Take me out to the ball game...

Beth and Lulu

What a couple of gorgeous days we've had here in Cross Plains! The temperatures have gone down, the sun is shining, the skies are blue and our night air is cool and pleasant. The only bad thing is the gross number of mosquitoes we continue to be plagued by. As horrible as they are by our house, I still don't have the heart to wish for the coming of cold of weather, which would kill off the pests.

Stephen

Jim & Kenny

This past Friday I finally attended a Brewer's game with my brothers who have been hounding me for years to go to a game--INSISTING that I would like it. Those of you who know me, know that I'm really not interested in sports, unless there is somebody I know personally playing or involved in the game in some capacity. Subsequently, I was extremely skeptical about actually enjoying myself at the game.

Miller Park

I am happy to report that I was pleasantly surprised. I had an absolute blast!

John & Jim preparing hamburger patties

I met John and Jim at their condo downtown and after a little bit of a delay, we happily headed over to Milwaukee where we met Don, Hope and the crew (Mark unfortuately couldn't make it). Together, we drove to a parking lot next to Miller Park where we set up our little tailgate "camp". John and Jim did a wonderful job cooking and getting things ready for our early dinner. Hope brought some absolutely amazing blueberries she and Kenny picked while they were in Michigan. She also presented John and Jim and myself with some homemade jam.

Fun times!

Although we were sandwiched between a couple young, perhaps more-inclined-to-party groups, they actually were quite respectful and I think we all enjoyed their music--for the most part. Without a doubt, little Beth did. She was dancing and smiling while nibbling on blueberries.

Displaying my ticket

Bragg Family South

Jim also bought and assembled a bean bag tic-tac-toe game. Kenny and Beth played a few games with John and Jim, although I think they know that they can get away with a lot more when playing with the adults...I'm not sure if Mikey and Emma would have abided by their "rules of play".

Bean bag toss

Bob and his girlfriend, Lisa, showed up while we were walking to the stadium. Together we sat in our really good seats--somewhere behind first base?!? I was really impressed with the ballpark. It was brightly lit, lots of colors, sounds and people. Lots of stuff going on. Vendors hawking their beer and food. Fireworks went off after the Brewers scored. I ended up not watching much of the game (except for when CC Sebathia was playing--Mark really wanted me to get a picture of him), because I was too busy watching everything else around me!

Milwaukee ended up beating the Washinton Nationals. Nope, I don't remember the score, but I know we won!

Bobby enchants Beth & Stephen

I told Mark that I would go to a game again next year with him if he wanted. He couldn't believe it! I guess this is why you should always be willing to try something new and different because you just might like it. Bob & Lisa

A "Pecking" Tom

Heeheehee!!

Hello everybody. This past week I took a really fun and informative class through the school district and Viterbo University called PC III. In the class we learned how to scan pictures, use The Printshop, Corel Paintshop, Collage Creator and apply these programs to a wide variety of materials, i.e., magnets, notepads, cards, puzzles, balloons, address labels, etc.

Go to piknic.com to create your own image!

I have to admit that the first 2 days of class I was a little stressed because I wanted to produce a bunch of things to get my material fee's worth, but by Wednesday I reached my PC III Zen and realized I needed to just relax and have fun and learn how to do a few big things rather than every little thing. I didn't have to worry about getting my money's worth either--I went through almost 5 cartridges of ink and made LOTS of little fun things.

Above the shower

The big ruckus at our house this week was frequent visits from a red-tailed hawk that has built a nest in the trees overlooking our house. "Hawkie" was first noticed a couple weeks ago when I was upstairs making the bed and observed Miss Fanny looking intently out the only little window in the bathroom. Hawkie was perched right by the window by flew away when I came too close. After this Mark and I noticed the constant piercing cries and calls these birds make...then it was the hawk flying right by the 2nd-floor windows...then it was both of the cats sitting in our shower area or on the toilet on the 2nd floor watching this bird as it perched on the skylight in the shower. Truthfully, I think Hawkie was a little too interested in our kitties--poor Fanny and Britches probably looked like 2 succulent little roasts to him! Yikes!

Look out cats!

We had to bid adieu to Hawkie though after he began to hang around the shower while I was showering. Not that I cared really that it was looking down at me but, and I'm not sure if it was the water and steam collecting onto the window, but Hawkie began pecking at the window! That made us a little nervous, so Mark spooked him away by tapping at the window a couple time with the broom.

Hawkie peering and pecking

Very exciting.

These are pictures taken of the wonderful garden we have behind the restaurant. It has been doing really well and we use a lot of the vegetables for various dishes at the restaurant (talk about using local product). We had a much smaller garden last year and it did well, so the guys quadrupled the size for this summer. It has turned out to be a very wise decision.

Mark holding a couple of patty pans

Summer Stride

With the passing of mom and dad's anniversary and Greg and Renee's wedding, the two major events for us this summer, Mark and I have settled into a comfortable summertime routine. In the mornings we walk the dogs and then go to our "jobs" of either tutoring or cutting wood. Mark and Marko began gathering and cutting wood 2 years ago and then started selling some of that wood last autumn and winter. The guys enjoy being outside and like the physical work; we all like the payoff in the autumn when all of us have a lull in our income between the wedding and holiday parties seasons.

Britches intently watched a nesting house wren

Fanny and Britches loved the wrens

After tutoring, I usually clean or reorganize something in the house. Our garage also received a HUGE cleaning and reorganization a few weeks ago. That was quite an undertaking and Mark was truly the ringleader for that messy project (I had many many boxes to go through and I found it all very daunting and tedious...so I could only do so much a day).

Mingo and Lily snuggle with Mark under the air conditioning

Mark starts his day at the restaurant around lunchtime usually and will work through the evening. By mid-afternoon, I'm usually working on sewing projects. I have been slowly picking up on quilting in the past few years, but my time learning has always been erratic due to my work schedule. Mom has taught me a lot and gives me a lot of good tips and advice along the way. Currently I am working on a baby quilt for Ingrid and Craig's little guy, Soren, and a log cabin for mom made out of batik fabrics. I also just purchased some material to make a quilt for Mark (who has been jokingly calling himself "Backburner" now because I have been neglecting him because I have been "making everyone else a quilt").

Leila's baby quilt

Britches resting on some of my sweaters

I also have had fairly steady work at the restaurant in the evenings during the week. Fridays and Saturdays are always a given, but it's great to pick up a couple other nights too.

Oscar!

Mom with a wiggly Oscar

Bob surfs the internet

Next week I will be taking a computer class with the Middleton-Cross Plains School District, so the routine will be disrupted then as well as the week of August 17, when Mark and I plan on going to Hayward for a few days with some friends and, hopefully, spending a night in Colfax with Lisa and the family on our way back south.

Mingo in the roses. Bad dog.

Romeo in the cat condo

There also is a Brewers game with part of the family coming up too, but that will just be a day event.

Oscar and Lily playing

Dad hung these really pretty decorations on the garden door

This past weekend I was able to sneak up to Rhinelander for a quick visit because there was no wedding scheduled at the restaurant. Mark was not able to go, but I brought the dogs along for company on the drive up. They sure love going to mom and dad's, but they also get a little "wild" because of the freedom to run and all of the space to do so and all of the little critters that are also running in that space!

Bob dismantled the old thermometer from the house.

Mom stands proudly next to her peas


Oscar waits by the garden gate

John and Bob were up there too and they worked on painting the house. Mom and I "helped" the first day by keeping the boys company. I know they loved that! Who needs to listen to an old Brewer game when you have your mom and little sister chatting away, right? Heeheehee.

Evidence of hounds next to mom's flower garden

Greg and Renee's Wedding

This past weekend was the wedding of Mark's only sibling, Greg. Greg and Renee met at the restaurant years ago and live on the west side of Madison, close to the apartment Mark and I lived in when we got married.

Some of the ladies at the bachelorettte party

Festivities began last Thursday with the bachelor and bachelorette parties. A large group of guys met at a sports bar in Black Earth called Rookies. Rookies has a miniature field fashioned to resemble a baseball stadium in St. Louis (apparently the owner is a huge fan), and on this small field games of whiffle ball are played instead of baseball. I obviously was not there, but apparently the guys had A LOT of fun--perhaps too much?!--and several of them were extremely sore and scratched up from jumping around, running and sliding. I fear they felt a little over confident in their abilities thanks to a "few" drinks. Ah, well...

Renee's nephews

Now the bachelorette party met at a west side restaurant called Eno Vino and ended up downtown at the Great Dane. I have to admit that I bailed early, only attending the Eno Vino portion of the evening, but I promised Mark that I would pick him up from the bachelor party (Mark had arranged a shuttle service for the rest of the guys who were coming mostly from hotels on the west side of Madison), and bring him safely home. It was a lot of fun though and the food was outstanding! I think Renee enjoyed herself and she sure was game for having fun.

Renee's nephew, Justin (what a doll!)

Mark, Greg and Aaron Bakken

The next day was the rehearsal dinner which was hosted by Mark and Greg's parents. Van and Judy also hosted our rehearsal dinner when we got married and they just do a fabulous job. They live in a beautiful location outside of Cross Plains and they have such a lovely, cozy home...anybody who has visited will attest. I know I have mentioned this often in past blogs, but Judy truly is also an amazing cook and baker. The food was wonderful, the setting stunning, the conversing happy and the weather cooperative (after an initial shower). We all had a great time.

Karen and Oscar Seibel

Renee's family

Mark's Aunt Diane and her granddaughters

I'm afraid the day of the wedding was a little stressful due to the weather forecast. The ceremony itself was going to be held outside, in the landscaped area behind the restaurant. Provisions were made to have a tent set up, but even if you have an enclosed tent, I think the hope is not to actually use it.

The Valaskeys

Sure enough, after a sunny and warm morning, the clouds rolled in and by afternoon the rain, wind and hail started coming down at around 2:00, the scheduled family photo time. Thankfully, the stormy weather blew over as quickly as it came in, and pictures were completed before the ceremony started at 4:00.

Two of my good friends, Janeen and Jill (Jill's youngest, Danielle, is also pictured)

Judy

Everything went well and Renee looked stunning and Greg looked handsome and they both looked very happy. The reception was at the restaurant too and the food was awesome (I had some of the best roasted vegetables ever and I don't normally get excited about vegetables). One of the best parts of the evening was Renee's obvious happiness and excitement---that girl danced the WHOLE night! She was in high demand though. All of the kids at the wedding (and there was a lot of them) wanted to be by her or dance with her. She was a real princess I think.

Greg and his cousin Todd

Fiesta!

The following day was the gift opening. Greg and Renee received many nice gifts. They were also very fortunate to have some great helpers: Renee's nephews were happy to help with the opening of presents.Greg as a giftRenee's nephews helping unwrap presents