It's a hot one! This week has been sweltering, but only today did I remember to water my tomato plants. Oops. I've been watering the neighbor lady's flowers all week while she's away, but for some reason this activity did not get me thinking about my own plants. Still, they're alive and growing despite my attention lapse.
The kids started summer school this week. They have two thematic English and math classes that keep them busy from 8:30 am to 11:45 am. I've been using the free time to exercise and run errands... kind of nice. Tonight they have soccer games. Hopefully it will have cooled off by then.
It's tempting to skip soccer on hot days like this, but good attendance really helps the team. When everyone shows up, no one person has to play the entire game; kids are rotated and have more chances to rest and drink water.
David's West Virginia family picked him up yesterday afternoon. We said our goodbyes but will probably see him briefly Saturday, for the Hurlburt family reunion. Every year the descendants of Harry and Ruth Hurlburt (Jon's grandparents) have a picnic on the last weekend of July. Strangely enough, Jon will not be attending the reunion, but I will. He has to work Saturday, and I'm picking up David and bringing Mikey and Emma as well. I like Jon's family so enjoy these events. Besides having lots of good food, everyone brings items to donate and we have an auction. Money raised goes into a family fund that is used to do charitable things around Cornell. I know one year they bought a city park bench and set up a memorial to Harry and Ruth.
Laurie sent me some fun pictures from a recent trip that she, Mom, John and Bill made to Circus World in Baraboo. I'm posting a few of my favorites, since Laurie doesn't have a blog (yet) to post them on. Enjoy!
Thursday, July 26, 2007
Sunday, July 15, 2007
We were gypsies!
Hi everybody! Just thought I'd post more photos from Ingrid's wedding, as well as update you on things here in Eau Claire. We're all well. Emma and Michael have been enjoying the company of big brother David, who's been with us four weeks. They like listening to music with him (both now want iPods). David is a reservoir of interesting information relating to a variety of subjects, and Michael loves to listen and learn from him. David has also has been wrestling with Michael (he insists this will toughen Michael up), and the two of them play chess together, as well. David will be very missed when he heads back to West Virginia in another couple of weeks.
All of us went to Chippewa Falls' new Renaissance Fair yesterday afternoon. It's the fair's second year, and this was our first time going. We went with Jon's oldest brother Brent and his girlfriend Kristin. A medieval castle and village were set up inside a large wooded area, with all kinds of feudal entertainments. I, for one, thoroughly enjoyed myself there, though Jon seemed to regard the place warily, as one big medieval money pit. Still, we were reasonably frugal, and in my opinion it was a cultural experience well worth it. We watched two knights joust (one knight was actually a woman), drank mead and ate big turkey legs, browsed in village shops, listened to musicians play lutes and sing ballads, and had a lot of fun people-watching. The fair villagers and many of the paying guests (all ages) were dressed up as lords, ladies, knights, pages, peasants, gypsies, etc. Emma and Mikey tried their hands at archery, and David accepted a challenge to climb across a rope ladder (it was a noble attempt, but it ended with him landing in a pile of hay).
We made our way through a maze and explored shops selling leather goods, glass and costumes. We watched a blacksmith at work. A hilight was visiting the gypsy camp, hearing a good story, and watching the gypsy (women) belly dance. They were really good. It was especially fun because at the end they invited the audience to come up and learn a few steps. Emma went up right away, followed by Kristin (who actually takes belly dancing classes for exercise and fun) and, reluctantly, me. Luckily there are no pictures of that to post here! We made a big circle and they taught us some easy moves. Michael was probably mortified, but Emma and I had a blast.
All of us went to Chippewa Falls' new Renaissance Fair yesterday afternoon. It's the fair's second year, and this was our first time going. We went with Jon's oldest brother Brent and his girlfriend Kristin. A medieval castle and village were set up inside a large wooded area, with all kinds of feudal entertainments. I, for one, thoroughly enjoyed myself there, though Jon seemed to regard the place warily, as one big medieval money pit. Still, we were reasonably frugal, and in my opinion it was a cultural experience well worth it. We watched two knights joust (one knight was actually a woman), drank mead and ate big turkey legs, browsed in village shops, listened to musicians play lutes and sing ballads, and had a lot of fun people-watching. The fair villagers and many of the paying guests (all ages) were dressed up as lords, ladies, knights, pages, peasants, gypsies, etc. Emma and Mikey tried their hands at archery, and David accepted a challenge to climb across a rope ladder (it was a noble attempt, but it ended with him landing in a pile of hay).
We made our way through a maze and explored shops selling leather goods, glass and costumes. We watched a blacksmith at work. A hilight was visiting the gypsy camp, hearing a good story, and watching the gypsy (women) belly dance. They were really good. It was especially fun because at the end they invited the audience to come up and learn a few steps. Emma went up right away, followed by Kristin (who actually takes belly dancing classes for exercise and fun) and, reluctantly, me. Luckily there are no pictures of that to post here! We made a big circle and they taught us some easy moves. Michael was probably mortified, but Emma and I had a blast.
Thursday, July 5, 2007
Camp Nawakwa and Ingrid's Wedding
Sorry I haven't updated the blog in awhile (for those of you who have been checking!). It's been a busy summer. Since returning from West Virginia, Mikey and Emma's soccer schedule started up, we had a week of theatre camp, and Emma and I camped together at Camp Nawakwa. We've also had family get togethers and play dates with friends, along with other outings. More recently we went to Ingrid's wedding, camped at Coon Forks in Augusta, and watched fireworks at Jon's brother Phil's summer cottage on Lake Holcombe. Today's the first good lazy day we've had in awhile.
Going to Camp Nawakwa with Emma was so much fun (for both of us). For me it was all of the adventure of going to summer camp-- with none of the social anxiety or homesickness I remember experiencing as a child. Emma and I shared a bunk bed inside a yurt. There were about 10 girls in our group, with four of the girls and their mothers staying in the yurt with me and Emma. Two of the girls were from our Girl Scout troop in Eau Claire, so Emma had kids to play with right away.
Older girls stayed elsewhere on the campground, for different periods of time. We met girls staying for three days, one week, or two weeks. Besides the yurts there were platform tents, cabins, and canvas tents. Each group was assigned two counselors, who all appeared to be college-age girls. At the time we were there the camp had three foreign exchange counselors: one from England, one from New Zealand, and one from Australia. They were all very nice, fun and active girls; the little girls loved them.
We hiked, swam, made crafts, sang songs, played outdoor games and roasted marshmallows. Meals were communal... we sat eight to a table, with a counselor at each table and all ages mixed. After eating, one girl from each table would scrape and stack the plates, while another would carry a tub of soapy water over to the table. Then one of the girls would wash her table's dishes, and another would carry the dishes over to the kitchen (where they were sterilized). The girls seemed to enjoy the routine and the responsibility. I was impressed with the good role modeling and girl empowerment I saw going on. Next year Emma wants to try an overnight there without me, and I will probably let her (though I would love to go again!).
This weekend we were reunited with Coco, our little Jack Russell Terrier! Emma was very gratified about her return; several tears were shed in her absence. But Mom and Dad watched her while we went to West Virginia, and kept her another two weeks after that. We were hoping she would help keep bears out of the yard, since Mom and Dad have had more than their share of bear sightings lately. Coco did manage to chase one little bear cub out of the yard (without any angry retribution from the mother bear, who was probably watching in the woods nearby), but she missed seeing a big black bear in the woods during a walk with Mom (Mom called her away and steered them back toward the house without Coco noticing the encounter).
Now that Coco's back she seems pretty subdued. I'm guessing she misses the freedom and food treats provided in Rhinelander.
We enjoyed seeing Laurie and Mark, John and Jim, and Mom and Dad in Rhinelander during Ingrid's wedding. The outdoor setting was beautiful, and Ingrid seemed happy and radiant. I'm still impressed that Craig made their wedding bands! The dance was a lot of fun... it was amazing to see Mikey perk up and start dancing the night away as he did. I also enjoyed talking to Ingrid's older sister Karin, who I had not seen since high school. I wish someone had pointed out her husband to me, though! Oh well.
Hopefully John found his camera eventually.
Well, I'll try to write sooner next time, so there isn't so much to cram in! Hope everyone is well!
Going to Camp Nawakwa with Emma was so much fun (for both of us). For me it was all of the adventure of going to summer camp-- with none of the social anxiety or homesickness I remember experiencing as a child. Emma and I shared a bunk bed inside a yurt. There were about 10 girls in our group, with four of the girls and their mothers staying in the yurt with me and Emma. Two of the girls were from our Girl Scout troop in Eau Claire, so Emma had kids to play with right away.
Older girls stayed elsewhere on the campground, for different periods of time. We met girls staying for three days, one week, or two weeks. Besides the yurts there were platform tents, cabins, and canvas tents. Each group was assigned two counselors, who all appeared to be college-age girls. At the time we were there the camp had three foreign exchange counselors: one from England, one from New Zealand, and one from Australia. They were all very nice, fun and active girls; the little girls loved them.
We hiked, swam, made crafts, sang songs, played outdoor games and roasted marshmallows. Meals were communal... we sat eight to a table, with a counselor at each table and all ages mixed. After eating, one girl from each table would scrape and stack the plates, while another would carry a tub of soapy water over to the table. Then one of the girls would wash her table's dishes, and another would carry the dishes over to the kitchen (where they were sterilized). The girls seemed to enjoy the routine and the responsibility. I was impressed with the good role modeling and girl empowerment I saw going on. Next year Emma wants to try an overnight there without me, and I will probably let her (though I would love to go again!).
This weekend we were reunited with Coco, our little Jack Russell Terrier! Emma was very gratified about her return; several tears were shed in her absence. But Mom and Dad watched her while we went to West Virginia, and kept her another two weeks after that. We were hoping she would help keep bears out of the yard, since Mom and Dad have had more than their share of bear sightings lately. Coco did manage to chase one little bear cub out of the yard (without any angry retribution from the mother bear, who was probably watching in the woods nearby), but she missed seeing a big black bear in the woods during a walk with Mom (Mom called her away and steered them back toward the house without Coco noticing the encounter).
Now that Coco's back she seems pretty subdued. I'm guessing she misses the freedom and food treats provided in Rhinelander.
We enjoyed seeing Laurie and Mark, John and Jim, and Mom and Dad in Rhinelander during Ingrid's wedding. The outdoor setting was beautiful, and Ingrid seemed happy and radiant. I'm still impressed that Craig made their wedding bands! The dance was a lot of fun... it was amazing to see Mikey perk up and start dancing the night away as he did. I also enjoyed talking to Ingrid's older sister Karin, who I had not seen since high school. I wish someone had pointed out her husband to me, though! Oh well.
Hopefully John found his camera eventually.
Well, I'll try to write sooner next time, so there isn't so much to cram in! Hope everyone is well!
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