A few weeks back in the Northern Hemisphere

After the passing of my incredibly adored grandfather, Peter Henningsen, I decided to return to Minnesota a month earlier than anticipated to attend his funeral and share the time with the family and friends whose lives he touched.  He was a very prominent person in my life - a man of strong integrity and thoughtful advice.  It was a weekend full of food, laughter, memories, more food, and more laughter…I feel so fortunate to have been able to go home and spend that time with everyone who loved my grandpa!!

Erik doing a taste test

eatin' time

Grandma Donna with the "Veesemeese" (as I used to call the Vietnamese)

joint birthday time

Here’s a little sampling of my time in Minneapolis in September – one of my favorite months in Minnesota for the remnants of summer and the touch of fall.

MINNESOTA STATE FAIR: The Great Minnesota Get-Together
Going home for Labor Day weekend also allowed me to go to the State Fair, which I had not done in years.  Nicole and my friends, Dani and Fer, and I went through it all, trying different foods and drinks along the way.

corn on the cob!!

Zeppoles - fried italian dough

lotsa honey

went down the giant slide!

and it even brings the foreigners together - 2 friends from Carlos Paz, Argentina who were working at Concordia Language Villages and happened to be at the Fair the same day

Roma di Luna concert 

 

it was a little rainy

AMIGOS

Amanda's (and my former) Apartment
Berrens and Dylan

Amanda and Sindy havin' some fun times

Reggae Night at Varsity Theater w/African Dance Crew

Common Roots after African Dance Class
this is where you can always find us Saturday afternoons - one of my favorite weekend activities!

Erica's Birthday at Chatterbox
fun times with board games!!

Erica's birthday...continued at home

Amy's Birthday at Peninsula

soft-shell crab - oh-so-yummy!!

Eva's birthday song to Amy

Night Out with Alyson at Honey

Pumpkin Carving Time

...some took it extra serious

FAMILIA

Cabin over Labor Day weekend 
Maren keeping warm in Grandma Bonnie's muumuu and slippers

Andrew's first fish before the big muskie

Nicole's Dance Team at High School Soccer Game

Carryn's Birthday at Shout House 
dualing pianos

Twins Game at the New Target Field

FESTIVALS and SHOWS

Mexican Independence Day

Erin and Ben - a bit tired

Earth Dance  (hippie fest) at Powderhorn Park

 

balancing a baby on his hand

Tiyumba

yup - cat ears and tail and a hoop skirt!!

Northrop Auditorium for Tania Perez-Salas Dance Show

salsa on Northrop Plaza

THE GREENWAY
got some good biking in

Uptown Farmer's Market on the Greenway

there aren't usually cars on the Greenway - this was parallel parking practice gone wrong

the person was parallel parking from the parking lot above and either went in reverse instead of forward or press the gas instead of the breaks...don't think they'll be getting behind the wheel any time soon (driver did make it away from the accident with only minor injuries)