Scenic Route with a Twist

Our only weekend plan was heading down to Platteville yesterday to see College Boy's "new" house he'll live in for the fall semester – and say goodbye, of course, before he heads off to Lincoln, Nebraska, this week for his summer internship. 

Since we had no time schedule, we decided to take the scenic route and take my car since it gets waaaaay better gas mileage than hubby's truck. So I cleaned the inside of the car, activated Sirius radio for the dead zone that is southeast Wisconsin, and we hit the road. 

We winded our way down through Amish country by Cashton and had my camera at the ready for photo opportunities. It was a pretty drive, but all I got for pictures was a variety of modes of transporation...

A crop duster in a cloudless sky...

A classic car on the curvy roads through hills and valleys...

And a super classic mode of getting around! 

Got to Carter's around 3 p.m. and his new digs are definitely an upgrade from the guy house he was in the last two years. Probably helps one of his roommates is female. No, not his girlfriend. Mom wouldn't go that far!

They just moved in this week. You can see Carter packs essentials together – his Nintendo 64 and first aid kit!

Had a really fun afternoon with all the kids. Grilled out of us in exchange for me bringing apple-snicker salad and a rhubarb dessert. Then the beer pong started. Two guys were beating everyone so they took on the old folks. When I sunk my first ball, I let out a cheer. And that was the only one. Ha. Haven't played in probably 25 years and Jim has never played. Still, he and Carter thought they might have a better chance with the father-son powers. Nope. Still fun, though!

Good time as always with our boy, his girlfriend, and their friends. Nice kids!

Said our goodbyes around 7 p.m. and hit the road. I was driving and took the straightforward route home, over to Madison area and up the interstate.

We were jamming to Sirius Radio stations so didn't know any news happening. We skirted around Madison as usual but when we were heading north and met several state troopers with lights flashing heading south, I told Jim to look online to see if maybe something was happening down there. It was. Big time. Non-peaceful protestors. Like a lot of cities this weekend. Uff da.

There wasn't much traffic so I was able to drive with my lights on bright and cruise along at 70+ mph. We were about 45 miles from home when a deer suddenly jumped out of the median ditch on my left and right in front of my car. Absolutely no time to stop. Just impact. Bam! Shaking car as I drove over the body. Then me pulling over to the side of the road. 

Jim got out of the passenger side and took a look. He told me to pull over further onto the side of the road, and said the car wouldn't be driveable. I wanted to see but I couldn't open my door. Plus it's not smart on the interstate. 

My first accident of any kind with me driving! My hands were shaking so I had Jim handle the calls to Sheriff's Department and they, in turn, got the tow truck for us. Tow truck actually beat the police officer, who said we were the fourth car-deer accident of his shift already, including one squad vs deer accident. Yikes. 

Since it was nearing 9:30 p.m., Jim's sister got the lucky call to come down to pick us up in Westfield. Got to ride in the tow truck (that's also a first) a few miles to Westfield. Mr. Tow said there's a pretty good chance the car is totaled, based on his vast experience. So we emptied out everything. Threw it all in the empty cooler. Luckily I had a lawn chair with, so I could sit on that during our parking lot wait while I thought about only enjoying our Sirius subscription for less than 12 hours!

So today, from what we can tell, we're not injured. Just a little sore. I guess we'll find out in the next few days if this is the end of Black Betty. Probably. On a positive note, if you're gonna total your car, do it during quarantine when you don't have a commute and you've got no place to go anyway!

Thank you, Lord! 

Quick Distraction

Our nation is a scary place right now. I know the last thing you want to see is more news of violence or hatred or unrest. So here's a picture of Sylvester showing the art of getting an equal tan on all 4 legs! She's a talent.

Now wasn't that nice momentary distraction? I need that and so much more. My brain is fried and so are my emotions so I'm signing off early.

May this weekend bring you happiness and maybe some peace!

Hills and Valleys

Because I sold my Gardening for Dummies book at a garage sale a few years back, I have no concept of what's growing in my backyard after we cleared out the dead stuff. These just seemed to pop up after 24 hours rain!

Thanks to the Internet, now I know. These are Lily of the Valley. I always pictured something else when I was growing up and my mom loved that perfume. Wasn't thinking tiny, delicate white bells. But they sure are pretty!

And since I was looking them up, I also learned that along with being the birth flower for May, they also mean sweetness, a return of happiness, purity of heart, you made my life complete, and protection from evil spirits.

I love that! And it is what we need right now. Especially today.

So much negative news coming out of Minneapolis right now. Murder. Riots. Looting. Fires. Racial divide. Anger. Grief.

I'm not going to get on any soapbox, but I will say that watching the video of the police officer kneeling on the gentleman's neck while he was already cuffed and begging to breathe just made me want to puke. I have no right to speak about the incident or the community reaction. I'm just going to pray for understanding and kindness and, just like the Lily of the Valley symbolizes, a return to happiness and purity of heart.

God, help us all.

Seven-Year Ache

Seems strange that this pandemic quarantine business feels like 612 days long already. But 7 years can fly by in a blink of an eye. I miss my dad!

Especially when I see pictures of him from a million years ago (aka when I was a baby). In the photo above, he's having fun with my twin sister while I'm laid across Mom's lap like she needs to spank me. Or, on closer inspection, she might be fixing something for the back of my outfit that she sewed for our baptism. 

Pretty typical Dad is trying to bring levity to the situation! While I thought I inherited that trait solely from him, I also recognize that the quieter, clever humor comes from Mom. It's no wonder we talked for our usual hour on the phone when I called her tonight. We're both so funny we just keep cracking each other up! (Hey, find an audience and capitalize on it!)

OK. Part of that was true. Long conversation, a few laughs, and just a lot of chitchat. She's a sharp cookie for 88! But this quarantine is making her lonely, too. Glad much of my family nearby has been able to pop in for visits – even through masks or window screens or parking lot chats. Thank you!

One thing I learned quickly after losing Dad was appreciating that Mom is still here. I haven't seen her since before Christmas and I miss her. Told her I would hopefully get up there in early June. We both want to see if all the Memorial Day Weekend activities cause a virus spike north of Highway 8. So we'll play it by ear. Hopefully I can just park a lawn chair outside her window and talk.

In the meantime, she's just a phone call away (call your mother, kids!) and Dad, well, he's around everywhere. He wasn't much of a conversationist on the phone when he was alive. But now we have great talks. Maybe it's because I get the last word in now. Who knows? 

Don't know where I get that from, do you, Dad? 

Keep those angels on their toes! Enjoy some heavenly birthday cake and ice cream for me!

Upside Down

This butterfly has no problem dealing with his world when it's turned upside down. He seems to prefer it! I do, too, when my "Monday" is actually on a Tuesday. God bless the occasional 3-day weekend!

Another warm and humid day – by May standards – but I didn't really notice from the confines of my office! It was a busy day and it flew. Just like this butterfly down the road.

And I did stop to smell the flowers. Glad to see I'm not the only one who likes lilacs!

I'm also not the only one who enjoys 4-day work weeks. I mean, really, tomorrow is Hump Day already?! Nice.

Just remember, when your world seems to be flipped on its backend, there are things to be grateful for! Heck, I can almost see the weekend from here!

Hello, Fake Beginning of Summer

When it's already 74 degrees at 9 a.m., you know it's summer. Or something close to it. It was humid out early, but that didn't stop me from sitting outside to enjoy my morning cup of coffee.

I could've just sat there all day. I mean that's what a holiday looks like. And even though this unofficially kicks off summer, we had no plans for any outdoor fun today because it was supposed to rain or thunderstorm. And it didn't. We got nothing. Not a drop.

So we spent a few hours clearing brush and crap in the backyard and called it a day. It was too warm for us old folks to be exerting ourselves like that! Cool epsom salt bath and a nap in the recliner in the A/C were more my speed. A/C already? Yes...

Look how warm it got! That doesn't always mean an automatic turning on of the air in this house. But when it's windy out and yellow-green pollen is blowing in all the open windows, it seemed like a good call.

Other than a little work, it was a pretty relaxing day. I'm always begging for a day between Sunday and Monday, and now I got one! Thanks. That was nice.

Pretty in Pink

Central Wisconsin is pretty in pink these days as the hopa trees and crab trees bloom. With the overnight showers, it smells like fresh rain and beautiful blossoms! Love it.

Relaxed today and had some fun on this warm, humid day, but nothing as photo worthy as these pretties! Nothing from my yard since we only grow dandelions. But enjoy!

I do have lilac Scentsy (wax warmer) going so I'm just holding onto that fresh scent all night! Happy spring. And don't set an alarm tomorrow!

My Wing Man

If I'm not feeling motivated to do yard work on a Saturday, I can always count on another Robyn, er robin, to be a bossy supervisor, er drill sergeant!

Probably good because I worked all afternoon tackling vines and crap in the back yard. If it sounds like I've written that before, I did. Last weekend. I now have another pile of vines and branches and the scratches to show for it.

The next victims will be the vines tangled in the juniper bushes (at right) that also have to go. It's just a neglected mess. Of course, last weekend, I was moving pretty slowly the day after, so I guess I should count myself lucky that it started to rain late this afternoon so I could call it quits.

Besides the scratches, I had something else to show for my time out back. My first wood tick of the season! Now I know it's Memorial Day Weekend. Summer temps. My wing man chirping. And wood ticks embedding themselves in humans.

See, now you can feel all creepy-crawly like I do! At least you didn't go camping, right?

Or did you? Hopefully it's a relaxing fun for you all!

Beat the Clock

I crashed Boys Night this evening and went golfing with Jim and Clay down at Lake Arrowhead. The tee time wasn't until 4:30 ish so we were sort of in a race to beat the clock – or at least sun down. And with cloudy skies all day, we knew it might get dark earlier.

Still, we managed to play at a good pace without feeling too rushed. I'm sure the round would have gone quicker if I had few swings. But that goes without saying!

Enjoyed seeing and playing the signature hole where I took several senior pictures last summer! Wasn't quite as pretty. Yet. (P.S. My hair is in a pony tail. I did not get THAT much cut off yesterday!)

And it was great to spend time with stepson No. 2. He loves to golf, so maybe we can venture out a few more times this summer. If they don't mind an old lady tagging along.

We got done about 8:15 p.m. and we could still see our balls landing on the 18th green. So it was all good. We beat the clock!

Now we can commence to doing nothing for the 3-day weekend. Yay! Enjoy yours, too, and be safe!

Some COVID Relief

When you say the quarantine will cause people's "true colors" to come out, you might mean how they handle stress, how much patience they have, how helpful they are. When I say true colors will come out, I mean that little strip of silver in your hair that grows wider by the day.

The one good thing about the status of things in Wisconsin is that today I got my COVID-19 relief...

Can you tell I'm smiling behind the mask? Yup. Many hair salons are now open – with restrictions. At my favorite chair, the hair artist and the customer most both wear a mask. So worth it. So very, very worth it!

Not just because of color equality in my head, but just doing something normal. What a relief. I said to my artist, "I just love sitting in this chair because it's not in my house! I feel like it's Robyn's Day Out!"

A treat for sure. For the magicians, though, they are slammed. More than 2 months worth of cut, color and curl chicks want their chair time. And now. And a lot of men (not in this house) do, too. Be patient, you'll get your appointment long before the rest of this nightmare is over.

And definitely before I show my true colors again!

Warm Regards

As the warmest day of the year (to date) descended upon central Wisconsin, I vowed to soak up every minute of it. And work 8 hours, of course.

I had my office windows open before 9 a.m. even. So I was able to work to the sounds of birds singing (they're less annoying than at 5:30 a.m.) and the wind chimes accompanying them. It was nice.

And difficult.

I'm glad I got into a strict work-from-home routine from the get-go. It has steeled my resolve for days like these. Days when I go outside to eat my lunch and it takes every ounce of willpower to come back in!

But I did.

Then, to further test us, our boss let our team out for recess. Seriously. It was a directive. We'll skip our meeting. Go outside and enjoy the sunshine. We could all use some vitamin D.

Indeed! 74 degrees. Not turning down that opportunity.

That was a harder return to work after that. I was really, really comfortable in Mr. Deck Chair! But I powered through the last hour inside and realized there is going to be a heckuva lot of nice days ahead. Gotta stay strong! Hope you are, too!

The good news is it's lighter out later so there are plenty after-hours opportunities when it's quittin' time. Like last night I had a marathon church council meeting. Yay. And tonight I had an enjoyable book club meeting via Zoom. Yay for real.

I miss people! But the sun sure helps my attitude. My flowers like it, too. And so do Jim's flowers.

Sunshine means everybody wins!

Zooming In

One positive about this virus and quarantine is that the timing couldn't be better. I mean seriously, I get to see my team at work every day thanks to modern technology like Skype and Zoom meetings. It definitely gives me a reason to shower and comb my hair every morning!

And then there's your creative friends who not only make you a purple facemask to wear in public, but also a purple Zoom shirt to wear for your Zoom meetings. Oh yes, it's a thing!

Who's the luckiest work-from-home employee? This girl! Thanks to my friend Cindy I am styling at my 8:30 a.m. team meeting! She used her new Cricut to make my "This is my Zoom meeting shirt"! The shirt's awesome and she's awesome!

As much as people were impressed with the debut today, I can't wear it every time I have a Zoom meeting. Let me work on the daily shower routine first. Then we'll work up to regular laundry!

Rainy Winds-Day Type of Sunday

It wasn't just a rainy Sunday – as in rained all day and still hasn't stopped – it was also super windy – as in check out these wind gusts!

Yup, 44 mph. So that was just a green light to stay inside and do nothing. We did get to see some live golf on TV for the first time in 2 months. It was a fundraiser for COVID-19 and only featured 4 golfers, but it was awesome! NASCAR was also competing for viewers this afternoon. Trust me, I'm not the only one who will take any live sports right now!

This evening, to maintain our couch potato reputation, we turned to Netflix. Jim and I finished all 3 seasons of OZARK and highly recommend! Tonight, we started WACO and watched 3 of the total of 6 episodes. It's based on books from people on both sides – in the compound and outside as an FBI negotiator. If you forgot what a cluster that was, it's work watching from what we've seen.

Looks like we'll have one more rainy and blustery day in the 1-acre wood here (aka TV watching day). Then, temperature-wise anyway, we're finally into normal temps. Silver linings and rainbows and such.

Hold onto your hats and watch that grass (and your gardens) grow!

Back to Nature

With a 70+ degree high for today, we spent as much time outside that we could. First was the non-fun stuff, of course. Mowing, clipping, and removing a crap ton of overgrowth and vines in the backyard.

What did I have to show for it? Well about 2 dozen scratches at least on my arms and legs. And most of this trailer load for the compost site.

That earned me an afternoon on the water with our friends and an evening in the water of my bathtub with epsom salts.

A little windy but mostly sunny and nice on Nepco Lake. Saw lots of kayakers, jetskiers, and boaters out today.

Cindy, Mike, and Jim social distancing appropriately. When the waves didn't throw us all together.

Turtle sunning and napping like a cat.

Swan and geese resting nearby. I wanted to paddle closer, but I've been on the receiving end of hissing geese and it's not pleasant. So zoomed in and tried my best.

Mike and Cindy cooperating with a smile.

My long-haired, bearded husband, not so much. He's not a friend of my camera.

Babies!

"Get in line, kids! Crazy woman with a camera in the kayaks!"

And off they go. Cute.

Other ducks on the shoreline.

And that was about it for wildlife. Not the season yet for tons of flowers. Still, it was just nice – wonderful, actually – to be out and visit with our friends, too.

Glad we could squeeze in work and play today. Tomorrow promises to be rainy and dreary. Sounds like a good day to do nothing, if you ask me!

Hope you enjoyed some spring time today, too!!