HAPPY CAMPERS

Today I got to see some parents reuniting with their children in addition to tons of campers and counselors hugging each other goodbye as they boarded busses to go home after finishing the last session of camp. You see I accompanied my friend Jennifer to the Northwoods to pick up her daughter, El, by 8:30 in the morning. We had spent the previous evening in Siren, Wisconsin.

The camp scene brought back many memories of not only my own children's camp days but also the myriad of summers when I was both a camper and a counselor many, many moons ago. For those who experienced sleep away camp know those summer experiences of independence were monumental. New friendships, sharing chores, trading clothes, camp food, learning teamwork, trying new activities,

 and of course, first crushes. A lot of both physical and mental growth occurred during those camp days changing us forever.

Many camp activities have been added but the camp camaraderie has always been something very special.  A very  tired, yet excited young lady shared 6 hours of stories with her Mom as we made our way back home.  I consider myself fortunate and thankful to have been able to witness their bonding after their weeks apart.

Yep, it also made me want to thank my Mom and Dad for sending me to camp.  There was definitely more than one happy camper on that car ride...

I AINT GOT TIME..

Sometimes there just isn't enough time in the summer to do everything. But we had a musical weekend and it was extra special as one of those musicians just happens to be from the End of the Rainbow Valley altho' I read one of his press releases (the Isthmus) stating he was from Viroqua. I guess that's more of a music mecca to claim than where he really grew up...

It was a challenge getting to both musical venues with all this 5th season 'road construction.' If you have to take a detour it's great when it's a beautiful scenic valley drive. We discovered Leo and Leona's in Newburg Corners will be bypassed with the completion of the new highway.  Tight turns and slower speed limits will be a thing of the past but fortunately these folk musicians will know the old way and will be returning to the old dance hall as will the 200 some odd fans who braved the detour/gravel.

Simon Balto

It has been quite a year since Simon started his University teaching position in Indiana, the same month a year ago when he began recording  Murmurations in an Eau Claire studio accompanied by members from a couple different bands. One of his hometown buds produced his video for the CD's promotion and also created the album cover. We were privy to this release. Kudos. 

Touring is seasoning Simon with the challenges of performing on the road. Yet its value is resulting in a more polished musician returning this year to the Coulee and his fans were appreciative of the past year's efforts. 

Dead Horses

Simon also was responsible for bringing the group Dead Horses who are anything but dead. They now call Milwaukee their home base altho' have recently been spending more time in the Driftless. Their Barefooted lead vocalist, Sarah Vos, voiced appreciation of  Leo and Leona's, its wooden acoustics, its accommodations and being bathed in colored lighting. 

Her crystal clear notes reminded me of a young Janis Joplin in the same powerful yet way less raspy.  She enounciates her lyrics, moderating her delivery and her stories are woven into the musicality. Her fellow band members obviously love performing with her. They are all excellent musicians and put on quite a show.  Bluegrass is really their deal altho' you wouldn't have known by their first set. Let me tell you I'm a new fan and it was definitely worth staying up past our bedtime.

BTW both Simon and Dead Horses will be playing Larryfest next weekend and Dead Horses will also be playing at the Great River Folk Festival at the end of the month in La Crosse. If you are in the area, go treat yourself to their music.

Sunday, the weather cooperated with a lovely summer evening and we enjoyed two bands, first the Coulee Region All Stars High School Jazz Band down at Riverside Park's bandshell.   

Their guest vocalist Lexi's sweet voice helped them out with 2 Michael Buble tunes.
A very generous couple in the community made sure not just 3, but all seniors (8?) received scholarships this year. Best wishes in pursuing your love of music.

The All Stars were followed by the La Crosse Jazz Orchestra. And as I remarked now this is what happens with many years of practice... We are privileged to have so many talented area musicians.

Janet Planet

For this performance Dylan tunes had new jazz arrangements by their guest vocalist Janet Planet's husband, Tom Wushetka.  She really let loose and showed us what her pipes could do on the last number... 

So I  had my music fix this weekend altho sometimes I agree with Dead Horses song title it seems like "I ain't got Time" / at least enough of it to go listen to as much live music as I'd like.

A couple of links:
Simon Balto's Come on Up to The House
Dead Horse's Ain't Got Time
Janet Planet DYLAN with a Makeover

FOTO FRIDAY: HOLD ON TOTO

FOTO FRIDAY this week shows some of the devastation strong Midwestern winds can cause. This trampoline has seen better days as 65 mi per hour winds picked it up, mangled it and left it hanging in a tree over the bike path between Wilton and Kendall, WI. 

Book club friend Susie's front 
yard has been transformed as 2 beautiful maples toppled onto the front of the house and  front porch. :( Yep her house is behind all that greenery.

Second time this tree has split in a week's time for Sarah . Last storm a huge limb from the same tree crunched Sarah's hubby's car and totaled it. 

Any storm destruction you'd like to share? 

Brainerd Minnesota's Babe the Blue Ox didn't know she could fly:Babe the Blue Ox

Last week's FOTO FRIDAY Sock It To Me seems rather lame after all this...

MILK IT DOES THE BODY GOOD...

Organic Valley held its annual investor meeting this past Saturday and thanks to my friend Lynn taking me as her guest not only did I hear about how the company is performing but also toured their new Cashton 100,000 sq. foot facility. Today a quick look at the facility.

"Bringing the Good"

Organic Valley should be very proud of their beautiful 21st century barn shaped administrative building powered mostly by wind and solar panels,  geothermal heating and cooling and LED efficient lighting.

There is a also a walking trail, gardens, and bike parking on the grounds with special parking places for fuel efficient vehicles.

Along with all the new are installations of the past such as this dismantled tractor with its refurbished parts donning the main stairway walls. Very cool.

the original tractor

Most room labels are nature based photos of either food / seasonal landscapes.

Thanks for posing Lynn.

Upcycled barn wood from the property now serves as conference tables. Carpet tiles provide easier repair options. Floating floors allow more computer wiring options. A large hanging felt panel provides sound absorption between common and work spaces. 

It does look like cheese, doesn't it?

Open break spaces, white boards, teleconference cameras, adjustable desks to stand/ sit, stationary bouncy ball chairs. Even wall murals are all part of a lot of a lot of planning...

 

(BTW there's even a 'planned' milk spill below the mural on the floor.) Hey, milk it does the body good, especially if it's organic.

In house there are spaces for a masseuse and chiropractic services, ping pong tables, 2 exercise rooms for employees to encourage good mental and physical health. Employees not only use these during the work day but return on evenings and weekends for classes / to work out.

Equipped with even a live prop.

And, of course, there are the brainstorming work areas, computer rooms, cubicle spaces where divisions arrange their work spaces for what works best for their purposes. Even hotel cubicle computer spaces for visitors. And decks with seating spaces to hold meetings/work outside. 

An on-site kitchen provides their cafeteria with local food with consideration to various diets whether employees prefer low cholesterol,vegan, gluten free/ vegetarian .

Most important of all there is still room to grow on the property.  What an impressive facility and grounds. Hey if I didn't have a profession, I'd think Organic Valley could use my linguistic abilities. It looks like a great place to work... Anyhow stay tuned to hear more about Organic Valley, its past, present and future...

THE OTHER MAN

photo courtesy of the web

I spent the afternoon with two of my favorite guys, Natureman, of course, and the other man whom I have known a lot longer. He was introduced to me by one of my FB friends, Robert, way before there was FaceBook. You see I have been a longtime fan of both Robert Ludlum and  his protagonist. How can one not love the strong, silent type? You Know His Name... Jason Bourne.

Yep,  Bourne was in perhaps one of the longest chase scenes to start off a movie I've ever seen. In fact, a little too hokey Bond-like but impressively all done on a motorcycle chase scene. One knows Bourne has to survive / the movie would have been really, really short. Bourne (Matt Damon ) was as intense as always and finally was able to put together the pieces of his past and espionage activity. No spoilers here. 

Albeit this cyberthriller takes us from the Middle East (the Turkish Albanian border), Berlin, Rome and finally a Las Vegas cyber convention, it is a bit disappointing but still entertaining with its relevance of today's technology, stalking cams, texting, GPS surveillance,  etc... along with the movie's plausible premise  of "Big Government" watching/hearing our every move. Perhaps a little too real in lieu of what happened to Snowden even referenced in the movie. BTW Snowden's movie comes out soon.

And not to sound too paranoid there is no doubt in our very own household in the End of the Rainbow Valley that Natureman's correspondence/ communication has extra eyes and ears alerted with his grassroots activism. Scary you bet. We unlike Bourne and  CIA Agent Michelle Lee are thankfully not gun toting individuals. We were plenty worn out with just one afternoon at the movies.

BON VOYAGE TO MORE COULEE REGION GUESTS

Two more female guests docked last week and will leave today from downtown La Crosse's Riverside Park.  They actually spend 11 months of the year traveling via water. These gals look a bit different as they have had some reconstructive surgery in Brazil for almost 3 years for each of them.  That's a lot of plastic surgery. Actually they are reproductions of their once original selves. We still can say they have aged well.  Of all things pine tar has given them the a water resistant deep tan. Who are these ladies of the seas? I bet you remember them from your 5th grade history classes as close friends of Christopher Columbus back in 1492, they are known by the names Nina and Pinta who were used in his maiden Atlantic voyage.

Apparently the Santa Maria was too cumbersome and slow until it hit the big seas. The smallest of the fleet, the Pinta went back to Spain early so it was the Nina who finished the journey taking Columbus back home. Then, Columbus chose her as his flagship for his Second Voyage to Cuba. She even survived a hurricane and in 1496 returned to Spain with the Admiral and 120 passengers. She also made a Third Voyage and logged in 25,000 miles. 

In the 80's interested in the 15th C Caravel, an American engineer and historian, John Sarsfield along with Jonathan Nance found master craftsmen in Brazil to recreate first the Nina and 16 years later Nance designed the Pinta with Morgan Sanger. 

The vessels were much smaller than I ever anticipated. Below are their statistics. Can you imagine sailing across the ocean on these small vessels? I didn't even want to join the throngs of visitors on board with them docked.

                                         Nina                                   Pinta

Length                               65'                                       85'

Beam                                 18'                                       24'

Displacement                    80 tons                               101 tons

These sea worthy vessels didn't just depend on the wind in their sails but also a lot of men to keep them going.  Nina needed 26, (today 7) and from 26 to 9 for Pinta. They are now powered with diesel engines which decreases the need for so many men.The crew in days of yore were convicts from the Mediterranean but today hail from all over the States and are always looking for crew in case you are interested. 

Friend Cari added this: "My brother and I were one of the last to be onboard. They departed at 5:00am. With five new crew members. They have logged a have million miles already. Jeff from Orlando who is the cook on the pinta o has been with the changing crew for 15,000 of those miles. 4 months on and 2 days off over and over.to go home. He loves it. The crew does get one day off each week when they are docked. There is no shower on board so they share one hotel room to do that. It sounds like fun and I thought of you  when listening to the tour guide. One gal from MPS travels around the upper Mississippi with them. She was leaving this morning and an excited young man from Hudson, WI just started yesterday."

    Bon Voyage Ladies! 

General Admission:  $8.00 for adults, $7.00 for seniors (age 60+), $6.00 age 5-16 (not in a school group), age 4 and under are free Group & School Tours:  minimum of 15 people, $5 per person
Hours: 9am to 6pm except Nov-Dec 9am to 5pm
For information and School Group Bookings, call (787) 672-2152

Future stops early August: Clinton, IA then Davenport, IA

WHO'S SITTING WHOM?

Probably one of the most difficult things about living out in the boonies is finding animal care when one needs to go out of town.  It's really too far for town'ers to come out to the End of the Rainbow Valley for daily chores like feeding/checking on the animals. Needless to say, it's wonderful to find folks nearby in the Coulee who one can reciprocate the good deed.

It was actually my turn to reciprocate pet sitting this past Thursday. Only this wasn't a smooth beginning, to say the least. You see the pet owners had left on a very early flight and had sent me a FB message. It concerned their smallest dog who tends to chase after them when they depart. I should be aware they had left him enclosed in his doggie crate inside the house and he was awaiting his freedom. 

No problem except for one small thing, upon arrival I discovered the garage door I usually walk in, is locked.  All right, all I need to do is enter the garage door opener code.  BUT either I have forgotten /messed it up/ it's being finicky. I'm opting for the latter. Their second garage door has another code but for the life of me I couldn't remember that code correctly either. (Imagine ominous music playing in the background of this scene.)

Heck, I couldn't call home to verify the numbers/ check my phone for emails because of course, there's "no" reception. Once I remember the owner mentioning a back door being left open so I followed the perimeter of the garage in search of that unlocked back door.  Dang, wouldn't you know it, of course, it's locked! By this time I'm getting a bit anxious and so is the caged up dog as he's barking his little head off. Sweat is beading on my brow as I circle back around to the front of the house where the other dog is awaiting me.

It dawns on me as I stand staring at the big dog in front of a doggy door, I should try to fit through the medium size opening. It was worth a try, right? As I begin the contortions, I envision being stuck like a sausage in its casing. Now what good is that going to do? Natureman wouldn't miss me as he was not only still in bed, he would assume I had already headed into town and wouldn't even miss me for a good 8 hours. NOPE, getting stuck would not be a smart idea.

I got back in the car, drove home to have WiFi reception, found the garage code after scrolling through a couple months of messaging. Returned to my charges and retried the code sequence more than once. But wouldn't you know, that code pad decided to be ornery. No luck. I had been warned, the buttons could be fickle. Jeepers.

As I am pondering my demise, I spy their big truck parked over in the side yard. Gee, maybe there's a garage door opener in the truck's cab. (For those of you who don't know, we tend not to lock our cars out here in the country.) I dash over and lo and behold there's an opener on the visor, my heart soars.  Pointing it in the direction of the garage doors, I ferociously start punching the buttons.  Over and over again all to no avail. Big sigh- nada, nix, nothing, rien. 

BUT something shiny catches my eye on the divider between the front seats, a key ring. It  has 2 keys on it. One obviously the truck's and the other looks like a house key.  What have I got to lose? I grab it, run to the garage door, insert the key into the lock, jiggle it in and it clicks. Hallelluyah, I'm in and I free one very happy little guy for breakfast.

I swear all four animals look at me like you've got to be kidding, our parents left you in charge of taking care of us. Yeah, I'm also beginning to wonder who's taking care of whom...