Off to Minnesota

harvest_table · Post by **harvest_table** » Mon Jul 10, 2006 2:53 pm

Hi friends,

Just wanted to let you know Lannie and I are catching the redeye (I hate the redeye but it's cheap) tonight to visit our family and friends for a couple weeks. I hear it's HOT there so were packing lightly.

I never like to leave Alaska this time of year because my flower gardens are just starting to look beautiful and well, it's just so awesome here. A mother duck and her 9 babies are on our dock every morning and I love the sounds the loons make in the middle of the night.

The last couple of years we have been seriously contemplating moving back to Minnesota for a number of reasons- our parents age and health issues being one. Alans Father just went into a nursing home a couple weeks ago and this has sort of urged us on so to speak. Anyway, I'll be looking for the perfect hobby/farm in the Fergus Falls area while we are there. I've been online and lined up a couple. Needless to say, the logistics of moving from Alaska to MN are a nightmare. If we find the right place this summer or fall Alan may move down and Lannie and I stay to finish out the school year. Alot is just up in the air now.

Hope to see Christine (can't find your #, PM me please) or anyone else in MN on the board that's within driving distance. We also will be up north in the Aitken area and down in the cities. Rosebud, if your within those areas and would like to try to get together let me know. I'll have access to a computer while we are traveling.

Love,
Joanna

annie oakley · Post by **annie oakley** » Mon Jul 10, 2006 5:02 pm

Sounds beautiful where you are. I like the sound of Loons also, have heard them on the Discovery channel, Have fun In Minnesota. I have been to the twin Cities and to Owatana. Loved the people there. Have fun maybe the duck will take care of the graden Ha HA HA! :bigbighug:

Love Oma

JJ · Post by JJ » Mon Jul 10, 2006 10:21 pm

Have a great trip and take care...Love, JJ

harvest_table · Post by **harvest_table** » Mon Jul 10, 2006 10:39 pm

Well, Lannie & I took great care in packing our suitcases this afternoon and as we are ready to zip em Alan announces he want's to put 20lbs of fish in each one. He does this every time we travel and I can't figure out why it always takes me for such a loop! He thinks after 14 years I should remember to allow space for fish, although he never brings it up till were are heading out the door. Sigh

Oma, thankfully my husband does a great job taking care of the gardens. I know it will be beautiful in Minnesota.

We are really looking forward to this trip. Were off to the port!

Love,
Joanna

MaggieRedwings · Post by **MaggieRedwings** » Tue Jul 11, 2006 4:52 am

Morning Joanna,

Being an Alaskan at heart, I know who heart wrenching it will be to leave there but we have to do things in life that are not always what we really want. Your family will appreciate everything you are doing. We too are going to be looking in England while we are there but I highly doubt we would make that move - just way too logistically a nightmare and expensive.

Have a great vacation and take care.

Love, Maggie

TendrTummy · Post by **TendrTummy** » Tue Jul 11, 2006 6:45 am

Hi Joanna!

I PMed you!!!!

There is actually a hobby farm for sale that is quite nice right off of Hwy 5 right outside of Waconia, fyi.. but you probably wanna be nearer your family.. Dunno where Fergus Falls is exactly.

I miss the loons :( We used to hear them all the time and see them in the local lakes but I have a feeling the Twin Cities has become to metropolized for loons.. they've all gone and didn't return. :( I love the sounds they make, very comforting.

Christine

harvest_table · Post by **harvest_table** » Tue Jul 11, 2006 1:30 pm

Whew, we made it. A long cramped flight and I didn't sleep a wink. Started a good book though, Mayflower by Nathaniel Philbrick which I hope to finish by the end of this trip.

It's hotter than blazes here with highs into the mid 90's the rest of the week! Everything is lush and green and beautiful though.

Got your PM Christine, will call you later today. Just curious, do you happen to know if that hobby farm has an online listing or how I might get some info on it?

Take care everyone.

Love,
Joanna

TendrTummy · Post by **TendrTummy** » Tue Jul 11, 2006 3:28 pm

Joanna,

So glad to hear you made it!!!! YES it's sweltering and humid. The grass is very dry around Waconia because the storms keep just missing us LOL. Supposed to remain sweltering all weekend long..

Guess what else, they CHANGED that lovely little chinese restaurant we went to last time!!!! Apparently their lease was up and the owner of the property wanted to up their rates and they said no, so they're gone! :( There's a new one but we haven't tried it yet..

About the farm - I know it's been for sale for quite awhile. Houses (much less hobby farms) have not been selling well lately so you may get a sweet deal on it. Trent's dad is in realty in the area.. If I were you I'd just give him a call and inquire.
http://www.chestnutrealty.com/larry.htm
(love the OLD pic of Trent LOL)

I'll keep looking and maybe drive by to see if we can get more info!!!

Love,
Christine

TendrTummy · Post by **TendrTummy** » Mon Jul 17, 2006 11:07 am

Update!

Met with Joanna on 7/13 (Thurs) before my dentist appointment for lunch! We had a great time, Joanna will be posting pics..

BTW Joanna, the answer to the magical question this month is .. sadly, no :( But we'll keep trying!

Love,
Christine

harvest_table · Post by **harvest_table** » Tue Jul 18, 2006 11:46 am

Hi all,

I'm sitting at a terminal in the Fergus Falls Library in Minnesota and have been without computer access for a few days so it's fun to check in with you all and see what your up to.

Christine, sorry to hear it's a negatory but keep on trying. It was fun to see you. I will post a pic as soon as I can.

I have an appointment this afternoon with a real estate guy to look at few properties- waterfront with acreage isn't hard to find and the prices are low since this is rural country land. Every old farmhouse I see just get's my juices going but still have not found the perfect one with that wrap around porch.

I had forgotten how beautiful it is here in the summer and the stars at night are breathtaking. It's been HOT- got to 102 few days ago and maybe 90 today. The corn and other crops look good in this area although they need rain badly.

Lannies having great fun with Grandma, my MIL. She will be 80 in a couple weeks and is a spitfire and so fun to be around. My FIL is in the Veterans home here and is doing as well as can be expected under the circumstances. He's enjoying our visits.

All for now,
Love,
Joanna

TendrTummy · Post by **TendrTummy** » Wed Jul 19, 2006 9:48 am

Joanna,

Sounds wonderful!!! I love that you're looking for an old farmhouse w/wrap around porch. I love houses like that.. they're absolutely works of art/antiques!

The dust triggers my allergies tho..

So .. are the stars not as visible/clear in Alaska? Just curious.. I'd thought they would be moreso.. The city lights keep the stars at a minimum until you get out to the rural areas like you are in now.. Even in Waconia it's difficult to see past the city HAZE of light.. "light-pollution" as they call it.. but when I'm out on the highway in the middle of nowhere, there are so many stars, it's absolutely breathtaking..

Christine

barbaranoela · Post by **barbaranoela** » Wed Jul 19, 2006 9:56 am

boy I felt like I was there with U both-----how great to meet--isnt it!!!

and thats what I wanted---an old time --house--with a wrap around porch!! but instead we bought NEW---

I luve the older homes--

nice to hear of your meeting--

luve Barbara

Carrie · Post by **Carrie** » Wed Jul 19, 2006 1:15 pm

Hi Joanna. I'm just starting to read Mayflower, too! We'll have to exhange notes when we're both done.

I hope you find a nice place in MN or WI. Just follow your instincts and your heart and you will be happy. Good luck!!!

Love,
Carole

harvest_table · Post by **harvest_table** » Mon Jul 24, 2006 2:47 pm

Hi all,

Back home safe and sound- had a very good trip. Lannie stayed behind at my parents with her cousin Annie who is 14. My father will have fun this week with them on the water taking them sking, tubing, boarding and fishing. I'm so glad the girls have been able to maintain a close bond over the years eventhough we live so far apart.

The gardens look great-Alan did a good job! It was 55 this morning when I woke up, quite an adjustment from the 95 degree days for most of my visit in MN. Boy it was hot and I was either in shorts or a bathing suit most of the time. Today I'm wearing a sweatshirt and long pants. Guess it's been quite cool and cloudy here since I've been gone.

Christine, the only time it's any good for star watching in AK is in the winter (because it's light for so long in summer)and although we see the northern lights here more than in MN for some reason the stars just don't compare. They are perfect in MN! Lannie and I laid on our backs one night for almost an hour watching them. That was fun.

Carole, I gave up toting the Mayflower around because it was just to heavy reading as I was boping all over the state. I managed to read a couple Jonathan Kellerman books-the Alex Deleware series which I like and now that I'm home I'll take up the Mayflower again. Hope your enjoying it. Look forward to comparing notes.

Alan is heading to MN in a couple days to make the rounds with family and friends. I found a couple properties I liked he's gonna take a look at also. Have not found the perfect wrap a round porch yet though. We are just up in the air about this tranistion but it will all work out- one way or another.

I see lot's of interesting conversations happening here and look forward to catching up. Will post a pic of Christine and my visit when Lannie gets home with the camera in a couple weeks.

Love,
Joanna