The Wandering Nana's are at it, again!

At Table Bluff where we started. #MammothHikeChallenge #HikingChallenge

 

Tuesday, October 12, 2021: Ice Age Trail - Table Bluff segment, Part 1

The weather today was cloudy, but no threat rain, so we decided to stick with our plan of hiking the connecting route between Indian Lake and Table Bluff. We had driven it previously to determine which direction we wanted to hike, and chose to go from the parking lot at the north end of Table Bluff to the Dog Park at Indian Lake, and if we still had energy to spare, move our vehicles and do the Table Bluff trail. The roads were lovely quiet roads with alternating views of farmland and forests. The colors are gradually changing, and because of our regular walks, we are able to enjoy observing the changes in small increments. Walking the countryside of Wisconsin and observing the working farms in addition to the flora and fauna is, mostly, one of the most peaceful things a body can do. Quilting is one of the past-times that Sue and I have enjoyed doing together, so seeing the barn quilts as we passed some of the farms along the way was an added treat.

 The only part that was less fun was the farm dog that insisted on barking at us as we passed "his" farm. I can't say we were "chased" because neither of us ran (being "dog-people" ourselves, we don't easily succumb to fear of them), but it took some scolding from Sue for the dog to realize it was time for him to go home. 

Being friends of many years, Sue and I always have things to talk about, and on this hike we discovered that we need to be mindful of where we are going. We definitely earned the "wandering" title in our trail name! It was unintentional, but we found it worth a good laugh! A hike that should have been about 4.8 miles including a .8 mile trek through a sweet little prairie ended up being closer to 7 miles. The "extended" version of the walk led to a change in plans, as we only completed the connecting route between the Indian Lake Dog Park and the Table Bluff parking lot, along with a small add-on of Halfway Prairie and the Matz Homestead, since we had not been certain that it was open the previous week when we did the connecting route between Springfield Hill and Indian Lake. A song that has been going through my head lately is  John Denver's "Annie's Song". While it is not necessarily a spiritual song, the first phrase, "You fill up my senses..." speaks to me of what God is doing as he moves me off the sofa and out to see and experience His creation. Genesis 1:1 says, "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth." As I see his creation, I marvel at the magnitude of what that means, and am grateful to be a part of it.

Friday, October 15, 2021: Ice Age Trail - Table Bluff segment, Part 2

Since we did NOT finish the Table Bluff segment on Tuesday as originally planned, we came back to give it a second go, and did the connecting route into Cross Plains, as well. I smile now, as among the agreements Sue and I discussed when planning our joint venture on the Ice-Age Trail is that neither of us is all that fond of walking in the rain, so we would try to avoid it. The weather forecast for the day was "iffy", and we both ran into sprinkles on our way to meet at the Table Bluff parking lot, but since it wasn't raining when we got there, we set off on our trek with a measure of optimism. Well, more sprinkles did occur, though nothing like the downpours we know to be possible in Wisconsin. Maybe...just maybe...we are heartier than we give ourselves credit for! We still might be wusses when it comes to serious rain, but we survived Table Bluff and even got a kick our of the "mermaid". The final ascent from Table Bluff looks somewhat daunting, but the switchbacks made it a bit easier to navigate. We agreed that an "out-and-back" on this trail might be good preparation for the Devils Lake segment. 1 John 4:4 says, "You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world." While there is a specific reference to what is being overcome in this scripture, it does not negate the thought that there is much for us to overcome in this world. We face obstacles often in this life that, in order to move forward, we must overcome. The steepness of the ascent from Table Bluff looks a little scary when you see it from below, but when you approach it from above and see the switchbacks, it becomes doable. How many times have you faced a hurdle in life that you had to overcome? Where did you turn when you needed help? By far, it has been the Lord who has directed the pathway of my life, and helped me to overcome. I would encourage you, reader, to look to him in your times of need, as well.

Hi! It's me, again! On to a new adventure!

 Life in the past few years has taking some twists and turns that included another hiatus from blogging, but, here I am, again, and excited to be here! I am probably stating the obvious when I say that 2020 brought a lot of unexpected changes - and that probably is true for many of you, as well. After three years of serving as Airbnb hosts, the pandemic brought that to an abrupt halt. Shortly after that, Norm and I looked at each other and said, "I think it's time to sell the house." That was the sum total of the conversation that led to selling our house and buying a condo in a nearby small town. It is a great fit for us at this time in our lives, and we're very happy about it. 

I've written before about dealing with my health journey. This has included efforts at different times to get a grip on weight-gain. After four Whole30's, which dealt with non-scale victories but weight loss that never exceeded 4 pounds, I determined that I was finished with the Whole30 journey. However, this last March I reached a breaking point. I couldn't find one pair of pants in my closet that I could comfortably button. One prayer I prayed at that time was that God would give me the victory over a spirit of gluttony that I seemed unable to control. Proverbs 23:1-2 says, "When you sit to dine with a ruler, note well what is before you, and put a knife to your throat if you are given to gluttony." It seems apparent to me that if we should exercise self-control in this area before rulers (or those in charge of leading us), that it would be good practice when we are in any other circumstances, as well. Also, I wanted to eat as healthy and as much whole foods as possible, as well. With a health history that includes diabetes and heart disease, I chose to give JJ Virgins Sugar Impact Diet a try. For the first time in 20 years - and having tried many other "diets" - I finally found an eating program that works for me. Notice, I did NOT use the word "diet", as that suggests something temporary that is not sustainable. I need to find a way of eating that I can sustain over the long haul. I can't say that I will continue with this forever, as I also took a break from this for 4 weeks in July and switch gears to do Dr. Alan Christianson's Metabolism Reset Diet, which is essentially a liver detox program, and is not recommended for more that 4 weeks in a 3-month period. I also started walking. If you've read any of my earlier blog posts, you know I have a dog, Nala. She and I have walked at least 15 minutes most days since I got her 13 years ago. That has led to some "non-scale" victories, but not to weight-loss. Since April 2021, she and I have upped our game, so now we walk at least a mile a day, and I walk at other times without her, too. (She is 13 years old, after all!)

The Wandering Nana's

One thing I have sensed lately is the Lord leading me to take on hiking the Ice Age trail here in Wisconsin. I have often considered the Christian life a journey, and this seems to be the next step in my life's journey. A recent scripture I read confirmed that to me. Psalm 84:5 says "Blessed are those whose strength is in you, whose hearts are set on pilgrimage." Just as I have learned some things about the relationship with God as my father/parent by raising children, I believe God has something to show me about my spiritual journey with Him by taking a physical journey. I mentioned my plan to walk the Ice Age trail to Sue, my friend and walking buddy, and asked if she would consider joining me. My initial goal was to start in April 2022, with the thought that I would have time to build up my hiking endurance, but our recent walks have increased in length so that we walked 5 miles on a recent hike. As a result, we decided that  Monday, September 27, 2021, would be our inaugural hike of the Ice Age Trail.

We walked the 2.9 mile segment at Indian Lake, near where we live. It was a gorgeous day - sunshine and a perfect 73°. The hike is considered "intermediate level" with inclines to navigate, and  I found myself huffing and puffing, but I did it, and it felt great! We did the 2.9 mile segment through the park, and then took a trail along the edge of the lake to return to the parking area, so ended up walking nearly 5 miles. We came up with a "trail name", as that seemed like a cool thing to do, so if you see us on the trail, we are the "Wandering Nana's". We are looking forward to adventuring together and meeting fellow travelers!

The colors are just starting to turn.

Quilt Square on a shed

Part of the trail at Indian Lake

A Few Hidden Gems in Wisconsin

So, it's been a little while since my last post. I beg your forgiveness for that. I've been in the field doing research, including a camping trip, so I'd have things to tell you about. [insert big grin, here]. Be warned - this may be a bit longer post than usual. Hopefully you will find these things interesting enough to cut me some slack.

One thing I love about living in Wisconsin - and it may be true of other places, as well, but Wisconsin is what I can tell you about from experience, is that any time you get in your car and go for a drive - and it doesn't have to be very far, you will find something interesting that is worth stopping to investigate. On a recent short trip out to Verona I made a stop at Millers and Sons Supermarket. If you haven't been there and you're in the area, be sure to stop by. While it's easy to find a grocery store in most places in Wisconsin, Miller's is it's own kind of grocery store. It's a local small business, though the store is spacious and offers a good variety of choices. The produce is always fresh and looks beautiful. They also have an in-store deli with a nice selection, and their cuts of meat are mouth-wateringly fresh and ready for the grill. The day I was there, I needed a card for a shower, and was pleasantly surprised that one small corner of the store has not only cards, but some cute crafty-type gifts if that is what you're in the market for. My final stop at Millers was at the Faygo machine on my way back to my car. Anyone who knows me knows I don't drink much soda. Frequently when I go out to eat water will be my drink of choice but, occasionally, a locally made soda tastes really good, and Faygo makes good soda. The red pop I had that day was a real thirst quencher!



Timbers Bar & Grill, Black Creek, WI



On our recent trip up to Boulder Lake, one thing I didn't tell you about was the place we stopped at for lunch on our way home. You won't find Timbers Bar and Grill in Black Creek on Tripadvisor if you're looking for place to eat, but you should still stop. They have reasonably priced bar food that is served fresh and hot. It happened to be a Sunday when we were there, and they had the Sunday lunch buffet set-up, but that didn't appeal to any in my crowd. I had the cod sandwich, and it was excellent. Norm had one of the wraps, and raved that was good. I tried a bite, and could see why. The sauce they use is light and has a really nice tang to it. Definitely worth a stop if you're up that way!



Ledge County Park - Dodge County, WI



Campsite "J" - Ledge County Park



When people camp in Wisconsin, there are many choices, most notably the beautifully maintained State Parks that dot the state, as well as many private campgrounds that typically offer more amenities. One thing that should not be discounted though, is the county campgrounds. One that is located a short drive from Madison is Ledge County Park in Dodge County. The campsites are generally roomy, and the trees help to offer a modicum of privacy. We camped from a Thursday to a Saturday, and there were only about 5 other campsites that were occupied. They have good hardwood for sale at a reasonable price if you want to have a campfire. We were also able to collect some downed dead wood to keep our fire going, which was really appreciated as the first of the cool nights hit when we were camping.





Wine bottle holder at Bugsy's Best



The cheese case at Bugsy's Best



Wisconsin has some great names for it's towns, often with native american roots. You've heard of Waunakee? It's the only one in the world, you know. Or Oconomowoc? I've heard television announcers stumble over that one. How about Kekoskee? If you haven't heard of Kekoskee before, well, now you have. And if you happen to go to Kekoskee, be sure to stop at Bugsy's Best. They carry many Wisconsin-made products to whet your appetite, and when it's as hot as it has been recently, an ice cream cone really hits the spot. I had blueberry cheesecake ice cream in a waffle cone - stupendously awesome! They also carry Wisconsin-made cheese, and a variety of other eclectic choices. Check out the picture with the home-made wine bottle holder. I just have to figure out where I'd put it if I got one of those. The building that houses Bugsy's has been in the Lechner family for some time, and has been used for other purposes, so there is a pictorial history in the building, as well as an old water wheel that you can see through the glass casing. It's a very cool place to stop! 

Beef sticks and cheese curds -
how much more "Wisconsin" can you get?

And that's all for now. Hope you're having a great summer. Leave a comment and tell me about some place unique or special that you've visited this summer.

No compensation was received for these endorsements. These are given because I visited these places and thought them worth writing about.

 













Sometimes It's the Little Things that Make Me Happy

I'm so excited I can hardly stand it. I have several reasons for feeling that way, right now, but the most immediate is that Norm and I are getting ready for a camping/rafting weekend that includes a couple of my favorite nephews, Hunter and Max. In preparation, I did some shopping this morning for a few items to add to our camping gear. Nothing big, mind you, but things I've wanted and now finally have - like that cool red and white checked tablecloth that makes a campsite look so homey, and the clips to hold it onto the picnic table if it happens to be windy. Since we're planning to go rafting, I also picked up a few small items that I thought would make that more enjoyable, like a waterproof box to put my camera in - that is IF I don't chicken out and decide not to take it rafting, and a 5 gallon waterproof bag to pack our lunch in. Soggy sandwiches just don't sound very appealing to me! Norm took a group of men to Boulder Lake - the campground we are headed to - last year, and I'm trying to learn from their experience of losing items that were not attached when they went rafting, so I also picked up a package of caribiners so we can attach anything we take to the raft. The cats meow will be getting to do some fishing - I love to fish, but haven't been for several years. I fully intend to remedy that this year. I'll be happy if we catch a few pan fish. Will report back - you know there always must be a "fish" story! Well, have tons of packing yet to do, so better get to it. Oh - and you might be hearing a bit more from me this weekend, as I'm planning to try my hand at some "on location" blogging. Signing off.