A Wisconsin Weekend

This past weekend I spent it at my families cabin in Wisconsin. I absolutely fell in love with the wispy fluffy clouds and the blue blue skies. Everyday turned out to be sunny and not to hot but just warm enough. I grew up going to the cabin during the summer with my grandparents and always treasure the memories that were made here. 

Passing beautiful farm fields. 

Corn growing taller than me, it's a sign of the ends of summer. 

Tranquil lakes.

Beautiful Sunsets

I ran these roads each day, it was beautiful and peaceful, a great run. 

Wisconsin

What an amazing weekend it was! I'm not sure if I even have a highlight - each day was wonderful. 

My family & I spent the day up at the lake - it was gorgeous. We lounged around outside in the heat, played with tykes, went on rides around the lake, caught some fish (well dad did) and genuinely enjoyed each other. 

Wisconsin: Moon Glow

This past weekend I was invited by Amanda Sue and her family to venture across state boarders into Hudson Wisconsin to gaze upon the most glorious winter activity I have seen. The conditions were a little questionable all day, but the weather was perfect that evening for the Moon Glow event where the hot air balloons lit up the night.    

Pictures can not do it justice, the time on that field was magical and breathtaking and so utterly beautiful.

To find out more information

Hiking in Wisconsin

Willow River State Park

Beauty is in the Eye of the Beholder

Girls heading North: Bayfield

Here is the final (second) post to recap the glorious Girls Heading North mini series of my small & short but glorious little fall excursion. {Part 1 - Duluth can be found here}

{Bayfield}

We arrived in Bayfield late in the afternoon and decided to head right on over to Madeline Island where we were staying for the next two evenings. We checked in to the hotel and proceeded to drive around Madeline Island. If the colors were beautiful in Duluth, they were gorgeous in Bayfield/Madeline Island. 

We also started looking for someplace to eat supper at. Madeline Island, also known as La Pointe Wisconsin is mostly a tourist vacation spot. Madeline is the biggest island in the chain of Apostle Islands.  Madeline Islands' population ranges from 220 in the winter to a whooping 2500 in the summer. Most of the homes on Madeline are summer homes. 

Tom's Burnt Down Cafe

After driving around half the island we decided to park and visit a few of the local restaurants and establishments. We finally decided upon a local watering hole, Tom's Burnt Down Cafe was the lucky winner of the night. Let me tell you we did not choose this place for their award winning food or the fact that they were clean. If ever you were looking for a place that all the locals went to this was the place,  The place consisted of a old semi trailer as the kitchen and bar area, most of Tom's Burnt Down Cafe is located outside with a big tarp as the tent covering about a third of the entire cafe, in the back at the "entrance" there were two wood burning stoves going (keep in mind it was 40 degrees). In the "interior" every quote and never sold garage sale item finds its home here at Tom's. There were no words to exactly describe this place, but it did not seem to fit in Wisconsin, but we did enjoy this eclectic place none the less.  

{Applefest}

Saturday was the big Apple Fest, we headed back on over the ferry to Bayfield and disembarked and immediately started looking at wares. We met up with some friends and headed about 10 miles out to of Bayfield to the Hauser Winery for complimentary wine tasting as well as some free apples. At the winery Fiery C & I had the most amazing smoked pulled pork, were able to check out the view of Lake Superior from their barn loft, sample apple wines, and walk in the woods. 

 Hausers' "Superior" View (har har har)

We ended the day with a glorious sunset over Lake Superior and star gazing. 

{Big Bay State Park}

We ended the weekend with a quick jaunt around Big Bay State Park. The day was simply gorgeous, the warmest of the entire weekend. It was amazing to see the large rock shore underneath the crystalline waters, simply gorgeous. 

It was a beautiful end to a beautiful weekend. 

Smiley, Incognito, & Squinty 

Goodbye Minnesota, Hello Wisconsin

This past weekend I spent time with a friend at my family cabin. It was a much needed mini-vacation from the world, especially after a week of teaching VBS to preschoolers! It was glorious, so many wonderful memories of my youth were made at that cabin. As a kid I always loved heading to the cabin with my grandparents, knowing I would be able to run around and play, have my grandparents to myself and the possibility of ice cream every evening.

After grabbing groceries in Stillwater and toting our Caribous we headed for the road and said goodbye to Minnesota, and hello Wisconsin.

We spent the time to the cabin driving through gorgeous countryside dotted with small towns, rolling hills, green pastures and high cornfields. Finally destination was found nestled in it's own puffy blue clouds, amid the cornfields lay the cabin. The cabin had not changed much over the years, still the same loved cabin of my childhood.

The cabin was relaxing and inviting. We spent the quiet moments taking walks in the country, curling up with books & magazines, canoeing & paddle boating, movies in the evening, even star gazing and seeing two shooting stars & the big dipper.

We ventured into a nearby town twice for some good old mom & pop restaurants. 

We at at Nezzy's Sports Bar & Grill. 

I had the Jalapeno Raspberry Chicken Wings

The Tower House

Silly countryside roads.

Every good thing must end, even weekend at the cabin. But thankfully I have the pictures and memories... and unfortunately the sunburn to remember the quiet & relaxing weekend.