Wisconsin Sports

The Wisconsin Badgers football team is part of a public university system.  All the teams they play are public as well.  Why, then, are the Badgers being inundated with prayer?  "Hail, Mary" to be exact.  Two weeks in a row the other team pulled a Hail Mary play in the last few seconds beating the Badgers.  Isn't there still separation of church and state? 

Brewers lost the playoffs...so no World Series.  Badgers have been prayed into the losing column - dropping their national rank.  The Packers have won all of their games, but they had a bye yesterday.  All last week there was only ONE question being asked around here.  What are you going to do on Sunday afternoon?

A Porcupine Story

When there is road kill, it is taken care of by eagles, crows, coyotes, etc. in very short order.  This porcupine carcass has been laying along the main road for nearly 2 weeks. 

Moral of the story:  If you are prickly (grouchy, mean - fill in an unpleasant human trait here) in life, nobody will go near you even when you're dead. 

October 27, 2011

I am marking down this day.  It is snowing.  Our first one of the season.  Big fluffy flakes covering the ground.  It is a beautiful sight.

A year ago when we moved here - yes, it has been a year - October 1 was our moving anniversary - everyone had dire warnings about the snow in northern Wisconsin.  I checked the official totals from last winter.                                        
                                Hayward=37.6 inches     O'Hare=57.3 inches

Chicago had a blizzard or two.  I'll give you that.  Case got out the snowblower three times last winter.  Most of the time we just drove the 4 x 4 truck and didn't worry about it.

I think I hear Case downstairs waxing his skis...                                                   

No More Ground Squirrel

We had been noticing a ground squirrel literally running around the outside of the house.  There are two camps about any kind of squirrel:  they are cute and they are rats with tails.  I think they are cute unless they get to be somewhere they shouldn't be, and then I change camps.  It seems to me that squirrels have this simpleton mad-crazy personality.  When they do pause from their continuous activity, they have this look on their faces that say, "We're squirrels!"

Someone else had noticed his arrival as well - Foxy.  She spent a whole day in our yard stalking him.  Squirrel would run into the wood pile.  Foxy would sit on top of the pile waiting for him to exit.  Squirrel would run up a tree.  Foxy would be after him but knows he is not coming down the same tree so moves to another area.  This is all while Case is working outside the garage with power tools.  We didn't see the actual end of the story, but the squirrel is no longer around.   

Early in the Morning

What a beautiful morning it is!  Sunrise over the lake...the air temperature was warmer than the water so there was steam/fog/mist.  The sun is shining with few clouds.  Since yesterday four swans have landed on our lake to rest and refuel during their migration trip.  They seem happy and healthy.  All is well in the Northwoods.

Cooking

Together Case and I cooked a new recipe tonight.  We gave it an official evaluation about what to change to suit our tastes for next time.  Retirement affords us the time to do fun things like that.  And I am glad for it.

It needs basil.

Fun in the Northwoods

I hosted my hiking group yesterday.  Eighteen woman walked 4 miles through the National Forest and returned to my house for their lunch and UMW Apple Cake*.  Everyone wanted the recipe.  Where did I put 18 people in my 24 x 36 house?  Too cold for the porch so card tables and many chairs and stools fit the bill.  I was short of room but we were long on friendship and a good time. 

*UMW=United Methodist Women.  I learned this recipe from this group of women over 30 years ago and was a part of it until I moved.  It is one of their signature desserts that they serve.  I had to give them the credit.

Random note:  Brewers had a great season.  It was fun.  I think they just ran out of steam.  Cardinals certainly had the momentum.  

I Do Windows

This afternoon Case and I washed all the windows on the main floor.  Somehow I thought retirement would mean that I don't do windows.  I was wrong.  Our beautiful view is a whole lot clearer now.  It was worth it.

Time

Time gets away from you when you are retired and doing nothing....trip out of state, family visiting, hiking in the woods, eating out, watching the Packers and the Brewers.  (Looks like I will be watching the Brewers for several more weeks!!!) 

Too busy

I have spent a few days in the UP (Upper Peninsula Michigan) with my hiking group.  We have family this weekend.  Next blog is Sunday. 

A Day in the Dirt

I spent the day planting 18 plants in my 2 flower beds.  Cold in the morning and hot in the afternoon.  After I was done, I sprayed everything with "Liquid Fence".  It is a product to keep away the deer.  However, the yearlings eat anything even if it is considered deer resistant.  Too young to read I suppose. 

A Day in the Sky

Case and I hiked part of the North Country National Scenic Trail this morning.  Beautiful weather.  We ended up at tall outcropping of rock that is a 60 foot cliff overlooking the Chequamegon National Forest in its full-color glory.  Felt like we were in the sky! 

The North Country National Scenic Trail is a trail/footpath from New York to North Dakota.  It winds through northern Wisconsin.  We are planning to try other parts of the trail because this part was so good.