Minnesota

 Thought I would show everyone what it's like here. It's not going to be a lot of writing - mostly pictures

This is my room - lots of tartan, pictures and cards :)

This is where I work on three nights a week - bakery, deli, liquor store, restaurant, grocery store etc etc, it has everything.

The pigs in blanket specials board

This is what pigs in blankets are in america!

 I drove myself and a couple of dogs up to the vet in Canada the other day, and seeing as both dogs were okay it was a nice trip.

Thistles!

The car I drive here,  modeled by Blueberry 

The view on the way back to the house

 Here is what I have to wear when the bugs are out! And the waterproof on top for the rain

 And forget the wagon - Kathleen let us use her car to haul the rocks - it went so much quicker!

Of course I need to add more pictures of the doggies! 

 Today we went to get more fish and chips by the lake, it was beautiful.

TIM #1

Week 5. Wait..already?

Tried to make the sunset at Lake Esther again this week (after seeing that gorgeous sunset there before). We didn't quite catch the sun but it was still beautiful. We had a picnic dinner there complete with some home baked brownies from work, which are ridiculously good. 

I have been introduced to American fish and chips here too. Theyre more like posh fish fingers and fries but the fish is straight out of Lake Superior and is so fresh you cannnot not like it (well, unless you don't like fish I guess?)

I always get too distracted by the food coming to take pictures before I eat it...

The Dockside, where we ate, is on the shore of Lake Superior in Grand Marais. Grand Marais has a population of 1,300 but is considered by those living in the woods to still be too big and manic! It's got this cool mix of American with a hint of Scandinavian and tons of shops, restaurants, 3 gas stations (that I know of) and loads more.

The dogs are so beautiful and can verge on majestic when they want to be and I have just fallen head over heels with them since the day I got here. But I also just ADORE their goofy sides. They are so so goofy, and it keeps me laughing!

The dogs howl every so often, freaky at first but pretty cool

They just love my camera... 

Oh leave me alone will you, I am trying to sleep

Misquah (left) is genuinely amazing at photobombing

Topa is the boss and is about to show Akai by biting his butt. 

Akai playfully bites back, he's no pushover

Oken chasing Misquah. Perhaps you should stop photobombing Misquah!

The lake here is amazing, like an ocean, and it's awesome to go sit and chill out down there.  The pebble beach reminds of Brighton and how far away from home I am... and how dirty Brighton Beach is.

 And since you're already half way to Grand Marais, you might as well go out for lunch right?

One day I WILL remember to take the picture before I eat half of it!

Kathleen and I chomping down some chocolate cake!

 But it's not all rest you know! Here's one of our jobs - collecting and moving rocks to lay at the bottom of the new fenced in area to prevent dogs digging out. It's hard work, but strangely satisfying. By the way, we aren't pretending, that wagon was CRAZY HEAVY okay.

And if you need anything else to remind you you're in the Midwest of America, why not relax with a brown ale called 'Moose Drool'?! Which, by the way, is actually what I imagine moose drool tastes like.