It’s Bemidji or Bust!

Day One...The Adventure Begins

Once Mr. Peabody learned that Patrick would be responsible for his care and feeding for the next week, he jumped into the car and refused to get out!  Patrick, has in the past, forgotten we had a dog and, subsequently, forgotten to feed him! Sorry Peasie, you’re just going to hope for the best!!!  Now get out!!!

Amelia, Bonita and Mom stand in front of Bertha Mae ready to embark on our “Excellent Adventure.”  All smiles now but will we still be smiling or even speaking 600 miles later...we’ll see!

Both hands on the wheel and eyes on the road.  When asked how she learned how to drive, Bonita replies “I’ve seen Rain Man a hundred times.  I’m an excellent driver.”

Finally, we’re in Minnesota.  Yah hey der, folks!  Only two (well, three) wrong turns thanks to lead navigator Mom Judy and we’ve crossed into the Land of 10,000 Lakes!  We’ve seen a ton of cows, buffalo and one very large, orange moose (no, I’ve not lost my mind, yet!).  Alas, no time for any quilt shop visits, yet, but soon!!!

One night at the hotel outside St. Paul then we’re on to Bemidji! 

Day Two

We’ve arrived in Bemidji and met up with a Big Blue Ox!

We journeyed on to our ultimate destination, Bemidji, Minnesota and found what we were looking for….the backside of a big blue OX!

Okay, here’s the front side of Babe with the two “Babes from Batavia!!!”

Amelia gets a room with a view at German Language Camp and Bonita and Judy say “Auf Wiedersehen”!

My observations on Bemidji...I had no idea Paul Bunyan was such a prolific businessman.  Apparently, he started a carpet store, hot dog and ice cream shop and even a sub shop. Everything here is the Paul Buyan  “fill in the blank” and you’ve got a store!!!  Should we ever decide to open a North Woods branch of PSQ it would have to be PBQ—Paul Bunyan Quilts (and I’m sure he did!).

Days 3-4-5

The Mall and More!

On Day 3, Mom and I headed down to Minneapolis and to The Mall of America.  Mom requested this stop (I HATE shopping so I anticipated this place was going to be a big giant nightmare!) and being the good daughter I am, I obliged.  Actually, it’s a pretty cool place where you can find just about everything EXCEPT a WII Fit!!!! The place is HUGE and we were exhausted by the time we finished but, I must admit, it was worth the visit. 

On Day 3 we visited three quilt shops.  The first one, Front Porch Quilts, was a quaint little shop that had a hair salon in the same room (not just the same building...but the same space).  One of the owners is also the hair stylist! The salon also included a tanning bed!!!   Think how you could multi-task, let your hair coloring set while shopping for your next quilt project!  The other two stores featured quilt shop dogs—Ollie, an adorable Bichon, who insisted I carry him around the store while I shopped and Pepper, a tiny Yorkie.  

On Day 5 we visited three more quilt shops around Minneapolis/St. Paul.  The first one, Eagle Creek Quilt Shop, is located in a refurbished train depot and featured high ceilings and beautiful hardwood floors (I was so jealous!).  We also visited two more shops (both cute) and then spent nearly two hours trying desperately to find the Minnesota Zoo!  The only sign we saw directing us to the Zoo was pointing to the left.  Unfortunately we were on an exit ramp that was sending us off to the right!  Oops!  Well, we never did find the zoo!  Too bad!  Tomorrow we head back North to Bemidji and the land of Paul Bunyan! 

Days 6 & 7

Heading for Home!

I’d like to title this section of the blog “Bonita’s Magnificent Obsession.”  The entire trip, I was obsessed with finding the cheapest gas in Minnesota.  Here are photos of my two cheapest discoveries—$3.91/gallon and, my personal best, $3.89!  The funny thing (or maybe not so funny) was that when we passed this gas station on the way back south (just one day later), the price had gone up by 10 cents!  Ouch!  I’m proud to say that I never paid more than $3.99 a gallon the entire trip. 

Here is just one of the many authentically German buildings that could be found on the Waldsee campus at the Concordia Language Camp Amelia attending in Bemidji, Minnesota in June.  Throughout the week-long camp, the counselors and campers only spoke in German, all ate German food (which Amelia said was fabulous) and had a wonderful time!!

We had to take a picture of this fish mail box so you would all believe us that they exist.   They not only exist but they can be found ALL OVER Minnesota.  This picture doesn’t do justice to the overwhelming size of this large-mouth bass.  They are big!!! 

Home Sweet Home!