Summer views from my kitchen window

I set up my office in the kitchen this summer.  I had an amazing view of our back yard.  What wonderful sites. The zinnias and nasturtiums attracted the sweetest hummingbirds. I wish I had a picture of them. There were always deer passing through. A doe and her two fawns made regular visits and even stopped in for afternoon naps on the grass.  In September a gaggle of turkeys started to make regular visits as well.  One morning I even spied a coyote stealthily slinking through. It wasn't sublime and quite all the time for daschund, Sandy, was on duty. She insists that is her job to chase the deer away from her home.  You will see from one of the pictures that the deer have learned to ignore Sandy much to her dismay. This has truly been a magical place to work.

Remembering the Lakeland Campus on my last day, June 25, 2010

Exploring Northern WI and Upper Michigan

In May Mike and I found the headwaters of the Menominee River. This is where the Brule River joins the Michigamme to become the Menominee River. The Menominee River forms the boundary between the northeast corner of Wisconsin and the southern tip of the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. We wanted to get closer to the dam and it took awhile to find our way around, but we found success. This is a picture of the Michigamme Falls Dam.

The Menominee is 118 miles long and has nine hydroelectric power dams and reservoirs on the river, this is one of them. Large blocks of the shoreline and adjacent uplands are owned by We Energies and timber companies such as International Paper, plus the Michigan and the Wisconsin Departments of Natural Resources, and county governments in Wisconsin.

The map below refers to Michigamme Lake as the Lower Peavy Falls Pond. This is part of the Michigamme River. It took us awhile to find this spot. A more direct route is to take Hwy 95 north of Iron Mt to Randleville, veer to the left and then take a left on Peavy Falls Road. It becomes Lower Dam Road as you cross into a different county. This would be an amazing body of water to explore. It is totally undeveloped.


This photo is looking from the Michigamme Falls Dam. You see the Brule River on the upper right. This is the beginning of the Menominee. How cool is that!

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Our vacation at the cabin

Mike and I decided to spend a week at the cabin for our vacation. On our first day, Friday, May 28th, we witnessed several box turtle making there way from the river to a sandy slope behind our cabin. Their mission was to lay eggs and return to the river. When we awoke the next morning we observed 2 snapping turtles doing the same thing. The video below is of one of the snappers as she made her way back to the cool Menominee River. It was amazing to witness.




In addition to the amazing snapping turtles we observed several box turtles making the same trek to and from the river to lay eggs.

WLDI

On June 12th I had the privilege was helping Marc Boucher celebrate his completion of the Wisconsin Leadership Development Institute. I learned so much throughout the year as his mentor. I can hardly believe that it was 13 years ago that I to graduated from WLDI. I am happy that this training opportuntity still exsists. In addition to being present, I was also asked to speak. That was quite an honor.

Reina at the cabin

On June 13th Mike and I traveled to the cabin. His mom, Lorraine and her friend Saron and Mike's sister Katy's daughter, Reina had been there all week. The weather had been cold and rainy but that began to change on Friday. As soo as we arrived, Reina and I hoped in the paddle boat and headed down river. What a glorious day! There were easgles circling and wonderful sunshine. It was so much fun to experience the cabin through the eyes of an eleven year ols. It was pure joy! When we weren;y on the river we were working on a puzzle.

The next morning Mike started a fire and Reina and I tried our luck at fishing. I discovered that roasted marshmellows taste just as good in the evening as they do after breakfast. Thanks for a great time Reina. I hope we do that again soon.

WTCS Tech Expo

On May 28, 2009 Nicolet College hosted the Tech Expo. 170 technical college and K-12 faculty and staff gathered to learn about ways that technology can be used to enhance learning. I was so proud to have been a part of planning the event and am so fortunate to work with an amazing group of people at the state and local level who created the success. Below are picture from the event.

A spring vacation with Mike

I met Mike in Green Bay on April 10th, Easter weekend. After attending Good Friday Service at Lourdes in DePere, we headed for Door County. What a glorious weekend of bright blue skis and gorgeous scenery. The contrast between the blue ski and white ice that still covered many parts of the bay was beautiful.

The weather turned cold so we headed to Minocqua and enjoyed very warm temperatures and afternoons on the deck drinking wine and planning for the future. After playing golf in 70 degree weather it's hard to believe that we would experience snow and lots of it. If Mike were still home, we would be enjoying a glass of wine inside instead.

A day with Mike

The view from our cabin. Mike and I spent the day together, March 27, 2009. We dreamed of ways to improve the cabin first for the present and then into the future. It was so much fun driving and dreaming together. I didn't want the day to end.

Claire's first entree

It was fun having Claire home January 19 - 23rd. I had too much work to do during the day but at night we ate dinner together and watched American Idol, one of our favorite shows. The only thing missing was Mike. One night Claire made dinner. I needed to workout and she was starving so she tackled the balsalmic chicken recipe herself. She was so proud. We determined that this was her first entree. YEAH! Claire. By the way, it was delicious.

Our cabin in the woods

On January 2nd Mike and I took and drive to the cabin on the Menominee River. It was a beautiful but cold winter day. The views were spectacular. It would be so much fun to stay awhile and snowshoe and then relax in front to the fire.


Driving into the cabin.

The view of the Menominee River from the deck.

Christmas 2008

We still enjoy decorating the Christmas tree together. Mike and Claire like to supervise me during the process. It is so much fun. Claire came home on December 12th and we put up the tree on the 14th. On the 19th we had celebrated Christmas with a small group of friends from the college. It was so much fun

Christmas this year was spent in Green Bay. Claire and I left for GB on Monday December 22nd and returned to Minocqua on the 29th. It was fun being with Mike in Green Bay and near family. The condo doesn't feel like home though. We bought Mike a little inside tree with lights and ornaments.

Claire spent 10 days in Texas with her Grandma Dailey, 1/8 - 1/17/09. I really enjoyed the time we spent together 1/18 - 23. She starts classes on 1/26.

I am thankful for my family

This was our first Thanksgiving kind of in Green Bay. I picked Claire up at St Norbert's on Tuesday night and we had a wonderful dinner together with Mike at Montagues. On Wednesday Claire and I shopped and then we joined my dad, at Jerry's home for pizza. Thanksgiving was at my dad and Mary's home. It was a small gathering this year: Jerry and his family, Ann and Michael, Mary Lou and Fred, Mike, Claire and I plus Dad and Mary. The food was delicious as always.

I am very thankful for my family and friends.

Happy 50th Birthday Karen!

What a wonderful way to celebrate a momentous occasion: wine tasting,

massage and dinner with friends at a wonderful hotel, The American Club. Below are pictures from the wine tasting at LedgeStone Vineyards http://ledgestonevineyards.com/home.html. We enjoyed all types of great wine, cheese, bread with olive oil and balsamic vinegar and a selection of olives. It was hard to leave but we eventually did bearing all kinds of wines and gifts to share with family and friends. Then it was on to a wonderful old church in Sheboygan for a relaxing massage. Dinner in the Wisconsin Room followed present opening. I wish I had taken a picture of the birthday girl with her tiara.

Thanks for the great memories Karen. Here's to the next 50 years!

Happy Birthday Claire

Happy Birthday Claire! 20 years old on November 4, 2008. It was fun to spend a little time with you on your birthday. I am so happy you liked the guitar and I so loved hearing you play. Your talent for music is very special. Here's to a great year.

Golfing for Gas, 8/01/08

The above pictures are from the Nicolet College Golfing for Gas event. It was so much fun plus we raised money for students, 8/01/08. Timber Ridge Golf Course, Minocqua, WI.

Golfing with Howard & Hannah

On May 17, 2008 Mike and I had so much fun golfing with Hannah and Howard Manske. Hannah is 12 years old and already a phenomenal golfer. Howard is a professional golfer and amazing golf instructor. We met 2 years ago while playing in the Hospice Pro AM golf event at Minocqua Country Club. I have bee taking lessons ever since and I think I am slowly developing a better swing.

On May 24th I had a chance to watch Hannah and Howard play the last hole of the WAGA golf event at Timber Ridge in Minocqua. Hannah may have been the only female in the tournament. She was definitely the only 12 year old.

I'm looking forward to the next time we get to play golf together.

Sandy's new bed

Sandy loves her new dog bad. Thanks Dianne!

Easter Weekend

It has been so much fun having Claire around this past week. She has made a great transition to St. Norbert College this semester. It was a little rough at first but her decision to join a sorority has been a good one. I love that she is a little closer to home. She came home quite a bit at first but that has tappered off as she has gotten more involved.

As we approach Easter Sunday, we are still in the throes of winter. Snow still blankets the earth. The sun is more intense and so the possibility of spring glimmers about now and then.

I have been spending the weekend working on a poster session that I am facilitating next week. I am demonstrating how to create e-clips using LecShare Pro. I have been working on my demo e-clip and used this self-introduction as a way to practice before I embark on my presentation e-clip. The format for this e-clip is from the TLT Group. I needed practice in uploading it to YouTube and thought I would try my blog as well. We'll see how it goes.

Our dog Sandy

This is Claire holding Sandy as a puppy in 1998.
Claire and her brand new puppy.
Sandy on a walk in Timber Ridge in 2007.