First Time Camping and Bark In the Park

I would like to start by saying "Happy Mother's Day" to all of you moms out there... I miss my mom who is up visiting in Georgia right now. but we will connect later in the week online I hope.

My Mother's Day really lasted all weekend around here!  Our oldest son and his wife Heather took the time to mail me a sweet card with new family photos of the grandkids!  It was a very special and busy weekend for them!  They were taking their brand new travel trailer out for it's maiden voyage and go camping---  what fun memories to make, and we are so happy for them.

They even took along their dog, Tiger who learned how to behave in a campground and was being good.  Looks like the grandtots had a BLAST!  The dealership where they bought their trailer included a free weekend of camping in their RV park up in Door County, WI.  Great deal!

Between campfires, marshmallows, a trip to town for ice cream and then of course waking up to breakfast in their OWN camper, what more can they ask for?   The kids are used to camping with Heather's family, and also with us... but this is totally different because it's their OWN camper.

I got this lovely greeting this morning on Facebook from them.. what can be more fun than a morning snuggle with their mommy on Mother's Day? I was so glad to see them having a great time.

And later, daughterinlaw Heather posted this pic, of Mason back at home after such a busy weekend.  She said she is sure he brought home all the dirt from the campground stuck to his little boy face.  Isn't that just the best pic?  All tuckered out from a weekend of fun in their camper.

I also told our two girls to stay home with their families on Mother's Day.  After all, they are mothers too!  So instead of meeting on Sunday, we planned a get together on Saturday.  We all met up at the Timber Rattlers baseball game at Fox River Stadium....  it was a Bark in the Park event... where you can bring your dog to the baseball game.  We met up with over 40 folks from the Wisconsin Sheltie Rescue group to tailgate a couple hours before the game in the parking lot.  Then we get to go inside the stadium with our dogs and watch the game from the grassy area just past the bleachers.


Now, wouldn't you know that with over 4,000 people there and over 100 dogs... it would be MY family who gets filmed and put on the local news?????  check out this video clip:

(yes, that is our Duke, the star,  in the opening segment,

and our grandaughter Chelsea running up the hill with mommy Erin watching,

with daughter Heather and grandson Jameson by her on the blanket.

and then our Finney and grandpup Radar 

and soninlaw Jesse's legs!  LOL)  

I was behind the cameraman up the hill a bit when he was filming---  I told him we were part of the Wisconsin Sheltie Rescue Group being up behind us... so he went and filmed there too for the rest of the segment, ending with the rescue group leader, Lisa Martin's beautiful blue merle sheltie Robin. So out of over 100 various dogs at the event, it was mostly our shelties that got the air time.  Cool! 

Here are a few shots of the day.... Folks lined up their vehicles, unloaded their dogs and set out chairs and tables ---- a lot of tail wagging, patting and petting went on, and alot of these dogs who were adopted from Lisa Martin's efforts with the Wisconsin Sheltie Rescue group....   Rescue dogs are a "special needs" kind of dog, often having behavior issues, untrained for housebreaking or grooming or even walking on a leash.  It takes a special heart to adopt a rescue dog.  Many of the shelties Lisa has placed are from horrible situations, and she carefully screens and investigate applicants to be sure the new owners will be up to a challenge.  And these folks are hearty souls to take in these damaged dogs. And the dogs are sooo appreciative and lucky to have forever homes with someone who understands their needs.

Shetland Sheepdogs come in three basic colors... the common sable/white like Lassie colors.  Then there are tri colors which are mostly black with a white collar and little bit of brown on the face.  Then there are the striking blue merle with blotches of grey and white and tan--- giving an almost blueish effect to the fur.  Contrary to common misconception.. shetland sheepdogs are not "minature collies" or "toy collies"  that is a misnomer.  They are a distinct breed of their own and not downsized from a collie.

It was a fun gathering of people, many whom I had only met on facebook so far.

We set up a pot luck table of treats to munch on while waiting for the game to begin.

Our grandtots Clayton and Chelsea were delighted to find out someone brought M&M cookies!  They even snuck a second one... tee heeee.

Our family gathered as a Mother's Day celebration to honor me with a pile of homemade cards, gifts, games and lovely refrigerator art to post on the fridge at home.  What joy and love from all my kids and grandkids the entire weekend!

We settled into the hillside of the grassy area past the bleachers.  The weather was perfect, our first day in Wisconsin when the temps have been over 70... warmest day since last November.  Not a cloud in the sky, and it was so wonderfully summer-like after our long miserable winter and our heel-dragging springtime in Wisconsin.

The park has given us all treat bags of gourmet dog food, pooper scooper bags with little holders to clip on the leashes and set out big blue swimming pools of water for dogs to cool off in.

Little puppy Theo, a pup recently born from a rescue dog Ruby, was debating with my grandtot Clayton if they should jump in?  or lap the water? or just look at it?   hmmmmm   Mommy stopped Clayton before he dove in head first!

Once the game was nearing it's end, the grandtots were getting a little bored.  So off to the hill behind us ---- the silliness was starting.. hahahaha watch this:

With a warm heart full of lovely wishes from all my children and grandtots, my weekend was perfect.  Hugs and kisses goodbye as they all left the ballpark, along with reservation on my calendar for upcoming babysitting gigs.  Something wonderful to look forward to.

I spent Sunday morning sleeping in, while Steveio had to run off early to work for a couple hours at the park.  Then he came back and made me a nice breakfast....   afterwards we did a bunch of odds and ends around the house that I wanted to accomplish.  He was my "Slave Boy" who did whatever I wanted!

We hung up my new bird bath on a hook by my loom room window

We cleaned and sorted my fiber storage room

We erected a set of steel shelves for all of my new yarn

We hauled three more bags of mulch for my flowerbeds

We painted the little white bench I picked from the garbage

and he helped me with a bunch of little tasks I wanted to get done.

PLUS.....

He finished most of the gas log fireplace installation

(I will do a blog post on that later)

This evening we cooked a lovely meal together and shared a bottle of wine, while dining in front of my beautiful bouquet of flowers.  Later it turned very dark, and stormy.  The rained poured down, the lightening and thunder were frantic, and we sipped our wine and watched from the dryness and safety of the front porch.

Day One of the Jason Collingwood workshop on Twills at Vavning Studio

Yes, we are here in lovely Shopiere, WI ... a tiny village with one bar, one restaurant and an old Methodist Church.  My friend, Juanita Hofstrom, and her husband Norm bought the church and renovated it into a studio, called Vavning.   www.vavningstudio.com   

I drove the motorhome from home down 35 miles as far as UWGB,  Then I waited for Steve to get done with his day.  We hooked up the Tracker, he hopped in the driver's seat and off we went.  Bottlenecked around Appleton to Oshkosh with construction and we were driving on 4 hours of the roughest Wisconsin roads, argghhh.  I have not remembered Highway 26 being that bad, so I assume it will be next in the construction phase.

We got to the studio about 6:30 and said our Hellos to everyone.  Steve was craving fish fry from the little bar down the road, so we dashed over for a quick treat.  After all his driving, he deserved it!

I moved my loom into the building in my area, near the kitchen.  See... for this weekend, I am the "Aide De Comp" as Juanita called me.  But I prefer the term "Kitchen Wench"!    LOL ... I help with the coffee pots, tea water, snacks and goodies throughout the weekend.  Plus, on Monday, the final day of the classes, I whip up a lasagna dinner for the troops.

We hit the rack on Friday night all cozy in our motorhome. I went to sleep with a smile on my face and weaving in my heart.  Although I will be missing my kids and grandkids on Mother's Day this weekend, I will see them all soon.  Plus they can spend the day with their spouses' moms and not feet torn between this one and that one.  This is a nice treat for me, and I attend these classes once a year.   This is my 8th year attending. One year it was a two weekend class, with a week off in between.  Steve went back to work and I stayed here on "vacation" with my weaving friends!

Here are my blogs from last year:
Jason Collingwood Weaving Conference 2010 part one
Jason Collingwood Weaving Conference part two and three
after the conferece, getting back home again

Juanita lets us park our motorhome right in her lot next to the studio.  That saves on needing a hotel room, paying for restaurant meals, doggie boarding and running back and forth from the larger city, Beloit, where the hotels are located.  So it's a win-win situation for us to bring the motorhome.

The teacher, Jason Collingwood, has been coming here from Great Britain every year to teach various techniques of Rug Weaving.  http://www.rugweaver.co.uk/    His classes are informative, fun, hands on, and enjoyable.  He makes learning easy, with patience for the beginner and challenges for the intermediate or experienced weaver.

Saturday morning dawned a bit rainy and damp, and I got up early and dashed in the building to get the big coffee urns going, set out some treats and make up some deviled eggs from a few dozen farm fresh eggs. Juanita's daughter, Melanie has a farm and sent over the free range chicken eggs with colored shells of every hue.  Amazing and they tasted wonderful!

Folks gathered for the class, a dozen this year.  We set up our looms in the lower portion of the church, the weaving studio.  Juanita's husband, Norm, is a photographer and uses the upper portion as his gallery.  They were there, with smiles on their faces, greeting new people, and we got the day started with a lecture in the upper portion of the church.

Once the lecture portion was done, we took our notes and ideas and went to work on our looms.  Most folks brought their own looms, but Juanita also *rents out* table looms, pre-warped, for those who came far distances or don't own a small loom for workshop ideas.  We later take these new skills and ideas home to weave large rugs on our big looms.

Juanita also gave us some gifts...  her creative husband Norm photographed various scenes in the studio, and through the magic of manipulation, made these wonderful photo prints which they framed and gave to each participant.  Mine looks like hearts in the middle, but really it's the tip of a shuttle lying on a warped loom! 

(Blatant commercial here--- Juanita makes these lovely shuttles and they can be ordered by contacting her at the website listed above) 

And here is a special one she made for a fellow weaver, John, and it's just wonderful to see her creativity!

We wove, we figured, we laughed, we ate....   special Rugtalk friend, Katie had lunch with us out in the motorhome.  Steve was kept busy doing a few projects around the studio for Juanita, and babysitting the doggers.  He walked around the little village (about four blocks long)  and enjoyed hitting a few rummage sales in the nearby towns.   

He also brought me THIS for Mother's Day!

Kinda hard to hide a 2 foot tall orchid in a 38 ft long motorhome!  LOL ... so I got it early.  I have never had an orchid before and will be careful to follow the instructions to keep it going.  Gosh, it's so elegant and beautiful!  What a sweetie.  

We had a swap meet and Show N Tell session during the evening after supper was over.  I will post the pics from that later.  It's now Sunday Morning and I have to get back into the studio and get that coffee going!   I opened my cards from the children and will be seeing them soon too.

And to all of you mothers out there.....

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!!

Basking in the afterglow of Mother’s Day…

 

As I am here, sipping coffee this morning, I am glowing in the love and joy of a great Mother’s Day.   I am truly blessed with delightful children and grandchildren!

 

I was fortunate in having both of our daughters to come over yesterday morning with their guys and children.

 

Mark, Erin and Chelsea                              Heather, Jesse and Jameson 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Now, you all know I am a weaver, right?  … and I have the table loom set up in my livingroom right now.  So when all the kids came yesterday for Mother’s Day, little Jameson had to show his mommy how good he can weave!   Remember, he is only 21 months old.  And totally FASCINATED by anything that moves, turns, opens, closes, etc.  All weekend while we had him here, he keeps going to the loom, touching the beam and asking me  “NOW ?  NOW ? NOW ?”   So we wheeled the loom over to my chair, set him on my lap, and let him go at it.   Hahahaha   Yesterday he wove THREE times!   What a doll and makes my heart go Pitter Pat to see him weave.

(in the old days, the Men were the weavers, and the Women just prepared the fibers… a loom was a tool like a rake or shovel or plow, just like Men were the tailors too)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

For a nice lunch on Mother’s Day, my darling Steve grilled out brats and burgers (chopped sirloin extra lean for him)    and the girls each brought something too….

Mommy Erin made tuna noodle salad (which she HATES putting in peas, celery and onions but did so for ME)     and Mommy Heather made a strawberry cheesecake!

I whipped up a pot of calico beans… which Jesse took the leftovers home.  Poor Heather!

It was a great day with big kiddo hugs and lovely presents.  I was spoiled rotten...  besides the big fuchsia plant that Steveio got me on the weekend---

Erin’s family gave me a bag of coffee beans and a cute stainless steel mug that she slid in pics of Chelsea between the inner and outer layers.  I can add and change pics of all the grandkids in it.   I can smile each time I raise the mug to my lips.

Heather’s family gave me a big basket of about 12-15 different lotions and bath products which I sorely needed.  I was getting low!   They are cherry blossom scented and the basket will make a great knitting basket for by my chair.  

Dan’s family sent me a card with a new photo of Allegra to add to my collage.   (we are later going to their house after our kids head out to their spouse’s mothers in the afternoon)

 

I gave both of our girls and our daughter in law each silver heart shaped lockets with pics inside of their babies....   made ‘em all cry!    

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Steveio cleaned up after our meal and we pigged out on the cheesecake for dessert.  After leftovers were packed up for them to take home, hugs and goodbyes…  and then time for a little nap for us!   I seem to be coming down with a little cold, so I needed a nap.

Later we hopped in the car and drove to Green Bay to see our son Dan and his wife Heather and little Allegra....   I got in lots of hugs there too and we brought along the some nice clothes we found at a good rummage sale in Beloit for Allegra...   they were appreciated and will work right for sizes for her.   Some were even brand new with tags.

(and I forgot to take along the camera!  So here is a photo of them from Xmas)

 

Then we did an Aldis grocery store run…   it was just gonna be 2 bags of the boneless skinless chicken breasts, but ended up coming out $94.00 later and a trunk full of groceries!   How does that happen?  AND Steveio bought another small propane grill!  I think that is seven grills now that he owns.   I might have to do a blog post on just that?

Steveio needed a few things from Home Depot and still had a gift card to use up from Dan and Heather for his birthday.   So once we got him outta there, then we hit Menards store too.   Lo and behold their hanging floral bags (those heavy green bags that have annuals planted in them that you water and let hang.  I wanted four bags again for each corner of my gazebo like last year.   So that finished up the Mother’s Day treats and flower shopping too.  Now we just need to buy tomato plants, perhaps next week and get them in.  It’s too cold to put anything out yet, so we hung the flower bags in the garage till later this week.

After we got home, we snuggled up to watch a movie of Tom Selleck’s, called Jesse Stone.  We like that series he has done, and this show ended with a good cliffhanger to keep us tuned for when he films the next one.  A nice footrub with my new lotions by my personal masseuse was the perfect ending to a  great Mother’s Day weekend! 

 

We tried to have flowers delivered to Steve’s mom, but found out they LEFT for the weekend in their fifth-wheel!  Good for them!  She is battling cancer and going through chemo.  They decided to load up the fifth wheel and go camping up to Door County.  More power to them, and the flowers can get re-delivered later today when they get home.  Though the weather was kinda yucky for camping, glad they got out and about a bit.

My mom, as I type this,  is now winging her way north from Florida to Michigan, and might stop here in Wisconsin on the way through tomorrow.  Depends what time of the day or night they get into this neck of the woods.  With Lowell being a retired truck driver, he is used to hopping behind the wheel and going gangbusters zoomzoomzoom till they hit home in Michigan.  Once they get up there and get settled in, we will send up a basket of flowers for her too.

 

Today, Monday, the wee one Chelsea dear came over at 6 am with her Daddy .. as her Mommy had to leave at 4 am to get up to a store way in the Northwoods for an 8am inventory.....  so Chelsea came here all changed, fed and dressed in clothes, when i was expecting jammies, diaper change and needing a bottle right away... instead he had it all done.  What a Good Daddy!

 

I am getting a bug in my craw to go camping this weekend.  We have Allegra’s baptism on Sunday, but thinking that if the new shocks come for the motorhome this week, we can get out on the road Friday night and perhaps camp near Green Bay at Bayshore park.  Then on Sunday we can go from the campground to the baptism, and later to the city park where the kids rented a pavilion at Green Isle park for a picnic.   They invited 50 folks to share in their little girl’s special day.  I am making fruit salad and it would be nice to have good weather so we can be outdoors. 

 

We noticed a rumbling in the Saturn car yesterday on way home from Green Bay.  After we got home, Steveio diagnosed the noise as an idler pulley was loose and missing a bolt.  He found the bolt laying in a pan underneath, and put it back in, but the pulley is still bad and needs replacing.  So that is on the agenda for tonight if he can get the part today.   Always something!  arggghhhhh   but it’s an older car and needs a few tender touches now and then.   Keep it going for 3 more years and we will be happy to give it to one of the kids later when we go full time.

Well, time to refill the coffee cup here and get a move on with the day.  Little Chelsea is napping right now, so I can get some stuff done.   Later gators!

Some Cold Weather... Some Grandson.... Some Mother's Day....

It's been a crazy weekend weather-wise here in Wisconsin.  We woke up to snow and cold blowing winds.  Brrrrrr  and because of that, dear Steveio had to give me my Mother's Day present early.  Otherwise it would freeze and be ruined in the garage where he hid it after work.  I just LOVE fuchsia plants!

 

It is just HUGE!   The horticulture program at the university was selling them and he put in an order weeks ago for it.  I was eyeballing some (much smaller) at the store the other night and he kept saying NOOOOO  you don't need that!     LOL   We will wait till it warms up a bit before moving it outdoors to hang on the gazebo.  For now it can set on top of the entertainment center to get the southern light exposure.



Well, little 21 month old Jameson is keeping us hopping this weekend.  We took him out to a little restaurant for fish fry last night... and he was a perfect patron.  He ate his food, didn't make a mess, and we kept him occupied with a few things his mommy and daddy pack in his carryalong diaper bag.   Well-prepared parents with some crayons, a few tiny toys, a snack pack of fruit chews and his own spoon and bib.   They take him all over and he behaves quite well.  So we are proud to take him with us in any situation.    During our wait for our food, he *helped* me make a shopping list for the grocery store, our next stop.  We drew pictures of bananas and cookies on his list.   Then we tucked it into my purse to take to the store.

I know this pic is blurry.. it seems fluorescent lighting and my digital camera do not get along too well. 

We loaded up the cart and he later bailed from the front part and rode in the seat up close to me to keep an eye on the cookies!   Then granfaddah let him play with a big red ball..... well..... you guessed it:

Here is the ball... in the car.... going home with us! 

After we got home and unloaded groceries, this little guy was totally gung ho about hopping in the bathtub!  We have a large triangular whirlpool tub with lots of room for tub toys, bubbles, a big red bouncy ball and one squiggly little boy!  After wearing soap bubble goatees and a few shrieks of delight as he splashed granmuddah hanging over the side, we finally got his hair washed.   He refused to come out till his toes and fingers were wrinkled up like little raisins.   Once he was towel dried off in a thick terry bathsheet, he was ready for flannel jammies and bedtime!   Ten minutes flat and he was out like a light in the portable crib.  Peace at last!  Whew!


The next morning (he slept till 6 am)  he woke up with a stuffy nose and coughing.  So much for going out to play in the newly fallen snow overnight!   Instead he curled up with a good book.......  I just LOVE this pic!

We have a bookshelf with kids books on them, and he can choose from them and read them carefully.  He doesn't rip pages or wreck them either.  From baby on, he was never let to rip pages, only getting the heavy cardboard page books till he could be trusted.  

One of his most favorite book is called The Book of Snappy Numbers... and each page is a pop-up of a different animal.  We had to watch him with this book for quite a while because he wanted to take each animal off the page and outta the book!   The last page, which is now his favorite, is of a big snapping crocodile!  At first he was scared of it as it came out to snap at him, but now he loves it and knows it is coming at the end of the book.

Some of our kids books are from when I was a kid at Grandma Kafehl's house  (would be his Great Great Grandma)  as our some of our toys on the shelf too.  It's my collection of "Grandma Toys"


Right now as I type this, he is playing with the tiny rooster and hens from the Fischer Price Farm that my kids played with at her house.   He has one stuck on each little finger and is dancing around the house making cockadoodledoooo sounds... what a kid!   (See? the snow melted outside already too)

This morning, I ran to the store to get him decongestant and expectorant (after calling his mom to double check that it was O.K. to do so)  and brought it home to dose him.  He seems to be feeling fine now this afternoon..... So it was time to break out the clipboard and the fat crayons!  He squeals with DELIGHT when we bring them out... and our fridge now has new artwork proudly hanging on display.

Now after a dinner of "skettie"  and some green beans and mandarin orange slices.. it was time for a few of his cookies he chose at the store.   White and pink frosted animal cookies.. yummmm!

In our home, we keep a baby gate across the steps going down to the studio, but the rest of the house really isn't babyproofed.  He is good about gently touching things and not getting into trouble.  Sometimes he looks at me and questions if he can check something out.  For instance, right now he is turning on and off the button on the weather radio, listening to the ever-repeating weather forecast.  He thinks it's hilarious to be able to turn it on and off by himself.  My table loom and sock knitting machine are also here in the living room and he is really good about not messing with them.  

It's amazing watching what he thinks is fun.... it's not TOYS... no... its beating out a rhythm with two lotion bottles, or playing with a tube of chap stick.

He looks at all the pics of the family members on the *Wall of Fame* at the bottom of the stairs... and knows each person, even his Uncle Mike who passed away in 2006.

He names them all and loves to sit on the steps and look at the framed pictures.    The steps are made of half logs cut lengthwise and are open in between... and quite scary for a little tot not quite 2 years old yet.

Well, life is an adventure with the grandkids that is for sure.

After he woke up from his nap, he cuddled up to me, clinging tight as I rocked him.  We stayed that way for about 10 minutes, while I sat cross-legged on the floor.  I know he is growing up, fast, and it isn't too often he will want to be so cuddly.  Gotta get those in while I can, and cherish the sweetness I felt with him clinging tight to me.  Smelling his hair and listening to his raspy nasal breathing from his stuffy nose.

Grandkids...   grandkids..... grandkids.....   we are blessed!