Betsy's blog

The first day of our visit to Julie’s & Chip’s new house was spent at home, touring their new house and exploring the neighborhood.  The house is in the Como Park neighborhood of St. Paul, MN, an older neighborhood, convenient to both the airport and Chip’s new job at the University of St. Paul and within walking distance of Como Park / Zoo and the Minnesota State Fairgrounds.  The houses are older, the Small house being built in 1905, and the neighbors are mostly long-time residents.

Pretty kitchen

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Logan decided to sneak off and have an apple snack while we were touring. 

Can’t say I blame him.  They were yummy apples.

Down to the basement

 

 

Down, down….

Nice play area

Thought I had more pics of the basement, but maybe they are on my phone.     The basement is a very comfortable family living area.   That’s where they toys are, and the tv, too.  (We watched the opening ceremonies of the Olympics after the kids went to bed Friday night.)  There’s a nice tiled bath with a shower.  John and I slept on the futon, and felt like we had a private suite.

The back yard is built for kids.  A playset with two swings, monkey bars, a slide and a club house resides across the back, next to the garage and its basketball hoop.  The driveway area just outside the garage provides a nice space for riding toys, bikes and sidewalk chalk.

I thin we've got a ball player

He's really pretty good.

Thursday morning we’ll be heading out to Minnesota.  Will see Julie, Chip, Henry and Logan in their new house.  I am so excited that I just couldn’t wait until Thursday to share. I’m not sure what we are going to do this trip…I think a block party is on the schedule, so we’ll get to meet all of the new neighbors.  I’m pretty sure we’ll be having take out too, according to Chip’s blog (http://roseville.patch.com/blog_posts/keeping-cool-in-a-sweltering-summer?ncid=newsltuspatc00000001) although if coolness is the goal, maybe eating in the restaurant is a good idea?  Whatever – good food, good company, count me in.   So….one more day of work…then off we go….

New house - - - John's favorite attribute (yes, he's a UNC fan!!!)

Well, I’ll have to say once again, how glad I am we visited Sonoma last fall, and how glad I am we joined the Sonoma Wine Shop Wine Club.  We signed up to have 4 bottles shipped 3 times per year – 3 reds and 1 white in each shipment.  So far we’ve tried 3 of the 4 from our spring 2012 shipment.

First  we tried the Seabiscuit Ranch Chardonnay.  I’m sure it’s a good quality wine, but FAR too “oaky” for me.  I actually didn’t know what the term “oaky” meant until I tasted this stuff.  It defines oak flavor.  Nothing BUT oak.  In fact, I think I’d have to consider this the IPA of Chardonnays.  Not on my list of favorites.

Next we tried the Wild Hog Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon  It was good.  Not stellar, but good.  I have a fairly high bar when it comes to cabs, though, and I will guess most people would like this wine.

Haywood Estate Zinfandel.  My oh my.  It reminds me of why I love red wine, and makes me wonder why I’m not alcoholic.  So smooth, so rich, I just want to keep rolling it around in my mouth until I realize that if I swallow I can do it all over again.  John might have to take me down if he’s thinking about having that last two tablespoons left in the bottle.

Coming up… Sparrow Hawk Pinot Noir 2009.  The SWS does a great job at selecting wines for the club, so my hopes are high for this one.  I’ll keep you updated.