Sunday, July 31, 2011
Wisconsin Wildlife
Saturday, July 30, 2011
Wisconsin days
Tuesday, July 26, 2011
On the lake in Wisconsin at The Shack
Our friends, Ringo and Michele, live in Hawaii, but spend July in Wisconsin near family. Years ago, Michele asked Ringo to build a shack so when they camped here on the family property she could use a regular bathroom instead of a port a potty. He bought some land and built a house, a big house they call “The Shack”. They have great amenities here like two ply toilet paper and a huge washer and dryer! Well, they seem pretty fabulous to us :)
We are having a blast here. They have many toys to keep the kids, big and small, occupied- pontoon boat, paddle boat, raft, water trampoline, inflatables to tow behind jet skis, fishing poles, a creek, wildlife, games, video games and lots of movies.
This is pretty fun because 1) our kids haven’t spent time playing on a lake and 2) it’s great to be with friends! Michele is one of my best friends and between the two of us we have six kids in matching grades.
I’m so looking forward to our extended stay to relax, try to get some things done on my checklist and in the rv, but also just to hang out with Ringo and Michele. We would get together in Hawaii, but it was never long enough because life/work/school was always in the way, so it’s fun now to have lots of days to play.
Click on photos to enlarge
Michele literally jumped up and down AND did a cartwheel as we were driving down the road toward her! What love!
"The Shack"
The "toys"
We are having a blast here. They have many toys to keep the kids, big and small, occupied- pontoon boat, paddle boat, raft, water trampoline, inflatables to tow behind jet skis, fishing poles, a creek, wildlife, games, video games and lots of movies.
This is pretty fun because 1) our kids haven’t spent time playing on a lake and 2) it’s great to be with friends! Michele is one of my best friends and between the two of us we have six kids in matching grades.
I’m so looking forward to our extended stay to relax, try to get some things done on my checklist and in the rv, but also just to hang out with Ringo and Michele. We would get together in Hawaii, but it was never long enough because life/work/school was always in the way, so it’s fun now to have lots of days to play.
Click on photos to enlarge
Thursday, July 21, 2011
Leaving Minnesota
Monday was our last day in Minnesota. We didn’t get to do everything we wanted so I guess we’ll have to come back some day. The government shutdown remained during our time here so that affected a few of the things we had planned, but we still had a great time.
Our last day was spent in Duluth so we visited the Maritime Museum and saw a huge ship go under an aerial bridge. Upon leaving to head back to our site the exit we needed to take was closed. Two exits later we were in Wisconsin. They really put these states close to one another around here! We met up with our friends Bob and Jan again and had dinner. We bid them adieau this morning and will see them at the first of the year in Arizona.
We are now headed to Wisconsin to see our friends from Ewa Beach- the Pauly family. They have three kids in the same grades as ours. We are looking forward to spending time with them and taking a vacation from our vacation by resting, playing games, playing on the lake, and just hanging out for awhile.
The aerial bridge in the "down" position
Learning about the locks
Our last day was spent in Duluth so we visited the Maritime Museum and saw a huge ship go under an aerial bridge. Upon leaving to head back to our site the exit we needed to take was closed. Two exits later we were in Wisconsin. They really put these states close to one another around here! We met up with our friends Bob and Jan again and had dinner. We bid them adieau this morning and will see them at the first of the year in Arizona.
We are now headed to Wisconsin to see our friends from Ewa Beach- the Pauly family. They have three kids in the same grades as ours. We are looking forward to spending time with them and taking a vacation from our vacation by resting, playing games, playing on the lake, and just hanging out for awhile.
Sunday, July 17, 2011
Little House on the Prairie
We had an enjoyable evening in Walnut Grove, Minnesota, former home of Laura Ingalls Wilder. The Ingalls family lived there for three years and Laura wrote about her childhood, including her nemesis Nellie Oleson, in her books.
We watched a two hour play about their time in Walnut Grove. Jacob would’ve rather been at home, but he did enjoy it, learned some things and laughed when pranks were played.
After the play, the girls and I went up to meet the actors and I was surprised when I asked “Pa” how long he’d been performing the play- 34 years! That’s how long the play/pageant has been around. I later wondered if he was a theater major or if he’s a history buff and what he does for a day job. I appreciated the time they put into the performance for us on a hot, muggy night. The plays are only during the month of July on Friday and Saturday nights at 9. It was a late night! We didn’t get back to Welcome, MN until 1am.
We had conversation on the way home about Scarlett Fever causing Mary’s blindness, the rough time they had farming and the kids said they were thankful they didn’t live back then. I loved reading the books and watching the series as a child and we’ve watched reruns as a family. It left us wanting to find out more about the family so we will be digging deeper into their history.
The girls with Laura after the show
The girls with Nellie after the show
The covered wagon with the Ingalls family at the start of the show
Willie accidentally throwing a bucket of water on his mom, Mrs. Oleson, while the Ingalls look on
We watched a two hour play about their time in Walnut Grove. Jacob would’ve rather been at home, but he did enjoy it, learned some things and laughed when pranks were played.
After the play, the girls and I went up to meet the actors and I was surprised when I asked “Pa” how long he’d been performing the play- 34 years! That’s how long the play/pageant has been around. I later wondered if he was a theater major or if he’s a history buff and what he does for a day job. I appreciated the time they put into the performance for us on a hot, muggy night. The plays are only during the month of July on Friday and Saturday nights at 9. It was a late night! We didn’t get back to Welcome, MN until 1am.
We had conversation on the way home about Scarlett Fever causing Mary’s blindness, the rough time they had farming and the kids said they were thankful they didn’t live back then. I loved reading the books and watching the series as a child and we’ve watched reruns as a family. It left us wanting to find out more about the family so we will be digging deeper into their history.
Saturday, July 16, 2011
Three (or four) states in a day
It was a good day to sleep in. It would’ve been a good day to stay “home”, but there are so many things to see and only a few days in which to do it.
After a late start we headed west to Pipestone National Monument. Pipestone is a quarry that the Native Americans hold sacred. For centuries their ancestors have used rock from this site for their pipes. The pipes were used in ceremonies, for treaties, for prayer, etc. The rock is reddish pink and their history says it’s from the blood of the people that died there during a flood.
Next stop Sioux Falls, SD. We thought about going to Sioux Falls when we were in SD, but it was on the complete other side of the state. It’s pretty close to the area we are now so we decided to run over there to see a memorial for the USS South Dakota, the ship my grampa was stationed on during WWII. It was a neat memorial and we found pictures of my grampa on the wall! That was cool!
We had planned on going to Mitchell, SD, since that was on our list for SD also, but the Corn Palace closed at 5pm. We didn’t make it with our late start so it will have to wait for another time.
Our last stop was in a third state- Iowa. I have been debating when to see Iowa- after Wisconsin and Illinois or before Illinois. If we go now it’s going to be hot and I haven’t come across a bunch of things for us to do there. I’ve asked a few people that live there what there is to do and I haven’t come up with a bunch of things so I’m going to wait til the spring when it’s cooler. They have a tulip festival there in the spring so maybe we can catch that since we’ll miss the one in Skagit County again this year. The reason we went down there was that we found out they have Chic Fil A at the mall so we drove down for dinner! We couldn’t believe the amount of water there was from the flooding. It’s different seeing it with your own eyes.
While at the mall we looked at a Lewis and Clark exhibition they had. It was 38 paintings of their expedition. It was neat to see some of the sites we’ve already visited like Knife River Indian Villages and see paintings of what we’ve learned- when Lewis was shot, when Sacajawea saw her brother, etc. We were going to see a few sites my friend told us about, but it was getting late. We took one wrong turn as we left and ended up in Nebraska! Funny! We didn’t realize from where we were that they are only a couple miles away.
After a late start we headed west to Pipestone National Monument. Pipestone is a quarry that the Native Americans hold sacred. For centuries their ancestors have used rock from this site for their pipes. The pipes were used in ceremonies, for treaties, for prayer, etc. The rock is reddish pink and their history says it’s from the blood of the people that died there during a flood.
Next stop Sioux Falls, SD. We thought about going to Sioux Falls when we were in SD, but it was on the complete other side of the state. It’s pretty close to the area we are now so we decided to run over there to see a memorial for the USS South Dakota, the ship my grampa was stationed on during WWII. It was a neat memorial and we found pictures of my grampa on the wall! That was cool!
We had planned on going to Mitchell, SD, since that was on our list for SD also, but the Corn Palace closed at 5pm. We didn’t make it with our late start so it will have to wait for another time.
Our last stop was in a third state- Iowa. I have been debating when to see Iowa- after Wisconsin and Illinois or before Illinois. If we go now it’s going to be hot and I haven’t come across a bunch of things for us to do there. I’ve asked a few people that live there what there is to do and I haven’t come up with a bunch of things so I’m going to wait til the spring when it’s cooler. They have a tulip festival there in the spring so maybe we can catch that since we’ll miss the one in Skagit County again this year. The reason we went down there was that we found out they have Chic Fil A at the mall so we drove down for dinner! We couldn’t believe the amount of water there was from the flooding. It’s different seeing it with your own eyes.
While at the mall we looked at a Lewis and Clark exhibition they had. It was 38 paintings of their expedition. It was neat to see some of the sites we’ve already visited like Knife River Indian Villages and see paintings of what we’ve learned- when Lewis was shot, when Sacajawea saw her brother, etc. We were going to see a few sites my friend told us about, but it was getting late. We took one wrong turn as we left and ended up in Nebraska! Funny! We didn’t realize from where we were that they are only a couple miles away.
Moving Day
Thursday was moving day for us- time to move on down the road. We headed south and then west although we snuck in a trip to the SPAM museum before our final destination of Welcome, MN. The museum made me think of my Grampa and our ohana in da 808 state.
The SPAM museum in Austin was fun and educational. We watched a movie on Hormel and their products, saw how people all over the world enjoy SPAM, and learned how SPAM helped feed the troops during war times. We learned that Dinty Moore beef stew was developed when they had half a million empty cans after the government stopped a depression era program to aid livestock farmers. To sell their chili they hired a 20 piece Mexican band to play in different cities and offered a double your money back guarantee. We participated in some interactive games. There was a spot to be on the production line- you had to grab a can, put the spam (bean bag) inside, put the lid on, “cook” it, and then put the label on. Becca and I tied completing six cans in a minute and twenty four seconds! Rick, Jacob and Faith played a SPAM game show. It was an enjoyable way to spend a few hours.
That evening the kids and I saw our first fireflies ever! It was magical and unexpected!
The SPAM museum in Austin was fun and educational. We watched a movie on Hormel and their products, saw how people all over the world enjoy SPAM, and learned how SPAM helped feed the troops during war times. We learned that Dinty Moore beef stew was developed when they had half a million empty cans after the government stopped a depression era program to aid livestock farmers. To sell their chili they hired a 20 piece Mexican band to play in different cities and offered a double your money back guarantee. We participated in some interactive games. There was a spot to be on the production line- you had to grab a can, put the spam (bean bag) inside, put the lid on, “cook” it, and then put the label on. Becca and I tied completing six cans in a minute and twenty four seconds! Rick, Jacob and Faith played a SPAM game show. It was an enjoyable way to spend a few hours.
That evening the kids and I saw our first fireflies ever! It was magical and unexpected!
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
“Water” great day
We had another great day in the state of 10,000 lakes. (Did you know there are actually 11,842 lakes?!) We toured the sculpture garden this morning and saw the spoon with a giant cherry on it. Then we took a paddle boat down the Mississippi and through the locks. I’ve seen locks before, but I don’t think I’ve been on a boat going through them. It was fascinating watching the water rise and fall.
This afternoon Becca and I went kayaking with our friend Jan. Rick went fishing with Faith and Jacob. They caught ten fish in just an hour and a half! It was catch and release so no fish for dinner. We got a little sunburned, but not enough to make us miserable.
Can you believe I forgot to take my camera with me this morning? I was not happy, but there was nothing I could do about it so I was thankful I had my phone. Jan and Bob took pictures as well so I will have bonus photos!
Tonight Jacob and Faith had a ball playing with the “neighbor” kids while Rick and I played Wii games with Jan and Bob. Becca enjoyed peace and quiet watching a movie stretched out on the couch. We are worn out, but enjoyed another great day and great night.
This afternoon Becca and I went kayaking with our friend Jan. Rick went fishing with Faith and Jacob. They caught ten fish in just an hour and a half! It was catch and release so no fish for dinner. We got a little sunburned, but not enough to make us miserable.
Can you believe I forgot to take my camera with me this morning? I was not happy, but there was nothing I could do about it so I was thankful I had my phone. Jan and Bob took pictures as well so I will have bonus photos!
Tonight Jacob and Faith had a ball playing with the “neighbor” kids while Rick and I played Wii games with Jan and Bob. Becca enjoyed peace and quiet watching a movie stretched out on the couch. We are worn out, but enjoyed another great day and great night.
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
Christmas in July!
We started calling tire stores at 8am Monday to look for trailer tires after we lost some tread in North Dakota. I was nervous after Sears, Firestone and other companies didn’t have what we needed, but luckily Goodyear did. Yeah! We were on the road to Minnesota by 11am.
I was bummed about the state shutdown of state parks, but didn’t think it would affect us much beyond that. We planned on having lunch at a rest stop, but the first one was closed so we made plans to stop at the next one. Half an hour later passing by the next closed rest stop was when we realized they would all be closed. Rest areas, 66 state parks, 100 road projects (badly needed) and 22,000 workers without pay are all affected by the shutdown.
I was working on my photos and talking with Rick, but trying to pay attention as we came into St. Cloud when Becca piped up from the back that I’d missed Creative Memories headquarters. Wahhh I missed the mother ship! Just kidding. I’ve been there before, but I just figured I’d take a photo as we drove passed.
The traffic picked up as we entered the big city. We haven’t been around big cities in awhile and we’re heading into some big ones as we go east. We found our campground easily in Apple Valley. Right across the way are our friends Bob and Jan that we met in Texas. They are full time RVers and have the nicest RV! When the kids saw it in Texas they decided they wanted that one and would sleep on the floor. Shoot, I would eat off the floor! Anyway, it was great fun to see them again. Jan is a retired teacher and asked the kids some great questions- what did you learn on the road that you wouldn’t have learned in class? Where would you take your best friend? You’ll have to ask the kids for their answers.
The kids were so excited to go to Mall of America. They got online and googled all the stores and activities available. They could barely go to sleep last night they were so excited. I was worried about getting our teenager up, but Becca assured me she could get up for MOA. And sure enough, she was the first one up this morning. Bob and Jan had scouted out the mall and knew the best place to park and which doors opened first so we were in before 10am. Sensory overload set in as we entered the mall and the amusement park located inside. Luckily, Becca had memorized where the anchor stores were and where the stores they wanted to shop were located so we shopped first. Then lunch at the Rainforest Café- the original location! More shopping after lunch and then rides and then even more shopping. My legs are exhausted. The kids have thanked us repeatedly as they had such a great day with rides and purchases and lunch at a favorite spot. And now I feel like I do at 10am on Christmas day- happy, blessed and ready for a nap!
I was bummed about the state shutdown of state parks, but didn’t think it would affect us much beyond that. We planned on having lunch at a rest stop, but the first one was closed so we made plans to stop at the next one. Half an hour later passing by the next closed rest stop was when we realized they would all be closed. Rest areas, 66 state parks, 100 road projects (badly needed) and 22,000 workers without pay are all affected by the shutdown.
I was working on my photos and talking with Rick, but trying to pay attention as we came into St. Cloud when Becca piped up from the back that I’d missed Creative Memories headquarters. Wahhh I missed the mother ship! Just kidding. I’ve been there before, but I just figured I’d take a photo as we drove passed.
The traffic picked up as we entered the big city. We haven’t been around big cities in awhile and we’re heading into some big ones as we go east. We found our campground easily in Apple Valley. Right across the way are our friends Bob and Jan that we met in Texas. They are full time RVers and have the nicest RV! When the kids saw it in Texas they decided they wanted that one and would sleep on the floor. Shoot, I would eat off the floor! Anyway, it was great fun to see them again. Jan is a retired teacher and asked the kids some great questions- what did you learn on the road that you wouldn’t have learned in class? Where would you take your best friend? You’ll have to ask the kids for their answers.
The kids were so excited to go to Mall of America. They got online and googled all the stores and activities available. They could barely go to sleep last night they were so excited. I was worried about getting our teenager up, but Becca assured me she could get up for MOA. And sure enough, she was the first one up this morning. Bob and Jan had scouted out the mall and knew the best place to park and which doors opened first so we were in before 10am. Sensory overload set in as we entered the mall and the amusement park located inside. Luckily, Becca had memorized where the anchor stores were and where the stores they wanted to shop were located so we shopped first. Then lunch at the Rainforest Café- the original location! More shopping after lunch and then rides and then even more shopping. My legs are exhausted. The kids have thanked us repeatedly as they had such a great day with rides and purchases and lunch at a favorite spot. And now I feel like I do at 10am on Christmas day- happy, blessed and ready for a nap!
Sunday, July 10, 2011
More Indians, buffalos and some celebrities
An hour north of Bismarck is Knife River Indian Village. Sakakwea lived here and this was where Lewis and Clark chose her and her husband Charbonneau as guides for their expedition. The spelling of her name is different than we normally see, but looking online there is a third spelling as well and an article on the spelling of her name being controversial.
The Indians at this site lived in earth mounds; mounds of dirt that were built up along the Missouri river. They lived in these homes for ten years, but moved in the winter to seek more shelter among the trees in make shift earth mounds that only lasted for the winter. The earth mounds were forty feet across and held about twenty people. We were able to enter a reconstructed earth mound.
The women farmed and found the soil fertile along the river, but they had to fight off pocket gophers and other animals for the growing greens. The men hunted bison and kept watch for enemies. Sometimes the women would go on the bison hunts to cut and clean the meat and then they would send it down river to their tribe in a bull boat- a small boat with buffalo hide. What a great idea!
At the North Dakota Heritage Center we were once again amazed at how Native Americans used all the bones, bladders, skin, etc to meet their needs. I loved the buffalo scapula hoe and the antler rake. At a scenic stop yesterday the kids all learned facts about North Dakota and Becca told me the state fossil was petrified wood. Today we saw a sample and it was a cannonball/sphere shape. There other neat thing we learned was how the Indians would capture eagles. They were highly regarded and used the claws for special ceremonies so they would dig a pit, put sticks on top of it and then a dead rabbit. When the eagle would swoop down, the Indian would grab the claws. Can you imagine? Some times they’d be down there for days.
In Jamestown, we went in search of an albino buffalo. There are three of them that live here, and they are the only ones in North America. We didn’t see them today, but we did see the biggest buffalo in the world- Dakota Thunder- “born” in 1959 out of 60 tons of concrete.
Our plans for the day had us stopping in Fargo to see the Celebrity Walk of Fame. We spotted Bill Gates, Garth Brooks, Bert and Ernie, Barney, The Monkees, Kiss, etc. Unfortunately, there was a thunderstorm going on so we didn’t get out and take pictures, but we might tomorrow. We will be spending the night in Fargo because between Bismarck and Jamestown we lost some tread on one of our trailer tires. No one is open for repairs because it’s Sunday. We have talked about not traveling on the weekend because the last two times we’ve had problems it’s been Friday and Saturday. Oh well. I’m hoping the rain will be gone and I can get some celebrity hand/foot print photos in the morning and then we’ll be off to Minnesota.
The Indians at this site lived in earth mounds; mounds of dirt that were built up along the Missouri river. They lived in these homes for ten years, but moved in the winter to seek more shelter among the trees in make shift earth mounds that only lasted for the winter. The earth mounds were forty feet across and held about twenty people. We were able to enter a reconstructed earth mound.
The women farmed and found the soil fertile along the river, but they had to fight off pocket gophers and other animals for the growing greens. The men hunted bison and kept watch for enemies. Sometimes the women would go on the bison hunts to cut and clean the meat and then they would send it down river to their tribe in a bull boat- a small boat with buffalo hide. What a great idea!
At the North Dakota Heritage Center we were once again amazed at how Native Americans used all the bones, bladders, skin, etc to meet their needs. I loved the buffalo scapula hoe and the antler rake. At a scenic stop yesterday the kids all learned facts about North Dakota and Becca told me the state fossil was petrified wood. Today we saw a sample and it was a cannonball/sphere shape. There other neat thing we learned was how the Indians would capture eagles. They were highly regarded and used the claws for special ceremonies so they would dig a pit, put sticks on top of it and then a dead rabbit. When the eagle would swoop down, the Indian would grab the claws. Can you imagine? Some times they’d be down there for days.
In Jamestown, we went in search of an albino buffalo. There are three of them that live here, and they are the only ones in North America. We didn’t see them today, but we did see the biggest buffalo in the world- Dakota Thunder- “born” in 1959 out of 60 tons of concrete.
Our plans for the day had us stopping in Fargo to see the Celebrity Walk of Fame. We spotted Bill Gates, Garth Brooks, Bert and Ernie, Barney, The Monkees, Kiss, etc. Unfortunately, there was a thunderstorm going on so we didn’t get out and take pictures, but we might tomorrow. We will be spending the night in Fargo because between Bismarck and Jamestown we lost some tread on one of our trailer tires. No one is open for repairs because it’s Sunday. We have talked about not traveling on the weekend because the last two times we’ve had problems it’s been Friday and Saturday. Oh well. I’m hoping the rain will be gone and I can get some celebrity hand/foot print photos in the morning and then we’ll be off to Minnesota.
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