Birthdays, BINGO, and Beloveds

Hit the road pretty early yesterday to help my oldest sister celebrate her 75th birthday!

First stop was the Sundown Saloon in little Lewis, WI, just north of Luck. Daubing for Dollars as a cancer fundraiser. For you non-BINGO people, we mark our spots with daubers now. Using field beans was so 1970s.

You know me and BINGO. Probably 20 minutes in and I already was yelling BINGO with hands raised in the air. Nice $100 cash prize. I won a second time later but so did 2 other people so I picked a local gift certificate I'll let one my sisters use!

Nice turn out. Our sister Rachel was also there so was our cousin's wife and family. Fun. From there it was onto an adventure at Adventures in Siren.

Had a late-week thought that Carter living in Duluth means he's less than 90 minutes away from family fun. So he joined us. Six of my R siblings were there along with 2 nieces and spouses plus 4 great-nephews and a great-niece! 

Can't celebrate a milestone without frosting. I mean CAKE!

Raylene was the only sister who couldn't make it since she and hubby had a booth for their seed business at the Burnett County Fair. So most of us ventured down the road to Grantsburg to say hello and check out the entries two of my sisters entered – Rayna photography and Renell drawing/painting.

Second Saturday in a row my twin and I are in a cornfield. Yee-Haw!

Drove Rachel home and stayed at her place in Luck last night. Long drive home today. So much road construction and detours.

Got home in time to get a few things done before going to a senior photo shoot at a farm in the Rudolph-Junction City area. I mean the kid was cute, but look at these kitties! I miss Sylvester!

Anyway, need sleep. Catch you tomorrow!

Went to a Garden Party...

Even a girl with two black thumbs appreciates a pretty garden – and creative yard decorations. Today, since we had friends showcasing their garden/yard, I embarked on my first Garden Walk sponsored by the Wood County Master Gardeners.

I'm 99% sure I can't duplicate anything I saw today, but it was inspiring nonetheless. And it wasn't just a garden tour. It was an art tour, too, with music and beauty. Here's a photo blog of some of the highlights for me, anyway...

I was so surprised at the first stop when I saw art on display with the garden. I'm sure it's not always like that with the weird unpredictable weather, but it was such a nice touch. I really enjoyed it!

Lots of water fountains of sorts with tiny ponds. I'm not sure we're engineers enough to pull this off.

Art on the deck? Nice touch!

This place had artwork for sale with some windows painted with some sponge-painting background a la 1998 that I connect with!

Lots of American flags whether part of the gardens or in the background added a nice touch.

When I saw the first bee "bonding" with a flower, I realized it was quite smart that my bee-allergic hubby didn't accompany me.

Loved that all the featured gardens had a 2025 Garden Walk stone on display.

Our friends Les and Pam had a "geranium tree."

I learned today that this funky spiky flower is called Bee Balm. Thus, the many bee visitors "hanging out" today.

Another fountain surrounded by prettiness.

This is the Assumption Royal Blue flower. I call it that, anyway.

And oh my, the first of many purple flowers you will have the purple pride pleasure (or not) to see.

Pam's niece and friends provided live music here. A few other "acts" had sets too.

For my friends with flower gardens, you are used to this. I just loved flowers that were pretty with lots of layers.

I have loved the different possible colors of hydrangeas since Jim's aunt grew them. Never tried, but I'd love some purple ones like this in our yard somewhere!

Gorgeous window display! 

What a great idea! Make some "flower rocks" to pay tribute to your lovely granddaughters!

I want to use this idea somewhere, somehow – even without granddaughters!

Another garden with art to accompany the colors. Love it.

I was impressed with how these people didn't necessarily find relaxing/sitting places, they created them. And it was beautiful.

Say hello to my favorite gate ever created. Hands down the most creative thing I saw all day – and there were a lot.

Live music here, too. It was fun to see and hear the variety.

What I call the Popcorn Ball flower!

What the cluck? The owner Bonnie definitely has creative ways to display her artwork.

I was fascinated by these stained glass type yard ornaments on a stick. Apparently I need to get to more garden stores. They were everywhere and I could use a few to class up my messy garden areas!

And so many cool decorations. I mean why not throw in a sun dial by some purple flowers?!

And the favorite thing I hope to grow in my garden – a Rocky Rococo pizza truck! Give me the seeds, man!

Just like our nearby farmer ladies, we don't need scary scarecrows to be, well, scary!

When I saw this, I thought, dang, we could've used our mother's old kitchenware to be creative after all!

Just a cool backyard setup.

Loved the attention to detail and seeing the lights there, I was bummed to view it during the day. Inspiring, though!

As a person with a milk can in front of her house to represent parts of both my hubby's and my heritage, I appreciated this display with all the tractor wheels and various gears. Very cool.

Unlikely a real rain barrel, but with the fountain there, it caught my eye.

And speaking of catching my eye... a pond with PURPLE flowers???

Beautiful, am I right?

As I saw throughout the day, there are so many cool planters and alternative metal methods of displaying flowers. This bird and 2 matching friends were awesome.

This place had a lovely gazebo on the pond with live music as well.

Me taking pictures of what I would call a Tiger Lily but have never seen in this pretty pink color. Don't correct me. I want to pretend I know one thing about flowers.

A country girl can't resist weather vanes among flowers...

Or on top of She Sheds.

Nice garden and flag stand display.

Another purple flower. You don't say?

Ope! Another one I can't name!

I could sit here and relax, couldn't you?

Not part of the official tour, but I guess this unique tree is a Variegated Maple.

The surprise at my last stop was that they combined the garden tour with a quilt show and it somehow worked.

And to my delight... more varieties of purple flowers!

And artwork? What a cool idea!! Love this!

Most creative She Shed interior.

Who wants to sit here and spend an afternoon with me? I told the owners this was my most captivating view all day. Wow.

And idea it you have a bunch of vintage heart-shaped cookie cutters. Seriously.

Again, what I think is a Tiger Lily but I have never seen this color combo. Pretty!

I should know this one, but I still appreciate and admire it even if it escapes me right now.

So many She Sheds.

Super idea for an old "stump"!

Love this. Old door with a few quilting squares and flowers.

And a few quilts on display with a bottle tree!

What a fun few hours admiring what people with green thumbs – and apparently lots of time on their hands – can create! Could I do the same? Nope. I admit I am too lazy to put in the time it would take for that. But I am inspired nonetheless. Hope you are too! 

Thanks for joining me for the garden party!