Okay, I have been ignoring this for most of the year! Ironic after one of our driest summers ever, it is pouring rain, lightening and thundering right now. Is it my fault we didn't get rain? Moose is resting his chin on my left hand and wondering why we aren't out walking.
Summer was spent working and trying to capture little weekend trips. We managed one camping trip to Wissota State Park east of Chippewa Falls - lovely, lovely. Bought a new tent for the occasion that worked out great, and now it is stored for the season. Still need to get an air bed before I sleep on the hard ground again (haven't I been saying that for several years now?).
We are a friendship family to a young woman from Myanmar. The Saint arrived in August and we helped her get moved in to St. Kate's. She will spend one year through a State Department program and is experiencing all of American life and finds much of it perplexing. Her country is tropical, typical temperature range from 75 to 105 degrees F. Minnesota is quite the contrast. They have only had a democratic government for a few years so she is not used to personal freedom and the ability to travel. She has gotten us to St. Catherine University for several O'Shaugnessy events that have been fun and we'll see her Saturday to carve pumpkins.
Steven moved to his own apartment in River Falls and is enjoying his freedom and his job at the River Falls Country Inn. He started part time and now has five days a week from 11:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. shift. Seems to be working for him. Brian moved from his River Falls apartment to Eau Claire in August. He is studying at CVTC and taking seven classes. We picked him up when we visited Tenba Ridge Winery in Blair WI and enjoyed wine tasting and dinner at Northwoods Brew Pub in Eau Claire. He doesn't call, hope all is going well with his school.
We have been saving our vacation for a BIG adventure. We leave for New Zealand in 16 days. We fly to Los Angeles on November 10 and then a 13 hour flight to Auckland New Zealand. We will have a rental card and first stop will be in Matamata where we will see The Shire from Lords of the Rings. We spend a day in Roturua by the lake before traveling to Wellington. The ferry will cross between the north and south islands. We will whale watch by Kaikoura, see the western coast by Punakaiki, walk on glaciers on Fox Glacier, see glow worm in caves by Te Anau, take a boat tour on Milford Sound, visit vineyards at Wanaka. Bill with fish a full day while in Wanaka. We then will travel to Invercargill, the southern most tip of the country, explore the coast to see penguins, seals, sea birds by the Caitlins and end our trip in Dunedin where we spend three days, take a wildlife tour to see more penguins. Can you tell - I am really, really, really excited. This trip has been on our wish list for 31 years, and a year and half in planning. We'll see how I do being away from home for three weeks. I will miss my walks with Moose and early morning access to my coffee pot!
Speaking of coffee, time to refill my mug.......
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