and Chris for another great day.

Memorial Day 2011

On Memorial Day we headed to the Minnesota Zoo to use Marly and Dean's Birthday gift certificate from the Collin's family. The weather was perfect and the crowds were light. We saw the new penguin exhibit and rode the monorail.

We walked the paths.

We watched the dolphin training show.

And by now, you are probably wondering why there are not photos of ANIMALS.

You know how it is at the MN Zoo (which was known as the NEW Zoo when I was in elementary)- the animals are in the back, or behind a tree, and slightly obscured.

Or...there is a crowd of kids in front.

Of course the ordinary animals at the Wells Fargo Family Farm are always a hit with Marly and Dean. Throw in a GREEN tractor (even if it is antique, with NO cab, NO buddy seat, and NO high tech gadgets like on the Melberg Farms) and it is a winner of a day for little man Dean-0! That boy has country coursing though his veins even if he is the suburban cousin. As we walked up the trail, Dean started yelling, "Soybeans Mom, Soybeans!"

Time to head home, but not before snapping one more picture, with NO ANIMALS!

Sunday

Today we went to visit Brett, Rachel and Baby Charlie. Dad was there too. Despite the new addition to the household, Brett made ribs, and had cold slaw, beans and corn bread for dinner/lunch.

I feel bad Brett and Rachel fed us, with a brand new baby on board. In my defense, I brought a baked ziti dish to heat, frozen garlic bread to go with it, Quiche Lorraine they can cut and nuk by the slice, brownies, and Wasi toast and Laughing Cow cheese for the nursing mom. Yes... I made the ziti, quiche and brownies (which were admittedly from a box).

In the afternoon, we got to be a part of Charlie's first boat ride. He is about 6 days old today!

Most likely, this is the last boat ride of the season for the Thomberg's. I can't wait for next summer at Brett and Rachel's on Pierson Lake with the new addition to the family.