THE SEASONS CHANGE AND IT’S TIME TO WRAP UP OUR SUMMER ON “THE MOUNTAIN”. IT WAS AN INTERESTING SUMMER WITH THE MOVE FROM PARK MODEL TO CABIN. WE LOVE THE CABIN AND WE ARE PUTTING OFF CLOSING IT UP UNTIL THE FIRST WEEK OF NOVEMBER.
NEXT UP, IS SPENDING OCTOBER ON THE BEACH AT SOUTH PADRE ISLAND TEXAS. GET READY FOR ALL THOSE BEAUTIFUL SUNRISE PICTUES OVER THE GULF OF MEXICO.
Mary Wilkinson·Sunday, September 27, 2015
I got up this morning and on my way out the door I saw what I thought was a pine needle stuck to the screen. I picked it up to remove and oops....it moved. Guess this is a walking stick instead of a pine needle.
Walking Stick
This cute little guy was in our brick pile yesterday. You can’t tell from the picture but he is about the size of a quarter.
Frog or Toad??
I am so excited....one of my fushia buds finally opened!! Isn’t it beautiful??
So Pretty!!
We are experimenting with new options on Facebook so we can incorporate some of our blog material on Facebook.
One of the biggest benefits to living in the mountains in the summer is the ability to have flowers. I tried for years to grow flowers and plants in Mohave Valley but they all died….the heat and dryness defeated me. Now my Mohave Valley flowers are all metal!! But I am please to say summer flowers are back in my life.
This beautiful orange flower is a dahlia and they grow from bulbs. Hopefully it will come back on it’s own next year.
Another perennial called sedum. I used to have these in La Crosse, the flowers start out as a very pale pink and gradually darken to burgundy. They are also easily divided so I will be having more every year!
Some annuals that I got this year….I have decided that I will NEVER buy petunias again. They look pretty good here but most of the summer they looked horrible. Next year I will be on to something new.
This is a coleus, doesn’t flower but has spectacular leaves. There are several varieties and they all have very colorful leaves.
Another variety of coleus, love them they have such beautiful leaves. Next year I intend to have several varieties, planted in the ground to create a border along the back of the yard. Cannot wait, it will be impressive!!
It’s not fall without mums…..aren’t they pretty??
Pyracantha, a perennial that was here when we moved here. They have these pretty orange berries (not edible) on them. The ones we have are pretty leggy so starting next year I will be pruning them to try and get them under control. A lot of places here have this plant as a hedge. Really pretty but they have prickers and can bite you….
Ah….the lovely fuchsia, This had an open flower when I bought it and one other, otherwise nothing. Now when we are getting ready to leave, it has all of these buds on it. I wish one was open because the outer petals are this hot pink color but the inside is a deep purple. They are gorgeous!!
Hopefully next summer, this blog will be full of even more beautiful flowers and plants!!
By Uncle Hans
Have you ever found yourself reading those silly advertisements on the walls of the bathrooms in the bar or restaurants? We hope so! Because here is the Surgery Clinic of Spooner's new promotional campaign. We are in 48 women's bathrooms across northwest Wisconsin. I am not sure that is something to be proud of. We'll keep you posted.......
......And here is our poster-child model. Who would not like to look adorable like that? I would go just to meet the "manager" and see if she were real. But she is real. And she really is the Manager. And there is no "photoshopping", that's just her and my phone camera.
By Uncle Hans
Even Kathy Lee and Hoda have discussed this. I have also seen polls on Facebook about this. As to the proper way….over or under???
Well we have settled the argument once and for all……..scroll down for the solution to one of life’s biggest controversies!!!
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Get ready..
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Here
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it
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comes!!
By Uncle Hans
Mary loves a good farmer's market. And Spooner has one.
Here Renee is shopping for bargains....
........here she is headed for the van with her collection of bargain treasures.
And here are the lucky recipients of her shopping skills...............
By Uncle Hans
THIS IS THE PACKER BAR ON “THE MOUNTAIN”.
IT USUALLY OPENS AT 11 AM, BUT ON SUNDAY WITH THE PACKERS PLAYING AT 10 AM……..
ONE OF THE BEST THINGS ABOUT BEING RETIRED IS THAT I’LL NOT HAVE TO MISS A PACKER GAME DUE TO WORK.
I THINK ON THE 50TH ANNIVERSRY OF THE SUPER BOWL, IT WOULD BE FITTING TO BRING THE LAMBARDI TROPHY HOME TO TITLETOWN! DON’T YOU AGREE?
JEEES, WE’VE BEEN LIVING IN A NEW RV PARK FOR OVER A MONTH AND I’VE NEGLECTED TO SHOW YOU AROUND.
HERE IS THE FRONT ENTRANCE AND MAIL BOXES.
THERE ARE 64 UNITS SPREAD OUT OVER SIX STREETS, THREE GO NORTH AND SOUTH, AND THREE GO EAST AND WEST. THIS IS A TYPICAL STREET SHOT.
THE ROADS ARE NOT PAVED, LIKE THEY WERE IN OUR LAST PARK, BUT IT CALLED TALL PINES FOR A REASON AND IT’S NOT A SUN PATCH LIKE OUR WINTER PARK. THE CENTER OF THE PARK IS THE CLUB HOUSE.
ON THE BACKSIDE, RIGHT OUTSIDE THE LAUNDRY DOOR, IS A HANDY CLOTHES LINE.
AND INSIDE IS A FIREPLACE. THE NICE THING ABOUT THIS CLUB HOUSE IS THAT’S IT’S HEATED AND OPEN ALL WINTER. YOU COULD VISIT IN THE WINTER AND NOT UNWINTERIZE YOUR UNIT. JUST USE THE RESTROOMS AND SHOWERS IN THE CLUB HOUSE.
INSIDE SHOTS.
THE PARK ALSO INCLUDES A STORAGE LOT TO STORE YOUR UTILITY TRAILER, RV, PICK-UP, ETC.
AND WE HAVE OUR VERY OWN POND.
IT’S A FUN PARK, SO FAR I’VE BEEN TO THE WEEKLY COFFEE, AND WEEKLY POKER GAME.
By Uncle Hans
I never knew that apple trees aged. I thought you planted a couple and were fixed for life. Well, my two trees are 20 years old and the yield is starting to fade. And these are Honey Crisp, which are addicting....................
......so here is the next generation. The taller one in the back is from this spring, the shorter one in the foreground is from a couple years ago. I think I have planted 5 over 3 years to get this far, the deer eat them in spite of the fence, and lack of rain/severe winters do the rest. This year we have had a milder winter and plenty of rain. So it looks like they will make it.
Stay tuned................
By Uncle Hans
ONE OF THINGS ON MARY’S BUCKET LIST WHEN WE VISITED WISCONSIN IN JUNE WAS A FRIDAY FISH FRY. DIDN’T HAPPEN !!!
NOT TO WORRY I DIDN’T TAKE THE BALME, IT WAS ALL MIKEY’S FAULT. HE HAD TO WORK AND WE MISSED SPRING LAKE. LUCKY FOR MIKEY, HE HASN’T HAD TO LISTENED TO MARY PISS AND MOAN MOST FRIDAY’S SINCE, THAT SHE DIDN’T GET TO HAVE A WISCONSIN FISH FRY.
I GOT YOUR BACK, MIKEY, AND TOOK MARY FOR FRIDAY FISH AT THE TORREGEON GOLF CLUB, AN EXCLUSIVE TYPE JOINT, IN THE WHITE MOUNTAINS.
WE HAD DINNER ON THE BALCONY RIGHT ABOVE THE 18TH GREEN.
YA, YOU’RE RIGHT, IT DOESN’T LOOK LIKE WISCONSIN BEER BATTERED FISH, AND NOWHERE CLOSE TO LIVINGOOD’S FISH EITHER.
I HATE TO TELL YOU MIKEY, BUT I THINK YOUR ASS IS STILL ON THE LINE FOR WISCONSIN FRIDAY FISH AT SPRING LAKE.
By Uncle Hans
This year Neil was finally out of surprise birthday party ideas for Kathy. He had surprised her at 30 with the blindfold/convertible ride to the fairgrounds. He had used an elaborate motorcycle/two-guys-with-a-banner/Lodi-Susie the Duck at 40. He had to resort to doing the 50 at 49 to achieve a total surprise. Now, 10 years later, he was stumped. But Sarah came to the rescue with a great idea. Surprise her with NO party. Just send out balloons to everyone, have them write birthday greetings on them and return them, fill them with helium and pack them into the living room. THAT should surprise her!!
.......Just for good measure, they did have a surprise party for the balloon unveiling three days after her birthday. Neil and Kathy drove up in her new Volvo.
Here Kathy shows off her Scentsy Packers light ......a gift from Renee
( I won't say how old she is.....after 50 women don't get any older!)
By Uncle Hans
As much as I like the cabin, there are way too many white walls!! That is not acceptable, white just isn’t a color in my world!!
Getting all the tools lined up!!! Glad I brought my painting supplies with me this summer from Mohave Valley, otherwise I would have had to wait until next summer to do any painting.
These are the white walls I decided to start with. We actually had quite a time deciding on a color for this area. I really, really, really wanted to paint it pink, but for some strange reason Rex was not on board with that. So it was back to Home Depot and Wal-Mart to pick up about 50 (not kidding) more paint samples.
Susie is always the “curiosity killed the cat” cat!! Sorry Susie, but I just don’t need your help.
Yup this is the winning color. Oddly enough it was the first color sample that I picked up, when I went back to get more samples. A color we both could live with. So glad we came to an agreement!!
Doesn’t it look pretty. This color really fits in well. And luckily it only took one coat!!
By Uncle Hans
It was a summer for family reunions. Rex and Mary made the long trudge to the Midwest and Amy and Laura organized a 10 day party on Boulder Lake.
Here, the brothers enjoy a brew in a tavern..........................................(really?)
......Here, Mary discovers what a Northern Wisconsin Bloody Mary is. It is really a meal, and sometimes you need a "to go" box!!
.....Barry showed off his cool campfire cooking equipment with some really tasty results......
......and Rex showed off his grandsons!
......Not to be outdone, the Carlsons had their annual family reunion on Cable Lake as well in July.
.....We had Kabob Day........
......One guest preferred to remain anonymous.
We took a motorcycle trip to an artesian well.......
..... In typical Carlson fashion, the goodbye took about 45 minutes and there were a few tears.
But there is always next year!!
By Uncle Hans
