Weekend happenings

I took a little trip last weekend!  It was a LOT of driving, let me tell you.  More driving than I care to do again for a while, but it was so totally worth it!

I finished up all of my school obligations by Tuesday, so I was free to move about the state on Thursday!  I packed up the car and headed down to Janesville to stay with Jon and Sarah.  I arrived in the early afternoon to unpack the car, print off some directions and head back to the north to Madison to have dinner with my college buddy Callen!

It was a nice picnic that I attended, met some wonderful new young friends and just had a grand time.  Before Callen arrived, I went to the Olbrich Botanic Gardens in Madison, which is deserving of it's own actual picture post!

Formal Gardens at the Olbrich complex

Friday found me shopping most of the day, had a lovely lunch with my dear daughter-in-law, Sarah Grace (xoxoxo) and then MAYBE just a little more shopping!  I zipped back to Jon and Sarah's in time to take Manny (their cocker mix pooch)  for a walk, get dressed in my Brewer's finest and then we headed out to Milwaukee for a game!  I LOVE going to baseball games, mostly for photo taking opportunities!  The game was great too, got to see 2 3-run homers, lots of fire works, lots of people and it was a perfect night with the roof open on Miller Park!  Oh, and we went to Jose's Blue Sombrero and I had a KICK ASS Margarita!!!  OH!  and the Brewers did win....

This is always hilarious!

Cadillac Margarita!!

Brewer's fans!!

Beautiful Miller Park

Saturday found me driving- again- this time through Illinois to get to Champaign where I met my long-time loseit friend, Gary.  He brought along his girlfriend, Janet, and we had a wonderful time talking and walking and having dinner.  They both are such wonderful people and I am so glad I got to meet Gary.  We started off as gardening friends and then he was instrumental in getting me into weight-lifting, and indeed wrote my first routine!  I will be ever so grateful for that!  Anyway, we picked up our talking in person from where we left off on the phone- Janet was able to get a few words in edge-wise, so I think a good time was had by all.

The only interesting thing on I-39 in Illinois!  :)

Gary and Janet

There are some really cool old buildings in Champaign at the U or I, but I will post them in another place later.

Sunday found me driving BACK through Illinois to Wisconsin, yay, and basically the kids and I goofed off for the rest of the day... This was good, as I was pretty tired by then.  We did go to the family farm, the place where I grew up and looked around.  Someone needs to live here, as the poor thing is starting to fall apart.  So, I believe that things will need to be done - cleaning, repairing, maybe selling.  It was a very sad visit, I felt like I was saying goodbye.

I can't believe it has already been a week since I was there.  I am not sure I like how fast June seems to be moving along.  But I think I have been finding my joy along the way!