A Day in Winter

I spent the morning in Winter, Wisconsin.  There is a nursery/greenhouse that has a huge selection as well as 25% off this time of year.  What it is known for is its display gardens.  The gardens are part of the terrain so you can't see one garden from the others - plus absolutely everything is labeled:  annuals, perennials, shade, prairie.  Probably more gardens but that is what I saw.  I bought a truck bed full to continue putting together my garden area.  All of the plants are native, deer resistant, and likes sandy, well drained soil (I use the word soil loosely.)  Then, of course, I have to like how they look.  There's not a large range that fit in all those categories.  I can't wait to see how it turns out.

A Day Inside

Rain and gusts of 40 mph wind.  'Nuf said.

A Day on the Water

Actually not a day but just a couple of hours in the boat.  Temperature was high 60's, full sun, no wind, water was calm.  The maples that turn bright red are at their peak.  This is why we are here.

A Day in the Woods

My activity group (18 of us today) drove north to Copper Falls Sate Park.  Even though it was misting, the falls (several) and the autumn colors were spectacular.  We made a fire in the fireplace in the pavilion to cook hot dogs and marshmallows for s'mores.  A great day.

I thoroughly enjoy our outings on Tuesdays.  The best part of the day is the drive to and from.  We always carpool - not always with the same people.  Sometimes the talk is serious or political or deep.  Sometimes it is about the absolute stupidest things.  Whatever it is - the journey together is the important part - not the destination...although we have gone to some beautiful places that I would not have seen otherwise.  I like pushing myself physically, too.  Today was an easy day though.  Next week we will have lived here for one year.  I have been reflecting back upon the first 12 months.  This group has been an important part of making the transition to retirement and the Northwoods a smoother one than without the group. 

Saved by a Pumpkin Pie

Yesterday a friend and I spent the day at the Cable (town) Fall Fest.  We talked with people we knew, shopped, and had lunch at the Ojibwe food booth - chicken and wild rice (harvested locally) soup and fry bread.  On the way to the car I bought a pumpkin pie from ladies at a local church.  Little did I know how important that purchase was.  When I got home, the electricity was out - not weather related.  (I heard later that a large generator at our electric company went out.)  Here it is an hour before dinner.  There is nothing to eat except peanut butter sandwiches....didn't take long for me to connect the dots.  Also, to save the melting ice cream, we had it a la mode.  We spent the evening with friends with a huge generator and came home to lights on.

NOTE TO CASE IF HE READS THIS:  WE HAVE A GENERATOR.  IT IS TIME TO SET IT UP.  WE DON'T ALWAYS HAVE FRESH PUMPKIN PIE AVAILABLE.  

Renting a Tool

First of all, I can't believe that Case doesn't already have every tool for all situations.  That's not the point of this blog.  He needed to rent a tool to assist in finishing the mechanical room (furnace, hot water heater, etc.) in the house.  It is the one room that was not completely redone as all the other rooms were. 
*****Let me preface that this is hearsay and I couldn't swear to this in a courtroom.*****

Case:  I want to rent a saws all for one day.
clerk:  Here it is.  I'll charge you when you bring it back.
Case:  Don't you want a deposit or something?
clerk: Why?  Are you planning on stealing it?
Case:  Uh, no.
clerk:  See you tomorrow.

Civic Duty

I was asked to serve as secretary for a committee in the township government.  It is the Zoning Board of Appeals that meets on an "as needed" basis.  An appeal of a zoning variance that was denied has been submitted.  I handle everything except chairing the meeting.  I have coordinated 12 people on both sides of the issue to set a date.  That was no easy task.  Now I am putting the meeting agenda in the newspaper and on the township's 3 bulletin boards.  Then there is a huge packet of info mailed to all parties.  You get the idea.  I was pleasantly surprised to learn that I am being paid $10 an hour for my efforts as well as reimbursed for all expenses including mileage.  No, I am not taking my money from taxes.  The petitioner paid $350 for the privilege of this hearing - no matter the outcome. 

Earlier in the year I was sworn in to this post at a township meeting.  I felt the seriousness of it at the time.  Now the local wheels of government need to get rolling.  The hearing is set for October 25. 

Wet and Rainy Wednesday

So it is a great day to get some paperwork done and as well as inside projects that I have been putting off since April.  Or I can surf the movie channels or finish the jigsaw puzzle.  Because there are not many deadlines in retirement, it is difficult to get motivated to do things I don't want to do.  Physics comes into the situation - inertia.  I am at rest or at play and want to continue doing do.  Once I get started on something, it is usually not hard to finish or at least work on a chunk of it.  After dinner some nights I don't think I can clean up one more time!  Case has table clearing, dishwasher, and putting away leftovers duties.  I hand wash a few things and wipe the counters.  Doesn't sound too bad, but I don't even want to do that. So I set the timer on the microwave for 10 minutes.  I can do anything for 10 minutes.  Usually I am done by the time the alarm goes off. 

Alright...time to work.

It's that Time Again

I wore my first turtleneck of the season today. 

You Had to See it

We were driving west in the lane from our house to the road.  I couldn't believe what I was seeing.  The orange-ish yellow light from the setting sun was shining through the dense forest to make it look like fireworks.  The kind of fireworks that explodes in the sky and then the bright fragments shimmer to the ground.  The light from the sun was not a stationary light but was broken up by the trees to look like fireworks because we were moving.  It was fantastic!

You had to see it.

One of those exciting days

Tuesday proved to be a great day - a day with my walking group.  We are back to the 10 AM start so I could sleep in.  Twenty-two women walked 4 miles along a road with only 3 cars going by.  Bag lunch at the woman's  home who organized the day.  Also got a tour of her recently-renovated home.  Brownies and rum cake were served for dessert.  Then an hour and a half kayaking on the Tiger Cat Flowage.  Weather was perfect.  Home at 4:00 with leftovers for supper (no cooking).  A few times during the day I thought to myself that I wouldn't want to be anywhere else in the world but right here and right now walking and kayaking with friends in the Northwoods.

Yes, a good retirement day.  It's great to be alive. 

One of those unexciting days

The alarm went off at 5:30 AM.  It should have been set for 6 or after.  That will definitely be taken care of.  I worked this morning and this afternoon stayed in town to do many errands.  I made dinner when I got home.  Now I am writing my blog.  Tomorrow has to be better. 

Shouldn't retirement be one long party and fun times?

No Packer Talk, I Promise. - Hawk Ridge Bird Observatory

I went with a group to Duluth today to see migrating raptors: Hawks, Falcons, Eagles and many other names that I had never even heard of.  Duluth is on tall bluffs overlooking the tip of Lake Superior.  The migrating birds in September and October either stop here or use this as a landmark.  More and more birds just kept flying over.  We also watched birds being banded for future study if they are captured again.  It was quite a thrill to see them being released afterward.  For $50 you could be the one to release one of these birds.  They take your picture with it and notify you if the bird is ever captured again.  I released a white-capped sparrow for free.  We called him "Cap'n Jack." 

It is satisfying to know that these volunteer organizations exist.  I certainly know how this one is funded. 

I'm just saying...

Packers are playing the season opener on TV in a few minutes.  Of course, I've been looking forward to it all week.  I've also been thinking how important the Green Bay Packers are.

• President Obama moved the timing of his speech - not any ol' speech - but addressing a joint session of Congress of the United States - so it would not conflict with the Packer game.
• There is a church just 30 minutes from Green Bay that has been given official approval by the Catholic Church that Mary appeared there in 1859 (18 months after Lourdes).
• The Green Bay Public Schools planned an early closing of all schools today for the game.

The government, the church, the schools all recognize the power of Green Bay.

(I realize I might be stretching it a bit to say the Mother of God likes the Packers but you never know.  I did visit that church the day after the game.  It's a beautiful place and a wonderful place to pray.)

Green Bay Pictures

You know that I don't usually post pictures.  Here is an exception:  Green Bay Packers' Fans at Lambeau Field before a game.  I went to the game by myself.  Driving to the game from Hayward, I started to think how I would make this trip different than if someone went with me.  By the time I got there I had a plan.  I would scout out a group of young good-looking guys.  Then I would look for someone close by who would be willing to take a picture.  After this was set up in my mind, I would go to the single person and ask if they would take my picture.  "Of course!"  After handing my camera to her/him, I would position myself among the guys and say, "these are my new best friends, take our picture."  I spent about 2 hours before the game in the air conditioned Atrium (90 degrees outside) having fun.  Everyone was in a good mood - no one had been overserved yet.  I ended up talking to many people that this was my first game.  I had so much fun.  Now to explain what I was wearing...I only have a Packers sweatshirt so I wasn't wearing that.  On the way I stopped at a JoAnn Fabrics store in Wausau and bought 1/8 of a yard of Packer fabric and tied it in a BIG bow around a generic baseball cap I was wearing.  Got a lot of smiles.  People couldn't laugh - I mean, they were wearing cheeseheads - how could they poke fun?  Here are a few of the pics....of me and complete strangers but we're all in the Packer Fan Family. 

Yes, there are cheesehead cowboy hats.

 Ya, hey dere!

 The girlfriend of the guy took this picture.  I had to wait in line to take a picture of the green Mohawk kid.

 This group was stunned.

 His friend also in full gear took the picture.

 He couldn't believe that this was my first game.

 In Curly's (Lambeau) bar

Retirement is great!

The Lambeau Experience

The whole thing was great!  I feel like an official Wisconsin resident. Too many cool things and neat experiences to name.  Yes, me and 79,000 of my closest friends.  Here are a few highlights:

• I ask the metro bus driver how much to ride to Lambeau.  "It's free.  The city of Green Bay welcomes you."
• The driver asks if the guy wearing the Vikings jersey is still on the bus.  Yes, we say.  "Too bad.  I thought you would have thrown him off by now."  (Why he was wearing a Vikings jersey is a mystery.  We were playing the KC Chiefs.)
• Miss Wisconsin sang the National Anthem.  A fighter flew over very low as she was finishing..."brave."
• Every third down for the Chiefs we stood to make noise.  That is called G-Force, making for a hostile work environment for the opponents.
• I saw Rodgers and starters make a touchdown on the first possession.  Looked easy.
• At halftime peewee ball carriers were lifted up for their own Lambeau leap.
• Packers won 20-19.  Priceless.  I'm ready for the season to begin.

I am so excited

As soon as I finish this entry, I am getting in the car and driving to the Packer game in Green Bay.  I am so excited.  All the details later!!!!!!!!!!!