• Sep. 2, 2009
Back to our regular programming:

Well, that was a longer than planned internet break - actually, I hadn't planned it at all, but our service provider hasn't been the best all summer and a few weeks ago we were down to so little signal, I couldn't even open the email!! Things seem to be up and running again, thankfully! We had to wait for some new equipment to come in, not to mention vacation was thrown in too!
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It's been a loooong summer and we'd all been looking forward to getting away, so with a caretaker lined up for the livestock and the wieners dropped off at the doggie resort, we were off to Wisconsin!  We spent a few days in the La Crosse area with my extended family, then the 5 of us went for a few days to one of our favorite places, Door County.   Doesn't that playground above look fun?  (that's only part of it - it was huge!)  We took all the kids there one day and they had a great time, even the older ones.

We did some swimming, some hiking, biking, shopping, and of course ate at many of our favorite places.   Here we are at Al Johnson's Swedish Restaurant, waiting for our swedish pancakes with lingonberries.     Yummmmm!! 



 The waitress raised her eyebrows when I asked her to bring us more ligonberries - twice.   What??  Does she think we get to eat here every day or something?   Al Johnson's is also know for it's goats up on the grass roof.   I can only imagine how many photos have been taken of those goats!


La Crosse was a bit rainy but Door County gave us great weather, with sunshine every day.  Our last day was warm enough for the beach, so we had a relaxing day at Nicolet Beach, where we relaxed, played in the sand and water, and the farmer took the older boys sailing.  (youngest boy preferred the beach) 

  

One new thing we enjoyed that we've never done with the boys is take them to see a performance by the Peninsula Players.  The boys were a bit skeptical at first but the play was great and we all had a good time.  The theater is somewhat open and is in the middle of the woods, so it's a unique experience.

Our last night we attended a fish boil and we able to eat outside near the water and watch a beautiful sunset.   It's hard to beat the sense of peace and relaxation you get when sitting near the water.
   
Myself, I'd go to Door County just for the flowers - they are everywhere!  Each shop, hotel, inn and restaurant has a riot of flowers outside.   It almost feels like you are on a garden tour.

Thanks for looking at all those vacation pictures!   I don't have a photo of one of my vacation highlights - a new yarn shop that I found in Fish Creek.   This is the only LYS in the part of the county we visit so I was thrilled to find it.  ( I always try to scope out at least one yarn shop on a trip, as we don't have any here. )  "Red Sock Yarns" is a great store, with a wide selection, cozy chairs to knit in, and a friendly shopkeeper.   I founds some yarn to begin yet another blanket....not as big a project as Girasole (still doing that knitted-on edging!) as this one is for a baby arriving in October.  


All I can say is, those of you with a great LYS are very fortunate, I wanted to take this one home with me!  I hope she'll have a successful business, as it'll be another thing to look forward to when we return.