We're Falling Fast

I keep thinking it's way too early for fall colors to be showing. But then I look at the calendar and dang. It's October tomorrow. What?

So maybe I should pay attention. Move past denial and enjoy the best part of autumn. Saying "I'm not ready" is not going to stop the leaves from changing or falling. I think we've learned that we don't control most things.

So goodbye, September. And Day 574 out of the office. Friday is Day 575. And also the day I can talk freely about pumpkin spice without judgment – mostly. And dust off the hoodie collection. 

Change can be good. Occasionally.

Happy October Eve!

Coffee Cup Overfloweth

It's another made-up holiday today – National Coffee Day. For me, who grew up hating the taste of "burnt water," as hubby calls it, Coffee Day is every day.

And while I have enough coffee mugs in my life, I certainly liked this one I saw on the store shelf. I did not buy it but took a picture so I could remember that this is the cup of blessings we should drink from every day.

When you feel less than worthy – on any level – remember that God designed you, created you, blesses you, heals you, defends you, forgives you, and loves you.

I do, too. Well, most of you! Put that in your coffee cup and sip it! 

 

Corner Office with a View

If I didn't know any better, I'd think today was Thursday. It's been a long week at work already. Thankfully my "office" was a remote setting like this for this afternoon.

Can't really disclose the location. Just know that it was a gorgeous setting for a video shoot with sunny skies and summer-like weather for another day. We'll hold onto this as long as we can!

Of course, the rest of the work day and non-work evening were not so serene. Busy work and then shooting volleyball after – first middle school, then JV, then Varsity (finally playing a home match). The Varsity Squad came away successful. 

Took way too many photos of the three teams to even think about posting any tonight. But know that the girls put on quite a show. What talent!

Since I will not have a pretty view like this tomorrow – or any sports to shoot – I suppose I'll get time Hump Day evening to see if any of the hundreds of photos worked. I dislike shooting volleyball. Light is low and action is too fast for my camera to capture much in focus. Something will work, I'm sure.

In the meantime, I'll focus on the gentle waves sparkling in the sun and relax!

Have a good rest of your week! 

Me and My Shadow

I got to not only watch high school tennis being played on the grass courts at Sand Valley, I got to be part of of it.

One of the reasons I like photographing tennis there is that there are no fences to try to shoot through. There's just sand banks all around. That I also can stand on for better views – and to cast my shadow! Like I was playing. Ha.

It was a gorgeous day for playing in the grass. I don't know if Assumption or Marshfield Columbus won, but our young team was holding their own.

And no, I can't figure out scoring yet. It took me this long to finally have the Ryder Cup down. Tennis is more complicated in my mind. They just seem to play a long time. But when it's 68 degrees and sunny – who am I to cast shadows on that fun?

Our Wins Today

I stepped into the sun. It was a beautiful day today. I noticed because I actually didn't park my butt into the recliner – until noon, anyway!

Before that, I watched church online, uploaded pictures for the school, and went for a 3-mile walk. Nice fall day. I can say that now since it's October later this week!

But yeah, I did watch a few hours of the Ryder Cup finale. Americans set a record by winning with 19 points. As Capt. Strick shows in this photo (not sure who to credit), it was a big W just like when Wisconsin wins! Or we cheer for them and hope for one.

As the Ryder Cup wound down, I was able to catch some of my Vikings' victory on TV, too. Nice to have something in the win column finally. 

That game was just wrapping up when my friend Cindy and I headed to the movie theater. Now that's someplace we haven't been since pre-COVID! But we wanted to see Dear Evan Hansen and figured it would be a small crowd since the Packers are on tonight. 

It was. And most likely they could all hear me sobbing. Such an emotional musical! But we were glad to see it. We both read the book and we were supposed to see it on stage (as part of our Broadway touring ticket package) in June of 2020. Then, thanks to COVID, it got postponed to that August, then spring of 2021, then August of 2021, and now April of 2022. So we do have tickets still and now can't wait to see it next spring.

And we'll be sure to bring Kleenex! 

I should acknowledge that the Brew Crew clinched their division today. Knew several people at that game so I'm sure they're riding cloud 9. Hubby is still hoping for a wildcard slot for his Reds (in that same division). And I know my Twins have clinched the basement in the American League Central Division. 

Guess we'll take our victories where we can. Have a winning week!

An Even Par Day

You may regret returning to this blog and hoping that now that I'm all caught up with my sports photos, that I have something interesting to share. Well, this is it. Here's my list of accomplishments today....

Polished off the last of this yummy Viking Toast Kringle my friend Christine dropped off Wednesday night. A personal delivery from Racine! There's a reason they call it a Viking Kringle – and it's not because the crumbs fall wide right.

According to the O & H website, here's what you'll learn today about the Viking Toast Kringle: As the Vikings explored the lands beyond their shore, they came to experience many beautiful cities, including Paris, France. Now, what would a Viking visiting the City of Light do? Enjoy the vibrant culinary scene of course! In admiration of this visit, we have created this Kringle. We take a buttery maple cinnamon filling and layer it with silky smooth cream cheese, for that classic French Toast flavor. But all Vikings need a little extra uff-da, so we frost this Kringle in a Bourbon Vanilla icing and douse it in cinnamon sugar, for a wonderfully balanced combination of flavors. But you better get this Kringle fast, because, just like an open little café table in Paris, it'll be gone before you know it.

And it was!

And I was just sitting there eating a Kringle. I was watching Ryder Cup and drinking Pumpkin Spice coffee. I may or may not have spent at least 6 hours in the recliner today. And it's not even Sunday!

Between sessions, I went to the scrapbook store and they happened to be doing a free make-and-take today. So I made this lovely card! And found kayaking paper for my fall scrapbook weekend in less than a month!

I also accomplished getting my pictures ordered for that and started organizing whatever else I'll need. This is my only wide open weekend to get stuff done. And knowing there's a good chance I'll tune into some more golf tomorrow, I better get back to it!

Oh and can't forget my biggest accomplishment...

I successfully turned kitty into a spice girl. She enjoyed some of the Pumpkin Pie Blizzard that Jim brought home for me tonight.

Here she's either saying "Thank you, lesser human" or "Did you know I just licked my butt before I licked your ice cream?"

Still tasted fine to me! I guess I'm ahead going into tomorrow's competition. Actually if it involves ice cream, we're all winners.

Not Very Original

Like deja vu all over again, I am out of time tonight. Since we went over the the in-laws for fish fries after work, I just got to my hundreds of photos from last night. I got 4 cross country races done but still have football to go. 

So even though this is not very original, enjoy another sunset on me...

This was our view driving home in the rain from Jim's parents' house. A beautiful sunset chased us the whole way. Glad it caught us. What a beautiful ending to quite a busy week!

Let's have a good weekend, shall we?

 

One To Hold You Over

Since my post-work hours today were filled with photos – first cross country and then football – I'll just give you one picture to hold you over. Well, make that two. But one sunset.

This was are view driving west and approaching Plover on our way home from the Ryder Cup Tuesday. The one above you can see the water tower way off.

And this one was down the hill and closer to town. How fitting that such a nice day ended on a pretty note.

And today ended on a high note, too. The cross country teams did well at our home meet and the football team shutout Pittsville 39-0. Nice!

Off to photo land now. See you tomorrow!

Your Personal Ryder Tour

Welcome to your personal Ryder Cup tour. I'm Robyn and I'll be your guide. And if you don't care anything about golf, go ahead and skip today's blog. I won't be offended.

The tour started early Tuesday morning. Actually, it started 2 years ago when I was waiting in a virtual line to get tickets. And, by the time I got to the front of the line, they only had practice days left – no competition days. I was bummed but then was excited because practice days are more relaxed and we spectators have more freedom – including bringing our cameras.

It was a good Valentine's Day gift in 2020 and worth waiting for.

We arrived in one of the parking lots around 8 a.m. Knowing the players couldn't start practicing until 9 a.m., we decided to walk around. Jim golfed at Whistling Straits years ago and was excited to show me. But it didn't look at all the same.

Large TV screens and spectator stands were everywhere. Somewhere among them, was a gorgeous course alongside Lake Michigan. Definitely close as we could feel the 20 mph wind on occasion. Thankfully we dressed in layers. And didn't need to take our light jackets off. Ever.

We saw a few people we knew, plus made a point of seeing some friends we hadn't see in ages. Here's Jim with Rob, Rapids native who lives in Arizona now but writes for wisconsingolf.com. 

And here's me with my former pastor Josh, who is the Green Bay area now but I haven't seen in 6 years. Oh the amazing power of Facebook and cell phones to stay connected!

Now onto golf...

The European team literally arrived Monday so they had to get their team photos and individual photos taken before practice. That's the first thing we happened to stumble upon, being in the right place at the right time. And yes, just 6 or 10 feet away. So cool. And I'll say that another dozen times, I bet!

Well I'll just get this out of the way now. I had a crush on Sergio (left if you don't know) when he was first on tour. So you may or may not see too many pictures of him. 

The usually very stoic Ian Poulter was so entertaining. Just a clown. He was hilarious.

Wait, Sergio again. Ha.

Little windy.

Lake views. See what I mean about structures causing obstructed views?

And then there's Rory. So talented and little cutie.

Captain Padraig Harrington.

Lots of seating set further down the fairway. This is where we sat later to watch the action on 9 right there and could see 18 green, too!

They're actually facing a mass of cameras. Those professionals. I'm just standing on the side of the ropes with the other amateurs.

Ooooh. Can I take that home?

After spying on their photo session, we headed over to the putting green and driving range. That's where the Americans were warming up.

Captain Steve Stricker taking a picture for social media.

See? Not kidding! Now let's watch some warmups...

Patty Ice in the sand.

Some words of advice from the coolest golfer on the planet: Freddy Couples. 

And here's my buddy Harris chipping. Why yes, he IS my buddy...

Not fake.  This was this summer. He's that tall – 6'4" I think – plus I'm that short. 

So some players are more interesting to watch than others!

Brooks is one, too. Only because of an alleged feud with his teammate. But you'll see in a few photos down that they actually did talk to each other! And I captured it.

I have JT's autograph from when he won the Sentry Tournament of Champions in 2019. So many connections. 

Wouldn't you love to hear this conversation?

Or this one? Hmmm.

Mixed company on the putting green.

Another convo I'd love to have heard. Something with the belt buckle or pants?

Oh, it's Sergio! Getting interviewed.

Thank you, zoom lens!

Neat to see Lefty, another longtime icon.

All day I wished I could have Tommy Fleetwood's hair!

Westy is another legend and gentleman.

Now for actual practice! Each team had 3 foursomes that also included plenty of caddies and captains tagging along. The USA team did the front 9 and Europeans took the back. They only did 9 holes but at each one they really practiced the holes – like lining up lots of putts they expect to face this weekend. Slow pace but it worked well when we were sitting down for a bit and could watch action on both the 9 and 18th greens.

So here are action shots. I don't know if my blog limits the number of photos, but I'll add them here and hopefully they're self-explanatory! We started on back 9 just on hole 10.

Lake views.

It definitely seemed like the Europeans were having more fun and just enjoying themselves, while our guys were all-business.

And back to the American crew finishing up on the 9th hole.

And turning ourselves to the left, we could watch the Euro team finishing on the 18th. Quite a finishing hole!

We interrupt this practice for a fairway crossing. What do you think it is – muskrat, otter, fisher, marten, what?

The out-of-state visitors sitting behind us thought squirrel. But they didn't have a zoom lens. And they're also the ones who referred to Lake Michigan as an ocean.

My turn for a hug, say blog author.

I don't know about you, but having an American eagle fly over the European team sure seems like a good omen to me! For that and so many reasons now, we'll really enjoying the action on TV this weekend. We'll be warm and in comfy chairs AND some of these boys will be larger than life!

Even without a zoom lens.

Thanks for coming along on my tour. For golf nuts like us, it was a really fun experience!