ELF

I lead the hiking group this morning in the misting rain.  We walked a paved forest road in the national park system.  It is the only paved forest road in the United States.  This 3 mile road leads to the former Naval Facility that used Extremely Low Frequency (ELF) to communicate with submarines running at full speed deep under the polar ice cap.  It was in operation from 1985 to 2002.  In fact only one building with no windows and one door remains.  Currently it is used for storage by the National Park Service. Check out ELF Line, Clam Lake, WI on google.  Also, the next time you watch the movie, The Hunt for Red October, it mentions waiting for communication from this facility.

In this group of 22 walkers today, three had a connection to this ELF facility.  One woman lived her entire adult life here.  When the Navy moved in, they asked for volunteers to be given a 2 day physical every year to monitor if the large antenna caused any health problems.  She volunteered for 5 years - no health problems.  A second woman was in the Navy in communications and was familiar this facility.  A third woman had a husband who was an engineer with a Chicago company that worked on part of the facility design.

For lunch we stopped in downtown Clam Lake (unincorporated) at the Elkhorn Restaurant.  I had made arrangements ahead of time for them to set up tables and lay out a taco bar.   Sign on the front door:  Concealed weapons are not allowed. 

Fun in the Northwoods!

Swing State

Oh, to live in a swing state in an election year!  Illinois always goes democratic so we never got any political phone calls or political survey calls.  In Wisconsin we have received as many as 4 calls in one day!  I have gotten so that I just answer, "Romney" and hang up.   

Snow!

Woke up to snow on the ground on Saturday, September 22.  It melted by mid-morning.  The electric blanket was brought out for Sunday. 

Homecoming Parade

I happened to be in town when the Homecoming parade went down Main Street.  It had energy and was great fun.  I watched it with the owner of the Hallmark store who is a friend of mine.  We stood outside her place where lots of parents gathered including the Spanish teacher.  Whenever a group of students went by, they shouted, "Hola!"  Even the police cars had painted windows - Go Canes!  Their nickname is the Hurricanes.  'Canes for short.  Currently there is a publicity campaign that all the local businesses have a sign in the window referring to the 'Canes and their business.  "Floss like a 'Cane" - dentist    "Read like a 'Cane" - library.  "Keep warm like a 'Cane" - woodstove store.  It has generated some excitement.  The school's initials HHS are the same as the school where I grew up - Homer High School.  I need to buy a HHS sweatshirt with a swirl behind the letters (hurricane) although yellow and black are not my favorite colors.  Back to the parade...the 'Canes are playing the Barron Bears so the floats were:  Tree the Bears with stuffed bears in a real tree; Bury the Bears with a fake bear in a coffin; Bash the Bears with a kid in a bear costume being hit with a fake hammer; Roast the Bears with a paper mache bear over a spit.  All the usual small town stuff that I grew up with.  I loved it.  The most interesting part of the parade was the two Harleys that lead it.  I was told later that it was the Superintendent and the new high school athletic director.  (Private message to my hometown readers:  I couldn't imagine Mr. Gilpin riding a Harley.) 

Wedding Moments

• Beautiful weather.  Lovely ceremony.  Everyone was happy.  Pictures still being gathered.
• When Tad took his place in the front of the church to wait for Carrie and her Dad to walk down the aisle, it HIT me.  My son is getting married.  
• Carrie, his bride, was absolutely glowing.
• I read the scripture readings and did well despite the circumstances.  Receiving many compliments, I always replied, "I have a great Author."
• Lucyna was a bridesmaid and the bride's brother was a groomsmen.  They walked together.  It was sweet. 
• Flowers:  different shades of purple - gorgeous!  The women with a corsage like myself received wrist-lets that I had never experienced.  They were delicate and light and tied on my wrist by the florist himself with a wide organza ribbon.  I wore it on Sunday because I liked it so much. (Case tied it.)
• On a side table on the altar was a Memory Candle: listing the names of deceased family members like my father and mother and Case's father.  It was very meaningful.  I appreciated that fact that they were acknowledged. They all would have loved to have attended.
• At the reception hall there were framed photographs of wedding couples (parents, grandparents) from both sides of the family.  That was a great idea as well.  Honoring marriage.
• Food was delicious!  DJ was spectacular!  Tad and I danced to "You're My Inspiration" by Chicago.  That was a special moment for this Mom.
• To send off the couple, we went to the parking lot, lit sparklers and made an arch.  That was exciting!
• Many people worked to make this wedding as special as it was.  More later...

Labor Day

Well, it is definitely Labor Day for us.  We will be laboring all day - getting ready for the wedding and packing the car.  We are leaving for Sturgeon Bay early Thursday morning.  I have a neighbor coming in to feed the birds while we are gone.  So that means I need to pick up the house as well.  Eek!  At least I am not the bride's mom with wedding headquarters in the house.  Anyway, it looks like we are dodging any Isaac rain which will make for a more pleasant day of "laboring."

Recent animal sightings of note:  a rabbit - the first one we have EVER seen up here because of so many predators; flock of 4 large turkeys enjoying the yard,  doe with two fawns continue to inhabit our corner of the forest.

Don't Look at the Calendar

It is August 25.  The sugar maple trees are already oranges and reds.  The deer are eating the plentiful acorns that have fallen to the ground.  A few mornings have been down right cold.  We had a very early spring.  Now an early fall.  Should be in the 80's for the rest of the week to hold off autumn.  We definitely want good weather for Tad's and Carrie's wedding in September in Door County.