The Minnesota Noices

Category: Food

  • 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…

  • 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…

  • 48 hrs in Budapest

    48 hrs in Budapest

    We arrived in Budapest with just enough time to find our rented apartment across from the National Museum, get a traditional Hungarian meal and enjoy the walk through the city to the boat tour, booked in advance by my savvy friend, Andrea. The tour gave us a relaxing way to see both cities: “On the…

  • 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…

  • Sport Break Gran Canaria

    Sport Break Gran Canaria

    Our Sunday morning departure to the Canary Islands (Spanish archipelago off the northwest coast of Africa) got off to a bumpy start with trains to CPH cancelled. We quickly got back on track, ordering a taxi which delivered us to Copenhagen with plenty of time to enjoy my favorite airport breakfast, sausage rolls and Skyr…

  • Au Revoir, Janvier

    Au Revoir, Janvier

    On Sunday we went to Bjärred, along the shore, where Bryant and L built a camp fire and roasted marshmallows while I hiked the trail out to Löddeåns Mynning nature reserve with a bird sanctuary and viewing tower, open in winter months. We haven’t been getting out as much lately so it felt good. A…

  • 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…