Brandon wanted to go to the Minocqua Farmers’ Market so we did. I bought some delightful jelly and jam (including thimble berry and gooseberry) and some vegetables for a salad I was planning on making. Rupert and Chum posed with a large cabbage.
Later that afternoon, while down a rabbit hole of websites about trees I wondered if we were near an old grown forest so searched for it. I found one about 90 minutes away (at first I thought it was less than an hour, but I didn’t have the right location). Dean had free time so we drove to Cathedral Pines/Woods, part of the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest. This 40-acre grove has trees that are nearly 300 years old. It was highly delightful! Rupert and Chum were quite impressed!
On the way back from the old growth forest we stopped in Wabeno, a delightfully touristy town where we toured the Wabeno Logging Museum, visited a schoolhouse and walked along a small river.
That night we had fish-fry at the Hazlehurst Pub. The fish was delightful, but being at the pub, in my opinion, was asking to catch Covid. Brother had no interest in sitting outside.
Andrew, Alex and Bennett (Clare’s friend from high school) arrived Monday night. I stayed up just long enough to welcome them and show them their rooms.
Because each day was similar, I’m grouping the delights together.
The pontoon boat was possibly the highlight of the trip. I think Dean took the crew out twice a day most days (Rupert, Chum, and I went out with them on Thursday). The kayaks were also a big hit; he Airbnb had two and Dean brought his two. We also used the fire pit. It was delightful watching everyone have so much fun.
Fire Pit Night
Andrew built the fire and stands proudly over his creation
Andrew built the fire and stands proudly over his creation
After a rough start, today became delightful. Dean figured out how to get the pontoon he rented to the dock of our property (not an easy task with no Internet or GPS). I drove him to the gas-station-convenience-store-boat-rental-place-that-had-internet (hereafter called the marina) and watched while he learned to drive the pontoon. Then I drove back to the cabin and waited for him to show up at the dock. It took a while but he eventually arrived.
Once I knew for sure that I would not have access to the Internet for the whole week, I took it in stride and decided to devote my free time to reading. I’d loaded a few books on my Kindle and brought a few physical books. I chose to read Hoover the Talking Seal by Jeremy Burgoyne first because I’d bought it during the first part of the pandemic and knew Jeremy was wondering why I had not let him know I’d finished it.
Later that afternoon I went on a pontoon ride with Dean. It was relaxing. This was shaping up to be a relaxing, Internetless week full of reading!
I also explored the yard of our Airbnb and disturbed a snake that I found out later was probably a copperhead.
Today was delightful because 1) some of Andrew and Alex’s friends were still here and 2) because we didn’t have a party to prepare for. My feet were undelightfully swollen from being on them all day in shoes that didn’t exactly support my arches.
After the guests and Alex and Andrew left, we chilled and had a delightfully easy meal of party leftovers.
I snapped some photos of some of my wildflowers growing in the front planters.
This is the longest I have gone without writing in this blog which makes me think it is good that I am only doing it for a year. The biggest delights were having Dean’s sister’s son and his family visit for a few days, hanging out with Alex and Andrew for Dean week, visiting a wedding venue, and preparing for the engagement party. It has been a very busy month, and the summer will be busy as well.
I’ll try to not let a month go by again without documenting my delights.
Delightful wall shadows
While we watch television in the family room this time of year the setting sun shines through the western windows, making patterns on the wall.
Cicada Love
A couple of cicadas doing what they were born to do.
Indoor Cicada
This fella or gal flew in the bedroom window while I was trying to take a nap.
Fairy Garden Flowers Blooming
The fairy garden flowers (from the seed packet Alex gave me) finally began blooming.
sweet alyssum
California poppy
Nick and Nora Manhattan
I bought a set of two Nick and Nora cocktail glasses and served manhattans one evening
Eggs for Dinner. Eggs for Breakfast.
One night we ate eggs and sausages (and beans, mushrooms and tomatoes) for dinner. I made egg in a hole one morning too.
Sparkly Rain
One morning as the sun came up I caught these rain droplets in the sun.
Visit from C&S and Fam
C&S and Fam were supposed to visit last summer, but we all know why that was not possible. They visited this month and it was delightful.
Great Falls
Since no museums were open during their stay, C&S and Fam and I went to Great Falls National Park.
National Zoo
We needed passes to get in, but we got them and went to the zoo. We even saw the baby panda!
There is a baby Panda there somewhere
Baking a Cake with G.
On the way back from Great Falls I asked the kids if anyone wanted to bake a cake with me. Everyone said yes, but only six-year-old G followed through. He wanted to do it all by himself (and he did most of it). He decorated it with flowers.
G’s Cake
Introducing G to Rupert and Chum
The morning the C family was getting ready to leave, G and I played with Rupert and Chum. At one point G decided that Rupert and Chum should bake a cake — Rupert (who G was in charge of) told Chum (my charge) the steps to make a cake that sounded a lot like our day before. It was very sweet.
Father’s Day
Dean wanted to go to Cunningham Falls for Father’s day (the official beginning of Dean week) so we did.
Our 36th Wedding Anniversary
We ate at a local French restaurant. The food was very good, but we felt out of place.
Finally a use for the star and moon light!
I bought this thinking it would be cool — and it is — but how many times can you use it for just a two person party. We’re going to use it for Andrew and Alex’s engagement party. I took a video to show them.
Dean’s Birthday
The official end of Dean Week, his birthday, was nice. We’d made plans to go to an Indian restaurant but the reservations were not correctly made (my fault) so we at at a Laotian restaurant near Andrew and Alex’s apartment. Great food! We had pie and other treats later at their appartment.
Insects and Arachnids
The cicadas may be gone, but I saw some cool critters about the house and yard
Bumble Bee — we may have a colony under our deck
Larval stage of Hercules Beetle
This spider hitched a ride from Virginia on some farm produce from our egg family
Andrew and Alex trained for a half-marathon and ran it this morning. They originally considered running in an established run, but decided to keep safe and just do it themselves. They both made it to at least 13 miles and enjoyed the celebration with several friends after. It was our first big gathering in over 17 months (which is not quite as long as that cicada at the end — he/she had to wait 17 years!)
Dean and I celebrated the end of 2020 last night with classic champagne (CAVA actually) cocktails and a fire (and damned delightful fajitas with homemade flour tortillas).
Another delight of the day was watching this delightfully funny and (in)appropriate video from the self-described social impact agency, Public.
My favorite* part was “Fuck you, New Zealand! You think you’re better than us? Well, you are. BUT FUCK YOU ANYWAY!”.
*With apologies to Mali and all the wonderful people in New Zealand…
When I'm Sixty-four 