New Favorite Season

I sit in the same room as I did when I wrote my last post.  Somewhere lost in the woods of northwest Wisconsin.

Since then, I have been to Copper Harbor, Central Wisconsin, Portland Oregon, Bend Oregon, Eastern Wisconsin, Marquette Michigan, Copper Harbor and back to these woods at Grammy and Grampy Rogers' house.  All those adventures with a one-and-a-half year old.  All while trying to enjoy our time to the fullest wherever we were.  And, well, getting sick a few times. 

So, yes.  I miss you.  There you are, in all your glory.  Here is mine.

This spring in Copper Harbor was amazing.  People often ask me what my favorite time of year is, and I always tell them that it's whichever time it is at the moment or whichever time the weather is reeling in next.  But now I have a new answer, and this one might hold true for some time.

It's those moments I can spend with my little guy, my husband and my friends outside.  Out in the sunshine with no jacket.  Out in the woods with no bugs.  Out on my front porch with no tourists (no offense).  It's that time when we crawl out of our long winter cocoon and stretch our butterfly wings, noticing how our new colors sparkle in the seemingly brighter sun (that's a fancy way to say "get sunburned").

But really, it's the best time!  It's short -- four weeks at most -- but we enjoyed it thoroughly.  Let me show you how!

An ice alligator head on Hunter's Point in early April!

A fresh baby turtle by Lake Manganese

My friend Annele and I watch this turtle in awe for, geez, an hour or so.  We speculated its origin, watched it get from here to there and wondered where it would end up.  We even got a video of this little munchkin going for what may have been its first swim.

CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE TURTLE SWIM!

Manitou Island on the horizon during our anniversary ride to High Rock

Lots of fishermen at the mouth of Fanny Hooe Creek

I do have to apologize because there was lots more worthwhile stuff that my brain fails to recall at the moment.  I remember the thought often going through my brain, I should tell all my readers to come up here right now because it's so heavenly.

But, of course, I didn't, and now the blackflies and mosquitoes are out.  Oh, no!  I mean, no they're not!  It's still heavenly.  Come anytime.  Wink.  What?  It's probably more peaceful than most places in the country.

I do have a few pictures to show from Oregon also.  

B and me out at the Pacific Ocean!

Then on our family drive to Bend, we went through a couple mountain passes.  The scenery was gorgeous.  At one time we had big desert rock to the left and a mountain range to the right.  However, I was not a very good tourist, and I couldn't figure out what those formations were called.  Anyone?

Rock up high to the left

Mountain to the right

That snowy mountain is smack dab in the middle of the shot.  Can you see it?  I can't say pictures through moving car windows are that great, but it's better then nothing!

Oregon was beautiful.  I'm a sucker for the green lushness of the world.  And water.  And huge blooming flowers.  Well, it was full of that, so I was giddy.

Now here's one thing in Copper Harbor that made me giddy.  Well, one that I actually remember.  I got to mountain bike the start of the Keweenaw Point Trail.  I don't get out on my mountain bike much.  I have to coordinate with a babysitter, and that's more work than putting all that bike gear on.  But I finally rode the KPT.  It was so fun, and now I'm addicted.  But having withdrawls of course.  Oh, that reminds me.  I have some news for you.

Starting mid-June our little family will get to be together in Copper Harbor for most of the summer.  Plus we will have Gramma Rogers with us.  WHAT?!?!  A live-in nanny?  I think this just might be the best summer ever!

Longing for Home

I snuck out on you again.  I was in Spokane, Washington for a week because my little brother got married.  So happy for him -- he found a keeper.  Wink.  And Braeden did great on his first plane rides.  Whew!

And now I am in Wisconsin en route to Cuyuna, Minnesota where Aaron is building trails for the month.  All I can give you is a guess at a color report.  I bet the leaves are lovely in da Harbor right now.  Good thing I have seen some glorious ones in past autumns, or I would be sad to miss this year.  The maples were electric on my way out of town.  Nice color in Northern Wisconsin right now, too.

My computer is mostly better.  Thanks for asking.

To be totally honest with you, I may only get to be in Copper Harbor for Halloween and November.  Then hopefully January and February, but even the winter is up in the air.  I think Aaron is booked pretty much all next year too.  Ah, the life of the wife of a traveling man.  Good thing I don't have a real job right now!  I told him, Well, at least we have a house to live in when we actually get to be there!  And he said, It will make it all that much better when we get to be there then.

Like I said in a previous post, I realized how much better my heart beats there after I've been away for so long.  But there are worse things in the world...

I really wish that I could provide you with substantial information and entertainment from da Harbor, but I guess that will be to come.  Heck, I wish I provide that for myself!  Don't have high expectations for me for the next few months.  Then hopefully I can surpass them!

Man, I don't even have a picture for you right now because they are on my camera at home.  Nice planning, Wais.  I can tell you that I got some cool pictures of the moon rise the night of the lunar eclipse.  That was the highlight of my fall.  That moon was sooooooo huge, and I caught it rising over East Bluff and Lake Superior.  Seriously made my day.

I would assume that things are starting to slow down in da Harbor during the week, but I bet leaves are pretty peak right now, so weekends are probably still a bit crazy.  Just a guess.  Correct me if I'm wrong.  I prefer to be corrected than to spew false information.  

If I keep typing to you, I would just be rambling and guessing at things, so I'll close.  Plus my little man is ready to get out in this nice fall air.  So am I.  Braeden is doing amazing, by the way.  He turns one year old on Thursday.  They say the first year is the hardest, and I hope they're right because we have been in lots of hospitals.  But his strength, joy, charm and love never ceases to amaze me.

In like a Lamb... Out to the West!

It's another sunny day in da Harbor! The ice broke and floated from the bay last week... I just couldn't tell you that yet because we were supposed to have an ice fishing tournament this weekend. It got cancelled, so I thought I'd fill you in. What a treat to watch the waves in winter. Usually it looks like a white desert out there.

March is in like a lamb. I went snowshoeing with my coat tied around my waist yesterday. I even had to hang on to my shirt for a while because it felt so good. Suntan!

But this will be the last time I will be able to write you from da Harbor. I'm going west with my parents to see my brother and sister who live in Washington and Oregon, respectively. I'm sure the Wais family will have a blast.

Yes, that backcountry snow race is this weekend. You know what I find fateful about this situation? My mom asked me to go west with them long before I knew I had to coordinate and direct a two day snow race. I said, "Nothing is going on then! I'd love to come with!" And I feel relief that she got my ticket before I knew I had to plan this race. Otherwise, I would have said, "Sorry, but that's a really busy weekend for me. I can't go with you and see my whole family at once (a rare occasion)." Instead I get to say, "I hope the rest of the race goes well, guys! I got to catch a flight!"

Thank you fate. I've missed too many opportunities because of obligations I've created in my life. I will only live this life once, and I better not be too serious. Someone can always cover for me, right? I hope so because I'll be gone. Ha!

If I get a chance to write from the Wild West, I'll do that, but otherwise, I'll miss you til I return. Have fun without me!