Only in Minnesota

So, Scott and I have had a severe case of cabin fever lately, with 33 consecutive days of temps below freezing. We had heard about this thing called Art Shanty Project 2009 (http://www.artshantyprojects.org/) that was happening on a lake near our house. So, on Saturday, with temps surpassing 40 degrees, we made our way to Medicine Lake to see the shanties. For those of you who aren't familiar with ice fishing, people that ice fish usually erect some sort of Ice House that can keep them warm while fishing from a hole in the ice. This is where the idea for Art Shanties was born. But, these aren't functional Ice Houses; they are art projects in the shape of ice houses (sort of). I was a little bit scared to be out and about on a frozen lake, but apparently you're safe if there are twenty inches of ice below your feet. I couldn't help but think "What if I'm the straw the breaks the camel's back and the ice breaks once I step on Medicine Lake". Totally ridiculous, I know.

This was by far the most "Minnesota" thing that Scott and I have ever done. We had a really great time checking out all the shanties, and it didn't hurt that we were enjoying a January tropical heat wave!

Later that evening we went to Matt's Bar which is famous for Minneapolis' best burger: the Jucy Lucy. It was one of the best burgers I have ever eaten. Seriously. So, if anyone is brave enough to come visit us here in the frozen tundra, you will be treated to a Jucy Lucy and a Grain Belt Premium beer, courtesy of Scott!

Here we are at the Art Shanty Project 2009!

Scott's friend, Mike Haeg, designed these shanties: The Dice Houses!


The Confession Shanty...pretty self-explanatory:

The Paper Shanty...i forgot to get a good pic of the outside, but the inside was full of origami:

The USS Walter Mondale (AKA Half Sunken Submarine) Shanty:

The Map Shanty:

Since winter is only four more months here we have a finite amount of time to experience some of Minnesota's more interesting past times. We are going to try and do something "very Minnesotan" every weekend. This could be our last winter here...you never know. Stay tuned...