Wisconsin Trip: Part 3

Cranberry & Stown

Wisconsin in August means State Fair. 

So off we went to see the Wisconsin products, critters, food and games.

 Steve (Jim's pops) & Jim

We had to go see the baby beefs.  Yum, Beef it's what's for dinner!

Jim & Me

Who knew they would have a Nascar cut out for photo fun.

 Joyce (Jim's mom) & Stown

She seems a bit surprised by the gigantic turkey leg Stown chose for dinner.

The Clydesdale National Show was a featured event this year. 

 Of course, the Midway... because I just had to play a game.

We ate sooooo much fried food, it's repulsive to think back on.  We had:

deep fried butter

deep fried snickers bar

deep fried oreos

chocolate covered bacon on a stick

cream puffs

and of course washed it all down with a beer or two. 

Ugh!  Pepto Bismal take me away!!

In hindsight, maybe I should have taken pictures of all our edible (some of them not very) adventures.  All in all, it was a good time and not one my stomach will soon forget.

Stay tuned for more Wisconsin fun....

Wisconsin Trip: Part 2

Leave it to my mother-in-law to find the coolest things to do in Milwaukee.

SPIN, is an indoor ping pong hall.  Similar to the pool halls of old, complete with dozens of tables, food & cold drinks!  We spend the afternoon in the air conditioning whacking balls at each other.

At times the competition got fierce!

(once we figured out all the official rules)

Then it was off to the river walk - outside - hot - humid - we suffered through the sticky sweaty walk to see the sights.

Despite the heat, we couldn't resist the classic phone booth photo!!

Even the Fonz managed a smile that sultry afternoon.

The architecture was amazing and I took way too many photos.  So many in fact that they while be featured late in a post all their own.

Stay tuned for more from the Dairy State!

Wisconsin Trip: Part 1

And we're off!

Every other year we hit the friendly skies for a trip to Wisconsin to visit Jim's family.  But first a few crazy pictures at the Durango airport.

A snowboard in the airport?  Makes for entertainment while waiting for your flight

Standing next to an "Idea" balloon, I said "Sometimes... I randomly start to think." 

Jim and Stown agreed that perhaps I shouldn't.  Ha! Joke-sters! 

Wow! Look at this Motley Crew!

Jim (on the far right) and all his cousins.

Once in Wisconsin, they entire family gets together for a reunion.   Food and beer and catching up on stories makes for a great afternoon.  However, to the teenagers this can be a bore, so they split out and found the local quarry.....

Nothing can be as much fun to a teen age boy as jumping off the rocks to impress the chicks!

GO STOWN!!

Great Aunt Anita & Jim

The next day we spent to afternoon visiting with Jim's Great Aunt Anita.  She's 91 (92 this Fall)!!

She told us wonderful stories about hitching rides in a horse drawn carriage to get to church in the winter, the different farms she lived on in her lifetime and shared beautiful photo albums she had been working on chronicling the family history for her sons.  I can't believe how well she gets around.  She still has friend over every Monday for cards!  Sharp as a tack, it was such a gift to hear her stories.

Just part one of our trip, stay tuned for more to come!!

As you may have noticed, I am still having issues with the set up, why won't it upload a vertical photo vertically?  Why can't I rotate it once it's uploaded?  Is anyone else having these problems?   Any help would be appreciated.  I guess for now if I plan on taking a "blog specific" picture I will have to remember to take it horizontally.

Wisconsin - Here We Are!!

Jim, Stown and I went to Wisconsin for 7 days this July. Yes, Wisconsin in July - Humidity, Heat & Bugs. What were we thinking? Actually, the weather was nice - not too hot , not too humid - and the bugs didn't attack until the last couple days. Stown and I came home looking like we had the Chicken Pox from so many bites. What follows are some pictures and highlights of our trip.

All loaded up and ready to ride!

We arrived in Wisconsin on Sunday night, come Monday everybody was itching to ride. Steve (Jim's Dad) loaded Stown on the back of his Harley FLH Ultra Classic - a cushy ride for the kid. Jim drove his mom's Yamaha V-Star. Joyce (Jim's Mom) and I got stuck in the car with all the supplies.

With coolers stocked and sleeping bags stuffed, it was off to deer camp! This would be the first day of our week long vacation in Wisconsin.

In the background you can see a small hunting camp. It sits upon 65 acres of lush Wisconsin land complete with a spring fed pond. Steve, Joyce and Jim have planted 1000's of trees on their property and rent out a small plot to a local farmer (crops are visible in foreground). Joyce and I walked the roads and she pointed out the boundaries, trees they planted and other landmarks. We headed back to camp for a feast of venison (Steve had hunted on the land), a campfire and stories of Jim growing up at deer camp. We all stayed up until long after the stars were out then retired in the small camp house.

The morning brought forth a stroll down a country lane and berry picking with my in-laws. We scrambled up the shoulders of the road, braving poison ivy and prickers to fill our buckets with the sweet juicy berries. It was a quiet way to start our day.

I had some help with my berry picking from a stunningly beautiful tree frog.

Fresh Cheese Curds!!!

I had never seen the inner workings of a cheese factory before, it was very interesting. The one thing that "Wisconsin-ites" rave about is fresh cheese curds. They are served warm (right from the vat), are slightly salty and squeak in your teeth..... Yuck - no thank you! Meanwhile, Stown couldn't get enough of them. Perhaps my taste buds were turned off by the fact that it was 10am, I did try them later in the afternoon when they were cold, didn't squeak and I could wash them down with a beer... not so bad but not something I would stock in my refrigerator.

We went to Cave of the Mounds in southern Wisconsin. It went down 70 feet and stayed a crisp 50 degrees year round.

In the middle of the week we visited numerous family members that would not be attending the party. We took a road trip through Jim's old stomping grounds; past the quarry he swam in, the farms he worked and down the roads he bicycled. It was a trip down memory lane for him.

We also reconnected with friends of mine that I hadn't seen in 11 years. Their son is 6 weeks younger than Stown and we had met in Iron Mountain Michigan years ago. They hosted us for the evening with a boat trip around their local chain of lakes and pizza. They have 4 children now, so Stown was grateful for an evening filled with kid-fun.

Joyce, Stown & Steve

A trip to Milwaukee wouldn't be complete without a visit to the Harley-Davidson Museum. We saw a gazillion bikes and learned all about the history and evolution of the company. I think every one's favorite part was at the end, where they had bikes you could actually sit on.

The girls were off to a "Beach Blanket Bingo" party....while....

The boys hopped on the military bikes and were ready for service!

Then it was Party Time!!

The Reason!!

Jim & I were married over a year ago but never had a reception. I (and Stown) had never met any of Jim's family (with the exception of his parents). So what better a reason to throw a big party in a park and host overnight camping as well. Joyce (Jim's mom) reserved a picnic area and a campsite (for those who wanted to stay). She sent out invitations and bought all sorts of food and beverages. What would follow would be a HUGE family reunion of sorts. Family from both sides were there, biker buddies and old coworkers. It made for an afternoon filled with beer, brats and stories.

Steve, Jim's dad, grilled 80 hamburgers and 80 brats for a hungry crowd!

Go Grill Master!!

Not only family came out to party... Friends from Jim's college days too. Bill rode in to join the fun, too bad he didn't leave his bike.

Despite the cloudy weather, we walked down by the water for pictures and Grandma Katona posed with us. She is the last of Jim's grandparents. She came to America from Hungary over 50 years ago. While we were at her house (earlier on the trip) she told us stories of the journey and the hardships they encountered trying to find work and housing. She spoke of going hungry and cherishing a loaf of bread. It really makes one appreciate the luxury life we have today. Perhaps if more of us had those experiences we would be more grateful for what we have and not live such a "disposable & wasteful" life.

All the cousins were there!! It's not often that we can get this group in the same place, much less to stand still for a picture. We bribed them with beer afterwards.

All in all, it was a great trip to the Midwest. We got to see family and friends, caves and cheese, bikes and beers. Maybe we can do it again in a few years, but for now I'm still scratching the souvenirs the bugs sent home with me and trying to lose the 5 pounds I gained.
(By the way, can you pass the cheese and get me another beer please?)