Today…

We went to Hallstrom’s Ice Cream Parlor for lunch

Gracie had the Brownie Cascade and I had the Mint Chocolate Avalanche

The best ice cream in town!

We sat by the fountain downtown

and admired the gorgeous flower baskets

and listened to the soothing sound of rushing water. It was so warm today we contemplated jumping in!

on the way home we walked past the Red Wing Train Depot and watched the trains for awhile

and said hello to a jester who was enjoying his afternoon tea while balancing on a rock

How did you spend this sunny summer day?

~Melissa

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The Spirit of Scent~The Proust Effect

From the book “Welcome Home” by Melissa Placzek

page 96

“But when from a long-distant past nothing subsists, after the people are dead, after the things are broken and scattered, taste and smell alone, more fragile but more enduring, more immaterial, more persistent, more faithful, remain poised a long time, like souls, remembering, waiting, hoping, amid the ruins of all the rest; and bear unflinchingly, in the tiny and almost impalpable drop of their essence, the vast structure of recollection.”

Marcel Proust, in Swann’s Way, “Remembrance of Things Past” 1913

There’s an interesting phenomenon called “The Proust Effect” that I came across while doing research for a psychology class. What it is is simply memories and emotions being prompted into recollection through the power of scent. Example: Picture yourself walking down a city street and as you pass a bakery the scent of chocolate chip cookies overwhelms you. Immediately you feel as though you’ve been transported back in time to your grandmother’s kitchen. The scent of the cookies actually brings tears to your eyes because you miss your grandmother. This is the Proust Effect in action.

Ever since this pshych lesson I’ve been applying this little trick in my own life to create a sort of “scrapbook of scents.” I do this whenever I travel or know I’m about to experience something new. This is so fun, and one of my favorite things to do. It’s surprising how it keeps the memory of certain experiences, places, and people alive.

Maybe you’d like to try this? The next time you’re planning a vacation select a new perfume scent that is unlike anything you’ve ever worn before. DO NOT wear this new perfume until you arrive at your vacation destination. While on this vacation make sure you wear the perfume every day. When you return home, don’t wear the scent for at least two weeks. Then, the next time you smell the perfume it will be like being transported back to where you were vacationing. The scent of this special perfume will remind you of this place forever. I promise, this really works!

Anytime I want to escape, my perfume bottles serve as a sort of time machine. When I wear “Summer Hill” by Crabtree & Evelyn I am on Nantucket Island. When I wear “Rapture” by Victoria’s Secret it’s my wedding day again. When I wear “Pleaseures Exotic” by Estee Lauder I’m being a beach bum in Florida and touring Magic Kingdom with my family, and “Beachy” by Lilly Pulitzer transports me to the beautiful Island of Maui Hawaii. You get the idea. I can’t wait to bring this new scent, “Red Cherie” by Thymes, on a new adventure so I can add to my scent library.

Red Cherie by Thymes

Red Cherie Bath Salts

Red Cherie Body Scrub

Red Cherie

Do you have a favorite perfume or cologne that reminds you of a special place or time?

XO,

Melissa

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Went to a Red Wing Aces baseball game, ate hot dogs and snicker bars for dinner, and watched our team win 13-6!

Relaxed on a bench swing at Bay Point Park  and watched the boats go by…

What did you do over the weekend?

~Melissa

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Drove into Minneapolis and wandered around the Mill City Farmer’s Market for a bit.

We had ‘second breakfast’ at

The Chef Shack!

There was quite a line, but it was worth the wait.

I did a little happy dance when I saw that softshell crab was on the menu!

mmmmmm….softshell crab

Jeff had the tongue tacos, and he said they were pretty darn good. The three of us had Arnold Palmers (iced tea and lemonade) and they were infused with thyme. Totally yummy.

After the farmer’s market we took a tour of the Mill City Museum. A very cool place to learn a little Minnesota history.

The Flour Tower elevator tour was very cool.

More scenes from outside the museum

St. Anthony Falls

After a few hours of fun at Mill City we were hungry again. Decided on “The Wedge” for a slice of their awesome pizza, Gracie had a Boston cream cupcake, I had a date bar, Jeff had sesame candy, and we stocked up on tea for the pantry…gunpowder green, Genmaicha, Peach Assam, and Keemun.

How did you spend this sunny Saturday?

~Melissa

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~William Blake

Staycation-Day 7

Falconer Vineyards

Today was date day! Jeff and I enjoyed a romantic few hours at Red Wing’s Falconer Vineyards. We made it easy, and instead of spending hours packing a picnic, we brought sub sandwiches to enjoy on their new addition. After doing a wine tasting we decided on a bottle of Marechal Foch.

Me at Falconer Vineyards

Falconer Vineyards Marechal Foch

What did you do for date day?

~Melissa

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Went to Bev’s Cafe for breakfast (The oldest restaurant in Red Wing!)

Played at the park

Went to Caribou for lunch and coffee and listened to trains go by while we read and wrote

and I downloaded this free Steampunk cookbook to my Kindle!

so many new, funky recipes to try! Can’t wait to make them and share them with you!

Fuel For the Boiler

Now we’re relaxing at home listening to

and waiting for the storm that is suppose to be coming.

Maybe we’ll sit on the porch while it rains and share a glass of wine.

What are you doing on this fine evening?

~Melissa

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Today we…

Walked up to the farmers market and looked around. What a gorgeous, sunny day!

Decided to grill hot dogs for lunch…

and

We debated, pool or beach? Pool won, and we headed to the Red Wing Aquatic Center to take a dip and catch some rays.

I even did a little writing. Almost done with Book 1…

How are you spending this wonderful summer day?

~Melissa

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Today Gracie and I made Buttermilk Scone Cake with Blackberries while we sipped Earl Grey Tea. It was still morning, and the windows and doors were open letting in the cool morning breeze, the scent of freshly shorn grass,  and the sound of church bells. We were planning on a picnic in the park, but as we were packing our picnic basket the sky was looking rather dreary. We decided to  ignore it and started on our journey anyway. No such luck. As soon as we got a block away from home it started to rain! We turned around and had our picnic on our front porch. Afterwards we decided to go inside and watch a funny movie. By the time it was over, of course, the sun was shining bright.

Sooooo…We decided to go up to the park. We packed a bag with our books, a pretty bed sheet to sit on, and I brought my cotton yarn. It turned out to be a great day.

Gracie being silly on the monkey bars

Red Wing’s Discovey “Fairy” Garden

It’s true…

The back view of the Fairy Garden

Red Wing’s Universal Playground

What I did while watching Gracie play hide and seek with new friends…. What could be better?

The tree I sat under

My view of the river

Gracie resting

Walking on the shore at Colvill Park

How did you spend this gorgeous day?

~Melissa

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The Sheldon Theatre is the “Jewel Box” of Red Wing

Would you like to visit a gorgeous landmark while visiting Red Wing? Our theatre has an amazing history…

Take a virtual tour…

Jeff and I have visited the Sheldon on numerous occasions over the last 10 years we’ve lived in Red Wing, and seen numerous memorable performances. When the Guthrie was still traveling to our quaint little town we saw A Midsimmer Night’s Dream and Ah, Wilderness. We’ve also seen Othello, How to Talk Minnesotan, Defending the Caveman, Doc Watson, and tributes to the Beatles and Frank Sinatra. We’ve celebrated many anniversaries and birthdays at this beautiful theatre.

The Sheldon Theatre is featuring “Your Favorite Musicals” film series this summer, and I am looking forward to attending the next two showings with Gracie. Both movies are 1951 films:

Show Boat (1951)

In the end of the Nineteenth Century, the show boat “Cotton Blossom” owned by Captain Andy Hawks flies along the rivers in the South of North America with the lead stars Julie LaVerne and her husband Stephen Baker and musical entertainment. When Julie and Stephen are accused of miscegenation, they have to leave the boat, and Captain Hawk’s daughter Magnolia and the gambler Gaylord Ravenal take their places.

An American In Paris (1951)

Winner of six Oscars, including Best Picture and Screenplay, this musical triumph stars hoofer Gene Kelly as a struggling American artist torn between a wealthy American woman and a French dancer.

I’m also excited to see Singin’ in the Rain in July, and Little Shop of Horrors in August.

Hope to see you soon!

~Melissa

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For my birthday, my dear friend Nancy surprised me with a day trip to the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum for formal afternoon tea! We arrived a couple hours prior to tea time so we could tour the many, many beautiful gardens. It was such a tranquil day. I took a bazillion pictures, and narrowed it down to a little less than a bazillion Enjoy!

cool flower child car

cool tractor with a flower man at the wheel

This amazing structure is called “Uff Da Palace.”

It took artist Patrick Dougherty an entire month weaving sticks and saplings into this sculpture!

Nancy and Bonnie in the Uff Da Palace

I loved all of the little waterfalls around the arboretum!

waterfall…

waterfall in the Japanese Garden

fox gloves

Kitchen Herb Garden

Kitchen Herb Garden

this rose is so red it almost doesn’t look real!

It was roses, roses all the way…

Linda, Bon, and Nancy in the Rose Garden

Japanese Maple

Wildflower Garden Path

Minnesota’s State Flower-The Ladyslipper

Wicked cool flower siding!

cacti

Orchid

Jack in the Pulpit

pretty

Salvia

pretty

Tea Menu!

Tea Room at the Arboretum

Mmmmmmm….tea treats!

Tea!

Trifle

Now I am inspired to go flower shopping!

~Melissa

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