Snow Much Fun in Duluth

We had made plans last fall to come up and see Blake in the winter. We had never been to Duluth in the winter and I wanted to see the Glensheen decorated for Christmas. Scott picked me up from work and we headed straight there. A snowstorm was on its way and I wanted to make sure we got there before it started. 

Upon arriving at Blake's new apartment we were surprised at how big it was. 

We were also surprised to find it's decorated with someone's grandmother's furniture.

A few days ago on a whim we bought ourselves an early Christmas present, snow shoes. We've been wanting some for awhile. Actually what I really want are cross-country skis. With the promise of snow coming we brought them with. 

Being a poor college student Blake doesn't have tv or internet so he found other ways to entertain us. Like pulling out his overhead projector. 

He told us stories after asking me for three wishes. He used them to create the narrative.

He told a story in drawings of Scott getting pregnant after eating a sandwich and giving birth to a ghost who gave him three wishes. It ended with Scott going to jail. He then did some hand puppets before turning it off. 

Blake's in a folk band and has various instruments around his place. He decided to pull out each one and play for us. 

Here's his folk band. Blake took this picture, which is cool.

The next morning Blake left for work and I was happy to see how much snow had fallen overnight.

We made oatmeal and ate it in Blake's fancy dining room. The house was relatively clean besides his bedroom and the kitchen. Scott and I couldn't handle the mess or the dirt and started cleaning his house. I tackled the dishes. which I'm pretty sure hadn't been done in months. It was pretty gross. 

After 2 hours Blake called and said the tours were cancelled and he was coming home early. We ate lunch before heading out in the snow.

We knew Blake wouldn't have much to eat, so we brought Annie's mac and cheese.

Blake has snow shoes too and since most of the sidewalks hadn't been shoveled we took off right from his apartment. 

This house makes me think of Christmas. 

I love our new snow shoes. I hope it snows all winter. 

We walked a random path through alleys.

Due to the flooding earlier this summer a highway that takes you up hill was closed off. This was perfect for snow shoeing. 

You just had to watch for the washouts.

Another couple took advantage of the closed off road and sled down the hill. 

We kept walking and walking and continued to follow the deserted road.

The long uphill route was getting tiring for me, I was using muscles I hadn't used in a long time. We had to take a few breaks before continuing. 

Once we reached the top Scott and Blake decided to cut through the woods on the way back. I was worried about tumbling down the steep hill, but went with it anyway. 

After awhile I was getting annoyed with being wacked in the face by branches. And then I got caught on a branch that ripped off my hood. I was not having fun.

It was so fun!

Eventually we made it back to the road and I was happy again. I'd be fine snow shoeing through the woods if it were flatter.

She just doesn't like challenges. It wasn't even hard. If anybody is going to run into branches, it was me.

As soon we got back we left again to go to a Christmas party at a church. 

We made it just in time before they put away all the food to make way for the desserts. I liked that they had a lot of vegetarian options. 

The whole event was put on by Loaves and Fishes, which is a Catholic workers movement. Blake called it radical.

                There was also a band singing Christmas songs and little kids singing the alphabet. 

Since we came at the end all of Blake's friends that were there volunteering left us so they could clean up.

I had a really good apple pie. I could so go for it right now.

Next we made our way over to Bentleyville. Stopping on the way to see the arenas. 

My pops and I always made a point of checking out the local arena or stadium on trips.

The story of Bentleyville is that there was a guy who decorated his yard for Christmas and let people walk through it. When he passed away the city carried on his tradition. 

When you first make it into the park you get free hot cocoa and cookies. 

Then you pass Dinosaurland.

As you meander through you come to another stand that gives you free popcorn. Then next to that are firepits and you get free marshmallows and sticks to roast. This place was awesome. 

All this fun makes me want to move to Duluth.

Then Blake told us about another place where a lady does something similar. It was so cold by the beach. 

She also had free cider and cookies. 

This is a summer house she rents. It's a little gem on Minnesota Point.

Once we got back I was exhausted from our day. 

Blake continued to play music for us. 

Since we had dinner at the church at 4:00 I was ready for second dinner. There is a pizza place down the block from Blake's house and the boys braved the blowing snow to pick some up. 

Blake only wore a sweater and temps were diving into the single digits.

Two pizzas to go!

We ate a bunch of pizza before realizing we were way full.

Scott and I read while Blake entertained himself.

I asked Blake for the Communist Manifesto since i figured he had a copy. It's one of those things I feel like you have to read in life no matter your political persuasion.

I could tell Blake was bored so we played a few rounds of Guess Who? before heading off to bed. 

The next morning Blake made us pancakes and tea before we had to head back.

We were hoping to stay another day, but despite 16 inches of snow in the Twin Cities, Cevonne's classes weren't called off.

The plowed streets looked promising for an easy ride home. Except we didn't realize it until halfway home that our window cleaner was empty so we had to keep stopping to clean off our windshield. 

Since we didn't have time to stop at home first we went straight to Cevonne's.

Clearly we got the brunt of the storm down in MSP.

Scott got to change his first poopy diaper.

Eww...

She is just so darling. 

It was super cold and Cevonne said we shouldn't take Madeline outside, but we did anyway. Madeline didn't like that she couldn't move much in her snow suit so we ended up going back inside after 5 minutes anyway. 

When we got home later our awesome neighbors had cleared away all the snow except for our back walkway. All this snow makes me more excited to go up to the cottage for New Years. 

I second that.