Mark poses proudly with his handsome hounds.
The opening day of pheasant season was October 17. I joined Mark and his dad while they hunted on public grounds at the Mazomanie Marsh on Sunday, October 18.
Van and his trusty Brittany spaniel, Lizzy. Van was quite charitable that day and led us through "manageable" terrain for the hunt because I was tagging along. Most of the birds hide in really dense, thick brush and grass. Thanks, Van!!
Poor lil' Lil is still apprehensive about the guns--she stuck close to Mark and I, but did fan out a couple times in search of birds.
Mingo, on the otherhand, was in hog heaven! It really is pretty neat to see these dogs doing their thing in the field.
The morning was absolutely beautiful. A welcome reprieve from all of the rain and cool temps that October brought.
A small creek between farm land and marsh.
Van surveys the area.
Do you still question Mingo's happiness?
That's DEFINITELY a smile on his face as he took a brief second to rest.
Lily made her own fun by jumping into the creek.
Lily, Mark and Mingo.
At the end of every hunt, however, there is always a de-burring. Mark carefully works on removing burrs from Mingo's foot. Mingo doesn't care for it, but he certainly doesn't protest.
John and I were able to drive up to Rhinelander together last weekend to visit Mom and Dad. Here, John assists Dad with putting in a new storm window.
John also helped Dad hoist one of the tractor attachments onto a wheeled platform that Dad can then maneuver around his garage. Dad has made many of these wheeled platforms as well as shelving units that he can manipulate freely around his work areas.
This picture has no real story to it, other than I thought it was kind of a cute image.
The work on the pole building in the back of the house has really progressed. I still can't believe how skilled Dad and Bob are!
I was able to walk up to the 2nd level of the pole building and, with much excitement, I took this picture from the little window. A new perspective of the Bragg home!
Mom cleaning some pumpkin seeds for drying.
Dad using a nifty little paper cutter to cut some of my photos that I had brought along.
We awoke to a light snow fall on the morning of Halloween! It went from almost 62 degrees and
very windy the day before to 32 degrees and this snow the next day. Some things just don't change...
As much as I sulked that day about the snow, it did look just beautiful in mom and dad's pines. Then again, it always looks beautiful there.
John and Mom.
On Halloween night, I joined the Bodensteiner clan for a little trick-or-treating in Rhinelander. Here, Ingrid, Soren (who is dressed like a clown) and Craig get psyched for the big event.
Of course, the first stop was at the Cranberry Inn Bed and Breakfast because it is located right next door to Bodensteiners'.
I really, really like this picture because the witch is
so black and because you can see the Courthouse in the back. The cowgirls walking in the foreground are two of Ingrid's nieces.
Unfortunately, I didn't get all of the girls in this photo (sorry Ana!), but here are 3 of Ingrid's nieces. From left to right are Sophie, Solenne and Bo-Pha.
At one of the houses, a couple of goofy high school girls were dressed as ninjas and "battling" each other on the roof. Crazy kids.
Lily, Mingo, and Oscar sure had a good time together and were sad when we had to leave.
I certainly promised John that we would return to Madison BEFORE the big Packer/Vikings game that Sunday. I was able to keep my promise. Here, Mark dons his Packer garb before we headed over to Van and Judy's for the game. Unfortunately, the Packers suffered a painful defeat...
The entire Bragg Clan gathered together in Cross Plains on Sunday, November 22. Here, John, Mom and Lily share a cozy moment.
Mark prepared himself for the holiday by "benchpressing" our goofy cat, Mr. Britches.
The cats further "assisted" us in the household preparations by getting in the way as much as possible. Here, Fanny lounges in the garbage can that Britches tipped over.
I prepared an enormous batch of cranberry chutney a few days before the feast. Look at that gorgeous cranberry color!
Don, Hope, Kenny, Beth, and Stephen and Lisa, Michael, Emma, and Leila and Bill all arrived from their homes on Saturday afternoon. Bob and John came over as well and we all had a spaghetti dinner. Due to the annual craftshow that Mom participates in each year that was also happening that day, Mom and Dad did not come until Sunday morning. I was very impressed with Kenny's eagerness to assist with the dishes after we ate. Bill is also pictured in the back.
Jojo gives a helping hand too!
A little vino at the table. Lisa, Hope, John and Don.
Without a doubt, all kids who come to visit our house are automatically drawn to our very steep, slightly dangerous stairs that connect the two main-levels of our house. Leila and Stephen shared many "conversations" while bounding up and down these stairs.
Look at these lovely ladies; Emma and Beth.
Bill and Bob catching-up while Michael and Kenny play a game of Stratego. Leila is toting a bottle around.
Stephen really liked the stairs.
Beth let Emma give her some delightful hairstyles.
Stephen has always been quite comfortable walking around and sitting with our dogs. He loved petting them and talking to them.
Unfortunately, Fanny is not really good with people...or anything for that matter....however, she does mostly keep to herself and stows away in the top level. She will come out occasionally and glare at all of us silly people, like she's doing here, but she heads back to her den to hide.
It has been an unusually warm, pleasant November in southern Wisconsin. On the day of the big feast, it was sunny and nice enough for everybody to go out and play around the house. Pictured is Kenny with a makeshift rifle (don't worry, it's not one of Mark's; it's just a stick).
Bobby brought along his Singstar game and hooked it up to our TV. Here he sits with 2 of his nieces, Beth and Emma.
John sporting his Aaron Rodgers jersey.
Beth enjoyed hiking the hill behind our house.
Lisa and Jim.
Don had to retrieve the football that strayed and toppled down our hilly lawn to the road. Let's see that arm of yours, Don!
Nice form:)
Bob and his girlfriend, Deb. Deb brought some absolutely divine pumpkin rolls to the feast. They were incredible.
The group tossing the ol' football.
Mark, Hope and Mom working on peeling potatoes.
Mom spending some time with her eldest granddaughter.
John was pleased with the Packer victory that day.
Is it really so shocking that I'm taking your picture, Beth?
Leila tucked away, playing with felt dolls and Bristle Blocks.
Michael and Stephen.
Bob and Deb relaxing on the couch.
A tense moment in the Packer game was followed by....
relief and excitement!
At one point, I walked past Michael and Stephen and they were just sort of play-screaming at each other.
Kenny really, really liked the hot beverage station that was set up. I'm not quite sure how many cups of hot chocolate and hot cider he had or how many sugar cubes and cinnamon sticks...but he was a happy kid!
Lisa and me on the deck.
Leila sporting her Packer pride.
Emma in hound heaven.
