Memorial Day Camp Out & Picnic

Want to plan a Memorial Day Weekend celebration with friends and family?
A Camp out really does sound like a great Idea. It’s an excellent way to get away from the norm…to spend quality time with each other, to remember what has been given to us, those who have passed, and to celebrate American life and tradition. We’ve collected some nice ideas for a camp out, in keeping with the Memorial Day Holiday.

• First, find the perfect camp out location, keeping family tradition in mind. (Family Cabin, Grandma’s Backyard, Family home town, Favorite lake, Park or Place that brings back memories)
• Be sure to check the weather (know what to pack, know what activities and possibilities to plan for)
• Make some new memories while remembering!
  Bring some traditional American spirit to the weekend with favorite past times and traditional indoor or outdoor games. Ask the older guests for their input.
• Gather and honor those who have contributed to this great free country of ours by dedicating time for remembering and sharing stories around a picnic, or bonfire. 
• Family and friends can each bring their own albums and photos of loved ones lost to share (especially of those who have served our country)
• Set up a special place to display photographs and memorabilia of these heroes.
• Share, swap or use old and traditional recipes at your memorial picnic or BBQ. You may have an old family recipe that deserves to be passed on. Maybe some one who passed had a favorite recipe?
• Have the musicians of the group to bring their guitars, or play some patriotic music to add to the reminiscing mood. 

Thanks to the New Twins Stadium, Downtown Minneapolis has been transformed.

Downtown Minneapolis is a newly hip cool place for folks to wander the streets, enjoy the outdoor venues, travel on the light rail and feel like they are on vacation in their own backyard. 

The HoeJoe staff enjoyed the inaugural events at the 2010 Twin’s Opener. The fanfare was awesome… bringing back star players to raise flags, and celebrate outdoor baseball! If you’re heading to a game, you may want to know that parking can be tough downtown… especially during day games. Be sure to check the various public transportation schedules for buses,  North-Star Rail and the Light Rail to see if they run before and after game times… it could relieve some stress and help you avoid paying $20.00 or more for parking.
 
The HoeJoe folks hope you take a tip from this new outdoor baseball scene and get outside and enjoy the great Minnesota summers. If you’re a Twins fan but can’t get out to the new outdoor stadium… we can suggest that you create your own outdoor baseball party and invite the neighbors! We think this would be fun, here are some of our ideas…

• 1. Suggest everyone wear Twin’s gear and head on over to your backyard.
• 2. Set up your TV set outside on the patio and bring out the lawn chairs.
• 3. As the day turns into evening… start a bonfire to keep folks warm and create a cozy ambiance while you recap the game highlights.
• 4. Serve up hot dogs and beer… place the beer in buckets of ice…
  Hamm’s or Beer from local breweries are a great way to set the stage.
• 5. Instead of heating the dogs yourself… get roasting forks and allow folks to roast their own over the open bonfire or outdoor fireplace.
• 6. For dessert have a S’more bar… include marsh-mellows, graham crackers, slices of apples, peanut butter and chocolates… folks can create their own unique treat.
• 7. And of course… Don’t forget to have your American made HoeJoe handy so that the fire can be safely maintained throughout the festivities!

Get outside and love it!

You could say, “It’s a love affair out there.”

Just weeks ago, there were no birds in sight. The grass was brown and matted, the trees bare and still. Now, the crisp spring air is cluttered with chirping. We gotta say, we’re loving this Spring fling; when buds burst, birds sing and sparks fly. Happiness has just exploded in the air. You just have to get outside. A comforting chill still blankets us in the evening…perfect for bonfires with friends and neighbors! Relish woodsy scents of the night’s crisp cool air…what’s left of our exhausting winter, we can surely bear! Time to celebrate, catch up and mingle again. How great this is, this spring fling, when sparks fly!

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What a great night to have a bonfire get-together!

The weather is awesome here in the Twin Cities!  We must have the luck of the Irish this St. Patrick’s Day! Show your Irish spirit, grab a few neighbors and friends for a toast and a dance by the light of the fire! 
Get Leprechaun Silly! 

Happy St. Patty’s Night from Bonfire Central!