eight feet around the bend

this moment

2012-01-27T10:14:00.002-06:00

this moment ~ a friday ritual ~ a single photo capturing
a moment from the week. inspired by SouleMama.

new favorite

2012-01-24T22:16:00.006-06:00

I tried out a new granola recipe today: Nutty Coconut Blackstrap Granola. It is delicious--crunchy, not too sweet, and full of nutritious ingredients. Three of the four of us like it so I know that another batch is around the corner. I could eat this every morning.

this moment

2012-01-20T15:53:00.005-06:00

this moment ~ a friday ritual ~ a single photo capturing
a moment from the week. inspired by SouleMama.

piiizzzaaa

2012-01-18T21:57:00.003-06:00

With Logan helping, dinner is on the table in no time. And, of course, it's delicious!

budding paleontologist?

2012-01-14T15:54:00.011-06:00

Owen woke up with one thing on his to-do list today: dig up a dinosaur!

With a little help from big brother, tiny pieces were chipped off and brushed away from the sand block in his Smithsonian Diggin' Up Dinosaur kit.

After rinsing off the rest of the dust, Owen assembled the skeletal remains into a recognizable creature--T-Rex! Raaarrrr!

this moment

2012-01-13T10:40:00.003-06:00

this moment ~ a friday ritual ~ a single photo capturing
a moment from the week. inspired by SouleMama.

the holder

2012-01-11T09:00:00.015-06:00

Logan participated in the Student Inventors Fair this week. All fourth graders were asked to identify a problem, invent a solution, and create a presentation to be displayed in the school lobby.

The Problem:
My problem is that my piano books never stay open when I'm trying to play out of them.

Materials:

Three wooden Popsicle sticks
Two eight-inch pieces of Pex tubing
One thirteen-inch piece of Pex tubing
Four five-inch pieces of Pex tubing
Three PVC Tees
One metal L-bracket
One metal S-clip
One large binder clip
Three bolts
Three small hex nuts

My Solution: The Holder
I created a wooden “arm” constructed out of Popsicle sticks that is attached to the thirteen-inch piece of Pex tubing with a screw. The Popsicle sticks are hooked to each other with a bolt and a hex nut and at the end of the last stick I drilled a hole and attached an L-bracket using another bolt. I used this L-bracket to hold up an S-clip, which I clamped shut using a needle-nosed pliers. On the other end of the S-clip I hooked on a large binder clip, which could clamp onto the pages of the book you choose to hold open. Then I pinched the other end of the S-clip shut as well.

this moment

2012-01-06T14:39:00.006-06:00

this moment ~ a friday ritual ~ a single photo capturing
a moment from the week. inspired by SouleMama.

happy new year

2012-01-01T10:05:00.007-06:00

our youngest author and illustrator

2010-03-16T21:07:00.005-05:00

Owen decided to publish a book today. Mom helped him staple some blank sheets together and he spent much of the afternoon filling the pages with wonderful drawings.

The author signs his name on the cover...

...and works on a drawing of a volcano.

lollipop 2010

2010-03-07T21:05:00.005-06:00

Today the whole family attended the 47th Annual Lollipop Concert. This year's program was called, "Wild Things! Lions and Tigers and Bears - Oh My!" The performance featured music from The Carnival of the Animals, Jurassic Park, King Kong, The Lion King, and more! Pre-concert activities were provided by the Great Lakes Aquarium, Animal Allies, Lake Superior Zoo, Hartley Nature Center, and Wolf Ridge Environmental Learning Center.

the edge

2010-03-06T23:49:00.005-06:00

Logan attended a birthday party at the Edge Waterpark this afternoon. This place is awesome. A few of the highlights include multiple 4.5 story water slides, a huge bucket that dumps 300 gallons of water every few minutes, a vortex pool, and a 400 foot long indoor river. The kids had pizza for lunch and finished the day playing video games in the arcade.

dsso rehearsal

2010-03-05T22:24:00.001-06:00

Logan and Tony attended a rehearsal of the Duluth Superior Symphony Orchestra this evening. They were treated to a tour of the backstage area and were fascinated by the elaborate mechanisms that control all of the curtains and backdrops. After the tour, they were introduced to the conductor who explained the history of the piece they would be performing and talked to the kids about music. All in all, it was a very fun night.

yarn show-and-tell

2010-03-03T16:21:00.015-06:00

These two skeins of yarn are from Morocco, a gift from a friend who just returned from a trip. They are naturally dyed and smell wonderfully of spice, incense, smoke, and soap. I'm not sure what to do with them yet; they are cut into long lengths, rather than one continuous hank, and are a bit coarse. A weaving project maybe?

This is the latest completed spinning project: three hanks of 2 ply, light worsted weight or so, approximately 575 yards total. It's quite soft (Corriedale) and I'm pleased with the overall consistency.

42

2010-03-02T22:16:00.002-06:00

HIPY HAPY BTHUTHDTH THUTHDA BTHUTHDY to the best daddy and husband!

(Tony is modeling a hat knit by Tracy and an awesome shirt screenprinted by Bullseye)

gold medal finish

2010-02-27T21:00:00.004-06:00

With one day to spare, my ravelympic projects for 2010 have crossed the finish line (cue cheering and flag waving). While it's a bit large, my hat is very soft and will warm my head for years to come. My Shimmering Sands scarf turned out really well; I love how luxurious it feels and how well it drapes. This has definitely inspired me to weave more.

oogly oogly googly owen, or double motor fun

2010-02-25T21:41:00.003-06:00

Two motors + quite a few of the gears = lots of giggles, jumping up and down, and marveling at his engineering success. These colorful pieces hold his attention for hours.

lap harp performance

2010-02-24T22:42:00.005-06:00

This morning Kayte and I were treated to an Owen original entitled "Solo for My Dog". We were riveted to our seats.

Wilco (the concert)

2010-02-20T10:17:00.013-06:00

Our sincere thanks goes out to Wilco, who in recent years has made a habit of playing a Duluth show whenever they tour Canada. Mayor Ness presented Tweedy and the boys with a certificate declaring them an honorary Duluth Band (see ** below).

Setlist:

Wilco (the Song)
A Shot in the Arm
I Am Trying to Break Your Heart
Bull Black Nova
You Are My Face
One Wing
Kamera
Ashes of American Flags
Wishful Thinking
Nothingsevergonnastandinmyway (again)
Sonny Feeling
Impossible Germany
California Stars
Bob Dylan's 49th Beard
Handshake Drugs
You Never Know
Jesus, Etc.
Walken
I'm the Man Who Loves You
Hummingbird

ENCORE:

Via Chicago
Airline to Heaven
Hate It Here
Heavy Metal Drummer
Kingpin
Casino Queen
Hoodoo Voodoo

** “Whereas, most Duluth bands have many of the following characteristics: 1) At least one band member looks like a musician-sized lumberjack; 2) Occasional use of banjos, washboards, spoons, second banjos, and/or fiddles; 3) Some sort of connection (real or imagined) with Al Sparhawk; 4) A musical style that could be in part described with the word “roughneck” (i.e. roughneck folk, roughneck blues, roughneck indie rock, etc); Whereas, it appears that Wilco (the band) meets at least a couple of these important characteristics … Now, Therefore, I Don Ness, Mayor of the City of Duluth, do officially proclaim Wilco as an honorary Duluth band.”

a perfect winter day

2010-02-19T16:38:00.002-06:00

progress

2010-02-18T16:58:00.003-06:00

The Olympic projects are coming along quite well; I'm confident that they will both be completed in 10 days. Maybe I should have strict deadlines all of the time...

owen's creations

2010-02-15T22:49:00.007-06:00

Owen has been busy creating things with our Gears! Gears! Gears! building sets. Here are two of his latest designs.

Photo #1 - A Christmas Tree

Photo #2 - A Scary Monster

Valentine's Day 2010

2010-02-14T22:50:00.003-06:00

Dad surprised the boys this morning with special pancakes. Later in the day Mom unveiled heart-shaped finger jello for dessert.

light the torch

2010-02-12T20:52:00.007-06:00

With any luck, this scrumptious stack of bamboo and suri alpaca goodness will become a handwoven scarf by February 28th when the Olympic torch is extinguished. This and a Fake Isle hat are my projects this year's Ravelympics. Let the Games begin!

fun with paper

2010-02-11T20:45:00.005-06:00

Logan and Tracy worked hard on his valentines for school this year. After seeing the idea in a magazine, they started printing, cutting, folding, gluing, and writing until they had a pile of wonderful handcrafted cards. Inspired by their work, Owen created his own bird artwork.

the old sledding hill

2010-02-07T20:43:00.006-06:00

The boys went to Chester Bowl today to try out their new Christmas sled. We began our downhill experience by observing the chair lift and counting the number of seats as they passed by. Eventually we made it to one of the sledding hills for some slippery fun.

ready, set, warp

2010-02-03T17:07:00.006-06:00

Owen and I spent our morning warping my new loom, a Schacht Flip rigid heddle loom. A bit of a time consuming process the first time around, but not too difficult; it turns out Owen is an expert at looping the yarn around the warping peg and pulling the threads through the slots. Enough of the prep work, let's weave!

a midwinter day

2010-01-24T17:05:00.015-06:00

We awoke this morning to a fresh layer of snow...

waterworks

2010-01-19T17:04:00.011-06:00

While in Rochester, we went swimming at a hotel near Grandpa and Grandma's house. In addition to the main pool having a huge water slide (once Logan tried it, he couldn't get enough), there was also a second shallow pool that was perfect for Owen.

rochester xmas

2010-01-18T17:01:00.007-06:00

After getting snowed out in December, we finally made it to Rochester for belated holiday festivities. Our time was spent opening presents, playing games, and eating our weight in Christmas cookies.

Logan laughs at Grandpa's new hat.

Owen and Logan show off their Gears! Gears! Gears! creation.

Owen was excited to receive the green rubber snake he picked out at the Lake Superior Zoo.

Grandma liked the pot holder the boys weaved for her.

Logan and Great Grandma played a game of Blokus.

Owen tries out his new polar bear rug.

Ally and Owen share the bear.

jimmy's boa

2010-01-13T16:59:00.004-06:00

Owen recently rediscovered this book so we've been reading it a lot lately. Note the "bed" that he devised for his snake, complete with nameplate, just like at the end of the book.

chess

2010-01-10T21:24:00.003-06:00

Logan's had a renewed interest in chess as of late so we dusted off the old board and have been playing quite a bit. He taught Owen where the pieces line up and how they move so it's fun to help them play each other. Lowell Elementary just started an after school chess club. Logan got signed up and he's has been having fun playing against different people and learning more about the game.

monkey joe's

2010-01-05T21:25:00.001-06:00

A Monkey Joe's franchise opened up in Appleton so the boys burned off their christmas cookie energy by playing non-stop on a bunch of giant inflatable stuff. After a couple of hours, we were finally able to drag them away.

wisconsin xmas

2010-01-04T22:09:00.001-06:00

The weather cooperated and we were able to make the voyage to Appleton for Christmas and New Year's celebrations. The boys enjoyed playing with their cousins, wrestling with Uncle Trevor, building things with their new Legos, and throwing confetti everywhere to ring in 2010.

tracy's latest project

2010-01-02T21:48:00.001-06:00

Tracy and the boys dug into her roving stash to make these felted balls for Christmas presents. We hope Gabriel and Jonah have as much fun playing with them as we had making them.

gingerbread houses 2009

2009-12-29T23:57:00.001-06:00

This year we built a village of smaller houses as opposed to one large one. Logan trimmed the edges, Mom and Dad "glued" the walls together, and both boys decorated two houses each.

dog blog

2009-12-28T20:45:00.000-06:00

Logan and Owen have been drawing a lot lately on the new doodles. Once a subject is selected both boys then draw their interpretation. Today's artwork features dogs.

white christmas

2009-12-27T21:19:00.003-06:00

22 inches of white frozen fun! The snow started on Thursday and didn't really let up until Saturday so the boys spent a lot of time outside enjoying the winter wonderland.

cookie time

2009-12-26T20:59:00.003-06:00

Can't celebrate the holidays without some homemade cookies. Tracy and the boys prepared the dough, cut out the shapes, and did the baking. Dad came home and got to help apply the frosting and toppings.

merry christmas

2009-12-25T23:15:00.001-06:00

holiday table

2009-12-24T23:00:00.009-06:00

Even the blizzard that kept us home this Christmas was no match for dinner by candlelight, sparkling cider, and being together at home.

handmade gifts

2009-12-21T21:52:00.009-06:00

You don't have to look very far to see our holiday plans in action around here: painting, gluing, felting, weaving, and planting are among the activities as both boys get in on the merry making. The creativity and love that goes into each handmade gift is priceless.

just doodling

2009-12-19T17:02:00.006-06:00

The number of MagnaDoodles in our house now exceeds the number of people. We celebrated our family Christmas early and Owen was delighted to get his own full-size model. Perfect for drawing and spelling one's name.

peepers puppet

2009-12-18T23:55:00.006-06:00

Let me introduce you to mrs. pink. She's simple, yet so much fun. She has come to live with us along with mr. blue, ms. green eyes, and dr. green. If you haven't checked out Peeper Puppets yet, click on over now. The video brings a smile every time.

logan's holiday concert

2009-12-15T00:21:00.006-06:00

Logan peformed in the holiday concert at his school today and did a wonderful job. The second-graders sang three selections and he was picked to be in a small group in front for the first song.

Setlist:

Christmas A Come - Jamaican Folk Song
Hag Shavuot - Traditional Israeli Holiday Song
Over the River and Through the Woods - American Folk Melody/Lyrics by Lydia Maria Childs

o christmas tree 2009

2009-12-13T22:50:00.005-06:00

Although we intended to go to a tree farm and cut our own, the arctic weather changed our plans. A quick trip to Gordy's provided a beautiful pre-cut tree that couldn't have been more perfect. The boys helped adjust the stand, test the lights, and could barely wait to unwrap the ornaments and start decorating.

construction zone

2009-12-10T20:48:00.004-06:00

The boys have been on a building craze lately. We spend a lot of time downstairs in the family room using our Lincoln Logs and wooden blocks.

Logan poses by his recently designed log hotel.

Owen shows off one of his creations.

three musketeers

2009-12-06T21:42:00.003-06:00

This afternoon the whole family attended a production of the Three Musketeers at the Duluth Playhouse. The boys loved all of the swashbuckling, Rochefort and his eye patch, and were surprised when D'Artagnan swung off the balcony on a rope. Every time Cardinal Richelieu appeared, Owen whispered to me, "Ooh, the Cardinal!" The rest of the day was spent in a massive, over-the-top swordfight worthy of the time capsule.

Be on the lookout for this man. He is armed and extremely dangerous.

He has been known to associate with this man, who is equally armed and dangerous.

turkey day activities

2009-11-27T11:20:00.010-06:00

Following a last minute cancellation by our prospective guests, the four of us found ourselves facing a 24 pound bird and all of the fixings. After ingesting massive amounts of tryptophan, we spent the rest of the afternoon engaged in a variety of indoor activities.

The boys rediscovered our Playfoam and spent the next hour building sculptures. Pictured here are Owen's blue whale, green dragon (with yellow spines and pink tongue), Logan's lamb, birthday cake, and three ice cream cones.

Logan poses by the completed rainforest jigsaw puzzle.

The boys shucked some of our decorative corn for one of Mama's crafty projects.

Owen declared himself the official Thanksgiving Day photographer.

Logan entertained us with some lovely piano playing in the afternoon.

Owen warps his mini-loom in preparation for a new pot holder.

happy thanksgiving

2009-11-26T10:51:00.006-06:00

Gratitude Peace Joy Love

playground scenes

2009-11-21T22:19:00.011-06:00

Another beautiful day filled with a fun trip to the school playground.

fall afternoon

2009-11-17T22:19:00.003-06:00

After a cold and wet October, this month has been unseasonly warm and sunny. This afternoon was perfect for raking leaves, enjoying nature, and playing outside.

meet the teachers

2009-11-14T23:53:00.001-06:00

The boys turned our house into a school this weekend. A lot of time was spent in teacher meetings, classroom preparation, and trips to the cafeteria. Please allow me to introduce you to Mr. Bobstein. He teaches first grade in room R11.

I'm also pleased to introduce Mr. Griggs who teaches third grade in room R12.

wurlitzer's last waltz

2009-11-07T23:44:00.003-06:00

The boys pose for one last photo in front of the Wurlitzer organ. After acquiring a piano two years ago, the plan was to give the organ away but previous efforts never panned out. As of this morning the keyboard is on the way to its new home in Menahga, Minnesota. Prior to final unplugging, Logan, Owen, and Tony performed an epic final jam.

preparing for winter's chill

2009-11-06T20:44:00.007-06:00

The boys had so much fun mixing and matching and trying on our winter accessories, fresh from the laundry. Let's hope that this winter's weather does not require quite so much layering.

happy halloween

2009-10-31T23:30:00.017-05:00

Our spooky hallway.

The boys hand out candy and pretzels.

After serving the masses, Logan and Owen suit up and hit the street for their own treats.

pumpkin night

2009-10-30T22:18:00.012-05:00

Two boys and four pumpkins collided in our kitchen this evening. Logan favored the tall and skinny variety this year while Owen went for the large and round. Afterwards, we made caramel apples for a special treat.

gooseberry sweater

2009-10-27T16:00:00.006-05:00

When faced with a self imposed deadline, I can usually muster up some extra special knitting mojo and whip through the stitches quickly. Despite a few hiccups (necessary pattern modifications, stitches that mysteriously appeared or dropped), this year's Rhinebeck sweater was cast on and finished in thirty three days (never mind that I was weaving in ends and sewing on buttons in the festival parking lot). I am very pleased with this sweater; it fits rather well, the color is exactly what I wanted, and it kept me warm while traipsing around in damp weather. Despite my success, I think that I should cast on for next year's sweater by the end of 2009--what's it going to be?

aarrgghh!

2009-10-25T20:33:00.002-05:00

This afternoon, the boys and I had the opportunity to attend the Pirate Extravaganza in the Great Hall of the Depot. It was well attended by young and old, and we sat on the floor during most of the presentation. Scott Mitchen and his pirate crew entertained us with sword fighting and led the kids in a pirate parade. While my guys are pretty interested in all things pirate, they were ready for a change of scenery as the lecture/slideshow neared the one-hour mark. After escaping to the Children's Museum Moneyville exhibit for a bit, we checked out the real pirate treasure and headed for home.

the real stars of rhinebeck

2009-10-22T10:30:00.003-05:00

No post-processing on this one; the smile is genuine.

This chocolate colored Icelandic ewe was sheared during a demonstration, providing Deb and I an opportunity to purchase her fleece "fresh off the sheep" (talk about knowing the origins of things we buy!)

Isn't it just lovely?

The colors really vary from light blonde to chestnut to chocolate brown and its dual coated fleece is super silky.

pumpkin perfection

2009-10-21T21:22:00.005-05:00

Something to aspire to in Halloween carving this year? These are the work of master pumpkin carver, Hugh McMahon, whose entire display at the NY Sheep & Wool Festival was simply impressive. Sheep Gal captured a few more, if you're interested.

scenes from a wooly festival

2009-10-20T21:27:00.007-05:00

This year, my cousin Colette joined Aunt Deb and I at the New York Sheep and Wool Festival in Rhinebeck. Despite the chilly temps and rain, we had another amazing visit--we chatted with farmers, learned about different sheep breeds, checked out the hundreds of vendor booths, and squeezed many a skein and fleece. I was particularly thrilled to find a beautiful black fleece from an alpaca named James Brown and a bag of washed Leicester Longwool locks, the featured breed this year. We were only an hour out of Rhinebeck when talk turned to attending next year's festival... Or, maybe we'll try the one in Vermont... Or, maybe the one in Maryland...

These canine rescue dogs were amazing frisbee athletes.

The Red Hook Spinners group competed in the Fleece to Shawl competition--carding, spinning, and weaving a shawl in just three hours!

a trip to harrisville

2009-10-19T22:22:00.010-05:00

With just under 2000 people, Harrisville, New Hampshire, has been a National Historical Landmark since 1977. It is one of those old mill towns that comes to my mind when picturing typical nineteenth-century New England: picturesque, narrow roadways, and old red brick buildings built adjacent to the water.

Harrisville Designs opened in 1971 to preserve the area's textile heritage, and every time I visit them, I want to spend the whole day. The shop and studio space are open and welcoming, the designs unique, and the yarns beautiful and easy to knit. While in the shop on Friday, we had the opportunity to observe the warping of a loom. A time consuming process, this will then be handwoven, cut and attached to cardstock as samples of Harrisville's Classic Line yarn.

school playground

2009-10-18T22:33:00.008-05:00

On the weekend lately, we have made multiple trips to Logan's school to play on the new playground. Today the boys were excited to take Grandma and Grandpa there and a fun afternoon was had by all.

boo at the zoo 2009

2009-10-17T22:54:00.001-05:00

Mid-October means it's time for Boo at the Zoo. This annual event lets the kids trick-or-treat at the zoo and is the zoo's largest fund-raiser of the year. The weather was sunnier, warmer, and drier than it has been for years so it was very crowded and a lot of fun. Both boys recycled costumes from previous years - Logan as a kangeroo and Owen as a bumblebee. We went through the haunted house several times, collected a bunch of goodies, and even slowed down long enough to view a few animals.

After a week of overcast days and lots of rain, this lemur was lazily sitting in the window, barely able to keep its eyes open while soaking up as much sun as possible.

halloween surprise

2009-10-12T20:30:00.001-05:00

The boys received a surprise package in the mail from Great Grandma - a remote controlled flying witch. After a quick charging up of the battery, a series of crash landings, and a bunch of belly-laughs, we finally obtained our broom pilot's license.

apples, apples, and more apples

2009-10-11T22:14:00.003-05:00

Two bushels of MacIntosh and Cortland apples = 24 pints and 14 quarts of applesauce, 5 quarts of dried apples, apple cake, apple crisp and countless breakfasts and lunches. And we still have some left in the boxes! I guess we'd better bake more cake (it was gone within the day) and try Maya's mini galettes.

jacob and llama

2009-10-07T23:51:00.003-05:00

With my trip to Rhinebeck approaching, I've been motivated to reorganize my fiber space--you know, just in case another sheep decides to share its wooly goodness with me (see last year's post).

First, Owen and I sorted and washed this cinnamon fleece from a Michigan llama named Tomas.

Next, we sorted and washed this gorgeous Jacob fleece named Moonglow.

Now, it's time to card and comb and spin. I've joined a fiber gathering group that meets at my LYS twice a month so that should inspire me. Stay tuned...

Happy October!

2009-10-01T08:00:00.003-05:00

plums and pears from the weekend orchard visit

apple pickin'

2009-09-28T21:11:00.006-05:00

This is the second year in a row we went apple picking in Bayfield. We returned to the same beautiful little orchard that we discovered last year. The boys love running around the trees and filling up the baskets. After a rainy start to the day, the weather cleared up for an absolutely beautiful afternoon. With the back of the van full of apples, we headed into town for ice cream and a very quick visit to the park before heading home.

great lakes visitor center

2009-09-27T22:08:00.003-05:00

On the way to apple picking, we made a stop at the Great Lakes Visitor Center. We toured the exhibits, ate our pre-packed lunch, and communed with nature on the boardwalk. The boys enjoyed discovering the activity stations set up along the path. The trail was full of grasshoppers and one hopped on Owen's shoulder and hung out for a while (the boys named him Clyde).

sunprints

2009-09-26T23:15:00.000-05:00

A few weeks ago, Logan reminded me that we hadn't played with our new Sunprint kit yet. With sunny days numbered heading into fall, we gave it a try. Although the wind provided some challenges (items were blowing off the paper, leaving partial images), we had a lot of fun experimenting and it was interesting to see what each of the boys chose to place on their paper. I would definitely recommend this activity for the three and up crowd.

two prints each by Tracy, Owen and Logan, from left to right

owen's train ride

2009-09-20T09:45:00.011-05:00

We gave Owen a train ride for his birthday and he patiently waited all summer for us to actually schedule it. This weekend Tony took him to the depot, bought tickets, and together they rode the rails to Lester River and back. Most of the trip was spent in the open air car but the last few miles we moved into an enclosed car. An additional highlight was the steam engine that trailed us behind us on the way back.

fallfest 2009

2009-09-19T21:47:00.006-05:00

This morning we attended Fallfest at Chester Bowl. Lots of crafty tents, food stands, and live music. The kids picked out pumpkins and spent time watching the glass blower. Before we left we stopped for some kettle corn.

the second grader

2009-09-11T22:48:00.003-05:00

Logan started second grade today. The school renovated the playground over the summer so he came home with a bunch of little rubber pieces in his shoes. Mom made brownies to celebrate the big day.

gust lake morning

2009-09-09T23:07:00.005-05:00

The one advantage of taking kids to the outhouse at 6:00 am is the beautiful photo opportunities of fog rolling over a perfectly still lake.

gust lake evening

2009-09-08T23:09:00.007-05:00

Nights at the lake involved sitting around the fire and roasting marshmallows. Everyone had fun watching the "chimney" fire, a hollow log that shot flames like a volcano. Once in the tent, we read the boys bedtime stories by headlight.

on the water

2009-09-07T23:11:00.005-05:00

Owen learns the joys of hooking his toy boat to a fishing pole.

Both boys took turns driving the pontoon boat. Grandpa was the dock captain, Logan was the island captain, and Owen was the middle captain.

Logan rowed Grandpa and Owen out to the island for some exploring.

a day in grand marais

2009-09-06T23:03:00.008-05:00

We decided to drive into Grand Marais for an afternoon of fun. Activities included: eating pizza, buying donuts, perusing the art fair, visiting the Co-Op, climbing around Artist Point, shopping, and partaking in the fine art of throwing rocks into the water until your arm hurts.

gust lake afternoon

2009-09-05T23:14:00.001-05:00

Owen spent a lot of time playing with the minnow bucket.

Logan learned to drive the SuperTryke and took Owen and Grandpa for numerous rides.

Logan shows off the dinner catch.

Owen helps Grandpa carry water jugs on a trip to the well.

Grandma bought eveyone musical instruments from when she attended the powwow.

the wheel is turning

2009-09-04T09:00:00.004-05:00

The wheel has been dusted off and my spinning mojo is back. Now if I could only find some fiber around here somewhere...(ha,ha, replies the husband). This pink is a bit out of of my comfort zone and the end result too thick-and-thin, but it was good practice and I'm ready for the next project. Stay tuned...

trolley time

2009-09-03T23:06:00.001-05:00

Another thing from the summer list of things-to-do: Ride the trolley!

two harbors for the day

2009-09-01T23:36:00.001-05:00

In checking our summer list of things-to-do, the boys and I realized that we hadn't ventured up the north shore yet. Less than an hour later, we arrived at our destination. Often, the recipe for a good day includes getting outside; sometimes, you have to drive just a little farther.

more cottage days

2009-08-24T23:33:00.006-05:00

After eating our favorite fish dinner at the Al-Gen Dinner Club, the boys stopped in the game room for some classic pinball action.

Logan learned a new card game and proceeded to play with Great Grandpa and others.

The road to the cottage is a great place to ride bike and Logan put on the miles on Wendy's old banana seat bicycle. Check out those handlebars!

Logan does a little morning reading by headlamp.

Owen learns the joys of shaking Yahtzee dice. Believe it or not, some of the dice even landed on the table.

Logan and Tony search for the ever-elusive Waldo and Wizard Whitebeard.

Owen reads books with Uncle Trevor.

cottage days

2009-08-23T23:29:00.006-05:00

Frogs and spiders and mudpuppies, oh my! Much of our time at the cottage was spent observing animals. Some large spiders were found under the pier, numerous frogs were caught and released, but the discovery of the weekend was the mysterious mudpuppy. We also pedaled, paddled, or swam the river every day.

hodag country

2009-08-22T00:19:00.005-05:00

While in Rhinelander, we stopped at the visitor's center for a photo opportunity with the official Hodag and to purchase some merchandise. We also visited the Rhinelander Logging Museum and Railroad before heading to the playground at Pioneer Park.

Logan sits on a wooden Hodag at the museum.

The boys climbed on the trains and even got to ring the bell.

owen's new bed

2009-08-17T23:28:00.001-05:00

Owen decided the crib life just wasn't working for him so he's moved into a bright red Big Boy Bed. Tracy took him fabric shopping and is now in the process of creating some custom sheets for the new life style. Although we are excited to see him grow, it's kind of sad that we have surpassed the crib days.

night at the zoo

2009-08-10T12:36:00.004-05:00

Tonight was the annual MAD (Member Appreciation Day) Safari at our zoo so Tony cut work early and we enjoyed a family night with the animals. After pizza and ice cream sandwiches, we rode the zoo train, played on the playground, and watched the animals get special treats. We were also delighted to see the new exhibit featuring grey foxes.

last day in bayfield

2009-08-08T21:42:00.002-05:00

On our last day in Bayfield we went to the Visitor Center for the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore. After an informative movie in the theater, we looked at the Fresnel lens display and checked out the gift shop. Our favorite ice cream place has become a kayak store so we found a new place with an amazing array of unique flavors. The drive home included one stop at Friendly Valley Beach and one stop in Ashland for dinner at the South Shore Brewery.

east dock park

2009-08-05T21:41:00.007-05:00

East Dock Park, located adjacent to the marina in Bayfield, is one of Logan and Owen's favorite playgrounds. We always spend hours here playing, eating, and generally running about. This year Logan impressed us with his newly acquired monkey bar and zip line skills. Both boys enjoy the musical fish and the tire monster. No trip would be complete without taking an image of the kids in the "photo" tree.

bayfield berries

2009-08-04T21:25:00.002-05:00

Welcome to our favorite berry farm! Logan and Owen have been coming here for years and have developed into experienced pickers. Today's agenda involves raspberries and blueberries.

fish hatchery

2009-08-03T21:26:00.005-05:00

After packing up camp, we stopped by the State Fish Hatchery. The lobby is open seven days a week and features several very nice exhibits, a large aquarium, and a viewing area that overlooks the hatchery tanks.

camping in washburn

2009-08-02T23:18:00.002-05:00

Time once again for our annual Bayfield berry-picking weekend. After staying in Red Cliff for several years and then on Madeline Island last year, we decided to try a city park campground in Washburn this time around. Owen helped with the tent poles and stakes. Logan set up the sleeping pads and storage netting. After berry picking and spending time at the playground, we went back to camp for dinner, followed by smores over the fire. The next morning we asked ourselves, "Is it really camping if you don't have hot chocolate with breakfast?"

north shore pickup

2009-08-01T23:14:00.005-05:00

Logan spent the last couple of days at Gust Lake with Grandpa and Grandma so this afternoon Tony, Owen, and Kayte the Dog headed to Silver Bay to pick him up. We left early so we could renew our park pass and hike around Tettegouche State Park before the exchange.

Owen eats lunch at a scenic viewpoint.

Shovel Point, Tettegouche State Park.

The Silver Bay Marina where Logan returned from the great north woods.

twin cities trip

2009-07-26T23:26:00.006-05:00

We just returned from an action-packed adventure in the twin cities. Friday night we visited Kristin, Craig, and the kids for a night of recreation Golden Valley style. Craig grilled salmon and vegetables to accompany Kristin's top secret bean dip. Later we had a fire and roasted smores. The kids ran around their big back yard and played with glow sticks.

Saturday we met Tony's parents and Grandma at Cossetta Italian Market for a delicious pasta lunch. After a stop at Fort Snelling National Cemetery, we checked into our hotel and took the kids swimming. Logan also got to open his belated birthday presents from his grandparents. He received a remote controlled helicopter and a Razor scooter.

The next morning we tried to go to Como Park Zoo but underestimated how much of the metropolitan area would be there on an absolutely beautiful Sunday afternoon. We ended up heading to Green Mill for lunch before going our separate ways.

Logan Bryce, Glow Stick Master

The pilot checks out his new helicopter.

Owen strikes a pose.

Swimming, swimming, and more swimming!

remembrance

2009-07-25T00:20:00.004-05:00

Today we took Tony's Grandma to Fort Snelling National Cemetery to visit the grave of his Grandpa who served in WWII and passed away in 2006. We miss you Grandpa and think of you often.

eat a pirate

2009-07-14T23:18:00.000-05:00

One of our favorite new cds is "Bedtime Stories for Pirates" by Captain Bogg and Salty. There is a song called "Scurvy" that features the shouted refrain of "Eat A Lime". Loosely based on that song, Owen decided to rock the microphone.

good eats

2009-07-13T23:36:00.004-05:00

After eating our weight in plain berries all weekend, Tracy and the boys decided to "kick it up a notch" with two dessert selections: strawberries hand-dipped in dark chocolate and strawberry cream cheese ice cream. We highly recommend both delicious treats, for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

welcome to berryville

2009-07-11T23:26:00.005-05:00

With Mom coming home one morning having picked 55 quarts of strawberries, Owen quickly established himself as an official berry taster. Hopping into the van before the flats were unloaded, he was ready for a photo with a berry in each hand.

Summer wouldn't be complete without fresh jam. Owen assisted with mashing and stirring, while Logan was in charge of ladling into jars.

not just for tourists

2009-07-10T22:20:00.003-05:00

To celebrate Logan passing his swim class, we headed to Canal Park for a special treat at the Amazing Grace Cafe. After sharing a pile of delicious sugar-filled items, we hit the streets for some family fun.