Slow week

I've had a rather quiet week.

A couple of coffee dates and some card playing but mostly just home.

I didn't drive to any sporting events this week and I skipped a couple of other things to get over my cold and cough.  It's that cough that comes from your toes, and it's not to pleasant for those in my company.  But it's much better than it was a week ago, so this week I'll get back into my routines.

Did you know that Halls cough drops has a Pep Talk in Every Drop?

Kinda silly, kinda cool.

Adios to the sofa!

So, the Stressless sofa that I moved out about 3 weeks ago, is now on its way to Michigan.

By way of Facebook, friend from my Coors days, Mike Babb wanted to come and buy the couch and have a visit.

It was a such a nice surprise.

Mike and Linda arrived pulling a trailer on Friday afternoon.  I had never met Linda, but instantly felt like we were good friends, some people are like that.

We started our evening with a special beer tasting.

Our Coors friend and colleague, Ann Fahy, had given me a special bottle of beer brewed by her son, head brewer at West O Beer.  This beer was a limited edition, each bottle signed by the head brewer.  I felt honored to be given this beer and Mike & Linda and I enjoyed tasting it.

It's a different style than I am used to drinking but it was a fun exploration of a farmhouse style brew, with strong ties to our friends Ann and Mike Fahy and their Headbrewer son Conor.

Mike has been gone for about 13 years now, but I'm sure he was with us in spirit.

I broke out a couple of vintage Coors pilsner glasses for our tasting.

The beer had a lovely color, almost a tinge of purple.

Mike Babb, Wanda, Linda Bab

We finished off our evening at Lehman's Supper Club for fish fry, more beer and lots of fun conversation.  It was really a delightful visit.

And guess what...the sofa is gone!

Judging at the pizza farm

On Saturday I took a beautiful drive to Alma to see Lora and Anders.

It was one of those perfect early fall days, the leaves are just starting to show a little color.

We had big plans for the day.

First stop, was River-Dale Farm in Pine Island, MN.

My friend Ann Fahy Gust and friends were having their annual market.  This is the second year that Lora and I have gone.  It's fun to see Ann for a short visit, do some shopping and find a place for lunch.  Ann and I worked together at Coors and I stood up for her at her wedding to Mike.

Wanda and Ann at the farm.

Ann has worked hard to clean up and restore all the outbuildings on the old farm.

It was a perfect day for the sale.

 After we left Pine Island, we found lunch at a Dairy Queen and then headed back to Alma.

We had made a commitment to be judges that evening at a chocolate cake contest.

A first for me, but I was into it.

Truth is, we should have skipped the DQ meal, because we were a little on the full side when I arrived to eat the cake.

The cake contest was a benefit for the Cochrane-Fountain City School.

There were some impressive looking cakes for sure.

The second from the left took first place.
It had split during transit, we didn't penalize for that, and it tasted great.
4th from the left took 2nd place.
This cake was made with zucchini and it was so moist and light and the frosting tasted like malt.

10 delicious cakes, a couple of the cakes had had trouble in transit, but all were quite fancy.

The criteria was quite detailed.
We were served a piece of each of the 10 cakes and asked to rate each on this scale.

My favorite of the cakes was a chocolate zucchini recipe.

The first prize winner had a whipped creme frosting that was so good.

All of the cakes were great.

We 3 judges enjoyed the event but we were full of cake for sure.

The Suncrest Farm has pizza nights a few nights each week.

It's a big deal and draws a large crowd.

The wood fired pizza was delicious!

I ran into an old friend, Joe Slaby.
Joe and many others, used to come from the Waumandee, WI area to ski in Colorado.
We had so much fun back in those days with the Wisconsin kids.
It was nice to meet Joe's family and we had a nice visit.
(Joe's wife, Lora and I were the cake judges.)

There were goats!
Kids were feeding the goats their grass, I was hoping to hear their funny little calls, but these kids were quiet.

There was a musician playing folk style music, mostly of his own creation.

The line to order the pizza seemed a bit crazy, but it moved right along.
There was beer and wine for sale, so we had a beverage while we waited for our pizzas.

Anders found some kids to toss a football with, and before long, our pizza was ready.

Since we were full of cake, we took our pizzas home.

It was fun and very full day.

I stayed overnight at Lora's and enjoyed coffee and breakfast on Sunday morning before heading back home.  Another sunny drive and then a very exciting Packer game rounded out my weekend.

More back to school

I love seeing all the back to school photos & I borrowed these pics off Facebook.

Alyxis is starting her Junior year.
I'll be watching her play lots of Volleyball and Basketball this year.

All of the Vanasse kids are in school this year.
Milli - 5th; Charli - 7th;  Wynni - 4th; Bryce - 1st and Corde - 4K

Anders is heading into 4th grade, where did those years go.
Anders was born just shortly before my arrival in Wisconsin, 10 short years ago.

5 Cardinals this year at the Chivers' house.
Ivan - Kindergarten; Owen - 5th grade; Megan - 9th grade, Emily is a Senior
and little Gus is going to daycare at school in the Cardinal Nest.

Jake 4th grade and Jackson 7th grade

I think that's all the photos for back to school kids.
It's pretty fun to watch these kids grow and I'm proud of every single one.

Back to school

I'm gathering the back to school photos of the kids.

Kyle's family first.

Stella is in 7th grade, Gage is a Sophomore
Jens is in 1st grade, Ruby is in 4th grade,
Jude is in 4K

Kyle and Heather and Jens dropped Jack off at the University.
It's going to be an exciting year for Jack, he'll be missed around Luck though.

Jude is very excited to be back to school.
Jude's teachers from last year, Miss Stephanie and Miss Becky,
and this year's teacher (not pictured) Miss Jodie, are our everyday-of-the-week heroes. ❤️

To all teachers, professors, and support staff who make it all happen...Thank you for all you do.

Live Streaming

A local man has filled the need and created a small business that looks to be successful at first blush.

It will be so nice to not miss the game if the weather is bad 

or when the away games are far.

Go Cardinals 

Birthday Bash

Last weekend, Kyle, Heather and Kris hosted a birthday gathering to celebrate Anders, Ruby, Stella and Jens.  All have birthdays close together in August.  The meal was to be a shrimp boil so I did not want to miss it.

The humidity was high and it rained a little in the morning to keep it up there, but no matter, it was a fun gathering.

Kris and Dave at the cooking station.

Lots of taters and corn ready for the cooker.

Grandma Lois had to whip up 4 cakes for this party.
She does a bang up job too.

 Larry and Lois, Jessica & Gary, Uncle Harold, Angie & Aaron and crew, Ryan and Cam & girls, Cole, Alec & Ashlyn, Grandpa Kenny, and Dave & his wife (local caterers) who mentored Kris on the boil. 

There was a lot of food and many beverages.

Before we ate, there was a basketball game in progress on the new Johansen court.

Side were picked with Gage on one team and Jack on the other.

I enjoyed watching the kids play, the older boys making sure that all the kids got to handle the ball, but also making sure that they dunked whenever they got the chance.

 Ruby took a digger on both knees to the concrete, so her play was short.

She's tough though and later on in the day was right back at it, but with some tights on.

It was a nice family day, with good food, laughing kids and cold beer.

Life is good.