Farmkids to Heart of the City

Farmkids to Heart of the City - Burnsville

Our South-metro Twin Cities family has recently discovered Burnsville Minnesota's "Heart of the City area, a thoughtfully planned and developed urban park with wonderful water features, tasteful landscaping, and a well equipped performing arts center.

Now two things I'm not sure about, but here's what I'm, guessing....that the project got a huge federal grant during the 1980s or 90s to do something nice with the old landfill/dump that used to occupy that same space. That's my guess, I'm sure Nana could google it and set me straight.

Anyway, the Farmdottas took me and their Farmkids there today for a wonderful, relaxing day of picnicking, splashing in the clean stream, and playing in the fountains. Great summer day, for sure!

Comments

Spring in a bottle

Sal and I both like tulips, so while winter still has a loose grip on Minnesota, we're enjoying some "bottled freshness". I remember planting tulip bulbs with my Mom when I was a kid growing up in Massachsetts I can still recall the frangrance of the bone meal that we always poured into the hole before pressing the bulb gently into place. I think they might be my favorite flower.

Welcome to the Wisconsin North Woods

Nana and I love going with very long-time friends Steve and Pam to their wonderful old Eagle River, Wisconsin cabin, about 250 miles from our MN home. The four of us generally drive up in one car. My assignment is to bring car snacks for everybody. Fall is great for apples and cheese, and some baked goodie, like cookie or brownie, plus nut-or-snack mix. The in-car visiting is non-stop. We decide when, where, or whether to do Friday night supper. Painted glass piece hanging in the cabin window overlooking loon-populated Bass Lake (Eagle River, WI) The fire, essential to a great northwoods cabin experience most months of the year. The boat and the dock at bottom of the cabin hill. The water level low due to the unusually dry summer in these parts. The driveway up to the main road. Bass Lake

Signature Desserts

Inspired by the great cooking done by my wife and three daughters , and daughter-in-law, I knew it was time for me to do as they do, which is, (1) make a delicious something, (2) take a sumptuous-looking photograph of it, and (3) upload it to my blog for all the world to enjoy vicariously. This would not be difficult for me, as I like to bake from a box, and I like to take pictures. So since it's Friday (every day is Friday in my world) I rolled up my sleeves and got started, noting without alarm that the sell-by date was 4 years ago, seriously. My choice dessert for this project was the Boston Cream Pie, which honors my New England roots, of course. So let's go. (1) Start the oven (2) Add milk, oil, and eggs to the cake mix, (3) Bake at 350 in a 9" pan, (4) Cool cake on a wire rack, good so far, (5) Slice horizontally. The package didn't say that slicing a layer cake horizontally is not possible, as I have now discovered (6) Prepare the vanilla-pudding and spre...

PTCPapa

Search This Blog