Chippewa Falls, WI–part 2

Chelsea and Mack’s wedding was held Sept. 10 on my sister’s farm.  The mosquitoes were out for the wedding rehearsal, but it was a bit windy the day of the wedding so no mosquitoes (I think they may have sprayed also).

Rehearsal photos - Chelsea and her dad, Tom

Chelsea and Mack

Wedding Day -

The view from the hill where the wedding was held-

Tom, my brother-in-law, had his arms full with my grand niece, Tenley, and my niece, Avery.

The bride, groom and parents of each -

The reception was held in one of the sheds on the farm.  Of course they spent a lot of time cleaning, repairing, reroofing… and it looked great.

The decorations were mostly antiques.

The picture below is of my mom and a kitchen hutch.  This hutch was bought by my parents shortly after they got married.  My brother used it for a while and now my sister has it.  The cabinet doors have been replaced due a moving accident by my nephews!

Above is a wall of family “photos”.  Ok, most are old photos of members of the bride and grooms families.  The other framed “photos” are me, my mom and my sister.

My nieces and nephew enjoying their meal. 

My mom had never been inside a porta potty, so since these were never used porta potties (my sister was excited to learn she got brand new ones) we had my mom inspect it. 

Tenley was so tired she fell asleep holding a crayon.

Dirk and Ember -

My nieces – Summer, Chelsea and Morgan

Chelsea and my sister, Amy -

Chelsea showing the twice “borrowed” earrings.  My sister “borrowed” these from my mom when she was a teenager and never returned them then Chelsea borrowed them for the wedding.

Mack and Chelsea’s first dance.  Chelsea made her dress out of her mom’s wedding dress and another dress.  It was very pretty and original!

Chelsea and her dad -

We left early as mom and my nephew’s family were flying out very early the next morning and had to drive to the Minneapolis/St. Paul airport. 

Chippewa Falls, WI part 1

My main reason for visiting this area the first 2 weeks of September was to visit my sister and her family and attend my niece’s wedding.  Of course, having a nice state park and a good biking trail nearby is great too!

Before I get to the wedding photo’s (which I understand a couple of you are waiting on) I want to post a few other things.

First, I had never fired a gun before this trip.  A few days after the wedding my sister invited me over for lunch and she mentioned that her family was going shooting.  She said they would show me how to shoot if I wanted to.  I wasn’t sure if I even wanted to hold a gun, but I went.  I ended up shooting a 9mm glock (I think that’s right) 3 times.  I missed the target (an old water heater) the first time, but got it the next 2 times.  I don’t have a picture of me shooting, but below is my sister, Amy, being taught how to shoot by her son, Gavin.

The better shooters, shot up this gourd and almost made a smiley face.

The Old Abe trail is the rail trail that is just a mile or so from Lake Wissota State Park.  I have ridden the trail several times and rode it 5 times while I was there, from a quick trip of 10 miles to 30 miles.

 

On one of my trips I noticed that they were setting up for a festival or something and after some research I decided I wanted to go to one of the events.

Yep, a Demolition Derby.  I had never been to one and didn’t think I wanted to go to one for the entire event.  So I rode my bike there and watched for about 15 minutes from the bike trail.  Very interesting.   As you can see from the crowds, it was well attended.

While at Lake Wissota, I saw something I had been searching for.  A white squirrel!!!!  Unfortunately the only time I saw the almost solid white squirrel (it had a little black patch on the back of it’s head) I was walking to the restrooms and had no camera.  But on a couple of my squirrel hunting trips (using my camera skills, not my newly acquired pistol skills) I saw a squirrel with a solid white tail and more white on his body than most squirrels.  Another camper told me there was at least one white squirrel and 3 partially white squirrels. 

Also while there, my mom, nephew and his family came in for the wedding.  One day we went to the local park/zoo.  Below is a picture of Jackson enjoying the bears.

 

I will post wedding pictures in part 2.

Iron River, MI

Once again, I am very behind in my blogging. 

During August, I stayed in Iron River where I have stayed several times before.  I enjoy the Apple Blossom Trail that is next to the park.  I walked and biked it just about everyday for the first couple of weeks.  I also went into Wisconsin and the Crystal Lake trail a couple of times.  It was a little hillier than I am used to, but was fun. 

I also went to several waterfalls that I have posted about before, so I will just post one of my favorites, Bond Falls.

One day while walking the Apple Blossom trail I noticed the back of my foot was occasionally hurting.  After a couple of miles I turned around and headed back to the RV park.   By the time I got back it really hurt.  Many years ago, I had problems with a bone spur on the bottom of my heel.  It sort of felt like that.  So for a few days I didn’t walk much, I did bike as that didn’t seem to hurt.  I tried walking again and it bothered me again. 

After doing some research on the web, I think I have a pump bump (Haglands deformity).   I was hoping it would magically go away, but hasn’t so I have a doctor’s appointment in a week or so to see what it is and what I can do about it. 

From Iron River I headed to Chippewa Falls, WI.