the remaking of a kitchen

the local color isn't as fabulous as it was in the wisconsin woods, but we are just getting started here. our political choice shines from the living room window, and the trees are from our yard and two of our neighbors.

Labels: color, politics

diane's friend and lakeside neighbor bobbi agreed to lead us on a hike to a special spot referred to as the cathedral in the woods. we walked along, encountering a soft under-forest....much natural mulch that made for a padded walkway. we passed the dead tree with the red fungi of some sort....some of them almost ginkgo in shape. there were many dead trees along the way as we climbed up and down watching our steps carefully. it was quiet and definitely darker than outside this heavily treed area. finally we reached the right place, and it was spectacular. large, tall trees reaching to the sky. much larger and older than the trees we saw in other areas where logging has controlled the growth.
we spent some time in that lovely spot.....diane taking photos, bobbi and i just enjoying the majestic view. as we started our return we visited about the beauty of the site. we walked along and then bobbi came to a halt. she suddenly realized that things didn't look right, so we wandered this way and that, stopped and considered what and where etc. we looked this way and that walked one way talked of what we'd seen along the way. hmmmmmmmm. then we saw a deer stand we'd passed on the way, and bobbi regained her sense of direction. with great relief we continued on our way. bobbi admitted that she was feeling a sense of panic until she found our way - this hadn't happened to her previously in this area. she did relate another time she and her husband were walking and lost their way and finally decided to continue walking in the direction they thought was the opposite to the way they'd come in, and successfully found the way out AND a friend who helped them get home again. as i walked i considered the complaints i'd heard from patrick about people who take off on a walk without water, food, protection from the elements etc....maybe a compass? we were adequately dressed, but had no water, food or protection in case we really were lost. i forgot to mention that cell phones are useless in the whole region. lucked out this time, but i will bring food and water AT LEAST next time. honest!! in my defense i didn't know where we were going or what to expect and i just followed along....dumb.
the lovely view of the lake is from the living room of diane's cabin. the morning we left for home it was raining off and on and the sky was overcast but the color was fabulous. it was just a great couple of days....a total escape from the real world and time to reflect and enjoy with diane. we ate well and probably too much, but that is part of enjoy as far as i'm concerned!

Labels: color, lost, trees, walk

these are from the first walk.....just the beautiful trees in all their glorious color. it's amazing how much more vivid the color at the lake than at home. the leaves in the puddle looked a lot like a collar to be....to me anyway.

Labels: collar to be, fall in wisconsin

i saw this little print on our initial walk.....i kind of thought it looked familiar. i didn't like to think that what i guessed it might be had walked along the same way recently enough to make a print in the mud from the rain. i checked it out with our walking guide the next day and she agreed....."looks like a bear track."

Labels: bear track

our neighbor diane invited me to go to their wisconsin vacation cabin for a few days and i was able to catch her taking some photos. she is a pro and it was fun to surprise her with some shots of herself. the second and third photos were on the walk we took on our first day there. the others on our walk in the woods. both were great experiences and the scenery and fall colors were awe inspiring.

Labels: diane, fall in wisconsin

this was a fun week.....jack was here recruiting so we managed to get in some good meals, here and about. the three of us shopped for used books and just hung out reading, gabbing etc.
the work continues on the path.....a stone retaining wall has appeared along the frontage road and in an "eyebrow" as the path curves toward the overpass. the trees will be planted in front of that i think. the berm that was all grassy is now covered with extra soil, so more area to be seeded or sodded, the former seems to be the favorite right now. but wait, that could change.
my first visit to my new book club was enjoyable. met some interesting people and conversation was good. only prob was i don't love the book, but hey, that happens, right?
the weather outlook is not exciting.....slushy snow a possibility by next weekend. guess i have to pick any tomatoes that have a tinge of red/orange and bring them in to insure survival for eating. there a couple of possible cukes.....but that could be doubtful. i made a start on a big pot of soup yesterday....lots of tomatoes, onions, garlic, several herbs, green peppers, zucchini and whatever else was in grabbing distance. i think i will freeze most of it for later use. maybe by then i will be making bread to go with it! :) for sure!

Labels: asphalt path, retaining wall, soup, tomatoes and cukes, weather