Wisconsin & Illinois

Wisconsin is such a beautiful state.    I got up early and drove to my nieces house.  It was wonderful to see her place and her lovely family.    She has become a skilled chicken farmer, breeder, eggs and meat producer.     

I decided to leave Waddles in Wisconsin and drive to Illinois without her.     I booked a hotel for the next 4 nights and left Wisconsin to visit my sister, my other niece and her family, and my brother-in-law.    My sister has been having health issues, and this entire trip was centered around spending time with her.

I didn't take many photos while I was there, but did spend every day with my sister and lots of time with my brother-in-law.    I attended some little league softball games which were a delight.    Got to briefly  meet my nieces' new T@G trailer (we are a 2-T@G family now!).

I visited an amazing Yarn Store (because that is what I do!).    It was so big they had shopping carts!  For those of you who don't visit yarn stores, that is not normal!

After 5 days I said my good-byes, and headed back up to Wisconsin to pick up Waddles and decide how I was going to drive home.    If you recall, I drove straight east on I-90.   On the way home I wanted to take the roads less traveled.    Driving on the freeway has the advantage of allowing me to drive a comfortable speed without feeling like I am holding up traffic.   I am much less apt to stop and take in the local sites however, and I prefer more scenic and interesting roads.

It was a wet drive back to Wisconsin.   I spent the night there, said my goodbyes, and hit to road early.    I will create a new post for the trip home.

I'm alive!

I have been woefully neglectful of my blog!    My summer camping plans were mostly caboshed by geriatric cats.    Unfortunately I had to put both of them down, within a month of each other.   It is the hardest part of pet ownership, but it was clearly time for both of them.

So I don't have any Waddles adventures to report, except that I finally gave up on the Norcold Fridge.   I waffled for a long time about what to do for a replacement.   Just use a regular cooler?  Splurge for a Yeti (why the heck are they so outrageously expensive?).     I finally bit the bullet and ordered another  Norcold.    I tried to purchase one through an RV dealership, but they were not able to do that for me, so I ordered on-line.   It was spendy, but I really liked the old one when it worked.  

Since I didn't do any camping after this purchase and installation, I can't report on how well it might be working.    I am hoping that the first one was just a lemon, and this one will live a long and productive life.  

With no kitties, I anticipate a lot more adventures next summer.   I am planning already.

Waddles is safely tucked in the garage for the winter, and I am settling in to many fiber projects; spinning, weaving, knitting, etc.   Since I don't have any Waddles adventure photos I will leave you with a photo of my LOVELY Great Wheel.    I am actually spinning quite successfully on this wheel.