Busy Week of Visits!

I know I haven't posted a blog all week... but I have a good excuse!

On Sunday, Steve's dad, Paul Pfundtner was able to come over and spend a few days with us!  We had found him a site next to us, and he came over in his Newell motorhome.    http://www.newellcoach.com/   He just got it a few months ago and has all the "bugs" worked out that come with owning a new rig.  This visit with him was so enjoyable for him because everything was operating properly.  It looks so pretty nestled into it's campsite among the green trees and woodsey shrubbery.

They got all backed in and set up in his site.... his companion Nikki the dog was along, and we helped with walks and potty breaks to keep him entertained.   He moves so fast it's hard to get a shot of him.

Nikki is ten years old,

but acts like a puppy 

and can be very sassy at times... 

He keeps us on our toes! 

Sunday evening was a treat out by Pa Pfundtner, to the High Cliff Country Club for a dinner on the town!  What a nice evening!   We had a cute little waitress who took this pic of us.... how great was that?  Our dinners were wonderful, and so much on our plates that our leftovers took care of lunch for the next day. 

Oh, I forgot to mention that Steve ended up working the full day Sunday to make up for an employee's family emergency.  That turned out to be a good thing, because since the State of Wisconsin doesn't like paying overtime, instead he was able to take some time off during the first part of the week while his dad was visiting!

Some serious cribbage playing was done, with many cheating moves by Steve to be able to get one up on his wiley old father.  (I think Paul let him win to feel good, like a father should)  

The weather turned pretty hot and muggy by Monday, and we were happy to have the upgraded 50 amp service in the park.  No throwing breakers and overheating wires with the new system in place since last fall --- Steve had overseen the electrical upgrade taking place as one of his first "big projects" in the park after being hired here.  And we sure appreciate it on days like this! 

I took Pa Pfundtner on an extensive tour of the park and showed him all the fun stuff we get to do as volunteers.  He signed up as a park volunteer too to help out with the park, and we made him do the hosting duties at the campsite while I was out cleaning firepits.  He handled all the folks coming to the host site to ask questions and get directions.  Customer Service is his specialty~! LOL

He had a chance to meet Steve's co-workers, bosses and staff... plus explore Steve's big (and well-organized) workshop and equipment areas.  I think he got a good earful of praise about his fine son and the good work he has done.  I saw him beaming with pride.  awwwwwww

A few weeks ago, Steve, his brother Pete and their dad Paul had all gone out on a charter fishing boat into Lake Michigan.  They got one humongous salmon and froze the filets till we had a time to all get together.   Pete came out on Monday with the slab of salmon and all the fixins....

Under Pa Pfundtner's careful tutelage,  brothers Pete and Steve carefully prepared the fire, the grid to cook on (made by Steve) and the slab of fish.  Layers of tomatoes and onions were placed on top and a basting mix of garlic, butter and lemon was prepared.  

The sons carefully covered the fish with tin foil so it could "bake" over the hardwood coals...  with Pa Pfundtner supervising the entire process.   I was only to take care of steaming sweet corn, and baby red potatoes and setting the table.   It was a "MAN'S COOKING DAY"  for sure -----

Ohhhh the smells coming from that campfire I am sure had the entire campground drooling!  The dogs were drooling too.  LOL   We dug in and the whole crew was SILENT.....  because they were busy eating!

 All I can say is MMMMM MMMMM GOOD!   

After all their bellies were full up to the top, Steve cleared away the dishes and cleaned up for me!   Then the guys got very serious.... it was time for some more cribbage.  These guys really had a good game going, and played well into the evening.  It was so much fun to see them all laughing and teasing each other.  It was good to sit back and observe them fall into their natural roles of father and son and brother.   What a great evening for memories to be made.

See, last December, we lost the matriarch to the Pfundtner family, Steve's mom, Maryann.  It has only been 8 short months, but the pain is just as strong and the memories were flowing.  Stories were told and a few tears were shed.  I am sure she was smiling down at her silly sons and the good time they were having with her loving husband.  We miss her.

On Tuesday, our friends Sharon and Fred rolled in, and backed into their site right across from us in their nice Tiffen motorhome!  We teased the park staff that we are sprucing up the place by inviting all these folks with big fancy motorhomes to come in----  but sssshhhhhhh  just don't mention that our motorhome is 16 years old...  it thinks that it is newer too and we don't want to hurt it's feelings.

Sharon and Fred tow a little Ford Focus behind their rig, and are planning a winter down in Arizona.  They have had a few family issues the last few years keeping them in cold and frozen Wisconsin.  This will be a good winter for them to get away.

We enjoyed a nice visit with them and their yellow lab, Brandie.  Steve gave them a campground tour after our coffee clutches and gab fests.  We have camped together many times and fall into a good routine.  They were our best buddies to take us out west with them after our son passed, and they helped us grieve and listen and support us in those awful weeks after we lost Mike. HUGS to such wonderful folks----

The weather had turned quite hot and humid, so we mostly sat around, 

shooting the breeze, or escaping into our motorhomes for the air conditioning.

I went out earlier in the mornings to get my camphosting duties done, cleaning firepits and running the loads of ashes back to the big dumpster at the shop.  Most of the park was empty, so I got a lot of sites ready for the upcoming weekend.

We shared meals and pitched in some goodies.  One night I made up a pan of lasagna and Sharon whipped up a salad...   another evening after tenderloin steaks on the grill, Pa Pfundtner treated us all to ice cream at the Chubby Seagull!    http://www.chubbyseagull.com/ 

All too soon, Paul had to pack up and head back home, and today, Sharon and Fred loaded up and took off too.   I set out on my cart and put in five straight hours of firepit and grill cleaning to catch up for all my goofing off.  Steve went back to his regular work hours.   And when he came home, we ran to Chilton to do a few loads of laundry and get some supplies.

There was a missing dog from a campsite that had the whole park on alert to look for it, as it was dragging a chain that was sure to be wrapped around a tree.  Yes, it was later located by some hikers, wrapped around a tree and hiding down in the woods.  Everyone rejoiced at the safe return of 9 month old Penny, a white colored Golden Retriever.

I think he and I both needed to relax and rest a bit......   

sitting back and watching the Packer Game tonight.

Now at halftime, the score is still 3-3 against the Seahawks... 

I know it's only pre-season, but a game is a game is a game to a Packer Fan! 

Guess what?  Sunday we have MORE friends stopping by!  Fellow Safari motorhome owner's Mel and Paula are coming from Wausau for a few days of gabbing, quilting, fiddling and fixing and just plain ole enjoying each other's company....  plus she is hauling me a new load of tenderloins from the little meat market in Wausau.  What a doll!