Paul Bunyan is huge up in the Brainerd Lakes Area. We were super excited to travel up there on the weekend, and see what this guy is all about! Sadly, they moved the super giant statue to Bemidji, but there are still plenty of his things around the area! This is the only statue we could find where dogs could actually pose for a photo. To the top of his hand, Paul is almost twelve feet tall, and he weighs about nine hundred pounds.
Next, we found his sidekick, Babe The Blue Ox. Man, she is one huge Babe! Mom set us next to her and we had to take a good look before we could pose for a photo!
Olivia and I determined that she was harmless, and it would be safe to pose for a photo. She sure is a strange and gigantic creature!
Now for something silly. I stumbled across this ox dressed as Elvis! Have you ever heard of Elvis the Ox? I guess that only happens in Brainerd!
Driving along, we spotted this giant fish. Since Brainerd is not just about Paul Bunyan, but also about lakes and fishing, Olivia wanted to take a photo with the fish. It is pretty funny I think.
Mom used to come up to Brainerd all the time as a kid because her grandparents had a house on Love Lake. Since they moved in the late seventies, Mom has only been to the area once. She thought it would be fun to show us their house. For reference, Mom found this photo she took of the house in the mid-seventies. Yes, it’s true. She has been documenting her life with photos since she was a little girl.
Here is the photo we took of it this weekend. Mom says the house seems to be the same basic house, just the big double garage has been added to the front, and it has been painted. It would be fun to be able to go out back and see the lake and check out how the house looks now inside, but Mom is too shy to go up and ask. Still it was fun to see where she used to go as a kid.
Lastly, Olivia had her first NACSW Nose Work Trial at the Crow Wing County Fairgrounds. Her morning searches were fabulous, then she and Mom messed up containers. We don’t know what exactly went wrong, but there went the title out the window. Olivia passed her vehicle search, but you have to pass all four searches to title, so they will have to try again. Even though they didn’t get their title, they had a lot of fun, and it was a great weekend road trip for the three of us.
My GBGV Life joining Comedy Plus for the Awww Mondays Blog Hop.
The first image of the pups with Babe is just priceless. Lucy can sniff out a bunny in the neighborhood, but that’s about as far as her search skills go. However, when we go for a walk she has her tail in the air and her nose on the ground, sniffing for every new scent she can find. Sadly it seems that I have chronicled everything in my life, but my life with a camera. Have a blessed week.
We are scent hounds sniffing out everything we can find, and Mom is following behind photographing everything in life. Everyone has their way to go through life.
oooh we love Paul and we like da rocking Ox… that is funny!!! …da nelly asks if that big fish is edible… is it?
I think the fish might be a bit on the dry side, LOL!
Now that’s what ya call really having a big time!!!
Plenty of big in Brainerd!
Some really cool photo oops again. Sorry about the trial.
NACSW is tough, and Olivia is young. She will get it next time.
Wow! Those are big statues. We love the fish the best! And we love that you visited the old house! It’s fun to see how things have changed. Great photos. Sounds like the trial was a learning experience. Have a great day! your friend Lilly
Mom is still trying to figure out what happened because Olivia is rock solid on containers. It just wasn’t meant to be, so they will try again.
What a fun weekend. Having a fun weekend is the very best kind of weekend. I’m glad you all enjoyed yourselves even if you didn’t get your title. Next time.
Thank you for joining the Awww Mondays Blog Hop.
Have a fabulous Awww Monday and week. Scritches to the pups and my best to the mom. ♥
It just means we have to travel to more trials and find more fun sites to see.
My goodness, you do have some very unique statues in your neck of the woods. I bet seeing that house brought back lots of memories for you mom. There will be more happy travels when you try again for your title. XOXO, Sparkle
We are not worried. Olivia is good, just messed up. We love to travel, so we will keep on going.
Wow – what fun places to take pictures
There is a lot of crazy stuff in our state, besides my sister Olivia!
Looks like a fun weekend! And you’ll get that title sooner rather than later, I’m sure! That “rockin ox” cracks me up – so silly – but what the heck?! I’ve seen pix of the house I grew up in and I don’t like the changes at all – it doesn’t even look like the same house! Boo-hiss!! At least your Mom’s grandparents house looks similar to the way it used to be!
We see the houses Mom lived in as a kid quite often because they are not far from Gramma’s house, but It was our first time in Brainerd. Too bad her grandparents are no longer alive.
Nobody has incredible statues like Minn. I love it when you find new ones. Take care girls
Minnesota is a treasure chest of silly roadside attractions. Who knew?
I thought everything was big in Texas, I was WRONG! You girls sure look cute on your little vacay!
We want some of those jumbo Texas steaks. Here they are not as big.
Babe and the two little babes! You girls have all the adventures. Your mom should have knocked on the door – I think she missed a fabulous opportunity to see how the inside had changed ,and maybe make new friends; but then I’m just an old dog – what do I know?
Chablis
Mom is pretty shy, so not likely to knock on a door. If the people had been outside she might have spoken to them.
Bummer, Olivia. You will do better next time. What a superDuper time you all had. They sure do grow them big in Brainerd!
Olivia has had so much success for her age, it can’t always happen. She will get it next time.
Sounds like you had a blast on your road trip…and we know there will be lots more trials for you!
We had a really fun time, and we look forward to our next trip in August!
Sorry the title didn’t quite work out, but everyone has an off day once in a while. As long as you had fun and learned something along the way, it’s all good.
We had a really nice trip, and the trial was fun too, despite not getting the title.
What amazing sculptures. And, I love grandma’s house. It’s a lot like my grandma’s house!
Way to go Olivia! You’ll get that title soon.
That house was a family staple for lots of my mom’s younger years. It’s fun to see where life used to happen. Olivia will do fine next time. She is still really young, but she does work hard and loves her sports.
That seems like quite the place, with lots of fun photo ops. It is always fun to visit places we haven’t since we were kids, and to see how different they look.
Sorry your weekend wasn’t more successful, but glad you still got to have some fun.
We had a great time, and Olivia is still really young, so she will try again.
Y’all always find the coolest things to pose with. I love the Paul Bunyan statue. I’ve not been back to my childhood homes but we have driven by them. Unfortunately, it they have both become dangerous areas over the years.
We see Mom’s old homes all the time as they are all not far from Gramma’s house, thankfully still in nice areas.
Amazing how huge the statures are, but very lovely. You’re all real models, sweeties💗😸Pawkisses for a Happy Weekend to all of you🐾😽💞
That Babe the Blue Ox is massive!