Trying to Rise Up

Our family is pretty close. So when tragedy strikes one member, we all feel the impact... want to help, pray for the best outcome.

This week has been a test.

Late Sunday we learned that while at work that night, my oldest great-nephew Anthony (same age as Carter) got a call from his roommate saying that their home was on fire. By the time he arrived, the fire was massive and consuming the house. 

By the time it was out, Anthony’s space in the home had been completely destroyed along with the garage. Unfortunately his dog Beanie did not make it. He was such a big sweetie!

Anthony walked away that night with the clothes on his back, his phone, and his (apparently questionably reliable) car. His whole world got taken by the fire. If you are able to help in anyway, he has a lot of needs and will need a lot of support to rebuild after this loss. 

Thank you all in advance for any help in donations or even just passing this on to others who might be able to help him out as well. Or even just prayers!! For Venmo donations, the last 4 digits you'll need are 2505.

If you have any questions feel free to message me. He's a special animal-loving soul who deserves a better break in life than this hand dealt to him. 

Our hearts are collectively breaking. 

CR Withdrawals

OK now the wildfire smoke is impacting my new "work from home" routines. Yesterday, due to air quality concerns, they canceled our downtown farmers market. Today, citing the same concerns, they canceled the big one south of here in the town of Rome.

What does this mean?

No crab rangoon for me!

It's become a new random summer staple for me. And yes, I know, I am weird. But they're so good! The ones in Rome were top of the line – but I can't recall the vendor. My bad. I think LK Cuisine or something like that.

The good news is that the air is clearing a bit. And oh, while looking for an image, I found a recipe link for a crab rangoon dip! Say what?

I might change out a few things, but this is something future Robyn is going to tackle. Here's the link if you want to check it out: https://www.thegraciouswife.com/crab-rangoon-dip-recipe/

I wouldn't be drawn to a "warm" dip in the summer necessarily, but hubby and I do like our crab meat. And dips! 

I'm overthinking it!

Hope y'all are still able to get out and do your normal things. Just keep praying for the firefighters, homeowners, and wildlife!

Just Breathe... But Indoors Only

 

It's insane that wildfires from Way Up North, Minnesota, can impact us here down in central Wisconsin. But we can see it. And probably worse, we can smell it!

It's just enough haze to think you're about to drive into a thick fog. Crazy. 

But as for Duluth... our neighbor's brother who lives up there took this photo. Crazy. 

Our favorite new Duluth residents, Carter and Mamie, can no longer see the big lake they call "Gitche Gumee" from their apartment. And they can't escape the smoke smell. It's outdoors, indoors, everywhere. I'm just grateful neither one of them has any respiratory issues.

Hubby and I are planning to go up there next weekend. His first time "seeing" Duluth might not be what I built it up to be!

I did manage to get out for a walk at lunch and realized the smoky haze was not blocking our view from everything...

I could still see this wild daisy where I swear the flies were lining up to create a smiley face for me!

And of course, there is always something purple on my route!

Or a more "artistic" purple! 

The only downside for me is that they canceled golf league tonight, citing "outdoor conditions." Probably a combination of the 90-degree heat and the air quality advisories. There's nothing boring about Wisconsin summers!

Be smart and be safe, my friends!

Summer Sweets and Treats

Summer is always full of cool treats – and some that are just delicious room temperature ones! Three examples:

1. I forgot to mention that after we all went to an early dinner after the dance recital, we (Ken, RoAnn, and I) were on a mission to find some good "hard" ice cream on the way home. However, there were so many detours just to get back home that we said screw it – let's just get it at the grocery store near Pine City!

Of course, after being in air-conditioning and walking into their very cool house, Ro and I said we needed to light the fire "pit" on the deck before we sat out there and ate the ice cream. Sometimes you have to warm up enough to eat ice cream, ya know? Smile if you understand our logic!

Side note: It was Cedar Crest Blueberry Waffle Cone. So good!

2. Both mornings I was there, I had a slice of delicious Amish Friendship Bread for breakfast. Amish Friendship Bread is like an adult chain letter for people who like to bake! Once you accept that batch of "starter" you cannot leave the cult. You can only break the chain by throwing away whatever starters you can't give away – including your own! So I resisted getting back into that (been there, done that) but did take a half-plus loaf home.

Got home from work today and this is what is left! So I guess hubby does like it. I remember that now. Should've rejoined the damn cult!

3. On my way home from work, I had to hunt and gather ingredients that may or may not be used in a trifle soon. (Hey, gotta get one more in before we're all working from home for 6 weeks!) And that's when I met my sweetest downfall.

Hadn't seen these before nor purchased them. But they fit my "theme." I am a huge HUGE coconut anything and everything fan. But I still felt I should taste test one when I got home. Just to be sure it would blend with the rest of the flavors and all that. I demand quality in my creations! 

Or something.

Anyway, I kid you not, I moaned out loud at first bite. Holy perfectly delicious flavor combination! Good thing Jim is golfing or he'd wonder what the hell was happening in the kitchen!!

I quickly shoved them in the fridge to chill with the other cookies – you have to do that so they cut up nicely (rather than mushy) the next day. But you know that from my previous Trifle Tutorials. I don't know how I can stay away from them! This will be my biggest test of willpower strength in recent days, that's for sure.

I mean I do have another cookie type to cut up as well for the cookie layer, so I might not need to "use" all them. #MeJustifyingANewAddiction. Bwaahaa.

Just... if you love coconut like I do, get yourself some of these!!!

I mean it is a flavor of summer after all... at least tropical islands that are summer year-round! Enjoy the treats of the season!

Spring Chickens and Other Random Commute Photos

 If you ever saw the Disney movie Up, you know that dogs can have a single train of thought until "Squirrel!" That is me. Of course, I've said previously that my "spirit animal" is an eagle or a fox. But now I'm thinking... squirrel. I offer my commute photos from the first part of this week as evidence...

Coming home from Stevens Point on Monday, I saw a plume of smoke and drove 10 miles out of my way to follow it. The old newspaper reporter in me never dies. Took this from the Prairie Chicken Viewing/Counting Area on County Trunk F (if you know, you know). But does anyone know what was going on south of there Monday? Gas prices are rising so I didn't go any further.

And here is what I am calling a spring chicken in the neighbor's yard. Mainly, since this was taken on that fake spring day Monday, I was attempting to coax it to make spring a little more permanent. Let the record reflect that that effort failed.

I was, however, successfully treated to a glorious sunrise. I will always tap the brakes for these!

PHOTO CREDIT: JIMMY AUSTIN

My photographic failure is that hubby captured a photo of this pale guy in our front yard and I've had my camera – with mega zoom lens – on the kitchen table all week to get a nice, crisp photo of him. And he (ooops, maybe SHE) hasn't reappeared since I've been at the ready. Multiple neighbors keep on seeing IT so hopefully IT will come back.

Also I assured Jim he'd get a photo credit.

So, yeah, there's a peak inside my hamster cage (or squirrel cage) of a brain! Enjoy your perfectly NORMAL selves for the second half of the week!

Oh, Boys!

We had a two-day whirlwind celebrating boys who have grown up to become handsome, successful men. Pretty fun! 

Friday's fun revolved around these dudes. In late May of 2018, these 4 moved into a lovely college house in Platteville. And the following weekend Carter, Jack, Josh, and Johnny invited their parents down so they could show it off.

We parents didn't quite get over it. But we also couldn't quite get over how cool this friendship was and what fun and amazing guys they turned out to be.

Fast forward to yesterday. Josh (left recently got married), it was Jack's wedding day, Johnny's getting married in October, and Carter was a groomsman for Jack and will be an usher for Johnny. Love that they made lifelong friends.

It turned out to be a beautiful day for an outdoor ceremony at Koehler-Andre State Park near Sheybogan.

An our favorite groomsman cleaned up pretty good in his brand new suit! 

We hadn't seen them in a month so it was good to reconnect with Carter and Mamie.

They always look good together. It was a fun evening a dinner and dancing. Got to dance with both of my brown-eyed bandits. 💜💜

We stayed at the Harbor View Inn in Port Washington. And it did indeed have a view of the harbor.

Took a walk around and found my boat – Foxy Lady – of course! 

This morning we hit the road at a decent time so we could make a side stop on the way home. A cemetery in the town of Maple Grove where Jim located the grave of his 4-greats-grandfather. If you're into genealogy at all, you'd understand. Very cool.

Got home around 1 p.m. and I did some speed trifling. Whipped this one together for our nephew's "25 years of racing" party faster than he finishes a feature race!

Utilized his Reffner Blue with a touch of red race car colors. And topped with some stickers from my scrapbooking supplies.

Look at him in his early years on a go-kart.

And how tiny that kart looks now! Another boy all grown up! He's come so far and has become such a  wonderful man, husband and father. The years pass much too quickly. It was a very nice get-together.

From there we ran home for a few minutes to gather layers. Yes, it's getting down to the 50s tonight, to go over to our friends Joe and Michelle's for a fire. There were several of us couples that hadn't gotten together all summer. The guys had for golf, and most of us girls had for golf as well. But not all together to just hang out.

The relaxing and laughing was long overdue. Including some talk among boys who are technically men now, but don't always show it. Ha. Which only made for more laughs.

It just happened to be a summer where it was either 90 degrees and you didn't need or want the warmth of a fire. Or it was rainy. Tonight felt like fall. But it was a good feeling. 

I still hope to relax with no plans tomorrow except for maybe some time with Mr. Deck Chair. He's been so neglected with my busy schedule. 

Happy Holiday Weekend Sunday

I'll admit the 3rd day of a 4-day holiday weekend can be pretty boring when you're just doing normal life things. So today, being it Sunday and all, I went to church.

Also mid-morning Jim, Casey, Clay and a friend went golfing. By early afternoon we were all home and I headed to a graduation party while hubby relaxed on the couch and watched golf.

When I got home, I realized the temps were close enough to 70 so I could bond with Mr. Deck Chair for a bit. He was so happy! And it turned into a gathering of 3+ neighbors by our deck. (While I tried to hide my over-exposed body!)

Tonight, after I ran an errand in town, hubby had a backyard fire going.

He had some added color thanks to our many expired, etc., strings of holiday light strings. Always looks pretty. And it's nice before the mosquito season starts, too!

Enjoy the great outdoors however you want or however you can this holiday weekend! 

God, Bless the Helpers

Yesterday was overwhelming. But in a good way. The benefit for my sister Rachel and her friend and passenger Brian was amazing – to put it mildly. You can't put a price tag on the amount of love and support that came pouring in – through raffle basket and monetary donations plus items for the silent and live auctions and money dropped in the buckets for each of them.

First, my heart was smiling that my dear friends helped me provide 15 raffle baskets – and then when all was said and done, there were more than 100! Crazy amazing! There were also more than a dozen each items for the silent and live auctions.

Of course, it was just just amazing that the Luck fire hall was full for most of the time. So many people came out to support them both. I saw a lot of cousins that I saw in recent weeks due to family funerals, but this was finally a positive reason to get together.

When Rachel gave her thank-you message she mentioned her daily devotion of 1 Corinthians 13:7, thanking the helpers – as in all the people who helped put the benefit together and all those who donated items ahead of time to make it work! (P.S. I thank you, too! You KNOW who you are! 💖 ) – And all her family, friends, and prayer warriors (I know YOU, too, thanks!).

Both Rachel and Brian were understandably emotional and overwhelmed! Shocked and amazed.

Naturally, the paramedics who saved their lives got a standing ovation too. So grateful for you!!!

They even gifted her a new jacket since they had to cut her nice one off of her while extricating her from her car. Who thinks of that? Apparently, Midwest Nice EMTs do! How awesome.

We got a picture of us 8 R's too. We know Dad and Mom were smiling down on us and so grateful all 8 of could be alive and together. We're grateful, too!!

So thankful for the Luck Fire and Rescue Dept for their manual labor during this event.

And for letting me be an honorary member. I do have an official T-shirt given to me after this. LOL!

A couple side notes: 

I was lucky enough to win a few raffle baskets myself and for a friend who gave me basket money. 

And I was more than blessed to see family, cousins and some LHS classmates, plus a long-lost fellow confirmation class friend from junior high (hi Tim!). 

And... thanks to my generous friends Julie, Dar, Marigene, Gene, Cindy, Terri, Julie, Michelle, Sara, Jill, Christy, Jane, and Jackie!

On behalf of me and my sister, I love you all!

Being Strong

A year ago today our favorite part of Maui – historic Lahaina – was basically obliterated from an out of control wildfire. Since my company is a title sponsor of a PGA golf tournament there, all of us employees are pretty tuned into the happenings there. 

So today, on the one year anniversary of the fire, I made sure to wear my "Maui Strong" t-shirt to golf league tonight. 

It did not help my game, but I felt positive, nonetheless.

The past few days have been challenging for a few reasons. One, we're preparing for my mom's memorial service this weekend. Secondly, my good "friends" at Facebook decided to suspend my account again for going against "community standards."

I have no idea why, really. And it's aggravating.

But I do realize that a vast majority of my readers think they can only access my blog via Facebook. So the 8 of you who just follow my blogger website, thank you.

 You inspire me to keep going!

Something's Fishy

No matter what Punxsutawney Phil says on February 2nd, we mostly give him the benefit of the doubt – and are especially supportive when he predicts an early spring. And he certainly did that this year. And we certainly got it.

Apparently the fine print indicates there's no guarantee that winter won't return AFTER that early spring. Doh!

So we awoke to the predicted 3-4 inches of overnight snow. 

Thankfully, the snowblower wasn't needed. Just some muscle work by the man of the house while the boy and I worked. 

I forgot we actually wanted the snow so we could get rid of this dead-ass ash tree pile in our front yard. Jim and neighbor Mike cut that down in the late fall.

Today, with the snow covering the dry ground, they commenced to turning the dead-ass ash pile into a pile of ash.

Was tempted to have s'mores for lunch...

But Carter and I saved room for fish at Kellner International while Jim worked his final Friday of the fish fry at St. Lawrence. Good stuff!

Now we're watching some hoops and while waiting for the super-late-for-old-people Badgers game.

Meanwhile, we should all apologize to Punxsutawney Phil. I mean whoever seeded these brackets did a fishy job too. I mean... Yale? What?

Let's go, Bucky (Phil's rodent cousin)!!