Gypsy departs, Copperfest and Grandtots

Saturday morning we got up early and enjoyed some coffee and muffins with Gypsy (aka Marty) from http://gypsy97.blogspot.com   We sure had a nice morning while it was still cool and pleasant.

We took the doggers all back down by the river, hoping Gypsy's elegant shepherd dog Lady would take a dip in again so we could snap some pics this time. We took our cameras along as we ambled through the woods.  It's been so dry around Wisconsin that even the mosquitoes were not even out.

As the dogs went down to the water, we held our breaths to see if Lady would go in again.  Sure nuff, she went right in and enjoyed wading around, up to her belly.  Lapping water and cooling off.  She even swam a little ways!   The current is very gentle, so no worries about her being carried away.   Duchess came in too for a dip, just to prove she can be a water-collie dog too.

What a great morning for a little dip in the river, and 

Marty was so happy to see her Lady having such a good time! 

I got into the river too... and it was refreshing and cool on the legs. 

Then all three doggies had to have a good romp around on the grass by the shore!

Duchess and Duke sure enjoyed the company of Lady, and both had to take a time out for a good "Lassie pose" for my camera while I was still standing knee deep in the river.

With a smile on her doggy face, and a faraway look in her eye, Lady was remembering some times playing in a stream in her puppyhood.  I am glad she was able to relive her doggy memories in our river!

We walked back up through our cool green woods towards the house up on the ridge.  Whenever I see the house from down here in the woods, I think of that John Denver song "Cool and Green and Shady"   The air was heavy with dampness and humidity, and a scorcher of a day was on the rise.

Lady dried off on the deck for a while, but soon it was time to get loaded up in the SUV to head west, back to California.  We made our promises to meet again on one of our journeys.

Marty has been having a hard time getting Lady into the SUV back seat due to her aging back legs.  We had a plastic step stool that might work, so here is Steve and Marty getting Lady accustomed to the stool and helping her into the SUV.  I think with a few more practices, it might work out well for her.

Once she got in on her mattress, she was all set to ride, and stretched out in her space while we all said our goodbyes with Marty.  Lady did manage to sit up, turn around and let me kiss her on the nose for our own little "Good Bye"  awwwww

   

We waved as Marty and Lady headed on out down the road, going west to find more adventures.  Travel safe, dear Gypsy!

Once Marty was on the road, we met up with our daughters, Erin and Heather, along with three of the grandtots, Jameson, Chelsea and Clayton to watch the Copperfest Parade in town.  The kids made a HAUL of the candy being thrown from the floats, along with some frisbees, beach balls, water bottles, mardi gras beads and even a Beanie Baby TY stuffed turkey toy!     Clayton didn't care so much, but he did march his feet up and down in his stroller to the passing school band as they played music.

After the parade, it was getting hotter and hotter. Instead of making the rounds of the Copperfest kiddie rides and vendors, we headed out to our house with the kids and grandkids to cool off and make some lunch.  Watermelon and hot dogs were the order for the day.

Heather needed new brakes and a muffler on her Saturn.  This car has served us well for a long, long time.  We owned it first, then son-in-law Mark bought it from us and ran it for a few years.  Then we bought it back from him for Heather a few years ago and it's still going strong!   LOVE those Saturns!    She is also going to "inherit" our newer Saturn once we hit the road full-time.  Both have over 200,000 miles on them, but work well and only seem to need routine maintenance.   When I came to snap this pic, Heather grabbed a big screwdriver to make it seem like she is "helping"  hahahaha

Brake pads $15, muffler $38, Thank You hugs from Heather to Steve = PRICELESS!!!

Chelsea and Jameson donned their little swimmy suits, and pranced and splashed around in the kiddie pool I set up on the shady part of the deck.  They had 2 big purple drink containers that were given away in the parade.  They proceeded to empty the kiddie pool, one container at a time, across the deck and over the edge to the patio below!  Delightful splat sounds as the water hit the cement below, fits of giggles, and squeaky clean kids... ahhh summertime!

This is probably the last time they will playing on our deck, and having a family gathering around the house.  We are starting to pack and load up things in both of the girl's cars to take back to their houses.  All our treasures are going to be dispersed now on a weekly basis till the house is cleared out.  We are putting all our "good stuff" in the motorhome and getting rid of the second choice items.

Soon all of our events here at the house will be "the last time...."  but we are excited about moving on to the future too.   Here are the girls and grandtots, on the last deck picnic under the canopy!

RV readers, I promise you the next blog will be about RV modification stuff! 

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Took a day trip up the river

Ahhh today is such a lovely spring day, and we decided to take a mini road test.  About five miles! LOL   There is a nice little park by the dam upriver, so we drove there to set and relax for the day.   Had to see how those new solar panels rode on the roof, right?

OH oh …. no parking???

 

Just kidding! 

That sign was out by the road and we were legally parked in the area near the dam.  There is a larger parking area with a boat ramp a bit further up the road, but we like going here instead.  Not dealing with pickup trucks and boat trailers in and out of the water all day. 

 

This is a small dam on the Oconto river, just up river a few miles from our home, and it has a hydro electric generator inside. Actually, we are shareholders in the dam and get a tiny dividend check each year too.   So when Steveio would holler at the teens “Who left these lights on?? Do you think I own stock in the electric company???”   The would say: “YES!”

 

We took the dogs and went for a walk along the riverbank.  The folks are gathered along the shore line for fishing and watching the spawning… mostly suckers, (like carp) and walleye are spawning right now.   Not allowed to catch walleye till the first Sunday in May. 

 

This is the top side of the dam building and the reservoir backwaters which is called The Machickanee Flowage.  We sometimes launch our boat here and piddle around fishing in the backwaters of the dam. 

 

It was a gorgeous blue sky day!  Wow,  compared to 8 inches of snow on Thursday? The birch trees are just beginning to leaf out and the hardwoods are tiny buds yet.

 

 

Some other folks were playing with their two dogs by the water, in and out with a ball –—Duke was very jealous and wanted to join right in!

 

The dam is roped off with big orange warning floats and bouys for safety

 

Now we walked down the road aways back towards the highway.  This bridge is maintained by the local snowmobile club and the landing next to it is a place to launch canoes and kayaks.  We can float from here all the way to our house, about five miles, or go another five miles beyond right into Oconto.  A few miles past that and you will find yourself in the waters of Green Bay.  Keep floating and you are into Lake Michigan!

 

 

 

We walked along on top to see the fish spawning from above (can you see the fish? they are about 2 feet long---   there are about 10 of them in this picture)

 

Here is a shot from alongside the bridge as we walked along the shoreline.

 

It sure was a lovely day for a walk… this little bridge was alongside the river over a tiny creek on the way back.  The dogs sure enjoyed their first real outing of the year.

 

 

      Everything seemed so green against the blue sky

 

I had simmered up a pot of homemade chicken veg soup before we went out for the walk (no, I didn’t leave it on while we were gone, I had turned it off) 

We came back and I finished up the soup with a bunch of noodles and soon it was ready. Yummmmmm!

After that nice lunch, we curled up for a while and took a nap, listening to the red winged blackbirds and robins outside.   What a nice way to spend a Sunday in spring! Steve snoozed in his new Euro Chair and I relaxed on the couch.  Now I woke up first and decided to get the pics out of the camera while he is still dozing…. ZZZZZZZZZZZZ

And we are happy to report that the solar panels are working just fine and we are already charged up to the top end of the batteries.    

 

(this blog was posted by a solar powered computer)