September 2026: How to Read a Book by Monica Wood.
3 months ago
07 July 2009
An amazing human feat: Grandma's Marathon
I’m not a marathon runner, but there is something amazing about watching people finish a four or five-hour run that chokes me up.
It is simply amazing.
It’s the sort of thing that a human body shouldn’t be able to do. Yet with months of training, people are able to accomplish that feat. I’ve been up to Grandma’s Marathon in Duluth twice now to cheer on my father and sister.
I end up cheering for every runner who passes me.
I can’t help it. “Go, go, go, you’re almost there!” just erupts from my mouth.
Some dress up for their 26-mile run.
View of the final stretch down Canal Park
Our runners.
I prefer to watch the race from the end. We park in town (never getting there early enough to avoid the detour on 35 and subsequently wind up in the stop-and-go traffic jam). Then we walk down the route until we hit the end. Friends of ours watched their runner pass on Superior Street downtown and then walked across the Interstate bridge in order to watch her pass again. I wouldn’t want to almost miss my runner(s) at the end, however.
It’s simply phenomenal how many people run Grandma’s Marathon. This year there were 8,400 runners. In all, between 50,000 to 60,000 crush into the Twin Ports for the annual event. Hotels are booked solid, and restaurants packed.
After the race, runners head straight down to Lake Superior to cool their muscles.
This year we camped on the outskirts of Duluth at Indian Point Campground (Indianpointcampground.com). It’s a picturesque stay nestled up to the St. Louis River. A nice place, my only complaint was that the water was never above freezing in the showers. At one site, we pitched 5 tents. A tent site is $21 a night.
Indian Point Campground 75th Avenue West and Grant/Highway 23.
The best sites are on the St. Louis River.
We fit five tents on a site in the center.
While you’re in Duluth, drop by Grandma’s Saloon for dinner or a drink. But beware when telling folks where to meet — there are 3 locations on Canal Park!
It is simply amazing.
It’s the sort of thing that a human body shouldn’t be able to do. Yet with months of training, people are able to accomplish that feat. I’ve been up to Grandma’s Marathon in Duluth twice now to cheer on my father and sister.
I end up cheering for every runner who passes me.
I can’t help it. “Go, go, go, you’re almost there!” just erupts from my mouth.
Some dress up for their 26-mile run.
View of the final stretch down Canal Park
Our runners.
I prefer to watch the race from the end. We park in town (never getting there early enough to avoid the detour on 35 and subsequently wind up in the stop-and-go traffic jam). Then we walk down the route until we hit the end. Friends of ours watched their runner pass on Superior Street downtown and then walked across the Interstate bridge in order to watch her pass again. I wouldn’t want to almost miss my runner(s) at the end, however.
It’s simply phenomenal how many people run Grandma’s Marathon. This year there were 8,400 runners. In all, between 50,000 to 60,000 crush into the Twin Ports for the annual event. Hotels are booked solid, and restaurants packed.
After the race, runners head straight down to Lake Superior to cool their muscles.
This year we camped on the outskirts of Duluth at Indian Point Campground (Indianpointcampground.com). It’s a picturesque stay nestled up to the St. Louis River. A nice place, my only complaint was that the water was never above freezing in the showers. At one site, we pitched 5 tents. A tent site is $21 a night.
Indian Point Campground 75th Avenue West and Grant/Highway 23.
The best sites are on the St. Louis River.
We fit five tents on a site in the center.
While you’re in Duluth, drop by Grandma’s Saloon for dinner or a drink. But beware when telling folks where to meet — there are 3 locations on Canal Park!
Off-the-vine goodness
I’m a sucker for fresh taste. So the idea of off-the-vine strawberries was enough to lure me to a pick-your-own place this week. We go through a lot of strawberries round this place. Our Vita Mix gets used most days to make smoothies. So, I figured not only would I be satisfying my craving, but I’d also be saving the family money. Right?
Well, I’m not sure I did that, but the berries I plucked from the vines at Rob’s Berry Farm midway between Cambridge and North Branch off County Road 5 sure are sweet and tart. The worker who walked us to the fields and then weighed our heavy boxes later told us that the owner had feared he wouldn’t be open more than a week and one half, given the heat earlier in the season. But they’ll make it three weeks. This is the last one, and the fields are full of small to mid-size berries. Cost was $1.50 a pound.
I brought them home Monday night, saving the washing and freezing for Tuesday. Of course, we did make smoothies right away! Delish.
I did the washing in my sink, putting the berries on a towel to dry off. Then I popped them in a single layer on cookie sheets to fast freeze for an hour. Once they were hard and wouldn’t easily crush each other, I put them in gallon Ziplock bags. Any bets on how long these 4 gallons will last?
18 June 2009
Detour Season in Minnesota
Yep, it’s detour season here in Minnesota. I had a 3pm appointment off Snelling in St. Paul the other day. I barely made it there in under an hour.
First, the colleague I was meeting with directed me to stay away from Highway 280 because it’s under construction. So I opted to go the long way, heading over to North Branch to take 35E into St. Paul, then 94 west to Snelling. I neglected to remember that the path to North Branch was also under construction!
(Word to the wise: Don’t try to take Highway 95 either west or east from Cambridge. There’s a bridge out towards Princeton, and the road towards North Branch is torn up.)
Thus, with no time to spare, I was heading north on a detour instead of going slightly south to North Branch. Aiiii. We ended up in Harris before we were heading south the way we wanted to go.
Amazingly, I made it just in time to Coffee News in St. Paul.
Upon leaving, I opted to head north on Snelling instead of battling rush hour traffic on 35W. Bad idea. The north end of Snelling (near Northwestern to 694) is also under construction!
So, beware, you drivers. There’s road construction everywhere here in Minnesota.
17 June 2009
Other diaper tools
If you do opt to use cloth diapers, here are a few other 'tools' I've found helpful.
Make your baby happy by buying a wipe warmer. I know some people say not to do it because then the baby hates when you're out of the house and have to use cold wipes. While that may be true, the happiness a warm wash cloth brings to my baby is worth it! Diaper changing time is her favorite time. All crying stops when she's on her diaper changing table. We don't use wet wipes, but instead fill the warmer with baby-sized washclothes. I fill it up with water every day (even though the package said it would only need filling once a week. Yeah, right!).
Connect a sprayer to your toilet. It makes clean-up so much easier. We decided at first to do it ourselves, so we trotted off to Menards and dropped over $40 on supplies. My husband spent the better part of a Sunday afternoon connecting the sprayer up. The next day we discovered a puddle on the floor; it had a slow leak. After looking it over a bit, my husband decided to give in and purchase the ready-made package from Bum Genius for $40. It was easy to install and works great. I love it.
To keep the odor down between washings and to get the diapers cleaner, I spray each with Bac Out after I spray it out. You can purchase Bac Out at natural food co-ops; I stocked up by buying 4 gallons off Amazon.com. It has a fabulous lime scent that I love.
Make your baby happy by buying a wipe warmer. I know some people say not to do it because then the baby hates when you're out of the house and have to use cold wipes. While that may be true, the happiness a warm wash cloth brings to my baby is worth it! Diaper changing time is her favorite time. All crying stops when she's on her diaper changing table. We don't use wet wipes, but instead fill the warmer with baby-sized washclothes. I fill it up with water every day (even though the package said it would only need filling once a week. Yeah, right!).
Connect a sprayer to your toilet. It makes clean-up so much easier. We decided at first to do it ourselves, so we trotted off to Menards and dropped over $40 on supplies. My husband spent the better part of a Sunday afternoon connecting the sprayer up. The next day we discovered a puddle on the floor; it had a slow leak. After looking it over a bit, my husband decided to give in and purchase the ready-made package from Bum Genius for $40. It was easy to install and works great. I love it.
To keep the odor down between washings and to get the diapers cleaner, I spray each with Bac Out after I spray it out. You can purchase Bac Out at natural food co-ops; I stocked up by buying 4 gallons off Amazon.com. It has a fabulous lime scent that I love.
15 June 2009
Not your momma's cloth diapers
Cloth diapers aren’t what they used to be. I know what you envision when you think ‘cloth diaper’. You picture a white square and sharp safety pins. Well, think again!
Today’s cloth diapers are actually oh-so-easy to use. Think velcro and fleece. Plus, they’re actually adorable! Picture Dr. Suess and frog prints.
Today’s cloth diapers consist of an inner layer of cotton or fleece and an outer layer that is waterproof. Pop the diaper on and then put the cover over it. Others, known as all-in-ones or AIOs, have both the inner and outer parts in one diaper. I prefer those for use when I’m not at home. Daddy also prefers those and thinks they’re easier.
I began my quest for cloth diapers by visiting Pea Pods (www.peapods.com) on Snelling in St. Paul. I wanted to see and touch. I spent $100 and got a variety to test, including Bum Genius, Bamboozle (made of bamboo!), and Kissaluvs. I figured after I had tried them I could then order seconds off Craig’s List. The nice thing about cloth diapers is that although they are not cheap to buy new, they do retain their value very well.
Here’s what I’ve learned after three months of use:
My favorite diapers are Thirsties, and they’re not easy to find used. Thirsties are made of soft fleece and have velcro. They resist staining the best. And they come in great colors: bright orange, melon green, hot pink and more. The accompanying covers have gussets around the legs, which work well for my chubby-legged daughter.
I also love Bummies covers. They are great! The Bummies Super Brites also have gussets, but the regular have worked just fine for us. I love the frog print the best. Oh so cute!
The diapers that leak every time for us are the Kushies. Although they are the cheapest, and easily available at walmart.com, I wouldn’t recommend them. The triangular shape doesn’t keep anything in; it all seeps out around my daughter’s legs.
Although many rave about Bum Genius, I am not part of their fan club. They’re not terrible diapers by any means, but they’re not the best either. What I dislike most is that they are hard to get clean. With the Thirsties, the poo practically rinses out. The Bum Genius require scrubbing and whitening in the sun.
Kissaluvs are my second favorite. We actually started with about 20 used Kissaluv newborn diapers. They lasted my 9 lb, 12 oz baby only 2 weeks, but they worked great. The snaps are nice and make it easy to adjust for a tight fit around baby’s waist. Kissaluvs tend to be on the lower end of the price range for cloth diapers.
I also have about five AIO Bumpkins. They come in great designs. I use these most when I’m out of the house. They are Daddy’s favorites because they take just one step to put on.
PRICES:
Bum Genius 3.0 One Size Pocket Diaper $17.95
KIssaluvs pre-fitted $12.95
Thirsties Fab Fitted $14.25
Kushies: $49.95 for five
Bumpkins AIO: $24.95 or 6-pack bundle for $109.95
Bummies Super Whisper Wrap $12.25
Thirsties diaper cover $11.50
SIZES
Thirsties: XS 10-15 lbs, Sm 12-19 lbs, Med 14-22 lbs, Large 16-25 lbs
Kissaluvs: Size 0 - 5-15 lbs, Size 1 - 10-25 lbs, Size 2 - 20-40 lbs
Kushies: 10-22 lbs
Bumpkins: Sm 6-12 lbs, Med 12-22 lbs, Large 22-32 lbs, XL 32-42 lbs, Youth 42+ lbs
Bum Genius: one-size; adjust the snaps to lengthen
Today’s cloth diapers are actually oh-so-easy to use. Think velcro and fleece. Plus, they’re actually adorable! Picture Dr. Suess and frog prints.
Today’s cloth diapers consist of an inner layer of cotton or fleece and an outer layer that is waterproof. Pop the diaper on and then put the cover over it. Others, known as all-in-ones or AIOs, have both the inner and outer parts in one diaper. I prefer those for use when I’m not at home. Daddy also prefers those and thinks they’re easier.
I began my quest for cloth diapers by visiting Pea Pods (www.peapods.com) on Snelling in St. Paul. I wanted to see and touch. I spent $100 and got a variety to test, including Bum Genius, Bamboozle (made of bamboo!), and Kissaluvs. I figured after I had tried them I could then order seconds off Craig’s List. The nice thing about cloth diapers is that although they are not cheap to buy new, they do retain their value very well.
Here’s what I’ve learned after three months of use:
My favorite diapers are Thirsties, and they’re not easy to find used. Thirsties are made of soft fleece and have velcro. They resist staining the best. And they come in great colors: bright orange, melon green, hot pink and more. The accompanying covers have gussets around the legs, which work well for my chubby-legged daughter.
I also love Bummies covers. They are great! The Bummies Super Brites also have gussets, but the regular have worked just fine for us. I love the frog print the best. Oh so cute!
The diapers that leak every time for us are the Kushies. Although they are the cheapest, and easily available at walmart.com, I wouldn’t recommend them. The triangular shape doesn’t keep anything in; it all seeps out around my daughter’s legs.
Although many rave about Bum Genius, I am not part of their fan club. They’re not terrible diapers by any means, but they’re not the best either. What I dislike most is that they are hard to get clean. With the Thirsties, the poo practically rinses out. The Bum Genius require scrubbing and whitening in the sun.
Kissaluvs are my second favorite. We actually started with about 20 used Kissaluv newborn diapers. They lasted my 9 lb, 12 oz baby only 2 weeks, but they worked great. The snaps are nice and make it easy to adjust for a tight fit around baby’s waist. Kissaluvs tend to be on the lower end of the price range for cloth diapers.
I also have about five AIO Bumpkins. They come in great designs. I use these most when I’m out of the house. They are Daddy’s favorites because they take just one step to put on.
PRICES:
Bum Genius 3.0 One Size Pocket Diaper $17.95
KIssaluvs pre-fitted $12.95
Thirsties Fab Fitted $14.25
Kushies: $49.95 for five
Bumpkins AIO: $24.95 or 6-pack bundle for $109.95
Bummies Super Whisper Wrap $12.25
Thirsties diaper cover $11.50
SIZES
Thirsties: XS 10-15 lbs, Sm 12-19 lbs, Med 14-22 lbs, Large 16-25 lbs
Kissaluvs: Size 0 - 5-15 lbs, Size 1 - 10-25 lbs, Size 2 - 20-40 lbs
Kushies: 10-22 lbs
Bumpkins: Sm 6-12 lbs, Med 12-22 lbs, Large 22-32 lbs, XL 32-42 lbs, Youth 42+ lbs
Bum Genius: one-size; adjust the snaps to lengthen
09 June 2009
Coconut-Lime Soup
I just have to share this recipe because it is so delicious.
I found it in a recent Better Homes and Garden magazine.
1 2-2 1/2 pound deli-roasted chicken.
1 15-oz. can unsweetened coconut milk
2 cups water
1/4 cup lime juice (2 medium limes)
3 medium carrots, thin-sliced diagonally (about 1 1/2 cups)
1 Tbsp. soy sauce
2 tsp. Thai seasoning blend
1/4 tsp. salt
Fresh cilantro (optional)
Lime wedges (optional)
Remove and discard skin and bones from chicken. Shred chicken. In large saucepan combine shredded chicken with coconut milk, water, lime juice, shredded carrots, soy sauce, the 2 tsp. Thai seasoning and salt. Bring to boiling; reduce heat and simmer, covered, 8 minutes or until carrots are crisp-tender. To serve, sprinkle bowls of soup with additional Thai seasoning and cilantro. Pass lime wedges.
Makes 4 servings.
I found it in a recent Better Homes and Garden magazine.
1 2-2 1/2 pound deli-roasted chicken.
1 15-oz. can unsweetened coconut milk
2 cups water
1/4 cup lime juice (2 medium limes)
3 medium carrots, thin-sliced diagonally (about 1 1/2 cups)
1 Tbsp. soy sauce
2 tsp. Thai seasoning blend
1/4 tsp. salt
Fresh cilantro (optional)
Lime wedges (optional)
Remove and discard skin and bones from chicken. Shred chicken. In large saucepan combine shredded chicken with coconut milk, water, lime juice, shredded carrots, soy sauce, the 2 tsp. Thai seasoning and salt. Bring to boiling; reduce heat and simmer, covered, 8 minutes or until carrots are crisp-tender. To serve, sprinkle bowls of soup with additional Thai seasoning and cilantro. Pass lime wedges.
Makes 4 servings.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
