Making History

In a time when our little school is as challenged as everyone else in this pandemic, our Royals have some how been able to rise above it and thrive.

This has been a fall sports season like none other. First we had an exceptional tennis team, then our volleyball team won their first rounds of regional playoffs (sorry they lost tonight to the #1 seed), our football team has its first 4-0 start in decades (and that's with a 14-man roster last night), and today, our undefeated girls cross country team punched their ticket to state with an amazing win at sectionals today! Not sure, we think it's the first girls cross country team to ever go to state for Assumption. Making history, baby!

Isn't that amazing when I thought – like 80 percent sure – we wouldn't even have fall sports?!

I wasn't planning to go to the sectional finals today. It initially was set to happen up in Three Lakes in the Rhinelander area, over 2 hours away. But they're still buried in snow up there so they moved it down to Rosholt (outside of Stevens Point) so it was just a 45-minute drive. Just like going to Camp Crop-A-Lot.

I think the race time temp of just 36 degrees actually fueled the girls to run faster! Whatever works!

They won by 16 points so they rocked it! Congrats!! 

Now the weird thing is that because the state meet would be too big of a gathering with COVID, they're having state meets in three locations. So we head to West Salem outside of La Crosse, rather than down the road at The Ridges Golf course. Basically, the girls will run for time and hope they beat all the other teams racing at the same time in other corners of the state. That'll be interesting. At least they're not canceling it.

Yet. Cross your fingers.

And yes, that was my excitement for the day – topped off with the gift of a Kringle (thanks, Steen), some hot tea and a Hallmark movie. Gonna have to be a much more productive day tomorrow. 

Maybe.

Friday Night Lights and Loops

It's football Friday night! And since Assumption is playing away at Wild Rose, Royals fans (and photographers) cannot attend due to COVID safety measures, blah, blah, blah.

I'm OK with that this time. While hubby takes stats on the sidelines and the temperature hovers at the freezing mark, I can sit in my recliner under the Friday night lights of the living room, watch the game streaming on my big TV, stay warm, and loop some stitches together for a scarf.

Multi-tasking at its finest!

As a bonus, the Royals won 42-12 and have their first 4-0 start since oh, maybe last century. Not kidding. And it was a long, tough game tonight with plenty of turnovers and penalties for both teams. So it was more than 2 1/2 hour game.

If I was hubby, I'd be texting to say, "Please turn on the mattress pad on my side of the bed." But he's tougher than that.

Meanwhile, I already have my side on and I've been under a blanket all evening. That's just how I roll on a Friday night these days.

Try to keep up with my wild side.

Yellow Sky at Dawn

I knew the day was going to be different when I "accidentally" woke up on time after not setting an alarm. Then, it just stayed kind of dark out. Then... we had a yellowish sky like Mother Nature was working with a sepia filter on her smartphone. 

So weird!

According to sources smarter than me, it isn't a sign of the End of Days. Despite how everything else in 2020 has gone. The weather people say: A yellow sky often indicates there is a winter storm brewing during a relatively warm day. (Or in our case, a cold, cold rain.) The glow is an atmospheric effect, a result of how the sun is filtering through particular clouds. 

It also could be a good sign – as we learned later.

Hubby and I rode up to Greenwood with our friends Craig and Sara to watch their daughter and our Royals volleyball team in regional action. The Royals hadn't won a match all season but pulled off an upset win on Tuesday and then tonight... winners over the #2 seed!!

Now, they advance to the Regional Finals on Saturday against the #1 seed Marshfield Columbus. I guess if you're going to start winning, now's a good time! How fun!

Remember the old saying about "red skies at night, sailor's delight; red sky in morning, sailors take warning"? Today it could be...

Black sky at night, Robyn sleeps tight.

Yellow sky at dawn, the Royals move on!

Go Royals!

Psych!

Post-Washington: Day 230. And when you wonder what else could happen in 2020, this pops up...

Say what? That's not nice, 2020. Not funny either. Somebody is feeling old around here. And it's not just Jake Ryan!

Good thing I did the math. If Sixteen Candles came out in 1984 and assuming he was the same age as Sammy Baker Davis Jr., then he'd be my age. And ladies and gentlemen, that is not even close to 60. As we would've said then: Psych!

As I'd say now: Whew. That was close.

Let's concentrate on positive things in 2020. Mr. Austin has survived 230 days – about 33 weeks – with me mostly close by. Too close by.

C'mon hubby. We can get through the "crush" of 2020.

In the words of Mr. Baker: "That's why they call them crushes. If they were easy, they'd call 'em something else."

Signing off. The Donger, er Blogger, need food! 

Hooked on a Feeling

Now I can confess that every time I mentioned sitting in the recliner in recent weeks, I was also elbow deep in a top secret project. Crocheting scarves for sisters.

Thankfully, my oldest sister had asked everyone a few months ago what colors we all like to wear. She was beading necklaces for us as a surprise. I took the info and started hooking!

Did a double-stitch and created these into "infinity scarves" – one big circle so you can loop it around your neck once or twice. They might double as a mask during this pandemic, too. Lots of pretty colors! And I use the "crushed velvet" yarn so they're super soft!

Of course I had to design labels for their gift bags because... why not?

My sister Ro models her scarf that has a mixture of maroon and blues. Pretty! And a perfect match.

I made a few extra in case they didn't like their colors or whatever. Plus, I knew I could gift them to girlfriends rather quickly if nobody needed to switch. I had one left after the weekend, so my gal pal across the street now has a nice fall one.

And guess what? We could all use some warmth today! We had a few flakes drop here but Up North, where I just spent a weekend, there was measurable snow and countless accidents. Yikes.

Think I'll stick to the safety of my recliner. Who needs a scarf?!

Apples to Apples

 

When the wake-up temperature is well below freezing, you know there's gonna be some baking going on at some point. I mean what better way to warm up the house than the smell of baked apples and cinnamon?

So tonight between work and the return of The Voice, I chopped up 4 cups of apples – fresh off neighbor Gordy's farm. Mixed them up with some of my tasty Saigon Cinnamon. Placed them on the bottom of a greased 9x13 pan. Then sprinkled a yellow cake mix on top of them, followed by 3/4 cup of melted butter.

Then baked it in a 350-degree oven for 30-40 minutes. It smelled SO good. Guess how it tasted?

Even without caramel frosting – which I had on hand for some reason – it was quite delish! Not that I needed any treats after the weekend. I really just needed warmth. And to use up the apples before they went bad. They were fine and I still have more in case the cold weather continues.

Forecast looks like I'll more than apples to get through tomorrow. Some four-letter word that's not rain, wind or cold.

How do you like dem apples?

Tater Treats

Now that we're back, we can reveal where we jetted off to for our 22nd annual Wild Women's Weekend. Potato Lake. Up North between Spooner and Stone Lake area. Per usual, just a nice vacation home for rent that can sleep 7 sisters – and have a minimum of 2 bathrooms. (This one had 3!)

Some images of our amazing place and few of my amazing sisters. What a treat...

Yup, it's big. For health and safety, we each got our own bed, too. Well, my twin and I shared a king bed, which was basically the same thing.

Nice fire pit area but too windy and wet to use it.

Thursday.... That moment the sun was shining.

What happens at Sister Weekend stays at Sister Weekend!

Snack-palooza! Between COVID and the weather, we were hunkered down in our beautiful log bunker – with 100% chance of survival... and tight pants!

Got some funny masks for my sisters from the Ashbeck Interiors store in Rudolph! They say, Censored, Will Remove for Chocolate, Smile, and Trust Me My Lipstick Looks Fabulous!

On Friday... what to our wondering eyes did appear, snowflakes, which my sister Rayna from Phoenix did not want to get near!

No denying it's happening!

This big, gorgeous deck we didn't get to take advantage of.

Couldn't see the other side of the lake. In fact, we had snow both Friday and Saturday. 

Hungry as a bear on the way to Stone Lake fish fry on Friday!

Break in the weather Saturday so we could shuck masks and get fresh air!

When we realized we were the invasive species the sign was talking about!

We're the babies of the family, but we're slowing down! Just kidding. We're rock stars.

Another way to get our steps in! Wow.

Ro – my SKOL sister!

Nell and I hiding from Jack Frost.

And when the sun shines on the trees, we can see some fall color anyway!

It was a great weekend to be "stuck" indoors with my amazing R sisters! So much laughing, I think we burned thousands of calories! Despite the weather, the smiles, hugs, and my heart were warm!