I have my daughter home with me most days, or else I am up in the Land of No Internet Access (aka, rural Wisconsin) so my updates here and comments elsewhere will be sparse for the next few months.

I have a milion things buzzing around my brain, and an equal number of tasks to complete, but somehow I can't find the time, energy or will to type out what they are all about.

If a rainy day rolls around, maybe I'll try to upload some pics of recent home improvements.

Long story short:

This weekend we spent over 5 hours getting to the cabin (usually takes 3.5hr) and 8 (yes EIGHT) hours getting home due to road closures and resulting traffic snarls from all the flooding in Wisconsin.

It was NOT fun...except that on  the way up, we were detoured on to a route that forced us to cross the Wisconin River on an historic ferry. That was sort of cool.

We are scheduled to head up Friday afternoon as my paretns are flying in to Milwaukee Saturday morning and then driving to meet us there. We have to find routes for us and them - or hope that the waters have receded and the highways are open.

So I discovered yesterday...

...that i am a GRANDMA!

Well, at least a FISH grandma. My minnows had babies - LOTS of babies. The fry are flitting all around the pond; I sure hope at least a few make it to adulthood. I was able to capture two of them and put them in my "indoor" pond (a fishbowl) but I hope they survive in there since they share the aquatic space with a bunch of planaria and "Leechy" the leech.

Our cabin is located in Adams County, in central Wiconsin. The tiny, twin towns of Adams and Friendship are the nearest burgs and boast their own awesome local radio station.

K-106FM is a "clasic gold" format, which means that any "oldies" hits - from Barry Manilow to Def Leppard to Little Richard could be played any time. It makes for enjoyable listening and feels like having my own personal karaoke machine, because I, of course, know the words to virtually EVERY song they play.

There are a few locally-produced "specialty" shows that stray from this "Solid Gold" selection. The most noteable are the Thurday Night Polka Explosion (yes, this is really the name, it's Wisconsin, folks!) and, on Sunday evenings, perfectly timed for post-meal, dish-washing accompanyment, there is the Sunshine Polka Variety Show.

Last time we were up North, during the Sunshine Polka Variety Hour, I got kind of wound up, jamming along to a tune called "Beer and a Sandwich." My husband was chuckling, my daughter was mortified. And then, the trifecta: I began to emulate Fred Berry as Re-Run with my lively dance moves - until I suddenly lurched back in pain from an apparent groin pull!

I'm still sufferring the after-effects of my attempt at Fred-Berry-meets-Polka madness. In the interim, enjoy Fred (aka Re-Run) busting out in a pilot episode of What's Happening.

-Apparently the tacos were a hit - daughter reported that most kids took seconds and some even took (*gasp!*) fourths!

-Hubby is in Florida for a work-related trip this week. He left today. Unfortunately, kiddo is not done with school yet so we couldn't join him at the uber-awesome mega-reort where he is staying.

-Our weather has been rather severe - either it is insanely hot and humid or we're hiding in the basment dodging thunderstorms and tornados. Ah, summertime in the midwest...

- I have not been able to indulge in my fave wordgames on another website because some of my keyboard keys aren't working well - like " (quote) and 3 and s. I have to pound on them to get them to work!

- Next weekend we take an extended weekend (fri-Sun) to El Cabino, and then the following week we are up there from Fri night to Tuesday. Good times, good times...

- I got a semi-dirty joke forwarded via email (well, more silly than dirty) from one of my priest buddies again. Which, of course, makes the joke even funnier because of the irony of who sent it.

I have been busting my bucket on projects both here and in Wisconsin. Many of them have turned out quite well. I''ll post pics sometime soon.

My "project" for today is to shop for enough ingredients to make beef tacos for 48 second graders for their Mexican fiesta on Friday. I'll probably prepare the beef and seasoning tomorrow, and refrigerate it, then bake the meat & cheese in the shells Friday morning. I'll also take over some containers of toppings, like chopped onion, taco sauce, sour cream and shredded lettuce.

Ole!

One notable experience I have had since we bought the Wisconsin cabin is that I am becoming accostomed to and accepting of the sounds of...

...gunshots.

Its strange to think that I'd choose to leave the noise of traffic and instead sit outside with the sounds of shotguns, and sometimes even automatic weapons, going off in the surrounding forest and countryside.

Truly, I will admit, that last summer, when I first heard it, I began to have regrets about our purchase. It unnerved me.

But I did some reading, talked to hunters in my family, and began to learn that the shots were quite far off. And it takes only one drive down county highway C to see the scores of deer and turkey and realize that our little woodsy home is a hunter's paradise.

Almost everyone I have met up there, including the realtors who helped us buy our home, are both avid fishermen/women and hunters. And those who do hunt do it partly for sport, partly for food. That is, it is not so much to mount the head of a buck on the wall but to load up a freezer with (imo) delicous, organic game meats to last through the harsh winters. It is ingrained in much of Wisconsin culture. In fact, I had a friend in college, Wisconsin born and bred, who wrote his senior thesis on the subculture of Wisconsin deer hunting.

As a welcome to the neighborhood last year, one neighbor brought us some frozen venison filets from a deer he shot near our property. They were GOOD! (I marinade them in dijon mustard, soy, and olive oil before broiling or grilling them)

During the week, it is incredibly quiet up there, the only "loud" noises are the squawks of crows or blue jays. Weekends bring the sportsmen/women.

Last weekend during the afternoons, the sounds of gunshot rang through the air. The frequency of the shots led me to belive that a target range was set up in the shooter's yard for practice (or even just for fun.) I was still slightly rattled.

Then I recalled an image that set me at ease. I thought of Mr. Darcy and entourage (From Jane Austen'siconic Pride and Predjudice) at a shooting party on an estate in the English countryside in the 1800's.

How genteel! How "Lord-of-the-Manor!"

OK, maybe I will get used to those tell-tale popping sounds over time. But I know I'm not yet ready to be up North during full-fledged deer gun season (November). My neighbor who brought the filets noted that, "During gun season it sounds like the civil war up here!"
 
But there are truly serene moments, as evidenced by the pic below. This is my daughter last weekend, fishing on a secluded beach on Lake Petenwell:

Besides the wonderful weather and fresh air, likely the most wonderful part of our Wisconsin vacation was the sighting of incredible birds. Our friends, the Rose-breasted Grosbeaks were back at our sunflower seed feeder - both male and female.

But the biggest surprise was spying a male Amiercan Bluebird checking out a nesting box on an apple tree in the yard. I don't believe he actually chose to nest in the birdhouse, but he spent quite a bit of time flitting around the yard considering it. 

Although they are pictured often in artwork, cards, even wallpaper, I have never seen a bluebird "in person." The whole family enjoyed the thrill, and hubby ran to get the camera and take pictures.

Although they are almost "commonplace" up in Big Flats, while I was folding wash in my sunny laundry room, I spied a wild turkey hen jogging across the yard. I don't know why, but those turkeys always make me giggle!

We are heading to El Cabino in The Rockin' Van for the long weekend which is extended more than usual b/c the kiddo has Tuesday off. So, dad also took Tues off giving us all day Monday to enjoy the fresh Wisconsin air and NOT sit in the traffic jam on 90 heading back to Chicago.

I am completely bummed about how much gas is now. It really makes us re-think heading to the cabin just for weekends this summer.

Luckily unleaded is *slightly* cheaper across the border. Come to think of it, virtually EVERYTHING is cheaper than here in Crook, er, COOK County, Illinois.

Have an enjoyable weekend, everyone!

Thirty-five years ago, I remember sitting in our living room, uncertain of all the hullaballoo around me. My grandmother was taking care of me, so I remember being both thrilled and yet, again, uncertain.

Then I recall being told to si in an armchair as I was handed a cotton-swathed bundle that MOVED. The flashbulbs began popping away. I am sort of ashamed to report that a 4-year-old me was not very happy about that bundle being brought into the house.

Today is my middle sister's birthday. As children we were rivals, but as adults we are best friends. Happy birthday, Rachel!