AHHH, Retirement

Hi all,
 We completed our time at Wendy's folks house. We had a good time and they expressed much gratitude for all the help we gave them.

 The list of projects completed included helping power wash the house, clean windows in and out, Wendy deep cleaning the interior while helping with dinners and laundry. I helped with the lawn and
changing out two toilets. I also helped Ed build a new deer stand that thankfully Wendys brother brought a tractor over to lift in place. I also got to play chauffer for Ed while Wendy assumed that role taking mom for groceries. Wendy also helped her sister Becky by making some new drapes for a camper they had just bought. ( Sheesh, Wendy even worked on a couple baskets in all that spare time.

doesn't she look happy.)

Wendy checking out the deer condo

 We also had a list of items that we wanted to get done in the camper. That list included adding a frame and cabinet doors in the back, new padding in our dining chairs, installing a couple new led lights in the bedroom, a good wipe down of all the interior, a thorough cleaning of storage compartments, and I got as far as waxing the front of the rv. In my spare time I made a Pegs and Joker board set. Boy, I guess we were a little busy.)

before

after

Our first led lighting

 So on to Mukwonago, the place where Wendy and I both were raised since the age 5&6. Muktown as locals call it lies about 30 miles west of Milwaukee. While here for the next month we will get some visits with my dad who is doing pretty good while in a nearby nursing home. We have two weddings and grandson Noahs graduation party, daughter Amanda is coming up from Florida for a week. We also have some Dr appointments, and want to see many other family and friends.
 Ooh, I did get in some real fun as Wendy was attending her nieces shower this past weekend it left an opening for brother in law Sonny and I to get in a short fishing trip. We headed to St. Germaine to a good  friend of his who was gracious enough to have us stay at his place and help him break in a brand new boat. Wow what fun, we caught a bunch of bluegills, not great in size but will make a few good meals. My bad for not getting pics, guess I was to busy reeling em in. Thanks to Sonny and extra thanks to Mike and Karen the gracious hosts.

upcoming bride great-niece Molly and Wendy's sis Patsy

Sonny getting photobombed just outside the cabin

This and That

Hi all,
 As you can tell the posts will be slowed down for the summer, it just seems that while not in travel mode we don't have as many exciting adventures to entertain ya'll.)
 We have been busy helping out Wendys folks, I have helped roof a wood shed, build a new deer stand, and really exciting I get to mow grass. Wendy stays busy with meals, laundry, and trying to get mom to remove clutter in some areas. Wendys dad still is amazing in all he still does, her mom gets frustrated at the things she no longer can do. They do appreciate the help and just having us around gives them a break from routine.

Dad working on his new deer stand(tiny house)
and this gets put on 10 foot posts.

 Last Saturday Wendys family gathered for a memorial ceremony at the High Grounds Veterans Memorial. We were honoring Wendys oldest brother David a Viet Nam Vet who sadly passed last year in January after a battle with cancer.
 We got a nice day a little hot but the site is on a high hill so we were able to catch some breeze. The ceremony was nice and it was nice getting all Wendys seven sibs all together. We later had a luncheon at the house getting in a nice visit with all.

L-R Peggy, Wendy, Vicki, Patsy Donnie, Becky, Richard, Mom, Randy, and Dad( kneeling was an attending Vet placing stone)

One day we had a nice visit with John and Judy whom we have been friends with since high school. They recently retired and have moved just east of here where they are putting up a new house. When we found out they retired we were pretty surprised, I guess John just came home one day and said that's it, I'm done. They then cleaned up the house and it was on the market ONE day with three offers! WOW. Thankfully they already owned the new property and had a big garage to store their stuff until the house gets done. We are happy for them as they begin a new part of their lives.

Judy and John with their grandson

 Fathers Day was spent with Colleen and her family here at Wendys folks house. Later her sister Becky and hubby Dan stopped over and we had a small cook out enjoying a beautiful weather day.

Back- brother-inlaw Dan, Me, Son inlaw Goyo, and Wendys Dad

 Sometimes ya just cant catch a break-- the past three years we have summered in South Dakota and after having hail damage our first year we were protecting the truck with a 10x 20 awning. It did a pretty good job but you can guess where this is leading, a storm that looked like it was going to miss us dumped a bunch of quarter size hail on my poor truck. Grrr, left a bunch of small dents mainly on the hood. Oh well, one more thing to take care of while here, our list was almost done.

Busy Bees in Wisconsin

Hi all,
 Not quite as much to write about when not in travel mode. We are camping in Wendy's parents yard in Nekoosa, WI pretty much central location in the state. We want to spend time with them and help out any way we can.

Memorial cookout

Wendy's sisters Becky, Mom, Patsy, and Peg

Brother in law Sonny, Dad, and niece Bethel

 Wendy's mom has been having back pain issues that probably won't go away at this stage in life. She gets around pretty good but sometimes just does to much and ends up in pain. She gets frustrated with this and it is hard for her to have others doing the things she has always taken care of.
 Wendy's dad goes like the Ever-ready bunny, if raising chickens and tending a large garden isn't enough at 85 years old,  he always seems to have a project up his sleeve to eliminate any idle time.
 So our plan is to stay here the month of June and then head down to our old stomping grounds Mukwonago where we will spend a month. There we will get in visits with my dad and other family and friends. We also have two weddings to attend in July and a graduation party for grandson Noah.
 Sunday we attended the graduation ceremony for Noah. He graduated from Whitewater High School with a class of 152. They got a great weather day and we enjoyed a nice picnic dinner at daughter Colleens house.

Noahs gf Haley, Colleen, Noah, Manuel, Goyo with Isaiah and Lukas

Son in law Goyo, Noah and Colleen

 This coming weekend will be a get together with Wendy's siblings as we are attending a ceremony to place a stone at High Grounds Memorial Park honoring her oldest brother David (a Viet Nam veteran) who passed last year in January after a battle with cancer.