PAUL DOES ST. PAUL

Dave and Vannie with "THE"

 Paul Begnaud

 

Standing by the Great and Mighty Mississippi River

Paul's Son, Blake, and his wife, Kathy

Leather Works Minnesota

Another one of Paul's Sons...Kent and his wife, Lee

Pain Perdu

Ramsey Court House with the BIG statue

Décor reminded Dave of the Empire State Building

No matter where we travel, it seems we can always find somebody we know…and that’s what happened this week.  Vannie and Dave’s good friend from Scott, LA, Paul Begnaud, spends the summers in St. Paul, MN.  He has kids that live in this area, and he, himself, lived here many years ago.  Paul is the one guy that literally taught Dave the drapery business…the ins and outs, the ups and down.  Paul is 90 years young.  You wouldn’t believe it by the way he looks and gets around.  He drives and cooks and loves life!  A lesson for us all!

We were about an hour from St. Paul in our campground in Clear Lake.  I held the fort down while V and D made the trip over to see Paul.  Vannie said the gumbo was on the stove simmering when they arrived.  Paul had brought chickens and seasonings from Early’s Grocery Store in Scott.  It was truly a taste of home.  Paul’s son, Blake, and daughter-in-law, Kathy was there, also, to give us the full Minnesota welcome.  Dave said they felt like royalty. 

After eating, Blake and Kathy drove V and D down to Stillwater, MN.  Vannie said it was a sweet little town right on the St. Croix River.  The St. Croix is the north-south boundary water that separates Minnesota from Wisconsin.  They walked around in the downtown area checking out antique shops, a German Christmas store, and along the river walk.  The river was actually lapping over the sidewalk. 

V and D spent the night with Kathy and Blake in their basement.  Being from Louisiana, basements are just something V and D have read about in books.  So to actually get to sleep in one was a treat.  They were up and at ‘um the next morning.  Paul was already calling about his “pain perdu” breakfast he was preparing for them.  He called to tell Kathy to please bring a “bucket” of milk.  Guess he thought they were going to milk the cow before coming over.

Of course, Vannie said the “pain perdu” or French toast was out-of-this-world…made from whole milk, butter, sugar, lots of vanilla, white bread (thick slices) and fried in butter.  Dave said he could feel his arteries clogging, but, at that moment, who cares!

After breakfast, Paul was ready to show V and D around St. Paul.  Although they could have had a nap after that breakfast, they piled in his car and headed out to see the sites.  The Indian mounds along the Mississippi, the Ramsey County Court House with the huge Indian statue inside, the beautiful cathedral, the gorgeous old neighborhoods, Leather Works (Kent Begnaud’s business, another son of Paul’s), and the Capital were all part of the tour.  They ended up at a cute little restaurant for a late lunch.  Paul wanted them to try the special which was a Juicy Lucy Burger.  V and D just couldn’t do it.  After eating gumbo and French toast, they just had to have a little lettuce.  I thought that sounded a little wimpy, but to each his own.

Wow…what a visit…V and D headed back to me and Clear Lake with full tummies, full hearts, and happy memories.