Not Responsible for Accidents

Last week we were geocaching and visited Hampshire, IL.  Louie's aunt and uncle used to live there so we were familiar with the area, but hadn't been there in years.  My favorite cache of the day was named "Aurand Scout."  The cache was placed near an old cemetery, out in the middle of a corn field.  This is the trail leading to it....

Louie quickly found the cache and we liked it because it was different....

It took us a minute to figure out how to get the log sheet out....

Once we signed and replaced it, we walked over to the cemetery....

It looked to me like all the gravestones had been lumped together in a very small area because they were all on top of each other with practically no room in between them....

I really enjoy seeing the old markers and trying to read the inscriptions....

As we were leaving the cemetery, this was the sign I saw....

Kind of makes me wonder who, or what, is having accidents in a cemetery, in the middle of nowhere, in the dark of night.......  Spooky!

Illinois Beach State Park

We were out geocaching and took a little side trip to stop at Illinois Beach State Park in Zion.  I can't believe that we live so close and I've never been there.  The area has an interesting history - it was once occupied by 3 Indian tribes, then by trappers and hunters.  During the Civil War it was used as a Union prisoner of war camp and later served as an Army training center for World Wars 1 & 2.  Beginning in 1950, the area has been protected and was turned into a State Park.  The beach itself stretches for 6 1/2 miles and apparently it's the only beach ridge shoreline remaining in the state.  The park has something for everyone with dunes, marshes, plants and animals.  I'd like to go back and explore the hiking trails another day.

It's a short walk to the beach from the parking area....

It was a beautiful clear morning and we could see for miles out onto the lake.  And get this - there were only 2 other people on the entire beach!  I was shocked that it was that empty on a Sunday.

We kicked off our shoes and socks and started strolling along the waters edge.  Before I knew it, Chablis and I were cramming beautiful stones into our pockets.  It reminded me of being on Sanibel Island and snatching up seashells.....

The stones were all worn smooth and were available in a wide variety of colors and shapes...

While Chablis and I performed the "Illinois Beach Stoop," Louie went for a swim....

I didn't have my bathing suit and since we still had caches to find, I didn't want to go swimming in my clothes. But I was very tempted....

Even Snoopy enjoyed the beach....

Afterwards we headed up the road into Wisconsin and did a fun cache called "Pump It Up!"  I know the cache owner and we are very familiar with his hides, so we went prepared.  Do you see the cache?

Even tho we brought our extension grabber, we had to maneuver the car into place in order to reach the cache - it was still a stretch!

Another cache we did was called "It's About Time."  It was hidden near this Carillon Memorial.

This is the Carillon.  Have you ever heard of a carillon?  I hadn't.  Apparently it's a musical instrument that's housed inside a bell tower of some sort.  I thought it looked like a huge wind chime.  While we were standing there it started ringing and it was actually pretty nice sounding.

We searched for the cache and we found the log sheet and a pencil stuffed into some flowers, so we're guessing the cache got muggled.  We signed the log sheet, placed it underneath the memorial plague and when I posted my log, we notified the cache owner that he needed to replace his cache.

Our final cache of the day took us to "PI Prairie's Chiwaukee Prairie."  This geocache was placed in what is now the largest section of prairie in Kenosha County that was never touched by a plow.  It's right on the shore of Lake Michigan and we were happy to get out and walk along the beach again.

This section of beach didn't have as many nice stones as the earlier section did, but you can tell by my pockets that I still managed to find a few to my liking....

Many of you know how much I treasure things I find in nature.  Here are a few of the stones I picked up and brought home.  Can you see the one small stone on the bottom?  It's kind of blue and white.  I'm thinking this might be a piece of pottery and not a stone because of the strange color and design.  Chablis found that one.

I kind of like them all piled up like that.  Sort of relaxing, don't you think? Very Zen....

The stones all look much better when they're wet because you can see the deeper colors and patterns.  If anyone knows what I should use to polish them up so they stay shiny, please let me know.

Q & A With Standing Bear 8-7-12

Mike has hiked 1864 miles and has recently reached the summit of Mt. Madison, Mt. Guyot and Mt. Washington.  Check out his FB page for some amazing photos from on top of some of these beauties.  I had to post this picture of Brooke because she looks so darn cute!

For this weeks Q & A I thought it would be fun to ask Mike some personal questions so we could get a feel for him as a person outside of his AT hike.

What’s your favorite food?

I really like ice cream.  When I was a kid, I didn't get to have ice cream very often, so when I got out on my own I would buy those huge buckets from the grocery store and eat ice cream all the time.  I really enjoyed having the freedom to eat the things I wanted whenever I wanted.  I scarfed down a lot of pizza and spaghetti too!

One thing my wife has noticed is that I do not complain regardless of what food she prepares.  My reasoning is that if someone was kind enough to take the time to prepare me a meal, who am I to complain?  I'm lucky to have a meal at all, as many people in the world are starving.  I'm just happy that I don't have to get my food out of a garbage can, so I'm tickled pink regardless of the food Brooke makes or how it tastes.  This makes Brooke frustrated sometimes, as she wants feedback about the meals she's making.  One time, she asked if my meal was okay, and I said yes and thanked her, but then she heard me gagging.  She had given me a bunch of celery, and I don't particularly care for celery so it was making me gag.  But I didn't want to complain because she went to the trouble of preparing a very nice meal, even if it wasn't agreeable to my taste buds.

What do you like to do for recreation?

I enjoy being active and like doing lots of activites.  In the past year, I went rock climbing for the first time and became a certified scuba diver.  I really like to read, and I'm always up for a good movie.  I generally don't watch television although I really like some shows such as Seinfeld.  I like having bonfires behind our house, as the yard backs up to the woods so when you sit out there at night it feels like you're camping, but yet the amenities of the house are still nearby.  I like working on cars and have a 1968 Firebird and a 1996 Firebird with t-tops.  I really enjoy learning new things.  In the future, I would like to try skydiving.

What would be your dream vacation destination?

There are many places I would like to visit.  I have always wanted to bicycle or take the train from Portugal to Rome.  I know Spanish and French and would like to learn Portuguese and Italian.  I enjoying being in a foreign country where I speak the language, so I can more fully experience their culture.  I went to France twice and had a great time.  The second time Brooke and I bicycled from Paris to Belgium and it was fantastic.  We met a lot of great people along the way.

Which season do you like the best and why?

I typically like fall because I do not like extreme heat or cold very much.  I like it best when it is about 60 degrees out, the leaves are falling, and the wind is gently blowing as the squirrels work furiously to nestle away their winter food supply.

What was your favorite subject in school?

I enjoy learning almost anything.  I used to buy textbooks of all kinds:  history, spanish, carpentry, plumbing, automotive repair, etc.  I even bought a book about the history of rats and another book about coal.  I just enjoy learning, although if I had to choose one subject I would probably pick history.

What’s your favorite thing about Brooke?

I like that Brooke is very positive and almost never in a bad mood.  She rarely becomes angry and has a very upbeat attitude.  I think this is a good balance for me because I tend to have ups and downs.  Brooke is a very kind, compassionate person and her positivity has lifted my spirits on many a down day.

What’s your favorite book?

Catch-22.  Very rarely does a book make me laugh out loud, but that book did so repeatedly.  It is hilarious and exactly my type of humor.  Plus the book has a social message above and beyond just being funny. 

What’s your favorite color?

Blue.

What's you favorite band or music?

Growing up, Nirvana was my favorite band.  I still like Nirvana a lot but my tastes have considerably broadened.  If you checked out my iPod you would find songs from a variety of female pop artists, such as Katy Perry. 

What are your career goals once you complete your back-to-back hikes?

After I finish my MBA from Wash. U, I would like to do something big and ambitious with my life.  I feel that each day is important and I don't want to waste time doing something that I'm not passionate about.  It would be nice if I could find a career where I am able to help people overcome difficult circumstances in their lives to achieve great things.

I plan to write a book about my hike, as well as my life and childhood.  I also plan to continue speaking to groups of at-risk young people to hopefully inspire them to follow their dreams.  I would enjoy speaking to other groups as well, as I think I have a broad message that speaks not just to underprivileged kids but to anyone.  My life shows that people can go on to achieve the unthinkable regardless of the obstacles they face.

Thanks Mike for sharing a little bit about yourself with us this week.  

Are you wondering what it takes to hike the entire length of the AT?  Do you ponder if you need to be athletic or have heart?  Well, read Mike's post on Hike4Kids to get an honest answer.  What he said brought me to tears.  

(all photos courtesy of Mike McLaughlin.  Do not use without permission)

Hot August Night!

I'm not referring to the record breaking heat waves we've had this summer.  I'm talking about my favorite album of all time - Neil Diamond's "Hot August Night."

I first became aware of who Neil Diamond was in December of 1969 I believe.  I was home watching the David Steinberg show one evening.  He introduced Neil, who then sang his song "Holly Holy."  I sat on the sofa, transfixed.  It was the first time in my life where a song truly impacted me and I realized the power of music.  By the time he was finished singing, tears were running down my cheeks and I knew that this man was something special.  That Sunday morning when I was in church I took one of the note pencils and scribbled 4 words on the back of my program - Neil Diamond, Holly Holy.  I passed it across the pew to my grandmother and whispered "I want this record for Christmas."  I got it too!

Starting in 1970, when I was a freshmen in high school, Neil Diamond and his music were the backdrop to my teenage years.  Hits like "Cherry Cherry,"  "Sweet Caroline"  and "Solitary Man" blasted out of my transistor radio.  I remember walking to school and singing "Cracklin' Rosie" with my girlfriends.

Neil Diamond has an impressive career as a singer/songwriter that has spanned over 40 years.  Personally, I think he's a poet who does an excellent job of translating it to music.  It's just a bonus that he also has the singing talent and showmanship to back it up.  His songs are introspective and showcase his sensitive side.  He's not afraid to write what he feels.  It would be a real treat to sit and watch the man compose a song.  I can't imagine how he does it and the process must be fascinating.

His Hot August Night album was recorded in August of 1972 at the Greek Theater in Los Angeles while he was there performing a ten night stand of sold out shows.  He has his own unique style of music that I like to call  "Symphonic Rock." He has a great love of string instruments and began his show with 3 minutes of pure, sweet instrumental music before the guitars and drums joined in and then he launched into "Crunchy Granola Suite."  I can only imagine that the audience must have exploded when he hit center stage.

I've seen Neil Diamond in concert and it's truly a memorable experience.  He's so genuine and exuberant and displays moments of vulnerability that allow you to see into the soul of the man.  He really sings each song from the heart.  And when he sings, he moves easily from soft love songs to rousing rock tunes that showcase that unusual catch in his voice and his gravel growl.  He seems to enjoy being on stage and performing for his audience.

I first purchased the vinyl LP of Hot August Night when it came out and that album was the main reason I invested my hard earned waitress money in a decent sound system for my bedroom.  I spent hours laying on my bed listening to Neil.  Later, when cassettes came out, I bought the cassette version so I could carry Neil with me in my car.  When I heard that the 40th anniversary edition of the ground breaking album was being released this year, I put it on my Amazon wish list and had it shipped out the day it was released.  I listened to the entire album, twice, within 12 hours of receiving it.

The new edition album is excellent.  The sound is so crystal clear and as he sings, the background is so quiet you can hear a pin drop.  In addition to all the classics that were on the original album, this anniversary edition contains 3 previously unreleased recordings and clips of musician intros.  That's 26 wonderful Neil Diamond songs.

This album contains my favorite version of Sweet Caroline.  Holly Holy can still bring me to tears and when he performs And the Grass Won't Pay No Mind, I find myself leaning in, paying close attention to the words.  Neil has a way of drawing you in and when he sings certain songs I believe it transports him to another place and time.  I think the best song he ever wrote is "I Am, I Said."  He bares his soul in that song and I will never get tired of listening to it.  If you're a Neil Diamond fan, then this Cd is a real treat.  If you're not a Neil Diamond fan - give him listen.

Thank you Neil for writing beautiful music.  I really enjoy what you do!

Lightload Towel Giveaway Winners!

(chosen using the Random Number Generator)

17 Gayle

4 Lavender Dreams

16 GPC

1 Dave

Please email me your addresses so I can mail them out this week.  Thanks again to Lightload Towels for sponsoring the giveaway!

This CD review was written only because I enjoy Neil Diamond and his music.  I received no compensation for writing this review and all opinions are my own.

Hangin' with my Gnomies

How cute is this???

I have been truly blessed with some of the best blogger friends!  Yesterday a package arrived from Cathy over at Stitchfork Designs.   A lot of you are familiar with her blog and her beautiful work.  She also did a cute guest blog for me here.  When I opened the package I found this totally unexpected gift - a hand towel with this adorable little gnome on it and my initials.  Isn't Cathy creative?

We have lots of holidays on the horizon - Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years.  Now's the time to start thinking about unique gifts and Cathy has the creative mind to design something for everyone.  Visit her website and her FB page.  I can promise you that you will fall in love with her products.

Cathy even posted this photo on her blog of my towel with a pair of hiking boots - how well does she know me??  Cathy, thank you again for such a lovely gift - I love it!

(photo courtesy of Stitchfok Designs.  Do not use without permission)

                        LIGHTLOAD TOWEL GIVEAWAY IN PROGRESS!!

Lightload towels is sponsoring another giveaway of their amazing towels.  Click on this link to leave comments under the original giveaway post to be entered.  The giveaway runs thru Saturday August 4th and you have multiple chances to enter and win!

Meet My Ninja Monkey

A Ninja Monkey, in geocaching terms, is someone who will climb anything to get to a cache.  Usually it's a tree, but occasionally it's a wall, a cliff or a fence.

As a mother, I feel it's my job to teach my daughter how to do the things she needs to know.  You know, the basics that they need to survive once they are out of the nest and on their own.  Things like....

Sewing, which Chablis hates....

Shopping - my version......

her version.....

Cleaning, which she will do except for the toilets.....

Ironing.. well.....sometimes......

Cooking - does macaroni and cheese from a box count as cooking???

I have to admit that none of the above are my strong suits.  I mean, if I have my choice of running a vacuum over the floors or tramping through the woods looking for a geocache, which do you think is going to win out?

All I can say is that this nut didn't fall far from the tree....

 LIGHTLOAD TOWEL GIVEAWAY IN PROGRESS!!

Lightload towels is sponsoring another fantastic giveaway of their amazing towels.  Click on this link to leave comments under the original giveaway post to be entered.  The giveaway runs thru Saturday August 4th and you have multiple chances to enter and win!

Light Load Towel Give Away

LIGHTLOAD TOWEL GIVEAWAY IN PROGRESS!!

I did a gear review on these babies last February and I liked them for a variety of reasons.  First off, they are super absorbent.  Second, they are really convenient because of their size.  You can toss one almost anywhere - a pocket, the glove compartment, on the boat, in a tackle box, in your backpack, baby bag, purse, a suitcase.  The possibilities are endless.

Are you intrigued?  Would you like to check them out for yourself?  Lightload has generously given me some samples to give away.  Starting today and running until next Saturday, August 4th at 5 pm central time, I'm having a giveaway and 4 lucky people are going to win a package of towels.

Click on this link to leave comments under the original giveaway post to be entered.  How would you like to win a pack?  Come on and enter - It could be you who wins.  It's super easy....

• Be a current follower of my blog or become a new follower.  Leave a comment telling me which one you are.
• Please leave another comment in the comments section below, telling me what you'd like to use Light Load Towels for.   That gives you a second chance to win.
• Go LIKE my Facebook page, and post a message on your timeline about the contest and then come back here and leave a separate comment telling me you did.  That gets you a third chance to win.  

I'd like to thank the folks over at Light Load Towels for sponsoring the giveaway.  I love their towels!  I think you will too.  Visit their website for more information.