Just Desserts

Even the food at The Creative Connection Event is creative and inspired. The S'mores cupcake wasn't actually at the event but what I consumed before heading to the Handmade Market the first night of the conference - I needed massive sugar intake to power me through all those aisles of fantastic art and crafting possibilities! This little delicacy comes from Hell's Kitchen - an amazing restaurant in downtown Minneapolis. I've missed it terribly living along the North Shore as ours has been converted to a burger place.

The lovely red velvet cake was served at our luncheon on the opening day of the conference. The recipe comes straight from the Pioneer Woman Cooks, courtesy of Ree Drummond, the speaker at our luncheon. I have a sentimental attachment to red velvet cake as it is what my husband and I served at our wedding reception. This recipe is my very favorite of Ree's many wonderful recipes!

Leave the light on...

Along the shores of Gitchee Gummee, there is a very special anniversary taking place. The Split Rock Lighthouse is celebrating its centennial! To commemorate the occasion, every first friday of the month for this year, the lighthouse is illuminated. Last night a few hundred visitors came to witness the event over their holiday weekend. We fought for our places with the gnats to jockey for the best photo-taking position. I came back with a few nasty bites, but it was completely worth it as we got to share in the sight that usually only occurs twice each year - on the anniversaries of the dates that the lighthouse opened and the wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald.

While we waited to be "enlightened," we watched the minor waves along the rocky shore and were treated to a ship slowly making it's way across the lake. And finally the the light was turned on!

Food and Flowers

Our night away to Grand Marais included fabulous food (as all visits to Grand Marais do!) and on this night we opted for The Crooked Spoon Cafe. We noticed this spot on our last trip up, but couldn't squeeze it in lest we would not be able to squeeze into our clothes! Our meal began with the most beautiful French Onion Soup topped with puff pastry and gruyere. My entree of pan roasted bone-in chicken breast and buttermilk mashed potatoes was delectable as well. I always find myself coveting whatever my husband orders as he usually orders shellfish of some kind when we're out. I was diagnosed with a shellfish allergy a couple of years ago so I can no longer prepare it at home which I loved to do frequently. He ordered these gorgeous Bronzed Jumbo Sea Scallops with Blood Orange-Coriander Gastrique and Blue Crab and Sweet Pea Risotto that you see above. I could only try a teeny taste of the gastrique as it's the only part of his meal that didn't contain shellfish, but it was heavenly!

Our trip also included lots of beautiful flowers to admire. These white lovelies were seen at the scenic overlook in Silver Bay where we were marveling at the fog covering Lake Superior.

The lupines are in full bloom all along the North Shore and we captured these on the way back along the roadside north of Two Harbors. On our trip up to Grand Marais, these lupines were surrounded by a camera club trying to preserve the all too brief blooming beauties.

In a fog...

My head only feels slightly foggy this morning which I think is mostly due to the weather we've been experiencing all weekend. I love these sorts of days once in a while, but they do tend to make me feel sleepy and sluggish. Before leaving our lovely hotel in Grand Marais yesterday, I captured as much of the balcony view out of our room as I could given the dense fog over Lake Superior. When we looked across to Artist's Point it was completely obscured or I would be sharing that with you!

On the drive back down the North Shore, the fog was just as thick, but made for some really incredible views. We stopped at Silver Bay to capture this moment looking out at this rock formation that feels all dreamy and mysterious in the mist. The whole trip up and back felt a bit surreal as the fog constantly hovered over the lake and made the water appear as if it disappeared into the clouds and nothingness.

Journey to Grand Marais

My husband and I ventured up the North Shore to begin celebrating our anniversary a few days early. Last year we took our first trip up the North Shore to the Canadian border (but couldn't cross as we don't have our passports or enhanced licenses yet!) We were hoping to head up that way again today, but as the fog is as thick as pea soup, we're thinking it's probably not worth it. On our journey, we made lots of little stops along the way to take a break from the thick fog that was also present yesterday.

We stopped for breakfast/lunch at The Rustic Inn as we had to try the other lesser known pie spot along Highway 61. I indulged in Cranberry Wild Rice French Toast - YUMMY!!!

The next stop was a perfect opportunity for a little hike around the Temperance River in one of our beautiful state parks. It was remarkable to see the "potholes" that this remarkable river formed in the massive rock. I'm hoping I can get some pics of the Lupines that are in full bloom all along the shore!