Sunday, September 17, 2006

North....to Alaska!

Well....almost Alaska: Baudette, Minnesota.

My husband and I just returned from Baudette, Minnesota, having attended a wedding for our nephew and his bride. All 300+ wedding guests stayed at the Sportsman Lodge which is located on the beautiful Rainy River which leads into the Lake of the Woods. From our cabin door, we could look over the marina and across the Border to the fall colors of Canada. It was beautiful.

Now, I am not a fishing person, nor do I ever hope to be; I was there for a wedding! Imagine my surprise (and my sheepish smile after complaining about the six hour drive, all! the! way! to the Border for a location wedding) when we arrived, only to discover the beauty of this up north Lodge. Yes, the cabins were rustic and the bathroom mirror did not facilitate the proper lighting necessary to get ready for a wedding; yes, the raw beauty carried with it the smell of nature-which did not blend well with my carefully chosen perfume for the festive event. Yes, the heels of my wedding shoes sunk into the rich soil of the Rainy River landscape--it is better suited for hiking shoes! But, when all was said and done, as I sit in my bedroom back at home reflecting on the beauty of this wedding adventure--I can honestly tell you--this citified girl enjoyed every last moment at the fishing lodge up north!

The joy of the bride and groom could not be dampened by the chill of the misting rain. As the evening sun set over the Rainy River, family and friends gathered to celebrate the wedding of this young couple so filled with love, hope and promise. We had all traveled north....to the Bride's border hometown, we had camped out at a fishing lodge, known for it's great Walleye fishing, to celebrate one of the greatest events of all time: the union of two hearts as they become one.

May God Bless Ryan and Maria.....and may they always enjoy the catch of a lifetime!

12 comments:

Andrew McAllister said...

Not to be a stickler here or anything, but it might just be a wee bit of a jog from the Canadian border to Alaska ... but then I could see your tongue firmly planted in your cheek :o) That sounds like a wonderful time (except for the heel in the mud part).

Andrew
To Love, Honor and Dismay

Saija said...

you were only 2-3 hours from us ... :o)

glad you enjoyed!

C. H. Green said...

Glad you had a great time. I would love to have been there.

Brigitte said...

Unexpected pleasures found in unexpected places!! What more could one ask for

Heidi Grether said...

What an event!!

rena said...

Just think..if you'd have hopped the border, hung a left and kept driving for about 3 days you'd have hit my house on the way to the real Alaska. LOL.

Glad you had a wonderful interlude from the city and enjoyed some nature. And yeah, heels in turf...got that one down pat!

Have a great Monday

Heather Smith said...

Congrats to them! I hate wearing heels outside. I always sink, and my heels always look really bad afterwords!! Oh well!

Lisa said...

SOunds like a fun trip. Yeay for you!

Andrew McAllister said...

Hi Again,

Thanks for visiting my site and for leaving such a nice comment. I appreciate it! And yes, the book concept is DEFINITELY for married gals.

All the best,
Andrew

Anonymous said...

It sounds to me you had a splendid time. When I go on a trip - I don't look much for the surroundings, just some peace. But then again you were at a wedding.
I love weddings - especially when a whole lot of family is around - some you usally don't see too often.

Cheryl said...

Wow, what a beautiful place!

Anonymous said...

I don't know you, but found your blog upon my search for "Baudette"...my beloved hometown. I was married there in June :) It is likely I know or know of the married couple. Have to love small towns. I am your neighbor now in Plymouth...