QUARRY FUN

As promised, I wanted to share some of the neat pictures I took on my research trip to Minnesota Just outside of St. Cloud, MN is Quarry Park. It's one of the most incredible hidden treasures of Minnesota. The park is over 600 acres and has the most amazing walking trails. My friend Merrill DeGroot and I walked throughout the park and took photos for my research..

The granite is plentiful in this area of Minnesota.

The quarries here are just a few of what the state has to offer. Some of these quarries are over 100 ft. deep. The park allows rock climbing and scuba diving with permits, as well as fishing and swimming in specific areas. Walking through the wooded areas we enjoyed seeing yet another spring come to life. The aspens, oaks, maples were only a few of the trees that gave us a beautiful backdrop.

Of course dandilions were blooming and butterflies were enjoying the warm weather.

In the late 1800's and early 1900's derricks like this one were used for moving tons of granite stone.

This derrick has been refurbished to keep history alive.

When machines weren't available for power, horses would pull the lines and move the rock. It was a pretty amazing feat. While in St. Cloud I also went to the Stearns County Museum.

The folks there are wonderful to talk to and most helpful. John in the research library knew exactly where the book I needed was located. Cindy helped me with a mass mailing of research materials from the wonderful little shop. Local museums are some of the very best places to get research information. I love supporting them any way I can. This exhibit of quarrying was very useful.

The trip was pretty fast paced, but we did take time out to eat at Joe's Crab Shack. Hey, it was our reward for walking all those miles in the Quarry Park. Hope you get a chance to visit this great park. Oh, and last but not least - KINDLE has been offering A LADY OF HIGH REGARD for free! I don't know how long this will be available so you need to check it out right away.

God Bless You!

Updates

By the time you read this, I'll be on the road doing some research business. I'm hoping to get some nifty pictures to show you when I return, but in the meantime, I wanted to update you all on me.


I've been asked a bunch of times to let folks know how I'm feeling with the MS and how goes the weight loss, so I thought I'd post a picture and let you see for yourself.



My hands are on my waist to show I finally am getting one again.


I'm down several clothes sizes and have upped my walking to 2 miles a day and using the incline to build up to doing some mountain hiking. I'm feeling really good and thank you all for the prayers you've offered on my behalf. Keep them coming, please!

More next week!

Oh and be sure to check out this blog review on the Striking A Match series.
http://fromburlaptolace.blogspot.com/

God Bless You!

Grandkids

I got some great photos of the grandkids and wanted to share them with the world - of course. Some days seem so normal for this little family and others are far from it.

As most of you know my granddaughter Rainy has a chronic and terminal condition that sends her to the hospital on a pretty regular basis. She has a variety of brain related problems including, but not limited to, cerebelum disorder, DandyWalker syndrome, seizures, arachnoid cyst which requires a shunt, and a bunch of other things I can't remember the names of. Of course added to this, Rainy has struggled with abdomenal abcesses that have nearly claimed her life a couple of times. With all of that - you can well imagine the expenses just in travel. So my oldest daughter Jen - a Pampered Chef rep. is working with Rainy's mother - our daughter Julie and her church to have a fund raiser.

So I'm here to shamelessly promote it and let you know if you want to spread the news about it and give folks the link to order - Pampered Chef is giving back a percentage of sales to Rainy's travel needs.

Here's the link: http://www.pamperedchef.biz/kitchjen?page=products-main&showId=3628804



A big thank you to all who participate and who have been praying for my little granddaughter and the family. It's those prayers that have gotten us through this far. We've almost lost Rainy several times, but God isn't finished with her yet and she continues to surprise the doctors and her family by hanging in there.

God Bless You!