Our Anniversary

August always holds a momentous week for our family: my birthday, Abigail's birthday, and Susan and my anniversary, all within a five-day span. Today was the fifth day: our 12th wedding anniversary. To celebrate, Susan and I spent last night and this morning at the Inn at Maple Crossing at Mentor, MN. It's a beautiful, traditional bed-and-breakfast inn in a restored old hotel. A scrapbook of the refurbishing process in the inn's library is a quick but fascinating read. We celebrated our 5th anniversary at the inn years ago and were happy to return this summer.

Last time we stayed in the Amish room; this time it was the Victorian room (the link above will tell you more about each theme available). As with all the rooms, there is no television or telephone in the Victorian room, but there are antique furnishings, a private bath, and a private balcony overlooking Maple Lake. There are several enormous oak trees and scattered flower gardens on the lawn beneath the balcony, and the lake stretches off in all directions beyond that. It's a serene, relaxing spot to sit and read or write or converse or cuddle on the chaise longue. Inside the room is a journal for guests to sign, and all the past entries tell about the wonderful food, the beautiful surroundings, and the calm, contemplative atmosphere ("relaxful," as more than one person has put it in the journal!).

Last night we browsed in the gift shop, walked the grounds, played chess in the library, lounged and had champagne in our room, then descended for a four-course supper in the dining room: tossed salad with raspberry vinaigrette; Italian chicken, bean, and vegetable soup; beef Wellington (me) and salmon (Susan) with rice, green beans and sliced almonds, and strawberry/orange/kiwi garnish; and chocolate fudge layer cake with raspberry sauce. We drank iced tea with the meal and coffee with dessert and were completely stuffed with the incredibly delicious food. Somehow we had room for a two-course breakfast this morning (after early-morning coffee on the veranda): blueberry yogurt mixed with fruit cocktail topped with granola; and hashbrown/tomato/herb/cheese egg bake with herb-dusted country ham and cantaloupe/honeydew/watermelon garnish (with orange juice and coffee to drink). Again, delicious.

Before coming home, we toured Bergeson Gardens south of Mentor. People are free to wander the grounds and take a self-guided tour of all the flower beds using a handout available on site to learn about the varieties of plants and flowers planted in each. It is simply beautiful, and the weather was wonderful for walking the grounds and enjoying the flora--breezy, temperate, and no bugs (nor any at Maple Lake--heavenly!). I was reminded of Bergeson Gardens by seeing one of the Bergesons (Eric) every day this past week; he was a "visiting scholar" for the American history seminar I attended in Thief River Falls. He greeted Susan and me when we arrived at the gardens today.

We were able to enjoy this weekend getaway because my wonderful sister-in-law Cassie drove up from Fargo and stayed with the girls for us. When we returned this afternoon, we took Cassie and the little darlings for a late dinner at the just-reopened Green Mill (rebuilt at its original location after a fire destroyed their first building last year). By the time suppertime rolled around, we were all still stuffed from dinner, so we just went right to dessert: my birthday cake from Culver's. As we sat around moaning about our full bellies, Suzanna and I decided to take up jogging! The current plan is for me to wake her up to get into our running shoes at 6:00 A.M. First, I'd better get to bed! (When I was tucking in Abigail this evening, the girls piled on me atop Abigail's bed, and we all four fell asleep there! I awoke a little while ago and came up to update the blog. So I have had a three-hour headstart on sleep already tonight.)

We received some acknowledgements of our anniversary: a greeting card from my aunt and uncle Betty and Herman in Minot, ND, one from my sister in Wilsonville, OR, and one from my dad and stepmother. However, we didn't exchange cards or gifts between ourselves this year. The stay at the inn was our gift to each other, and being alone together (I know, an oxymoron) was all the gift I could ask for. Happy anniversary, us!