Hot, But Breezy

What was such a nice July temperature wise, we are now getting into the hot days of August. Friday Mike suggested we go on a fishing/picnic trip. Apparently he seen this place as he drove by during work. A nice park with pavilions and little grills. Right next to the water. What he didn't count on was that everyone and their uncle had the same idea. It was also a beach so there were swimmers that didn't make a good combination with fishing.

So then we found a nice little spot a few feet away that nobody seemed interested in. We had also stopped at the dollar general and got a little portable grill. Mike helped set up the grill, and get it lit. I, yes I, cooked the brats. I didn't burn them, I turned them at just the right time and I must say that I am pretty impressed with myself. I bake caramel apple cheesecake bars, and now grilled brats! Paula Deen would be so proud.

Only one person caught any fish and that was my bro in law Kevin. He got three bullheads. Of course Emily took the pleasure of taking them off the hooked. Fish mutilator that she is.





This fella here started swarming us, along with his buddys, as soon as I put the brats on the grill. Each one would sit on a pole and just watch. Sometimes they would move and get closer as they did. Once everyone had eaten I took a hotdog and watched a bird fight ensue. Well not really, this guy was to fast, he sat and watched for a good 10 minutes, then swooped down and got all three pieces that I had thrown out.

Not Much Going On Here!

Like the title says, not much going on here. Well there was, but nothing worth posting about. After finding out my daughters new neighbors was a stalking peeping tom, the stress kicked into high gear trying to find her a new place to live. She was real upset about the whole ordeal about moving, but in the end, I think she got a better place to live.

About the only thing interesting to share is the cutting of the tree. Before we bought this place there was a beautiful, almost purple at times, blossoming tree. It was one of the things that attracted me to this house.

It was always so pretty and full. One spring, an freeze happened right after the blooms opened, they all died and the tree has never been right. Well it finally died completely this year. Mike wanted to chop it down a couple of years ago, but I always said, wait till next year and see if it blooms then. Nothing, so now it is just a stump in the back yard.

So now I know how to kill a tree. LOL. Well it leaves a big open spot for a possible pool?

To The Zoo!

Hugging Turtles

Since we had to be down in Madison anyway, after the appointments we decided to head on over to the Zoo. I chuckle because Micayla was so excited, like a kid in a toy store. Apparently everyone else had the same idea. Busy.

You'd think that being at the Zoo before, we wouldn't get so excited about the animals, although I do admit, that it doesn't seem to be much there like there used to. A lot of empty areas. Not even elephants. There was something posted about an expansion, and I suppose when you run a zoo on donations, I guess you are limited as to what you can have. I have no idea. Either way it was a beautiful day to get out.

Got some pictures of hugging turtles, giraffes, lions and tigers. Some birds. There was one very photogenic giraffe, and when I look at the lion, I think of Cher in Zookeeper. The male was hiding behind the bushes. Another one was the camel. The usual stuff. It has been a long time since we were there and I noticed that there was a new children's petting zoo. Looked like the usual goats and a lot of playgrounds.

The chimpanzee's were not on display today, and the orangutans weren't moving much. All in all, for free entertainment, it was nice.

Didn't see too much in the aviary. We were hoping to see a sloth, since there was a sign indicating there was one. Maybe it's another time to go visit Milwaukee.

New Car

You always feel good when buying a new car. It may not be brand new, but new to you. On Friday my daughter got a new car. Makes me happy because now I know she has something safe to drive. I believe she was a bit disappointing that it didn't have cruise. Which is kind of odd for a 2008 not to have cruise. Doesn't that come standard anymore? Apparently not in KIA's.

 After what seemed like hours of waiting and signing papers, here is Kurt handing her over her final packet. You can see they are both thrilled. LOL.

 The cute little new car. I am sure she will be very happy with it. She doesn't have to go through the passenger door anymore to open the drivers door. She has air, and a radio. Plus a jack that she can hook up her iPod to.

Say farewell to her first car. You were good while you lasted. We just weren't sure how much longer you would last.

A Redneck Reception

My friends got married in December, I believe she said December 21st. Well at that time I didn't know them, but over the course of a couple months, we have become friends. They had their reception today. It was my first camo themed reception.

 

If you can see the bride, she is carrying her own gun. I love the cake. They are such a quirky couple.:)

 

They sort of asked me no to put anything on facebook, well since I am not showing their faces, does this count? 

 

Of course, you have an outside party without a ladybug. I hear that that is a good omen. 

A Long Weekend.

Being that the Forth was on a Thursday, my job decided to let us off on Friday also. That is OK with me. Except now, I don't want to go back on Monday. Such is Life.

I am a bit disappointed in myself about taking pictures of fireworks. I don't know how to use my camera to capture a sharp picture, although I tried many settings. I am going to have to read up on that for nest year. I know it can be done. I've seem professional pics, although they have much better camera's.

I tried different settings on my camera, night vision, multishot, auto. Either the flash came on or the shutter was not fast enough. Although I didn't get  clear picture, the results of a slow shutter turned out kind of cool.

First two pictures were from a local town, the next two is from a friend of mine. I was more impressed with his than the town's. But it was a small town, so I guess they did what they had funds for.

Again, trying with different settings on the camera. Not a clear shot, but an interesting one.

Even though I didn't get nothing done that I wanted to I did have a great time with some friends. One day I took a friend out for lunch, then we seen her and her hubby at the fireworks later that day. Saturday we hung out at another friends house, watched fireworks and had smores.

We went to Oxford fireworks on Saturday. They always have an awesome show. They actually go around taking donation for next year show. The more they get, the better the show.

I took my older camera, since it has a "firework" setting, but again the results weren't as I expected. It too was too slow, even on the multishot. But then it died shortly after. Should have taken my iPod, because the ending was fabulous.

Cemetery Cruising

I know a weird title right? Well back when I was younger I used to go with my Mom and my Grandma to put flowers on graves. While they would do that I would sometimes wonder around and look at all the headstones. Sometimes we went to an old, one room church that I believe my Grandpa helped build. If it wasn't my Grandpa, it was someone from my Grandma's side of the family.

Behind this church was the cemetery. Old stones. Some so old you couldn't even see the name or the date. That is what interested me. The date. When was the person born and when did they die. Sometimes they were so young. Sometimes it was an entire family. What sickness or event happened that all theirs lived were taken withing a short time of each other.



Of course you cannot rule out the awesome stones, mausoleums, sarcophagus, and other tributes to a loved one. Someday I would like to go to New Orleans and walk around the St Louis Cemetery. 




Some of the mausoleums were beautiful, like the one above looks like marble. And of course it is locked. Which makes me think "who has the key?" Now if it was a recent death, there would be no question, but a couple of them were from the 1920's. Is there still family that passes on the key? Or is it left behind in a pile of junk long forgotten.

I will always cruise through cemetery's. I think that it is comforting. But I that there are some haunted cemetery's around that I am not sure I want to visit. Oh yes, I will. Like Dartford Cemetery in Green Lake. Here you can sit on the roof of a large stone building, and will get pushed off.