Nisswa Farmers Market

We show up here every Thursday morning when in this area. Girls study the options and help us choose. Somehow a shared oversized brownie always passes the taste test. Their mom has a birthday in eight days, so they consider her favorites and make mental notes until they can consult with their dad.

After a treat of Honey sticks, we buy a honey bear to take back to the cabin. Girls say they prefer to eat it by the spoonful as candy instead of dessert. We'll see. I can't imagine them saying no to any dessert, especially since we bought a homemade blueberry peach pie. At another booth we bought a rustic loaf of whole grain bread to add to dinner tonight.

Thursday Excursions

Waking up to temperatures in the mid 50's caused us to dress warmly and embark on the day's plan. First, Pequod Lakes for their craft and food market day. Our only, but big, purchase was a whole wheel of Italian cheese for $20. We all had samples and pronounced it divine.

After Dinner

Returning to the game room seemed reasonable for waiting out the rain, especially since our car was down at the pool. Girls played air hockey until they could no longer resist the siren lure of "the claw" machine. In record time they had produced three stuffed animals. Other children oohed and aahed at their confident skill. Parents offered to bankroll them to help their own kids win toys. We grandparents gratefully noticed the rain had ended and planned our escape route - - Chocolate Ox!

Lucky us! Two-for-one cones night drew a crowd and we arrived early. We did our part to negate any benefit to our wallets by ordering double scoops. Those girls can put away some ice cream!

Burgers for Dinner

Tonight we walked up to the main lodge from the pool and had burgers grilled outside on the deck. Delicious and done exactly as ordered! The burger bar inside held condiments, veggies, and a variety of chips.

Just when we had everything set, the sky opened up and the drizzle came down. A quick scurry into the pub located a table, and we were back in business. Since we were already in the pub, no surprise for what happened next.

Easy Day

After yesterday at Paul Bunyan Land, we took the morning to recover. By afternoon younger granddaughter gingerly tested the water, finally plunged under, and decided the lodge pool was a better choice today.

As I sat beside the pool keeping one eye on a nine-year-old and one eye on a seven-year-old, this sweet cherub toddled into view and reminded me of years long gone.

Heritage Village

After lunch we always head for the half of the park with old buildings and displays. Everything from farms, stores, churches, schools, soda fountains, barns, train depots, medical offices, photography studios, logging camp, car dealership, fire department, and more is housed in those buildings and areas set up like a small village. The girls enjoy every part and play the roles of town inhabitants.

Discovering a favorite still in place, such as the old "school bus" sled, creates even more fun and excitement. The little wood stove in front, the high windows, the cubby for storing schoolbooks, the cozy bench, all there, just as they remembered.

Marathon day at an end, we stop at Paul Bunyan's oversized mailbox for a final photo and head for home/cabin.

Shocking, I Know!

For the first time ever, we have a girl too grown for a ride at Paul Bunyan Land. Shock of reality! Older granddaughter is too tall for the airplane and practices a slump and bent knee shuffle to get past the park worker. Sister was quite impressed, exclaiming "I can't believe you pulled that off!" Knees were barely but safely contained in the little airplane, and away they flew.

Concerned faces in the jail show disappointment when they heard that prisoners received no treats while incarcerated. The mean jailer (Pawpaw) was fired by the humanitarian employer (me) just in time for a hamburger lunch and a dessert of ice cream.

The snack bar was out of regular cones so the worker used huge substitutes holding four or five scoops that he shoveled and shoved. Younger granddaughter could not finish hers, and older struggled. Again, shocking, I know!

Bouncy Slide

New addition to PBL this summer is the bouncy place with slide. Girls flipped and flipped all the way down and over and over.

Carousel

Round and round they go while I see toddlers of long ago perched on those ponies.

Polar Roller Coaster

Here they go again! This time moving forward and in reverse allows them both to squish and be squished.