Happy Anniversary

lucky husband

lovely wife

had a wedding

built a life,

chased some dreams

caught a few...

here's to making 

more come true!

Happy Anniversary to my sweetheart!

14 years today

May 31, 1997

Photo taken by our 11 year old Sam...during our camping trip...Lake Superior in the background.

Thank You

Thank You !

I'm proud to be an American where at least I know I'm free, And I won't forget the men who died who gave that right to me, And I gladly stand up next to you and defend her still today,'Cause there ain't no doubt I love this land GOD BLESS THE U.S.A.

Lee Greenwood

 

Brownstone Falls

As you take the path around Copper Falls, you come to Brownstone Falls.

Damage at the park. This storm hit 2 days before we arrived.

Camper hiding in blow down.

Camper on guard!

The staff at Copper Falls had a lot of work to do before this busy weekend. 

A fort made by Sam and Atticus - Post by Sam and Atticus

When we got to our campsite, we noticed the remains of a fort. We decided to work on it. When we visited Lake Superior we found some boards and drift wood washed a shore. We brought them back to add to our fort.

It made a good shelter. We had a lot of fun making it. We left the fort for the next campers. It will be fun to see if it is still at site # 3 next time we camp.

Preparing for camping

After several years of forgetting things for camping...I finally came up with an idea...we should have a binder with a Camp List and start to journal our camp trips. We started this in 2005 and I am so glad we did. The camp list is on our computer, so if I need to update it or print more sheets out, it is simple. Taking time to read our memories during a camp trip is wonderful.
Each night before bed, or during breakfast I ask each family member to tell me a memory of the day and journal it. We also have visitors sign our book and share any memories of the day. We have gone camping with friends and again looking back at what we journal is so special to us.

If you are having trouble remembering items for camping - give this idea a try. We also write down a menu for each day, this way we remember the food items too. If we plan to have Mac and Cheese a night...I know I need butter and milk too. It is a big check off list before we leave. The boys help me and like to yell " Check"!

Flambeau River State Forest

The Flambeau River State Forest is located on County Road M in Sawyer County. If you travel east from Cameron on HWY 8 and you will arrive at the little town of Hawkins on HWY 8 - you will see County Road M - turn left and take M to Flambeau River State Forest. That is one way of getting to the Forest. Jeremy and I both grew up in this neck of the woods. This area has a special place in our hearts.
Two forks of the Flambeau River provide 75 miles of uninterrupted natural beauty and whitewater excitement.
We both learned how to swim in Connors Lake. Connors Lake and Lake of the Pines have campgrounds. Both are beautiful lakes...spring fed, clear cold and great to cool off in after baling hay. (that is just what I did growing up) 

 
You can hike to Little Falls on the Flambeau River. If you can go during high water...you will be in awe.

Some silly friends of mine tried to canoe down Little Falls when we were seniors in High School during high water. Not a good idea. As you can see from the photo above the rocks...the canoe got caught sideways on the rock. The water continued to push the canoe into the rock bending the canoe in half. One of the guys tried to push off, his hand got caught between the rock and canoe.
The boys like me to tell that story after a day of canoeing together...I remind them, never underestimate the power of a River.

Peace

Only Christ Himself, who slept in the boat in the storm and then spoke calm to the wind and waves, can stand beside us when we are in a panic and say to us Peace. It will not be explainable. It transcends human understanding. And there is nothing else like it in the whole wide world.
Elisabeth Elliot
Photo taken May 14th 2011 - Lake Superior waves 10 to 12 feet!

Sleeping Out

If people sat outside and looked at the stars each night, I'll bet they'd live a lot differently.

Bill Watterson, who created the comic strip Calvin and Hobbes and grew up in Chagrin Falls, Ohio

Copper Falls State Park

We left last Friday for Copper Falls State Park located by Mellen, WI. This was our first camp trip of 2011. We love to camp and have been doing it the entire time together as a couple and introduced it to our boys at 6 months old! We have learned a lot in the fourteen years we have been camping and I will be doing a few posts on things we have learned along the way. Mellen, WI

Copper Falls State Park

Check out the following website for some history about Copper Falls. It is a beautiful park. It has deep gorges, spectacular waterfalls and log buildings built in the 1930's by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930's to add to the charm of the park.

Mining history is all over in that area of Wisconsin. The Penokee mountain range travels through Wisconsin.

Check out the following website - an article from backpacker magazine. It is a great article explaining the mountain range of Wisconsin.

Penokee Mountain Range

 Copper Falls

Yes, it is true. If you look real close...yes...that is snow in the gorge. We had okay weather on Saturday, we had light rain in the morning, but cleared by evening. All day we had a strong wind. Yes, it was a bit chilly. We had our winter hats and mittens. We were fine. Our excitement was to see the falls in full power. Because the snow  had not all melted, you know we got to see a great rush of water. 

SNOW! May 15th 2011.

Tuesday May 10th - Mellen received 65 to 67 mile hour wind. Trees were down all over. I will be posting some of the damage in my next posts featuring Copper Falls State Park.

Copper Falls is 29 feet. The park got its name from the falls.

Grilling Turkey

We have grilled a turkey for Mother's Day for the past twelve years. My parents come to our home and we celebrate Mother's Day together. Here are some tips from Jeremy on grilling a perfect turkey.
1. Clean the turkey out
2. Cut slab of fat out of the cavity and set aside to use
3. Salt the inside of turkey
4. Cut two small slits for the wing tips to go inside the skin
5. Place the fat on the top of the breast bone
6. Salt and Pepper turkey

To grill - use a disposable pie plate and place in the center of the grill. See photo above...set coals around the pie plate. You will place the turkey on the grill once the coals are white. Depending on the weather cook time can be estimated  12 to 15 minutes per pound.

Enjoy! I love grilled turkey! My husband does a great job. My mom looks forward to her Mother's Day meal every May.

Wisconsin State Parks

We just got back from our first camp trip of the year. We headed to Copper Falls State Park, Mellen WI. We had a great time. The waterfalls were amazing. The Bad River Gorge still had snow! This made me come up with an idea for some future blog posts. You may remember that I mentioned that my son did his fourth grade project on the State Parks. His plan for our family is to visit all of them together. I thought I would post about the State Park too. I will also give some facts, and some tips we learned along the way.

To give you an idea of how the State Parks of Wisconsin began...and what State Park was the first....take a peek at Sam's begining report...

A Vision

In 1895 an Ad Hoc commission was appointed to examine lands for a State Park. Commissioners examined land in Polk County to be the home of the first State Park.
In 1899 money was approved for Interstate Park.
In 1900 the first vision of a Wisconsin State Park began. Interstate State Park was established.
The parks famed cliffs,known as the Dalles of the St. Croix rise 200 feet out of the St. Croix River and run for over half of a mile right around a sharp bend in the river. Though best known for it's famed cliffs Interstate's beauty spreads across all of it's 1,330 acres

Way back in 1895 the idea came about ... and in 1900 the first park was established. Interstate Park was the first Wisconsin State Park...(now you will have some trivia for someone)

I am thankful we have State Parks. They are a lot of fun and it amazes me as we travel Wisconsin how beautiful and different it all is.
I thank God too, for letting us enjoy his creation! 

The path of life

Two roads diverged in a wood, and I - I took the one less traveled by, And that has made all the difference.
Robert Frost
You have made known to me the path of life.
Psalm 16:11 

Garlic Potatoes

Garlic Potatoes

8 russet potatoes, peeled and sliced into 1/4 inch think half moons.

4 tablespoons - plus 1 tablespoon

3 garlic cloves, chopped

Nice hand full of chives, chopped (use green onion if you do not have fresh chives)

1/4 cup of Parmesan cheese

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. In a large baking pan, toss potatoes and 4 tablespoons of butter together. Season with salt and pepper. Spread potatoes in a single layer and roast until golden, about 35 minutes.

Meanwhile, in a small skillet over medium heat, melt remaining butter. Add garlic and chives and cook until golden, about 3 minutes. Pour garlic and chive butter mixture over potatoes and sprinkle cheese on top. Serve hot and enjoy.

 My garlic, chives and butter.

Cheese is the finishing touch!

Happy Mother's Day

Happy Mother's Day

Happy Mother's Day to my Mom and Grandma! They both are special to me.

My Grandma, she has always listened to my stories.(some of the stories were far fetched-when I was little) She made my childhood extra special with all the extras she did for me and my sister.

My Mom, she has guided me and given me advice when I need. She has helped me become who I am today. I thank her!

Love You !

Enjoy the day!

God cannot give us a happiness and peace apart from Himself, because it is not there. There is no such thing.

C. S. Lewis

Who is eating in Mom's Garden Center?

Hi, I am going to tell you a little story. My name is Atticus, I am eight years old. A critter was messing up my Mom's garden center. Her garden center is where she keeps her garden stuff, her bird nest collection and other fun nature things she likes. Well, something was digging up in some of the cracks in the cement. Also eating some of Mom's seeds. I decided to try and catch it...and sure enough I did.

Here is the Critter...I named him Chippy.

I gave him some bread.

He is telling me, he wants out!

I let Chippy out, after a good talking. I told him he best leave my Mom alone. I let him out and he walked slowly out of the trap, looked at me, put up his nose and trotted off. I have not seen him since. He may have moved away...knowing he best not mess with an eight year old boy, who is protecting his Mom's seeds!

Molly and her buddies

My sister has two dogs, Tank and Zeus. They are best of friends with our dog, Molly. Check out the size difference. 

Molly is the little dog on the side of the photo. She is a Boston Terrier. Her best friends are Zeus, a Black Lab and Tank, a German Shorthair. She has been pottied on. The boys could not really help it, because she is so small. Even after such things, they are still best of friends.

Tank

Zeus

Molly

Grilling Sirloin and Ribeye

Apply a light dusting of a grilling rub. We use Watkin's Black Pepper grilling rub. Rub in on one side only and let sit for a few minutes.

check out Watkins 

http://www.jrwatkins.com/jrwatkins/index.cfm

Place the pepper side up on a grill with nice hot coals.

Grill for about five minutes and turn.

Grill for about another seven minutes for a medium steak.

Adjust cooking time to your liking.

Enjoy!