Summer Lovin', Had Me a Blast

The Bishopps have gone back to Pennsylvania.  We Raleigh Housers were all sad, but will comfort ourselves by recounting the rest of the good time here for y'all, Joe and Clara's Adoring Fans.  Uncle Scott and Ted took Joe fishing, and though the only thing caught was some warm, late summer memories, fun was had.  Fun was also had at the pool at Uncle Scott, Aunt Kate, and Cousin Nick's hotel.  It featured a choo-choo train that gushed water at periodic intervals and several little slides in addition to a really big slide.  Many parks were visited.  Edible treats of various stripes abounded.

The good times also included an overnight jaunt to Stillwater or, as Joe would say, Steel Toe Waters.  (He's mixing in the name of St. Louis Park's very own local craft brewery, Steel Toe Brewing, with the name of the picturesque town on the St. Croix River, about an hour's drive from the Twin Cities.)  Stillwater is home to the Stillwater lift bridge, which spans the St. Croix, connecting Minnesota and Wisconsin, and a pretty fabulous burger place named Leo's, where one can also get pretty fabulous shakes and malts.

Stillwater is also home to an AmericInn and the opportunity to stay there was, for the bambini, perhaps the most exciting part of our adventure to this corner of the world.  The AmericInn featured adjoining rooms for the two branches of our troop, with two beds in each room, and a pool.  Joe and Birdie got the sleep in the same bed with Purple Pillow Pet, Doll With Funny Green Hair Buns, Duck [Pillow Pet], and Thomas [Pillow Pet].  It was, in a word, amazing.

You are perhaps wondering how everyone slept.  Well enough, Fans, well enough.  The bambini both woke up a few times because they'd come uncovered and haven't yet learned that such are the risks when you choose the bed nearest the air conditioning unit.  This meant we woke up a few times as well.  Duck also fell on the floor at one point, but otherwise, the Pillow Pet Gang and Doll Face slept great.

And so another summer vacation is history and fall is coming on.  We miss you already, Bishopps, we miss you already.