August 12-13-14

 I slept in because of staying up later playing Chicken foot with Danny.  I had my tea and wrote in my journal.

It was raining a bit, but the sky promised to clear soon.

After the guys got up Steve announced a trip was needed to Iron River.

So we loaded up and headed there… first stop was the grocery store…then the Fig Leaf Thrift shop, Margie’s closed and that was a the best junk store.  I did find some paperbacks for 10 cents each ..and when I put them in the van I saw Steve had found some Reader digest books.

We saw the pastie Café across the street and thought we would give that place a try.  Dan had never had pasties and the only ones he knew about were the ones Strippers wore.. he was going to ask the waitress to see hers!  Though these are pronounced different  past- ies…

They were closed Monday’s so we went to the Rustic Roost for breakfast.  As soon as we got our menu’s a group of 9 and  2 couples came in …so we thought we better get our order in ahead of them!  Dan said he had to ask the waitress about her pasties and we reminded him that we were at a different restaurant.

We had a great breakfast it is a cozy place with their knotty pine walls.

We stopped at the artisian well on the way home for water.  Danny is very curious and started looking around.  Right across the well was a wooden fence ..that looked to me like it was just hiding junk…Dan went back there and there were cages with fox in them.  They didn’t’ seem skittish … like the one a gal I knew who rescued one and caged it did.  Very interesting. 

It is a bear camp but someone must live in one of those campers or lives close by because of the gardens that are there.

We got home and sat outside with Dan.  He planned to leave later in the afternoon.  It turned out to be a beautiful day!

He had to get the rest of the logs cut so I went and helped him stack them.  What a guy!

He left around 4… I went down and called Mary.  Everything was okay at home.  The sod laid by the city was doing good …she said ours looked allot better than the neighbors.  Probably a good thing we didn’t cut ours early.. I told her we did cut ours once.. maybe we are watering our more diligently.

When  I got back Steve put up the shower and I went in and got my clothes off…I put on my poncho it was going to be cold just walking back with a towel on.  The shower felt fantastic!  I have a little cove to stand in the Spruce tree there.. the water was nice and hot!  That Sun shower was one of my better purchases.   I was fine just in my towel walking back.  Steve was next…I only had 2 towels here and the only one left was the pink one that was his Mom’s…he hates pink… too bad!

I started one of the books I got and Steve read too.  It was a nice evening.

All of a sudden a voice hollered “ are you guys sleeping?”  it was Patty and Carl.   We went and sat outside and visited with them.  Patty had come down with a bad cold and was not feeling good ..I gave her a glass of wine.   Her 2 grandchildren were here over the weekend so that is why they didn’t come over on Saturday.   They didn’t stay too, long.

After they left Steve had the left over pizza…I had eaten earlier…made a Reuben Sandwich.

He went to bed and I kept reading my book… was up until after midnight.  It was a good book…”Curiosity killed the Cat-sitter” by Blaize Clement.



AUGUST 13TH

It was cold when I got up…I had my tea and read more on my book.. I didn’t sleep in that late  for being up so late last night reading.

 Steve was making a trip to the ball field so I sent my phone along with him to see if any messages would come in from Beth… there weren't any so I think it is  still a go for our shopping trip to Duluth.

She got here about 9…we left at 9:30…I let her drive the van.

I called Lynn when we got to Superior she was free to meet us for lunch we decided on noon at Grandma’s by the mall..

Our first stop was  Kohl’s.  They had quite a few dresses really marked down.  It was fun trying them on.. Beth found one that looked really cute on her but it wasn’t’ quite dressy enough for Heidi’s wedding, but it was so comfy and something she would get a lot of use out of, plus the price was right!

 

A lady came out of the dressing room too check out the dress she had on, it was really cute... I told her so and she said there is another one out there.. it was sleeveless and always feel funny wearing sleeveless at my "age"... but Beth said to try it on...I went out but only found one in Medium... I told the lady when she was walking out that unfortunately got the last Small...she went and looked for me and found another small... such a sweetheart!  I tried it on and I did like it  but the belt was fraying .  Beth mentioned it at the check out and I got more money off.  We made it just before noon at Grandma’s, got a booth and Lynn got there soon after.

We had wild rice burgers with salads instead of fries…Lynn was hoping someone would get the fries, which I was too, so we ordered a side to share.

After lunch I was trying to get a picture of us by the beautiful hanging baskets, as I was trying to balance the camera on the garbage container a nice young lady offered to take the picture for us.

 Our next stop was TJ Maxx .. Lynn joined us and went on her usual circle tour of the store and we stayed pretty much by the dresses in front.  Among the racks we ran into Sara  from Corny.. she had come to Best Buy to get a replacement computer for Ehlers.  Too bad we didn't meet before lunch she could have joined us!

Beth tried on a few dresses there but nothing right…so off to Younkers we went. …we had a hard time finding the right department it was  pretty much for older people .

We then headed to Penney’s …got turned around and ended up at Sears… that wasn’t good…so went back and saw Penney’s way on the other side.. on the way we stopped at Caribou . Beth still had Christmas gift cards from Pat…I got an iced black tea mango and she got a cold coffee thingy, we were  close to Deb’s so we went in there to look.. Beth found a few dresses to try on …

A cute young gal had on a tiger print topped dress with flowing black tulle skirt…it looked adorable on her.  She was looking at shoes to go with it and I told her to be a good girl when she was out in that dress… she looked about 17..as  she was walking out she ended up not getting it.

There were allot of dresses with one sleeve, which looked really strange on the hangers… I told Beth to try them on anyway…they looked really cute on!  She looked pretty hot in the blue sparkly one… so she decided to get it…they were having a big sale and she ended up paying only $16 for it! 

It was already 4 and Beth needed to stop at Menards for supplies for a some jobs. And we needed to get gas.

We got all the errands done and we started for Port Wing.

We were going by the Store and Bonnie was there getting gas so we stopped to talk to her..she had her grandkids with.  They were 15 and 13.. really nice kids…Beth knew them well from them coming and working at the fishery when they were in town…

She said they were really good workers.

Beth showed them her dress…

We got home and Steve was sitting outside enjoying the evening.  Beth showed him her dress…he was confused with the one sleeve…bet Rocky will say the same thing.

She left and I read some, had supper and fixed a plate for Steve.

He wants to leave tomorrow.. I want to stay another day…I think I can convince him. If I don't pack up that  will be enough to convince him!

AUGUST 14TH

 

The weather is going to be  perfect today and I wanted to  pick Blueberries at Mary Pearson’s, no way were we going to go home…and Steve agreed!

The nights have been so cool this visit.  Down to the low 40’s and 50’s, but the high 70’s during the day.  Just about perfect to me!

Steve left for the ball field and I got changed for a run.  Man, have I been eating this trip… got to at least burn some calories!  When I got home Steve was back and I asked if he knew I had gone on a run… he didn’t for sure but wasn’t worried, yet.

I decided to go check out the apple tree across the West Ravine.   I asked if he wanted to go along… he didn’t seem too excited about it so Murphy and I went on our own. 

The creek was dry.. seemed strange to see it that way after the rushing water that was there just a month ago.             

 

It did make crossing over to the other side much easier.

I started climbing the hill,  which was made even more difficult because of the tall grass. I forgot how steep that hill was,  I was starting to think this was a bad idea... plus there were holes I kept stepping into.

 

I finally made it to the top and the view looking back at our land and seeing the beautiful trees was  spectacular!

 

 

The cable spool has fallen apart... look at that incline!! I can't go back that way!

 

 

There were apples on the tree.  I was expecting more after seeing all the blossoms it had on it.  My eye doesn’t always catch all the apples so next month I may see more. 

I decided it was just too treacherous going back the same way so I would just have  to trespass on the neighbor’s land.  He lives in Great Britain and only comes once every couple years and we have yet to meet him to ask permission. 

But I am finding the tall grass there was just as bad, though flat land it was a longer route, plus I remembered the foundation of an old barn was there to watch out for and who knew what else was hiding in the grass.

 So I decided to go back and would just go slowly.  I am regretting my coming over here.

I was part way down and I heard Steve hollering for me.  I  answered him but he couldn’t see me because of brush in the way.   I kept going, dropped my camera, found it and kept going.  I hit a patch of wet red clay and I started sliding but got my footing.. gave me a scare.  Luckily there was tall brush to grab.

I got to the bottom and my camera was not on my wrist, I dropped it again! oh no, is this a nightmare?  I started tracing my steps back to look for it.  Steve was a bit disgruntled with me and seeing I was okay he went back to the trailer. 

I went back to where I lost it before and didn’t see it, figuring it must have been where I slipped, but no,  I decided I would see if Rocky and Beth would find some time to look for it, I would leave the metal detector for them.   I got to almost to the bottom and there it was.  So grateful!

Steve was happy seeing me home safe  and sound and with the camera. I think he is wishing I wouldn't be so adventurous.

I rested a bit and then decided to go out and count the apple trees and check the fruit.   I went first to the Honey Gold, It didn’t have many on it.  The wild ones on that side looked good. They are always smaller apples.  Then I saw a bush with some red fruit on  it…I will have to check and see if it is eatable. 

I went and checked the other ones and the ones by the E Ravine are full of fruit.  So we will get more apples this year!

There are 20 trees for sure…

After I got back I thought I would give Mary a call and see if there were blueberries to pick.  She said there were plenty and come over right now if I wanted.

So I did it was a little after 11.

There were 2 other people there and she gave me  a row to pick.   The man  I figured out was her ex ..he owned this land and I had wanted to meet him, but by the time I realized it,  he was leaving.  The other lady was helping Mary pick for the market and they were busy visiting.  I felt a bit like an eaves dropper but had a hard time not listening.  It wasn’t anything private, though.

I picked over 5#’s… 2.64 a lb.   Mary asked if we were going to build and move up here…I told her yes and if everything went as planned, which it rarely does, it would be next yr sometime.  She said great! She would hire me to help in the greenhouse. Or maybe do some canning of beans and I could split it. 

I thought that sounded great…but I don’t’ really want a full time job and don’t know If I have the stamina to do that much physical labor…but maybe helping out here and there would work and getting paid with produce and her beautiful flowers would be a plus!

I got home and it was almost 1:30… I had to take a nap!

I had a good short nap.  Started a new book.. a medical mystery.  Not too bad.  I was disappointed in the ending of the Cat sitter book.  She didn’t end up with a guy and they didn’t explain much about the cat ..if she stayed as guardian of all that money…or gave it to the rich kid that the cat went too? 

I was hoping  I found a new author to read with a new heroine …but I don’t think so. They had an excerpt to her next book… she is still pretty much in the same rut.

I sat outside and wrote in my  journal …and then brought the bean bag toss boards to the shed.. Steve had them in the back of the Van to take home…I am not hauling them from home each time…

When I got back Steve was cutting down a scrub brush tree.. so I was brush monkey…I wanted it back by the fire for kindling and I know he would have just thrown it right there in the tall grass.

I was so thirsty when I was finished…I went in to the Store and got some ginger ale.  I also thought I would try some Blueberry creme soda…made in Monroe Wisconsin…Courtney and Elaine lived in that town for awhile.

I asked Steve if he wanted hot dogs for supper… he was fine with that…so he started building a fire…I made the mistake of helping and all of a sudden it was my fire… I got it going… it was a nice evening to be sitting outside.

I put the hot dogs in the braut basket and propped it up like Rocky had.   It worked great!

Steve brought over the table for me to put the fixings on.  That was nice… it was a light supper… finished up the potato Salad … and sliced one of the tomatoes Beth brought… those Italian Heirlooms are so meaty!

We sat outside for a long time… we had been pretty much at odds all week, don’t know if it was me, or him…but it was nice to reconnect!

Steve put flat piece of wood with a hole in the middle to show me how it will work like a chimney…it was really cool.. we have few pieces like that so will be fun for fires in the future too…we didn’t use all that one up either.

I brought in the blueberries so no critters would eat them!

What a perfect night.. I tried reading my book in bed with the book light I had gotten for Christmas…it didn’t work that well, so just gave up!

We were both happy we stayed one more day...it was perfect!

 Since I made it alive through my 'adventure" it was!