Change of Plans...

Duane's parents were supposed to come for the weekend, but, flying "standby", and WAAAAAAYYYYY low on the priority list, they would have been able to get here, but wouldn't have been able to return to North Dakota until Tuesday. Doctors appointments were scheduled for Monday, so the trip was cancelled.

Sad...but we made the most of it, and had an AWESOME day with our "rearranged" plans.  We slept in, then headed to the Minneapolis Institute of Arts to try to get tickets to the Rembrandt exhibit, which closes tomorrow. 

The website said that the exhibit was SOLD OUT to the public, but, LUCKILY, I purchased a dual membership a couple of years ago (and renewed it this spring)!  I called yesterday to see if we could get in, and the person at the information desk said that we could try to get "same day RUSH" tickets.  We took our chances, showed up, and BREEZED through to the exhibit.  Membership DOES have its privileges!!!!!

We spent a couple of hours looking through this WONDERFUL collection of paintings.

I'm not big on "portraits", but Rembrandt was a MASTER of this genre, and his paintings were amazing.  Many of the paintings were on display to the public for the first time ever.  Private collectors were persuaded to share their art with the world, and it was AWESOME to see them.

SUCH history behind all the works...not only from the life and times of Rembrandt, but from the things that happened with the paintings over the course of centuries...works that were "over painted" to make them more marketable, paintings that were confiscated by the Nazis and repatriated after the war, miniature etchings that were so intricate that you could see wrinkles on the faces of people in the CROWD behind the main figure of Jesus being crucified...absolutely FABULOUS!!!!

One of my FAVORITE sculptures at the museum (NO IDEA why??!!) as we were leaving the museum...

After the art institute, we headed to Big Bowl in Edina.  Haven't been there in AGES, and it was AWESOME to have my favorite lunch...kung pao chicken over wide, flat noodles...SOOOOO GOOD!!!!!!

Okay...this is NOT actually a picture of my lunch...I ate it so fast, that I didn't have time to take a photo!!!!

After lunch, we headed to COST PLUS WORLD MARKET!!!!!  Yay COST PLUS WORLD MARKET!!!!  (I put that in ALL CAPS, and wrote it TWICE because it's actually a BIG DEAL that we were able to go there). 

We had THREE stores in the Twin Cities, but three years ago, THEY ALL CLOSED.  For the last couple of years, Duane and I have stopped at the one in Des Moines, while heading south to visit my parents, and stuffed our suitcases on trips to Washington, D.C.

NO IDEA why they closed, and the STUPID thing is, they moved back into the exact same store in Edina.  Nothing had gone into the space during the last three years, and, it looked almost exactly the same when we went in today. 

I was SO EXCITED though, I practically danced in the door (and came REALLY close to hugging the greeter!!!!).  SOOOOOO glad they are back (and my $60.00 receipt PROVES IT!!). 

The strip mall in which it sits is going to be the "it" spot in a couple of months because a Trader Joe's is opening across the parking lot as well. 

Once they get that "S" on there, I'm SURE they'll be ready to open!!!!!!

I know I'M going to spend time (and money) there!  I'm also sure that the Michael's Craft supply store, and the Office Max farther down the strip mall are going to reap the benefits of these AWESOME stores too!!!

My "loot" from today's shopping adventure!!!!

After our shopping spree, we headed back to Eagan, regrouped, then headed back out to continue our adventure.  There's a LOVELY "park" on Cliff Road that not many people know about...Scherer's Gardens.  LOVE this place...manicured lawns...gorgeous flowers...fountains...gazebos...a lake...truly a lovely spot to spend time...

A hummingbird (upper right) flitting amongst the petunias!!

A picture of the new car...because it's pretty...!!!

Me with the new car because, AGAIN...it's pretty!!!!

After the gardens, we spent some time (and money!) at Target, Duane got pumpkin ice cream at Ring Mountain, and we headed home for a walk around the neighborhood and a LOOOONG overdue viewing of the next to last season episode of "Drop Dead Diva"!

The BIG downside to tomorrow's plans is that Duane was going to take his dad to a Minnesota Twins game.  Everything was arranged so that his dad's sister (and her grandson) from South Dakota would fly in and SURPRISE him at the game. THEY also won't be able to come, because the flights here are overbooked, so Duane and I get to go to the game tomorrow, and will have TWO EXTRA SEATS (the tickets were mailed to South Dakota, so we can't even find others to take them), and I now have to go to the game.  UGH!  I hate baseball! 

Oh well...I hope the Twins score a BUNCH of touchdowns...or field goals...or whatever the HELL it is they have to do to win...!  Go Twins...(they are the ones in purple and gold...right??!!)!!!!!

Here's hoping YOU were able to do something "MANLY" recently too (HONESTLY...the only reason I'm going is to try the various foods at the concession stands, for which I've heard such glowing reviews...!!!)!!!