Month: August 2012

New Places

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My remedy to all the sad nostalgia of late has been found. I simply go to a place I’m not familiar with so it doesn’t matter how much it has changed – it’s all new to me anyway.  I know now that I’ve not been to Bayfield or I certainly would have remembered it.  The first BIG thing about the area is the remarkable geography. Lake Superior is such a big, big water that you cannot help but be impressed by the vistas. Many of its shores are cliffs of gigantic rock outcroppings that have broken off and tumbled into the lake in eons past.  Where the rock is softer the waves have carved caves and passages.  And there are actually mountains, or what appear to be mountains (and are named as such) making up the high ground rising up in the surrounding countryside.  In these higher elevations there are numerous little farms and orchards that make good use of the growing season, raising and selling all kinds of berries and tree fruits.  Farmland, forests, beautiful views…

We went up to this area Saturday hoping to catch the 1 pm ferry across to Madelaine Island – one of the Apostle Islands – where my brother and his family were camping at a state park.  Bayfield is small and on a rather steep hill so we had no trouble finding the marina and the ferry dock.  We didn’t have the same luck finding a parking place since they don’t really provide a lot for walk on passengers.  I dropped Dennis off to get tickets and drove around town looking for a place on the street.  Several blocks away, all uphill, I parked and hurried to get down to the ferry.  At this point I would have liked to be in my shorts and hiking shoes but, short version, I was not. 
Arriving at the island side, we met my brother, a business friend of Dennis’s, and a nice family of hitchhikers all in the first half hour. At the state park for the next couple hours we (meaning the combined group of young and old) visited the beaches, the jumping cliff, the campground and the forest trail and it was all beautiful.  At the jumping cliff, my brother was the only older person who jumped the 20 feet into the bay, but all the younger ones were doing it.  At this point I would have liked to be in my bathing suit, but of course, I wasn’t.  Jumping off the rock is going on my bucket list though.  I did get my feet wet and climbed some rocks.



the “jumping off” rock is also good for reading
The park also had a long half-moon sand beach where we watched some impressive storm clouds gathering in the distance. A bird that I never did get a look at, relieved itself as it was flying over me. I felt it hitting my back. At this point I would have liked to have been wearing anything except what I was wearing.  I opted for hiking back to my brother’s campsite through the woods and was able to take pictures of these woodland creatures. They were not at all disturbed by those of us who kept watching and photographing.  
Hello Dear

The Edge

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We visited Dennis’s friend – the one who has a famously small house – Sunday afternoon.  The house is called The Edge. I don’t know why.  Maybe because it’s so small you always feel like you’re on the edge of something and about to fall out.  In 300 sq. ft. the husband, wife, daughter, daughter’s husband and 4 mo. old baby, oh and the German exchange student were spending the weekend.  As you might expect, they were spending a lot of it outside.  But it really was an exceptional little house, and they were exceptionally nice people.  The son-in-law had been out fishing earlier and had caught two huge walleye in Lake Superior.  He cleaned and filleted them and gave them to ME! 
Next we went in search of early apples, or whatever we could find.  We found a very nice little family orchard. I loved the barn, converted into store, which housed their business.  Customers were invited up two flights of stairs to the mow where the view was out of this world.  Really, you could see out of this world. I mean it.  It was beautiful. 
The afternoon concluded with an uneventful drive home, debriefing with mom and dad, and fresh walleye for dinner.  It was a good day.

Bed & Breakfast

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Cooper Hill House

 We went back to the mainland to find our B&B before dark.  It was an historic house owned by the mayor of Bayfield. He and his wife had been operating it for the last 20 years and were quite practiced and hospitable. We had the smallest of his four rooms and I’m thinking that was why he was willing to book us for only one night.  It was very nautical, in décor and in the sense that it was about the size of a ship stateroom in spite of being called the Captain’s Quarters.  One chair, the bed (may have been queensized but looked small to me), a teeny little bathroom where you could sit, shower and brush your teeth all at the same time,  and little else – but what more would we want in a bedroom?

We left our stuff and went in search of dinner.  We found it at Maggie’s, and although I didn’t get the whole story, the ambience of the restaurant suggested that she was a lady of the night.  Early brothel style I would call it, gaudy and cheerful, stuffed flamingoes hanging from the ceiling and featured in art work on the walls, string lights in primary colors everywhere, waitresses in tie dye T-shirts, and quite a few GB Packer memorabilia.  The place was packed and the food was good.

acrobatic flamingoes amid the lights
Back at the house there was really nothing to do except things disruptive to the other guests and the hosts, so we got ready and went to bed.  It was 9 pm.  Do you realize how long a night is ahead of a person who goes to bed at 9 pm?  It is interminable.  I spent a couple hours getting sore on one shoulder, a couple getting sore on the other shoulder and a couple getting sore on my back and it was still only 3 am with no light in sight.  When it did finally get light and I could stand it no longer I got up and took a shower and dressed. It was still only 5:58 am and three hours till breakfast.  Reading time, on the one hardback chair in the corner… 
Breakfast was good in a cosmopolitan way.  Here’s what we had: lots of good coffee with cream, fresh blueberries swimming in vanilla yogurt and cream, fresh pressed apple juice, and two different kinds of fresh baked muffins with apple butter and marmalade.  All of it was mixed with interesting conversation with the retired couple from IBM and the also retired couple on the motorcycle and of course, the hosts. The history of the house and their slice of small town America (where they still never lock their door) was interesting.  The whole experience almost made me wish to have a B&B business. Almost, but not really.  

Thoughts about "home"

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Hayward, Wisconsin isn’t just where I’m from. It’s always been “my town”, almost like a possession to me. All my memories from certain periods in my life are centered here.  Unfortunately, I’ve finally realized that my Hayward is pretty much in my memory and no where else. I guess I’ve been fighting it for years, trying to stay up to date with the new buildings and businesses, the roads where none were before, my parents moving from time to time and having a different house… but this time it might be too much.  It’s not that I don’t recognize anything – it’s that I do recognize it and it’s not the same anymore. The field is a forest. The forest is a parking lot. And the people who were familiar are not in their places. I don’t even look for old friends this time because I’m pretty sure if I saw them, they would look old and not like themselves. My parents don’t get out as much as they used to so when I ask them “have you seen so-and-so?” the answer is usually that they haven’t. I think I would have to be here for quite a while and work at it to lay claim to it again.

But I have to say that it is a nice place to visit.  I always feel a sense of security when I consider that even though many things change I still have family in this place.  They do a good job of living here.  They are involved in the community in many ways.  All the relatives get togther on Saturday mornings on a regular basis for donuts and coffee.  Mom and I still went to a garage sale yesterday morning. And we still have jigsaw puzzle marathons – I’ve put two together so far.

Today after Boone coffee time we are heading up to Bayfield and Madelaine Island. Brother Dennis and family are camping on the island and we’ll spend some time there before checking into our B&B (yes we are). Tomorrow morning husband Dennis has arranged a rendezvous with a friend who has an unusual house that we will tour. The house is 300 square feet so it shouldn’t take long.

The Note

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I have to say that my refrigerator has a lot less in it tonight after compnay supper.  I want it to be nearly empty when we take off  so I don’t have to come back to rotting vegetation.  The meal was maybe a bit odd, which is what happens when the menu is dictated only by what you have on hand and need to get rid of but it was passable.  When it was all on the table one guest said “Well, this looks like a really healthy meal!” and I guess I’m satisfied with that.  It seems my most frequent guests are men who have no one to cook for them – this is intentional and very good for my ego. They will eat most anything and not complain. They do come for the food but I think having some people to sit around the table with them and talk, tell jokes, and share news is at least half the draw. 

So our “everything but the kitchen sink”  meal was spinach and arugula salad, shishkebab with chicken, zuchinni, red bell pepper, onion, mushrooms and pineapple,  baked potato, steamed broccoli, watermelon, and for dessert angel food cake with strawberries and ice cream.  Everything that was left over went home with the bachelors. It feels really good to have given all that food a home, and we all had a good time.

I posted this on facebook but want to share it here too – a small note of appreciation left on a paper napkin that was really sweet.



“Shirley, you do as much as every one else all day – then fix a super supper, jump up and fix super dessert and coffee – finally sit down to eat while we sit around and you treat us like kings (spoiled brats) then clean up everything while we still gab. You know I really do appreciate you and love you to death. Your favorite Cracker”



Growing Excitement

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I’m in that good place where there seems to be enough time to leisurely choose what to pack for two weeks in Wisconsin. It’s been a relaxing day doing laundry, ironing and folding and deciding. I’ve even picked out the things I most want to see on my husband, since I will be around him most of the time. This process of packing takes a bit of thought, a lot of decisiveness and even some sacrifice. Most everything I need for 14 days has to fit in two relatively small spaces unless I want to check a bag for $20, and somehow I just can’t bring myself to do that.

Why do I suddenly discover so many clothes that seem like they must come with me? Is it because I remember  August in Wisconsin being very hot, and very cold, and very wet at different times but all in the same day?  Maybe, yes. And you never know, I might want to look GOOD so my family isn’t agahst at how evil time has been to me, and I might want to swim, or need my hiking shoes (and you know they take up half a suitcase). I could borrow sweaters and raincoats but I have ones that are my favorites and if I can’t wear them in Wisconsin why do I have them?

In my dreams I’m confident, care free and able to live in a five piece wardrobe, mix and match, which I rinse out in the sink after a couple wearings. Hey, I don’t even need that second carry-on because it all fits in my purse, next to my computer.  Everything goes beautifully with my jewelry and my one pair of shoes which are so cute and comfortable – I can’t even describe them to you (… because they don’t exist).  I walk through airports totally unencumbered. Everything I need is instantly at my fingertips, in the first place I look.

And back to reality, I would really like to get this nearly done today because the rest of the days before we go are going to be taken up with other preparations. I need to have company for a couple dinners so we don’t leave a lot of food in the refrigerator. The plants have to be prepared for neglect. The cats have to be prepared for neglect. The lawn has to be mowed one last time and prepared for neglect. All this in spare time apart from work and church and sleep and necessary wasted time. Can I do it? You bet.

Concert

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The concert that I was in angst over all last week took place on Sunday and was a total joy and success.  It was organized just well enough to get everything done but not so highly organized as to create anxiety for us ordinary participants (I don’t know about the host – he had a lot to do…). I had a good time playing the music but probably more important was meeting such a wide variety of people, from all over the Tampa Bay area.

So what do you think when you hear “Mennonite church”?  I certainly wasn’t prepared for a fully equipped sound booth and a stage that would accomodate 30 plus people all with mics, amps, monitors, etc…  They did not have any keyboards but they had a really nice acoustic grand piano which was a joy to play. No one was in typical Mennonite dress (well, who knows what typical is anymore?) The leaders of the project were two men, identical twins, who were pastor and worship leader at their church.  They had chosen a mix of very active contemporary songs, more contemplative and passionate contemporary songs, traditional hymns done a capella, and  a couple hymns with bluegrass banjo and harmonica, something for everyone.  Dennis, who usually runs screaming from the room holding his ears when there are drums and bass guitars, sat in the second row for the whole thing.

And you know I was expecting to get the door prize for the oldest one doing music but there were several men older than I was among the 30 musicians/singers.  I introduced myself to one older man – he must have been really good looking as a young guy and was still attractive for his age.  He was 88 and had ridden his three wheeled bike to the church, wearing his shorts and barefoot because it looked like it might rain. He had his umbrella ready. So for anyone who thinks there is an age limit in leading others in praise and worship, forget that.  He was right in there for every song. He was only one of several interesting characters I met, and hope to see again.



Rehearsal, all on stage except me



Me, having a great time



Miracles

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“Miracles are the retelling in small letters of the very same story written across the whole world in letters too large for some of us to see.” C.S. Lewis  

An interesting concept also is the idea that miracles are not in opposition to science.  Science is always advancing and learning new things. What is known now would be unbelievable to those back a few hundred years. And in a few more years we’ll probably see discoveries that seem unbelievable to us now. When you believe that God created the things that science studies and operates through scientific laws as he created them, it is not hard to envision a physical healing that would normally takes years, happening in minutes or seconds. Time being telescoped or expanded is altogether possible in the future and it would be typical of God to know how to do that already.

All this from a book called “Miracles Are for Real” by Garlow and Wall.  It’s an exploration of documented happenings outside the realm of scientific explanation – and it is very encouraging to those who believe and I think pretty challenging to those  who don’t yet believe, and interesting to all.

Staying cool

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I’m not talking about cool in a socially popular sense, I’m talking temperature.  I’m staying inside today instead of getting all hot and exhausted. For one thing, I’m already feeling a bit tired out mentally. For two things, I’ve got to get my mind around all that’s going on musically this weekend and get myself a little more certain of what I’m doing.  I spent some time this morning looking over the lyrics to the songs for the concert this Sunday evening.  They are some of my new favorite songs and I already identify with the things we are saying in them. I’m now praying that whatever I do, on whatever instrument I play, will not detract from what the song can be.

So, I thought to myself, Shirley you should get these songs on your new phone to hear how they can be done.  As I mentioned before, when the lead sheet says “piano plays tinkly stuff for 5 measures” that leaves a lot to the imagination. It took me an hour (probably) looking at the apps on my phone to figure out one that would lead to some music store.  Several times I thought I was there and suddenly my phone decides to go somewhere else. I finally found some comments on the Samsung app about how it was bloatware and worse than the free google app. So now it only takes me a minute or so to find a song – got that figured out. So I have one playlist with five songs on it. Pathetic, but I have to start somewhere. I had more music on my old phone and getting it one the new phone is my next tech challenge. I have no idea what I’m doing and am always amazed when something works. There are just too many things in the world to learn.

In my kitchen life things are more simple. We need food in the refrigerator. I know where to get it. Cooking for the new diet is not as hard as some diets have been. It’s basically the way I like to eat anyway. And it seems to be working for Dennis. He usually tells me in the morning how much weight he’s lost overnight (?) and the steady progress is keeping him motivated.  The latest step in the heart disease reversal plan is that he will be starting an exercise program at Blake Hospital when we get back from our vacation in Wisconsin. He’ll be going several times a week to work with a trainer who reportedly will stretch him to greater things than he would do himself. And if it turns out to be dangerously more than his health can handle – well, he’s in the hospital and there’s probably a doctor or two around to revive him. He’s calling himself “the disappearing husband” and we both had a laugh over that. I can still see him pretty well.

Day Off!!!

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I know it’s kind of stupid to get so excited every time I have a day off – but I’ll take excitement anywhere I can find it. I have so many things I could do with this day! And the exciting thing is, there isn’t any overpowering, urgent thing that I have to do – I get to choose.  I could probably list a hundred things if I wanted to take the time to do it, everywhere I look something comes to mind. BUT what do I really want to do? 

I’m afraid I didn’t get off to a very good start last night, writing a comparatively boring blog post and watching the Olympics re-run.  I’m going to start this morning by putting Wisconsin weather on my computer. I need to watch it so I pack the right stuff for my two week vacation. Yay me for getting this vacation plan started!

I’m going to read today.
I’m going to do another “paper purge” in the house.
I’m going to do at least one improvement in the Oneacrewoods.
I’m going to make a vegetarian supper deluxe for Dennis’s diet
I’m going to start one artistic project (have several in mind)

The sun is hitting the tops of the trees so it’s time to get started, a fresh new slate to write on.