Boo-ter later than never!

Mark and I carved two pumpkins this year and entered them in a contest at his work. Mine is supposed to be a dog (of course) with the words "Happy Howl-o-ween" on the back and Mark's has a bunch of different leaves around the entire thing. Sadly, we did not win!

As I type this it is actually November 11, Veteran's Day. Today is a parent-teacher conference day, so no school for me! I wanted to post a few pictures from a visit I made to Colfax a couple weeks ago. Like always, I had a great time and enjoyed drinking coffee with Lisa, talking with Michael, giggling and sewing with Emma, chasing Leila and laughing with Jon.

Lisa is a wonderful cook and baker and receives lots of help in the kitchen. Here, one of her helpers samples some of the slivered almonds.

Another helper has entered the kitchen. This helper makes sure that the help is helping!!

Do you see Michael?

Michael shares a smile with me.

Lisa is pleased with her helper.

Miss Pitty Pat the Kitty Cat. This is the outdoor cat that the family has "adopted". She is very sweet but longs for the day to come in....

Is this Miss Pitty Pat?

Why no, it's me dressed as a cat for a Halloween party! Meow, pfftpfft.

Before I left, Lisa showed me the work they had done on their chicken coop, which reminds me of a mini-version of my own house!

Leila showing me the chickens and how you "coax" them out!

Fall Fun

Please view my latest Animoto video to see pictures and video clips from my last visit to Rhinelander.

End of Summer...

Sigh. The end of summer is

quickly

approaching!

These pictures were taken a couple of weeks ago in Rhinelander. We went up so Mark and a friend could go bear baiting, as they both have bear tags for a hunt in September. I opted to bow out of the bear baiting itself, instead choosing to spend time with Mom and Dad in Rhinelander. Here, Dad work on a new trail segment in the woods.

It's great watching Dad have so much fun working with his tractor.

Although it's a hard to see, directly in the middle of this photo is a hummingbird sitting on the pine

branch. Mom and Dad have a zillion humming-

birds buzzing around their house during the

summer.

Here is Mom and Swampy Oscar next to a chunk of wood that Dad had cut. This tree was one of several that fell during an abrupt and strong storm that travelled through the area a month or so ago.

Mom stands between a couple birch trees.

Swamp Oscar strikes again! I guess there's nothing quite like taking a dip in stinky, muddy

swamp water and rolling in the grass!

Lily sits sentinel in the yard.

Lulu Learned a Fun New Thing this Week....

Check this out! Click on my Animoto in the right margin to view Don and Hope's lastest visit and enjoy.

A Howlin' Good Time

Mark and I recently returned from a vacation up north. We traveled with Mom and Dad for a day to the Upper Penninsula and enjoyed being a little silly (wolf picture), viewing some beautiful nature (Bond Falls & the Porcupine Mountains), and getting away from the heat (Rhinelander was even hot during the hot spell!).

Bond Falls

Thank you, Mom and Dad, for hosting our stay!

Dad watched patiently as I tried rather impatiently to get photos of some busy dragonflies.

The dragonflies paused briefly on the blade of grass in the middle of this photo.

Pretty

Mom and Dad

We saw this heron as we were driving away from the Bond Falls.

After a couple minutes, it flew away. I like this picture because it shows how impressive the wingspan is and how the wings can bend and flex while flying.

As we drove to the Porcupine Mountains, we stopped by Lake Superior to dabble our toes in the water. The temperature drop was quite significant when we were driving by the lake--it went from 92 degrees to 76 degrees!

Mark stands next to Lake Superior and in front of the Porkies.

This sandstone rock is the epitome of my memories of going to Lake Superior as a kid. I loved these marbled rocks and would try to "sneak" some in my pockets...I wonder how many Mom picked out of the washing machine! Sorry, Mom.

Dad admiring the soft, warm sand.

Mom and I goofing around as per usual.

Lake of the Clouds. Neither Mark nor I had been here for many years, and never together. It was just as breathtaking as I remember it was as a kid. What a gem.

Don't worry, Mark assisted Mom down this rather treachorous pathway.

If you look carefully, you can see two people standing at the top of this cliff. It is rather steep.

Look at this handsome fella who was quite cooperative and posed so nicely for me.

Can you spot the fawn peaking so keenly at me through the brush close to Mom and Dad's house?

Mom

King Romeo on his throne

Spring Green Arts and Crafts Fair

Summer is now here. We think. Like most of our spring, our summer began rather cool and wet. Thankfully, we had some nice weather when Mom and Dad visited last weekend. I really wanted to take Mom and Dad to this great arts and crafts fair held annually in Spring Green. We enjoyed spending the late morning walking around and looking at the different vendors' wares, including the sneaking cat sculpture (Bucky inspired?!) and the large preying mantis sculpture shown in the first two pictures.

These men were demonstrating throwing pots.

This man was doing an incredible job creating a portrait of a girl and her baby brother who was actually laying in a stroller.

Saturday night we had a special meal in honor of Mom and Dad's 43rd anniversary that was on June 15. John, Jim, Bob and Nancy came over to help celebrate. Of course, I made Mom sweep our deck before everyone came over (just kidding....it was her idea).

John will be starting a new job as a professor at Bradley University in Peoria, Illinois in August. Congratulations, Jojo!!

Jim, Mom, and John.

Can you spot laughing Dad?

Dad, me, Mom, and John