December 17, 2007

This is our last view for 2007. This year went by quickly. Reflecting back, we are amazed at the progress O'Wich has endured. We look forward to another wonderful year in 2008!

One last story:

You may recall the welcoming event that occurred during a previous visit. This trip involved a welcoming team as well. It was the flashing lights of the Public Servants of Cicero. Seems a neighbor was concerned that the snow wasn't shoveled. So they wanted the police to check the well being of the residents. (I think they were wondering why their snow wasn't shoveled! {joke} It was probably one of the neighbors we help to snow-throw). - That's a shout out about Mike via Kevin! (Thought I wouldn't have a reason to mention you, huh?) Well, good thing we arrived when we did, or else the door was coming down! It was nice for whomever to call. I'd thank them if I knew who they were! However, I am happier we arrived while the door was still a door and not a piece of plywood! Thank goodness we didn't stop the three times we considered along the way. De Forest, Beloit and Bellevidere.

Come back next year! Happy Holidays!

December 16, 2007

Another continental breakfast and some Chicago news. 10" of snow! We were at about that at the cabin. Thoughts of being snowed out opposed to snowed in were not as attractive. We were hoping for a safe trip and cleared snow. There were more than 24 hours before we'd be home. Fingers crossed.
We played one last game, Scattergories. Now we played all of the games that Rick and Katie brought!
We took a couple of last pictures - check out that wreath! Then we were off to lunch at La Tolteca.

Rick and Katie left from lunch to go to Milwaukee to visit Adam. Then they were meeting Grandma Meti for dinner. We had a great weekend and enjoyed spending time with our visitors!

Carlo and I went to Wal-Mart and then cruised around our little "Riverhood". We visited with our neighbor Rick and then drove down to visit with Paul and Betty. We wanted to thank Paul and his son Steve for plowing our driveway. We were able to reach the cabin with no trouble. And we were able to envision a future driveway!!! Okay, I was able to envision a future driveway!

When we got back, we did some little chores...re-stocked the firewood, fixed the birdfeeder, fed the birds, put veggies out for the other animals and emptied the hot embers into the bucket and then into the firepit. I also covered it in snow - just in case! As I said, a lesson well learned!

December 15, 2007

We started our day with a continental breakfast and an episode of the American Gladiator. I believe it was from the 80's if you go by the mullets on their heads!
We looked outside and decided that's where we wanted to be. So we saddled up our puppies and got decked out in our winter wear.


Rick used this opportunity to tackle Katie...he did warn her first! I believe it was a cross between Jaws and a hup one, hup two - tackle!





Since it wasn't snowing while we were out, Katie improvised - for the sake of video, of course! She made it look like fun, so Rick tried it too!


While there were "snowing around" I made a 9" mini snowman. He is wearing a little green elf hat; not really, it's a Hershey Kiss! I know, you knew that! The snow was so soft he kept falling apart when I tried to add accessories - that's why he's faceless. (Certainly in honor of Wayne)!
Carlo made his snowman using a shovel and candy. (Looks like he should be saying; "I'm melting!" (or drowning!)



Yes, I'm standing on a snow/ice drift!

This is us down by the river. Do we look cold? I think we were! I own a hat, but they made me take it off. Trust me, good choice! I'm the only one that doesn't look silly and the only one that looks really cold - ha ha ha!


Rick and Katie decided to dance on the river. I was quite nervous with them on the ice...'rivers have currents, don't ya know?' But it was okay and of course, I worried for nothing! They also made an attempt at their snow version of skipping stones...flinging chunks of ice. The chunks didn't go far.



Then there was some resting that needed to be done.

After a bit of down time, the guys did some 'labor camp' type work. Hey, what's a trip to O'Wich if we don't do a little something? They hung the ceiling fan in the living room. What a difference it made. We got rid of the Titanic-ugly style and went with a model that matches the decor. Another good choice by the Decorator Within! I really need a show on HGTV!



We played Trivial Pursuit 1990...I think I slept through a big part of my life...I suck at this game, no matter what decade we play! We also played Apples to Apples and Catch Phrase. I love to play games and am excited that Rick and Katie own so many!!! We watched Miracle on 34th Street, the older version and the remake and we also watched Scrooged. We even got a game of Clue in. We stayed up late and enjoyed spending time together!

And, we enjoyed keeping warm by the fire!

December 14, 2007

It's Friday, Must be quest for a boot-tray day! So, with all the snow, we needed somewhere to put our wet boots. Off to find a boot-tray...now you'd think that an area that tends to get a lot of snow would have an ample amount of places that carry them and an ample amount of boot-trays...no such luck. Most people we asked never even heard of them and the others were sold out of them! How many people need boot-trays??? Obviously, many. So, things are always in the last place you look and going to Do-It-Best was our very last option and they had them...several. It seems the people in Portage don't shop at Do-It-Best as much as we do!


I had hung this way too contempory light by the door and have been unhappy with it from the start. So, while going through some things I had packed away at home, I ran across a kerosene lamp. Not wanting to start a fire, Carlo converted the lamp to electric and it works on a switch. The design fits right in and it's quite rustic...love it. So, speaking of fire and not wanting to start one - I was getting ready for Rick and Katie to arrive and took out the vacuum. When I was finished with the floors, I cleaned out the ashes in the fireplace. Carlo, luckily, asked why the screen was open. I told him what I had done - thinking he would be happy that I helped and that he wouldn't have to scoop them into the bucket and take them outside and blah, blah, blah. Well, he said that there were hot embers and that wasn't really a good idea. So, we changed the vacuum bag and threw it out. Sometime later, I noticed the bag was smoking on the deck. I guess the hot ember story was true. Why did I even question it? So I went to the deck and not knowing how to handle anything that is burning, I buried the bag in the snow. To think, my good intentions could have turned into a horrible situation. I don't think all the fire extinguishers we have there would have helped if things took a turn. I'll mark this up as a lesson learned!

Carlo was kind enough to bring a quilt I made for him up to the cabin to hang on the wall. It's hanging from a walking stick I got when I was in Colorado. It looks good, even though the room isn't totally finished. It fits in well and the colors are great! You'd think I used a crystal ball on this gift, huh???

Of course, the birds were waiting for us to arrive! This time we bought 40# of feed instead of 20#. We fed the deer and the squirrels too. I have never seen so many birds. We had woodpeckers, some red-headed birds and some 2 foot blue ones. I even saw the eagle flying this weekend. It was incredible to see the birds flying around as it snowed.




Rick and Katie settled in and we had dinner. I made a salad to go with our pizza and fried mushrooms from Tamarack. Katie grabbed the bowl, aka trough, and killed it off. Yep, we teased her about it! She not as innocent as she looks...cute but not innocent. Good thing she likes salad!








And here they are posing in their "grandpa wear"! It's always nice to have a piece of him with us! We played Hoopla - one of many games for our relaxing game weekend!

December 13, 2007

One of my favorite things to keep an eye on is a barn at the 108 exit. I swear, everytime I see it it leans further. I wonder how long it will be before it totally collapses!


When we turned onto the mile long private road, this is what we saw. It didn't look as bad as it was to drive on. Wisconsin had the same ice we had before the snow hit so it was pretty slick.

In lieu of a Christmas tree, I decided to take a picture of our neighbors tree. He keeps it up all year!!! When we got to the cabin, one of our neighbors had plowed the area where we park. It was incredible to have it already done for us!

After we unpacked and got the cabin opened, we went shopping for a door wreath and to stock the fridge. No doubt about it, we eat good - but we only ate healthy because we were expecting Rick and Katie Friday evening!

November 30, 2007

We left Friday morning at our usual 9:00 departure time! Carlo has to work tonight after being off 18 days - ergh! I needed to get home to my bed and sleep this cold away. Tylenol, Zicam, Shower Soothers - this is a rough one! I slept almost all the way home!

Until next time - two weeks to be exact! And next time we might be tackling something off our To-Do list!

November 29, 2007

Thursday was much of the same ~ rest...rest...rest!

Carlo cleaned out the fridge and freezer and put the medely of food together for the wildlife. He also fed the birds (we have lots of bird feeders!), the squirrels and the deer. Several beautiful birds visited the feeder - Woodpeckers, blue birds and some dressed with red too. They were quick and hard to capture in a photo. But there is one on the feeder - sort of getting ready for flight!

Later in the evening, we went to Tamarack Pizza. Carlo insisted on paying the night before at La Tolteca (even though I lost the bet), but tonight I paid up! We had another delicious meal here.

During the night, we had a dusting of snow. I was very excited to be there to see the first snowfall. It makes everything look fresh and clean.

November 28, 2007

Okay, so on the way to O'Wich we make a bet about the road. I think it's not done ~ Carlo thinks it is. Dinner is riding on this bet. Much to my surprise - it was done! A little disappointed in the finished product, but done none the less anything is better than the holes and ruts we had to deal with in the past. So - looks like La Tolteca is my treat later on!

We had nothing planned for this trip which was a good thing since I am so sick. I should've stayed home but I just love going to O'Wich and what difference does it make...sick at home or sick at our home away from home?

Upon our arrival we found we now have a digital meter for our electric. Can't get a land line for the phone, but we can get digital on electricity ~ Whatever! We settled in and warmed up with hot chocolate and Baileys. Yummy!

We swapped out the ugly green recliner for Dad's brown one. It looks much better and there is a lot more space to walk around the furniture. We offered the green recliner to our neighbors who asked if we had a sofa sleeper instead since they didn't need a recliner - "Uh, no - I have a recliner - take it or if your don't want it, we're gonna burn it!" They showed up about an hour later!

I covered three pillows with the same fabric as the valances and we bought a clear plastic table cover and got rid of the ugly green printed one. Now you can see just how beautiful the cedar table is and it's protected. Carlo was very happy the satellite worked - and yes I must admit, I was too. With being sick I was able to snuggle up on the couch and watch General Hospital between my naps.

When I woke up we went to Walgreens for several cold remedies and then to La Tolteca. Once we got back I ended up sleeping for the next 12 + hours. Maybe it was the hot chocolate and Baileys or the Strawberry Margarita or the cold meds - or a combination of all of them, but I slept like a log. I don't usually have a problem sleeping anyway but this time I slept through until morning!

November 6, 2007

We don't do much on the day we leave to head back to reality ~ so, with O'Wich all buttoned up we headed home.





ADIOS WISCONSIN AND WELCOME TO ILLINOIS




Do you know that the Wisconsin/Illinois state line is 1/2 way between here and there? Of all the times we've made this trip, this was the first time ISP was there to welcome us! Trooper Kenton gave me a welcome to Illinois gift of a neon pink envelope (he actually charged me $75 for it!) He even invited me to a get-together to celebrate all the pink envelopes he had been giving out. There's a $30 charge for admission to the event and a $40 upcharge to move the gathering closer to my house! Fun times! Can't wait!

Trooper: 83.3333 in a 65
Me: I think the odometer is off - maybe 72
Trooper: Airplane overhead

Trip home from O'Wich - 3 hours AND 25 minutes

Stopped by ISP - 25 minutes, $75, pink envelope

Can this be written off - Priceless!

We did make it home safely and look forward to going back, although next time it might take a bit longer!

November 5, 2007

Today we had three down bursts of rain, snow and sleet - then sun. The predicted snow never arrived and I was quite disappointed. We cleaned up inside and out and got the cabin ready for winter. Oh, and Carlo worked on the satellite. You'd think with the 40 mph winds we were getting that the leaves would be gone - nope, not yet and the satellite work has been retired until our next visit!

We ran to get feed for the deer, birds and squirrels. Funny, they all eat different stuff!

Our neighbor Paul stopped in to discuss paving the road. See what I mean - hot topic of conversation. Hopefully the next time we go up to O'Wich the road will be paved, graveled or cindered.

Carlo ran to Do-It-Best while I got dinner ready. He was picking up some items needed to hang the light fixture. Although the trip was meant to be R & R, I am very excited the light is up. It looks great and certainly lights up the table area - without us using the floor lamp!

(before on left/after on right/close up below)

November 4, 2007

Carlo started the day by working on the satellite. Doesn't seem that enough leaves have fallen yet to get a clear signal....hmpffff!

We met up with the Spelunkers as we passed their hotel, yes on purpose, to take them to our favorite Portage eatery - La Tolteca!

From lunch, we headed to Cave of the Mounds. It was an hour ride and the scenery was beautiful with the clear sky and all of the farms.

This is the Spelunker vehicle behind us! Hi Val!!! Hi John!!!

It's always 50 degrees in the cave - year round. I want to live there!

We toured the cave and learned or maybe we were reminded about stalagtites (tights down) and stalagmites (might one day touch the ceiling). I made up the part about the tights down - hee hee! The tour lasted about an hour and afterward we purchased a geode, cracked it ourselves and intend to set in into the wall when we stone our fireplace. During our tour we didn't see any bats nor did we have the need to crawl or light our own way.

Afterward we took some photos of breaking the rules, good friends and the beautiful scenery.

I posed by a horse (neighhhh). Carlo and I are on a stump which is over the cave we were in. Hey Carlo...aren't you tall enough!

We parted ways with the Spelunkers. They headed home to Riverfield and we headed back to O'Wich. It was still light enough for us to get a few more photos.

Without the GPS, finding Cave of the Mounds would've been, well, you know....like a needle ~

Caving - although toured and with little adventure, unless you count the numerous flights of stairs in the cave - was fun and interesting. It was great to spend time with Val and John.

We got back and went to WalMart and then got dinner. It certainly was time to call it a day!