How to have an international daytrip....

Before we get into the meat of the week and weekend, better start with the highlight of Matt's week. He made pickles, well I should say he's making pickles. He's doing them in two ways. First in a crock, complete with brine and crock and all and second, in the jars. We'll see how they turn out.

The last batch of stuff made in the crock seemed to turn out well, just ask Michele. We took her a jar of sauerkraut and we eventually had to tell her to put it away or she'd have NOTHING left, including the juice that she drank right from the jar. No, thank you!

She wasn't the only one what was happy this past weekend from our visit. We got to see Nike! She was as sassirrific as her normal self, which I wouldn't expect anything different. She does like that she can come and go outside as she pleases at Grandma and Grandpa's house but that didn't stop her from loving Matt when she could while we were there.

She wasn't too impressed about the "family picture" I forced her to take but it's not the first time that I've upset her.

I had to laugh at the little old ladies on the couch! Grandma Lee and Crybaby both have their days but they snoozed a majority of the time we were there. Glad they have each other!

We went up to Lansford on the way to the International Peace Gardens. I'd never been and it was a big deal to go this summer as they are tearing down the towers that they put up (symbolizing the relationship between the US and Canada and the promise to never go to war) in 1982. They have got moisture seeping into the concrete and they want to tear them down before they fall down.

It was very interesting to see the layout, design, and the thousands and thousands of flowers that  had gone into the work of the gardens. The whole park is themed around the division of the 2 countries by the 49th parallel and the peace that resides there.  It was very serene with the water fountains, the blankets of floral, and the dragonflies and butterflies humming in the air.

There are specific division in the park, from the water running to the main fountain, to the flower created flags, the floral clock, and the bells that chime every 15 minutes. We walked the mile and a half to the towers, which were fenced off. They stand 120 feet in the air and appeared different colors from the distance because of the sun's shadowing.

This is called a Mother-In-Law cushion!

We also took time to go through the green houses with the varieties of plants, cactus,and succulents. It was amazing the amount of time and energy that goes into the sheer beauty of it. Don't get my wrong, it's not a children's theme part but maybe with our garden this summer, I've come to appreciate the talents of those that are able to grow and create things.

We headed back through American customs and went to Bottineau, Matt's first college town and had late lunch at the Pizza Inn. Large 1/2 beef and pep, 1/2 sausage. I will admit I was pleasantly surprised by the pizza and would eat it again!

Sunday was a day to put things away, we started with helping Mom and Dad put away hay bales into the loft and ended it with hibiscus jelly, laundry, vacuuming, and finding our bedroom floor. I guess after weeks of gallivanting all over the world and traveling abroad, we probably got to get down to business!

Best Meal...so here is the tricky thing....Randy's pizza always tops my list and when you add our fresh basil and our jalapenos...it couldn't get better...always leaves me with a gut ache from over eating. We also had the first ribs of the summer combined with gouda mac and cheese...Matt did really well and we finished the meal with a couple pieces of cake that Mom made for me that I couldn't resist, peach cream cake. Ahhhh.....this whole weekend I ate too well. Maybe we should have walked the big loop of the Peace Gardens!

MJR reads ALR the placard at the Peace Gardens regarding the border.
Upon completion of his oration, ALR (looks at him): See! Canada! (Walks South 2 feet) United States!
MJR: NO, didn't you listen. This is no-man's land. 10 feet on each side of the 49th parallel.
ALR: Oh.
ALR: (Walks to the North) Canada! (runs 20 feet south) United States! (runs 20 feet north) Canada! (runs 20 feet south)
MJR: (gets in car)