Showing posts with label Elizabeth Lake to Madison. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Elizabeth Lake to Madison. Show all posts

Saturday, January 1, 2011

Happy MMXI!

I can't believe another year has come and gone! Life seems to stream through rather than trickle by as it once did, but I guess that's how life works. A brief 2010 in review...I have successfully finished my first semester of entry classes to Grad school and did rather well. Kim is feverishly working on her book idea and doing so well. I am very proud of her efforts, her strive to think outside the box and get more kids interested in math. I have started running and have somehow been able to maintain on some semblance of a schedule, this is a miracle in and of itself. Other than that, I turned forty and I have been forced to address some life lessons, comes with the territory. I'm actually more thankful for it.
Kim and I returned from our Christmas excursion to Madison a few days ago and are now trying to catch up on rest and relaxation and all the other things we need to get done before the next school sessions start, but I think we're ready. Happy New Year everyone! Make 2011 what you want of it and may this year be more prosperous and bountiful then the last.

Monday, August 9, 2010

Wisconsin Pictorial Highlights

Kim, TK, Cris, Shawn & I after Squeeze @ the Barrymore in Madison

Kim, Kristen, Jaime & I @ the Mermaid Cafe in Madison
Beautiful Shawn and Cris @ Squeeze in Madison
Kim and the Stordahl's in Lake Geneva

"More ketchup please" says Ivy @ the Harmony in Madison









Kim, Randy & Cris @ the Wind Point Lighthouse near Racine

The gang @ Summerfest '10 in Milwaukee









Kim and Kevin @ the Harmony in Madison
Kim and TK @ Squeeze in Madison

Sunday, June 13, 2010

On the road again, I just can't wait to be on the road again...oh wait

Kim and I are on the road, currently just outside Alda, Nebraska. The drive through California, Nevada and Arizona were uneventful, but that changed ince we hit Utah. The weather has been very unpredictable and anything but warm. It's been raining almost non stop through Utah, Colorado and now Nebraska. We've actually had the heater on in the car more than we have cared too. Go figure!

We are excited to see the Wisconson clan, but traveling with three dogs (even Kim admits) is a colossal pain in the ass. I think we we'll never have this many animals again. It's just too much work and we are always trying to figure out who will take care of them. But for now we are a pack of wolves and travel together. More from Wisconsin, once we get there...

Tuesday, April 6, 2010

California wildflowers Part I

On a recent hike with Kim and the naughties I took some pictures of local flora in the hills surrounding Elizabeth Lake. I cannot wait for sunnier days so the flowers will begin bloom and to be able to take better photographs. The hills are beginning to turn shades of yellow, orange and purple. I am looking forward to exploring the Antelope Valley Poppy Reserve in the next few weeks, so be on the look out for more pictures of spring flowers.

A view of Elizabeth Lake through wildflowers









Nemophila menziesii or Baby blue-eyes









Lupinus polyphyllus or Lupine









Helianthella californica or Helianthella









Phacelia tanacetifolia or Purple Tancy









Ranunculus californicus or California buttercup









Clarkia purpurea or Purple Clarkia









Lupinus albifrons or Bush Lupine

Monday, January 18, 2010

What's this falling from the sky?

Our winter has been rather pathetic thus far. Yes it has been on the cool side, but we did not get much in the way of precipitation. Well this week it is finally here and we are supposed to get a substantial amount it. Accuweather says we will be getting almost 4 inches of rain and 3.5 inches of snow. Yikes! Well with the California drought this comes with welcoming arms, yet people are still complaining. Eh finicky Californians.

Tuesday, October 6, 2009

Honda versus Buck

So I was driving to an assignment in the middle of the afternoon last Sunday, when I caught a glimpse of something out of the corner of my eye. I saw a humongous blur and I knew that it was headed my way, but it hadn't registered in my brain. So I proceeded to drive and moments later I felt the impact. Stunned and in shock I stopped my car and looked out the rear view mirror. A full grown buck was laying in the road behind me. The buck, stunned like me, eventually got up, shook it off and ran on his merry way. Now for people who've grown up around deer, this must seem like no big deal. But for me, a California girl who grew up near the beach, this was a out of my realm. I know I'm really lucky and I'm glad I kept on going. Had I slammed on my breaks or had the buck been faster, this could have been so much worse...phew!

Sunday, October 4, 2009

Pellet Stove

So this morning it was actually a little chilly and we decided to test our new pellet stove. I must admit, it's quite fabulous. It's not messy, it's quiet and it's very effecient. It is going to be really nice not having to depend on propane for heat or having to prep the fireplace in order to heat the living room. It feels good being green.

Monday, August 24, 2009

Marsh-Mellow Acres

The last weekend Kim and I were in Wisconsin we took a trip to "the land" near Sauk City. Always a much anticipated part of journeying to Wisconsin, this mini camping excursion to meet Kim's college gang, for a yearly reunion, and hang out with family and friends is always a blast. This year the weather was peculiarly cool with temperatures in the 60's and 70's, so swimming wasn't particularly inviting. We spent most of our short time sitting around the campfire sharing stories.

Here are some photographic highlights of the trip...

View of the Wisconsin River
Snapping turtles
Dad with the naughties Linus and Spencer
The big top tent in the woods
Randy off to inspect the troops ;-)
When is spaghetti night?
Hey Linda nice catch!
Mid summer storm is coming...unseasonably cool
Sunset camping, need I say more? Beautiful
Until next year friends, we think of you often and can't wait to see you again!

Tuesday, August 18, 2009

Wisconsin brood

Family snapshot potpourri from Madison.

Jordon









Garry - Pop









Kim & Cris
David - Dad
Janet - Mom & Cris
Aunt Patti & Kim
Uncle Don
The Elskamp's (Janet, Mary Ann, Eddie, Elaine, Patti & Tari)
Shelly & Jordan
Aunt Patti & Jennifer

Thursday, August 13, 2009

House on the Rock

So whilst in Madison, Kim and I took off one day and had a romantic outing to ourselves. We drove to the House on the Rock in Spring Green which is about 2 hours outside of Madison. I had no idea what to expect and Kim didn't exactly clue me in either.

This place is just indescribable and I won't be able to do it justice.

"The House on the Rock is the grand vision of Alex Jordan, who believed that sights and sounds were the most effective means of stimulating the senses. He wanted guests to question his creation, to come to their own conclusions and to turn his world of dreams into their own. The Attraction has room after room of some of the world's most unique and eclectic collections" The House on the Rock

You can find more history and information about this place here and here too. I'll just let the pictures and videos speak for themselves. A playground for all or your worst claustrophobic nightmare? I thought of it as a Disneyland for adults, but you decide.

The House - Outside view









The Infinity Room - Above from the inside









The Water Mill - Part of the Mill House












The following pictures are from the insides of the buildings...

The Main House - The ladies bathroom

The steam train

One of the many carousel horses in the Carousel Room

One of many many curious autamata - depicting ghoulish and deathly themes

The Music of Yesterday - Franz Josef (Buy lots of tokens)

The Carousel Room - Told to be the World's Largest (Amazing)

Wednesday, August 12, 2009

A view from the car

Well now that I'm done with all of my summer excursions, I thought I'd catch everyone up with some of my goings-on. I won't bombard everyone with everything at once, but merely a daily dose and minor highlights.

Here are some photos of our drive out to Madison. I had a lot of fun with my new Cannon PowerShot SX110 IS camera.

Somewhere over the rainbow in Southern Utah









Starting the climb up the Colorado Rockies









Colorado river cut out









Anyone for a fluffy white cloud?









Green & lush Colorado

Perfect canvas for a great shot...Colorado Rockies