Camping at High Cliff State Park in Sherwood, Wisconsin

Oh it's so nice to be camping in such a pretty park.... not that I am biased or anything.  But the park is kept in tip top shape from a fantastic crew, one of which is my husband, Steveio!  Hahaha.   He is the head of the maintenance at the park, and does a little of everything that is needed whenever it is needed.

While we are camping at the park, the nice perk of his job is that he can come back to the campsite and have lunch with me.  His work really varies from day to day, so each day is some new adventure for him to accomplish. Yesterday he was busy with installing park benches...  and he had time for a quick lunch before he was off to do something else.

(as I type the blog this morning, I can hear chainsaws off in the distance.  

I am sure it's Steve doing something somewhere in the park) 

Our doggers are very happy to be camping too.  

They find wonderful places to sniff and new spots to go potty on our walks. 

Plus they can relax in the comfort of the motorhome.

What a Dog's Life. 

As I said in our last blog, our friends Paula and Mel are camping with us this week.  We had hoped to camp with Herb and Karen, but engine troubles kept them at home.  Paula is the sweet person who took the time to teach me how to REALLY quilt, not just baby quilts from kits like I had done in the past when my babies were little.  We planned ahead and brought our sewing machines along.  It was nice and warm on Tuesday so we could take them outdoors and set them up on a table....

Ahhhh quilting under a canopy of green leaves, with chipmunks dashing around and birds singing, once in a while a breeze.  It was a perfect autumn day at High Cliff!

I was working on some quilt squares in a pattern that Paula taught me... and she was working on these cloth microwave bowls.  Turned out pretty nice!   You can see her elegant antique Singer Featherweight machine in the background.  That is a coveted sewing machine among quilters, and I wouldn't mind if it happened to be stowed away in MY storage compartment! LOL

 While we were busy sewing away the afternoon... 

we sent Mel off to get our firewood for the evening.  

Kept him busy and out of our hair.  

We women need our fabric fix from time to time. 

Aren't they just the Cutest Couple Ever????

I took a tumble off the bottom step of the motorhome yesterday, and with arms full of stuff so I didn't have any way to break my fall.  WHOOOOOOOOOMPH down I went!  Nobody was around, so I could swear as much as I wanted to. LOL....   But with a bit of a limp, I got up and soothed my damaged ego, and hobbled back into the motorhome.  A few hours with a bag of ice on my foot, and all was well enough to get on with the day.  I am a little stiff this morning. Good thing the ground was soft! 

When Steve got off work at 4, he was able to help Mel with some repair project on his motorhome (they have the same kind of motorhome as ours)  and we later got supper ready to cook out on the grill.  We ALWAYS eat so good when camping.  Here is a pic for the "foodies" to see... those are grilled potatoes yet under the tin foil, forgot to take it off for the pic.  Steaks, salads, wine and all the fixens.  ahhhhh

After dinner, the guys built us a wonderful campfire.  We spent time laughing and telling stories and sharing all the good campfire conversation... and a few marshmallows too. We had a few coons come on into the campsite once they smelled the marshmallows toasting.  We chased them off a couple times with clapping hands, hisses and stomps of the feet.  This time of year they get so used to people from all summer long, they think begging for food is a way of life.  We shooed them on their way with NO marshmallows in their bellies.  People don't realize the harm they do by feeding wild animals.  Now it's time for the raccoons to forage in the woods, not in our campsites.

The best way to wind up the evening was for Paula and I to polish off a bit of wine... 

Yummmmm

Such is the "Night Life" at High Cliff State Park

Spending Time with Pa Pfundtner and then Camping at High Cliff State Park

Sunday morning started with a gulp of coffee, potty break for the dogs, and then dash out the door to head over to Steve's Dad's place in Waupaca.  He took us out to breakfast first....  at a little retro 1950's diner called Little Fat Gretchens! What a name!  But the food was good.

(Pa Pfundtner was in the middle of talking when the waitress snapped the pic, 

really, he WAS having a good time!) 

Then we went back to Pa's house to help out with some projects.  Steveio loves any time that he can fire up the Kubota and play in the yard.  Haha... big boys and their sandbox toys!!

 I just LOVE this pic I snapped of him and his sassy dog, Nicky

Steveio helped with some repairs, and messed with the air compressor, 

and fueled up both of the lawnmowers.  

Oh my... DUELING LAWNMOWERS!!!

We took care of some yard projects, 

cleared out windowboxes and planters,

took care of the garden plants and 

got things ready for winter.

Nicky kept a close eye on his "daddy" and made sure he didn't get out of sight.

While the guys were busy with the lawns, I found a garden bench and sat down with my knitting. It was a pleasant morning and the sun was shining.  As I gazed around the yard, I was missing Mom P. who passed away almost 2 years ago.  Seeing her flowers and landscaping that made this house a home, I was wistfully wishing she was there setting next to me on the bench. Maybe she was.

I admired these sweet cranes that set out in the yard... pretty cool! 

Once our work was done, it was time to head home.

I think Pa Pfundtner needed a nap!

When we got home, we tossed the rest of our things in the motorhome, and headed out to High Cliff State Park,  Yes, we were going to go camping a mere 14 miles away from home. LOL.... not really "getting away" for Steveio, because he works at the park full time!  

Originally, our RVing friends Karen and Herb were going to come up from Milwaukee to camp side by side with us on reserved sites for the week.  At the last minute, they have been experiencing some major diesel engine troubles, and had to cancel. Awwwww  so as soon as they cancelled, I emailed our other Safari RVing Buddies (and quilting buddy) Paula and Mel from Wausau.  They secured the reservation for the site next to us and loaded up their rig to come on over! 

As we were driving to the campground, we didn't bother to hook the Tracker Toad onto the back of the motorhome, so I was following Steve as he drove out to the park... Here is a pic I snapped as he turned the corner.  I think I will use it for our blog header page for a while too...

Paula and Mel were already set up on their campsite when we arrived at the park.  We quickly set up as fast as we could... because the Packer Game was on!!!!  Our motorhome has an outside jack for the antenna to hook up outdoors.  

We set up the TV on a little table...

gathered our lawn chairs... 

put out some snacks... 

and watched the game! 

I am proud to say the Packers WON... 

over the New York Jets.... 31-24  YAY! 

We cooked up a quick supper of bratwurst and salads... 

Paula and I took the doggers for a walk around the campground 

and we came across this artwork from someone who REALLY likes our park! 

I know it rained last night... 

so I imagine it will be gone this morning. 

"Eco-Friendly Graffiti"! 

We proceeded to jaw jack for a few hours.  When it got darker, the guys built a campfire. It was getting chilly out, so we enjoyed the warmth of good friends, good conversation, and good flamage!   

While we were sitting the darkness, Steve felt something crawling on him.....

We googled for a bit of info about walking stick insects... and found this on Wikipedia:

The Phasmatodea (sometimes called Phasmida or Phasmatoptera) are an order of insects, whose members are variously known as stick insects (in Europe and Australasia), walking sticks or stick-bugs (in the United States and Canada), phasmids, ghost insects and leaf insects (generally the family Phylliidae). The ordinal name is derived from the Ancient Greekφάσμα phasma, meaning an apparition or phantom, and refers to the resemblance of many species to sticks or leaves. Their natural camouflage can make them extremely difficult to spot. Phasmatodea can be found all over the world in warmer zones, especially the tropicsand subtropics. The greatest diversity is found in Southeast Asia and South America, followed by Australia. Phasmids also have a considerable presence in the continental United States, mainly in the Southeast.

(this part is really interesting about females NOT needing males to reproduce!) 

Many species of phasmids are parthenogenic, meaning the females lay eggs without needing to mate with males to produce offspring. Stick insect species that are the product ofhybridisation are usually obligate parthenogens,^[11] but non-hybrids are facultative parthenogens, meaning they retain the ability to mate and are bisexual depending on the presence and abundance of males.^[12] Eggs from virgin mothers are entirely female and exact copies of their mothers.

He set it back in the woods after we were done taking pics...

and a few minutes later it came back and was crawling on Paula's pantleg! 

Guess he wanted to be warm too. 

That is our Nature Lesson for today, folks! 

Billy Bob's Cherry Chocolate Cake

Today I have so much to tell, I am going to do it in two posts.   The first post today is about a fellow RV blogger we met last year, named Billy Bob.
Here is his blog:  http://billybobsplace.blogspot.com

He shared a special recipe and gave me permission to repost it, but ONLY if I bake it myself!



-------*Billy Bob's hand-made scratch cherry choc. cake*-------

Go to Walmart and buy ya up a cheap $.97 yaller cake mix, or chocolate if'n you a chocolate lover. Surpreme is the bestest, but it gonna costs bout a dime more.

A can of  Comstock cherry pie fill'n stuff. Don't be buy'n no cheap imitation cherry fill'n....we talk'n quality cake here. The real thing.

A can of that chocolate fudge frosting stuff...brand don't make no matter. It all tastes the same....but I go for name brand myself.

And 3 big ol' eggs if'n ya ain't got none at home. Don't be read'n no instruction on the box an' use 1 or 2  eggs....use 3 like I tole ya.

The way I do it. I put all that stuff in a big old stew pot. A big bowl will do the trick if'n ya ain't got no stew pot. Ya might wanna beat hell out them eggs before ya put 'em in the pot with the other stuff. 
Then I mix the hell out all that stuff with a egg flipper thingy. Be extra gentile so's ya don't squish all them cherries into little pieces. Ya don't want that. Just steer it up so's every thing is mixed. A big spoon might work in place of the egg flipper.

Be warned, don't be puttin no water or other liquids in there or you gonna have youself a huge gooey mess what ya might as well throw in the dumpster an' start over.

Ya puts all that mixed up batter it in a greased up and floured big ol' rectangle cake pan, pop it in the oven, somewheres bout 350 degs, and walla, you be a bonified cake bak'r just like the old redneck Billy Bob. 

I leave mine in the cake pan, all cover it up, so's the fly'n critters an' stuff like that don't get into it. Sadie Mae like cherry chocolate cake too.

Then ya lets it cool for bout 10 minutes fore ya put on gobs of that frosting stuff. Use the whole can...calories don't count. If ya wait too long put'n that frost'n on there, it ain't gonna run down the sides and into all the cracks an' stuff. It gotta still be a little bit warm.

Nothing left to do but jump in with a big ol' spoon or fork and eat em up!!! 

I ain't boast'n or nuttin like that, but this is the bestest cake ya ever gonna  wrap yer lips around. And it cheap too. Maybe I make one today.



That was Billy Bob's recipe in his own wonderful words!  ...   So we ran to Walmart for the cake mix, just like Billy Bob said to.   And then Paula raided her cabinets for the cherries, and I had the frosting.  She added an egg to my two,  and we decided to bake one up for dessert yesterday.

THIS IS THE THICK BATTER PLOPPED IN THE GREASED AND FLOURED PAN

BAKED UP WONDERFULLY AT 350 AND SMELLED GREAT

SPREAD ON THE FROSTING BEFORE IT WAS TOTALLY COOL

SCOOPED OUT CLEAN AND FIRM, BUT VERY MOIST

(see the bits of cherries in the cake?)

YUP, BILLY BOB, YOU GET A "THUMBS UP" ON THIS ONE! 

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"LASTS" plus Sock Cranking and Visitors

Well, with only 20 days left to own a house, we are going through some "LASTS" here.  Like, Steve cut the grass down alongside the river and remarked it was probably the "LAST" time he will need to do that.

We were outta dishwasher packets and I was at the store.  It dawned on me that this was the "LAST" time I would need to buy dishwasher soap, and why grab the big 60 packet container???  I was only going to be using the dishwasher for less than 20 days.... so the 16 packet container went in my cart.

Steve hauled down the big bags of water softener tablets, the "LAST" time we need to buy those and haul them down to load the big water conditioner unit.   And he changed the two water filters on the lines coming in from the well... "LAST" time to do that too.

I am going to clean the oven this week, and perhaps get all the windows washed, and steam clean the carpet down in the loom room... all "LASTS" in my book!

They are not sad "LASTS" obstacles to overcome, but instead kinda poignant markers of the times leading up to the final days of owning this house.  Now it's time to look forward to the "NEXTS" !!!


Monday morning our sock machine group met for a gathering at Oconto Falls Library.  We were a small group this time, only 6 participants.  But that was okay, we had fun, laughed and cranked and shared and learned.

This won't be a "LAST" sock cranking gathering for me though, because we meet four times a year and I will make the trip back up here from wherever we are the next 10 months to attend.

We own antique circular sockknitting machines (but one gal has a new one now made by the Erlbacher Gearhart Sock Knitting Machine Company )    They are fun and funky and we love making socks and other items on them too.

 

On Monday afternoon, our good weaving friends Jim and Norma from Beloit, WI of http://www.paandmasrugs.com  stopped by on their way up to Canada.  We had a good gab fest on weaving stuff till Steve got home from work, and then we cooked steaks out on the grill.  After a little tour around the tiny town of Oconto, we headed back for apple pie for dessert (I whipped that up in the morning before sock cranking).  They stayed in our "Hotel Pfundtner" in the driveway, to awake refreshed and ready to head north on their second honeymoon!

After they were well on their way, we got a call from our RVing friends, Paula and Mel from Wausau, WI.  They own a Safari motorhome the same vintage as ours and we have a lot of fun camping together with them.   They had been camping just north of us in Peshtigo, and were heading back past our house on their way home to Wausau, WI.  They stopped in for a visit, and we tossed some brats and burgers on the grill.   Paula treated Steve with a pan of rice krispie bars (his favorite) and we sure had a nice time.

Steve and Mel solved all the Problems of every Safari Motorhome In The World during their gabfest, fixed the brake light problem on theirs, fiddled with the generator on ours, and just all and all had a good time.   

Paula and I killed a bottle of wine, and we shared lots of ideas and hints and tricks of motorhoming from a woman's point of view.   And we ignored the guys who were busy busy busy...  I had some things for Paula's quilting sewing room and I got rid of a few other things she could use.

Finally we convinced them to stay overnight in the driveway rather than drive back to Wausau (only about 100 miles) ... so they turned their rig around in the driveway and Steve held the tree back a bit to allow backing in easier for Mel.  Then they could plug into the power and have their AC running for a while to cool off their interior.

It was a SAFARI SLEEPOVER!!!!

By the time we headed to bed, it was well into the night, and I think the guys were gabbed out.  Steveio had to go to work today, but the rest of us will visit for a while longer before they head out this morning.  I have more stuff to sneak into their rig or their toad car, as we are still getting rid of things here in the house.

Only 20 more days...  

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VACATION - Met up with fellow Wisconsinites in Gila Bend, AZ

On Sunday afternoon we pulled in backwards to have our doors face each other with Mel and Paula from Wisconsin.  We both own Safari rigs, and have camped together before.  Paula is also a quilter and Mel is  retired so they can travel their winter season down in the desert.   She does some quilting on the road, and is looking for a Singer Featherweight 221 in case anyone has one to sell?

Paula had a great goulash ready for us, salads and radishes for the guys... and we feasted on a table between the rigs.  The weather was warm and we sat out long after sunset,  and enjoyed the warmth and camaraderie!

Monday morning, Paula took me into Gila Bend so I could ship out some packages, and we hit the grocery store.  We found most of the prices okay, and a few of the products were different or strange.  I loved the labels on the bricks of "Wisconsin Cheese"  but made in Plano, TX ????    The deli guy carefully cut up 2 pounds of sandwhich ham for me, but left the plastic wrapping on the ham, so now we have to pull off the strands of printed plastic wrapping with each slice as we use it...  LOL   Our grocery shopping complete, we also grabbed the guys a treat of some McDonald's burgers and chicken sandwiches, so we got outta cooking and could get out on the road sooner to do some day-tripping sightseeing! 

It was much too windy to do any traveling with the RV's ... but we had been thinking of going down to Organ Pipe nat. park.  But I think we decided to stay right where we were and go out for a day trip in the car.   I popped a turkey breast in the pressure cooker, and we set the dogs into the back of the rig with the AC on while we were gone in case it got too hot. 

Before we even got outta Gila Bend, our guys spotted some other folks with vintage Safari rigs of the mid-90's era as our two rigs are.  They saw one in a campground that we had to go in and drive around it... so they could determine the floor plan, figure out the year and model, and analyze the modifications or repairs the owner might have made over the years.  The owner never did come out, but our guys gave it a good going over from the safety of the car.   LOL 

And here was a Safari Ivory, that was heading out of a parking space.  Our guys had to *stalk them* so I could snap pictures quick, as they were leaving.  It had a great pair of Toucan's on the back, and their side entry door had a stained glass panel of toucans too... how cute! 

Once we got the guy's minds off Safari's ... Mel drove us out to a Petroglyph site to scout it out.  

Petroglyphs at Gila Bend, AZ

The Painted Rock Petroglyph Site is located on the eastern edge of the Painted Rock Mountains and about 18 miles west by northwest of Gila Bend, Arizona.  This area is mostly flat and sandy with May -Oct daytime temperatures in the 100's. The annual rainfall here is only about six inches and the nearest irrigational water is the Gila River. In prehistoric times the Gila flowed west out of the Mountains of western New Mexico, made a big dogleg turn at the town of Gila Bend and continued west to empty into the Colorado River. The Hohokam people once lived and farmed here. Ruins of their late Pioneer Period (AD 350-AD 550) and Early Colonial Period (AD 550-AD 700) villages are found to the north and west, and ruins of their Sedentary - Classic Period (AD 900-AD 1400) villages are found to the south and east.

We walked among the rocks and made a determination.

We figured either an ancient tribal mother had too much of a hassel dealing with her kids, so she sent them out to make drawings on some rocks to get outta her hair while she was cleaning the cave......

or a bunch of ancient teenagers were being rebellious and this was their graffiti!  


(why else would you cover a single hill in a bunch of haphazard drawings 
and not do it on a regular basis like posting a story in a row of rocks to make it come together?)

We did our "Tourist Thing" with a saguaro

We saw a little bit of "wildlife" as this guy was sunning himself on one of the petroglyphs!~ 

Mel decided to turn his Saturn car into a four wheel drive off road vehicle again, and took us on a desert tour.. through washes and dry creek beds, over hill and dale... to explore the surrounding area.  There are campsites near the petroglyphs, that can easily accomodate a big rig, and I think we might go there again some time.  Mel took us offroad to explore areas beyond the campgrounds... just to see what we could see? 

Paula gave us a nature study on our walk... explaining about the local flora....

("This is a Barrel Cactus... OUCH!")

Here is her artistic rendition of "Woman With Interlocking Hands" motif on the petroglyphs! 

Of course...   we HAD to touch! 

When we got back from our journeys.... we had a nice meal waiting for us.  Sat around in our rig till late, talking and laughing and sharing and checking out fun stuff to do next! 

We sure enjoy you guys, Paula and Mel!



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