Quawkle

Earlier this week, Carrie and I were able to get away for a few days to celebrate our 25th wedding anniversary. We chose an interesting Bed and Breakfast in an equally interesting small town in southeastern Minnesota. The B & B is the Historic Scanlon House and the town is Lanesboro. We stayed in a beautiful and spacious suite known as the Steeple Suite complete with whirlpool tub, full bathroom, queen size bed, multiple sitting chairs, a comfortable love seat sofa, and a modest TV with VCR and DVD player. In addition, we chose to have breakfast both mornings delivered to our room which gave us the flexibility of not rushing around in the morning.
We spent our first day driving around the community and exploring what was available to us during our stay. We took a modest excursion into the countryside to enjoy the beautiful rolling hills and farms in this Amish community between Lanesboro and Harmony.
Day two led us out on an adventure which included a self-paced tour by CD of many Amish homes and shops. We indulged ourselves in many of the baked treats and canned goods available for sale by Amish families. I purchased a desk organizer made out of basket material. I hope I can make good use of it, but it also serves as a souvenir of this wonderful trip and a reminder of the one I love!
Later in the day, we stopped at a cafe in downtown Lanesboro and enjoyed a homemade chocolate malt made from hand dipped ice cream. Then we pulled our bicycles out of the van and went for a two plus hour ride along the state bike trail which runs along the Root River. We made it as far as Whalan, home of the famous pie shop – we were too full still to stop and enjoy. We stopped and rested and then headed back to Laneboro – a total trip of about 9 miles. Admittedly, we were both a bit sore from the ride since we have seldom if never done any biking over the last ten years, but we both enjoyed it.
The day finished with a simple evening of supper, a movie, a walk in the light rain, and a few hours of reading enjoyment. We both slept well and awoke to a second overcast day with the birds singing a full chorus outside accompanied by the several cats roaming along the premises.
Internet access has been sufficient but not great. Our cell phones have both been unusable. Fortunately, my iPhone has Skype and I have outbound calling credits available so we called home and family several times to see how things were going.
It has been a wonderful opportunity to get away and “change gears” for a little while. Nothing helps a person think better and more clearly than a change of scenery and routine. I have been blessed to spend this little time away with my best friend and wife and I am motivated to make this a more regular activity in our lives!