Another life event is on deck

I know....  it HAS been a long time.  It has been an interesting early 2019 shall we say.  One life event leads to another and sometimes you are some place you weren't expecting....

The door on which we have been knocking all our lives will open at last.

C. S. Lewis

I have sort of let it be known lately that I am retiring at the end of the school year.  If  you would have told me at the beginning of the year that I was going to be done in May of 2019 with the career I waited so long to get and love so fiercely, I would have looked at you askance and tilted my head and rolled my eyes at you....  I can't yet would have been my answer.  But, a sad twist of fate came up- my mom's death and subsequent settling of the estate- gifted me with something I hadn't expected.  Retirement.  Basically I will have enough to pay for my insurance for a few years and with the catalyst of some situations in the teaching profession that I may or may not talk about at some point in the future has caused me to make the decision.

That particular moment of change was the culmination of many factors, not the least being that two of my very best friends and colleagues were going to be retiring- the Mad-science teacher, Laurie and my buddy, the band teacher, Pat.  I had a hard time imagining my life next year without them- especially mornings with coffee without Laurie.  But I was working on that visualization, and was settling in to it.  Then the school calendar came out and teachers have to report in 2 plus weeks before school begins.... which is ridiculous.  And my former idea of 3 years out before retirement became one year.  Then a situation arose and I decided on the spur of the moment I was done. It was a traumatic event in many ways (for me only) ...  then I had a couple of conversations at school- I was crying (this is how I handle stress- what can I say?) and they were talking me down, and then I had lunch with the MA and Laurie, and they told me exactly why I could and should indeed be done.  I believe I was told that someone was glad they wouldn't have to listen to me complain about meetings- staff and otherwise- any more... hmpf.  But he has a very valid point.  There was no reason of any sort to keep me working in an increasingly difficult situation.

Fortunately those are two very calming people in my life who coached me through the initial decision- even though I had really already made it.  But I needed their words and validation and steadying influence that day.  Then another person very close to me continued (and still does- YOU'RE DONE) to offer words of calm reflection, advice and support.... I have a few of those people in my life and I am SO grateful.  And then I have my dear Mad-Missouri friend who tells me how much I am going to love it.

The next few days were a rollercoaster of giddy relief and teary regret.  I have never ever doubted I made the correct decision, I just wish I didn't feel like I was deserting my kids.  Especially the HS kids.  It took a full month of being on the edge of breakdown to talk about it without crying.  I sometimes still do- I love my job.  But it isn't the job I took when I began this career.

This winter was hard- between my mom and being sick with influenza for a LONG time, and a few other personal things and the freaking weather that kept me cooped up- it was very difficult. And of course tax season REALLY sucked this year, people.  The retirement decision did not make me a more stable individual either.  Lol.  But I am feeling better all the time, and I, once again, am redefining my life and heading in directions that I NEVER thought I would be going in.

There is a lot more that can be said, and I will in subsequent blog posts....  I have many related topics.  And I have a couple celebratory vacations coming up too- and you will have to stay tuned to what happens next.  I have a few things up my sleeve.....  Including my very own retirement party!   Like I said- topics to be covered soon.

I have been posting a bunch of oddities on Facebook and Instagram, definitely helping me come to terms with this- the whole Wroger and Wrachel craziness, but the ceiling tiles and the senior pictures and the Eagles are giving me so much joy.  The memories come flooding back and I have been getting messages from so many students of the past.  I love talking and reconnecting with them- I hope to see them soon- Might have to arrange a Flambeau-rama meet-up time or something?

Anyway- I have also been taking photos (like that is a surprise)- so the above photo is for attention only. Well, maybe not- that picture and the quote are very, very apropos.  Which is of course why I chose it.

So much joy has come out of some serious heartache- and as I take on this next adventure- you can be sure I will be taking pictures and making art, probably writing as well...  and who knows what else.  Change is challenging, but the best things in life are hard won, waited for and anticipated and sometimes they come out of the blue- you HAVE to recognize them when they appear so you can embrace them and get the most joy possible.

Winter Photo shoot

Last weekend I took a fun mini-vaca with a couple of my friends- the Mad-Science teacher and the Mad-English teacher- to (prepare yourselves, it will be a surprise, I am confident) the north- specifically we stayed in Bayfield (told ya) :P

Abandoned school 

Anyway, I needed to get my mojo back (winter depression?- idk)  and that has to include some photography and that is what I want to feature here!

Lake Superior and not a lot of snow, but lotta ice!

We did a LOT of fun things, some of it food related, most of it activity related.  We did a swing around the Hwy13/Hwy 2 loop of northern WI, including a couple waterfalls, an abandoned school house, replete with an equally abandoned piano (obsession admitted), an extremely cold beach, and awesome diner and 3 tired travelers.  And oh so many many photos- plus there was some dogsled races and a ferry ride with a hike on an island as well.  Add in an amazing apartmenty-sort of sleeping quarters, some Big Water coffee shopping and of course Coco's- and there is some amazing time away from home that was just what we all needed.

It was a perfect day for photography

I have been smitten by the idea of this abandoned school since I heard about it a few months ago.  It is in a state of disrepair and it will indeed decay completely if it is left as is.  There have been a lot of people in there tagging and such, which I suppose is what happens these days.

The piano is amazing- in an old abandoned sort of way.

Only ivory left to tickle

The audience was silent tonight

As is expected in Wisconsin in February, most of the water was frozen- including the waterfalls, but there was certainly enough beauty to record.

Walking on the creek to Twin Falls

Frozen Twin Falls by Port Wing, WI

Pancake ice in the little bit of open water at Amncion Falls.

Mother Nature was kind enough to gift me with this INCREDIBLE sunrise.....  I sure can get dressed in a hurry.  Lol.  Bayfield just never disappoints. Seriously, this is not color enhanced, just cropped.  It was astounding

This still amazes me

We had a cold and fun time both at the Apostle Island Dog Sled Races and also hiking around on a VERY cold Madeline Island.  Going on the ferry cutting through the ice is an experience unlike any other.

They LOVE to run....

and they smile all the way!

It was dreary that day but oh well.

I heart Madeline Island and Big Bay State Park

Found a little blue shelf ice by the Ferry Dock in LaPointe- but no where else

Looking towards Bayfield

Frozen (ice)  hills on Lake Superior- I was standing on the lake there, and I could only take about 2 shots before the cold wind forced my hands back in my gloves.

Will the next performer please take a seat....

If you think sled dogs don't get love- you are all sorts of wrong

I have so so many pictures to edit yet, but I am going to take my time.

It really was a  fantastic weekend for photos and catching up with good friends....  and finding so much joy in totally expected places.  

Bayfielding and scrambling- 10 days

Things are getting real on Omaha Road, people.  I am beginning to actually get some things together for my trip on a table in my hall way, yesterday, I began some shopping in earnest!  I am starting to feel a little out of sorts, what I really need is a day at home alone and that won't be happening for a while. I have't been able to kayak for 2 weeks, haven't taken many photos, just haven't done my usual Debi things, but at least I have school crossed off  my list.

In Minocqua at the Bearskin trail

Today, I have a trip with my dear friends to Bayfield...  It is not our ideal Bayfield weather, but we will still have a good time.  I will definitely be excited to get up to Coco's and Big Water Coffee and to Madeline Island.  Once I get on that ferry, I think my mind might finally relax and enjoy.  Being up there is like going to another dimension- it is easy to forget about anything that is happening 90 miles to the south.  I am excited to try out the camera in some of my familiar places, but really want to try shooting in a new place of some sort too.  We shall see what we find!!

It was a lot nicer out than these photos show

IN 10 DAYS I will begin my journey but actually in 8 days I will be leaving here to head to my sisters.  I am heading to her house sometime next Wednesday, so I can be there for a full day of prep before we have to head out on Friday.  The thinking is that I can sleep well the night before..... we shall see how that goes!  And we have our own personal chauffeur who will drop us off and pick us up!  #ftw!!

Because yesterday I spent virtually the whole day with the Mad-English teacher and then the evening also with the Mad-Science teacher, I did not get a chance to look at art again.  But I have another Michelangelo in mind- and seriously at this point I don't remember whether I have posted it or not, so besides the Michelangelo AND the Donatello Davids, these are the other pieces of sculpture I really want to see. We talked about this a LOT in Art History, in fact in a couple of the classes I took.  It shows the creative process of the artist and really is something that is of interest to me.

The Mad-English teacher and I made the best of the not particularly pretty weather yesterday and had breakfast at The Island Cafe in Minocqua and went on to shop a while in Rhinelander and eventually walk on a very nice hiking and biking trail near downtown Minocqua. Followed by supper with him and the Mad-Science teacher and it was a great day.

Anyway, I need to get ready for another adventure, so I better finish this off!  It is looking a bit cloudy out, I surely hope that it gets sunny later.  Lots of things to do, I need to stop constantly looking at what I have to do tomorrow and then tomorrow and then tomorrow and really enjoy the day I have in front of me.  It is how I had a fantastic summer last year that did not go fast at all and how I plan to spend this summer as well.  Because summer vacation is everything and believe me, teacher everywhere need to have a good one.  And so do you!  Find your joy in your Tuesday!

Then a fabulous afternoon!

OH what a great day this turned out to be.

Kayaking in Smith Lake

I love to have these different adventures during my day---  all sorts of them.  Now some people may just think of this as "life" or "the weekend" but I like to frame my days in terms of adventures....  because that is what  a joyful person such as moi likes to do.  

Little cabin in the woods

I was really happy to have my good friend the Mad-Science teacher come and visit and go for a walk.  I gave her a mostly complete tour of the ranch, but for actually entering the Way-Back field (as opposed to the field and the back field) and the Pine Plantation.  Mostly she wanted to see the cabin.  

woods road

She was very impressed with it, which the MA was pleased to hear, and I hope she and her hubby can come back soon where they can be given a detailed account of the making of it by someone who paid attention, which was not me most of the time.  HAHA.  

Retaining wall by the cabin

She loved the stone fence thing here and all various pieces of craftsmanship that have gone into it.  I guess it is fine, but I really preferred the rustic path up to the cabin that was there before....  but since it is not mine (HA well technically it truly is, but that is another story)- I guess I should say that I don't feel a lot of ownership in it, it's all good.  I also say that if one is going to nag at ones spousal unit about taking cabin photos, one should clear the crap off of one's porch so it looks picturesque and photo worthy, but someone is not a particularly visual person so he doesn't see that sort of thing.  

Anyway, it was so nice to walk with someone!!  And no bugs and no mosquitos (which are their own category of irritating) and lots of singing birds and of course the spring peepers.

So!  Back to my adventures:  I got to kayak!!  It was a perfect day, even if a little windy.  And yes the water was cold and I was careful.  I got a wetsuit to wear so I can go this early for my paddles, and I did not regret having that on at all.  It was plenty warm, but I wasn't too hot.  I did get really thirsty, and I am glad I had water.  Turns out when I took it off, the suit was soaking wet.  Go figure, right?  Lol. 

I did find myself starting off with some major claustrophobia, as this thing - as it is supposed to be- is tight!!  and right up around my neck.  eeeeekkkk!!  I have issues.  But as I was sloshing around in the water, with my crocs and my little neoprene booties I was surely grateful for the protection.

This is not nearly as cute as my bare feet sticking up out of my kayak!  

Paddling was just awesome.  To be out in the quiet - NO boats were out- and all of the wildlife that I tried to sneak up on to with no luck.  I saw lots of ducks- Mallards, wood ducks, mergansers and some others I couldn't see well enough, but that was in flight.  Now that I have a feel for where they hang out, I will be prepared for them.  And I will try to be even more quiet....  I can be if I want.  And I thought I was, but they must sense the vibrations or something.

I cannot begin to describe the peace that I feel on the water or the way that my muscles immediately remember what has to be done.  My brain slips into a calm that happens very rarely, and I never have the thoughts of being insufficient, or that I am not doing enough for myself or others, or worrying about things that I have no control over.  It is the perfect meditation and I am in my artistic zone.

Getting a new camera is a blessing and a curse.  When I see something I want to just capture the image, and not have to stop a moment to remind myself to check the settings and figure out which button to use to change the f-stop, or all the things that are not quite automatic yet.  The blessing is that the images that are emerging from this camera make me smile.  And my new editing program is absolutely amazing.

But I still do have this wonderful phone camera that doesn't let me down either- sometimes I just have to use it for the speed!  

Smith Lake county Park

I got off the flowage after just and hour and 20 minutes as the wind amped up and I decided to call it an afternoon.  It was a lovely thing, but sometimes you just have to know when to say when.  The good news is that today I am picking up my new baby kayak!!!  And so people who want to go 'yaking with me- I have a second one meow!!!  And I have dry bags, PFDs, paddles and may (if I have something in the house) provide snacks as well  Lol.

So, after returning the MA's truck to him and found that he was going to be gone AGAIN until 8 or 9 pm (I don't care if you think I am being selfish and uncaring- I'm tired of tax season.  And he gets lots of sympathy, so don't have too much pity, lol)  I put out a pathetic text to my mad-second son and asked when a good time to come over would be!!  I miss those babies, and haven't seen Greg and Sarah for a couple weeks and I missed their faces.  As well as needed some company.  So the next adventure: holding babies and playing with Greggy!!

Ruthie!!   

A typical Oswald type day- get all the projects started!

This child is obsessed with tractors!!

I got to see the animals and pet the doggies and see the new berry patch being fenced in....  just so much fun to hang out with them for a while.

Anyway, that was my good day yesterday- I am thrilled to say that I do not feel the effects of kayaking in the LEAST.  I am so grateful for the school gym and my weight lifting- it really gives me the ability to do whatever I want and do it well- well at least well enough!  So off to a new day, it is about time for me to go get the truck, pick up some tax returns from the Phillips office, get my new kayak and pick out some accessories for it, get horse feed, and then get home for lunch.  Lol!  Ambitious I know. #haveanadventure

But that is the joy of the weekends and spring!

December ...... Where did you go?

Lola finally looking wintery

I know where December went- I spent a lot of it sleeping.  And coughing.  Good grief.  I have this amazingly uncanny way of knowing when I am going to pick up a virus these days....  Right at the end of Thanksgiving when certainly little adorable Granddaughters shoved their dirty little fingers in my mouth- I knew it: sick.  In mid-December, when I watched a child cough right towards me from 10 feet away, and saw a vision of those little germs incased in a lime green cloud of disgust- you got it.  I was right.  That one was a lot worse.  That one had me in bed by 8 some nights, destroyed my vocal abilities for 5 days, still has me coughing now 3 weeks later.  I only recently began walking outside, and my hardening back, chest and arm muscles are needing a tuneup again.  sigh.

Oh well.  I am encouraged by the fact that I am pretty sure I will not be affected by the bug that the MA has right now.  He stayed home from work yesterday for the first time in probably 15 years.  I was a bit surprised, he must have fielded all the calls from desperate tax payers that he was going to.  And no one called the house, so this is all good.  And don't worry people, he's fine.

Requisite blurry selfie from Christmas Eve

We had a pretty nice Christmas, it was stretched out over a few days, which is just fine with me.  The oldest Mad-son and his lovely Sarah could not come this year as the next little sweet baby is going to be born in mid January!!  YAY! AND it is much easier for the middle Mad-son and his lovely Sarah and family to be in their own house what with naps and stuff, so we went there for Christmas day!  I actually don't have a ton of photos from any of my Christmas celebrations, preferring to ooh and ah and smooch with the grand kiddos....  So Christmas Eve was spent with the elusive Mike, opening his gifts and having a nice supper and generally relaxing.

RUTHIE!!

Christmas was a hoot, as we arrived, much food in tow, at the Oswalds and immediately embraced the children.  Ruthie is SO cute, and is starting to coo and smile and interact.  Greggy likes everyone to see what toys are his favorites and in general holds wordless conversations with us.  When those words begin, that child will be filling us in on lots of things- he has amazing powers of communication and memory.  Goodness.  And then there are the dogs- Ruger, who insists on lots of attention because she is after all a lab, and Toby- who is a special snowflake, loves me and needs to try to sneak in when Ruger isn't looking.  Toby who loves me, yet gets all excited and spends a lot of time pretending to bite my hand when I pet him....  he's such a goof.

GREGGIE!

A little impromptu Christmas music!  :D

Anyway, the Mad-Accountant and I got a TV from the children for Christmas.  The thing about us is that if something is working, we are really fine with it.  We still had a MASSIVE TV (in square footage, not in screen square inches) from probably 8 years ago and it really had been chugging along quite fine.  But of course, it had been discussed in the past (by certain off-spring) that we should get a flat screen.  blah blah blah.  Anyway, apparently over Thanksgiving it was decided that a new TV was the way to go for us, so it was being planned.  A week later, when I got home from the Madrigal dinner said massive behemoth of a tv had blacked out.  Which is when my lovely self started doing some TV research..... well sort of.  I had help from a certain very smart tech savvy friend who was giving me TV advice.  Anyway, the next day I tried turning the TV on, fortunately, and it worked -otherwise I was TOTALLY heading to Minocqua or possibly Rhinelander to pick up a new set.  Of course I discuss things like this with all of my electronics experts (the boys seem to have picked up this expertise somewhere) and I am sure they were all having a minor heart failure over it.  Because they know that once I finally decide to be brave and do crap like that I do.  And besides, who'd ever think a TV would be under the proverbial Christmas tree.  Long story short(er), I discussed Tvs again right before Christmas day as I was going to be going online the day after Christmas!  AND THEN I got a text with a super deal at Sam's club---  so...... JON!!!  Will you go pickup that TV and I will get it when I come down?  The child lied to his mama....  Lol

Anyway, now I have to get a DISH upgrade which apparently will involve a new satellite; we've had the same receiver since we got the system (no judging, I told you, if it works, why mess with it??)  Sigh.  Oh well, it needs to happen.

Greggie had a blast!  

Did I mention that I will finally use that part of my Amazon Prime??  This should be fun.

Meanwhile, we have this MASSIVE  OLD TV in our front room, and it really needs to either go to a good home (doubtful) or get recycled.  And with the MA being under the weather, well, I am really hoping that he makes an astounding recovery so it can get the heck out of my house tomorrow.

At the Rotary Gardens

So, the Sunday after Christmas I drove myself down to Janesville, gifts in tow, and hung out with another Oswald family for a few days.  We went and saw the Rotary Gardens Holiday Light Show, which was AMAZING, had a little Mexican food and just generally had a  nice evening!  In spite of a ice/sleet/snow storm on Monday, I made it home Tuesday.  Which is when the festivities continued with the Mad-English teacher coming to visit, an amusing supper at the Mad-Science teacher's house, a trip to Bayfield on Wednesday, a wintery hike on Thursday..... whew!!!  I spent yesterday afternoon sort of putting my house together again.  Today or tomorrow will be Christmas removal.

SELFIE SPOT!

This is an amazing event!

Ella in her dressup clothes from Gramma

I also have at least one and probably 2 more blog posts to write.  They have been building up.  I am so far behind in lots of things.  SO MANY parts of my house need straightening up again after a couple months of crazy.  And btw, speaking of that, I am so ready for a little sunshine.  We have had a month of virtually no sun.  It has come out once or twice, but I was sick that day- or in one case, I was in Janesville for the sunny day up here.  sigh.  I am ready, man.  If that sun is out today I am OUT the door, camera in hand.

Good morning with Ella

Anyway, since this is my first post of the New Year, I would like to take a moment to wish you all a spectacular New Year- 2016??  Wow.  Enjoy your year, embrace your life, live for now....  you are all awesome the way you are!  That whole new year, new you stuff is such bull shit.  You people are spectacular, you don't need fixing, you don't need to change.  You can trust yourself, you know what is best for you.  You sure as hell don't need Oprah insinuating that you are not good enough.  You all ARE good enough and in fact you are perfect.  So, eat what you enjoy, move how you like, wear what you want and don't let the MEDIA dictate your life.  They portray an illusion and you are real.  Mute their asses!

WOO HOO

I hope that you have a lovely Jan. 1!  Find your joy and keep spreading it around all year.  Avoid those joy stealers and share  your smiles.  You never know when someone is going to need it.

Early morning musing

6 A.M. 

It is 6 in the morning and you would think that someone who has broken multiple things would be sleeping.  Well those things nudge her awake about 4 am and then insist on being upright by 5:30. The MA and I have done our little morning kitchen dance where I pretend I can make coffee and he actually does it for me.  Now, I have him finish up the nights' sleep in the bed and I wait for my ibuprofen to kick in.

At 6 in the AM I know exactly where the breaks and bone bruises are because they hurt like a sonofabitch, pardon my language.  I can barely grasp how something that doesn't seem like it should cause pain issues, like a bone, can give you such discomfort.  Radial head fractures have given me a whole new respect for bones.  I will pay closer attention to anatomy class when I am eating lunch!  (I eat lunch in the science office while my amazing friend the Mad-Science teacher teaches anatomy next door and I love listening to her class.  LOVE IT)  (I really like science, as you might guess)

I will say I have amazing friends, who are literally falling over themselves wanting to help me out.  It is mind-blowing and so touching.  I have had company and food and flowers and love pouring into my house, and then my sister arrived and THAT has been the best thing ever.  AND THEN there are a couple of my far away friends who have kept me entertained and amused and seriously are the best people ever.  They have no NO idea how much they have helped me keep my sanity and my sense of humor.

Last Saturday I unknowingly prepared for a week of being less than able to do stuff.  I had the laundry done, house straightened up, a BUNCH of food for myself and for Fred made, I had picked up a lot of groceries  because I had run out of a lot of things.....  So really I was in good shape.  Until yesterday, when my sister cooked with me.  I sort of bossed her around and she did what I asked and now we have some food again for the week.  Or at least a good part of it.  THAT was when I started feeling strange.  As in out of control and sort of helpless.  Through the week, I just had various friends and Fred warm things up for me.  I was still feeling in control or prepared or something. Yesterday I had to tell Rose what to do- and that was freaking weird. I was in the kitchen with her a long time, until I had to eventually sit down and ice my ankle (who decided to act up) and my elbows.  So I sat there while she cleaned my kitchen and finished supper. She is awesome!  I don't feel I can describe very well the odd feeling it was sitting there with my feet up, wrapped in a blanket watching her put my dishes away.  Yeah-

Anyway, I know there are those of you who want to say, let yourself heal, and I do get it.  I know for a fact this morning (where yesterday I wasn't convinced) that I do need to be home for another week.  I do know I couldn't do what I do at school.  And I have a feeling I am going to have to rearrange my lessons for the little kids, since I am not sure I can deal with 25 lb bags of clay. Hmmm.  Well I will cross that bridge a week from today.  At any rate, even if I have to be patient, I am still fighting it in my mind.  So I will let that happen, I just have to do it at my own speed.

Anyway, according to my little calendar in the corner of my Mac here it became February over night! Holy smokes!  No wonder the MA has been at work so much!  I know I know, I kid.

Anyway, I have sort of talked myself out of a funk here, so yay!  Off to Sunday, I am going to get driven into school so I can have my Seester set out some art supplies for the subs for the week and I can leave love notes for my kids at school and then put that part of my mind at ease.

So everyone, today be a joy giver, really watch out on the ice if that is part of your world and Happy Sunday!

And we Bayfielded again and AGAIN!

It IS official everyone.  Bayfield is now a verb.

One of the Apostle Island Cruise Double Decker boats

Bayfield is beautiful in calm or rough conditions

Bayfield: verb  Pronunciation- bay-fee-ill-d  To drive up to Bayfield, WI and hang out there.  All trips must include the Big Water Coffee Shop and standing at the end of the piers staring at the water or it isn't a true Bayfield.  Ferry rides to Madeline Island are not required but are highly encouraged for the full bayfielding experience.

Shy people who didn't know I was doing the selfie!

The Harbor from our favorite place on our favorite ferry

Lake litter!

So my compadres and I ( the Mad-English teacher, Adam and the Mad-Science teacher, Laurie) have Bayfielded a couple times now in the last few weeks.  A couple of weeks ago we went up there for strawberries- funny story:  The MA was shocked and slightly dismayed at the fact that we do NOT pick our own berries.  We have other things to do!  Silly boy, we don't have time to actually harvest the berries when there are beaches to be walked, coffee to be sampled, shops to be looked in and ferries to be ridden!

Coming in to the dock

The cars on the ferry- we got OUT of the car!!

Kayakers off the shore of Madeline Island

So we have now taken a vehicle across on the ferry now, and went over to the BEAUTIFUL town park on the Island.  WOW is that a nice place.  We had picked up a yummy lunch from the Fat Radish, and we got ourselves on the ferry.  It was pretty cool to be going there with a vehicle so we could see some more of Madeline Island. Adam and I did go over there on the Ice Road  (still gives me goosebumps thinking about driving on the ice there) but - you know, snow.

Part of our picnic from the "Fat Radish" deli and restaurant

On the beach at Madeline Island

The town park on Madeline Island

We ate a picnic lunch, went on about a 2 mile walk on the beach looking for agates, and just getting some movement in, and then we sat in the sun before we made our way back to the ferry.  We had driven over to the strawberry place to pick reserve our berries and we had to pick them up by 4.  I picked up some really good vinegary and spicy salsa at a cute little store in town, picked-up some preordered Sumatran coffee, had a little caffeinated refreshment, hung out on the dock, enjoyed the view and an adult beverage on the upper deck of the Bayfield Inn and then we decided to visit a waterfall on the way back! We stopped at the lovely Morgan Falls, which is by St. Peter's Dome- a land formation up near High Bridge.  It is not an easy place to find, but once you get there it is pretty neat!

Morgan Falls

Morgan Falls

The Falls through the trees

This past Saturday we drove up and went to the Arts Festival on the Lake Front.  Breakfast was at the Egg Toss, followed by wandering and people watching and walking and admiring the massive yacht that is moored at the docks and talking to the people we know there......  it was a hoot.  We got ice cream from the candy shoppe, and stopped in the evening at the Black Cat in Ashland for a late dinner. After discussing our trips last year, I decided I needed to outline what we did, as we were all mixed up over which trip we did what and was I there, because I missed a couple trips there and all that jazz.  So, this is my attempt to record the 2014 trips in a sort of concise manner.  We won't discuss the turtle.

The yacht that was docked and caused a bit of excitement.  It was moored there for 2 weeks

St. Vincent is the flag that is flying

One of the participants in the sailboat race that day

We stopped at Eckerts pottery shop, too, and I've begun plans to do a field trip for a raku experience for my art kids, and there could be some cross-curricular activities as well..... we shall see.  TOTALLY in the development stages.  THAT is a cool place!!

Cool things at Eckerts

Friendly greetings even in the canine world!

The weather this past weekend was a little wild and wavy.  It was beautiful in a different way!

At the docks

Coast Guard boat

The Statue of Liberty at the end of a private dock.  I love that the boats are Freedom and Justice

It again was the perfect way to get the most out of our summer.  We did not go over to the island on Saturday (soooo many tourists there on the weekends- YES I get the irony there)

Until next time be a joy giver and make sure you take time to soak up the summer!