Halloween Event at High Cliff State Park in Wisconsin

Wow, we sure got busy this week and I never got around to writing about our Halloween Walk at High Cliff State Park.  We were the camp hosts all week long, and got our site decorated after Wednesday's storm blew through.  We didn't bother putting anything up on the campsite before that, because it would have blown away into the next county.

Steve hauled out all of our totes of decorations from the garage, and set them out for me to start the Halloween Decor efforts.  All of the campsites are reserved 11 months in advance at midnight, with everyone clamoring to get a site.  There are 112 campsites and 8 large group sites that can hold larger numbers of people (I think it's 20 per site now?)   This is a BIG event and people come from all over to walk through the campgrounds and collect treats from the campers.  (I had 1,600 pieces of candy on hand and my nephew contributed more so we started with about 2,000 pieces)  We expect between 4.000 and 5,000 people to attend!

Here is our camphost site, all spiffied up. 

 We added lights and pumpkins and 

silly things, trying to not get too scary for the little ones. 

Less than 40 sites have electricity at High Cliff, but this is the one time of the year that generators are allowed in the non-electric sites too.  So those people could fill up with lights and fun inflatables too.  Believe me, many people did a LOT more to their sites than we did... they put up huge displays with fun electronics, lights, and soundtracks....  even spooky haunted trails leading through their site to get to the candy bowl etc.

  I think our scariest guy is our gargoyle,

and he is kinda cute too. 

This sign was a little icky, 

but the little ones can't read anyhow.  LOL 

Our motorhome even got into the act! 

Frankenstein and Dracula hung out in the front windshield 

with some eerie white LED lights for illumination.

I am glad our camphost site is large and welcoming.

We were having family join us for the celebrations of birthdays as well.

(we later covered the cord with a heavy rubber mat) 

Our kids, Dan and wife Heather, with grandkids Mason and Allegra got to the park on Friday afternoon to spend the weekend as well.  They decorated up their campsite in front of their camping trailer to join in the fun.  We are so glad all of our kids are following in our camping footsteps and show their kids the fun they had when they were younger and went camping with us. 

Our friend Vicky came out to join us, with her shelties Stuart and Tara.  We took the dogs for a walk around the park before the festivities really got underway. That way we could see things and be able to be back at our own campsite when the throngs of people started coming through.  Of course, some of the grandkids had to join us on our doggie walk as well. 

While we were walking, 

the four older grankids decided to serenade (and practice) 

singing Happy Birthday to the littest cousin, Claire. 

Soon the rest of our families came to the campsite, to join in our special gathering. See, it's little Claire's second birthday, and we also celebrate my birthday too (which is ON Halloween!)  It's a fun family time to get together for the big walk at High Cliff and get all of the October Birthdays done too.   Grandmuddah and Granddaughter got piled up with gifts to open..... 

 Then everyone sang to little Claire the Happy Birthday song again...

She seemed to be more interested in the cookie! 

Our daughter Erin arranged to have these special gourmet cookies made for us,

instead of cakes...  it is a great way to serve up a group, and each one is a work of art! 

Mine were all sewing and yarn related....

and Claire's were all about puppies, her favorite animal at the age of 2.

After all of the presents were opened, little Claire and Whitney set about to explore the toys that Claire got for her birthday.  I love this pic of them both being busy busy busy with the Fisher Price Farm that we got for Claire.

Then it was time to change into costumes for the trick or treating walk.  What fun!!!  Little Whitney was an adorable unicorn, and Chelsea was a ghoul with lit up eyes (with a little battery pack)... creepy!

Clayton was some kind of super Ninja guy

and little Claire was Scrappy Doo

Allegra was a unicorn with all over jammies to keep warm

and silly Mason was a Floppy Flamingo! 

Our daughter Erin and husband Waylen love to get dressed up

and take part in the fun.  

They are Velma and Scooby Doo

(danged dog) 

The Choate Family 

I cooked up a crock pot of my calico beans, and Steve grilled up a bunch of brats and hot dogs for the kids.  We fed everyone lunch to get something in their stomachs before all of that candy and beverages for the adults.  Later I had a big crock pot of chili waiting for them after getting treats... and my friend Vicky brought along some of her great rice krispie bars to munch on. 

Our nephew Matt and wife Amanda also joined in

as well as daughter Heather and soninlaw Jesse.  

The youngens did a few jello pudding shots

but Grandfaddah and Grandmuddah were hosts on duty, 

so we didn't imbibe. 

The people started coming down the roads of the campground.  The rangers block off the roads to all automobile traffic, so it's safe and fun.  Soon the crowds increase to a solid flow of people past our campsites.  We tried to remind the kids to only take ONE piece of candy, so there is enough for all.  A few would come through again and again, especially when I refilled with the chocolate bars!

This creepy leprechaun comes year after year. I have no idea what he looks like behind the mask.  Amanda was looking for him and finally found him. He was up on the roof of a camper, squealing and dancing in elfish delight!  I am sure he imbibed in a few beverages as well. 

Soninlaw Waylen brought a smoke machine.  It's harmless smoke made from glycerine and water. The kids had fun playing with it, and by using a remote control it would smoke out into the road when groups came by the campsite.   Grandnephew Lil Matt took care of the candy bucket and the smoke machine as the people came by our site.

The main event was from 4 pm to 8 pm. 

We doled out the candy, and by 8 pm this is ALL we had left! 

Actually a little less than that, I took the pic about quarter to 8.

Our kids who weren't camping, that had just come for the day, had now left 

and headed home with sleepy grandkids full of candy! 

Things calmed down nicely in the campground --- by 11 pm all was pretty quiet.  Being camphosts means we can be called upon to help out or call the rangers or wardens to handle conflicts.  Our only problem was someone dropped a brandy bottle in the men's shower about 10 pm and it shattered into a zillion pieces.  It skittered across under the dividers into all three shower stalls. Steve and I cleaned it up, carefully wiping down every inch of floor to be sure we got any shards, and then rinsing the floors thoroughly to rinse down any tiny pieces. We would hate to have someone step in there to take a shower and cut their feet! 

ON EDIT...  THE COUNT AT THE GATE FOR THE PARK WAS OVER 5,000 PEOPLE ON SATURDAY!  SOME MAY HAVE BEEN THERE TO WALK THE TRAILS OR ENJOY THE PICNIC GROUNDS, BUT MOST WERE FOR THE HALLOWEEN EVENT AT THE CAMPGROUNDS!) 

  

Grandson Mason fell asleep in our camper, so we let him spend the night.  In the morning he helped me create our "Breakfast Bake" casserole.  It's becoming a family tradition and a good way to feed a group of people at the same time with eggs, ham, bread and cheese all rolled into one. 

 (NOTE... I OMIT THE MILK... IT BAKES BETTER) 

also we used ham instead of bacon or sausage.

Now it was time to tear down all of the decorations.  It was due to rain in the afternoon, and also the Packer Game was going to be on tv at noon.  Mason helped Grandpa tear it all down and load it up into the totes.  Another Halloween Event at High Cliff is in the books!

Although we could remain as camphosts for the rest of the month, there is another couple who usually host for a month that missed out in the rotation this summer because they went to Alaska.  So they were more than happy to come and take our place for the rest of the month.  With our brake problem on the motorhome, Steve wanted to get it home in our yard and go over every inch of the system and then test it out. Kinda hard to do that while camphosting and being set up on the site for 30 days.  So they were eager to get moved over and set up on our campsite before noon rolled around as well. 

 I headed on home driving the Tracker about 11 am

while Steve did the Dump Station Conga Line

on a Sunday morning:

As for the brakes, Steve said they were kinda sorta working on the way home, but the front brakes were smoking by the time Steve pulled into the yard~!! Dang they locked up and we hope he didn't warp the rotors or fry the calipers.  Also the pac brake (exhaust or "jake brake" as some call it) was not operating properly either!  Steve ordered some more parts that will be in later this week.  We postponed or possibly cancelled our upcoming trip to Tennessee and Florida.   We are bummed, but we have to have the motorhome working and fully reliable before heading out that far.

Sooooo we are home.  

More on that in tomorrow's blog! 

Winter's A Comin'

Each day it is getting darker earlier... and each morning we are waking up now in darkness.  To top it off, it's been rain, rain, rain all week too.  Even this morning, on a Saturday, when we want to maybe do a few things in the yard....  rain!

Speaking of yard, I did manage to snap a few pics of my coleus before the frost and freezing temps kills them off for the winter.  I just love the color of these plants in the fall.   I like coleus because it's instant color in the flower beds when you plant them, not just green. The leaves make up the bright fuchsia and pink colors, which is nice that you don't have to wait for blooms to be the colorful part of the plant.

I have kept this same coleus plant strain going since the mid-90's when my friend Connie gave them to me.... and every year I put them out carefully in the spring to make sure they don't get killed off.  I share some of them with friends... and two special friends shared the same plants back with me after we sold our house in Oconto.  When we bought the house in Chilton, it was the end of December, and I didn't have any coleus to winter over!  But these two friends kept their plants going for me, and I was able to replenish my stock..... awwwww

I have 6 pots growing in the basement under the grow lights to save for next year, and I might start up a few more pots today because I picked up more potting soil.  If you snip off the plants about 8 inches long, and stick them in water, they grow new roots within a week!

Here is the area on the side of the porch that we cleared out the winter-damaged shrubs.  This exposed more of the pretty cut-out fret work on the base around the front porch. I added an extra trellis to this side and planted another clematis vine and some hydrangea plants donated by my old neighbor up in Oconto.  I have always loved hydrangea and wanted a big clump on the corner of any house that I owned.  Now this will take off and grow into beautiful plants next year (I hope)

My other clematis plant on the south side of the porch was well established by the previous owners of our house. It comes back thicker and fuller each year. It has bright gorgeous deep purplish blooms and surprisingly there is still ONE bloom hanging on yet this fall! 

My weeping cherry tree is doing well in the front yard. During the extremely frigid winter, the bark split on the trunk!  In the beginning of the year I was getting a bit worried about it not making it, but it finally took ahold and grasped onto life with gusto! 

Getting ready this week to load up the motorhome... next weekend is the big Halloween celebration at High Cliff State Park!  We rented a double family site to share with our kids and grandtots!!!   Our son Dan is bringing their new travel trailer so we will have enough sleeping room for everyone.  We are looking forward to spending time with them all.  I am going to pre-cook up some pots of chili, calico beans, a big bowl of tuna noodle salad, bake some treats, and of course have a variety of hot dogs, brats and burgers on hand too.  We will be camping in non-electric sites, so have to think of foods that we can keep warm in pans over the grill or campfire.  Will have lots of hot cocoa and minimarshmallows for the kiddos too if it's cold.

Everyone decorates up their campsites and the kiddos do trickortreating from site to site.  Here is a blog post from last year's event: Halloween at High Cliff 2013  It's a special time for me because Halloween is also my birthday! It's a great way to celebrate it with all our kids and grandtots.

Got a few things done around Our Old House this past week.  The faucet has not yet arrived for the swapover between the upstairs tub and little corner sink in the half bath.  The website said it will ship on the 20th.  So that project is on hold for now.

My lower element went out on the oven in our kitchen stove. Heavens to Betsy, that means no baking!   I called around to a few places and finally found one that said they had the right replacement.  By myself, I pulled out the stove from the alcove, unplugged it, and proceeded to tear it apart.  A cover plate was removed for the bottom element with some screws and I unhooked the wires --- making notes of which color when on which connections.  I took the whole unit into the local appliance shop to match it up.  Uh Oh, nope it didn't match up with theirs after all.  Now I had to call around again, and found a place in Fond du Lac that had one.  So off I trekked 25 miles to that town and sure nuff, it matched!

Ahhhh my oven was operational again.  When I told Steve I had it all done, the only reply was "good"   HUMPH!  How many other women would do that? But at least it was working!


I cooked up a big pot roast and mixed up a couple of pumpkin pies!  I had a funny memory when I ran my big old mixmaster.  The mixer has an odd "electric motor" smell to it, you know, like some appliances and sewing machines, etc. I suppose anything that uses brushes inside an electric motor has that smell. It smelled just like the old mixmaster that my mom had when I was growing up. It reminded me of something.....

Long ago, in the mid 1970's my neighbor Cella was making frosting.  She had too much liquid and needed more powdered sugar. It was quite runny.  I think it was blue or green frosting, I forget what color.

Our tiny town in the UP of Michigan had only one groccery store, and it was closed for the evening. Sooo she was asking all of the neighbors for some more powdered sugar to firm up her frosting.  She borrowed some from us and a few others.  But soon her bowl was overflowing, and it still needed more powdered sugar.   She brought over her bowl to our house and we dumped half of the runny frosting into my mom's bowl, and we added even more powdered sugar!  I remember two other neighbors coming with their powdered sugar.  My mom's old mixer (like this one) worked and worked to make that frosting thicken up!----  Soon we had enough frosting to share with the whole neighborhood!

Funny how a certain smell can spark something so far back in your memory....

Oh, here are my pies.....

It's Saturday morning now, and we have a few things on our list of projects.  We were going to head up to our oldest daughter's house to help her with a few things. She had a change of plans. Instead we will go the last weekend of the month and help out then.  She is re-doing her kitchen and we said we would help out, along with our youngest daughter. It will probably be more than one day of work. We will bring up the motorhome and park by her house so the dogs can come along.  Should be a fun weekend!

Halloween at High Cliff State Park

Goblins and Ghosts and Grandtots, oh my! 

Halloween was in full swing at High Cliff State Park.   The campgrounds were reserved and full to the brim.  People came a week early just to set up their displays and haunted houses and lit up decorations in each of their campsites.

The Friends of the Park volunteer group and the Lions club set up a pumpkin carving, a costume contest, a hay wagon ride and a spooky walk along a trail in the park.   It was advertised far and wide with many of the local residents coming to the park for the event.  Free admission to the park makes it even more attractive to the locals.

During the week, Steve had to mow along all the roads for extra parking leading to the pavilions and campgrounds, as he was told all of the parking lots would be full too.  He has a big blower attachment to the tractor and it would blow the leaves off the roads back into the woods.  He was busy for days leading up to the event with mowing, blowing leaves, clearing leaves out of campsites and blowing out water lines to the bathrooms, drinking fountains and water faucets because we are into freezing weather in Wisconsin.  The only water available was at the dump station towers, and even then they had to turn it off at night to let the water out of the standing towers and turn it back on in the morning to prevent freezing in the handles and piping above ground.  The pit toilets were available but most campers had to make due with their holding tanks and on board water for the weekend.  Best you can do when you camp in Wisconsin during the sub-freezing temperatures at night.

Soon it was SATURDAY......

It was a wonderful day because ALL of our grandtots came to help us celebrate!!!  

Even the littlest grandsons were all adorned in their costumes....

(L to R: Princess Allegra, Skeleton Boy Mason, Ducky Boy Clayton, and Kitty Chelsea) 

(Grandson Jason Spiderman came later for trick-or-treating) 

We made the rounds just looking at all the fun stuff, and then again when the campsites put out their trick or treats.  Most campsites set up bowls near the road with children politely taking out one piece each.  We went through about 700 pieces of candy, I kid you not!  We ran out about 6pm... as did many of the other campsites. There were 112 campsites in the park, and almost all had decorations and treats for the kiddos.

Some sites had moving displays, inflatable decorations, eerie lights, and even smoke machines. 

Some sites even handed out "Adult Treats"  such as this neighbor with shots of flavored schnapps, some had jello shots, and another one was passing out beers to the adults. 

The autumn woods was alive with pumpkins and ghosts and witches in the air!

One site had set up a ghostly walk in the woods with a path lined with tombstones, each displaying a funny epitaph.  Another site had set up a whole portable garage of electronic fun stuff behind panels of plexiglass, with rows of doorbells to push the buttons to activate each one.   It was hard to get our grandtots out of that one.

Our site was a little "tame" because we started out on a non-electric site first.  So I only had some battery LED lit japanese lanterns and inflated decorations.  Later in the morning, we were able to move over to an available electric site that came open, so we quickly moved the decorations over to the new one.   I made up a few more ghosts outta kitchen garbage bags, inflated some zip lock bags for heads inside of them and wrote on eyes and mouths with magic markers.  Good enough!  I think next year I will need to beef it up a little more, eh?

As it got darker out, it was even more magical and fun.  

Glowing lights, campfires, eerie music and laughter rang through the park throughout the evening. 

(I am also a Halloweenie Baby, so the grandtots helped celebrate my birthday too) 

ahhhhhh  Grandtot kisses!

 After having some sloppy joes, hot dogs, and other assorted snacks, 

the wee ones helped to blow out my candles.

Sharing my day with the grandtots was the icing on the cake... err cupcakes! 

The kids gave me such wonderful presents, as did Steveio.  I got my favorite brand of flavored coffee, and some gift certificates for quilting and knitting yarn supplies.  Silly little Chelsea had posed for a birthday card making her "Crazy Face"!  

On Wednesday, my actual birthday, Steve is taking me out for a birthday dinner. 

Snuggles and cuddles, 

with all my Little Grandtot Goblins.  

Ahhhhhhhhhh

They all took time to jump on Granfaddah and Granmuddah's bed, 

which has become kinda a tradition now in the motorhome.  

Why? I don't know.... probably because I let them get away with it? 

They jump so fast they are only a blurrrr in the camera! 

Must be the sugar high from all the treats???

We read a Halloween story and calmed down a bit later.

And this last parting shot happens to be my favorite picture of the day...

The two youngest grandsons, both are 7 months old.

Clayton: "Hey, you got bones!"

Mason: "Yah, but they don't walk too good yet"

HAPPY 

HALLOWEEN!!!