Check Out The View

 

As our city's main paper mill continues to be dismantled, there are fewer and fewer "towers" in "Grandpa's castle." I thought most of the big ones were down until I caught sight of this tonight after senior portrait session from down river.

For my hubby's family anyway, it will continue to be a part of their history until it's completely gone.

So crazy when we think that 20 years ago there would ever be a day people didn't need paper versions of everything. Or for our livelihood, that people would ever need an alternative news source than their newspaper on their doorstep every morning.

Unreal.

As for today, I was happy to catch this view after a rushed "beat the thunderstorm" senior portrait session. And earlier today, a nice church worship in the park that also timed out perfectly to rain happening when we were in the shelter. 

Mother Nature is fickle, but some days she allows me to do what I need to do. Thanks, lady!

Playin' With The Boys

On a little street in Platteville, just a stone's throw from campus, lies the new home of Mr. College. This weekend was sort of "move in" day for the 4 boys, well, MEN, who will live there the next year at least. Three will stay the summer and Carter will be home with us working.

Carter went down a few days early and hubby and I joined him and his roommates Saturday. The guys wanted a chance for the parents to meet them and their parents. And proudly show off their new digs.

I did like that just on the other side of the microscopic apartment building next door is the UW-P campus. No excuse for being late to class and certainly no need to drive there!

What we were prepared for is what passes as a rent-able house. I forget how run down and basically crappy college housing is. Not every place or every campus town. Just many, I'm sure. But the 4 guys each get their own room anyway.

A few pictures from the tour. Of course, they're most proud of their game room, which also features a small bar for those late-night studying potlucks, I'm sure.

They even have a fire place. Fancy, fancy!

The picture actually makes the kitchen not look too bad. You don' t want me to zoom in.

I think they had a challenge to squeeze as many couches into the living room as possible. So even though there thankfully is a fire extinguisher hanging there, a person has a half doorway of space to get through.

Living room equals one recliner and three couches. Good thing is they brought the couches in. Otherwise I might not have sat down on the "old" ones from previous tenants. Not after a year.

Did a little shopping and we all went to lunch. The housemates from left, Carter, Jack, Josh and Johnny. All buds. All frat brothers, too.

Yup, as part of our visit, we got a top-secret tour of the Delta house a few blocks from their house.

I really don't need to show you pictures. Just think Animal House. It was interesting to see the current active members in a photo on the wall. There's Mr. College lower left. Looking all slick.

One for the scrapbook.

"Kids" are always coming up with new games these days. This one combines Frisbee and Beer and is called BeersBee. Or something. You get points if you throw the disc and it hits the beer bottle or the PVC pipe it's sitting on. Guess who was the reigning champion?

That's right. Hubby was like he never left college. Though he probably hasn't tossed a Frisbee since before Carter was born! A natural, I guess. The boys were impressed!

Later we enjoyed Uno's Pizza. Highly recommend if you're ever in P-Town. And we stayed at the Super 8.

If you recall, that's home of the Super 8 swan. I guess there were two at one point. Maybe there were when we stayed there 2 years ago. I can't recall. But we couldn't leave town without saying hello and goodbye to it this morning.

Got home around noon and had a graduation party. Carter got home this evening and spent the time filling out paperwork. He starts his new job at the Biron paper mill in the morning.

There's too much adulting going on! Uff da.

Splash of Color

The best days are when God and Mother Nature are on the same page. In central Wisconsin, we were blessed with sun and 70 degrees, which can only mean one thing: Let's go kayaking!

We splashed in near the Biron Mill again and immediately saw more color than our voyage 2 weeks ago. We quickly surmised that there are a lot of trees along the shore that just aren't meant to change color. But there was enough to keep this shutterbug happy.

I did bring my good camera – with fresh batteries – but no eagle sightings today. The only wild life – besides the "casting" spiders again – was a snake that scared a squeak (or louder) out of me when I stopped on what we call Pee Island to, well, pee. That was unexpected. I'm surprised I didn't tip my kayak racing to get away!

Mostly, though, it was calm and beautiful. A perfect Sunday with our friends Mike and Cindy. Photos don't do it justice and words would be wasteful here. So just enjoy the river view...

One last look. Not sure if it's our last paddle of the "season" but it won't get any prettier from here on out. Saw a ton of leaves falling today so get out and enjoy your last splash of color while you can!

Thanks for riding along.

The Sun Sets on August

With the sun setting earlier each night, there aren't many opportunities left to kayak after work. Not for a few hours at a time anyway.

Tonight, as the sun set on the month of August, we got out with the neighbors. We put the 'yaks in by the Biron dam but decided against paddling around the big island. Typically, we don't have to worry about the sun setting on us. This time of year we do. And we don't want to get caught on the river in the dark when boats without lights may speed by. So we didn't go as far, but still had a great time and saw a few things....

All summer I complained I hadn't seen any turtles napping on logs in the sun. Finally see our first one and that bugger jumps (or gracefully falls) off the log before I can float close enough to take a picture.

I also tried stealth moves to sneak up on the crane, but he took off as soon as my bright green kayak was in sight.

I was somewhat prepared so at least I got a photo of him escaping. Or is it pterodactyl?

Saw this big ol' bee hive, too. And yes, it was active. And yes, I made sure my deathly allergic hubby steered clear of it. Wow.

The cool thing about beating the sunset back to the boat landing is obvious. You get to see the sun set! It sort of altered between yellows and pinks, then both.

Pretty calm tonight, so got this reflective shot as we neared the boat landing by the Biron dam and paper mill.

Ball of fire!

Final view of August! Where did the summer go? I am sure we'll have some more paddling time, just on the weekends in the daytime. Not that I want to rush summer, but am looking forward to seeing autumn colors from the water. If the leaves are anything like the colorful sunsets, we're in for a treat.

Thank you, August.

Making Scents

If you would have asked me earlier today what one of the worst smells is, I would have said the paper mill.

Living in a paper mill town, you'd think I'd get used to that sulfuric acid odor, but I don't. We get spoiled living "out" of town and only smell it when we occasionally are down wind or something. Today, when we took a walk break at work, we were definitely in its path. Eww.

Of course, any mill worker (or their family members) will tell you "It's the smell of money." That may be true but I prefer my odorless cash and credit.

Tonight, though, I have the windows open not to let that smell in, but to let a different smell out.

I guess it takes an undomestic goddess like me to burn microwave popcorn. Not sure how I did it. But the evidence has lingered in the air a good hour.

The thing is, I am home alone since Jim is in Marshfield visiting his uncle and Carter is at a friend's. I was just trying to make a light, easy supper after my run. Even though I technically had popcorn for lunch today, too, I guess I forgot.

Just like I guess I forgot to keep an eye on the popcorn!

I had just opened the box. You can select the bag size on our microwave. So instead of 3.5 ounces, I chose 3 to be safe, and walked away. And let it burn. Well, it definitely is not a snack-size bag (1.75 ounces), but when I threw out the black hulls and tried again, I had to stop it almost a half minute early on that 3-ounce bag setting.

So there's your Consumer Report notice of the day. If you buy the Pop Weaver brand, keep an eye on it!

You know, I never have this problem when I have ice cream for supper. That doesn't smell. And it doesn't leave a trace of undomestic evidence. Guess I'll stick with that.

Makes scents to me.