Minnesota Autumn Beauty

Just wanted to share a few autumn photos I took while in Minnesota.

A Shopping Tradition

A bittersweet afternoon.

Every visit to Himself's uncle and aunt, the four of us would always go shopping at the local Younkers... Aunt D and I pouring over the clothes racks, while Uncle A and Himself would sit in the man chairs acting pitiful.  

This year we were there without Uncle A.  Just 10 days earlier Aunt D lost her husband of almost 76 years.  

Heading down the aisle... Aunt D is so petite that it is easy to loose track of her.

Checking out the decorated sweat shirts that she loves to wear.

She looked through the slacks even tho she didn't want any.

One of the times our paths crossed.  We admired the great color on the cookware set but that was as far as it went.

Then it was back to stalking the great bargains!

She and Himself made fun of the Olaf's in the "Frozen" display.

Always have to check out the purses!

Chilling while I pay for my new shirts.

With my three new shirts (they have the BEST clearance sales).  

It was a wonderful and sad afternoon.  Aunt D enjoyed the trip but she so missed Uncle A.

So did we...

Apple House

One of our fun stops on our Minnesota trip was at the Apple House.  It's the produce stand that sells the production of the University of Minnesota agricultural research.

While we were there, it was apple time!

Looks good, yes?

They were all grown right there in MN.

Now here is the reason we came.  

The University is a huge hybridizer of apples.  And of course that takes many years to develop a true breeding variety.  As they are working on the new types, the trees are of course producing apples... lots of apples.

And these new apples are sold at the Apple House.  This is the only place you can get them.  They haven't been named yet and go by their designation numbers.

These are the apples I selected to try (Snowsweet has been released but I've never seen it available).  What fun to know I'm eating an apple that no one in Tennessee can buy!  LOL 

It was a fun stop.  If you are in the west Minneapolis area I would highly recommend a stop by if you enjoy unique fruit.

http://www.arboretum.umn.edu/applehouse.aspx   

Beautiful 1880s Church in St. Paul, MN

While in St. Paul, MN we visited with one of Himself's elder friends.  We had the privilege of attending church with her.

The church dates to the late 1800s.  

The alter area is quite beautiful.

There is a pipe organ tho is was not played on the Sunday we were there.

Isn't the architecture amazing?

Another shot for my church windows and pews series.

Nice.

After service Himself had a chance to play piano for his friend.

The stained glass windows in the church are really beautiful.

Quite a lovely place to worship, isn't it?

Welcome to Welcome

On our drive through Minnesota, we came across this small town.  Of course we turned in... how could we not?  

It's very welcoming...

Seriously tho, it is a very small town with a nice little diner.  The diner doesn't look like much but we were served one of the best hamburgers we have gotten outside of my kitchen.

Interesting bit of history.

Love these 'coffee pot' water towers.

Uh-huh.  This welcome I think isn't so good...

It was part of a junk/scrap store.  There were all sorts of awesome things sitting about.  Himself asked if I wanted to stop but I said no.  My luck I'd find something really cool and with our new car we have almost zero hauling space with all our luggage etc.

Good bye from Welcome!

Blueberry Saddle Blankets (Pancakes) Recipe

Recently we had ‘breakfast for supper’ over at our friend “Medic’s” house.  He made up a batch of old fashioned blueberry pancakes...

... from scratch! 

We tried out our lefsa grill from cooking them.  It didn’t work so well.  The surface grabbed too much batter and they kinda of stuck.  But Medic worked it out and soon was making pancake after pancake.

They were SOOOOOO good! 

Blueberry Saddle Blankets

HISTORY: “Saddle blankets” and “splatter dabs” were two trail terms for pancakes or griddle cakes that remained in common use on ranches into this century.  Maple syrup may be synonymous with pancakes today, but early cowboys would have eaten these pancakes with sorghum molasses, honey, or cane syrup.

1 ½ cups all--‐purpose flour

½  teaspoon baking powder

½ teaspoon baking soda

Pinch of salt

¾ cup buttermilk

½ - ¾ cup milk

1 tablespoon honey

1 tablespoon butter, melted

¼ teaspoon vanilla extract

½ cup fresh blueberries

Vegetable oil for brushing

Butter and maple syrup, to serve

Stir together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a large mixing bowl.  Make a well in the middle.

2. Beat together the buttermilk, ½ cup milk, honey, melted butter, and vanilla extract.  Pour the liquid ingredients into the dry ingredients and stir until just combined, adding a little extra milk if necessary.  Do not worry if small amounts of flour remain visible in the mixture.  Stir in the blueberries.

3. Place a large skillet or griddle with a nonstick surface over medium heat and very lightly brush with oil.  Drop the batter by spoonfuls on to the hot skillet or griddle and cook for about 45 seconds, until the edges of the pancakes look set and the top is filled with bubbles.