Fall this and that

Our neighbor Tigger dropped by on Thursday afternoon and looked in to see what we were up to.

I had no idea that this little maple was growing in my woods until it turned such a pretty fall color.

Oaks don't get much credit for being pretty in the fall, but the one in my yard is a beauty right now, especially next to the maple that is growing beside it.

Headed to photography club tomorrow at Crex Meadows.

This month the subject is landscapes, all photos are to be taken at Crex Meadows.

Here are my submissions for this month's review / critique.

More leaves and more leaves and more leaves

I saw someone post on Facebook today that 

they were so sick of seeing so many leaves on the grass that they were going to close the curtains! Ha!  

Well, I had been having a lazing morning, playing internet games, reading Facebook status updates and watching some DVR TV, but that comment got me moving.

I got out the big leaf blower and spent 2 hours in the backyard moving the first layer of leaves to the woods.  Only a couple of maples have dropped their leaves and of course the ash trees.  

Gotta love ash trees, they drop all their leaves on the same day or two.  

Maples take their sweet time, a few each day...makes clean up an ongoing fall job.

 A couple of panoramic shots of the backyard after I moved the leaves.

I love the new phone camera for having this fun feature, and glad the salesman showed it to me.

Self portrait

Moving a wave of leaves
This big tree continues to be a beauty.

Moving the leaves.

View from the red chairs, a nice spot for a cold beverage.

Some fall decor.

Direction-ally Correct

This phrase (an old Coors-ism) popped in my head today as I headed back to Rice Lake from my 2nd trip to Eau Claire in two days.  

The new Android phone that I got yesterday, had a software glitch this morning and I could not seem to fix it, so headed back to the store.  

Since it was such a nice day, again, I decided that instead of being bummed about 'having to go back to EC', I might as well make it an opportunity to see more fall color.  

I found a bridge over the Eau Claire River at the Boyd Neighborhood Park.

Eau Claire River

Just West of downtown Eau Claire, WI

Looking West

Little Free Library located at the park.  Love this idea.

Maple on river bank

I heard a father telling his son that it looks like this tree is on fire, yup, I agree.

When I left Eau Claire, I headed kind of North, kind of West to get back home.  

I didn't really know a good route, but figured as long as I was traveling in a directionally correct manner, eventually it would work out.

A couple of years ago, I visited this bridge near Jim Falls with friends Terry and Janet.  Today I had brought my Taco Bell lunch and a lawn chair and enjoyed the view & sunshine while I ate my crunchy tacos.

Took this panoramic view with my new phone.

The Chippewa River near Jim Falls, WI

This area of the river is downstream from an electrical dam and is a fish refuge year round, so no fishing.

It was a pretty nice spot to have lunch.

I was messing around with shutter speeds on my camera and got this effect in the water.
I might have to play with this some more, but will need a tripod next time.

 Continuing to aim directionally correct towards home, I took some country roads.

The drive was so picturesque it almost seemed surreal. 

My eyes were on sensory overload from all the color.

This little pond caught my eye as I drove by, so I stopped and took a longer look.

Make's ya wanna sing that John Denver song about Country Roads takin' ya home...

Beauty

There is nothing more Wisconsin to me than Holstein cows and fall leaves.

When I got home, I looked out the living room window and decided that some of the prettiest leaves I had seen all day were right there.

Looking out my living room window.

Walking along the East edge of my yard.

This is surely a fall to remember, I am hoping the leaves hang on so I can enjoy them and take more pictures.

It will be nice to see this color in a couple of months when this whole area is under a layer of white.

More color

On Tuesday I drove to Eau Claire to do my part to stimulate the economy and stopped to take a few fall photographs along the way.  

Highway 53 between Rice Lake and Eau Claire really is a pretty nice drive, and lots of colorful hillsides this time of year.   

Here are a few shots.

Red sled on a fall road trip.

I could not drive down this road due to construction, but took a snap of these lovely trees anyway.

Classic Wisconsin fall shot

This hillside is about at its peak, so sad that it won't last longer.

So, there's your Wisconsin fall color report courtesy of me and the Red Sled.

Back in Rice Lake

After spending the weekend Up North looking at all the pretty fall colors, I took my favorite photograph of the fall just 2 miles from my house on a road that I drive almost everyday.

This is the Red Cedar River in Rice Lake, WI

Looking South from the County Road O bridge.

My niece (in law) and my nephew are awesome

On Sunday, 10/2, Andy & Michelle ran in the Twin Cities Marathon.  It was the first marathon for them both.  They trained hard and finished the race with heads high.  I am so proud of them, what an amazing accomplishment.  

I am so proud of them both.

♥ ♥ ♥

I signed up to get race updates for the kids as they ran while I was Up North at the Sandcastle, here are the updates.  It was very exciting to get these text messages and know that the running was going well for the kids.

Received: Oct 2, 2011 8:15 AM
Subject: MICHELLE JOHANSEN just started.
MICHELLE JOHANSEN just started.  Stay tuned for updates! 

*************

Received: Oct 2, 2011 9:33 AM
Subject: Update: ANDREW JOHANSEN passed the...
Update: ANDREW JOHANSEN passed the 6.2 mile mark at 9:24. At this pace, he will be at the 13.1 mile at 10:44

*************

Received: Oct 2, 2011 10:46 AM
Subject: Update: ANDREW JOHANSEN passed the...
 Update: ANDREW JOHANSEN passed the 13.1 mile mark at 10:44. At this pace, he will be at the 18.6 mile at 12:38

*************

Received: Oct 2, 2011 1:01 PM

Subject: Update: MICHELLE JOHANSEN passed...
 Update: MICHELLE JOHANSEN passed the 24 mile mark at 1:01. At this pace, she will be at the Finish mile at 2:16

*************

Received: Oct 2, 2011 1:01 PM
Subject: Update: ANDREW JOHANSEN passed the...
 Update: ANDREW JOHANSEN passed the 24 mile mark at 1:01. At this pace, he will be at the Finish mile at 2:16

********************

Received: Oct 2, 2011 1:28 PM
Subject: Update: MICHELLE JOHANSEN finished...
 Update: MICHELLE JOHANSEN finished at 1:28 at an unofficial time of 05:17:06. 

*************

Received: Oct 2, 2011 1:29 PM
Subject: Update: ANDREW JOHANSEN finished...
 Update: ANDREW JOHANSEN finished at 1:28 at an unofficial time of 05:17:05.

October Up North

First I have to say, it was an amazing weekend for 'Sconnie sports.

The Milwaukee Brewers won the first two games of their National League Division Series.

The Wisconsin Badgers beat the Nebraska Cornhuskers on Saturday

and on Sunday, the Green Bay Packers beat up on my old team, the Denver Broncos.

A clean sweep for the Wisconsin teams, how fun is that!

Photo courtesy of Facebook/Green Bay Press-Gazette

.......................

And, as far as my weekend, I am finally feeling better and

Kris, Lora and Anders met me at our cabin Up North on Friday night.

Serious conversation between Mother Lora and son Anders

Anders really loves the outdoors and he seems to be a natural at cabin life.

The trees Up North can use a little moisture once in a while.

.............................

I took a few scenery pictures also.

The leaves are really pretty right now and the weather was quite excellent.

Gordon, WI

Gordon, WI

Gordon, WI

Gordon, WI

The Red Sled in Gordon, WI

View from the rest stop just North of Spooner, WI

I love spending the weekend at the cabin.

We did a few little projects...

New lights over the bar, & some cabin curtains. 

New steps & railing off the porch.

New thermometer, and yes it was almost 80 degrees today.

And last, but not least, a new curtain on the OH window.

I love it up there and it is always much fun, 

but when I got home and took a long, long hot shower, that was really sweet.

Home Sweet Home.