Memories of Wisconsin (Part 2)

- my kids watching the vet surgically repair a cow's twisted stomach (with 4 stomachs, I can see how that could happen)
- trips along the Mississippi River with my brother Gary... ice cream in Nelsen, cheese factories, the locks, the barges
- Rock in the House near Alma (check it out here)
- cheese curds (or squeaky cheese)
- catching lightning bugs (or fireflies)
- humidity... only because I like what it does to my hair and skin
- my kids watching a vet artificially inseminate a cow and then having to tell them the facts of life because of all their questions
- baling hay and picking corn
- over 50 kittens on the farm at any given trip
- the Pound Puppy sheets on the bunk beds in my Mom's basement (a favorite memory of my kids)
- the kids riding their bikes in the rain
- lots of WEATHER... thunder, lightning, rain, tornados, flooding
- my Mom's amazing garden... rhubarb, strawberries, beans, sweet corn, etc
- the Root Beer stand in Whitehall
- the kids watching a calf being born
- visiting Noel's final resting place (he's forever missed)
- Door County trips
- Shawn contracting Lymes disease at 9 years old (he's treated and recovers)
- yard sales, rummage sales, thrift stores, flea markets GALORE!
- Memorial Park in Arcadia
- the Jackson County Fair in Black River Falls (for the best carmel popcorn ever- hot carmel poured over fresh popcorn) mmm, I want some!
- the 4th of July parade in Hixton
- picnic & swimming in Hatfield
- shopping at Kohl's and Super Target in Eau Claire long before they ever came to Phoenix
- Bargain Bill's near Rice Lake with Ginny
- my Mom & Dad's basement. OK, basements in general. I want one!
- Ginny & Dave's cottage... paddle boat, canoeing, fishing and shooting off fireworks
- Swedish meatball mix from the Pigeon Meat Locker
- renting the Jacobson farm- buying eggs from the Amish
- my niece Kristen getting engaged to Joe in the cornfield
- my Dad's beautiful, prized flowers
- the Norske Nook in Osseo (check out the best pies here!)
- Ron & Deb's gorgeous cabin, built by the Amish
- the Strawberry Festival in Alma Center
- Duck Island and Rib Mountain in Wausau
- Hyde Park in Appleton with Gary's family
- my parents 45th and 50th Anniversary celebrations
- sewing and crafting with my sister Ginny
- the craft and antique stores in Augusta
- bidding against myself at farm auctions
- John Deere tractor rides with Grandpa
- Randy mowing acres of lawn (thank God for riding lawn mowers)
- Uncle Gary demonstrating the fine art of roasting marshmellows, using a garden rake
- Miranda breaking her arm while riding a four-wheeler
- Shawn needing stitches an hour later, after plowing into a swing set while dirt biking
- Tyler not having to go to the ER that day
- spending hours looking through all the old LOOK and LIFE magazines in the basement
- Randy making it a tradition to climb the 90 foot Harvestor silo before we leave
- Kids playing "31" with Grandpa & Grandma
- doing tons of concerts throughout Wisconsin
- Kids playing with their cousins in the hay mow and the corn cribs
- Chatty Belle- the world's largest talking cow in Neillsville (check it out for yourself here)
- bonfires at the mobile home
- my Mom's fresh baked pies after every meal
- riding the Ducks in Wisconsin Dells (more info here)
- touring Laura Ingalls modest birthplace near Pepin
- the laughing waitress at the Alma Hotel
- Miranda and cousin Erica's apple stand (apples they shouldn't have picked)
- the great flood of '93
- watching the BULLS beat the SUNS in '93 (dang that Paxson- watching this YouTube video still makes me sick)
- and making many more memories

The family photo was taken in 1990.