Bittersweet Lane
A journal about art-making, baking, and joys of everyday life in Minnesota.
Friday, July 31, 2015
Sunday, July 5, 2015
Awesome List #59: Visit the Dala Horse in Mora, Minnesota
Sunday, June 28, 2015
Awesome List #74: Cold Front Ice Cream
Accomplished this one back in May! I went to the old-fashioned soda fountain and tried the "snowball flight" which is 4 little cones. The ice cream was super delicious! The place itself is pretty tiny. Good things come in small packages :)
Thursday, January 22, 2015
Inspiration: Paintings by Marisa Redondo
I have been using this super amazing planner to keep track of and plan my Year of Awesome. I love love love the illustrations in it! As a totally unexpected bonus, it's actually really laid out well (unlike most planners). Here's where I gush about my planner (yes, I am a big old nerd). It has a two page spread of each month at the beginning, for a quick overview. Then it starts with the weeks, giving each one a two-page spread. The best part is there a place for notes each week and then extra random blank pages between the months. Also, special pages for Books to Read, Movies to See, Restaurants to Try, etc. It's like the person who designed this planner is inside my brain. Yay? Maybe they can declutter a little while they're in there.
So, back to the illustrations. So inspiring! Lovely nature illustrations and cute (but not cutesy) little animals. The artist is Marisa Redondo. She has both a website, blog and Etsy shop and all can be accessed here:
The planner is from here and they have lots of other cute calendars: http://www.orangecirclestudio.com/
Dandelion Painting
Look, a new painting! I have been creating some new work this winter. The bright colors of the paints and markers are helping me through the dreary winter. This one expecially reminds me of a warm summer day, with dust motes or maybe bits of flower fluff floating in the air.
Sunday, January 18, 2015
Awesome List #35: Lake Harriet Kite Festival
The first thing accomplished on my Awesome List! Yes!
This carp/koi kite was impressive. There was a real method to getting up in the air. One person needed to open the mouth and get it filled with air and one maneuvering the string to get it up in the air. I like this photo because it looks like the carp is hunting the other kite.
Sunday, January 11, 2015
An Awesome List for an Awesome Year
So, here it is. My next birthday is the big 4-0. I'd like to finish up my thirties with a bang and start my forties having a year of awesomeness behind me. Although, sure, I'd love to visit Morocco, that is probably not in the cards this year. However, there are a ton of things right here in Minnesota that I've been meaning to get around to doing.
Here's my list so far. Feel free to make some suggestions. Note that I am definitely not an adrenaline junkie (e.g., I will not be bungie jumping off of anything any time soon). Anything food- or art-related will probably get a thumbs up.
- Get a tattoo
- Visit South Dakota/Mount Rushmore
- Go to the Renaissance Festival in costume
- Visit the Russian Art Museum
- Visit the Weisman Art Museum
- Go to a rollerskating rink
- Got an ice-skating rink
- Go horseback riding
- Hot Air Balloon festival
- Visit House on the Rock
- Visit Franconia Sculpture Garden
- Dine at a pizza farm
- Learn and do some canning
- Have a tent at the Red Hot Art Festival
- Volunteer more at Articulture
- Learn to knit
- Renew passport
- Go kayaking
- Take part in pub/bar trivia
- Sing karaoke
- Get a psychic reading
- Donate blood
- Ride a Segway
- Go on a picnic
- Enter a state fair competition
- Visit Lanesboro
- Go dog-sledding
- Ride on a motorcycle
- Visit at least two new state parks
- Hang up funny fake fliers
- Go to an NFL game
- Eat pho at Quang
- Play lawn-bowling at Brit's Pub
- Go to the Artsled Rally
- Go to the Lake Harriet Kite Festival (Done! January 17th!)
- Go snow-shoeing
- Visit the Eloise Butler Wildflower Garden
- Go Snow tubing
- See an outdoor movie at Father Hennepin park by the Mississippi
- See the Perseid Meteor Shower outside the city
- Attend a concert at the Lake Harriet Bandshell
- Twins game
- Visit the American Swedish Institute
See the Art Shanty Projects- Eat at Psycho Suzi's
- See at least one movie at the Riverview Theater
- Ride the Lake Harriet streetcar
- Eat in the Ferris wheel at Betty Danger's Country Club
- See the inside of the chapel at Lakewood Cemetery
- Visit Macy's spring flower show
- Go to a Comedy Sportz performance
- Drink at Sociable Ciderwerks
- Play bingo at a bingo hall
- Watch the Luminary Loppet
- Attend the Japanese Lantern Festival at Como Park
- See the Jolly Green Giant statue
- Visit Lark Toys in Kellogg
- See the Viking ship in Moorhead
- See the Dala horse status in Mora
- Big Stone mini golf in Minnetrista
- See a moose
- Visit Isle Royale
- Exhibit work
- Afternoon tea at the Saint Paul Hotel
- Read at least 3 biographies of presidents (One down, Two to go!)
- Haunted tour of Forepaughs
- Make a short film or video (maybe stop motion animation?)
- See Midsummer Nights Dream at the Guthrie Theater
- Join or start a bookclub
- Attend the Saintly City Cat Show (part of the St Paul Winter Carnival)
- Make at least one recipe from every cookbook I own
- Visit one of the Laura Ingalls Wilder historical sights
- Spend a whole day on the beach at Lake Nokomis.
- Enjoy an old-fashioned soda at
Lynden'sCold Front soda fountain in Saint Paul - Visit Lake Minnetonka
- Play skee ball at Pat's Tap
- Visit the Headwaters of the Mississippi (Itasca State Park)
- Milk a cow or goat
- Take a walking tour of Summit Avenue
- Visit the Mill City Museum
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