This post is not about watermellon pickles!

My post on watermellon pickles and libido brought in the most hits ever on my blog.  Oofta, now I know what all of you have been thinking!  This post—has nothing to do with pickles unless they are stored in the galley of a tall ship.

Thousands of Northlanders are expected to turn out on Thursday for the arrival of three tall ships in the Duluth, Minnesota harbor.  Lake Superior has brought us many wonderful things over the years….and this week, as part of  Maritime Heritage Festival we will have the chance to see the Niagra, Madeline and the Pride of Baltimore.

As a reporter and civilian I have traveled on several vessels, including a cruise ship and an iron ore carrier.  My husband also paddles a mean little canoe.  But I have always dreamed of sailing on a tall ship.  I’m trying to figure out how I can become a stow-a-way on the Baltimore.  My luck I would end up a cast-a-way on an uncharted island off the Northshore.  Oofta!

This week’s event in Duluth should be very exciting…as it also marks the 150th year of statehood for Minnesota.

 

To see some beautiful photos of the Pride….follow this link.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/billmcallenphotos/397841788/in/set-72157594207239193/

Oofta! I’m so Excited…the Swedes are here!

FinnFest 2008 in Finn-ished….now its time to host the Swedes! Duluth Mayor Don Ness hosted an official welcoming ceremony today for dignitaries from Duluth’s Sister City of Växjö, Sweden.  The Växjö delegation, includes Mayor Bo Frank, the leader of the  city that earned the title of ‘Greenest’ City in Europe.

Click pix to Swedish City’s Website!

 

To learn about Duluth Click the pix below!

Duluth

 

 

As part of their stay, in Duluth, Minnesota the Swedish delegation will share with Duluthians the numerous environmental steps it’s city  took to earn the Eurpean title. 

Some elements of Växjö’s environmental program include:

-Increasing green purchasing of such things as ecofriendly vehicles and ecologically produced food;

-Promoting a “Greener Växjö” through biological diversity and accessibility to green areas;

-Efficiently using energy and increasing use of renewable energy;

-Increasing bicycle traffic and use of public transportation.

 Oofta…it makes me proud to be part Swede!

Finnish Reindeer, Oofta!

FinnFest 2008.

I was afforded a great honor Friday night at the Duluth Entertainment and Convention Center. While the President of Finland was inside listening to the Minnesota Orchestra…I was outside cleaning up after the Reindeer. Oofta it was messy but kinda fun in a stupid way.

Click the picture to see a short video of the cleanup!

Cute but messy!

President of Finland receives honors in Duluth, Minnesota.

FinnFest 2008 has drawn thousands to Duluth, Minnesota to celebrate all things Finnish.  Including the President of Finland, Tarja Halonen.

For a news update on her honors from the University of Minnesota Duluth, click on the picture below.

President Tarja Halonen

 FinnFest has been such a wonderful experience. Dancing, music, plays, educational seminars and great exhibits.  This weekend is also filled with events.  For a complete schedule of events click on the FinnFest Logo below.

Finn

OOfta! Rudy be careful!

The sport of mountain biking is picking up in popularity in the Northland…where fat tires rule the trail. Now a small group of local athletes are pushing themselves to the limits when it comes to handling their bikes.

Their talent goes well beyond the standard rock jump. This week in Duluth, Minnesota my daughter and I went for a walk on the city’s lakewalk along beautiful Lake Superior. We always enjoy our time together and we often see things that many people simply miss because they are busy burning off calories from dinner.

Click the picture below to see what you missed!

But some of us have learned if you stop and look around you there are gifts that can make you day…and you might be lucky to see people like Rudy defying gravity along the rocky shore.

Mysterious message in a bottle!

My daughter and I took a walk along Lake Superior in Duluth, Minnesota…and Oofta were we in for a surprise! We spotted a bottle floating toward the beach. Eventually Jitterbug managed to snag it and we found a message inside. We had so much fun, and luckily I had brought my little camera which also is a video camera. You guessed it—we have video documenting our find!

Mystery bottle

Oofta, this is a serious post….

Normally I try to blog about the fun things in my life as a Northlander and a s someone who documents  life in my little part of this great big world. But sometimes there are tragic events that impact our community so much…that they need to be talked about in the hope of bringing closure to those in pain.

Eight years ago, 33 year old Trina Langenbrunner was murdered and her dead body was left on the side of a gravel road near Brookston, Minnesota. The death of this 33 year old woman and the impact of her loss on her family has always stayed with me. Recently I was at Walmart and ran into her daughter, now an adult. Our meeting resulted in a two part news report called ” Justice for Trina.”

CLICK ON THE PICTURE BELOW TO WATCH THE FIRST PART OF THIS STORY

Oofta…what a messy garden!

Dateline: July 22, 2008

There never seems to be enough time to stop and smell the roses…or lillies.  The rain has let up and the flowers are getting their second wind.  I sure hope the roses will come back before the first frost!  Oofta our growing season isn’t long enough. Worse yet we are a zone 3!  Between the fauna and flora I’ve just about given up gardening…my patience is wearing thin.

Oofta! So many strawberries in Blackhoof-Sandy.

Click the photo of the above berries and it will take you to the Video…of Strawberry Pickin’

My husband, daughter and I went strawberry picking Sunday…we had our video camera along and of course she didn’t miss a chance to broadcast the fun, on the Northland’s NewsCenter.

Like Mother–Like Daughter. Oofta those berries were tasty. Last night I tried to make strawberry jam…today it is still not setting up. So I guess I’ll have to go to plan B. Strawberry sauce!

Live is good…Live it!

Oofta…mushrooms and a gnome!

Oofta it has been raining so much here in the woods near Moose Lake, Minnesota! Today I finally had a chance to get out into the yard and it appears a huge fungus deep in the earth has spit out some baby fungi. Mushrooms are popping up everywhere. And of course you know what that means…gnomes. I searched my flower garden and found one of them hunting and gathering. I wouldn’t dare eat one of these…but my grandma says the gnomes love em, you betcha.

gotcha!

Funny thing, I shot five pictures of that gnome and I cannot load his picture onto this blog. Maybe there is somethingto their magic?

gotcha!