Thanksgiving 2008

Meg's whole family including grandparents, uncle, aunt, cousin + boyfriend, sisters and son-in-laws (Josh, you're in no matter what Joe says) and my whole family including parents, bro, sister, husband, and niece & nephew (aka "the shorties") all got together in Libertyville. One turkey was baked, one smoked and ours was fried.




Nancy had her doubts, but she forgot Megan has perfect form when squatting.... even squatting while dipping a 15 pound bird in the deep fryer.

Joe stood by to protect his investments.... His home and his daughter.

We finished the night with Rockband. Our band was almost as large as Parliment with George Clinton.

Cole kicked it on the drums. The crazy thing is he finished with a score of 22%, beating out Joe's score of 19%.

Behind Enemy Lines

Bears vs. Packers Part I
My bro came up to Cheeseland and we headed to Green Bay to tailgate for the game. It was very cold, so we met some nice ladies to keep us warm at "The Bar" right across the street from Lambeau Field.

We all wore our Bears gear (Goose had her hankie made by Grandma Nancy, aka Fancy). I have to say the Green Bay fans were very cool and we hung out with several of them, drinking Wisconsin's finest.

Unfortunately the Bears got spanked. Fortunately we were not sore losers.

St. Paul, Minnesota

November 8th
Meg's birthday present was what she had been saying for a while. "I want to go see Prairie Home Companion live before Garrison Keillor dies." No offense Garrison. Your fellow English Major loves you. It was an enlightening and satisfying evening (I'm a Biology major). As we were walking up to the Fitzgerald Theater, Garrison was in the street, on his cell phone.

Note the audience members on stage and on the front porch of the home. Mickey's Diner, where Garrison hangs out when his wife is out of town is two blocks away.

Wisconsin Autumn

October & November 2008

We were blessed with unseasonably warm weather beyond Election Day, and enjoyed it fully. Here is a shot of the sunrise at the boat launch at the middle of our morning walk with Goose.

We went to Washington Island for our anniversary. This is Jackson Harbor. Natural and minimally inhabited at this time of year.

Old tractors and farm animals are everywhere.

Biking down a country road on Washington Island contemplating real estate.

We just made our ferry back to the mainland, literally. That gate should be vertical. We then sailed through the passage called "Death's Door."

Golden Eagle eating a squirrel off the side of the road. One less squirrel for Goose to chase. She was sad.

Canoe Weekend

October 11, 2008

Miss & Bob came up this weekend with cousin Chuck. The pictures tell the story......

Potter Party

October 2, 2008


The Potter & Isaak crew (minus one Canadian) arrived on Thursday night after a long drive from the Mitten, through Aurora, to the Dairyland. We took the shorties out on the canoe in slightly oversized life vests. They paddled with their hands and played with sand from the lake floor.

On Saturday we hiked at Hartman Creek State Park... Goose showed her cousin Gracie all the deer and squirrel spots, and we searched for signs of animals. No scat on the trail, but we did find grass laid down from deer.

This Pitbull does not wear lipstick. Gracie rocks pontoons and eats Democrats.

Captain Cole at the helm!!! Look out!!!


Lt. Liner at the helm!!! Look out again!!!

Uncle Jon caught a bass. We thought it was just stuck in weeds.

We celebrated Cole's 4th birthday later that night with a bonfire, BBQ, and cake.

We finished the night with a nice story and roughed it with some camping.

Groners to the Northwoods

September 26, 2008


Joe and Nancy came up and braved the North without newspaper delivery and internet (just a couple of days too early).

Good times on the water and at The Wheelhouse for pizza and beers. We kept the fish safe (by not catching any) and captain Nancy navigated us through any turbulence we encountered with a flair unable to be taught by TWA.

We finished our weekend at Miller Park to watch the Brewers make it into the playoffs, and the Cubs get lose their last regular game of the season. I forgot my camera so here are lame images off the internet. It was an awesome game, and we had a great time.

Dairyland

Waupaca, Wisconsin-September 13, 2008

We were so stoked to see our new place on Lake Spencer. This more than makes up for apartment living the last year. Four bedrooms, two bathrooms, storage, on a lake, hide-and-go-seek crannies...... Goose loves it.

Fishing off the end of our dock.



Goose learned how to fish with her paws.

We decided it was time to get the canoe we have always talked about getting. "Red" sold us this beauty for an end of summer discount in Stevens Point.

Then we went to Stevens Point Brewery, home of Point Special Lager (as seen in the movie "The Great Outdoors"-1987). Walls of beer cans to the ceiling.... Retro/old skool is the Wisconsin way. They actually brewed some good beer in bottles.

We toasted our new canoe on her maiden voyage. I even wore my best sweater vest.

Road Trip Part III

Washington to the Midwest-August 23, 2008

Our last visit to Mt. Ranier. This is the east entrance and it was worth it to leave by the scenic route.

Washington State-May through August

Montage A lot has happened in the last couple months. We're happy to say that we have finally got legitimate internet at our cottage in Waupaca, WI. The rest of this post will blog about our ideals, dreams, and the Pacific Northwest. It will be long and cool. The next post will be about our road trip back to the Midwest. First I'll put up pics from our new stop in Wisconsin two posts away. Figure that out?

Olympic National Park

Olympic National Park-May 2, 2008

The Olympic National Park encompasses three distinct ecosystems-wild Pacific coast, temperate rain forest and glacier capped mountains. For my birthday weekend our friends Tom, Chris and Megan (weird that we met another Chris and Megan AND they're from Illinois and Michigan) got together for camping and hiking.

Starfish cling to the rocks at low tide. We enjoyed a bomber exchanged at sunset on the beach. Tom used to be a steel worker in Pittsburgh. You can take the man away from the steel mill, but you can't take the steel worker jokes away from the man.

The sign said this is the world's biggest Sitka Spruce tree. It could be the galaxy's biggest

We left our friends the next morning to circumduct the entire peninsula and head to the rainforest. The ironic thing was that it has been raining almost every day this winter and spring, but it was sunny and warm when we visited the rainforest. The moss is so thick that these maple trees actually receive nutrition through it with roots.

We continued north and east to the Sol Duc Hotsprings. Totally relaxing after a hike to the falls. That is me on the bridge. It is amazing how big the trees are in the Pacific Northwest. Lumber is a main source of economy. It is cold and wet too, that is why the locals love coffee, the other main export.

Our last stop was Hurricane Ridge. Two miles to the north on the Straight of San Juan de Fuca they receive 20" of rain annually. Up here they get 200" plus of precipitation.

Goose made friends on the mountain road..... Then she barked.