Culver's

It is a really terrible thing to live in a town with a Culver's.

Culver's is a fast food restaurant that is so far removed from the typical there is no comparison.

We fell in love with Culver's on our first trip to Superior last year.  Someplace along the road we started seeing their signs and noticed they were always busy.  We decided to give them a try and fell in love.

We started seeking them out as we traveled and were delighted when we discovered one right down the road from us in Superior.  We were delighted at first.

Culver's quickly became and still is, our favorite place to eat in Superior.  We went there often and everything they serve is good, from the Butterburgers, to the chicken tenders, to the roast beef, and especially the Concrete Mixers.  OH, MY!!

The Concrete Mixers were our downfall.  They are similar to a Dairy Queen Blizzard or a McDonald's McFlurry but so much better than either.  Culver's uses frozen custard, so they are creamy and they never go easy on the add-ins.  Our favorite is Reese's Peanut Butter Cup and it is really good.

Well, Reese's Peanut Butter Cup Concrete Mixers are the reason for it to be a terrible thing to have a Culver's in the neighborhood.  About 10 pounds later we decided we better lay off of these things. 

Oh, it was hard but we stayed away and when we were relocated to North Dakota we were rather glad there was no Culver's nearby.  However, we are back in Superior and once again, Culver's has become our favorite restaurant and those Concrete Mixers just keep calling our names. 

Since we have no self-control over these things-we better get moved back to North Dakota soon or all of our clothes will need replacing.  That being said, if you are ever near a Culver's, give them a try, I promise you will not be disappointed.

Visiting Grand Marais

This winter has been so lovely up in the north-not much snow and lately the temps have been going above freezing every day.  We decided to enjoy the beautiful day and take a ride up the Minnesota eastern coast to Grand Marais, MN.

We left Superior, WI around 9AM and within minutes were enjoying the scenic byway that hugs Lake Superior.

As you can see there is still a little snow on the ground but it is melting and there was lots of water on the roads and walkways.

I just love these trees and they grow all over up here.  Christmas trees year round, what a blessing.

We passed through 2 tunnels on the way.  It seems unusual for a tunnel to be made through a mountain or hill.  In the south the tunnels run under water.

We traveled through several state and national forests along the byway.  The assortment of trees was really pretty.  Even the deciduous trees which look naked right now are standing tall in their natural beauty.

We passed many places where the rock has been cut away to make way for the road.  The tall rock walls reminds me of Tennessee.

Hiking trails are very popular up here.  The Superior Hiking Trail is over 200 miles long and runs parallel to Lake Superior from Duluth to Canada.  Another popular trail is the Gitchi-Gami Hiking Trail which runs from Two Harbors to Grand Marais, MN.  The Gitchi-Gami trail is a paved trail for hiking or biking and for the most part runs between the road and the lake.

At one point on our trip we saw what looks like chunks of ice floating in the lake.  It was too far away to get a good picture but to the naked eye it looked like ice and since much of the southern part of the lake is still frozen, it is quite possible.

The farther north we went the more snow and ice remained on the sides of the road.

This truck has a snow plow attached to the front.  This is a very common way of clearing snow in parking lots and driveways.  Of course, the cities have huge snow plows but for small scale clearing, these are popular.

Grand Marais is a little over 2 hours from our home and eventually we arrived.

It is a very cute little town that seems to specialize in tourism.  I am sure glad we came up here in the winter and not the peak tourist season.  It was a little busy but not crowded.

The shoreline is really pretty.  The ground is covered with some sort of crushed stone.  The waves lapping up on the shore reminded me of home, except our beaches are white sand.

Evidently a few weeks ago there was a snow sculpture contest and the only remaining entries were this lighthouse and,

this cupcake, which my other half just had to try to lick.  Good thing his tongue did not stick to it.

I took this photo for my sis-in-law.  How long has it been since you have seen a Ben Franklin?  Here it is right in downtown.

We had lunch at a cute LITTLE restaurant called The Crooked Spoon and it was so good.  Homemade carrot cake was the special of the day and it was really good.

Then we headed home.  I am so glad the weather had warmed up enough for us to venture this far north.  We would never have tried this if the roads had still been icy.  So grateful for a fun, safe trip we arrived back in Superior around 4:30 and went to bed early that night!

Sunday Phunnies

Signs! Signs!

Actual Signs Posted by Businesses

On an electrician's truck: Let us remove your shorts.

Maternity Clothes Shop: We are open on Labor Day.

On a Front Door: Everyone on the premises is a vegetarian except the dog.

On a Maternity Room Door: Push, Push, Push!

Non-smoking area: If we see you smoking we will assume you are on fire and take appropriate action.

Optometrist's Office: If you don't see what you're looking for, you've come to the right place.

Scientist's Door: Gone Fission.

Taxidermist Window: We really know our stuff.

Podiatrist's Window: Time wounds all heels.

Sign on Fence: Salesmen welcome. Dog food is expensive.

Car Dealership: The best way to get back on your feet ... miss a car payment.

Muffler Shop: No appointment necessary. We'll hear you coming.

Hotel: Help! We need inn - experienced people.

Butcher's Window: Pleased to meat you.

Sign in an office: We shoot every 3rd salesman, and the 2nd one just left.

Veterinarians Waiting Room: Be back in 5 minutes. Sit! Stay!

The Electric Company: We would be delighted if you send in your bill. However, if you don't, you will be.

Beauty Shop: Dye now!

Garbage Truck: We've got what it takes to take what you've got.

Computer Store: Out for a quick byte.

Diner Window: Don't stand there and be hungry, come in and get fed up.

Bowling Alley: Please be quiet. We need to hear a pin drop.

Cafeteria: Shoes are required to eat in the cafeteria. Socks can eat any place they want.

Music Library: Bach in a minuet.

Funeral Home: Drive carefully, we'll wait.

Snow in Superior

Friday I met my hubby for lunch with the intention of doing some shopping in the afternoon.  The snow started while we were eating and continued for over 24 hours-not heavy but pretty continuously.  I changed my mind about shopping and decided to stay home.

The next day we headed out to do the errands I had not completed Friday.  The snow was so pretty we almost hated driving on it, but life must go on.

This is a park near our home.  There are walking trails and benches as well as a ball field.

Superior does a good job of keeping the main streets clear.

They use a mixture of sand and salt as well as a de-icer.  It makes a messy slush on the sides of the road but does keep them clear.

This slush wraps around the tires and it is very easy to lose control.  It is most important to slow down and take your time.

This is another park in our neighborhood.

We headed over the bridge to Duluth and were wishing the snow would stop before we had to come back.  The bridge is about 5 miles long and pretty steep and high, a great place for ice and snow to settle.

When the snow covers the ground most of the 2 lane roads become 1 lane and the slush is piled up on the right hand side.  Parking lots are lots of fun because they do not clear them as well as the roads and you cannot see the lines.  People try to remember about where the lines are and park accordingly.

We finished our errands and headed back across the bridge.  Thankfully it was not icy and the snow had just about stopped.  As you look at the photo above you may notice a peninsula.  This peninsula is in Duluth and it sticks out quite a ways into Lake Superior.  The lake is frozen and there are several ice fishing huts situated between the peninsula and the bridge.

This shows the snow covering the frozen lake.

These next 3 photos show the lake south of the bridge.  It is also frozen and snow covered.

This is one of my favorite parts of Superior, the gorgeous trees.  And with snow on them, they look even better!

Shopping is finished, travel is over and now it is time for dinner.

Hope you enjoyed our snow pics!

Sunday Phunnies

Workplace Wisdom

I can only please one person per day. Today is not your day. Tomorrow doesn't look good either.

I love deadlines. I especially like the whooshing sound they make as they go flying by.

Tell me what you need, and I'll tell you how to get along without it.

Accept that some days you are the pigeon and some days the statue.

Needing someone is like needing a parachute. If he isn't there the first time, chances are you won't be needing him again.

I don't have an attitude problem, you have a perception problem.

My reality check bounced.

On the keyboard of life, always keep one finger on the escape key.

I don't suffer from stress, but I am a carrier.

You are slower than a herd of turtles stampeding through peanut butter.

Do not meddle in the affairs of dragons, because you are crunchy and taste good with ketchup.

Everybody is somebody else's weirdo.

Never argue with an idiot. They drag you down to their level, then beat you with experience.

A pat on the back is only a few centimeters from a kick in the butt.

Don't be irreplaceable - if you can't be replaced, you can't be promoted.

After any salary raise, you will have less money at the end of the month than you did before.

You can go anywhere you want if you look serious and carry a clipboard.

Eat one live toad first thing in the morning, and nothing worse will happen to you for the rest of the day.

When bosses talk about improving productivity, they are never talking about themselves.

If at first you don't succeed, try again. Then quit. No use being a fool about it.

Everything can be filed under "miscellaneous."

To err is human, to forgive is not our policy.

Anyone can do any amount of work provided it isn't the work he/she is supposed to be doing.

Important letters that contain no errors will develop errors in the mail.

If you are good, you will be assigned all the work. If you are really good, you will get out of it.

You are always doing something marginal when the boss drops by your desk.

People who go to conferences are the ones who shouldn't.

If it wasn't for the last minute, nothing would get done.

At work, the authority of a person is inversely proportional to the number of pens that person is carrying.

When you don't know what to do, walk fast and look worried.

Following the rules will not get the job done.

Getting the job done is no excuse for not following the rules.

When confronted by a difficult problem, you can solve it more easily by reducing it to the question, "How would the Lone Ranger handle this?"

The only difference between a rut and a grave is the depth.

A First Ever Experience

We woke up to more snow today and it continued almost all day-not a heavy snow but continuously.  By the afternoon our front walk was covered with snow, so my husband got out his brand new snow shovel and cleaned it off.

We had to capture this in pictures since it was the first time in his life he had shoveled snow.

 I thought he did a pretty good job but when I looked out the window, the job was only half done.

It was cold and he came in to put on gloves then went out to finish.

Not a bad job for the first time!  He should get lots of practice in the next few weeks.

A Bit of Snow and A Visitor

We got a little snow shower last night, about 1 1/2 inches but it sure turned cold.  It went down to 15 below zero last night and it was even chilly in the house.

This morning the walkway and patio were covered with snow and this evidence of our nighttime visitor.

The prints are pretty long, about 14 inches in length and I was surprised to learn, from my hubby, that they are rabbit prints.

He said they appear so long because the rabbit pushes off with his hind feet and sort of drags them in the snow. 

15 below makes me feel a bit sorry for the furry fellow but I sure am glad it was him outside and not me!