Wildwood

Beckett and Heather visited last week and we returned to Wildwood in Minocqua, someplace we hadn't been to in probably 30 years.  It used to be strictly a petting zoo but has expanded into the real deal...bears, tigers, and lions, but still very child focused, with lots of interaction with the animals.  Here's some pics from our very enjoyable day, sure this will be an annual visit for awhile.



Only in Wisconsin.  The Smiths and Washows have played the adjacent course so we know this threat is real.  Does this remove the liability?



Before you get into the main part of the zoo you must get through the goat gauntlet.



Beckett is fearless when it comes to petting animals of any kind.  Bears and big cats pose a problem.




Heather trying to get some food to feed the goats...as she said "they don't even respect pregnant women."




Macy has a "knack" for handling these group activities.




There were a few things the goats weren't attacking.  These huge pigs were all over the place.




There was an enclosed area with thousands of parakeets.  You could get popsicle sticks covered with bird seed.  Beckett has one here.



Lucas

Macy spent a little over a week in Virginia helping Lucas and his family settle into a routine, I went out for the weekend.  Lucas is one month old and really starting to take notice of things.  Renee and Scott have adjusted their schedules as Lucas rules the day (and night).  He was 10 lbs, 8 ozs at birth and is getting quite strong already.



Scott continues to amaze with his culinary skills.  Entree's this night included both a goat and shrimp dish.  The goat was very good and a first for us all.



Scott has an iPad now too, so Lucas and Grandpa were left to their own devices...in Grandpa's case his camera.

 

The Shaw's New Digs

Beckett, Heather and Frank moved into their new house on Friday.  In addition to our old friend Mr. Mover, the grandparents helped with the move as well.  Macy and I had the weekend shift.  Here's some pics from the weekend.

Here's a view from street level



A little closer, house gets a new coat of stain this week




Back yard view...nice pen for a dog




Behind the boxes and the pregnent woman unpacking is the kitchen




Frank's early Father's Day gift was Corn Bag Toss.  Macy was pretty good, must be that Iowa corn savvy.




Nice play set in the back yard; which led to...




Since it was only 85 on Sunday, Heather decided a new coat of stain made sense.

  

Back down to visit next Sunday to celebrate B's birthday so we'll have some more pics of the new place next week as well.

Zoofari

Way behind in Blog posts, so have to start somewhere.  Two weeks ago we spent a weekend with Beckett while his parents did a getaway to Chicago.  Good time was had by all.  Highlight for the weekend was a trip to the Milwaukee Zoo.  Macy and I probably hadn't been there for 20 years, but no problem, Beckett is already a regular, and was quite sure of what he wanted us to see.



To start the weekend Beckett and Grandma made peanut butter balls.



It wasn't a tough sell to get Beckett involved.  They were great!

First up were the "big cats".

Who's viewing whom?

Hippos are Beckett's favorite.  One eventually took a swim.

We packed a lunch, here we're picking out a table.

Smile Grandma

We ended the visit with a trip on the train, got the steam engine, so both Beckett and Grandpa were very happy.

Yellow is Beckett's favorite color.  When we got back to our car in the parking lot this is what we found parked next to us.  Needless to say Beckett was overjoyed.

Square Foot Gardening

Macy and I went to a Northwood's gardening seminar several months ago and one of the speakers was the CEO of Square Foot Gardening, a not for profit group.  Founded by Mel Bartholomew, and still the guru, it is a different approach to gardening.  30 years ago he got interested in gardening and evolved the Square Foot Gardening approach.  He had a show on PBS, then both the Discovery  and Learning Channels.  Basic principals are small plots that can be easily tended, idealy 4x4 foot, but any size works.  No rows, but 1 foot grids for planting.  So tomatoes and peppers are one per grid, lettuce 4 per grid, radishes 16 per grid...you get the drift.  Other basic rule is Mel's mix...one third peat moss, one third vermiculite, and one third blended compost.  When you rotate a crop add a trowel of compost.

We're giving it a go.  Our challenge is a short growing season, soil that is 1/2 sand, 1/4 rock, and 1/4 roots, and we're in the woods...shade!  We do have abundant water though.

We'll keep you posted.

Here's Mel's book, second addition.  Over 30 years he's evolved the approach.  Basic principal for now...you can grow anything in 6 inches of the right soil

According to Mel if you don't have the grid it ain't square foot gardening...we're all in.

Staining the beds to match the house....seems like a good idea.

Working on Mel's mix.  Blended compost in Mel's definition is at least 9 different composts.  Sorry Mel, we'll have to settle for 3 or 4.  The problem with a cult is it's so confining.

We'll place the beds somewhere in this area, grass is just coming in...no doubt the best places for the beds will be where the grass comes in best.

Visit to Washington

We spent 4 days in Washington visiting Renee, Scott, Caya, and Cooper.  The weather was cooperative and a good time was had by all.

Doug had told us about the Newseum.  It's a great museum.  This is a shot from the museum balcony looking down Pennsylvania Avenue.

Macy made a quilt for Lucas.

Weather was great, we were able to enjoy the outdoors.

Scott got the garden started, just one lonely lemon though

We went to the Bull Run battle field for our Civil War fix

The dogs got to solve a puzzle, here Scott is setting it up.

Under the cups are dog treats, they have to move them into the right slots to get the treat.  It didn't take long.

As usual, we ate well

Sunday before we left it did rain, so we played a board game.  Renee had the German version of this game so there was a clear home court advantage.



It was tough to leave







Landscaper Is Done

The landscaper is done working their magic, and we are very pleased.  Now we need to get the grass growing and start phase 2...which is us taking it all a step further.  Such things as bird feeder sites, plantings, the asparagus patch, martini glass resting spots, raised beds, paths, and some open space for the rain gauge.  Here's some preliminary shots.