Coffee Shop Hopping

    More plans have been made for my visit to Minnesota in the Spring/Summer. I got off of Tango with my older sister Beth a little bit ago, and mad plans have been set percolating. One idea we discussed: Having wine nights with my Grandma. However, because my Grandma’s ticker is not all that great and she is not supposed to have wine, we are going to buy Welches grape juice for her, so that she can sit out with my sister and me and “drink” with us.

   The main idea that we discussed though was Coffee Shop hopping. Two of my favorite things in the world: Coffee and places off the beaten path; where you can meet any number of characters. Along with this theme, we are going to start up a summer reading list, consisting of mostly of the classic, with a weird quirky book thrown in for good measure.

   I feel like there has to be guidelines to this thing. Like: This is a whole day ordeal and we are going to visit many coffee shops. Two crazy blonde chicks hyped up on coffee, set loose in the Twin Cities! Yikes! Another rule: We have to wear a funny hat while reading. Why? Just because. If you had to ask it defeats the purpose.

   The Renaissance Festival in August! This is a tradition in my family, they go every year. We get up early in the morning and drive up to Shakopee, where we have a big breakfast, like pancakes, bacon, eggs, and of course coffee flows freely. Then we head on over to the festival. The last year that I went (which was 6 years ago) there was a big group of us.

  My sister and I had bought wooden swords. We ran around thinking we were badass, pretending fighting, and general horsing around. At one point we even had a small crown around us watching, cheering us on. Well I got too big for my britches. A large burly blacksmith passed by us and I called out asking him if he wanted to fight, trying to be funny. I didn’t expect him to take up the challenge but he did. He turned around and said “Sure,” showing me a large metal axe. My sister and I slunk off after that. It was all in good fun though.


 It is memories like those, and all the fun things we have planned that make me excited to return to Minnesota for the summer. If you can’t tell I am greatly looking forward to it!Maybe I will buy a pair of buckrum cloaks to go along with the occasion?