Hi friends. How’s your week going so far? I hope you’re enjoying your last few weeks of summer! Yesterday there was such a chill in the air that it almost felt like October. It had that back-to-school feel to it, which is appropriate for me since I start classes again on Friday. Still, it seems cruel to be stuck in a lecture hall while it’s still August…
While I was in Minnesota for Green Giant, I was lucky to be able to tack a few days onto the trip and visit my grandparents. When I was in college in the Twin Cities I saw them every Sunday for brunch, and it’s been hard not to be able to see them as often. My uncle drove in from Wisconsin, too, and we had quite the party!
After dinner, they love to sit outside and watch the sun set. There house is on a lake (Minnesota has quite a few of them 
) so as we sat, we saw boats and geese go by, too.
We went out to eat a lot, but we did cook some, too. An alternate title for this post is “My Week in Salmon.” Including the lox in the buffet breakfast at the hotel, I had salmon five times in four days. Don’t get me wrong: I love salmon! But at this point I think I have it in my blood.
Smoked salmon salad with asparagus, potatoes and capers
Pan-seared salmon with Minnesota corn and broccoli
Smoked salmon salad with avocado, carrots, tomato and cucumber; curry vinaigrette
Breakfast is always had at home, though, in the Breakfast Room. It can last for hours as we linger over green tea and the newspaper. Can you guess which plate is mine? (Hint: I also ate more peanut butter in four days than ever before, and that’s saying a lot!)
Carlye made my day on Friday when she and baby Charlie drove over to see us!
I haven’t seen her since she and Joe got married last year, and I’ve never met Charlie. Thank goodness she keeps a blog!
Charlie tried three new foods while we were together: tomato, avocado, and hummus. He’s quite the adventurous eater. And look at that pucker!
We walked all around the garden, and went right up to the lake so Charlie could put his feet in the water. He’s a brave little man! I’m trying to get Carlye and Joe to come down to New York for a visit soon. A year is too long to go by.
The wireless internet here still isn’t working, so I’ve been going to Starbucks every day to blog. It’s not ideal, so I’m going to do my best to remedy the situation this week!
Regular posting will resume very soon… thank you all for your patience this last few weeks, as I know things have been a little different. Your support is so, so much appreciated.
Time to get the day started! Have a great one 
Tell me about the last time you spent with family and/or good friends. What did you do? What made it special?
Do you have any new babies in your friend or family circle?
Glad you got to see the fam on your trip! And how freaking cute is charlie?? Salmon is one of those foods i wish i liked
That’s so great that you were able to visit with your family on this trip. OMG Charlie is adorable!!! Look at those cheeks!!
i’ve decided that i’ll probably end up having so many babies. bowman is the newest edition to our family circle, and i cannot get enough. charlie is such a cutie, though! looks like yet another successful trip!
xo.
That baby is so cute! I’m lucky to have two little nephews that are adorable
Glad you had such a good trip, I know what you mean about the weather feeling autumnal right now!
You and Charlie, adorable pic.
And all the MN pics..making me nostalgic for my homeland. Til the end of Sept/Oct when it’s cold there.
Then I will be thanking my stars i live in San Diego!
Spending time with family, especially extended family is so great. I hung out with a lot of my family at my cousin’s wedding earlier this summer and will be going to see them again this weekend. Glad you’ve been having a great trip!
<3 you lady! enjoy your time before school starts back up! i wonder if you and my sister will bump into each other haha you both have classes on friday!
wee neeed a date night bc you have so much to tell me about!
What an awesome chunky baby!
My baby is already almost a year old so he’s not too much new but my sister in law is pregger, her sister is pregger and about one trillion of my friends are too! Bring it on, I love the babies.
I’m spending time with family and my best friend (also family, haha) right now, at The Greenbrier
I have a new “nephew” my boyfriend’s sisters son and he is the cutest thing ever! Love him! Charlie is adorable and those blue eyes! I spend lots of time with my family and I think most of my favorite times are just when we are all hanging out and laughing together!
the house is gorgeous. love it. and all the food looks amazing. happy to see you had a great time there
Babies are so much fun! It is great to see ordinary things through a babies eyes! It makes even the smallest of things seem exciting!
My very first friend is having her first baby in November and I’m so excited I can hardly wait!