2019: Part 2 April thru June

Late April, all of May and most of June encompassed our annual return to Wisconsin, visiting family, friends and experience spring migration. This is our second return to Wisconsin in our Honda sans an RV making us far more nimble and fuel efficient.

finding the whiskered screech-owl

dirty martini at Frank and Paul's - all we had to do
was bring the olives

Departing on April 26 we made a stop at Cave Creek Canyon in the Chiricahua Mountains to find a Whiskered Screech-Owl roost. After helpful directions from visitor center staff (and where Carol purchased a nifty Cave Creek T-shirt) we indeed found the owl. As we were not pressed for time we also paid a visit to Rusty at Rusty’s RV where we’ve parked in our RV over the years. Then on to Las Cruces to spend a night at Frank and Paul’s home. Wonderful dinner and conversations - as always!

on the road - still catch ourselves looking in the
rearview mirror at times expecting to see our old RV

on the road, always a good chance to sample
local brew and margaritas

Early the next morning we set out sight on Taos New Mexico. We’d never visited Taos during our RV days and a visit has been on our bucket list for years. Alas, we were easily sidetracked by the lure of birding at Bosque Del Apache NWR which put us into Taos far later than we had planned. Just as well as the weather wasn’t great and truth be told, most of what we saw of Taos didn’t impress us very much. We’ve since been told we should make a return visit to appreciate some of the local flavors. We don’t know - a bit too touristy for our taste.

reunited with Betty

Our next overnight made for a long driving day - Topeka, KS. Thank goodness for audible books. But it did put us within striking distance of Menasha, WI where we would be staying with Betty Dunsmore for most of our time in Wisconsin (arrived April 29).

There were many wonderful Friday night fish-fries, lots of Old Fashions with our dear friend, Betty. We picked up where we had left off the previous year, exploring area supper clubs. Some new and some familiar. By far the best food and prices were at Club Tavern in Menasha. 

The weather in Wisconsin in April and May can fluctuate wildly, ranging from cold wet days to overly warm and sunny ones. Unfortunately, late April and the first half of May was the former.

Over the next few months our social calendar was stuffed full. Dates to visit family, friends, go birding, work on yard projects at Betty’s - every day there was something going on, often multiple events on most days.

L-R standing: Tom, Dale Schaber, Carol, Marti Hemwall;
L-R sitting: Penny Bernard-Schaber, Tom and Medith Phillips, John Peterson

On one of the first early nice May days, we met with the former "Penny's kitchen cabinet" crowd, people who were part of Penny's successful bid for state representative in the Wisconsin legislature. Whistler's Knoll Vineyard was the venue, noted for its Sunday bloody Marys.

Larry Darling, soon to be officially retired from his role as Lawrence University's Conservatory recording engineer, had been so enamored with our RV lifestyle that he purchased his own RV, a very well kept used Class C. Outfitted to tow an enclosed trailer (for his BMW motorcycle) he and his cat Harvey were to soon embark on their first long journey. We met Larry and another Lawrence colleague, Alvina for lunch. Late in 2019, Larry and Harvey would catch up with us in Sierra Vista.

Even though the weather was iffy, it didn't stop us from visiting nearby Heckrodt Nature preserve, walking the boardwalk trails in search of spring birds and flowers. A Barred Owl nest near one of the boardwalks warranted regular checks on two young owls that were known to be inside the nest cavity. Also, a family of red fox had taken up residence.

There were a number of projects at Betty's although this year, Tom was better prepared bringing a toolbox full of useful tools. Unfortunately, it didn't include a chainsaw for removing an old large sumac (borrowed a chainsaw from one of Betty's sons). The word "mulch" got used a lot as well as quite a bit was spread around the pond area and front yard planting project which required hand removal of a of sod and new soil. Also a lot of shrub pruning of, flower planting, weeding, grass planting, removing old deck benches, and cleaning out and rearranging the garage, just to to name a few to-do's.

Carol's umpteenth birthday in May plus celebrating our 24th wedding anniversary with Betty.

Bay Beach with a flock of birders

Calumet County Park with members of our bird club

with Peter Fissel at Baxter's Hollow

Cold May weather had the impact of holding back bird migration. But by mid May, migration hit with a vengeance. We probably had one of the best warbler fall-outs ever at Bay Beach over a period of a few days where we didn’t even leave the parking lot for over an hour. Warblers were dripping form the trees including many scarce or normally hard to find warblers. Other bird outings included trips to High Cliff State Park, Calumet County Park, Door County, Horicon Marsh, Baxter's Hollow, Spring Green, Badger, and Wyalusing State Park. Make hay while the sun shines!

May rolled forward, gathering more and more dates with friends and family. A Friday night outing at Club Tavern with high school classmate and long-time partner in crime, Lucia Stevenson.

no - they were not all mine! It's just how
they are served.

A trip to Plover to visit Tom's sister Betsy and her husband Bill. A few days later we gathered in Door County where Graham, Caitlin and Brennan were at a rental cabin. On the way up we met Jennie, Bob, Alrick and Ava for lunch followed by a brief walk at the Ridges Sanctuary.

Graham, Caitlin, Carol, Brennan, Rollie, Carol, Tom
Bill, Ava, Jennie, Betsy, Alrick, Bob

It's not often that the whole family gets together. Thanks to Caitlin's mom, Terrie, for renting the cabin so we could all gather for a few hours.

A few days later we visited Marge's on Lake Wisconsin for some area birding, and of course, going out to eat!

hiking at the Spring Green preserve

We wrapped up May with more get togethers. Lunch and coffee breaks with former Lawrence Colleagues David Berk, Cindy Patterson, and Harold Ginke. Larry Darling's retirement party at the Taphouse in Appleton and more super club outings with Betty.

The first day in June we attended the Northeast Wisconsin Bird Club meeting at Mosquito Hill, dinner at Stone Arch Brewery and a party at Greg Madsen's with our former Monday Martini Night crowd.

Greg and Carol

Tom, Carol, Dick and Jenny Orr

June was Alrick's birthday. First opening presents at home then a one-on-one opportunity to chat with Alrick at a local Green Bay supper club for a birthday dinner.

Marti and John finally made the decision to downsize and were in the process of selling their house and moving into a condo. What better time than to visit and see their new condo digs?

Marti and John celebrating with Old Fashions

Father's Day. The weather had soured again so what to do? Marge was visiting us at Betty's. Carol suggested making a trip to Lambeau Field where fathers were being admitted free to the Packer Hall of Fame. To say that Marge is a Packer fan is an understatement. Arriving at Lambeau and discovering there were stadium tours, Marge sprung for a tour. It was our first ever visit to the hall of fame plus the tour gave us some behind the scenes  looks at the field. Then a trip to nearby Hinterland Brewery where Marge was introduced to a microbes she found to her liking.

A late Father's Day celebration found us back at Jennie and Bob's for another food bonanza. Some years back Tom had built an Adirondack chair which was given to Jennie when we went full-time RVing. The chair had weathered to the point where it needed repairs which Tom had made. The chair, now at Jennie and Bob's, was an inspiration of Alrick's to be used as a photo prop.

After it was first repaired in 2015, then with Pa and Alrick
at Jennie and Bob's in 2019

A trip to Madison to attend a pizza party held at Mel and Steve Hiniker's house. Steve had built a pizza oven which got a lot of use that evening. Then on to spend the night at Sharon and Warren Gaskill's farm near Black Earth.

pizza captain Steve

Sharon, Mel, Pam, Steve, Warren, Spencer, Tom

Sharon and Warren Gaskill

June was starting to wind down. Unfortunately, the Appleton Farmers Market, just days from starting up again, left us with only one opportunity to attend. But there were more get togethers. Nick and Paul invited us over for drinks and dinner (incredible salmon!). Nick was on the mend following surgery. Then a lunch get together with another high school classmate, Dave Stringham and his wife Elizabeth.

with Elizabeth and Dave Stringham

There are more moments and experiences from our 2019 Wisconsin visit that didn't make this entry (like Carol's laptop crashing). And unfortunately, there wasn't enough time to do everything and see everyone often enough. But still managed to see almost everyone and goodness, our waistlines was evidence of our multiple dining out opportunities. By the end of June, we reluctantly pulled up stakes and on June 25 we began heading back to Arizona - but with a different route than we had taken to get to Wisconsin.