Burgers, fries and a big surprise!

Okay, not really a surprise as any trip back home means at least one visit (and usually more) to our iconic Big Boy drive-thru! It may be surprising to others that you eat your fries with their fantastic gravy and a pizza burger flying style. Big Boy has many other items on their menu, but for most people in our family (and anyone who marries into it) those are the only items ever ordered. There might be one more item - a Hot N' Tot (Coke with cinnamon syrup).

It's not just the food that makes the Big Boy experience so memorable, it's the shared event of eating your food in your car in the parking lot next to the restaurant as there is no eat-in option. Some folks choose to take their food out to one of the picnic tables under the trees but then you're a much easier target for the squirrels begging for your lunch. On our second visit to Big Boy on our trip home, we were treated to a show of a half dozen turkeys chasing one of their own around the trees trying to establish their pecking order.

Big Boy is also part of most Bismarck and Mandan high school students experience. Dragging Main in Bismarck included the Big Boy as one of the turn-around spots is the Big Boy parking lot!

A more elegant part of our culinary experience on this trip was a little visit to the Patisserie on Fourth. They hosted a Night at the Opera event which featured cakes all inspired by and named for elements or characters of the Phantom of the Opera. We sampled the Phantom and Opera cakes which were both beyond wonderful! We bought a box of truffles to take home with us for good measure and bought mom and dad a dessert as they didn't join us. Roses graced each table and art from area artists decorated the walls. I was particularly enamored with the artwork of Julie Neidlinger. I was also very tempted by the gorgeous silent auction cakes that were created for the event!

I only wish there had been more in attendance to support this fantastic and unique event. It's frustrating to find that people are so reluctant to step out of their comfort zone and try something new and really frustrating to realize the lack of support for artists and their creations.

Rollin' on the River

This very hot North Dakota day found us riding the Lewis and Clark Riverboat. This little excursion on the Missouri River between Bismarck and Mandan is a journey I haven't taken since around junior high and it's a trip my husband has never had the chance to experience. Admiring the railroad bridge from a different point of view is a treat. Slowly paddling along between the banks of the river, admiring the cottonwood trees, and waving to the passengers on the passing pontoons and the speedy folks on jet skis is a great way to spend a sunny summer day.

I've also realized I'm nearing 100 posts on my little blog - something that didn't seem possible when I began about year ago. I'll have to plan for a little giveaway contest when I reach the momentous event! I think I'll have to do a giveaway when I reach 25 followers! Speaking of giveaways, I've discovered this cool site, giveawayscout.com, where they gather up all sorts of giveaway and contest opportunities out there on the web - you should check them out and find the contests that would be of interest to you. Who can't use more free stuff?!

Badlands, Beach, and Beverly

Yesterday's activities while here visiting mom and dad included a trek to western North Dakota. Our ultimate destination was Glendive, Montana to a quilt and home decor shop that my mom and I love. We spent some time there while dad and hubby went off to explore other parts of Glendive as they're not really quilt store kind of guys.

Once our brief visit to Montana was over we ventured back to our familiar North Dakota border and stopped at the Flying J Truck Stop in Beach to grab lunch as shopping and exploring always makes you hungry! Dad and hubby both had BLT sandwiches that must have had a half pound of bacon; needless to say they loved their lunch.

We continued our way back to the capital city with a stop in Medora. We always have to stop in Medora! By then we were hungry for ice cream and the gorgeous scenery of the Badlands. We also had to pick up some nuts to tide us over for the rest of the drive home. Now hubby and I are planning our next, lengthier visit to Theodore Roosevelt National Park to take in more of the beauty there.

After a brief stop in Dickinson we drove on to Taylor, North Dakota to visit the Art Depot. This old depot was actually moved from Richardton, North Dakota to become a kind of art collective for a handful of artists. We got to enjoy the art and the stories that one of the artists, Beverly, shared with us. We were also surprised to discover during our conversations with Beverly that she had been the prom date of my dad's cousin years earlier!

The day ended with a visit to one of our must visit restaurants when we're back in Bismarck - A & B Pizza!!! Sausage and sauerkraut pizza is the best!