MN Sunday Afternoon 10/21

Another reward for raking leaves is the traditional leaf swing. Selecting just the right branch is crucial before swinging can commence.

All of us get involved in a lively game of backyard baseball. Younger granddaughter multitasks by playing catcher and doing cartwheels at the same time. Daughter impresses us by performing one of her own, and she hasn't lost her touch.

When evening starts to chill, we have a warm fire to watch and another in the grill for our steaks. Who knew late October in Minnesota could have such a day!

MN Sunday 10/21

Our day begins with church and seeing a few friends. Granddaughters adjust a bulletin board near classrooms. Younger one can't resist doing cartwheels in the wide and nicely carpeted hall.

We stop for doughnuts afterward at a small independent and award-winning doughnut shop and choose a variety of pastries. The wife at the register and the husband in the kitchen are the only employees, and a big sign says cash only. At home we open the box to share and compare, my vote going to apple fritters.

The balmy afternoon is perfect for raking leaves, and these girls are experienced. Their efforts rewarded by a huge pile, they jump in and become leaf children. PawPaw threatens to jump on the leaf pile, too, but it's too full of girls and giggles.

MN Chill 10/20

Saturday morning weather is 37 degrees and foggy, but not too foggy to see the turkeys come into the backyard. After a leisurely start to the day, we go to a favorite breakfast place for brunch. With my eggs I have their Italian hash, a scrambled mixture of hash browns, Italian sausage, onions, mushrooms, green pepper, and tomatoes.

In the afternoon younger granddaughter has a playdate at a friend's house, and older one shops with daughter and me to buy some school clothes for cooler weather. When together again in the back seat they pretend to sleep and be too tired to go anyplace but home. Sun comes out for backyard sports and fun and feels good on our faces.

We have an early dinner out at a familiar restaurant that offers refillable bowls of fresh popcorn as soon as we sit down. Big mugs of beer on tap soon follow for us adults. I order a salad with grilled chicken and wild rice, a delicious new combination for me. There's homemade apple pie with ice cream at home but we are too stuffed.