Simply Norma – Page 135

Sunsets Restaurant in Woodbury, Minnesota

The Sunsets Restaurant was recommended to us by our Realtor, Bridget Crepeau.

Sunsets Restaurant, Woodbury, Minnesota

We were seated immediately when we entered and the waitress was very efficient throughout our visit.

Our entrees included salad and/or soup and bread. The Cream of Chicken Rice soup was said to be okay. The salad was good. I liked that they added sunflower seeds. The bread was also good.

Cream of Chicken and Wild Rice Soup

House Salad with sunflower seeds at the Sunsets Restaurant

Bread served with the entree at the Sunsets Restaurant

Originally, I had wanted to order the Kung Pao Beef. Although this wasn’t an Asian restaurant, it sounded good. When asked, the waitress told me that the sauce is spicy so I opted out and had the

Chicken Stir Fry instead.

Chicken Stir Fry

Meatloaf ala Marsala

Broiled Walleye

The Chicken Stir Fry was really good. They didn’t have very many pieces of chicken but it wasn’t missed as the vegetables were really good.

The presentation of the Walleye was not very good. They served the garlic mashed potatoes on a separate little plate which left the the main dish looking like it was lacking in food. But the Walleye was good.

And the Meatloaf ala Marsala was also good.

There are many large screen TV’s in this restaurant so it’s not very cozy.

Overall our experience was good. Especially since we had a really nice waitress who kept checking in on us.

The Vineyard

I will sing for the one I love a song about His vineyard.
My loved one had a vineyard on a fertile hillside.
He dug it up and cleared it of stones and planted it with the choicest vines.
He built a watchtower in it and cut out a winepress as well
Then He looked for a crop of good grapes, but it yielded only bad fruit. Isaiah, Chapter 5

A friend was pregnant with her first baby. She was ecstatic and was determined to do everything right. From the very start of her pregnancy, she ate only healthy food so that her baby would have the best start in his life.. No sugar, no refined flour, no white rice.

Once the baby was born, she continued to give him only the best foods and tended to him with tenderness as I had not seen before in my life. Holding him close, she would read to him and talk to him with a gentle voice. I had not seen that mother-son love exemplified until I saw it in her. What a beautiful example of what our Father can and does do for us.

He digs up the dirt in our hearts, plants the choicest vine of Jesus inside and proceeds to build a watchtower in the presence of the Holy Spirit to help us on our journey.

Then He waits for the crop of good grapes in our lives. Actions that portray to others His goodness and His love that they too may be blessed.

Sometimes we yield bad fruit and the three of them — Father, Son and Holy Spirit are saddened.

What more could have been done for my vineyard than I have done for it? Isaiah 5:4

Indeed, what more can our Father do for us?

If we were to daily ask that question, reminding ourselves of our blessings, we wouldn’t let the petty things in life get in the way. And anger, resentment, pride, selfishness would simply melt away.

Father — you can do nothing more. I need to continue to allow you to clear the stones from my heart and allow your peace and love to grow.

The Highway of Tears

In British Columbia, Canada, a section of Highway 16 is called the Highway of Tears.

Since 1969, many unsolved murders and disappearances of young women have occurred giving the highway it’s nickname. Eighteen of these show enough similarities that lead authorities to believe there is a link to tie the case together.

In a PBS Frontline article, Amnesty International is quoted as estimating that as many as 32 aboriginal Canadian women have gone missing in the last 3 decades.

I’m not sure how much coverage has been given to these murders and disappearances as I only heard about it recently and only because someone told me about it.

How tragic that all these lives have been lost and so many families have suffered the loss of their loved one.

To read the Wikipedia article click here.

House Hunting in Minnesota

A home we went to view, built in 2004, boasts this fantastic kitchen with top of the line appliances.

Kitchen in a Minnesota Home

The house is on one level with a lower level walkout. (A walkout means that there is a door that you can walk out of to leave the lower level.)

Very nice house. Have not decided yet if we will make an offer as it does not meet two of our requirements — a sun porch (they are common in Minnesota) and the property in the back views the backs of other homes in the neighborhood instead of being private.

Other than that — a very nice house. Oh — I said that already didn’t I?

The San Pedro Cafe

Breakfast at the San Pedro Cafe was delightful.

San Pedro Cafe in Hudson, Wisconsin

We arrived a little after the restaurant opened at 8:00 a.m. There are both tables and booths.

San Pedro Cafe, Hudson, Wisconsin

Our party had 3 entrees the Hammock Breakfast, Pedro’s French Toast and the Vegetable Frittata. All entrees were heartily eaten.

Hammock Breakfast

Pedro’s French Toast with blueberries on ciabatta bread

Vegetable Frittata

I’d recommend this place for breakfast. The food, atmosphere and service were all good.

House Hunting in Minnesota

Having lived in the Fremont neighborhood in Seattle, Washington, I’ve seen many odd things.

And what a surprise to see a Fremont-like atmosphere in Stillwater, Minnesota. This is the two-door gate to the house we entered.

Stillwater, Minnesota

The ceiling was white and had a strange half-moon texture.

Stillwater, Minnesota

Are you kidding me? A telephone booth in the living room.

Telephone booth in living room, Stillwater, Minnesota

These owners are very “differented” thinking. In the summer, you can sit outside on one of these two chairs and enjoy the chandelier lighting. Unique indeed.

Stillwater, Minnesota

This is not a home we’re considering purchasing as it needs a lot of work. But the sellers are doing their best to get it ready for the right buyer.

House Hunting in Minnesota

Stillwater, Minnesota

We were scheduled to view a home on 10 acres in Stillwater, Minnesota today.

The driveway was very long, snowy, and the area was treed. Very beautiful.

Stillwater, Minnesota

When we first pulled up to the property, the first thing I noticed was the beautiful wood garage doors.

When our realtor unlocked the front door, we were greeted by a man — the owner? Although our realtor had the security code that was given to her by the owner, the man told her he had canceled the appointment.

We were able to sneak a peek at the living room and saw floor to ceiling windows which had a beautiful view.

Not sure why the seller wouldn’t let us walk through the house. Perhaps they were distracted by the pregame events of the Green Bay Packers and Chicago Bears game.

House Hunting in Hudson, Wisconsin

This home is not far from downtown Hudson.

Hudson, Wisconsin Home

It sits on 3 acres of beautiful land and has many evergreens surrounding it.

Hudson, Wisconsin Home

We are considering buying this house however, in doing some research, we found that there was contamination in the well water a few years ago. The house has a special filter and the company that was responsible for the contamination pays yearly to have the water checked.

Since I am sensitive to chemicals, fragrances, etc. I am a little hesitant about making an offer without having more information on the water situation.

It’s very cozy inside. The livingroom is not very large but will fit a loveseat and 2 chairs. The dining room has ample space for our dining set. There is a beautiful sun room that overlooks the property.

The kitchen does not have oak cabinets. Thankfully! Not sure what the cabinets are made out of, maybe cherry?

There are 3 bedrooms upstairs along with 2 full baths and a half bath on the main floor. Not sure where any of our elderly friends might sleep unless they go upstairs.

The floor planks on the main level are 3 inch or so wide. Very pretty.

The basement is not completed yet but is framed for a bedroom, bathroom and family room.

Very nice home on a very beautiful lot.

House Hunting

A house that has an indoor hockey rink.

I thought I had seen it all. Moving to Minnesota has certainly opened my eyes to the value that people put on certain things.

Click here to see the listing.

Oak Trees and Isaiah 1

You will be like an oak with fading leaves. Like a garden without water. Isaiah 1:30, 31

Dead tree in the landscape near Sawtry for TL1881, Michael Trolove

The people were all dried up.

What happens to us as people when we go through rituals without them having much meaning any more? We’re like robots garnering no satisfaction in what we’re doing.

Stop bringing meaningless offerings. Isaiah 1:13

Motives. Do we do things to appease people or because we really enjoy doing them?

The term “going through the motions” is what God is talking about.

The leaders of that day, just like us today, did things only because that’s what they thought God wanted them to do. Kill a lamb. Check. Go to church. Check. Give an offering. Check.

They had lost their passion for God. Much like we lose our passion in relationships — at work, at home, out in society.

After awhile, we become like oaks with fading leaves.

Are we still standing? Yes. But we aren’t living. Our leaves slowly die and fall to the ground. Moments in time that can’t be recovered.

They were hungry and thirsty and their lives ebbed away.
Psalm 107: 5

We are not left hopeless and helpless though.

Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble, and He delivered them from their distress.
Psalm 107:6

There’s always hope. There’s always help. There’s always — God.