Perch Lake

{a bald eagle!} 

{zen sand raking, on a mega scale}

 

The boy loves sand and water.  And giant alligator floaties loaned to him by ultra-neighborly Midwestern folk.  This nice older man was out swimming when he told us Sawyer was welcome to the oversized, inflated reptile. I think Sawyer understood every word the man said, because he proceeded to lead us out of the water, then ran up the beach and flung himself unabashedly overjoyed at the floatie. Sand and water (and bald eagle sightings and calls for nap time) meant nothing after that, it was all about the alligator. 

Glam Doll Donuts

 

I love doughnuts.  I really have a weakness for fried foods in general, but fried dough-ummm, that's bread, and it's fried- how can I ever resist?  So when rifling through a magazine I stumbled upon this little gem of a review, toasting "Glam Doll Donuts" as retro-chic gourmet doughnuts, I planned a trip to the city to try them.  (I mean come on guys,  fried food + retro + gourmet, did I really have any choice?).

All the sweet dough balls were given pin-up names like "Chart-topper" and "Dark Angel," and were made up of flavor combinations like peanut butter and sriracha, chocolate and bacon, ginger and cinnamon, vanilla and fresh raspberry curd, and salted caramel and dark chocolate.  Jeffrey munched on a cherry cheesecake, Sawyer licked and chewed on a glazed cinnamon, and I sampled several of the aforementioned flavors. Sawyer was so delighted to have a whole doughnut all to himself, he wiggled and laughed in my face and absolutely could not sit still. I was pretty giddy myself, these doughnuts we fabulous! Different not only in flavor combos, but the dough was fried a little longer than usual so the outside edges were crisp, while still leaving a soft, pillowy dough inside.

 I don't know if Jeff would agree, but I know I have Sawyer on my side when I say we need to make a trip back here before we leave.

Sittin' on the Dock of the Bay

 

 

 

 

 

For one of the first scorching hot, rain-free days of summer we took Sawyer down to the St. Croix river to do what he does best: throw rocks.  The river was swollen from heavy rain and was lapping up over the dike in some areas and completely flooding lower outlets; add rocks and puddles and motor boats to the mix and we had stumbled upon a mini-paradise for our little boy.

Indepenence Day

 

Happy 4th everyone!

I'm always amazed at our incredible freedoms and the safety we are blessed with in our wonderful nation. And lately, I've been feeling especially grateful to those who have served and are devoted to keeping our nation free and safe, and those who believe that others should have that right too.  Tremendous thanks are in order for our service men and women, past and present, and for citizens who believe in and work for a better nation for all of us.

God Bless America!

Around Corolla Town

 

Jeff and my cousin Timm fishing for crabs in the bay.

 

Our favorite eats: a backwoods BBQ shack and fresh shrimp-lots of it! Oh yes we did eat 5 lbs in less than an hour. If I ever see a shrimp shucking and eating contest, I'm signing up. 

Some family down time, away from the beach.

These pictures say, basically, "If you're in Corolla the week that we are, just don't show up to the courts." On the last day, the men did us proud,  winning the basketball  3-on-3 tournament and continuing the family tradition of domination that has existed for nearly 20 years now. 

Until next year, Corolla! I think I may start a count down soon.....