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

Firepit Fun

Hello nice weather? After what has been a very cool, wet spring, it now seems we are beginning the summer months with 90 degree days and high humidity. I have to admit, I am lovin' the sunshine and warmth though! This picture of me shows my "new" do (even though it's been like this for over a month). The top picture was taken in Rhinelander and shows some of mom's violas.

Mark and I had a chance to get away to Rhinelander over Memorial Day weekend. We arrived Saturday night and were immediately awed by a beautiful sunset that seemed to showcase the cozinesss of Mom and Dad's house.

A view next to the kitchen door, with blossoms on the tree.

Of course, there were many walks with the dogs...

Mom was delighted to show us her newly constructed flower garden gate. Nice job John, Jim and Dad!

A project that Dad is working on is going through his old photographs and labeling people, dates and places featured in the photos. This is a great idea, that I know I need to do with my own photos.

John and Jim's cat, Bucky, is temoporarily residing in Rhinelander while they try to sell their condo in Madison. Bucky enjoys sleeping in the crib and has proven to be an adept mouser!

Mom dazzled me by showing a dozen or so quilts that were made in the early '80s and are still new, because she has had them in storage all this time! It was so cool to see the original old fabrics which, by the way, are already being reproduced and sold as "vintage" in quilt shops! This pattern is a bowtie.

This beauty is called "The Tree of Life."

A close-up.

We were lucky to not have the rainy day that had been predicted for us. We were so eager to enjoy the beautiful day outside together, that we started a bonfire in the back at about 3:00 in the afternoon! Please note that Dad is sitting to the right of the new fire ring he purchashed to help contain the fires and that there is a ring of rocks surrounding that to help with the containment and to make it a level place to walk.

The attractive red pole building pictured above, which has been a labor of love of Bob and Dad's for several years, may be too attractive. Porcupines have taken a shine to the siding on the building and have been eating it, as you can see in this picture. There are several spots like this around the building, but I believe Dad has an idea to deter the naughty porkies.

Mark, Mom, and Dad

Mingo and Lily enjoyed the weekend as much as we did!

Relaxing!

Back at home, Britches and Fanny enjoy the warmer weather too. They love going out on our enclosed porch, watching the ground squirrels and birds flit about.

Spring is (Not) Here!?

Well, if you lived in Wisconsin during the month of March, you certainly experienced the truth of the old saying "March comes in like a ___ and out like a _____." In this case, March came in like a lamb, with sunny,calm days that were warm enough to melt the majority of the snow, but definitely a very large lion came out at the end of the month! Cold, sleety and snowy days, combined with winds and dreary skies. All I can say is: Enough already! In fact, I just had my "spring" break but I use that term loosely. There was nothing very spring-like about it. I did have a really great visit at my sister Lisa's house in Colfax. The top 2 pictures are of her youngest daughter, Leila, who will be three on Monday, April 4! Happy Birthday, Leila! The first day of my visit I got to go to the school where my nephew, Michael, and niece, Emma, attend. Pictured here is a statue of the school's mascot, the mighty Viking. I was also fortunate enough to catch some of Emma's volleyball practice. Can you spot her? She is in the middle with the red T-shirt and pink shorts--certainly one of the tallest girls (which is really great for volleyball!). Here she is participating in one of the serving drills they were doing. She whacked that ball over the net! After each girl served the ball, they were supposed to go lay down on the other side of the court while the rest of the girls finished their serves. Volleyball player I am not...and I missed the explanation of why they had to lay in the area where balls were landing...but I'm guessing it's to get them used to balls flying at them? Hmm? The second day of my visit was spent mainly indoors due to cold rain. While the older kids were at school, Lisa and I spent time reading with Leila and sipping coffee and talking together. It was really nice. I also got to spend time with Lisa's husband, Jon, who is often away for his job which requires long hours and distant worksites. Jon's father was not feeling well and was in an Eau Claire hospital, but his condition has improved since and he is faring better. Their cat, Cuddles, spent lots of time meowing at me and even spent a minute stalking me...much like she used to do when she was just a kitten over ten years ago! Cuddles Tah-dah! I was awokened by Emma on my last day in Colfax with her saying,"Don't worry, Lulu, you can keep on sleeping because it is a snowday!" After sleet and freezing rain had fallen in the evening, during the night 6 inches of snow fell, with another4-6 anticipated for the daytime hours. You can see my vehicle covered with the wicked white snow. Lisa and I chuckled at her window hanging which seemed to be mocking us. Springtime in Wisconsin indeed!