Day 7, June 24, 2016 Rochester MN

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Patti has a delightful breakfast with Randy, one of her friends from Mayo High School Really nice to catch up on all the news about friends and family.  We both agreed that it is nice to get together at a time when it was not for a funeral.   There have been way too many deaths during the past couple of years.  It seems to be that time in life.  We used to have more weddings and babies….now those happen just for nieces and nephews (or GREAT nieces and nephews), or for people’s grand children.

More walking in the park.  How we wish we had access to such lovely walking paths near our home.   

Everything is so green, and there are wildflowers in bloom. Here is an example, a wild geranium.  

It is especially fun to walk with Patti’s sister and brother.  We grew up in this park.  Perry takes Patti’s mom walking there most every evening.  Mom is serious about her pedometer, most often getting in 6,000-10,000 steps a day.  Go, Mom!

We were pleased when Patti’s Uncle Jim and Aunt Len and their two grandsons, Max and Chase came over to join us for a big turkey dinner.  Joan did a terrific job of cooking for the whole crew, including making a homemade rhubarb cake, with rhubarb from her yard.

Paula and Patti took Max and Chase for a hike in the woods.  They were quite excited to discover dinosaur bones and fossils in the limestone Quarry.  They were CERTAIN that these were actual dinosaurs, and they are experts!  Their enthusiasm was fun. We wish we could bottle their energy!

After dinner, we gathered around Patti’s Mom’s two big-screen TV’s to watch for our nephew, Jackson’s High School band marching in the Rochester Fest parade.  It was a delight to watch this small city parade with many different units.  And we were very pleased that when Jackson’s band sent by, we were able to catch a good photo of him playing his trumpet.  He is an accomplished trumpet player, and will next year (his Senior year) be one of two drum majors leading his band. Go Jackson!

Family gatherings are so precious! So nice to be back in Minnesota.