I'll miss my pal

Sad news from Luck this morning.   

My friend, 

nephew Kyle's mother-in-law 

and grandmother many of the basketball players, 

Janice Olson died today.  

Janice & Wanda
The Go-Jos ready for the next game

She fell down the steps this morning at her daughter Jessica's. They think there was another medical issue before the fall.  Poor Jess was probably there.  So sad for Janice's kids and of course the grandchildren too.  

I'm glad I took a couple of photos of her and Jack 

& all of us on Saturday night.  

I'm just so sad.  

She looked great Saturday night and we were talking about the upcoming basketball season and going to all the games together again. In the blink of an eye its over.  She would have been 75 in a month.

  

On all our car rides to basketball over the years she told me a lot of personal & detailed stories about her life.  We also discussed politics as we were of like minds. She had a photographic memory for dates and numbers that was just amazing.  I'm going to miss our rides together so much.  Janice was so kind to me, always complimentary and compassionate.  She kept me laughing on many of our drives.

Last year we went to all but 2 of the varsity games for the Luck Cardinals together, even making the drive to Ashland and Superior.

She was always ready to go and willing to go early to watch the girls play before the boys.  We spent lots of hours on the bleachers together.

She was a connoisseur of the popcorn at each gymnasium.

I could take it or leave it, 

but Janice wanted to have her popcorn at every game.

I guess I'll spend my day looking through photos and getting a jump drive ready of Janice photos for when the kids are ready to have those.

I'll miss my pal Janice but I know that she had a strong faith 

and is now resting in peace. 

First

First snow of 2017-18 winter started this morning.

The ground was a little white and there was slush on the steps.

It's a sleet / snow mix now at noon and I think will continue most of the day.

I'm glad I filled the bird feeders yesterday.

There are Juncos, Goldfinch, Housefinch, Downy Woodpeckers, Nuthatch & this beauty here all looking for snacks.

Tomorrow is supposed to be nicer.

Of course, I have not done any fall clean up, so I'm hoping for some more nice weather before the real winter storms start in.

Timing

Birds have their own calendar.

I have a bird book for writing daily observations, and about a week ago I noticed that the Tufted Titmouse had been here last year.  I was thinking that I must have missed him this year.

Then today, here he was and he spent quite awhile at the feeders and sitting outside the window.

I guess I was a little ahead of his calendar.

Tufted Titmouse 2017.10.26

The other day I was so delighted to see a doe and yearling in the yard, close to the windows and in no apparent hurry to move on.

Sadly, yesterday, I noticed a dead deer laying on my grass that borders the county highway.  Sadly, I suppose it is one of the two that I photographed just days earlier.  Wisconsin is brutal on deer, so many are killed on the roadways, especially this time of year when they are mating.  I know it's all part of the deal, but it still makes me very sad.  I'm not sure how this will go with the dead one, I suppose it will lay there until Mother Nature sends her clean up crew to scavenge the remains.  

It's that time of year that the bird bath needs to be kept filled for the little winged creatures to find a drink and the bird feeders are doing some good business as the weather gets colder.

Life is timing.

Goodbye to the Princess

Today is a very sad day for Laila.  

Her sweet kitty, The Princess Cleopatra, went to heaven following a few weeks of failing health.  

She was loving and loyal companion to Laila through many years and changes.

We are thankful for kind and compassionate veterinary care.

Sweet dreams Princess Cleo

Duels

Yesterday my friend Mary came down.  We took a road trip to St. Croix Falls  to a quilt shop, then back home via Luck. We made a stop at the cemetery to see Dad & Ev and also at McKinley cemetery to see Mary's Mom Jean.

Last night we attended a fund raiser for our local homeless shelter. 

 It was dueling pianos.  

We started the evening with a quick, fun photo. 

The piano guys were great.  

The crowd was into it & I think they raised a mess of money. 

We left after the first set to eat Friday Night Fish Fry at Lehman's....priorities😉

Where have I been

Well, it was a busy week last week, 2 nights of volleyball, 

a 2 night trip to Solon Springs for quilt camp 

and a wicked cold thrown in the mix.

I'm behind on my volleyball photos so will just post a couple from quilt camp for now to let you all know that I'm alive and soon will feel well enough to be back to my photos and blogging.

This summer I spent a day in Cornicopia, WI at a quilt class and had stitched up the tops for these two runners.  I finished them up at quilt camp.

I also worked on this quilt top.

It's all done, just needs to be quilted and bound and then it will head off to it's new owner.

This was many little squares with the shades of cream colors so close that it was a challenge to be sure I was using a random color scheme.  But it was fun sewing and I'd do it again.

The backing for this quilt has coffee cups on it.

It's called Coffee Break.

My friend Mary sewed up a bell-pull for her friend using the embroidered logos from shirts owned by the friend's late husband.  It turned out so nice. and we all worked with Mary on her design.

What a wonderful keepsake.

Okay, back to my blanket, heating pad and hot tea.

Later!

Wilderness Road

On Friday, the Luck Cardinals traveled to Mellen, Wisconsin to take on the Granitediggers for their last regular season football game.  It's a trek for the Luck folks, a little closer for me, but still almost 100 miles to the NE.  I decided to go as the game was a 4pm start and it was good day for a drive to see the fall colors.

The route I took through the Chequamegon-Nicolet Forest was a beauty.  I enjoyed the drive although did not have time to stop to take photos of Mother Nature's work.  I did take a video of the drive for Laila and since it is on YouTube you can view it by clicking here.

By the time I arrived in Mellen, about 15 minutes late, the score was already 24 to 0 in favor of the Cardinals.  The final score was 74 to 6.

I got there in time to see Jack catch a pass.

Jack had a good tackle on this play.

Jack did the weave and dodge for a good gain.

 The starting line up took to the sidelines for the second half.

It's hard for the Seniors to stand and watch I'm sure, 

but its the nature of winning so big.

The Cardinals walked away with another win for an undefeated season.

Next week they will play in a tournament Jamboree and depending on the results,

they may have one more game after that.

I'm away at Quilt Camp next weekend, so this was probably my last game.

I've enjoyed watching Jack and team play this season.

I hope they have a good post season.

Bring on basketball!

Parents night again

Thursday was parents night at Spring Valley volleyball.

Parents play an important role in sports participation, 

it's nice to see time taken to recognize & thank them.

This year we have Alyxis playing Varsity 

and Foreign Exchange Student Anna playing Junior Varsity.

Alyxis and teammate

Alyxis with Dad Andy

Alyxis with Mom Michelle

Anna with host parents Glenn & Kathy

The Junior Varsity won 1 game of 3 to lose their match,

and the Varsity won 1 game out of 4 to lose their match.

But there were more great volleys, saves and serves than normal.

Anna is playing well.

Alyxis takes this sport very seriously, is passionate and emotional.
It's not easy when they lose, but it is fun to watch her play.

Seniors

I remember when I was a senior, we were given a couple of options of photographers who would do a photo for yearbook.  During the shoot, you chose either a light colored drape or dark sweater with pendant necklace.  Now, senior photos are all about the kids, what they love and where they live.  What a great change.

I was asked if I would take senior photos for one of the Luck kids.  I was flattered and said I could try, having never done that style of photography before.  

It turned out to be a very fun experience.  Looking for creative ways to photograph Michael using the backgrounds that were available at both the football field and the golf course.

Here are 3 sneak peeks. I'm still editing and have not started on the photos taken at the golf course.

I enjoyed doing this, I might be willing to do more of this kind of photography.

Michael is a nice kid.  He's very respectful and nice to his Mother.

I enjoyed spending the afternoon with him.

Crabby?

We see American Eagles often here in Northern Wisconsin.

Most often, they are busy guarding their road kill groceries.

Coming home today, I saw this big guy at work near Cumberland in the rain.

As another car came by, he spooked, and flew into the trees.

I pulled over and waited.

He did a fly by over the hood of my car, 

I was not prepared and shooting through the windshield is not good. 

After his fly by, he landed close to the road.

I slowly crept my car closer.

 Eventually, he got sick of posing for me, but I got some nice beauty shots first.

Glenn said that Eagles always look mad.

I think they might just be a little crabby.

But they sure are a sight to see.