--The Wisconsin Chat-- (Sheboygan, Manitowoc, Germantown: winter, driving, town)

[JoshB]

willywilly,
Sorry to hear about your parents. I'm glad you were able to create youthful memories of up north. The northwoods truly is a special place, isn't it? This past September when we were in Minocqua for our annual Northwoods getaway I took my little sister to a beach where she collected rocks. As I sat there in the quiet watching her frolic in the shallow water I was reminded of my summers going up to the farm in Medford. I remember those summer days in my youth as well, riding uncle johns tractor, feeding calves, picking berries. That was life in Wisconsin being a youth.

I think Wisconsin is a great place to raise a kid because the morals and memories that are so prevalent here make youth fine adults that someday want the similar memories for there kids. Obviously there's different circumstances etc.

Any ways getting back to watching my little sister who just turned 5 frolic in water, it strikes you how quickly we grow up. The northwoods lets you be young forever though. Every time I step foot in the cabin I feel like a kid again. No matter if your in Paddock lake or Minocqua. It's the northwoods that is so special.

[hankejp]

Originally Posted by JoshB

willywilly,
Sorry to hear about your parents. I'm glad you were able to create youthful memories of up north. The northwoods truly is a special place, isn't it? This past September when we were in Minocqua for our annual Northwoods getaway I took my little sister to a beach where she collected rocks. As I sat there in the quiet watching her frolic in the shallow water I was reminded of my summers going up to the farm in Medford. I remember those summer days in my youth as well, riding uncle johns tractor, feeding calves, picking berries. That was life in Wisconsin being a youth.

I think Wisconsin is a great place to raise a kid because the morals and memories that are so prevalent here make youth fine adults that someday want the similar memories for there kids. Obviously there's different circumstances etc.

Any ways getting back to watching my little sister who just turned 5 frolic in water, it strikes you how quickly we grow up. The northwoods lets you be young forever though. Every time I step foot in the cabin I feel like a kid again. No matter if your in Paddock lake or Minocqua. It's the northwoods that is so special.

Very well said........

[susancruzs]

Reflective posts are a good thing and I enjoy reading them. I've traveled alot, in the US and many other places but I still have the best memories of our family vacations to upper Michigan in a rental cottage. Fishing and playing in the lake were the main activities, cabins were no frills in the 50s/60s.

When we 3 girls would be cranky if the weather wasn't ideal, my dad would put us in the car drive by a campground with tents then tell us aren't you glad we have a cabin to go back to? We can play cards, board games, make some pop corn and not worry about the rain!

Actually I have a friend I've kept in touch with since 1963, we met at Buck Lake, near Alpha, Michigan swore we would always write to each other. We had some lapses but have remained friends. My niece is 25 and has great memories of the same resort keeps in touch with families she met there after I told her my story. They would go back at the same time and meet the same families every year. She lives and works in Des Moines but still loves simple vacations.

[JoshB]

Hankejp,
Thanks.

Susan,
That's awesome you have kept in touch, how interesting that must be.
These old stories from up north are always fun to read and can be pretty thought provoking.

[UW Badgers]

Back from our trip back home to Wisconsin. Ack, it's so hard to leave!I"m such an emotional mess when it comes to HOME. We were at a store that sells all Wisconsin stuff. They had a snow globe of Madison. It played "On Wisconsin", I freakin' cried! We haven't been home in awhile and with the weather being spectacular and the colors, it just felt right. We had a lot of fun as usual and hated to leave, as usual..

The northwoods rock! I remember many summers growing up and going to Boulder Junction and then we started going to a resort in Hayward. Good times. I remember one year when I was about 10 and the mesquitos were terrible that summer. I spent my days counting my mesquito bites. Just simple things like that is what I loved.

Being back in Wisconsin these past few days was wonderful. My mom and I talked about how simple it was when I was growing up. We talked about all the fun things we would do as a family. I wish everyone could experience the things I did.

I watch a 4 year old where we live now and it's just so different in this city(Cedar Rapids, Iowa). I look at what she will never see or have like I did in Wisconsin. Growing up in Wisconsin is something I will always treasure.

[JoshB]

Wow, Talk about a taste of winter. I've got 30.0 degrees flat here in Portage on the thermometer. I was hoping for some sun this weekend. Doesn't look like we'll be enjoying any sun though. When is the snow going to start sticking?

[hankejp]

Heard on the news last night that this is suppose to be a milder than normal winter. I can't wait for Ice fishing to start...just for the pictures.

[JoshB]

Hanke, I also heard on the Weather Channel and two Madison stations that we are supposed to have below average snowfall and warmer temps then normal. Meaning around 48" of snow if things go as planned, do they ever? lol

[hankejp]

I see they started making snow on Rib Mountain over the weekend. I also noticed that the ground is getting a little harder to walk on. Winter must be almost here.

[geekduo]

Had to knock the ice out of the dog bowl the other morning. Winter is nipping at us for sure. Brrrrrrrrrr........