Tag: nature

Life with Emma in the Desert: Heading to Duluth!

Hi friends — Emma here again! 🐾

We’re all rested, and here we go — back in the car, headed north on I-35 toward Duluth, Minnesota. For those who know Minnesota roads, you probably guessed it: yes, we stopped at Tobies in Hinckley. Dad says their donuts are the best. I’ll pass on those (I’m more of a chicken-treat kind of girl), but Dad sure enjoyed them!

When we rolled into Duluth, I noticed right away how much cooler it was compared to Arizona. This little desert dog thought July in Duluth was paw-fectly comfy. Duluth sits at the very northeastern tip of Minnesota, where the land meets Lake Superior. It feels like the edge of the world, and I loved the crisp air coming off the big lake.

Family, Friends, and Memories

We spent time with family and friends, Beth Ann and Peter. My human mom Joanne grew up in Duluth with her cousin Beth Ann, so there are always funny stories being shared. We also visited the cemetery where my human mom Joanne is buried. Last year a big new fountain was installed near the entrance, and this spring Dad added a beautiful granite bench there. I tried it out myself — cool and smooth, the perfect spot for a thoughtful rest.

Emma on the granite bench by the fountain

Canal Park and Lake Superior

No trip to Duluth is complete without Canal Park! I posed on the lake wall with the harbor lighthouse in the background. That old lighthouse isn’t used for guiding ships anymore, but years ago it lit the way for vessels coming in from the Great Lakes and even the Atlantic through the St. Lawrence Seaway.

Emma on lake wall with lighthouse

And of course, we stopped by the famous Aerial Lift Bridge. When it rises, huge ships pass beneath on their way into the port. Duluth is one of the farthest-inland seaports in the world, and ships from around the globe still come here to load and unload. Pretty amazing for a small dog to stand there and watch!

Emma with the Aerial Lift Bridge

Food and Flowers

After sightseeing, Dad treated himself to Mexican food at Little Angie’s Cantina. Not really for me, but he loved it! Then we strolled through Leif Erikson Park, where the flower gardens brighten the shoreline. The park honors the great Norse explorer, and its hillside paths give some of the best views of Lake Superior.

Emma at Leif Erikson Park with flower

Brighton Beach and the North Shore

Further up the shore we visited Brighton Beach. I posed with the lake behind me — sparkling and endless. Lake Superior is the largest freshwater lake in the world by surface area, and standing on its edge makes you feel small in the best way. The North Shore drive beyond Duluth is famous for rocky cliffs, waterfalls, and little towns full of history.

Emma at Brighton Beach

Central Lakes and Family Time

After Duluth, we headed south to the Central Lakes region where my humans once lived on Pelican Lake near Breezy Point. This part of Minnesota is sprinkled with lakes — Pelican, Gull, Whitefish, Nisswa, and so many more. It’s boating, fishing, and cabin country, and even a dog can sense how special it feels in the summertime.

Wrapping Up the Journey

On our way back to Minneapolis, we had lunch with Dad’s grandson Cole and his wife Payton. Then it was off to our hotel near the airport, right under the flight path! Airplanes soared over us as we looked across toward the Mall of America — the biggest shopping mall in the U.S. (But shopping wasn’t on our list this time.)

Emma with airplane over hotel

The next morning came early — 4 a.m. — and before long I was tucked in my travel case again, snoozing all the way back to Arizona. After all that adventuring, I was one tired pup. When we finally rolled back home and the shuttle driver helped with our bags, I thought of something I’d heard once: there’s no place like home. And it’s true — after so much traveling, nothing feels better than curling up back in my own desert home.

Emma with shuttle driver and bags

Time for a good rest now… until the next adventure!

With love and a wag,

Emma 🌵🐶💖

📬 Got a question for me? Email me at Emmathewhitedog@gmail.com and I might answer it in a future post!

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✈️ Life with Emma in the Desert: Flying to Minnesota!

Hi friends — Emma here! 🐾

Last time we left off, I was all buckled in on the airplane, ready for takeoff. Well, up we went, and before I knew it, we were flying high in the sky! The Delta flight attendants were so nice — one of them even posed for a picture with me while I was cozy in my travel case. They made sure my human and I were comfortable the whole way. Dogs can’t exactly order snacks and ginger ale, but I can tell you that friendly smiles make any trip better.

Flying can be a big deal for dogs — there are new smells, different noises, and all sorts of people bustling around. I think it helps when your human stays calm and keeps you feeling safe. A favorite blanket, a little water, and a reassuring word or two go a long way. ✈️🐶

“Friendly smiles at 30,000 feet!”

Before long, we landed in Minneapolis. While waiting for our rental car, we met a nice fellow named Will. My human’s name is Bill, so we had a little laugh about that. I stayed in my travel case, but I could tell Will was a dog person.

Once we had the car, my human pulled out a secret weapon — a flattened cardboard box he’d packed in his suitcase! In just a few minutes, it was transformed into my travel car seat, perched right on the console so I could ride shotgun like I do at home in Arizona. Best. Idea. Ever.

Riding shotgun, Minnesota-style!”

We headed to Northfield, Minnesota. Dad told me I was born not far from here and joined him and my mom Joanne when I was just nine weeks old. I wonder what I was like as a tiny puppy… maybe a bit wobbly, maybe a little shy, but probably very, very cute. I can imagine discovering everything for the first time — new smells, new sounds, new toys, and my very first bed in my forever home. Life as a puppy is full of “firsts” — first treats, first walks, first time figuring out that stairs are not scary after all. Looking back, I think I hit the jackpot finding my family so early. 🐾💖

Then came one of the highlights of the trip — Minnesota grass! Ohhh, the soft, cool, green grass here is something else. I couldn’t resist rolling in it, paws in the air, tail wagging like crazy. If you’ve never seen a happy dog in perfect grass… well, you’re missing out. 🌱💚

Click to see VIDEO: “Minnesota grass is the best!”

We got to see family and friends, too. There was Chrystine (my human’s daughter — so I guess that makes her my human sister?) and Joyce, my human’s sister (my human aunt?). We also saw my human’s golfing buddies, Jim Karl and Brad. There was a lot of talking, laughing, and walking — especially across the beautiful campuses of St. Olaf College and Carleton College.

Speaking of walking — I spotted a squirrel on one of those walks and took off after it. It ran up a tree faster than you can say “peanut butter biscuit.” Dogs and squirrels have a long history — they zig, we zag, they chatter from the branches, we stare up and dream of the day we might catch one. It’s never happened yet, but the chase is half the fun. 🐿️

“Almost had him!”

At the soccer fields, we met Steve and Wayne. They’ve written three books about PTSD and veterans, which they give to anyone who might need or want to read about it. They even posed for a photo with me! My human has talked to me about PTSD since reading a book about POWs in the South Pacific during World War II. It’s important — even dogs can experience it — so I’d like to share more about that in a future post when I have more time.

“Talking about something important.

Before we left Northfield, we visited the Cannon River. It winds gracefully through town, with scenic walks both above and below the dam. In downtown Northfield, you can stroll along the river’s edge and watch the water sparkle in the sunlight. Ducks paddle in the calmer stretches, and the sound of the rushing water near the dam makes for the perfect background music to a summer walk. I posed for a photo by the river, just to prove I was soaking in the scenery.

“Taking in the view.”

Busy traveling, aren’t we? But we still make time for our afternoon siestas. Here’s a photo of me on the hotel bed, ready for a nice nap before the next adventure.

“Siesta time before the next adventure.”

And that’s where we’ll pause for now… because next up, we’re off to Duluth, Minnesota. But that’s a story for another day. For now — siesta time. 💤

Until next time,
Emma 🌵🐶💖

📬 Got a question for me? Email me at Emmathewhitedog@gmail.com and I might answer it in a future post!

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