Memorial Day Weekend "Weeds"

My mission every Memorial Day Weekend is that I'll buy hanging flower baskets and try my darndest not to turn them into weeds by the end of the summer. Says me and my 2 black thumbs!

With so many people talking about their spring planting, I thought I was one of the few who actually wait until Memorial Day Weekend to purchase their flowers. I was so wrong. 

By mid-morning, the parking lot was pretty much full. And by the time I picked out just 5 hanging baskets that could handle full sun exposure to survive, I was 10th in line!

Then out of the blue, an angel appeared. A friend of ours I didn't know worked there in her post-retirement years. She whispered, "Robyn, there's no line at Customer Service." I'm sure that literally saved me a good half hour.

I weed-whacked around the front bricks when I got home then hung our fading Reds and Twins flags and our hanging flower baskets. We should be set for the summer. Except for a few other spots I think could use some color. 

After that, it was graduation party time and more.

While hubby went to church in Rudolph, I went to a grad party for the son of a co-worker who also spent a lot of time in the hockey "media" platform the last few years. From there, I met Jim and the 2 oldest boys and Becca for a pizza dinner at B's Tap.

Casey and our grand-dog Rey are in town for the weekend. I hope Rey lives to be 50 because she's the best pup ever!

After dinner, we went our separate ways and Jim and I headed to the Grand Rapids Lions Club where there was a combined graduation party for 6 of the Royals graduates. Quite the special group of girls. And of course we saw a bajillion people we know. Fun evening!

Now I just hope the weather dudes are correct in that it's just going to be in the low 40s – not some freezing temperatures. I want my flowers to survive.

But, of course, selfishly I won't no judgment I turned on my electric mattress pad. Again.

Out With A Bang

 

Was privileged to photograph Assumption's graduation ceremony tonight. After practice yesterday morning, I knew they were poised to throw their mortar board hats up in the air in the end. But they surprised us all with confetti shooters! 

The class of 2025 literally went out with a bang!

This was the smallest class we've seen in awhile. Only 23 kids. I mean ADULTS. They're graduates now! Between sports and music, I think I've taken pictures of just every one of them over the years. A very active and talented class. 

Of course this means we will have a few grad parties on the schedule in coming weekends. I hope for their sake, the weather cooperates. Frost warning tonight. Guess I'll hold off buying my hanging flower baskets 'til Sunday maybe. 

Enjoy your hopefully long, work-free holiday weekend!

And congrats, class of 2025! 

Playing Through

It was probably appropriate that the first night of ladies golf league started today, on the one-year anniversary of my mom's death. Because I really needed the distraction!

I actually worked from home today because I had graduation practice this morning (Stop on the X and smile tomorrow!) and figured it would take too much drive time for me to be productive at work. I also predicted that since I did not handle my first Mother's Day well (or not at all) that I'd be a hot mess.

All of this was mostly true.

As I posted this photo today, I said... 365 days without you, Mom. That's 365 moments I've wanted to call you with a funny pun, solve a Wheel of Fortune puzzle together, wanted to play cards with you, wanted to hug you. What I wouldn't give for one on those childhood walks in the woods with you! 

I guess 6 of my 7 siblings got together Up North to honor Mom over dinner. But my one sister was traveling and I didn't get enough notice to travel 4 hours to meet them. 

Again, that's why it's good I had golf league with a friend and we played "against" 2 other friends of mine. They knew my head-space and were supportive. We won't talk about my golf score. There seems to be a pattern of my sucking big time on "Mom" days.

I'm guessing my angel momma is looking over me for far bigger issues! Love and miss you! 💔

Soul Sistahs

It's only appropriate during Mental Health Awareness Month that we mention the best type of therapy is free – spending time with your soul sisters.

It turned out I got a double dose this week and I probably needed it.

Finally connected with my fellow work-from-home-on-Mondays friend Jenny on Monday for a lunchtime walk. Great to catch up and of course, air our concerns about our adult children in their 20s. I wonder if kids realize we never outgrow motherly worries (and wanting the best for our babies) no matter how old they or we get?

It was a nice walk!

Tonight we had our monthly Girls' Night Out group dinner at Tamaracks Pub and Grill. Sometimes there are a dozen of us and tonight we just had 3. Probably the best scenario for some honest and heartfelt conversations. 

My advice for improved mental health? Spend time with people who you can be REAL with. No false pretense. No fake personality. Just you being you. And they still loving you for it. 

It's so good for the soul!

WTF (What the Fours)?

We're so far into spring that we're only a month away from summer. What is not acceptable is a high temperature of 44 degrees at 4:44 p.m.!

Let's not start on the "feels like" temperature of 35.

Not right, Mother Nature. Not right at all.

I'm not complaining because I'm missing out on something fun like golf (but it better shape up for Thursday), but it's crunch time to get all the spring sports photographed. 

Last night, when the weather was tolerable, I had my "very important cannot cancel under any circumstances" appointment with my hair artist after work. True to my dedicated nature, I still got to the middle school softball game ... to capture the last inning. Then raced (within speed limit, sort of) across town to try to catch the middle school baseball game. They literally were shaking hands and saying "Good game" as I put my car in Park. Dang.

I was hoping to catch high school games tonight. But it's rain clouds for the win. Another dang. Naturally, they're postponed to Thursday – when I have my first night of Ladies Golf League. I'll have to make something work since playoffs start next week. But again, will not negotiate a tee time! 🏌

What a fast spring for a spring that hasn't felt like spring at all! Except for maybe 4 days. Oh that dang #4 again! 

Hope you all are surviving OK. No shame... I turned on the heated seats in my car today and will most definitely do the same with my heated mattress pad. 

Chilly With a Chance of Par

This morning was a busy one at church for both of us. We each sang in our choirs, plus I had to read at mine and recite prayers. Some how it all fell on the same Sunday. I should have a few months off now – except for writing a column for our June newsletter.

After church, I got my oil changed then sat down to relax – and regretfully saw my Twins' winning streak come to an end. Good thing we had the first week of Couples Golf League to cheer me up.

At least that was my hope. Jim is 10 times better than me. Or maybe 20. But this year, they changed up the format (in the interest of speeding up the pace of play) and we are in a scramble format. If you can call it that with just 2 people. But we played that way and our opponents did, too. 

We play a 9-hole course. The only caveat was that we had to use at least 3 of my drives. They couldn't all be Jim's. Which was OK since 3 of the holes have the women's tee boxes a bit ahead. Frankly, all my drives tonight were decent enough that I hope I can do the same when I have women's league on Thursday!

Still, it takes 2 good golfers and especially good putters to par every hole. We did not. We finished 5 over par. But beat our opponent's score. 

I was just glad to contribute so hubby doesn't feel he has to PUTT up with me. 

And we're meeting new people (yes, there are a few in Rapids that we don't know) since there's 20-plus couples and league is only 6 weeks long.

I just hope we don't need long pants and jackets the rest of the season. For once I want the temperature to be higher than my score!

Czech Out the New Windy City

Move over, Chicago. Cedar Rapids, Iowa, might have you beat as the Windy City!

We both took the day off and got down there in mid-afternoon. It was so windy we could actually hear it in our 4th-floor hotel room. If you closed your eyes, it sounded like ocean waves almost. All flags were definitely flying all of their colors.

We had only a few objectives to our trip. Meet up with Carter and Mamie for dinner, then all go to see Colin race at the historic Hawkeye Downs on Friday then check out the National Czech-Slovac Museum and GENEALOGY Library on Saturday. It turned into so much more.

We met up with the kids at Up in Smoke BBQ, which had a very similar (and delicious) vibe as the new place we checked out in Waupaca a few weeks ago. But they had some good, spicy sauces like Blueberry Habernaro and Chipotle BBQ. So tasty!

And by strange coincidence, the restaurant was located in the "Czech Village" which included the museum and genealogy library Jim (my partially Bohemian hubby) had already planned to visit Saturday. And lo and behold, there was a big Boho festival going on! So we were already excited to (accidentally) be here for this particular weekend.

From there, it was off to Hawkeye Downs, celebrating its 100th year. Mamie hadn't been to a stockcar-type race before so this was her very windy and cold introduction. 

She thought it was fun – even though we couldn't stop laughing at how absurd the wind was!

Plus, we got a precipitation delay that include a rainbow at the east end of the track!

To sum up the race experience...  Colin qualified 14th, finished 3rd in the heat race, and the feature was interesting. There was an accident on Turn 1 before Colin's feature where a car had issues and flew into the turn, taking out part of the fence, wall, then there were several accidents there the rest of the night. During his feature, Colin got hung in a wreck with 4 trucks on that same turn. Colin had to leave to the pits but got his truck literally taped up while they were cleaning up the mess. And got back to the race and even though he was in the back of the pack, he fought his way up to a 5th-place finish! It was pretty fun to watch!!

By the way, this was the temperature and "feels like" temp about an hour before Colin's race ended. Uff da!

This morning, we got down to the Czech Village so Jim could do some family tree research at the museum and I could watch the festival parade and shop all the vendors. Perfect situation!

Parade with lots of Bohemians in full costume.

Oh and the wind? Still here today obviously!

There was also chalk art going on. Very impressive.

When Jim was done, Carter met us so we could cross the river and head into New Bohemia.

Upon a museum worker recommendation to Jim, we went to the Little Bohemia restaurant.

After all, they have perfect Robyn-approved pun in "Czech us out."

My partially Bohemian husband and son ordered the ghoulash. They said it was very delicious!!

My Boho Boys before we left town.

We got home around 6:30 tonight and we're a bit exhausted. Lots of driving for Jim and lots of windy fresh air for us both! Too bad we both have to sing in our church choirs in the morning and can't sleep in. Guess that means I need to turn on my electric mattress pad and hit the hay soon! 

A Trifle Busy This Week

When we last left off in this blog-a-thon of life, it was Tuesday night and I had to get my trifle in order!

I think it was after 9 p.m. when I texted hubby that I forgot about the top layer – Cool Whip – and could he pick up some. So yep, late night.

My Pina Colada Trifle (I call this one) has Pina Colada cake from the Walmart bakery since it was too hot to bake and I had permission to be lazy. The next layer is Coconut Cream pudding, which I can only find at Pick and Save or the local IGA. Then my crunchy layer – this time rolling pin-crushed white chocolate macadamia nut cookies and Girl Scout coconut-themed Samoas. 

Pretty darn tasty. And no leftovers to bring home for Jim. 

Wednesday was work, then our final golf lesson at SentryWorld.

Thank you, Teacher Katie (top row, 2nd from right)!

Naturally everything I learned about putting on my final night was exactly what my better half has said for years. Why do I listen to my female instructor over him? Not sure. But I have an idea. It was definitely money well spent! 

After that last night I had church choir practice then came home to finally edit all those track and field photos from the night before. Definitely no time to blog. LOL.

Today was a fast (busy) day at work. After work we gathered with just our writing team to get to know our new team member. And sort of got stuck in Point because, well, tornado warnings.

Thank god it turned out to be nothing at home or in Point. But it was kind of freaky pondering if we should out-drive it or drive through it. I heard there were twister touchdowns the next county over, so we'll see how the news shakes out tonight.

Hope you all are safe! As I often say, be careful out there!

Jumping into a Busy Tuesday

Not that there is anything more important than you, my dear readers, but I am beat after quite a full day.

Work was a bit chaotic because we had a new member of our team and the mother hen in me always wants to go overboard to be sure they're welcomed and know their way around.

From work, I went straight to Nekoosa for their track meet so I could finally get the "field" part of a Track & Field meet pictures of our Royals. Got what I could before my next engagement.

Book Club.

We were discussing my book "The Last Secret of the Soul" at R&R Patio and Bar (formerly Joker's). The book is a novel a point of view of a 10-year-old boy and how he gets through the holocaust, etc., near the end of World War II. Our group has done several different WWII novels but not from the point of view of a child, so it was interesting.

My next engagement?

Well, as I mentioned we have a new member on our writing team, so of course that calls for a trifle. I have to do the finishing touches so that is why it is not photo ready at 10 p.m.

I also need some sleep. Quite the full day for a Tuesday. The rest of the week can feel free to slow down. Am I right?!

Multi-Color Monday

Who knew that the most challenging day of the week could be the most colorful?

Who knew that thanks to temps in the mid-80s (not kidding) my Mother's Day flowers would start blooming?

I think Tuesday will be even prettier!

Then, as if I was sugar-deprived, I remembered around lunchtime that I ordered my Mother's Day dessert "to go" yesterday!

Pistachio Cheesecake for lunch, anyone? Trust me, it looked as good as it tasted!

I think for my sanity I'll concentrate on these Monday colors rather than the "offensive" red alerts that a project is overdue.

Focus on the pretty, my friends!

Oh, Mother!

 

Upon awakening, I was confident I could get through this first Mother'sDay without my momma. I wore my own "Mother's Necklace" and my mom's "Mother's Ring" to church. 

But I confess. I was sobbing before I left the driveway. So much for being strong! When I got to church, thank goodness my friend Kelly, also experiencing her first Mother's Day without her mom, gave me half her tissues. Because you know, every reading and song (and that dang Mother's Day video) will remind you of Mom!

God, bless my amazing husband for trying to keep me positively occupied all day!

Got home from church and this adorable balloon was floating in the kitchen...

Anchored by these gorgeous flowers! I was going to say Tulips but the last time I called flowers that, this black-thumbed momma was corrected. So let's just call them beautiful.

After asking me yesterday where I wanted to enjoy a Mother's Day brunch, I had a few places in mind. But then, on our drive home, we remember Two Lakes is open on Sundays now. One check to see if today counted and we were on our way.

They had a special Mother's Day menu but all I cared was that they now serve their beyond amazing Coconut Shrimp every day. Happy Mother's Day to me!

Later this afternoon, we ventured over to TriCity for some Mother's Day golf. 

I love that all of us Foxy Mamas could golf. But it didn't take long for me to realize my spirit wasn't in it. Nothing spoils that good walk like bad – or in my case, sad – attitude. We did have some fun. But I was dropping tears more often than I was dropping putts.

A year ago, all 8 of us R's gathered to clean out Mom's apartment since she was actually excited to move into the nursing home part of the hospital in Grantsburg. She was excited to have a roommate, too, after living by herself since Dad died 10+ years earlier. We were happy for her acceptance about moving out of her apartment. And really thought we'd be seeing her in the home for quite some time.

The quick, downward slide of her health after Mother's Day shocked me and devastated me. 

While it officially hasn't been 365 days since Mom's passing, nothing impacts me more than missing her today – Mother's Day. 

My only saving grace really, is that I got to hug the one flesh-and-blood baby that is mine yesterday. 💜

Happy Mother's Day to all of you missing your mom for the first (or many) time. And to you who have kids, wanted children, lost babies, act as an inspiration to a young person, or serve as a mentor to ANYONE. This day belongs to all of us. 

No shame. Embrace the love!

Jumpin' Around

Another weekend. Another jump around the state. Today's destination? We find ourselves back in Madison for the second time this week.

For an important reason. UW graduation at Camp Randall stadium! 

8,679 Badger graduates today and only ONE is our favorite! Carter's girlfriend Mamie. (Though we did know a few other special grads from Rapids.)

Dare I say there were more people there than on a Badger football game day?! Well if all the graduates were in the stands with the thousands of spectators, there certainly would be! And they kept it entertaining – for a few hours.

A couple fun surprises... The acapella group (and thousands of graduates) singing "Build Me Up, Buttercup" like they do during football games.

A good (and humorous) keynote speaker in Jason Gay, a '92 grad and current sportswriter for the Wall Street Journal.

And singing and dancing to "Jump Around" at about the 3/4 mark of the ceremony. It was warm, sunny, and we had plenty of reasons to sweat before we were jumpin'!

Oh and most entertaining... Mamie's "appetizer" of apparently super-sized nachos at the Vintage Brewing Co. in Cross Plains where we met up with her family after the ceremony. It was a good choice to meet a bit outside of Mad Town. Always a pleasure to see her parents and siblings.

Oh, and see our boy, too! 💖

Had a very nice visit with the family and one of their college friends – who manages to get a picture with Jimmy at this same brewery oh once every 5 years as it turns out. Yes, many of their college friends are like family. We're certainly blessed in so many ways. 

Especially to have sweet Mamie in our lives. Congrats, girl! 🎓