A Side Trip Story

Sarah, Dave, Davey and Derek went to Disneyworld the same week Tom, Joe and I went to South Carolina on the Amtrak. In the two pictures below the boys have their arms around each other, which in itself is darling.

Yesterday, when I was talking to Davey we talked about how nice I thought it was that they had their arms around each other. Davey said, "That is when we are getting along."

I asked him, "Can I put my arm around you too Punkin?" He said, "No, Gramma. You have to put both your arms around me because you are glad to see me!" When my heart was done melting I said, "Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh, I can surely do that!

Side trips in life might last but a moment, but I wouldn't miss them for the world!

Our Amtrak Trip With Joe Part 3

We left St. Paul/Minneapolis at 8:00 a.m. and arrived in Chicago eight hours later. We were awed by the Chicago skyline. The sky was exquisite and served as a beautiful backdrop for the city.

The first leg of our journey was at its end. Tom, Joe and I headed into the Amtrak station for a three hour stopover. Mind you, every step of this journey was a new experience for us and one we were enjoying to the limit!

Everything we saw, heard, smelled, tasted and touched was something to exclaim over.

Our Amtrak Trip With Joe Part 2

The first leg of our train trip was from Minneapolis, Mn to Chicago, Illinois. We wound our way through small towns, across rivers and past lakes. We looked out at the changing scenery as though we were seeing America for the first time......all three of us.

The motion and speed of the train gave us only glimpses of the beauty of things we don't usually think of as beautiful....rusty old train cars, homes in need of repair and trees that had seen better days.

I thought about this quite a bit. Usually a person wants to take pictures of things that look good, nice, pretty. But, somehow riding on a train and seeing what you see does look good because it is what you are seeing. All of life carries its own kind of beauty. I guess life in motion gives me a different feeling than life when it is sitting still.

I hope you enjoy seeing what we saw through the train window of our trip.

Our Amtrak Trip Part 1

Little by little...ten pictures at a time in a slideshow...I hope to take you on the Amtrak with Tom, Joe and me. None of us had ever taken a trip on the train before and it was a wonderful experience.

It was as if we traveled the back yards of America.

So, c'mon aboard and ride the Amtrak from Minnesota to South Carolina with us!

We traveled through Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Washington, D.C., West Virginia, Virginia, North Carolina and South Carolina.

In the two slideshows in this post you will see 20 pictures of our trip through our Amtrak window.

A Joint Post With My Grandson Joseph Age 11

I have not written a post since Tom, Joe and I left on our trip to visit our son, Adam and his family. The big question is why? Well, I think the reason is that I have really been ON the trip and IN the trip if you know what I mean. I would have had to get outside myself to do a post and finally today with Joseph's help and encouragement I am back again! Also, this may prevent him from taking funny pictures of his grandma. Ha Ha Joseph...very funny!

I am going to hand over my laptop now to Joseph who is going to try his hand at contributing to this post. Ok Joseph, my man....it is all yours!

This report brought to you by me, myself, and I. We have been on an exciting trip so far to Stumphouse Tunnel and Issaquenna Falls. Stumphouse Tunnel was built before and during the Civil War. However, it was uncompleted. The tunnel itself was supposed to be over 5,000 ft. long. The workers only got to about 2,000 ft. long. Issaquenna Falls ties in with Stumphouse Tunnel because the river starts inside Stumphouse Tunnel. The river then runs out the tunnel down a river bank under a bridge and down a cliff. Stumphouse Tunnel goes through a mountain. Well, I have seen the top of the mountain looking into the tunnel. (I was the only one to do this in the family!) On the way down I jumped down and lost my footing almost toppling over the mountain...but anyway climbing up was pretty fun. (Which almost led to a grounding of at least ten years.....says grandma)

Yesterday we (as in me, grandma, and joe) went to Wal-Mart. (We got lost on the way there because of me.) We spent TWO hours in there! Joe bought a new camera, a wallet, a few shirts, a camera bag, and some batteries. Grandma bought D-O-R-A (Dora) books for Kallsen and Parker and gave some money to mom for her birthday. She bought me two shirts and a dress shirt with a tie! Joe bought me a wallet! Joe had a great time there! Personally, I don't see who would have such a good time at Wal-Mart, but nevertheless he still had a great time there. Belive it or not Grandma didn't buy anything for herself! (Because, Joe had no money left says grandma)

Reporting for Grandma I'm Joseph Haney Seneca,SC.
Good-Bye and stay safe everyone who's reading this.

Thanks Joseph! Anyone that's reading this remember Joseph is my grandson. Here are some pictures of Stumphouse Tunnel and Issaquenna Falls!!!!!!!!!!!!! (That last sentence was written by no other than Joseph Haney himself)

A Few Catchup Pictures

The train.......namely, the Amtrak, is leaving tomorrow for South Carolina to visit our son, Adam and his family. Tom, Joe and I will all be aboard the train and ready for the adventure we have been looking forward to for several months now.

Before we leave I wanted to post a few more pictures of the things Joe has been experiencing since his arrival.

Pumpkin stand in the Maple Grove shopping center. Joe said they sell pumpkins in Ireland but he has not seen stands like this one

Joe sitting on one of the lovely benches on Main Street in the Maple Grove shopping center. It is a charming main street

Two Mallards enjoying a moment at Centennial Lakes Park off France Ave in Edina

This little squirrel let us get pretty close to take his picture at Centennial Lakes Park

View from one of the little bridges in Centennial Lakes Park. It overlooks a beautiful miniature golf course

Joe just enjoying the view at Centennial Lakes Park

Centennial Lakes Park is unmatched in beauty. No matter what direction you look, you see water, rocks, trees, bridges, fountains, little squirrels, ducks and people enjoying themselves just as we did

So, I just talked to Adam. It is 7:55 a.m. and he sounded so good. Tom, Joe and I will be heading out in the morning on our way to see Adam, Sara Beth, Joseph, Kallsen and Parker for the first time since June.

Do you think people cry more as they age? My happiness at hearing his voice and his anticipation of our coming is coming out in moist eyes.

See you soon family! I love you! Mom xo xo xo

No Such Thing As A Free Lunch

Yep..just last Saturday Joe said with great certainty, "There is no such thing as a free lunch."


On Sunday, Joe and I went to church at Hennepin Avenue United Methodist Church, and there is a FREE LUNCH for new visitors.

In the picture you see Joe eating his words!

It was a delicious lunch of eggs, kielbasa sausage, potatoes, cinnamon french toast with syrup and butter, oatmeal, ice cream and sauces and coffee. It was great and a time to share the fellowship opportunity provided at the church.

Later, Joe and I went out shopping so Joe could get some sandals for our upcoming trip to South Carolina.


We ended up at R.E.I. and a nice girl named Ruth helped Joe. Joe is now a proud ownder of a great pair of hiking sandals that are just like the ones I got for my trip to Italy and Greece this last June.

I have checked the extended forecast for South Carolina and it is going to be in the mid 70's every day we are there. Joe got his sandals in the knick of time!

Wood Lake Nature Center

Joe and I met Sarah, Davey and Derek at the Wood Lake Nature Center with other members of her Mom's Club. Nestled into the suburb of Richfield, Mn this beautiful nature center makes you feel like you are in the middle of nowhere. The center has 150 acres of beautiful water, reeds, paths and as Davey said, "This is one big forest!"

I hope you enjoy the slideshow!

Trying Something New

There Is Beauty In Simplicity

You know how we often think we have to leave home to see something new and interesting? When Joe came to visit this time, I thought where can we take him to show him the beauty of Minnesota.

We went to Duluth, Two Harbours and Gooseberry Falls. We visited Father Hennepin State Park and traveled through some charming little towns along the way. We saw beautiful autumn leaves as we made our way north. Lake Superior was everything we had hoped it would be...beautiful, immense, powerful and magical. It made for a beautiful backdrop for some pictures. It is one of the Great Lakes. Joe studied about it as a boy in school, and he finally got to see it and touch it.

Yet, nestled in my very own little neighborhood is another beautiful and magical place to visit and spend a few hours. I took Joe down to East Medicine Lake Park to walk the path that I have told him about for the last two years. It's beauty matched anything we had seen the week before and it is within walking distance from our home.