Visiting 2

Wednesday morning we pointed the CRV East and headed to Stillwater for lunch with Bob & Diane Reid, friends from our St Peter days. We enjoyed a great lunch and an afternoon of reminising and visiting.

Back at the motorhome we found ourselves alone for one evening and enjoyed some relaxing.

Thursday morning we drove to Buffalo and Maple Lake so Mary could check out the family manse and visit her families graves at the Maple Lake Cemetery. We also drove to Maple Lake to view the Butler family home (Mary's mother's family). On our way back to the Winnebago we stopped in Albertville for an excellent pizza lunch at Andy's Hometowne Pizza.

Where Mary Grew Up

Then we returned to the Winnebago to prepare for our dinner guests, Becky Kopka and her neice Gabriella. We were surprised by a visit from nephew Keith Kantola who brought us a selection of beers from the Surly brewing company. When Becky and Gabby arrived we roasted hot dogs on the fire and had a great visit.

Becky & Gabby

We had lunch at Dangerfield's in Shakope with St Peter friends Russ & Bev Swenson. Russ was a life long employee of Alumacraft Boat Company where I worked in the mid 1970s. His dad was the original designer of the Alumacraft fishing boats. We also got to see their son Mike and meet his two boys Jack & Nick.

Mike, Russ, Bev, Nick, Jack & Mary

After lunch we did a little shopping at Haskell's in Excelsior and then went to nephew Kevin and Kari's home for dinner. Kevin's brother Keith  and his wife Adrianne were also there. My poweress as a wine consultant was proven once again as both Kevin & Kieth came up with bottles of Sequoia Grove Cabernet Sauvignon for dinner. I recommended this winery to them years ago.

It was fun seeing how much Kevin & Kari's children, Chloe, Cooper & Silvi, have grown and to hear them talk about their active lives. In fact I was so engaged I forgot all about taking photos of them.