Autumn Escape

My 5-day autumn escape started with some different "fall colors." The first were these beautiful stained glass windows as we attended a wedding in Oshkosh Saturday for Tyler and Ellie – the son and daughter of good friends of ours.

The wedding was beautiful, the wedding party was beautiful, and every detail of the reception and dance was so well thought out. Just so fun! And since these two are Assumption "kids," we knew about 80% of the guest list! 

We stayed overnight and got back Sunday with enough time for me to unpack the suitcase and re-pack it for my sister getaway. I still call it our Wild Women's Weekend – even though it was Sunday-Wednesday this year.

Our destination was a spacious VRBO in the Eau Claire/Altoona area. Secluded but still within minutes of all the amenities the city has to offer!

For this year's Opening Act, I convinced my twin we should do a mini Hee-Haw show. We sang the clothes-washing song from the show (We're not ones to go around spreading rumors...) and wrote some corney jokes about each sister. Of course we were a hit. Ha.

The weather was actually summer-like on Sunday and Monday. So Monday our mission was to go to a nearby park and find a "stick sculpture" we saw in Our Wisconsin magazine since the park was close by.

What are the odds we see a picture of the "Oak Lair" in Our Wisconsin magazine, we decide to search for it since the park is 10 minutes from our VRBO... AND we have a chance meeting with architect Ryan Butler who turned into our group photographer? 

We loved hearing about his passion and creative process as a landscape artist! What a nice surprise! (By the way, that cane belongs to one of my sisters, not Ryan.)

We highly recommend Mount Simon Park if you're ever in the Eau Claire area! 

And he took some nice group photos of us among his creations!

Fall colors were not at peak yet. But we saw that maybe a lot of trees showed off early before the winds took their leaves away.

There were some splashes of color. But nothing too brilliant.

Tuesday returned to cold and windy so we stayed put. Both RoAnn and Raylene had to leave us around mid-afternoon because they had obligations Wednesday morning.

So we took our "skydiving" selfie before they left. Yes, we're dorks and that's why we get along!

The rest of us checked out Wednesday by 10 a.m. and hit the road. Since I had the full day off, I took a few detours to hopefully find fall colors. That included the High Ground by Neilsville (way up on a hill) and some random side road.

Today was back to work – thankfully remotely this week since a lot of work piled up in my short absence!

And now it's time to support 90% of my friends who are cheering on the Brewers! Just one more win and you're in the World Series! 💙💛

Finally Friday, Right?

When it seems like 12 days have passed between Monday and Friday, it's hard to get pumped up on the last day of the work week.

The week started off with 3 days of mandatory planning for the next quarter. That meant I could work from home. But at the same time be handcuffed to my desk in all-day meetings. So that put me behind because I couldn't do much "real work" until Thursday and today.

And try to work ahead since I'm off Monday–Wednesday for my annual sister getaway. I'm exhausted but am following the quote's advice and looking forward to the weekend (and beyond) and ready to have some fun!

I honestly don't know when I'll blog next. We're leaving in the morning for a wedding in Oshkosh, staying overnight, getting home Sunday in time for me to finish packing for Wild Women's Weekend, er Week Days, and head to our sister getaway location a few hours north of here. 

Hubby got home from a work trip in Florida in time to unpack and leave to take stats at the Assumption football game up in Wausau. "Hi!" "Bye!"

Pretty much both of us thriving on chaos this week. Sorry I didn't show you more love, Friday!

Y'all have a nice (and fun) weekend!

Congrats, Wisconsin!

Congrats, my Brewer fan friends and family on taking the NLDS series vs. the Padres. This photo make me laugh because the caption was: "Milwaukee is German for beat the Padres."

Too funny. And no, I did not stay up to watch the whole game. Too late of start and I had to return to the office this morning, which meant an early alarm. Plus, I'm just on the playoff bandwagon since my team and hubby's team are not in the picture. We support our Wisconsin fans. (In baseball anyway.)

Always fun to watch good, close baseball though. It shows why both teams have made it this far this season. As for facing the Dodgers next... good luck Brew Crew. They're pretty intimidating so far!

And as for hot bats in October... that's the only thing that's hot!

This was the temperature when I arrived at work this morning. No-o-o-o! I need some more time with Mr. Deck Chair! It's been so cool and windy this week when I was working from home, that I struggled to get many steps in! I hate being cold!

Good thing hubby is out of town at the moment. I can crank that furnace up! 

Of course, my heart was warmed when my boy called and we got to share a 50-minute conversation. The best part of being a parent is seeing your grown children turn into amazing humans! 

Today's lesson: Do what makes you happy and warms your heart!

Block It Out!

Last night got to be pretty late after getting home from football and volleyball. Didn't bother to blog since I figured 80% of the state of Wisconsin was watching the Brewers in the NLDS. Block out that one bad memory. They've got tonight, too!

It was a touching evening at the high school, where the volleyball team (and many others) organized a PINK OUT – Block Out Cancer night for a 1986 Assumption grad. Both hubby and his sister have known her since high school.

The week before the game, they took orders and sold 400 of the shirts shown above. Wow. Then, they got at least 40 donations of raffle baskets for the event. Yes, of course, I won one. I always do, don't I?

I was thrilled to see the gymnasium was packed as a show of support! Always proud to be part of these special "mini" communities within the community of Wisconsin Rapids. Gives me hope in a world that certainly could use it. 

I hope the best for Gail. And yes, the best for your Brewers, too! 

M-m-m Fall Y'all!

Now that I have my Sylvester pumpkin in place, it was time to get some fall goodies this weekend.

Several years ago – maybe 10? – our Wild Women's Weekend was down in Amish country, rural Cashton. And we all were introduced to and fell in love with Cashew Crunch!

Thank goodness for Amish vendors at the farmers market and the Nekoosa Giant Pumpkin Fest. I could stock up for our getaway next week! I mean there's so many reasons I am the favorite sister, but this one helps!

Knowing I had to resist the crunch temptation, I made sure I got another fall flavor I could dive into. This carrot cake had to be the best Monday lunch ever!

There's 3 layers and I still have 2 more to go! I'm no quitter. I'll power through!

And then there's my pumpkin-flavored fry pies. Oh mercy. I bought 2 of them and am waiting for a reason to "deserve" them. Maybe getting through a Monday is enough! I'm good with that fall vibe.

Hope you're enjoying the taste of fall, y'all!

My TGITW

If there is such a thing, I will declare it's a Thank God It's The Weekend!

I took yesterday off and got to shop with "free money" – gift certificates at Rustic Redefined Boutique. I never realized how hard it was to shop for something when you don't NEED anything. But I managed to find two nice sweater tops and matching necklaces. Win, win!

Today's shopping fun was the Nekoosa Giant Pumpkin Fest. And you can see why they have GIANT in the name!

I did manage to find a few things that might work for "Christmas gifts" but other than than it was selfish Pumpkin Fry Pies from the Amish.... and their Cashew Crunch for my upcoming sister weekend!

As for the rest of the weekend, since neither hubby or I have a team in the MLB playoffs, I am rootin against the Yankees, and we are supporting the Brewers!

Saying Hello, But Not Hugging Hello

 

I love the colors of fall and all that cozy "sweater weather" jazz, but I am just not ready to let go of summer completely. I was chilly on my laps around the neighborhood today and I didn't like it one bit!

Things I do like about this October at least...

I got to the downtown Farmers Market one last time to buy myself some flowers and probably too-late-in-the-season honey-dipped sweet corn. We'll see.

And this weekend is the Nekoosa Giant Pumpkin Festival with dozens and dozens of vendors for us weird fall shopping fools.

Also... our nephew Colin stopped by after work to pick up 7 raffle baskets I (with the help of generous friends) put together for an upcoming benefit he and his wife are organizing for a fellow racer whose baby daughter has had lengthy hospitalizations for seizures. If you want to support the event, it's Sunday, October 18, at Springville Sports Barn in Plover.

Also in October, a fun wedding out of town October 10-11. Then, I'm looking forward immediately to my 28th annual Wild Women's Weekend with my sisters... though it's a Sunday-Wednesday this time. Still. Fall colors. Cozy times with 7 sisters.

And Crop-Toberfest! A scrapbooking weekend with my high school BFF! A month ago, I felt ahead of the game, but now that it is actually October, I'll need to get some more specific organizing done!

I'm grateful that despite the chilling temps, there is plenty we can embrace about October – not quite hug status, but close!