CasaRoll Notes: Cold Spring, Minnesota at Dave and Deb's residence 7/29

From: casarollnotes.blogspot.com

Tim and Linda Bunyan

Having left behind the Heartland, the legendary large logger Paul Bunyan State Trail, and Itasca Wilderness Trails of northern Minnesota, we are met at the front drive by Deb and Dave, Mazatlan friends, that reside in Cold Spring during the Summer months.

Their house is located at the gateway of the Sauk River Chain of Lakes, an interconnected system of 14 bay-like lakes fed and connected by the Sauk River.

Deb is ready and waiting for us. As we arrive Deb signals us to the fully-groomed side yard space.

We are able to park the RV adjacent

to their highly cared-for flower garden and tended green grass on the spacious, open land at River Links community. As far as one can see the area is tamed. Just on the other side of the far trees are the chain of lakes where Deb and Dave lived prior to their golf course, tamed house.

Chicken Wild Rice Salad, Deb's recipe, is one

to be treasured!

Deb and Dave invite us in and serve us a tantalizing Chambord cocktail (Dave created) and a delightfully prepared charcuterie (Deb created). There was a display of the abundance of fresh garden vegetables on their counter. They gave us the vegetable from their labor in their vegetable garden!

The bell peppers and zucchini and tomatoes and yellow peppers were so brilliant and recently picked from their garden.

The house is decorated in lively colors yet created in a minimalist, uncluttered ambiance. Dave and Deb have artwork from their travels depicting sunny, vivid colors of

the environment, they visited.

Deb shared her Breakfast Egg Bake recipe

with me. It is so delicious and I intend to use it.

It is is beautiful to stroll thru their vegetable garden with mixed pathways through the flowers and lawn art. Is is so delightful. Picturesque as from a Sunset Magazine.

From Deb and Dave's well-done gardens, we go to explore over 20 acres of the most beautiful gardens, plants, and history at Munsinger Gardens

We are in a happy place surrounded by walkways, ponds, and fountains.

Located along the Mississippi River, the Munsinger Gardens are a delightful and excellent afternoon walk.

This is a place of inspiration offering a new sense of awe.

The Winsor Court Fountain

The Virginia Clemens Rose Garden features over 1,000 roses,

This is a happy place with a gazebo and rock-lined paths in

a peaceful and tranquil garden.

This is a gift of love from Bill Clemens to his wife, Virginia. As we stroll along the red-brick walkways are in a world-class garden.

You can see the inspiration from this love garden has been repeated at Deb and Dave's backyard garden and flowers creation.

This is a place with ongoing love stories. This is the perfect place for Deb and Dave's love story.

We take in the sights of the town in the St. George area.

More to the Love Story: The school where Deb and Dave taught is now preserved as a historic site.

Cold Spring is having a street festival today.

Deb and Dave and their friend Tom and Christine take us for a boat ride on the Chain of Lakes.

One of the best ways to pass the time of day........on a boat with friends.

There are walking/running/biking trails around and connecting the lakes. A great environment filled with picnic areas, soccer fields, softball fields, ice rink, gardens, fishing pier, and boat docks.

This is their lake house where Dave and Deb lived prior to moving to their house at the golf course.

Deb reminisces about living on the lake; however, she and Dave are happy with relocating to the golf course house where they now live in love as the first they met.

Minnesota state common loon. They are clumsy on land as their feet are situated toward the back of their bodies, but they are high-speed flyers and excellent underwater swimmers,.

Beautiful setting living along the lakeshore.

We discovered one of the quintessential Minnesota food: cheese curds.

The best fresh fried cheese curds are at the Grand Lake Grill. It is located centrally in the neighborhood...at the lakeshore.

Minneapolis Sculpture Garden

The iconic blue rooster by German sculptor Katharina Frisch.Basilica of Saint Mary in the background and Loring Park

Spoonbridge and Cherry is a unique piece in a great garden. The centerpiece of the garden!

There is beauty in the sunlight; and the soft blue heaven above. Oh, the world is full of beauty when the heart is full of love.

One of the Sculpture Garden's newest works, Robert Indiana's LOVE sculpture is one of the favorites. There are 19 others that exist across the U.S.

Bronze bell by Kris Martin

The largest urban sculpture garden in the country! Over 40 artworks and 11 landscaped acres.

This piece by Deborah Butterfield: horse sculpture. She was educated at our University of California, Davis.

We exited the Sculpture Garden on a sidewalk lined with trees. The Wind Chimes sound came from the trees. The chimes together contain every note of a score by composer John Cage. This has been a very special place and a magical afternoon spent here with Deb and Dave.

Beautiful Bde Maka Ska at North Beach near the bridge to St. Paul, Minnesota

A bit of old town at Uptown theatre where sis Beth lived as a young single.

We come to Saint Paul for a visit with Deb's brother, John.

John is the public relations vice president for MPRnews. A legend with American Public Media, he is in the know of what matters in this city. He tells us about the history and the neighborhoods of Saint Paul.

Grand Neighborhood

Grand People passing by ACE Hardware.

The Tavern Grand

Summit beer and Walleye!

Deb and her brother John

We are walking the historic neighborhood where the railroad magnate James J. Hill lived near the eastern end of Summit Avenue near the Cathedral of Saint Paul. Also, we stop at the house of the author F. Scott Fitzgerald.

Deb's brother, John, is a representative at the Minnesota Public Radio Media Center.

Registered National Historic Landmark: F. Scott Fitzgerald House.

We really did not confer on our outfits of the day......we just happen to wear the same colors! Oh so pretty!

John shows us other homes in the Grand neighborhood. with side driveways for the horse/carriage days.

Landmark Plaza - The Center of Everything

These statues honor the Saint Paul native, Charles Schultz.

Deb and Dave at the bronze Peanuts Characters

This is a very happy place in Saint Paul honoring the cartoonist Charles Schultz.

Traditional men's suits and accessories in an old-fashioned location with a barber and a tobacconist

At Landmark Plaza, we enter the Heimie's Men's store.

This is a place that brings our son, Jason, to mind.

Heimie's Haberdashery

Dave is taking in all the decor. The services offered here: Babershop, Alterations and Tailoring, Custom Suits and Shirts.

ties displayed and theatre seats for sizing on shoes

Cathedral of Saint Paul.

The Minnesota State Capitol in Beaux-Arts architecture, Renaissance architecture, Neoclassical architecture. Built in 1896-1905.

John, Deb's brother, has invited us to his place for an afternoon wine refresher prior to us going to the Ball Game

View from John's yard.

Comfort and an afternoon rest.

Another perfect day with Deb and Dave.

Excited to attend and watch a live game at the CHS Baseball Stadium.

The entrance to the new St Paul stadium is owned by Agribusiness giant CHS Inc. Comedian Bill Murray remains a part-owner of the Saint Paul Saints, the Minnesota Twins' new Triple-A squad. Watch for superstars in Space Jame.