Showing posts with label Wisconsin. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Wisconsin. Show all posts

Monday, August 27, 2012

Back Up in Wisconsin

The urban/country see-saw continues: Chicago > Wisconsin > Chicago > Wisconsin > Chicago . . . guess where? This time we're up here at Karen and Joe's lake house on Lake Okauchee to celebrate Erin's mom's 70th birthday:

Happy Birthday Karen! 

I think I'll simply tell this post in pictures . . .

Captain Joe at the helm of the pontoon boat
Don't mess with the captain
The birthday girl on a fully decked-out pontoon boat (compliments of Audrey, pictured in center)
Erin, Derek and Bella
Marina, Derek and Bella posing on Pete's Poparazzi (behind his speedboat) and . . .
. . . Yours Truly and Derek in the Poparazzi in action
Karen slowly loosening up . . .
. . . and the giggles begin.

Later that night, after Halibut and steak on the grill (thanks Pete!) and many treats from Erin and Audrey, a homemade cake (thanks Marina!) appears from out in the darkness . . .


Erin with her brother Pete


Tuesday, August 14, 2012

Week 32 at Kangaroo Lake

There's something a little different up here on the lake -- maybe it's the water
I don't quite know how to explain the magic that happens up here at The Rushes on Kangaroo Lake in Door County, Wisconsin. The playful and welcoming environment that Russ and Nan Clark have created and fostered up here is something that's kept their children and friends returning year after year since the mid-80s. And now there's plenty of grandchildren as well. I've joined the Clarks up here myself for 25 of the 27 years (that's a quarter century, kids). For my entire adult life, Week 32 at the Rushes has been my Brigadoon, an enchanting place that seems to only exist for a brief seven days a year.  Maybe it's easiest to describe what goes on up here in pictures . . .

Russ and Nan Clark, the King and Queen of Week 32 (at the 50th Anniversary party we had for them in 2005)
The lake . . .
More of the lake . . .

The wackiness: Steve and I practicing to be pirates


Erin and Steve Aaaarging as well

And yet more zaniness -- Russ and I on Mexican (Margarita) Night

Kayaking (Tom and Maggie in 2004) . . .
Erin kayaking yesterday . . .
Erin, Steve and Tom on kayaks a few years ago
A group shot from 2004

Cary, Chris and the girls



Patrick, Terri and Ryan in 2005

All the kids (except Mira) at their nightly performance on Sunday
Kangaroo Lake
I'll post some more pictures later in the week. I also wanted to express my condolences to all the Urquhart family on the passing of Collin (AKA, Collie-Wobbles). I only met him a few times, but I enjoyed his intelligence, wit and spirit of playfulness. He must have been pretty special to spirit Nan's sister, Suzie, away from Milwaukee and over to South Africa so many years ago. You will be missed, Collin.

Collin with Nan in 2005
Peace


Thursday, August 9, 2012

Milwaukee Brewers

Miller Park
Went to a baseball game with Erin's Brother, Pete, his wife, Audrey, and their two kids John and Jack. Audrey works for Miller Brewing in some sort of executive environmental compliance capacity (sorry for my ignorance about your exact title, Audrey). Suffice it to say that she's high enough up the Miller corporate ladder to get us into the Founder's Suite, to watch the Brewers play (and whoop) the Cincinnati Reds. Thank you Audrey and thank you Miller Brewing.

Incredible seats or what? I guess I'd expect the Miller boxes in Miller Park to be exceptional.
Erin, Audrey, Pete and the blurry kids
A study in contrasts:
The roaring crowds and . . .
. . . camping five nights ago in the middle of nowhere.

What a fun evening. Our gracious hosts at Miller Brewing provided enough beverage and food to eat and drink for a week, yet somehow I managed to consume it all in three hours. And, best of all -- the Brewers won! Good times.

From the left: John, Pete, Audrey, Jack, me and Erin


Random picture alert:

Stay tuned: Week 32 at Door County is coming (and Kendra is waiting).