Minnesota Centennial Plate

Another plate found while antiquing. This one commemorates the Minnesota centennial.

Minnesota Plate

Found this while antiquing.

My Minnesota Home

While Noel and I were in Afton this past Saturday we stopped in an antique store where I found this item. I have never heard of this song before and I can't seem to find anything about it on the internet although I was able to find reference to another song by this songwriter. I found a video clip on YouTube of Meryl Streep performing a song by this name in the Prairie Home Companion movie but it's not the same song. The one in the movie has lyrics set to the tune of Swanee River which, to the best of my knowledge, was written by Stephen Foster and not Lyle Regal. The 1849 centennial is of Minnesota becoming a territory and not a state. Statehood came on May 11, 1858.

Afton

My friend Noel and I went to Squire House Gardens in Afton yesterday. We've been making twice-yearly jaunts there for at least a decade and Martin, the owner, is always gracious and glad to see us. Noel's family has a history in Afton. I believe her mother's family had a cabin there when she was younger. We ate at the restaurant Current which was formerly known as the Catfish Saloon.

Top photo: Squire House Gardens

Middle photo: Current restaurant

Bottom photo: Downtown Afton

Minnesota on the Map

I was going through an antique store a friend today and found one of those old pull down maps like we used to have in school. I had to zoom in on my favorite state and snap a photo.

Minnesota Historical Society

Dale and I went to St. Paul today to visit the Minnesota Historical Society and see the 1968 exhibit. Although I was quite young in 1968 I do have memories that I can trace back to that year. The first national event that I have a memory of was the moon landing in 1969.

Photos

Top: The Minnesota Historical Society in St. Paul

Middle: Display from the 1968 exhibit that featured video footage of Walter Cronkite coverage of the moon orbit.

Bottom: Exhibit graphic