The Minnesota Noices

Category: CulinaryAdventure

  • Truffles, Tryffel & Trifles

    Truffles, Tryffel & Trifles

    Life doesn’t seem to slow down much at all, even in the dark, cool season. And in an attempt to distract myself from the bleak realities of human nature, I’ve thrown myself into new hobbies, clubs, travel and volunteer opportunities. I can’t see a way for American Democracy to recover from the effects of malicious…

  • Cider and a *Guinness

    Cider and a *Guinness

    Carole invited me for a drive out to the orchard and renovated farm house belonging to transplants Simon and Sarah. Having heard lots about the orchard, I was eager to visit and catch up with Sarah (of Capellagården textiles fame). Karine, another French expat also made the journey from Kristianstad so we had many hands…

  • Lundabo Life

    Lundabo Life

    Lundabo = a person residing in Lund. With all of the recent changes in our family life, I think it will be good to establish a new routine. Next week I resume Swedish studies at Malmö University so I’ll be going to Malmö at least once per week. Today marks the end of two weeks…

  • Riga, pt 2 Baltic Excursion

    Riga, pt 2 Baltic Excursion

    Andrea and I traveled from Vilnius, Lithuania to Riga, Latvia by LUX bus, where we met up with Stephanie, a friend from Sweden. The LUX bus is highly recommended! It left from central Vilnius, and was exceptionally comfortable. It was so easy that I may consider this type of bus for future trips. Steph traveled…

  • Lithuanian Song Celebration: Vilnius

    Lithuanian Song Celebration: Vilnius

    My friend and former Oliver Avenue neighbor, Kristina, has always been active with Lithuanian American groups (Chicago and Minneapolis, I think) as a way to maintain a connection with her family’s culture. She teaches Lithuanian school and dances with a folk dance group which travels to various Lithuanian festivals. This year, the 100th anniversary of…

  • Merry Month of May

    Merry Month of May

    Valborg and the First of May celebrations brought a distinct sense of Spring along with longer, warmer days. Our International Choir joined Gösta the director’s other, Swedish choir in Trelleborg to sing at the town’s Valborg bonfire ceremony at the Viking museum. It started with the “kulning” an ancient Swedish herding call by 3 women…

  • Prague, Czechia

    Prague, Czechia

    Andrea and I have been teaming up lately for exercise, social events, Swedish practice, garden plans and now travel! We just returned from a short trip to Prague, where we managed a sampling of the city highlights. I learned a lot about Czechia, the Czech Republic in the process. The iconic Charles Bridge area of…

  • Puglia Part 3: Bari, Monopoli

    Puglia Part 3: Bari, Monopoli

    It’s coming up on a full year since our Apulian Adventure so I thought I’d better complete the record by posting the final installment. Last year I did two posts about the trip celebrating CJ and David’s 50th birthdays. Here’s a link to the second one… but left off just prior to our tour of…

  • Lisbon, Celebrations, and the (Lunar)New Year

    Lisbon, Celebrations, and the (Lunar)New Year

    Here we are in the time of new beginnings and I’ve yet to complete some big events of 2023! We spent a quiet Christmas in Lund, enjoying cozy time at home and setting up a climbing wall for Nori, with sound dampening acoustic panels in the living area to reduce echo. The plaster covered brick…

  • Border triangle: Switzerland

    Border triangle: Switzerland

    Dreiländereck, Westquaistrasse 75, Basel “The point at which Germany, France and Switzerland converge and boats sail off towards the North Sea is a unique meeting place for three countries, languages and cultures.” The photography in this post is also credited to my travel companions who take as many, if not more, photos than I… the challenge was choosing…