RELIEF

I THOUGHT WHEN WE WERE HOUSE SITTING IN JULY AND EVERYDAY THE TEMPERATURE WENT OVER 110 DEGREES, THAT WE WERE LUCKY TO BE SPENDING THE HOTTEST WEEK OF THE YEAR IN A SWIMMING POOL.

I WAS WRONG. LAST WEEK THE TEMPERTURE WENT UP OVER 115 DEGREES EVERYDAY.  IT WAS HORRIBLE!  WE HUDDLED IN THE CAMPER UNDER THE A/C VENT ALL DAY, AND WERE ACTUALLY RELIEVED TO GO TO WORK AND GET OUR MINDS OFF THE HEAT.

OUR ELECTRIC BILL FOR THE A/C WAS UP 25% FOR THE WEEK.  SUSIE THE CAT IS NEARLY DEAD, AND MARY AND I WERE ON THE VERGE OF “GROWLEY” WITH EACH OTHER. 

 LAS VEGAS HIT NEW HIGH TEMPERTURE RECORDS AND BULLHEAD CITY AND NEEDLES WERE LISTED AS THE HOTTEST SPOTS IN THE USA.

“RELIEF” CAME FROM OUR PACKER FAN BUDDY, DAWN.  SHE WAS IN TOWN FOR A COUPLE WEEKS FROM TEXAS WHERE HER HUSBAND COLE IS WORKING.  THANK GOD, SHE INVITED US OVER FOR A POOL PARTY. MARY AND I SPENT FIVE HOURS SITTING AND SWIMMING IN THE POOL.

DAWN, THANKS SO MUCH!!!

It Was Kathy’s Birthday

By Uncle Hans

Recently, we had the whole Midwestern Rechsteiner clan at Cable Lake.  It was Kathy's birthday and we got her a cake.......

......naturally, it was a DQ cake...........

.......hail to the Queen-for-a-Day!...........

.............then they all got on the trampoline (but no one puked).  Kathy's grandkids are almost all on there with her.  Left to right:  Harper (Sara's Adam's 2nd daughter), Jack (needs no parentheses explanation), Alana (Sara's Adam's 3rd daughter), and Nathan (Laura's Barry's son).

     A good time was had by all................

By Uncle Hans

KITCHEN CABINETS

FINALLY THE LAST KITCHEN CABINET IS UNLOADED FROM THE BACK OF THE PICK-UP WHERE IT’S BEEN SETTING SINCE THE 4TH OF JULY.

 

THE PROJECT HAS TAKEN FOREVER BECAUSE OF THE HOT WEATHER.  WHEN IT’S TOO HOT YOU JUST DON’T FEEL LIKE WORKING ON A PROJECT, AND WE SIMPLY DIDN’T.

HERE REX IS SCREWING ON THE LAST BACK TO PROTECT THE PRESSED BOARD.

 

SLOWLY THEY MAKE THEIR WAY TO THE NORTH WALL.

 

 

ON WENT THE COUNTER TOP, AND THE PROJECT IS FINISHED. ACTUALLY THEIR IS A MISSING KICK PLATE ALONG THE BOTTOM, BUT SINCE THESE PICTURES WERE TAKEN THAT HAS BEEN ATTACHED.

 

EVEN SUSIE INSPECTED OUR WORK, AND DEEMED IT A PROJECT WELL DONE, FINALLY !!!

FRY AN EGG ON THE SIDEWALK?

THE QUESTION IS: IS IT HOT ENOUGH TO FRY AN EGG ON THE SIDEWALK?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NOPE, NOT REALLY.

Aunt Myrna

My Aunt Myrna passed away this morning.  She was my Mother’s younger sister.  My Mother is from a family of 3 boys and 4 girls, Myrna was the third girl.  Don’t know her exact age but between 86 and 88 I am thinking.

Aunt Myrna was the “family beauty” and judging from old family photos that label was justified.  I didn’t know her well, she married and   moved to Texas.  I do remember her visits and she was what I would call a  “cosmopolitan” woman.  Well traveled and adventurous.  Her first husband was an executive with a Dallas company in the 50s and 60 with the lifestyle you would associate with that era. 

One of the family stories concerns one of histories biggest stories.  As I mentioned my uncle was an executive for Acme Brick Company in Dallas.  In November of 1963 he was in Europe on business.  His secretary gave away his tickets to the Kennedy breakfast since he was in Europe but he had gotten home the night before and could have gone.  Of course the breakfast never happened, the assassination happened instead. 

Another interesting fact, one of the other employees of Acme Brick was Robert Oswald who happened to have a brother named Lee Harvey.  Weird right?

Aunt Myrna’s second husband had a famous grandson-Bret Saberhagen.  A name that will mean something to baseball fans.  Aunt Myrna was nice enough to get us all autographed baseball cards.

Anyway, as I said, Aunt Myrna had an interesting life. 

 

A Happy Surprise

Remember last May when I went home and did an update on my Mother?  She was living in a nursing home facility in Prairie du Chien.  My daughter went to visit her recently and sent the following pictures.

This is my granddaughter Marissa (who was HAPPY to tag along - new driver’s permit), my grandson Randy J., and my Mother.

This is my daughter Heather, Randy J, and Mother.

First time I have ever seen my Mother with nail polish!! 

And the happy surprise??  The Tuesday after this picture was taken my Mother made it back to her own home.  At the age of 90!

One thing I have learned is to never, ever underestimate my Mother!  You go girl!!

 

Devil’s Lake (Part 2)

One of our hikes was on this rock path along the side of the lake.  There were a lot of huge rocks and it was very pretty.  It was actually a nice hike since there was a path, and not all covered by trees and in the shade.

 

I am not sure how far the path goes because we only made it as far as this Rock .

This rock is out over the lake about 15-20 feet. So what do you do at this rock.......

JUMP!!!  

This is Randy jumping off.

and next is RJ, he was so excited to jump off, but there are rocks down below so you need to jump out a bit. Since he was not able to do this my nephew, Justin, threw him off.  He did like it but once was enough.

Then it is Ali, she had fun and jumped numerous times.

Finally Mack, she went numerous times also. 

Marissa did not jump, not sure why but she didn't... neither did I. I was  busy taking pictures and video taping ( not easy doing both at the same time).  

The kids sitting on a rock on the walk back.

There is a snake at the edge of the water, and the kids are running away.

 

By Heather

Devil’s Lake

This year we camped at Devil's Lake.  We have out grown our camper so we used a friends.  It is 33', has 4 bunks, and a slide out. It is a lot more camper then we are used to. I couldn't believe all the room we had.

 


 


 


 



After we were all set up we played a few games of polish horseshoes.

 


 



Well we start the day with omelets in a bag ( slider bags do not work for this).

 


 


Then it was off hiking.  There are many hiking trails. At the office we got activity books for the kids which gives them all sorts of things to look for.








 


 



We did some swimming and made some sand castles.

 


 


 





By Heather

MEMORIES FROM THE ‘60’S

MY BEST MOMORIES FROM THE 1960’S AS A TEENAGER COME FROM OUR ANNUAL FAMILY CAMPING VACATIONS TO DEVIL’S LAKE.  THE SAME FAMILIES WOULD GATHER IN THE SAME CAMP GROUND YEAR AFTER YEAR AND PLAY.

IMAGINE MY DELIGHT AND SURPRISE WHEN HEATHER, MARY’S DAUGHTER, SENT TOMORROWS GUEST BLOG WITH A TITLE OF “DEVIL’S LAKE”.

MAN, IF THAT LAKE COULD TALK…..

YOU’D HEAR STORIES OF SMOKE BOMBS, FRENCH FRIES, CAMPFIRES, MASTER BATES, COOLER RAIDS, HOG ROASTS, AND ON, AND ON, AND ON…..

BUT TUNE IN TOMORROW TO SEE QUALITY FAMILY CAMPING AT DEVIL’S LAKE HASN’T CHANGED IN OVER 50 YEARS.

 

THE NEXT DAY

AFTER ALL THAT NEW AND STRANGE FOOD AT THE EPICUREAN AMERICANA** WE BOTH HIT THE SACK EARLY. ABOUT 4 O’CLOCK IN THE MORNING AFTER TOSSING, TURNING, AND FARTING ALL NIGHT I WOKE UP TO USE THE BATHROOM.

**Rex missed a few of the menu items: hot, fresh, crunchy, New York pretzels for one.  Cherries jubilee, tacos, burritos, fried chicken legs, jambalaya, banana leaf wrapped pork, fried dough, pulled pork sandwiches, and a lot of beverages I don’t even recall. And I can’t believe he didn’t get a picture of the dueling piano ladies.  They both had great voices and did a wonderful job.

ON THE WAY BACK TO BED MARY SPOKE TO ME AND SAID SHE WASN’T SLEEPING VERY WELL EITHER. WELL, LET’S GET UP, AND DO A WALK-ABOUT AND WATCH THE SUNRISE. 

WE DID THE LAUGHLIN RIVER WALK FROM THE BRIDGE TO RIVER PALMS AND THE “DONUT SHITS” BETWEEN CASINOS.

Do you agree that this is just a little TOO MUCH INFORMATION??

NOT CLEAR ON THE “DONUT SHITS”?  IT WAS SEVERAL YEARS AGO AND MARY, PAULIE, AND I WERE OUT ALL NIGHT ON THE STRIP IN LAS VEGAS DRINKING 10-20 BEERS AND ALL THE JACK DANIELS “GRANDMA JACK” COULD HANDLE.  AT 4 AM, ON THE WAY BACK TO OUR ROOM AT THE LUXOR , WHICH WE WERE SHARING WITH AMY AND DANIEL, WE HAPPENED ALONG A KRISPY CREME DONUT STAND JUST OPENING, AND A DOZEN OR TWO SEEMED LIKE A GOOD IDEA AT THE TIME.  SORRY, I’VE GOTTEN OFF ON A SIDEBAR…..

AFTER OUR 4 AM SUNRISE HIKE WE WENT BACK TO BED AT 7 AM AND SLEPT LIKE A COUPLE OF BABIES UNTIL 11 AM.

NEXT ON THE AGENDA, SWIMMING….

AFTER SWIMMING IT WAS SUNDAY AFTERNOON TEA DANCING AT THE RIVERSIDE.

A STOP AT THE REGENCY FOR CHEAP BEERS, A TROT AROUND THE HORIZON OUTLET MALL, A PEEK IN THE DOOR AT THE BIKINI BAR, AND WE SETTLED INTO PINTS AT THE BELLE FOR OUR REGULAR WOOD FIRED PIZZA.

Quite frankly, my stomach is about to explode with “eating out” food—not our usual diet and my digestive track is REBELLING!!

REX & Mary

EPICUREAN AMERICANA

WE GOT AN E-MAIL FROM THE COLORADO BELLE CASINO WITH A SUBJECT LINE OF “EPICUREAN AMERICANA”.  WHAT?

HEY MARY, DO YOU KNOW WHAT “EPICUREAN” MEANS?

REALLY? A FANCY FOOD SHOW?  COOL LET’S CALL OUR BUDDY CINDY AND SEE IF SHE HAS COMPED TICKETS TO THIS SHOW.  SURE ENOUGH SHE DID.

WE’RE SPENDING TWO NIGHTS AT THE BELLE IN A COMPED ROOM WITH TWO TICKETS TO THE FANCY FOOD SHOW.  THAT’S A GOOD THING, WE NEED ANOTHER BREAK FROM THE CAMPER IN THIS EXTREME HEAT.

 

I COULDN’T BEGIN TO DESCRIBE ALL THE DIFFERENT FOODS.  THE CONVENTION CENTER WAS DIVIDED INTO MANY DIFFERENT AREAS, EACH A DIFFERENT COUSINE.  ONCE INSIDE, I WAS HUNGRY AND HEADED TO FOOD I UNDERSTAND.

THIS BOOTH WAS RIGHT NEXT TO CHICAGO-LAND FOOD.  FIRST TIME I ATE A 3 INCH BRAT.

STILL HUNGERY, I HEADED ACROSS THE ROOM TO NEW ENGLAND AND CLAM CHOWDER IN A BREAD BOWL.  MARY SKIPPED NEXT DOOR TO NEW YORK, NEW YORK AND SCORED US PASTRAMI SANDWICHES ON MARBLE RYE.

NOW WE WERE THIRSTY….

OH MY GOD, A MARTINI ISN’T FOR ME. 

WHERE’S THAT NAPA VALLEY WINE BOOTH?  BESIDES THE WINE AND CHEESE, (AND I HAD THE BLUE CHEESE), I TRIED A CUSTARD WITH LOBSTER IN IT, YUMM.  I HAVE NEVER TRIED SUSHI, AND TODAY WAS THE DAY, YUP I DON’T LIKE RAW FISH AND RICE.

HEY I’M STILL THIRSTY…..

NEXT STOP, MIAMI.

JERKED CHICKEN…  HOLY SHIT! THAT WAS HELL HOT !!!

BACK TO THE BEER BOOTH AND MAKE IT QUICK !

MEAN WHILE BACK IN MIAMI….

AND MY FIRST CUBAN SANDWICH, NOT BAD , BUT I LIKE LIKE MARY’S TOASTED HAM AND CHEESE BETTER.

I’M GETTING KINDA FULL.  GUESS I’LL FOLLOW MARY AROUND AND SEE WHAT SHE’S EATING.  HER NEXT STOP WAS THE CALFORNIA PICNIC. LOOK AT THAT, ON THE OUTSIDE IT LOOKS JUST LIKE A WATER MELON, AND ON THE INSIDE IT LOOKS LIKE A YELLOW CANTALOPE.

BABY BACK RIBS FROM KENTUCKY, AND MARGARITAS FROM THE SOUTHWEST.  AT THIS POINT I CAN HARDLY WALK….

DID WE MISS ANYTHING? YUP, THE FOOD FROM LAS VEGAS.  WHY IS THE LINE SO LONG THERE?

OYSTERS ROCKEFELLER,STEAMSHIP ROUND, SHRIMP COCTAILS, AND BANANAS FOSTER.  THE BANANAS ARE ON FIRE…. I’LL TAKE THREE OF THOSE, PLEASE!

OH MARY, RUN BACK TO THE AIR CONDITIONED ROOM AND GET THE LUGGAGE CART TO WHEEL ME BACK WILL YA?

DID I MENTION THE ENTERTAINMENT? DUELING PIANOS.

I DON’T THINK I’LL BE ABLE TO EAT AGAIN UNTIL SEPTEMBER.