Even MORE Food!

Spent too much time at the food building. Probably too much money as well but it was soooo goooood!!
Potato skins

Cheese curds. I don't know who created them but we should make them king.

Just look at them. Too bad your monitor isn't a scratch and sniff. Or better yet - lick and sniff. Now that idea could make me millions of dollars!

We had to try the onion rings to see how they compare to Bergen. No contest - Bergen wins hands down. But what the heck. They were only $5.00 and we had a coupon for $1.50 off and they were fried so we had to have them. If it isn't insanely expensive and going to clog your arteries so bad you'll stroke out before you get back to your vehicle - it isn't fair food.

THE FOOD!!!!!

Chocolate covered fruit on a stick!
Deep fried cheese on a stick!

That's a lot of cheese!!

Guess what they serve?? Alligator - on a stick!

And finally - Martha's cookies - in a pail!!

The Great Minnesota Get Together!

Emily and I drove up to the cities early on Friday and my brother, Curt, and his family brought us to the State Fair with them. We also picked up Macy at her apartment to enjoy the beautiful weather and fantastic food.
The creative arts building.

The DNR pond.

A view of one of the very busy streets. :-)

Free entertainment at Heritage Village. A duet competition was going on and this little fiddler and her mom were awesome! Not sure if they won, but I hope so!

Madelia folks were there to promote their Younger Brother's capture celebration coming up. Lots of pistols being shot - horses being skiddish - audience jumping at the sudden sound - me included! What I didn't take pictures of were the unending line of old cars that made up the bulk of the parade. Just not into old cars, I guess.

Another Labor Day parade over and now we can move fully into fall. I'm sure there's a football game just around the corner!

The St. James Middle School Band

They sounded good despite low numbers

Everyone marched to the steady beat - thanks, Daniel!

The rookie baseball team from Godahl.

The St. James High School Marching Band

Godahl Days Parade - circa 2011

I have to admit the only reason I go to the Godahl Days Parade is because my kids have been forced to march in it. It's held in a small town that has maybe 6 houses and a very old general store and the parade is about two blocks long. The residents are very proud of their little town and serve popcorn, root beer floats, hot pork sandwiches, burgers and pie. They crown a queen every year as well. Sometimes it's hard to find queen candidates and they have to import them from neighboring communites and farms.

Color guard.

Finally!! School starts!!

Just for fun I thought I'd load a picture of Daniel starting 6th grade. Maybe it's the angle of the picture - maybe he's standing farther away from the door - but notice how he's grown and filling up the door frame in the picture below.

That's my boy!!

Standing by his locker on open house night. Locker number 98 - the year he was born! That's easy to remember.

Anxious to get to school on the morning of the 25th. Goodbye summer and hello homework, structure and routine!

Macy and her roommate Elena.
Sharing a specail moment in the lobby waiting for the bus to take the new students to AI.

There's the picture I was waiting for!!

and Macy and mom... not crying.... yet....

This would be when I was repeating to myself, "she's gonna be fine", "she's gonna be fine".

I'm going to miss you!

Despite the insane traffic in the downtown area at 9:00 in the morning - WE MADE IT!!!!!
Her new home. Each apartment holds four students and each student has their own bedroom which includes a private bathroom. Pretty sweet suite. ha ha

Macy's very own bathroom. She has cleaning supplies - I hope she uses them!

Furnished living room.

Full, although small, kitchen. The challenge would be for four people to share cupboards and refrigerator space.....

The hardest part

of any new journey is saying goodbye to everything that's familiar and safe and moving on into the unknown. You take with you material things that remind you of home and you gain confidence and courage and perhaps even overcome some fears.
Hard to say goodbye.

Hard not to cry.

Trying to be brave and it's hard for all of us to watch.

We love you Macy!