Moanday's Weekend Recap 8/22/11

Taking it easy this Moanday. Maybe it was the full weekend, maybe it was the strange insomnia last night or maybe it was the mysterious insect that has left several giant red welts on my body, but I'm feeling like a wilted flower today.

Here's the weekend recap.

Friday morning, we helped DS15 shoot some scenes for his movie at a grocery store. I made sure it wasn't one we frequented in case we ruffled feathers, but no one seemed to mind what we were up to. Friday afternoon, I helped him shoot more scenes at our local area park.

Friday night visited a family member for his birthday, enjoyed tasty Angry Bird cake. Late Friday night, I freaked out while watching Insidious. Its been awhile since a movie has made me scream out loud and run around turning on lights.

Saturday morning slept in a bit then went out shopping with my sister. Saturday late afternoon, lupper (lunch/supper) with my boys and DH. I believe we chilled out the rest of the night, I'm having a mental block here. Oh wait, now I remember! I made more healthy Oatmeal Walnut Fudge!!

Sunday morning up and on the road to G-Ma's house. After picking her up, we headed over to Illinois State Park Beach to do some hiking. (I find it hilarious that after growing up in that state, but living in WI since 1991, I can no longer spell Illinois without spell check!) Many of the trails are still closed after the storm about a month ago, but there were some open on the North end. We enjoyed a good hike, but I remember feeling like I was being bit up, although I saw no insects. We found a good sized snake and close by a chunky toad, along with several different species of grasshopper.

Sunday afternoon another Lupper(lunch/supper) this time at Infusinos for pizza and moe joes. Hung around with G-Ma watching Fear Factor and setting up the family reunion Facebook page before setting off for home.

Sunday night, could not sleep. Strange anxiety even though I had nothing to stress out over. (Stupid hormones?!) I'd start to fall asleep and then jolt awake thinking - I'm not getting any sleep and I have so much to do tomorrow! I think I was too tired to relax. Know what I mean? I should have gotten up and had tea or something, but for some reason, I didn't.

I woke up here Monday morning with large red welts on my arms. It must have been something at the park, but I suppose I shouldn't rule out spiders.

I went for a 45 minute walk early in the morning, despite the lack of sleep, only to feel like crashing by 11:00am. Recharged slightly with a veggie sandwich and watched a few International House Hunters while waiting for the laundry machines. I'm going to need a Diet Coke to make it through my shift tonight.

DS12 got his bike ride in and logged in his notebook. Today he went over the 50 mile mark! I'm so impressed by his dedication when it comes to exercising.

DS15 is suffering from allergies but still working on his films. I need to lift myself off this chair and see what he has painted for his latest homemade prop.

I'll continue plowing through Moanday and I know tomorrow I'll feel better.

Some Thoughts.....

My watermelon smiled at me. How can it not be a great day when that happens?

Hike today in New Glarus Woods State Park- I was happy the family joined me on my walk today. We looped around this wooded state park, and I thankfully only managed to suffer one mosquito bite. Next time I need to remember the bug off junk before we hit the trail. Thankfully I had leftover insect repellent wipes in our Letterboxing backpack.

We didn't find any Letterboxes because we could not find the first clue. It was one of those cryptic plants were you have to find the first clue and then do the math calculations in order to find any of the 5 hidden boxes. I was more interested in getting my heart rate up, so maybe next time we'll hunt for those stamps. 

The water works began on the ride home. Usually my allergies wait until the first week of June, but of course, everything is early this year. I'm hoping they don't get too bad. I try to consume a spoonful of honey a day, year round to help with my seasonal allergies.

Things are being to sprout up again in the Square Foot Gardens. We had lost all the seedlings we planted before Mother's Day when things frosted up when we were out of town. I just hope I can keep the critters from eating things up.

The job search for DH continues, but thankfully the unemployment insurance was extended. Its crazy to think its been over 7 months now. It is very strange to see the seasons change and holidays pass while feeling like our life is on hold. Truth is, life never goes on hold, but when you live through this uncertainty, your life feels like its in limbo. You can't make plans because you aren't sure what your resources will be.

Usually this time of year I close out our "school" year and begin a new one June 1st. We learn all the time, year round, but for the state of Wisconsin, we are required to keep a calendar of days in attendance to comply with the mandatory attendance law.

I usually end up reflecting on how things are going and try to dream up plans for our new, coming year. With all that's been going on, I really haven't had time to reflect on our past year and think about which direction we need to set the sails for. Its really just been a day to day, survival mode existence.

I do know I've reached the point where this limbo lifestyle feels normal. I can look back on the past 7 months and with amazement, see how God has carried me through this. My emotional wounds have stopped bleeding, are scabbed up, and awaiting underneath the surface, is a new, stronger me.

Death Pecker

We discovered our favorite hiking spot, Magnolia Bluff, may be home to a "Death Pecker!"

We came across this tree on the trail and for the rest of the hike, we enjoyed making up stories about a giant wood pecker we've named the "Death Pecker." We had the park pretty much to ourselves so it was fun to laugh and dream up funny scary stories of how we could possibly come to our demise at the beak of the Death Pecker!

Thankfully, we survived and we live to hike again! I may just have to carve a Death Pecker Letterbox and plant it in this park.

Today's hike was one of those rare moments where we drop everything and head to the woods just because we can. We don't get too many good weather days, so we need to take advantage of them when they're here. Plus the beauty of unschooling is we can take learning and creativity with us, wherever we go. I doubt we would have  been inspired to create the legend of the Death Pecker if we had stayed in the Sleepyhouse. We needed to be in the woods and see this gorgeous dead tree.

 

The Lost 40 & Itasca State Park

The Lost 40-

After driving down what looked like deserted roads, we found it, although I will admit, it took us awhile to find the trail head. If you end up there one day, I will give you a hint. Its not by the pit toilets!

The Lost 40 is actually over a hundred acres of forest that missed the loggers' axes because it never was marked on the initial maps. Its a rare section of old growth forest in the Chippewa National Forest.

We tested out new walking sticks Grandpa and Mormor gave us. It was a short hike, about 1 mile, but so much to see! You had to walk slow so you could look up and marvel at the size of pine trees over 350 years old. We learned the difference between red and white pines, and I must say, I really prefer the red ones. The bark is so interesting to me.

A little red squirrel stayed close to us, more concerned about filling his cheeks than any danger we posed. He seemed to follow us, leaving us thinking he must be used to being fed by humans.

At the end of the path, you left the woods and came upon a brook. It was so beautiful, I wish I had a kayak to float down and see where it led.

We circled back and all too soon, the hike was over. I wanted to loop it again, but Gull Lake was calling. Jared needed tube time and Jakob wanted to try fishing.

Lake Itasca State Park-

I love this park and always forget how large it really is. We of course waded across the Mississippi headwaters, but this time, we wanted to stretch our legs and hike a bit too. We sprayed up with Deep Woods Off- the one time I will subject my body to Deet, but it didn't matter. The mosquitoes were brutal. Our goal was to hike 3 miles to the fire tower. We decided to cut across and make that 1 mile, but it was still a mistake. We should have drove to the parking lot near the fire tower and hiked the .5 mile instead.

At one point, I counted two dozen mosquitoes on DH's back. He suffered bites all over his head and even one on his lip! I somehow managed to get a few bites where you don't want to be seen scratching! Next year, we will wear mosquito netting.

The hike to the fire tower, although shortened, was a challenge not only because of the mosquitoes, but the incline. I suppose it makes sense to build the fire tower on the tallest location, but I kept thinking,  how am I going to climb the fire tower after climbing up this hill?

We took it slow and made it to the fire tower. The motivation that the mosquitoes wouldn't fly that high, helped me over come my fears and make it to the top. This was the first fire tower I'd ever made it all the way up. The previous fire tower I tried to climb was at my parents county fair. I made it to the tree line but then froze up, not able to climb higher.

We now have a family goal to find more fire towers and climb them.

Next time we visit Itasca Park, I'd like to look into staying there, either camping or renting a cabin. There are over 50 miles of trails and so many peaceful, lakes and ponds. Of course we will wear mosquito netting head to toe, or visit after the first frost.

Our Saturday the 20th...

When we came across this tree, my boys wanted to turn back. I admit, it is creepy.

Yesterday we decided to hike at Picnic Point. This park is popular, located near the UW University in Madison. Its really beautiful and on certain trails, you can see the lake all around you. The area historically was camped in by Native Americans and an Indian burial mound is marked along the path.

I haven't picked up citronella oil yet, so I haven't had the chance to make a home made safe alternative to mosquito spray. I am going to do this very soon! For some reason, when we are getting bit, we're getting these giant welts, not like normal bumps. Yesterday's bite left a 3 inch welt on my arm. Hope those weren't West Nile mosquitoes!

The humidity made the hike less pleasant too. With my asthma it felt like someone was standing on my chest, but the boys seemed excited about the baby frog migration going on, so I pressed on.

It was a challenge to walk the paths. There were so many baby frogs hopping around. I felt bad for them, because many were getting squished by people riding bikes on the path. We came across one section where the trail was marked, encouraging people to take a different path to allow the baby frogs to remain unharmed, but when we carefully walked that path hoping to see many, we saw almost none. They need to move the sign!

After our hike, we picked up bagels for lunch and headed home. I had a Diva Sister outing to prepare for.

The boys enjoyed a boys only night with dad, our cousin, and our cousin's X-Box. I enjoyed my Diva sisters, gourmet chocolate at Daniel's followed by supper out at Pearl's. It was a repeat of our last Diva outing, but Daniel's and Pearls are two great places worth repeating.

Today I'm afraid will involve more food, but it Father's Day and how can we not take him out to his favorite place? The plan is lunch at Outback, another hike, followed by dessert at Sonic. We have yet to try Sonic, and the commerical for those new bundt cake sundaes is working on us!

Come Monday I will have to find my workout DVDs or kick my kids off the Wii so I can try Wii Fit again. With summer's humidity and the ozone lately, I feel like I can get a better workout breathing indoors.

Well, I better get moving. Hope you have a great Father's Day!

Lake Farm Park

I had to get away from stress so we took a walk at Lake Farm Park on Lake Waubesa. I get such a good vibe from the place. There are some 32 hidden archaeological sites in the park, but you can just tell people have called this area home for thousands of years. Our hike was going pretty good until DS12 heard gunshots. He was sure we were going to be victims of a hunting accident. I kept him going until we reached the end of the trail.

As we left the trail, we turned around to see a sign in orange that read, "Bow Hunting DNR permits only." OH CRAP!! I thought it was only duck hunting season and that ducks had to be shot in the air. I thought we had been safe. Where was the bow hunting sign at the other trail head where we started from?!" Note to self- BUY ORANGE HATS

My husband's great grandfather accidentally shot and killed his 12 year old son in a hunting accident. Needless to say, we are not a hunting family. But since hunting is now taking place on public land, I better learn exactly when the season starts!!