Memorable March

The crazy super moon eclipsed my interesting blog material from yesterday!

I traveled down to Warrens Cranberry Festival to watch Carter and the Assumption Marching Band in the parade. Since they were unit #63, I knew I could show up after the noon start, find a close parking spot and see them in time. I've had 4 years of practice. I have it down to a science!

It was a gorgeous day – a bit hot to be in band uniforms – so I got a ton of photos. Still haven't finished futzing with them yet, but here's a few.

They played the song "The Middle" by Jimmy Eat World. You would know it if you heard it.

They had plenty of dance moves, too. It was very entertaining. Right before they got to the turn off of Main Street, though, the parade came to a halt.

This is Carter's "are we seriously stopping the parade in this heat because a woman is giving birth?" face. Oh yes. Fact. About 2 units ahead of them, the ambulance was helping a pregnant shopper who was going into labor. I hope that she names it Warren, even if it's a girl!

I seriously hope Mom and baby are OK. I have it on good authority from Jingles the Clown that the woman was months early. So it was probably a scary situation. And no, I don't know why authorities would tell delicate info to a clown. But hey, this one is a friend so I believe he had the inside scoop!

So I took advantage of the pregnant pause in the parade and got a few photos. Here's Carter with his friend Emily.

And here he is with a few of the other senior brass-kickers, Olivia and Macie.

The parade really was only stalled maybe 15 minutes. I did a little shopping on my way out and this is all I bought, honest...

I swear I can stick to a budget, but not a diet. But dang, who can resist mini donuts? It's been years since I had them. And they got me all the way back to Rapids. With only sugar crumbs to spare.

Everybody loves a parade!

Scenic RRRRRRRoute

Without breaking any confidentiality in the "What happens at Sister's Weekend stays at Sister Weekend" clause, I still have plenty of photos I CAN share. Probably too many. But here goes...

This was out 16th Wild Women's Weekend. As part of our Opening Act, my twin and I had a Sweet 16 birthday party!

How did Beaver Dam get its name? Hmmm...

R People turn this way!

On Friday we drove over to historic Cedarburg to check out why it's a hot spot. Mostly it's the shopping, I'm sure, but they also have a covered bridge (for foot traffic only). I took a timed photo on the non-covered bridge in the same park. I look a little funny trying to keep my head out of the way!

 

It's right next to a road with plenty of traffic but they must have been locals. No one stopped but us.

Silhouette of Raylene.

 

The bridge is single lane or, as we say, 7 sisters wide. Our matching shirts say: "I can't remember if I'm the good sister or the evil one."

Spent several hours in Cedarburg eating lunch, shopping, sight-seeing and eating ice cream (of course)!

I felt like Cinderella running into my ugly step-sisters who were not invited to our weekend!

 

Mr. Deck Chair has family everywhere in Wisconsin!

After shopping, we headed east a few miles so we could see Lake Michigan. And other related scenery. Weird flower / weed thing I saw!

Rayna the photographer takes a break from "shooting" to smile. Yup, found the lake.

Did not get any closer than this, though. Only got a cliffside view from up top.

Walked the trail to the rumored set of stairs leading down to the beach. I think they were a mile beyond where the last person on the trail indicated "not too far." I eventually saw them and "radio-ed" back that it was too long of a hike for everyone. So we took the easy route and got into our cars and went north to Port Washington.

There was a park with lake access that did not require any hiking, running or cliff climbing!

Leaving our mark.

Photo ops at the marina downtown...

Not a super impressive lighthouse, but I love them all!

On Saturday morning, the twins decided we just hadn't packed enough into one weekend so we ran a 5K in the very, very, very hilly downtown Beaver Dam. Raylene hadn't run hills like that before. I don't think she was having fun. Well, until it was over anyway. We even medaled!!

Well, ALL the finishers medaled. But it makes for a good story. We did finish 7th and 8th in our division, corresponding to our birth order in our family of 8 kids. Ha.

Later, the "older" girls got their workout at a park down the street from our cabin. Here Romey is laughing and screaming simultaneously while praying she doesn't fall off the teeter-totter.

I'm just hanging around, minding my own business.

Raylene was the only one who could manage a pull-up. She may or may not be just standing on her tippy-toes. I'll never tell.

Rayna is just a-swingin'!

She got a timed photo of all of us on the swings.

We switched up our traditional goodbye group hug on Sunday with a staged sky-diving scene. We are all screaming in fear of falling 3,000 ... centimeters to the ground.

After our goodbyes, I headed from Beaver Dam over to the Warrens Cranberry Festival. Not because I didn't pack enough into my weekend, but because I was hoping to catch Carter marching in the parade.

I had 2 hours of driving and knew the parade would be in full swing when I got there. By the time I found a parking spot and then found the parade route, unit #53 was going by. And the Assumption High School Marching Band was unit #63. Whew! Just in the nick of time.

Thankfully they got a few breaks from playing since the sun was out in full force, it was 80 degrees and their uniforms are more suited to Veterans Day parades in November.

A few dance moves.

Catching Carter in the center of it all.

After the band went by,  I left Warrens and headed home, about an hour away. Go home in time to unpack, spend a half hour with Mr. Deck Chair and watch the Vikings win! Wow.

Great finish to a gRRRRRRReat weekend!

Forward, March!

While I have enjoyed the Warrens Cranberry Festival in the past as a shopper of arts and crafts -- and consumer of state-fair type food, I have never attended the Sunday parade. Until this year.

Carter and the Assumption High School Marching Band were billed as Unit #76 in a parade that I later concluded probably had another 76 after that. It was a long one.

I dropped Carter off at school after church so he could ride the band bus. I came home and changed and headed down to Warrens, figuring I could always shop a little before the parade started at noon. Well, I did look around a bit but didn't buy anything until I realized I'd be standing for the whole event so I better get some nourishment. This served two purposes -- energy and I would not be so inclined to steal candy from small children.

What could satisfy that hunger? Well, I hear Snickers satisfies. So how about a deep-fried Snickers? Oh wow. I was going to take a picture of it, but honestly it just disappeared too fast. I have no idea where it went!

On to the parade...

Our friend Bob, a Zor Funster shriner clown, came past me at about 12:30 p.m. and said he was #25 so I knew there'd be a wait for the AHS band. Some time after 1 p.m. (an hour into the parade and a dozen marching bands later), they came down the road to perform for the thousands of people lining the streets in this tiny little berry town.

Here's Carter third in line. I was facing the sun so did not have any clue if I was in focus or who I was shooting.

Luckily, he got real close right before they resumed playing.

They not only played and marched but they did have some movement, too! Lots of zig-zagging and stuff while still moving forward. I was impressed. It also was probably a sneak peek at what they'll be doing for homecoming halftime this Saturday. Maybe.

Even though the kids were probably sweating in the sun, I still think their uniforms are classy. They show off our Royal blue pride, that's for sure!

After the parade, I came home, watched the Vikings actually win a game, then took a walk. Since it is the start of homecoming week, I took Carter to the school tonight for a Dodgeball tourney between the high school grades. That took more than two hours. Was it worth the wait in the car after I was done grocery shopping? Not really. Sophomores finished last. Ha.

They better find some other ways to earn spirit points this week. Somehow, I have a feeling we're going to be pretty busy trying.

Forward.... March!

Scenic Route

The 7 sisters parted ways at noon today -- 1 to Texas, 2 to Minnesota, 3 to western Wisconsin and me, heading southeast to Rapids.

Just like my 169.2-mile drive up there, the way back was just as gorgeous with fall colors popping everywhere. I also managed to get the Vikings game on the radio the whole way so I could hear their victory firsthand! Nice bonus.

I happened to get back to Rapids just in time to pick Carter up at school. He and the Assumption H.S. Band marched in the Cranberry Festival Parade in Warrens today. Carter said it was hot and "boring" to play the same song 8 times on the mile route! But I think they all had fun.

Got home and unpacked, got some groceries and attempted to upload some photos. I got a few and now my computer doesn't want anymore. So while you won't get the group photo of the 7 "wild women," here are few colorful snapshots...

Now I can tell you we stayed at Beaver Point Lodge along the Chippewa River just outside of Exeland, Wis.

Lots of leaves floating by in the Chippewa River.

I even captured another moose on film!! This one was in the front yard of the cabin.

Being creative with the milkweed.

Had to pull over when we saw this! Neat reflection and color among the birches!

Another must-stop and see view! Water was just still enough to give us photographer-wannabes a nice shot!

Even facing the sun, the lack of color was striking when I saw the "black" grass and "silver" lily pads floating on the water.

Oh gosh, I have so many pictures between the two "vacations"! I hope I'll get to them soon so I can share some more. Right now I have to remember how to pack a lunch and set an alarm.

Monday is gonna hurt.