November 20 (a prelude)

It was looking pretty good two days before the road trip . . . 

November 21 (another prelude)

It was looking pretty good one day before the road trip . . . 

November 22 (on the road)

Then, the road trip . . . 

[Downtown Alexandria was readied for the season.  The Super and I went to town first to get the evening’s dinner.]

[Past the usual local landmarks . . . ]

[Contech, nee Continental Bridge – you’ll see their products in parks and golf courses all over the country . . . ]

[Go Panthers!]

[The views from the edge of the prairie . . . ]

[We knew we would be driving into something – it’s the state law whenever we travel.]

[The flakes began when we hit the land of the Finns . . . ]

[Snow snakes!]

[The sign says Menahga (I think) . . . ]

[Go home!  Go home!  Save yourselves!]

[Uffda!]

[Tee times available immediately . . . ]

[I guess it’s for real?]

[Better pull in to Hugo’s for more supplies . . . ]

[Hello, MnDOT?  Help!]

[Headlights a comin’ . . . ]

[I think we’re at Itasca State Park . . . ]

[Oh, goodie, blind curves ahead!]

[Through the snow maze . . . ]

[So be Merry . . . ]

[The Super trudges through to renew our state park pass.  I, of course, had to stay in the car to document the action . . . ]

[We’re on the final leg to the Headwaters Hostel . . . ]

[A sign for the ‘U’ had us thinking U-turn?]

[There’s a signpost up ahead . . . ]

[We’re in the driveway . . . ]

[We made it!!]

[Settling in, arranging the goodies . . . ]

[And wine, don’t forget the wine!]

[Jami and Danny’s internationally-renowned “Harn” is 9 miles north of the north entrance to the park.  This makes the hostel a terrific place to meet for the holiday – you may recall we did this last year?  And here are the Two Guys pizzas we brought up from Alex – Jami’s gluten-free.]

November 23 (Thanksgiving)

[I began Thanksgiving Day with a hostel video . . . ]

[The Super prepares the beverage for the holiday meal.  Was it just a coincidence that we first met in the “Astoria” condominium in Arlington, Virginia, 30 years ago?]

[Last year we had a sixsome including, not before known, Connie and Fred from Alex. This year we were joined by “the kids'” friends, Angie and Jeff.]

[All the food products seen here and devoured during the meal were organically grown on their respective properties, including Jeff’s turkey.  Well, Ruthie said her corn dish was store bought (our crop didn’t come in this year).]

[Darn, forgot the chestnuts!]

[OK, none of the participants grew the bread . . . ]

[Is that an albino buffalo?]

[Jami’s squash and potatoes, Angie made the gravy . . . ]

[Why do I always get clean-up?  Ha (they say)!]

[Let the gourmandization begin!]

[Mmmmmmmmmmmmm . . . ]

[Skol, y’all!]

[After all that, we’d better go for a walk – it was a gorgeous evening . . . ]

[Heading down to the lake, one can barely see the hostel – with leaves on the trees, impossible.]

[Beautiful, as we approach Lake Itasca . . . ]

[We were overdressed, expecting colder weather . . . ]

[The lake is iced over.  Danny and Jami have friends who have already been fishing out there . . . ]

[A personal favorite of Jami, wine toasting the winter . . . ]

[The canoes will have a 6-month respite . . . ]

[Love the wilderness feel . . . ]

[Otherwise swimming was under consideration . . . ]

[Good night sun, see you in the morning . . . ]

[And, of course, you know who won.  Never mess with Grandma!  “Trailer Park Wars” was a laugh riot!]

November 24

[We hadn’t been up to the Harn for a long time.  They had lots of work to do on their place this summer, as did we preparing for our eventual house sale.]

[This is their new wood shed they built this year.  I forget how many cords Danny said it will hold.  They heat with wood in their rocket stove.]

[They’ve done more stuff in the yard, basically turning it into a food production lot.]

[The product of the little housewife on the prairie.  Jami and Danny have really gone basic pioneer.  Here Jami has roasted a huge pumpkin, and then bags enough of the innards to make a couple dozen pumpkin pies.]

[Woo-woo, this is fun!]

[Part of the pumpkin.]

[Recordkeeping . . . ]

November 25 (heading home)

[A day of warmth and some rain has disappeared the snow . . . ]

[Back again through Park Rapids . . . ]

[And Sebeka . . . ]

[Past the baled fields . . . ]

There is no sincerer love than the love of food.  ~  George Bernard Shaw

Up Next:  We’re in the winter sports season.