The Life of Jill...

The new puppy...Annie.

2009-01-24T19:14:00.002-06:00

Halloween Fun!

2008-10-26T18:40:00.005-05:00

Todd and I pulled together some last minute costumes for a party last night. Todd ended up taking home first prize, and I won "Creepiest".

I now present...
The Joker & The Marionette...

Beer Making Adventure...

2008-09-30T09:02:00.011-05:00

A few more weeks and we'll have some tasty brew to devour.

Birthday flowers

2008-09-29T07:42:00.003-05:00

Flowers from the lovely Jamie!!

Flowers from Mom Pam and Dad Todd...Yay!

What a handsome puppy.

2008-09-29T07:39:00.001-05:00

GUNR being stoic

Ahhh well.

2008-09-05T19:28:00.001-05:00

I had this great thought...that I was going to start taking lots of photos of everything going on this week...then I was going to post them...and everyone could see how fabulously boring it is around here right now.

But I gave my camera to Todd to take to Europe with him.

Now I have no photos.

Sorry.

I am however going to see a fun band play tonight in Madison. Yay!

Waunafest

2008-08-04T07:58:00.007-05:00

Went to watch a parade...and wander around the festival...

Had a Gyro...and some chocolate milk...

That's about it.

Scary Monkey Ride,

Pink Tarps,

and Lot's O' Firetrucks

A bit of an ear problem...and some fun in the sun.

2008-07-29T17:56:00.003-05:00

Wow...it has been a month.

Just finishing up being sick. There was a day last week where I woke up and thought the speaker on my cell phone was busted because it sounded all funny when it rang. But then people started talking....and everyone sounded like robots. I listened to the radio, and every song was out of tune. Everything sounded like the devil was infused into it...but alas, it was just a lonely little ear infection. Quite amazing what an infection in your ear can do.

So the weekend I got sick, I actually had spent with some friends at their parents cottage on this really neat little lake...about 2 hours north of Madison. Bonfires, and boating, and tubing, and playing fun yard games, and eating lots of yummy food. I only made it through Saturday evening until the sickness crept into my poor little body. At first I thought it was just from dehydration and drinking too much beer while basking in the sun. I was wrong. it was a bonafide cold...with a bonafide ear infection.

That's the update for now. Stay tuned, and hopefully I'll have more for you soon. Thank you to the few who called me out and recognized I have been slacking. I needed a kick in the butt.

Rhythm and Booms Grand Finale

2008-06-29T11:32:00.003-05:00

This was from last year...saw it for the first time this year...ummmm, it was the most amazing fireworks show I have ever seen. People just drive and park their cars all over the madison area, pop open their tailgates, and crank their radios to watch this thing 'cause it's set to music that is broadcast over a public radio station. one half hour solid of grand finale quality fireworks.

Nobody does it like Wisconsin!

Neighborhood Jam Session

2008-06-23T18:10:00.004-05:00

Last Saturday, about six houses got together with some added friends for a neighborhood potluck/jam session. We had the pleasure of having Shannon, our neighbor one street over join us on clarinet. She just started playing a year or two ago...and she had no fear, she just jumped right in!! Hooray for music! Yes, Todd is playing a "washtub bass"...you can also hear my new washboard in the background.

Lake Delton Breach

2008-06-11T21:41:00.003-05:00

Here are some more photos that show where the house in the video below was. The lake waters busted right through the land and the highway into the Wisconsin river after the storms last weekend.

Storm damage 1 hour north

2008-06-10T07:09:00.002-05:00

This didn't used to be a river...It used to be dry land. Lake Delton in the Wisconsin Dells no longer exists. It spewed out of its confines, took three houses with it, and emptied into the Wisconsin River.

Are we in Oz yet?

2008-06-09T18:21:00.002-05:00

So we have survived our first Midwestern Tornado Extravaganza. This past weekend there were multiple tornadoes in the area, one of which was spotted a mile from our house. Sirens were going off non stop. Rain and winds pounded the crap out of Wisconsin, causing much flooding, some evacuations, some injuries, some destroyed houses and flipped cars...holy crap. It was scary out here. As soon as I heard there was "tornadic activity" in the town next to ours and it was headed my direction, I grabbed the dog, a blanket, and a couch cushion and headed for the basement. The news said to "take cover" so that's what I did...however, as I settled myself in the basement, it was difficult to feel safe with hundreds of sharp tools, multiple bicycle parts, and about six 4 by 6 pieces of wood laying propped against the walls. I received a text message from my neighbor asking if I was home alone...I called back and said yes, and she told me to come over. So I grabbed the dog and said "okay, open yer front door, I'm running over!!" I spent the next half hour or so with the neighbors and their kids watching the storm clouds and listening to sirens go off.

So Todd was on his way home from a 100 mile bike ride in the car and hit the black sky as the temp dropped 20 degrees...he pulled over at a rest stop. I was talking to him on the phone trying to give him and the other travelers updates on which way the storm was moving and how much more storm was left out there. Apparently Todd witnessed a funnel cloud hover over the highway about three stories off the ground where he was. Like I said...holy crap!! Todd was getting ready to corrale the travelers into the bathrooms at the rest stop...

Okay, so does everyone know my severe fear of tornadoes? Yep, it's bad...I freak out hardcore. I made Todd get a weather radio last year so we have all the immediate updates on severe weather in the area.

Oh, did I fail to mention the softball sized hail? Yep, there was some of that too...northwest of here though. And our neighbors backyard had a river running through it. And our other neighbors yard had a lake in it...

WoooHooo!!!!!!!

Summer's here!! Almost.

2008-06-03T07:39:00.009-05:00

Warm summer nights have graced our presence finally, and the living creatures in our yard have bloomed. Evidence that they survived the winter. I am tired...and hungry...evidence that I survived the winter. This season will be too short, but it will only make us cherish it that.. much.. more. I look forward to late night fires, beers in the driveway after work while I watch the neighborhood come to life, weekend bike rides, fireflies, falling asleep to the sound of crickets and leaves...

Redneck Roundup!!!

2008-06-02T19:03:00.010-05:00

Need I say more?? Okay...

SHooting...Rafting...Chopping down trees...Chili tasting...

Hatchet throwing...Fireworks...Fireworks......Blowing things up...Fireworks.
and a little bit of Texas flare. YeeeeeeeeHawwwww.

Cars

2008-05-29T19:32:00.001-05:00

Yes...it's another BMW.

Puppets

2008-05-29T19:10:00.002-05:00

Those of you may know my obsession with Jim Henson. For those of you who don't...I have always been fascinated with what Mr. Henson was able to accomplish with making inanimate objects come to life. He was capable of evoking powerful emotions through his puppetry. I have talked for many years about wanting to make puppets, so here is my first attempt. Through a poll of friends on possible names...he ended up with the name Vincel, thanks to Mr. Kline. So my friends and family...this is Vincel. Vincel...these are my friends and family. Stay tuned for Vincel's female companion. She is half sewn at the moment...waiting for her arms to get attached...

Greetings!!

2008-05-29T08:26:00.000-05:00

Hello Friends and family!! I have decided to start a blog to help share with all of you what goes on out here in the land of cheese and beer, and in our travels. We will eventually be adding to our family out here, and I don't want anyone to miss out on the opportunity to share this with us as well. Thank you all for being a part of my life, for what is life without friends and family? Much love to you all...and enjoy!!