Serving the community since 2008!
Yep that’s an unashamed plug for my soon to be sister-in-law.
And a deserved plug too. What a store!!
But first, let’s talk about our day yesterday.
It was a travel day essentially with a little bit of fun stuff before we took to the road.
MoD headed out to help bro Blake with a Meals on Wheels run. Which is a pretty cool thing to do every week Blake.
I wanted to go but thought it would be good bro time.
And besides, that gave me a golden opportunity to spend quality girl time with my soon-to-be sister-in-law, her DIL and MoD’s great nephew.
Oh hell he is a little cutie.
First. Obviously, Joy took a run through Starbucks.
I mean. Of course. I am totally indulged here.
And then, oh my, what a shop that Bismarck Sewing and Quilting is!
I could feel those creative juices a’flowing.
I used to be very creative you know.
I used to sew. And sew very well.
My mum used to do the same. She made all our clothes without patterns (my middle son can do that too, he once made a mighty impressive duffle coat on a whim). Mum sewed my high school uniform and I still have it. I hear you, how can I be any shorter than I am now? How can this be? At 12 I was a teeny tot. That school uniform can’t be more than 20” in length.
On that, it’s super weird how we Australians deal in metric in nearly everything. But when it comes to foot and inches, calories or acres….well we talk imperial measurements.
Oh there I go again, off on a tangent.
Yes, I used to sew. I used to knit as well. I was a great knitter.
Fair Aisle jumpers were the go in my knitting era so I made a few of those and then forced them onto the rellies.
One time I spent a huge amount of time making THE MOST AMAZING jumper the world has ever seen for my friend Denice.
Think. Well. Kath & Kim. True eighties.
Poor Denice. I am sure she bought out all her acting talents to look surprised and delighted by that little gem. Love you girlfriend, such a good friend. ❤️
I just googled to find a Kath & Kim jumper and look! There it is.
Of course mine was far more classy being in blue tones and all.
But you get the picture.
Anyho, Joy’s shop is amazing. It just doesn’t get any better than this. I wanted to take it all home. Particularly the Christmas Grinch quilt. I love how American’s do Christmas. It’s such a special time. I might decorate the outside of the house this year MoD. Hope you are up to climbing onto the roof to put up the reindeers.
Yep, I went overboard with the photos, but I don’t do much in moderation.
And while I was at the shop gasping at all the goodies, (yes I may have a few extras in my bag MoD didn’t count on), I got to spend quality time wheeling this little man around. How lucky to get to spend extra time with everyone ⭐️
After saying our goodbyes we headed back to the house to pack our bags and head off. Blakey, great bloke that he is, made sure we were duly prepared with a food bag to cover the big drive from Bismarck to Minneapolis. Of course I protested. Of course I did. But those Reese peanut butter thingies were well and truly gone within half hour. I may have given one to MoD. But only one. I don’t share food.
Turns out we stopped at Battle Lake for ‘supper’ (I am so American these days) and a drink with another of MoD’s school buddies. Mary.
Did I not tell you they were everywhere?
She is a bloomin hoot. Love that girl.
Post our meal we thought we would drive a little further to get closer to the Twin Cities, ended up in Albertville where we stopped for the night.
This a.m. we wondered over to Starbucks, which just happens to be across the road in a mall. A mall which turns out to be an outlet mall.
Be still my beating heart…..💓💓💓
I reckon I can fit a few more itty bitty items into my July suitcase MoD.
Yes I know you want to head to the airport…….
To begin our trip to Houston, then Auckland, then Christchurch.
It’s a big trip.
Sleeping tablets may or may not be involved. I cannot confirm or deny this of course…..
Before I go I want to mention that they call burgers, sandwiches here.
So what we would call a chicken burger, here it would be called a chicken sandwich.
Goodbye USA. We have had an amazing time.
Hope to see you soon.
MaureenBetty 