From the Guthrie to Taylor Falls to family game night, on a perfect birthday

I recently had one of those significant birthdays, the kind where your age ends in zero. My husband kept trying to talk me into having a party, but I stubbornly said no thanks, I don't really want a party. Well, how do you want to celebrate? he kept asking. I want the weather to be nice, I said.

I don't ask much for much. Especially as someone who hates hot weather, of which we've been all too well blessed with this summer.

But I lucked out. There was a much-too-brief break in the heat to give me decent weather for my birthday. After a family breakfast outing (much to the consternation of the Teens, who don't generally like to acknowledge there is such a thing as a "morning" on the weekend), some of the family members who had to work peeled off to their commitments, leaving Teen 2 and I free for a little adventure.

First stop: Mill City Farm Market to pick up some blueberries (having decided that a fresh blueberry pie would suit me better than cake) and to step out onto the Guthrie Theater's Endless Bridge. Looks like the Mississippi was still roiling from the recent floods as it passed under the Stone Arch Bridge.

Then off to Taylors Falls for a little hiking in Teen 2's favorite state park, Interstate State Park. He's quite the climber.

If you look at that black hole in the middle of the rock, you can see a tree trunk, apparently wedged there during those recent floods.

The flowers were in full, brilliant bloom.

Having worked up an appetite with some hiking and geocaching, it was time for a visit to The Drive In. Fish and chips for all!

Then I dragged Teen 2 for a quick drive around Taylors Falls' Angel Hill District.

Being more a fan of contemporary architecture, he was not impressed. I, however, love this. I could happily live there.

On the way home, we made a stop in Chisago City for Karl Oskar Days. He might not like old buildings, but Teen 2 loves old cars.

When you sign up for email mailing lists from all the coffee chains, you get a lot of free drinks for your birthday. However, only Caribou had the cup to match.

Fatigued after all this celebrating, I had little choice but to return home and read on the patio while enjoying a Fulton brew. I had to restore my energy, because the males were preparing dinner and getting ready for a family card game night. We always play Cheat, and we play it loudly.

That was it. And you know? A pretty darn perfect birthday.