Update on “Message in a bottle”

Thursday August 7th, Jitterbug and I tossed the message in a bottle back into Lake Superior. We included our own treasure map which leads to a buried treasure along Duluth, Minnesota’s lakewalk.

Click on the photo below to see the video of “Bottle Part Two!”

Message in a bottle

Oofta I love summer in the Northland!

Mom

Mom and Jitterbug

on the rocks

I love our adventures in Duluth. They take about one hour of our time but they always lift my spirits and refuels my brain.

Oofta it’s 1812!

Click the picture to go to a video of 1812 soldiers!

The Brits invade Duluth, Minnesota as part of Maritime History Festival. My daughter Jitterbug ran into a jolly good group of Brits! Oofta she had fun!

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 the Finns are coming to town!!!! FinnFest 2008!

FinnFest 2008 will be held in Duluth, Minnesota July 23-27th.  Hundreds of events are planned and one of the honored guests, is the President of Finland.

President Tarja Halonen

While I am not Finnish, I have been happily married to a Finn for 26 years. And my hair used to be the exact color as the Finnish President’s Tarja Halonen when I was a little girl…so that should count as something, Yah?

 My family is part Swedish on my mother’s side.  There has always been a friendly rivalry between the Swedes and Finns especially in Northeastern Minnesota.  On the Northland’s Newscenter, during a commercial break recently I asked the co-chairs of FinnFest 2008 if we have to be Finn to take part in this international event. “No, we love everyone.” they responded. 

 That really is true!  Finn or not–consider hooking up the reindeer and heading north to the beautiful city on Lake Superior for FinnFest 2008!  The saunas are firing, the coffee is hot…and gosh those Finns are nice people!

For a day by day schedule of events from the wonderful folks who put together FinnFest….click the word  OOFTA!

For a television interview with the co-chairs of FinnFest2008 click the logo below!

JENO PAULUCCI 90 YEARS OLD AND GOING STRONG!

JENO KING OF THE BEANSPROUTS!

He negotiated with Jimmy Hoffa…he is the brains and brawn behind Chun King Foods…and dozens of other top name brands in the food industry.  This month, this titan of industry turned 90 years old.

I had the pleasure recently to sit down with Duluth’s multi millionaire entreprenuer….and he is still a force in our community.

Oofta!  We should all be this active at ninty….click Jeno’s photo to see the story of America’s coolest boss over 90!