Memorial Day Parade

Some recent concert pics...THANKS to Chris and Matt!

Couldn't resist...

This photo was taken by the brother of a long time friend. He was looking for wild asparagus and found this! He also found some asparagus, but I think this is much more exciting:)

Reebok tempo flex= great gym shoe.

Elle and I have purchased the Reebok tempo flex shoe and are very happy with the feel and the performance of it. We spent an hour at the gym after priming and painting. We have both been absent for a while, so were eager to get back to it. We plan a long workout tomorrow after mass, and then again on Monday after the parade.

Working weekend...

This weekend we will try to finish painting the exterior of the house which we started last fall. Eva and I scraped and primed the north side of the addition, and this afternoon we will paint it, and prime what Paul scraped on the west side and upper porch area. We are happy to have everyone here to help! Eva and I also picked out new colors for the interior. We will be doing an almost complete 'makeover' with entirely different colors than we have now. We are needing a change, as we haven't painted since 2002 for Elise's graduation concert and party. For any interested locals, Kitz and Pfiel (True Value) Hardware has a promotion; buy any gallon, get one free until 1PM on Monday. This is a great deal! We also bought exterior paint for 2 of our rentals, the only ones that aren't sided. Hopefully, we can get our house finished inside and out before I leave for Nashville for the birth of the new baby. Our extra bedroom is being revamped also for Elise's concert visit in late July. SO much to do, but I'm grateful for Eva, Mike, Elle and Aliyah who are all pitching in on some level. The vegetable garden and herb gardens are in, but we had a scare last night with frost just to our northern counties. We only got down to 37 so everything looks good. Now off to work on the paint job, and later we will grill some wonderful ribs and veggie kabobs and have a little fun with Apples to Apples. Elle and the Fondy Marching Cardinals will be in the parade on Monday. Supposed to be a beautiful day so I hope to see you all there:)

Camping photos!

This has been a hectic few days filled with end of the year concerts and grad parties, but we managed a couple of days at High Cliff. We hiked for hours and even enjoyed the rain. We discovered that smores with strawberry marshmallows are really great! Even saw an indigo bunting, which was quite a treat. He is in the first picture near the top. Here are some highlights!

Keeps getting more beautiful!

I spent an hour reading under the flowering crab this morning. It smells SO good, and every year it gets lovelier. When we first moved in, it was only 4 feet tall and quite scrubby looking. This year we have a cardinal pair, and have spotted cedar waxwings also. I'm exciting for real summer, finally. This weekend there is a nice art event at the Calumet Fairgrounds beginning at 5:30 PM on Saturday. Paul and Eva will be entertaining and Jo will be hosting the Art Attack Gala held there. There is a fee, I believe it's $10. Elle and her jazz combo will be entertaining at the Music Parent Fundraiser on Saturday morning. Come to Fondy High and test drive a Ford, and the local car dealership will donate to the Music Parents. They can make up to $8000 so if locals are looking to help out, please come! Between all of this, Elle, Jake and I (with JP in tow) are camping at High Cliff State Park. It should be nice if the weather holds, but Elle told me she actually likes camping in the rain, so it's a 'go' no matter. Now off to Starbucks for some tea and a nice visit with an old friend. Then a quick shopping trip for a few odds and ends, and of course smore fixings:)

Good job Aliyah!

This evening we enjoyed the 5th. grade city wide track meet at Fruth Field. Aliyah's 1600 relay team did very well! Aliyah is VERY FAST and will probably run sprints next year in middle school. Eva, Mike and I enjoyed watching the event and visiting with other families. Mike and I tried to guess the winners of the relays. My track experience in high school paid off as we were almost 100 percent correct:) What fun!
We came home to a meal of salad, soup and peasant bread. Paul is off to choir practice with the group going to Italy over the holidays, and Elle is off to the percussion concert at the PAC. Always a good concert. Hard to believe all the talent we have on the high school level. We are blessed with great teachers!

a few nice outdoor shots

Thanks to Jake's folks for these:)

And a couple more:)

Here is a photo of the group, and another taken at the Seasons Restaurant. Then they were off to prom and post prom, and returned at 4AM. Our breakfast was a great success! We had sausage links, scrambled eggs, bacon, strawberries, watermelon, blueberry muffins, cheese, oj and flavored coffee. There were even a few leftovers for Eva and Devin following mass. After the 'prommers' ate breakfast they left to watch the sunrise at Lakeside Park. I'm very tired right now...not used to getting up at 3AM, but have to cut the front lawn, so there's no rest yet.

First prom picture!

Thoughts and prayers for Mickey and Jeff...

We offer our condolences to my sister-in-law Mickey following the loss of her brother Jim. The funeral was held in Eau Claire, and it was very beautiful. Thanks to Eva and Paul for offering their gifts of music to the family. Although we had to return home after the lunch, it was nice to get together with everyone and remember Jim. Now we have to switch gears and get ready for Fondy's prom, (I will be hosting a breakfast at 4 AM following post prom)and then off to Kaukauna tomorrow to attend a co-worker's baby shower. Today I'll be pretty much consumed with cleaning and cooking, but the weather is so dreary, I won't miss being outdoors. A few of you asked about Jim. I will post his obituary.

James Roy Judkins died peacefully at home on May 9, 2011 surrounded by his family after a long battle with cancer.

He was born December 18,1947 in Eau Claire to Ira and Mildred (Tritica) Judkins. He graduated from Memorial High School in 1966 and served honorably in the U.S. Army from 1967 to 1969. James was an entrepreneur who developed River City Refuse and later sold the company to BFI. He was subsequently regional manager for BFI and later for Veolia. He retired in 2000.

He is survived by his son Damien (Lisa Fischer); his soul mate Debbie Kilness-Ryser; sister Mickey Judkins (Jeff Rochon); Linda Olson, mother of Damien; and cousins JoAnn (Brian) Garritt, Jerry (Kim) Fasso, Lee Fasso and Debbie Judkins. He is furthered survived by other relatives and many friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his aunt and uncle Helen and Doug Edwards, and by his beloved uncle Daniel ‘Tom’ Judkins who died just last week, and other relatives.

James was an avid motocross racer in his youth and a great storyteller throughout his life. He was devoted to his son and believed he was life’s greatest gift. He loved spending time at his lake home, fishing from the dock with Damien and Debbie, boating and gardening. He will be missed.

Memorials may be made to St. Joseph’s Home Hospice, 2661 County I, Chippewa Falls, WI. 54729.

A memorial service will be held on Friday May 13th at 11 a.m. at Fuller-Speckien-Hulke Funeral Home, 3209 Rudolph Road, Eau Claire, with Monsignor Edmund Klimek officiating. Full military rites will be performed by American Legion Post 53 of Eau Claire.

The family would like to thank Dr. Saleh Obaid, St. Joseph’s Home Hospice nurses and Drew Ryberg.

Online condolences may be made at www.fullerspeckienhulke.com .

Fuller-Speckien-Hulke Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.

Belle pics from the weekend...

Thanks to Elise for the cute pics of Belle:)