Off to Duluth for some Haute and Ashbury type culture on the lake shore. We stayed at the Inn on Lake Superior while in Duluth on Canal Park. We had a fantastic room- the manager that booked our room didn’t disappoint! Our room was a main level suite, lake view, with a door that lead out to a patio and we could come and go as we pleased from our own hotel door. Every night at 8PM the hotel had bonfires complete with all the fixins’ for S’Mores- complementary. In the morning, they had a complementary breakfast of champions. Tiger (aka Arun) made sure we didn’t miss those beautiful views of the sunrise either! He and I took a walk at 5:30AM on Canal Park. I’m glad too… There are two pools at the hotel as well. A roof top pool that is kept at 82-degrees year round. It was actually too hot for us to swim in, believe it or not! Duluth is not for it’s warm weather. We were right in the middle of a ton of restaurants and shops. We didn’t drive the car the entire time we were their, which was perfect! Especially when you have kids! We took the boys to the most amazing Railway Museum we’ve been to yet that included tickets to the Duluth Children’s Museum. We purchased tickets for a 90-minute train ride to Lester River. We sat in the open car on the train- beautiful. Nishad *loved* the museum and the ride. The Boys enjoyed watching international ships come to port and the famous Duluth bridge lift. I really look forward to returning to Duluth and this hotel. Next time, perhaps we’ll stay a day or two more! Duluth reminds me so much of Morro Bay, California. I could live in Duluth, if they didn’t have the winters they do!
Commissioner Beverly
I’m proud to be a P & R commissioner. The Park and Recreation Commission acts as a liaison between the community and city government. We advise the council on maintenance, improvements, developing parks, programing, regulations and hold three free events per year (Pumpkin Patch, Santa Day and Egg Hunt) that we coordinate and run. Recreation rocks- as my Aunt Bev once said to me (yes, my namesake commented), who works for parks and recreation…albeit, another state. I have made a few good friends on P & R as well…Which really made Minnesota feel like ‘home’.
Park and Rec. is just as important as community schools- You’re city is only as good as the schools that are there and the community within. Parks encourage and bring a sense of community. Schools are always the hub when tragedy occurs or issues arise. Though our boys will probably never attend the school district here, Ashish and I still support it. As a matter of fact, last August I was asked to be a tri-chair for our last school campaign…which I was proud to be a part of.
We are fortunate to have a great view of one of our beautiful city parks from the comfort of our deck. We have a creek that runs through our property, and a pond on both views from our deck. Most days it’s like a bird sanctuary back there! We have fish in the creek, frogs, cranes, a loon and mink that love to play in the mornings.
I am also very fortunate that my husband values me and what I find important enough to volunteer for. Being that one of us are always with our children I consider my volunteering to be his volunteering as well.
Birthday Cake & Cookies
If you Give a Mouse a Cookie, chances are he WILL want a glass of milk…
In the morning we went to Jada’s 4th birthday party and had a ball. Jada’s party was a Carnival theme, though this Mommy had her own princess theme in mind. With two little boys, it’s fun to shop for pinkalicious things every so often!
By 12:30 we headed off to the Children’s Theatre Company in Minneapolis to see “If You Give a Mouse A Cookie.” In the lobby, before the show, staff had mouse ears for the kids to decorate along with self face painting. They wanted everyone in the audience to be a mouse.
We were front row, center- and literally ‘in’ all the action! I’ve never seen such excellent children’s theatre before. Not only was Nishad laughing, but I was right along side him giggling away! The actor that plays the mouse has a super-hero amount of energy! I can see why one of their shows went to the Tony’s last year. Bravo! Nishad seems to be really enjoying the theatre productions we’ve been to this summer.
Ashish worked from home on this day and took care of baby Arun. This was a special Mommy and Nishad day.
Kolacky & Hoska
When ever I mention that I am craving a kolacky, people in Minnesota give me a bit of a confused look. “Did you say Kolacky?” Yes, but not any kolacky– a Vesecky’s Bakery kolacky back in Berwyn off Cermak Road. When I mention houska, it instantly gets another funny expression from people.
As a mater of fact, when I was pregnant with Nishad I was craving a strawberry kolacky (my favroite…I only like the cheese and strawberry) so bad that I found a bakery in Minnesota, New Prague, that make kolacky. *Lau’s Czech Bakery: 121 Main St W New Prague, MN*
Ashish and I took a day trip (2 1/2 hour drive to get there from our house) only to find that the bakery was closed. Devastation! While scouting the town, we noticed the plethora of Czech references. I immediately said to Ashish, “With so many Czech’s settling here, they are bound to have kolacky in their local grocery store!” I waddled in the grocery store and headed directly to the bakery department, which…had kolacky! However, they were the ones that were covered (not the open round ones). Disappointed, I left empty handed.
When I went back to Chicagoland for my baby shower, I stocked up and brought a dozen home along with two houskas. While driving back on a very hot summer day with my two friends, Vicki and Kelly, there was a “POP” in the car that startled us all. Vicki immediately said, “It’s the bread!” 🙂
Yes, houska is bread. It tastes similar to Hawaiian bread in the sense that it is a bit sweeter, but it has raisins and nuts on top. It’s great in the morning with a little butter on top accompanying with a cup of French Roast- Caribou beans, of course!
I have yet to find a “real” bakery in Minnesota. I now realize now how spoiled I was growing up in such a cultural mecca like Chicago. Being that Vesckey’s still operates as I imagine it did 40-years ago, they don’t ship bakery anywhere. Yes, they still package your bakery in little white boxes with string wrapped around them. However, I did find this place online, Zicha Meats, that ships their bakery for them. I haven’t ordered via Zicha, so if anyone does, let me know what your experience is like.
The Real Football!
Mommy’s little soccer player! I always knew you had a strong kick, Nishad! (Trust me!) Our friends, and neighbors (Krista and Presten) organized a tot soccer class this past June. They did a great job! It was such a hoot to see all the little ones out on the field together. My how they all grow over the winter!
The class was held every Monday for 30-minutes, right in our backyard- the park! What a great way to utilize the park…
Nishad *loves* “Kiss-ta” and even calls her on his cell phone. “What’cha cookin’ for dinner, Kiss-ta? When are you comin’ over?” Jaxson, their son (who was born in August a few months before Nishad), is very high on Nishad’s list of VIP’s!