Saturday 10/8/05...A day trip to Interstate State Park near Taylor Falls, MN.  We were supposed to camp this weekend, but the nighttime low in the 20s scared us off!  We compromised with a bonfire at home Friday night and a day hiking on Saturday instead.

Along the St. Croix River.

Climbing on Angle Rock.

Annabelle and Nathaniel outside "The Squeeze" rock formation.

See why it is called "The Squeeze"?

One of the many "potholes" at Interstate State Park. These are fascinating things - deep holes up to 60 feet deep formed millions of years ago in the Glacial Age when smaller grinding stones bore holes in the larger rock, spun around by the swirling waters of the mighty glacial St. Croix River.   The spot where we were standing at this pothole was 200 feet under water at the time that the glacial St. Croix river was running.  So interesting! 

Annabelle sitting inside one of the "baby potholes"

Annabelle outside the William Folsom house in Taylor Falls.    William Folsom was a famous Minnesota entrepreneur making a fortune in logging, a general store and gaining fame as a State Representative and State Senator.  We had a most interesting tour of the home.  They have many artifacts from the 19th  century.  It is one of the most interesting tours I've been on.

Annabelle playing a 150 year old piano inside the double parlor of the Folsom House.  The tour guide invited any pianist in the group to come and play it.  We were very surprised when Annabelle raised her hand and played "Love Some Body" perfectly from memory!  The piano has stood in that very spot since the mid 1800s - when they held church in the double parlor.  There is a groove in the floor where Mary Jane Folsom's heel wore away the floor near the petals.  

Outside the Folsom house.

Viewing St. Croix Falls on the Wisconsin side.

10/14/05...Annabelle, Annabelle's friend and Nathaniel playing in the leaves on a warm Friday afternoon.

Help!

10/15/05...In the back of Officer Bob's squad car at the fire station open house.  We got to go for a cool ride!

In the squad car - trying to figure out how to get out!

Watching a burning car demonstration.

Grandma and Grandpa Ludwig were here for a weekend visit and got to come to the fire station fun as well.

Nathaniel...

Making toy wooden fire engines at the Home Depot table at the open house.

Annabelle squirting the fire hose

Nathaniel with McGruff the crime fighting dog