Thanksgiving

12-2-13 The drive back to Duluth

We stopped at Tim & Kim's and then went to their farm to get 17 farm eggs. 

 I had never met their alpacas but man is their fur soft. I really want  a sweater made from it since it is 8 times warmer than wool - I think

 We stopped at United Noodles and bought a gallon jar of Kimchi and some other yummy things like black rice noodles. 

11-29-13 The drive to Mankato

A fresh coat of snow in Northern MN but no snow in Southern MN. We had nice temps and clear skies while in Mankato. Kirsten's party was great and got out running with Justin, Sarah, and Kirsten. 

 So many apples at the big yellow barn and awesome samples. 

 So much Candy

 Clearing out the pies [they close on 12-2-13 for the season]

11-28-13 Thursday

Thanksgiving

Emily and I woke up to a very pretty sunrise and then lots of sunshine in Duluth. We had a couple inches of snow yesterday. Last weekend we made homemade graham crackers and this Thurs morning we made an amazing pumpkin pie bar with those graham crackers as the crust.

After the pie was baked we took off for a walk down to the lake to enjoy the sun. A super nice day.

Walking up Chester Bowl trail & looking at the icy creek

The hike up the hill gave me some hunger so we started working on our medium sized lunch for Turkey Day (no turkey in this house though...I donated mine to the food shelf)

Roasted brussel sprouts with sweet potato

On the way up the hill I dumpster dived at super one and scored BIG. A lot peppers and a egg plant.

We sat down to an amazing meal. So delicious. Roasted veggies, wild rice with cranberries & pickled beets from our friends Mike & Joanna. We had the pumpkin pie bar for dessert. 

November

Saturday 11-9-13 -Below

Cable has some wet sloppy snow but Duluth has none. I got myself outside on the fat bike and went down lost land lake road for a couple miles. Enjoyed being outside. I jumped onto some single track so I wouldn't have to ride the same route back home. A nice 2hr ride in the morning.

I brought some flour, yeast and sour dough starter to Emily's and made some buns and bread sticks. They turned out well. I also made some gluten free crackers with masa flour + other grains.

11-10-13 Sunday - Below

Emily and I didn't want to get Cabin fever so we went North a few miles to get on the North Country trail for a hike to the Swedish settlement. We went past the settlement in order to get to two more overlooks. It was grey out but the overlooks were  nice. Picked golden rod galls when we got back to the settlement and froze out hands off. A nice day as long as we were moving.

Some nice topography near the settlement. It really doesn't feel like North Wisc with all this bedrock.

The second overlook. Nice views

We are back at the car after a nice hike. The sign telling distances. 

9-16-13 Saturday

I have been riding trials almost every day after work this week trying to fit in the last bits of riding before winter arrives. Feeling good about my riding ability. 

A log at Brighton Beach

It was supposed to rain today but there was a great sunrise and decent weather. I stopped by the 3rd St Bakery and got a Goddess Bar and then went to Brighton Beach for a trials session. 

Looking toward Duluth. So many rocks to ride. 

I picked two spots to ride today that I had never sessioned before. Had an awesome time and so thankful it isn't snowing. 

Really enjoying the corn tortillas made into a quesadillas. Re-fried bean, tomatillos, and mung bean sprouts in this one

A very delicios dinner. quesadilla, Spinach salad & local hand picked apples.

11-18-13 Monday
I was happy to see an email from Felix from Germany. He was talking about this fall and said that on his commute home by bike he saw a field full of carrots that had been harvested. He went back two days later and picked roughly 80 pounds that had been left behind because they were oddly shaped. So, he inspired Emily and I to bake some carrot cake.