It’s one of those special days.  I have watched a number of TV programs today about 9/11.  Bad things happen everyday, but the pain that day was so immense.  So many lives affected in those hours.  And it still continues to affect us all.  And by remembering, we gain resolve that we must defend our country, our way of life.  We live in the best country in the world, even in bad times we live wonderful lives.  Through all our disagreements we can not lose sight of common goals.  God, family, country.

Chris and I have had a good week.  Labor Day weekend was cool and wet to get started.  The Appleton Wisconsin area was hit very hard by rain and wind storms on Friday September 2.  Lot’s of trees down and damage.  And with trees down lot’s of power lines down,  and many people had to wait until Sunday and Monday to get electricity back.   We were fine in Oshkosh.  We spent the weekend at home. Time to catch up with things that needed to be done around here.  And we made the Farmer’s Market Saturday morning, got some fresh corn and Michigan Peaches.  We had strong, cool north winds blowing in off the lake.  But it was good to be home.  Monday we were off for Labor Day, and were lucky enough to be able to have a picnic with friends.  Steve and Nancee Rehfeldt were in town from Denver and Mike and Mary and Mark and Terry were able to join us for some brats and corn, and of course great beers.

The work week went quickly, just Tuesday Wednesday and Thursday.    Thursday night we headed to Milwaukee.  We spent the night with Mom.  The Packers kicked off the NFL season Thursday night and we watched the game with Mom.  What a game!  So the Packers started out with a win.   Friday morning we spent some more time with Mom, but then headed out for lunch on our own.  We had a certificate I had bought to stay at County Clare,  a bed and breakfast in downtown Milwaukee.  We had always wanted to stay there, and this was our chance.  So Chris and I just spent the afternoon together.  We walked downtown and the river walk, which we love to do. And the weather turned much nicer than forecast, warmer and more sun.  So it was a great day.  We made our way back to County Clare in the evening.  The food was wonderful.  And they did a good job of making an Irish , welcoming atmosphere.  In the evening musicians wandered in.  The music was informal, lively and fun.  We absolutely loved it.   And I may have had a few Murphy’s stouts.

In the morning they fed us a relaxing breakfast.  The restaurant is only open in the morning for guests.  That made it nice.   And before leaving Milwaukee we stopped downtown at the Milwaukee Market.  We had never taken the time to stop and look around.  It was interesting and fun.  I believe it was probably a large warehouse.  Now it is full of small businesses.  Bakeries, counter diners, candy shop, spice shop, seafood, wine beer.  A neat place to stop and spend some time,  go hungry!

We took a slow ride home, I wanted to stay relaxed!  We stopped in the city of Theresa to go to Widmer’s cheese that we had not been to for a long time.  That was fun, and tasty!  And I took the country roads home from there,  lot’s of them.   I messed up at an interchange in Fon du lac that was new since I had last taken that road.  Guys don’t need maps,  I really just wanted to see the extra country roads, really.

We got home for a couple of hours Saturday afternoon, but our weekend was not done.  We headed to Green Bay.  We had a nice supper at Titletown Brewery, at the foot of the Ray Nitchske bridge.  And a couple of good beers.  Then we headed over to Oneida Casino, to lose a few dollars and spend the night.  Chris let me down,  she usually wins, I always lose!   We agree the hotel is nicely done and always well kept up, must be the casino money!

Today was back home.  More projects at home.  I did get the deck sealed today.  And we spent time packing the trailer.  Wednesday we start our fall camping trip at High Cliff State Park.  Fall in Wisconsin can be beautiful.  The days are getting shorter, and I saw some leaves turning color in the way home today.  So we enjoy our time at High Cliff as fall takes hold.  Hopefully not too quickly.  Thursday is supposed to be in the 50’s and lows in the 30’s.  But it should warm up some by the weekend.  We will stay 12 days.  Enders will join us for part of that time.  I have my bike in the truck and a batch of firewood.  And the grill.  Tuesday night I have an SOB board meeting here, so I will have time to just hook up the truck that night.  In the morning I will take the trailer to work with me, and after work head right to High Cliff.  It is actually closer to work than home is, but on the other side of Lake Winnebago.  So it will make it easy for me to go to work from there.  And Chris should be able to work from there when she wants to.  The MiFi we purchased earlier in the year should give her wifi access at the trailer.

So that’s our story for now.  Life is good for us.  We try to take the time to enjoy it and each other.  We will have these next 2 weeks to enjoy the outdoors, then I head out with a couple of friends  to visit Steve and Nancee in Denver.  It happens to be the weekend of the Great American Beer Festival.  And we already have plans for Thanksgiving weekend.  Our daughter and son-in-law have invited us to Detroit, and to the Packer Lions game!   And Marie will fly in to join us also.  So it will be a fun weekend, and then Marie will come back to Oshkosh with us for a week.  And December 8th we will head to Florida for a long weekend.  Is life going to fast or what?