Vacation Continues... and more family arrives!

A relaxing morning, breakfast with John and Janel and grandsons... John-John made blueberry pancakes with strawberry topping, and bacon and eggs... yummmmmm!!

More pool time, and Kasey arrived just before dinner... John-John grilled pork grillers, taters and onions too... DEEEELICIOUS!!





John gets a lot of flak about those crazy camo pants, but they are his camping pants, he says! *L*


Kaine and Jorden arrived just as we were finishing dinner, and Jorden wanted to play with the kids, and the dogs, explore the playground, and then go swimming...






And other family also arrived! YAY!






Some speedball volley ball was also enjoyed after dinner.













And then, it was time for the Just Dance Competition and campfire at Bill and Chellie's campsite.











It got a little cool tonite...great for sleeping!! ...Long day, I'm beat... Thank you Lord for this day and the fun and family!!
zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

Vacation - Day 2

I am LOVING vacations, and it's only less than 24 hrs. into it! *lol* John made breakfast this morning, the birds woke us early... about 5 a.m.! John, Janel and the grandsons, along with both granddogs arrived just before noon. We had brats simmering already, and helped them set up their campsite...of course the hammock is the first thing to get out! *l*





After lunch, it was time to hit the pool!!









Finished the night with taco salad for dinner... and a nice hour + talk with John-John around the campfire.... ahhhhhhhhh, loving vacation!!






Tomorrow Kasey, Kaine and Jorden, and the rest of my family arrives too!

VACATION STARTS! YAY!!

It was a rocky start to our vacation day. We had to work on Monday A.M., and John had the canoe trailer all packed, and the kayaks and canoes already loaded onto it. BUT, a wind storm blew in early this morning, and a branch from the tree that the trailer was sitting under broke off, hit one of our canoes, creasing & cracking it in a few places, breaking a wooden centerpiece, and bending the metal braces on the trailer in a few places as well. We were lucky though, around the city hundreds of trees were damaged, lots of other wind storm damage stuff too... and then our power went out as well just after 8 a.m. After I got home from work at 12:30 (thankfully just a block away they had power!!), John was home, and had fixed the trailer and canoe (duct tape does wonders for a temporary fix, btw!)... and I finished packing in a home with no electricity...makes it hard to see in the basement, and hot with no AC either! But, we finally got on the road about 3 p.m....and still no electricity at the house. Later we found out, from Kasey, who was still home, that the power FINALLY came back on about 7:30 p.m., almost 12 hours later~!

BUT, HURRAH!!! We are OFFICIALLY gone and on vacation!!
After a quick stop at the local grocery store for a few more food items we arrived at our campsite around 5:30, and set up..... a rented camper, same one we did last year, in a great location, just across from the pool.





We ate dinner, sat on the deck, and went swimming late, just before the pool closed.

Note to self: Don't go jumping into a pool on the shallow side in the dark, it screws up yer knees, and HURTS! *lol*

Then we crashed for the nite....tomorrow the kids start arriving!

Grandson Friday Fun!!

Today was a long, productive, and fun day with our three grandsons. Started early, when the boys arrived at 7 a.m., and my cupboards were pretty bare..so we went to McD's to get breakfast-to-go, and then head to Church where I had to work for a couple of hours. Of course, I took advantage of the child labor I had and after breakfast they helped me change the church sign.... and what a great job they did too!





Taking down the old sign message ...










.... and putting up the new sign message.....








And then it was back inside to put away all the letters from the old message... the boys did a great job!!








While I finished up some office work, the boys raided the costume closet and celebrated a job well done.. *lol*



====================================


Then a quick trip to the store, and the dollar store, and back home for some "red-neck" deck swimming ... (a grandson tradition, "swimming" in plastic bins on the deck..*L*)...hey, when it's HOT outside, you'll do anything to cool off! *L*

After lunch, the boys showed off their "Just Dance" skills in a fun song they all knew the dance moves to...*L* What a goofy bunch!!...gotta love em, and I do!! *S* *Note: Turn off my playlist songs to hear this short video.



A fun day for all!

"ART AS PRAYER” - FOUND OBJECT ASSEMBLAGES MEDITATION WORKSHOP

"ART AS PRAYER” - FOUND OBJECT ASSEMBLAGES
Wednesday, August 17, 2011
7:00 - 8:30 p.m.
held at
Christ Episcopal Church of Delavan
503 E. Walworth Ave., Delavan, WI
Featuring Interactive Prayer Stations &
Assemblages by Roberta

Assemblage: A 3-dimensional artistic, often eclectic, composition made from putting together found objects. Scraps of wood, stones, old shoes, baked bean cans, a discarded baby buggy - or any item, can qualify for inclusion in an assemblage. Whatever catches the artist's eye, and fits properly in the composition to
make a unified whole, is fair game.

In this "Art as Prayer" meditation workshop, artist, Roberta Karstetter uses found objects in ways that create sacred spaces and offers art, as meditative prayers, in a conscious connection to the Creator, often in a new and unique way to reflect the divine.



For centuries, religious groups have practiced art as a way to communicate with and about God.
Navajo Native Americans created sandpaintings as ritualistic healing and cleansing of evil spirits. The word for art in most Native American languages is synonymous with the word prayer.
Australian Aborigines created sandpaintings and dot paintings in ritual ceremonies to reproduce and pass on sacred knowledge and spiritual power.

Tibetan Buddhists created paintings, sculpture and music as acts
of prayer where they would reproduce sacred objects and visions
that served as tools to access their Creator.
Shodo, the ancient practice of Zen calligraphy which means ‘the
way of the brush,’ is a meditation where the artist releases control
of self, desire, and personal will in order to let their art flow.
In Mexico ex-voto paintings, meaning dedicated gifts, were
created and offered as protection from illness or as thanksgiving
for miracles.



Creating art as an act of prayer serves as a personal transformation, not only for the artist, but for the viewer, providing an opportunity to increase our capacity for reflection.
We all find the path to God in different places and ways. Sharing of experiences with art, prayer and the path toward the Creator offer glimpses into our life experiences and enables us to better understand our spiritual journey as we travel together with God and each other.

ALL are Welcome!! For More Information & To Register Call Christ Church at 262-728-5292.

Great Weekend Get-Away

Ahhhhh.... Vacations!! LOVE THEM!
We had a great LOOOOOONG weekend over the 4th of July holiday. Left Thursday and returned this afternoon.... a wonderful weekend with good friends upnorth!

It was a HOT weekend too, at least the first day or two ... the temps reached up to 105 degrees on the deck!



Thankfully the work the guys did on Friday was mostly inside in the AC putting up new trim around all the windows and new TV cabinet insert, on the new floor etc. The cabin looks GREAT! Later Sue and I hung a few pictures in the kitchen, living room, hallway, etc., and John and Randy hung some of the deer trophies.






Randy's daughter and boyfriend (Natalie & Rob) came up for a couple of days too with their "baby" Cooper, who had fun with Randy's dog, Jet. The dogs seemed to think they should share the couch with Randy! *lol*



We relaxed a LOT, enjoyed the lake and boat "tours", dice games, going out to eat and bbq's at the cabin too... slept in late, and stayed up late, afternoon naps, night time fireworks, morning fleamarkets and letting the dogs run at a friend's farm.








A full, relaxing and FUN weekend!!






Thanks Randy and Sue!! xoxox