Go Check out the ice

 I think that frozen lakes are some of the most interesting works of art. They have this really cool 3D effect where there are patterns on the top of the ice the bottom of the ice and all the way through the ice. The things frozen in the ice range from fish to baseballs to hockey pucks. The cracks going through them are awesome and on a sunny day you can see right down to the bottom of the lake sometimes.

Here are a few pictures of some ice that I found to be interesting. Enjoy:

Live Music: Kurt Metzger's The Warmest Christmas

Kurt Metzger (on the right) puts on a great Christmas Piano Concert every year.

I want to put in a plug for a great Christmas concert: Kurt Metzger's The Warmest Christmas.  Kurt puts on an amazing Christmas piano concert every year, past locations have been the St. Paul Landmark Center, and Theo Wirth Chalet, this year he is taking his talents to the LDS Church on Douglas Drive in Crystal and admission is free. The concert consists of traditional Christmas Carols, mixed in with his own original songs, and even fun singalongs with the whole crowd.

-Kurt Metzger’s The Warmest Christmas concert, featuring Kurt and other great musicians, will be held December 21 at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Crystal. 
Tickets are Free, but RSVP required at kurtmetzgermusic.com or warmestchristmas.com

Plymouth Magazine Recently ran this article about Kurt: http://plymouthmag.com/kurt-metzger%E2%80%99s-seventh-warmest-christmas-concert

Don't Forget to get out there and enjoy those Fall Colors!

Beautiful Fall Scene in Plymouth, MN

Take some time and enjoy those fall colors while there in peak season! a few great places in Plymouth to take them in:
French Park
Fish Lake Park
3 Ponds Park
Medicine Lake
Parkers Lake
Pretty much anywhere there are trees!

Road Trip destinations: The All Iowa Lawn Tennis Club

Professional grade tennis in a cornfield: The All-Iowa Lawn Tennis Club

 I recently heard about this place in a New York Times article that was an exact replica of Wimbledon's Centre Court. Then I learned it was free to play on. Then I learned it was only 3 hours drive away in Iowa. Then I knew I had to go there.

The place is amazing its a true field of dreams. The owner, Mark Kuhn keeps it maintained himself and offers it as his gift to the world. He grew up farming the area and dreamed of turning it into a grass tennis court. So, when he was all grown up he decided to make the dream a reality. And he couldn't be a nicer guy.

The detail is amazing, from the custom fence, to the neatly trimmed grass, the painted lines down to the green and purple color scheme.  The chance to play on a grass court is what lured me in. This is an opportunity that not everyone gets in their lifetime.  I must say that after playing on the court I loved it and wish I could play on grass always.

Tennis at the pristine grounds of the All Iowa Lawn Tennis Club

The experience I had was very surreal, the chance to play tennis on a professional grade lawn tennis court in the middle of a cornfield, very fun.  I highly recommend checking it out just be sure to email ahead to make a free reservation.

Email: visit@alliowalawntennisclub.com
Site: www.alliowalawntennisclub.com

Fish Lake

more and better photos coming soon.

I recently had the chance to wakeboard on Fish Lake.  It was an early morning session and it was surprisingly very nice. Its not a huge lake but due to its unique shape (long and skinny) the lake stays very calm and did not get choppy even after a few hours of riding.

There is a great regional park at fish lake with all the amenities, a great beach, paddleboard rental, a boat launch, walking paths, a fishing pier. Its a great place to go and have fun as a family.

14900 Bass Lake Road
Maple Grove, MN 55311

St. Paul Temple Coloring Page

St. Paul Temple Picture, coloring page for kids

Here is a coloring page for kids if they are interested. Its a picture of a beautiful house of worship over in St. Paul.

Armstrong and Wayzata High School Football Schedules

Nothing beats a little High School Football! Check out a game at one of Plymouth's 2 great high schools.

Armstrong:

Thursday, Aug 28, 2014 Game  7:00PM  Spring Lake Park  Armstrong High School - Stadium Field/Track          Friday, Sep 5, 2014 Game  7:00PM  Away vs. Maple Grove  Maple Grove SH          Friday, Sep 12, 2014 Game  7:00PM  Blaine  Armstrong High School - Stadium Field/Track          Friday, Sep 19, 2014 Game  7:00PM  White Bear Lake Area  Armstrong High School - Stadium Field/Track          Friday, Sep 26, 2014 Game  7:00PM  Away vs. Irondale  Irondale High School          Friday, Oct 3, 2014 Game  5:00PM  Osseo  Armstrong High School - Stadium Field/Track          Friday, Oct 10, 2014 Game  7:00PM  Park Center  Armstrong High School - Stadium Field/Track          Wednesday, Oct 15, 2014 Game  7:00PM  Away vs. Centennial  Centennial High School

Wayzata:

Thursday, Aug 28, 2014
Game	7:00PM	Away vs. Farmington		Farmington High School
Friday, Sep 5, 2014
Game	7:00PM	Eagan		Wayzata High School - Stadium
Friday, Sep 12, 2014
Game	7:00PM	Maple Grove		Wayzata High School - Stadium
Friday, Sep 19, 2014
Game	7:00PM	Away vs. Totino-Grace		Totino-Grace High School
Friday, Sep 26, 2014
Game	7:30PM	Hopkins		Wayzata H.S. - Stadium
Thursday, Oct 2, 2014
Game	7:00PM	Away vs. Edina		Edina Community Center - Kuhlman Stadium
Friday, Oct 10, 2014
Game	7:00PM	Eden Prairie		Wayzata H.S. - Stadium
Wednesday, Oct 15, 2014
Game	7:00PM	Away vs. Minnetonka High School		Minnetonka H.S.

The Big Metal Slide at Schmidt Lake Park

The metal slide is great for a family train!

I just wanted to talk for a minute about the big metal slide at Schmidt Lake Park.  I think its really cool and you can tell it was custom made for this park and you just don't see that too much.  It seems that all park equipment is kind of prefabricated and I like how this slide is so long and fits right into the hillside.

View at the top of the slide

Its kind of a long slide and it overlooks the hillside and the lake, it has nice sunsets and its worth a look if you have kids. Also in the winter it turns into a classic sledding run as a jump always gets made at the bottom. The rest of the park is nice, but the slide really makes it a good park.

Get up early and watch the sun rise over the lakes

Sunrise over Schmidt Lake in Plymouth, MN

You wont regret it.

Slip n Slide

Now that summer is upon us its time for summer fun. I suggest the slip n' slide. I shouldn't have to explain much about it except that you need a hill, water and a slippery surface. Its fun for all ages. Heres a fun video of my friends and I and our slip n slide in Las Vegas back in 2007!



Yes it was as fun as it looks. As always be safe!

Family Video

Living here in Plymouth over the last 20 years I have often lamented our current lack of video rental stores. In the old days right here in our own town we had video update, blockbuster video, hollywood video etc..., man we had it all. Then along came netflix and redbox and with in a few short years: POOF! all video stores gone! Like dust in the wind.  And don't get me wrong redbox is convenient, and cheap, but they also have NO selection, and since half of our year is spent in temperatures below 32 degrees, it would be hard to browse their selection even if they had one since they are all outdoors on a street corner!
So these developments left me yearning for the days where you could cruise down to blockbuster on a friday night and browse around through hundreds of movies both new and old checking out what was in and what looked like a good pick up! Sadly I figured those days were gone forever, and I should just let 'em go. But wait, could it be that a new video store has opened in New Hope?? Yes my friends I am here to tell you that "Family Video" is now open in New Hope. and it is fantastic.
Family Video is great, they give you a free tour of the store on your first visit, they offer tons of coupons, there prices are very competitive (compared to redbox and online streaming services), and wait, what? kids movie are free?? YES. There is an entire section of completely free kids movies, no questions asked. You could just go there and check out free kids movies all year long and they would have not problem with that!
Its not just a video store, but its connected with a pizza place and there is a window that connects the two stores, so you could walk out with movies and pizza! Also if you were at home and you had some movies that you needed to return, you could order pizza and the pizza guy will take your movies back for you.
Anyways, enough said. I am glad to have Family video in the community.

Family Video

7700 42nd Ave N
New Hope, MN
(763) 535-9080

Summertime activities for kids and families in Plymouth 2014

This summer Plymouth will be putting on a lot of free shows in their parks. Here is a list of what is happening when:

The Water ski show at Parkers lake is awesome. (Photo Credit Plymouth Sun Sailor)

The Hilde Small Stage: 3450 Plymouth Blvd
6/16: Zoomobile 6:45pm
6/23: Comedy Sportz 7pm
6/25: Happy birthday America with Magician Annette Fragale 11am

Parkers Lake Stage: County Road 6 and Niagara LN
6/10: BZ Girls 7pm
6/17: Andrew Walesch Trio 7pm
6/24: Plymouth Concert Band 7pm
7/8: TaleSpin 7pm
7/9: Kid Concert: Kid Power with Rachael 11am
7/15: Geoff Elvee 7pm
7/16: Water Ski Show 7pm
7/17: Travelld 7pm
7/22: Summer Carnival: kids Koncert: Cale the Juggler 7pm
7/24: Everett Smithson Band 7pm
7/29: Todd Menton 7pm
7/31: Kevin Bowe Duo 7pm
8/6: Water Ski Show 7pm
8/12: Rowe Family Singers 7pm
8/13 Kids Koncert: Alpha Bits 11am

Hilde Amphitheater: 3450 Plymouth Blvd
6/12: Plymouth Concert Band 7pm
6/13 at 7pm and 6/14 at 2pm: Missoula Children's Theater Presents: Rapunzel
6/19: Not Guilty Band 7pm
6/26: Star of the North Concert Band 7pm
7/1: Music in Plymouth all day
7/10: Salsa del Sol
7/11 at 7pm 7/12 at 2pm: Prairie Fire Children's Theater Presents: Tom Sawyer

Plymouth Movies in the park
8/15: Little Big League
8/22: The Jungle Book

"Little Big League" Classic.

What free activities to do inside with kids during a freezing winter?

Fun things to do with your kids when your snowed in, list provided mostly by Minnesota ECFE:

1. Have an indoor picnic. Pack up your lunch eat on a blanket have kids plan the menu
2. Make a paper chain using 3 colors help your child understand patterns. use as decor in kids room
3. Indoor Ice Skating: Take 2 paper plates and stand on them on a carpeted floor, put on some good skating music!
4. Sing some favorite songs together.
5. Using a newpaper article have your child circle letters that begin with the first letter of your childs name.
6. Celebrate winter by bringing the snow inside. Fill a dishpan with snow, gathers scoops spoons and play.
7. Read a favorite winter book to your kid.
8. Have your child retell a story or event in order, first middle and last.
9. Exercise with your child, Count the number or arm circles or hops. (check out cosmic kids yoga on Youtube)
10. Talk about how you and your child are feeling. Talk about happy faces sad faces and silly faces!
11. Together make some magic goop!
12. Make a crayon resist Picture. draw a picture with crayons and paint over it with blue watercolor.
13. Find a big empty box and make a house, car, barn, space ship, what ev!
14. Read Chicken Soup with Rice by Maurice Sendak and eat chicken soup with rice for lunch.
15. Paint with cars: Put some paint on a plate and drive matchbox cars through the paint.
16. Homemade soap bubbles. and if its cold enough blow them out side and freeze them!
17. Go to Library Family Story time! Kids will love it!
18. Paper bag puppets.
19. Froot Loops on Yarn to make necklace.
20. Make your own matching memory game.
21. Fill a cookie sheet with sand sugar or flour, practice writing or drawing in it.
22. Birthday Party for a favorite stuffed animal.
23. Make a snow picture. Fill spray bottle with water and food coloring and I think you can figure out the rest.
24. Make a puzzle. Draw a picture then cut it up and see if your kid can put it back together.
25. Put on a parade with things from around the house. Wear crazy clothes and use marching music.
26. Together make soap crayons.
27. Make a collage from magazine pictures.
28. Make play dough, or just buy some play dough! and have fun.
29. Help your kid write letters in shaving cream on a tray.
30. Try an unfamiliar fruit or vegetable together.
31. Check out Stages Theatre. There next show is Alexander and the No Good Very Bad Day.
32. Simon Says.
33. Cut the tops off carrots and put them in water and watch them grow.
34. Grow a house plant. Perhaps an indoor lemon tree??
35. Go to Wild Rumpus.
36. Wee Wednesdays at midtown global market. (free lunch for kids age 5 and under, fun and games for all.)
37. Family night at midtown global market.
38. Ice skating at local rink.
39. Swimming at the Y or lifetime or somewhere similar.
40. Barnes and Noble childrens events. A good story time venue.
41. Home Depot, first saturday of every month a cool workshop where they get a bunch of free stuff and build a toy.
42. Make some waffles.
43. Pick a different culture, research it, and make a meal to be eaten as they would in that foreign land all together with your kids.
44. Dance party.
45. Face Paint.
46. Listen to the Beach Boys and Bob Marley and day dream about summer.
47. Como Zoo little explorers activities on thursdays. Super Fun.
48. Or of course Watch Cartoons!!

Lil explorers exploring the FREE como zoo!

Ice Fishing!

Gone Ice Fishing in Plymouth!

I can't say that I'm an expert Ice fisherman, but its always fun to give it a try! So go to a lake, bore a hole with and auger and throw your pole in. (if you don't want to buy one odds are your neighbor owns one!)

If you want some real advice I recommend going to this cool bait shop located at: 11540 Bass Lake Rd, Plymouth, MN. He'll hook you up with the secret spots and the right bait for what you want! Dress warm, and bring something to sit on!

Joanie with the catch of the day in Plymouth: Curly leaf milfoil!