Little more Bayfield and Ashland, Wisconsin

Good Morning

I have a little bit more about Bayfield, and then Ashland, Wisconsin.

What was a real surprise is they had been having cold, rainy weather just before we traveled up there.  Bayfield is almost  at the top of Wisconsin. Let me tell you it was such a beautiful area.

I would love to go back there a gain.  I think a trip in the fall would be beautiful.

Imagine the fall colors.  

Here is one of the places that Ron was able to find cider.  Let me tell you, sitting tin this chair makes you feel really small!

At this orchard I had to check out the barn quilts, and they had advertised that they had lupine plants for sale.
Now after seeing all these beautiful plants, I had to have some as well.

Lupines

You can think I have an obsession with flamings, but trust me, nothing like this person with their hats.
This was in the loft of the bar, They were every where!

In the top of that barn, they had a viewing station.  This was the view.  That is Madeline Island off in the distance.
I said it was beautiful while we were there.  It was expected to get cold again after we were gone.
Can you believe this view?

Ring-billed Gull posing.

This view is in Ashland.  I love to get off the beaten path.  Good thing Ron does not mind driving to most of the places  I suggest.

Ashland is noted for murals that have been painted around town.  There is a brochure, that takes you on a tour of where they are located.  I think I read they have been done by two women.  In a lot of them the people or painted from real photographs.  Donations for the paintings are provided by the families that are being honored.  They are amazing paintings. 

One lady told me about this building.  It is supposed to have won several awards for its architectural design.  It is in the shape of  Noah's Ark.  It is sitting right along the Lake Superior shore. 

Here is another of the murals.  This one is as the market looked many years ago.

You never know what you will see along the road., Now this is one big fish.

In another town along the way home we saw these cows all dolled up.

And of course up North would not be complete with out a giant sized Paul Bunyan.

Mallard ducks are still having ducklings.  These are not too long out of their eggs.

What would summer by with out the wild day lilies along the road side.

Black-eyed Susan is another summer favorite.

A Great Blue Heron could be hiding anywhere.

So far this summer has be hot and humid.  Rain has been predicted, but I have had to get out and water my plants. We have been having chipmunks
borrowing in our yard. The little devils have been enjoying munching on my pepper plants.  A few weeks ago I planted four pepper plants.  All by one got eaten right down to the roots.  I had to get some fencing to put around then.  One industrious fellow has even tried to borrow under the wire  to get to the plant.
There are several squirrels, and bunnies hanging around as well.  I have been enjoying watching all the baby birds being fed by their parents.

So far it has been a lovely summer.
I hope you are having a lovely summer as well.
Next time I will catch you up on the sewing I have been doing.

Mary

Where does the time go

The summer is slipping by quickly.

Ron is still recovering from the blip that happened after is hip replacement surgery.

Spent three weeks on antibiotics, and bandage replacements two and three times a day.

Antibiotics are done, but I am still playing nurse on the bandages.

The doctor says it is coming along nicely.

He has resumed therapy.  It is nice to see him walking so much better.

I am always trying to get him out and about.

The Morton Arboretum is not far from the doctors office, so we make it a date.

We ride through the arboretum. Every two weeks it seems to change.  Then we go for a great lunch in Lisle.

We have both enjoyed seeing the changes at the arboretum.  There is a
"Frog" exhibit going on there this summer.

Song Sparrow

One of the frogs on display.

Water Lilies are so pretty.

The goslings are growing so fast, won't be long and they will look just like their parents.

We took a little trip to Bayfield, Wisconsin.  The Apostle Islands are in the area. There is a ferry that transports cars, trucks and people to Madeline Island.  Madeline Island is a hiker and campers paradise. We throught about going there and driving around the island for the day, then decided we would like to take a boat ride around the island instead.  What a ride.  Our contaminator had all sorts of stories about the island.  It was a bit chilly that morning, but we were well prepared. 

Ron had his sun blocking hat and a fleece jacket

There was a quarry on one of the islands.

Outcroppings that seem so artistic and beautiful.

Seagulls that followed up.

Caves that have been created. 

Lighthouses are on several of the islands.

The lighthouse on Raspberry Island is being restored.  The scenery was so beautiful.

Ron seems to be enjoying himself.

On our way back into the harbor, the Isabelle came steaming in with us.
We all thought it looked like the "African Queen".

Lupines were growing wild everywhere along the roads.

The village had so many places to visit.  Here is a garden open to the public that used old boats for flower displays. So pretty and well maintained.

One of my favorite places was "Maggie's".  A restaurant after my heart.
There were Flamingo's insides and out.

They were everywhere!

I was in Flamingo heaven.  I kept smiling the whole time I was there.  It was fun to see a whole restaurant full of those cute pink birds. Naturally, I had to pick up a couple of souvenirs.
They also told me that there except pink visitors any time.

From information we had, there are a lot of orchards in this area as well.
Ron was on a quest for apple cider.  He was able to pickup a couple of gallons of frozen cider,
This whole area was so beautiful. There are a lot of hills, and valleys around, that offered endless photo opportunities.

I will leave you with another "frog" sculpture from the Arboretum.

Like I said I had more photo opportunities on our little trio.
More coming up.
Have a great day.

Mary