Friends gather, celebrate birthdays in style

High School friends gathered to celebrate their birthdays by spending the last week of July in rural Minnesota. The celebration was hosted by Dan and Lois Strehlow at their farm near Hastings, Minn. As the ladies started to arrive, the laughter and stories exploded and continued for an entire week.

Activities included farm chores, hot tubbing, sitting by the pool, toasting many many happy hours, exploring Red Wing, Minn., and spending a day at the Mall of America in Bloomington.

Friendships formed during school years in New Rockford have afforded these friends opportunities to celebrate their birthdays every five years.

Per tradition, a large jigsaw puzzle was put together in a couple of days. Mary provided paints and paper to instruct everyone on the joys of watercolor painting. An event at the Little Log House Pioneer Village let everyone walk, search for antique treasures and eat fair food!

Age and experience prompted these friends to now plan celebrations every year. There were just too many places everyone wanted to go.