International Falls, MN

Thursday, July 12.  We drove from Bottineau, ND to International Falls, MN today mostly on Hwy. 11 which was being repaved in several sections.  Three detours, one time change and several hours later we pulled into Int'l. Falls.  Originally we were going to park at Edna Doris' house and plug into her electric but with the weather being so hot we needed enough amperage to run the AC's so we opted to stay at an RV park.  Mike found one online (we LOVE the iPhone!!) and made reservations for two nights.  We had the same issue with the satellite dish here as we had in Moose Jaw, lovely sites but too many trees!  After we set up in the first site and realized the dish was not happy we moved to another site which did make the dish (and me!) happy.  Tonight was the premier of Big Brother and I didn't want to miss it.

This park was in town not too far from Edna's so I called her after we were set up and she invited us over for dinner.  Her home is right on the Rainy River and is BEAUTIFUL!!  What a setting!  We had wine on the deck in the shade while Jenny romped in the yard on the REAL GRASS.  Edna had made a couple of soups (split pea and a taco soup) which were both delicious and she also had a lunch meat and cheese platter for sandwiches.  She wasn't sure what time we were going to get in so she prepared something she knew would keep.  After our meal one of her sons and his wife dropped by and had dessert with us.  Edna had made a blueberry pie (from scratch!!) with berry's her late husband Joe had picked last year.  It was definitely one of the best blueberry pies we have ever had!!  It was great to meet her son David and his wife Diane, they are a lovely couple and live only a few miles from Edna.  She has another son across the street and one of her daughters lives only a few blocks away.

Friday, July 13.  Lucky Friday the 13th!!  This morning we picked Edna up and took a drive up into Voyageur National Park and to visit Ranier, the town next Int'l. Falls.  Lots of history here with fur trappers and trading.

There is also a lot of water, hence the nickname: Land of 10,000 Lakes.  We had lunch at the Sha-Sha Resort on the water and waited out the rainstorm before heading back to town.  Edna invited us for a Walleye fish dinner at her house that evening.  It was another great meal!  She also made cole slaw and roasted vegetables, one of the veggies was rutabaga!  We had never had roasted rutabaga or Walleye and found that both were scrumptious!!  Here is a picture of us with our full bellies at Edna's table:

I can see why her kids love her so and take such good care of her!  Even Jenny was happy to be at her place!  See how relaxed she is in the living room or is that sleeping room...

Alas, the evening came to a close.  We woke Jenny up, hugged Edna good bye and thanked her for a lovely visit.  We'll see her back in Tucson the end of October or first of November.