Monday, January 31, 2011

My wine secrets

1. I'm not a "Master Sommelier"
2. I like a great deal on wine
(ex. 6 bottles for $60.75 > 27% off my purchase on January 27)
3. The Cellars semi-annual progressive wine sale ends on Monday, January 31 with 31% off the sale price
4. Real men drink white wine, too!
=> wine in photo from left: 3 Chardonnays, 1 Malbec and 2 Pinot Grigios
What wine do you like? How much do you spend on an average bottle of wine? Do you prefer red or white wine?


Sunday, January 30, 2011

I was right behind you

What gives? Five people were ahead of me in line at the Cliff Road post office and six people were behind me! It's January not pre-Christmas, people!

Saturday, January 29, 2011

Byerly's bag boy

This snowman stands next to the grocery drive-up pick-up area at Bylerly's grocery store. The kids who load customer groceries into cars built this frosty helper!

Friday, January 28, 2011

A San Francisco treat!

We drank fresh Holy Cow coffee from San Francisco bought from that silly Louis la Vache! Umm, so good! Nothing says Good Morning at the Hagen Financial Network office like a good cup of java!

Thursday, January 27, 2011

Eye - candy!

Tammy King is the QUEEN of eyewear in Eagan! Visit her Eye-ol-o-gy boutique at 2149C Cliff Road to select fun & funky frames or scarves & handbags & more! She helped my wife and me update and funkyize our eyewear!


Wednesday, January 26, 2011

Think Dewey decimal system...

The Wescott Library welcomed its own coffee cafe' on Tuesday, January 18. Chris McLean (left) and Tyler Liedman own and operate Dakota County's first library coffee shop called Dewey's Cafe'. Stop by for a coffee drink and treat to enjoy with a book or magazine at our public library.
Good luck Chris and Tyler and Dewey!


Tuesday, January 25, 2011

A red relic

This wooden barn must have a long history in Eagan. A church, pre-school and residential neighborhood have long ago replaced its surrounding farm. See other charming Barns at Tricia's Bluff Area daily photo.


Monday, January 24, 2011

Minnesota style shoes

Michael Proebstle, an Eagan Rotary buddy, and I hiked 2.5 miles around and over Jensen Lake on Saturday afternoon. It was quite cold but the sun shone and blue skies were overhead. Thanks for letting me borrow your snowshoes, Michael!


Sunday, January 23, 2011

Saturday/Sunday SUPER sale

Steve, Greg and I volunteered to help our card playing buddy sell his house in Eagan. Hopefully, a buyer will quickly make a not-to-be-refused offer!

Saturday, January 22, 2011

A cold start

My Swedish Hagen Wagon thermometer read minus 12 degrees Fahrenheit ( -24 Celsius) when I pulled up to my HFN office on Friday morning!

Friday, January 21, 2011

And the band played

The 5th Grade band played their concert on Thursday evening. Clarinets, flutes, French horns, percussion, saxophones, tubas, trombones and trumpets blended their notes in an impressive medley of music!
Bravo! Encore!

Thursday, January 20, 2011

Ummm - Umbria pizza!


Craig Douden, the new owner/operator of Umbria Gourmet Pizzeria, delivered a scrumptious deluxe pizza to my HFN office last Friday for lunch. If you want a calzone, a pizza, a pasta dish or gourmet salad, then take a drive over to Umbria at 1965 Cliff Lake Road. They also offer "take and bake pizzas." Craig and "his people" will take good care of you! See other "food for thoughts" here.

Wednesday, January 19, 2011

That old shed

Every time I drive by this grey, metal shed, I say to myself, "Self, isn't it funny to see that shed right here in suburban Eagan?"

Tuesday, January 18, 2011

Knit one, pearl two

I knit this 85% wool/15% mohair scarf as a silent auction item for the upcoming 23rd annual Eagan Rotary Art gala fundraiser. I hope someone will bid some $$$ on my scarf! My wife and already 2 of our 3 daughters also knit. We're a close knit family!
Do you knit? Do you have any hobbies? What do you like to do in your free time?

Monday, January 17, 2011

News you can use

Eagan and our next door neighboring suburb of Burnsville publish the joint "This Week" newspaper. I think Burnsville secretly wishes it was as cool and fun as Eagan!

Sunday, January 16, 2011

"Comfort food"

For a light Saturday night dinner, we ate oatmeal waffles topped with peanut butter and real maple syrup and clementines.
Try our healthy recipe:
1.5 cups whole wheat flour
1 cup oatmeal
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 Tablespoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
2 eggs slightly beaten
1.5 cups milk
6 Tablespoons butter, melted
2 Tablespoons brown sugar
In large mixing bowl, stir together first 5 ingredients. In small bowl, stir together other 4 ingredients. Add small bowl mixed contents to large bowl ingredients, stir until blended.
Bake in waffle iron. Top with fruit & maple syrup. Enjoy!

Saturday, January 15, 2011

Eagan swam past Eastview!

Eagan High School's swim team added another victory to their team record by swimmingly beating Eastview High School's team on Friday evening.
Congratulations, Wildcats!

Friday, January 14, 2011

The Wildcats crushed the Eagles

On Thursday night, the Eagan High School "Wildcats" beat the Bloomington Kennedy High School "Eagles" by a final score of 11 - 0 at the Eagan ice arena. This brought the Wildcats to a 10 wins, 3 losses and one tied game record in the south suburban conference.
Congratulations on your 4th straight win, Wildcats!

Thursday, January 13, 2011

Chan's Chinese cuisine

Chan's Restaurant recently opened next door to Ring Mountain Creamery. The "cashew chicken" was yummy! See other "Food for Thoughts" here.

Wednesday, January 12, 2011

Discarded tree

Christmas trees are laying out in front of homes everywhere for garbage day. I'm sad to say farewell to the Christmas holiday.

Tuesday, January 11, 2011

Strike a pose!

A birthday bash is a blast with best buddies!

Monday, January 10, 2011

I was right behind you

Sunday afternoon proved to be a very popular time to ice skate at the Eagan Ice Arena. And it was much warmer than the outdoor skating rinks!

Sunday, January 9, 2011

sunny Saturday's skate skiing

The outdoor thermometer read 10 degrees Fahrenheit (-15 Celsius) on Saturday afternoon at Lebanon Hills Park. But the sun was shining for skate skiers who glided around the snowy, groomed 2.5 mile trail.

Saturday, January 8, 2011

A juicy start

If you're looking for a healthy, fruity beginning to 2011, then zip over to Kowalski's on Johnny Cake Ridge Road for great organic or non-organic fruit! Check out their wine shop, fresh meat counter, delicatessen, bakery and more!


Friday, January 7, 2011

Gas over $3

Dang! Our gas prices have gone over $3.00 per gallon at our neighborhood Holiday station. How does that compare with gasoline where you live?

Thursday, January 6, 2011

Not just in China

We stopped at Panda Express near Bylery's for a quick Chinese dinner. Do you like Chinese food? Can you use chopsticks well? See other yummy "food for thoughts" here.

Wednesday, January 5, 2011

Sworn in for duty

Senator Ted Daley took the oath of office on Tuesday morning at the Minnesota State Capitol building from a Minnesota district judge. Ted will serve Eagan and parts of Burnsville as our new senator representing District 38.
Congratulations, Senator Daley!

Photo: Greg Buck, CPA

Tuesday, January 4, 2011

Meet my "womb-mate"

My 9 minutes younger identical twin brother, Luther, and I both donated a pint of blood at the Red Cross blood drive on Monday afternoon at the Eagan Community Center. He earned a two gallons pin and I'm working on my three gallons pin.
Give blood. Give the gift of life.

Monday, January 3, 2011

Almost ready

This new Think Mutual Bank at 4245 Johnny Cake Ridge Road next to Kowalski's grocery store will be opening soon! If you have money to deposit or if you're looking for a loan, THINK smart about banking! Click here to see their construction last summer.

Sunday, January 2, 2011

First pastry of 2011

I baked "Swedish Kringla" for my family on New Year's Day morning. We watched the Rose Bowl parade on TV while sitting next to the Christmas tree in front of the fire dancing in the fireplace.

Saturday, January 1, 2011

New Year's Eve celebrations

Steven & Allison hosted a lively New Year's Eve party at their home with a smorgasbord of appetizers, scrumptious wines, some silliness and a New Year's countdown at midnight! Celebrating with friends makes this my best snap of 2010! Happy New Year - 2011!

The City Daily Photo blog community's theme for January is "Photo of the Year."