MAY 2023
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Picture this: Just like today, it’s May 29th, but over one hundred years ago, waaaaaay back in 1919. A genius by the name of Albert Einstein, with his wild hair and mischievous eyes, shook the world with a scientific theory that changed everything we thought we knew about space, time, and gravity. Click on the photo to read more.
I set out this Memorial Day morning to write a Memorial Day greeting to my family, but veered off into a pent up rant fueled by the current war in Ukraine. Here’s how my “thank you for your service” turned out. Click on the photo to read more.
Our tummies and our souls are thankful for a delicious afternoon of fine food and loving evening of fine friends. Best part: an unfortunate employee of the Festival Deli dropped my $32.00 taco tray all over their floor. I had to browse around the store while they made me another one which they didn’t charge me for. Even my bad luck is lucky!
We spent a lovely day with the Kiser Klan from West Virginnie where we celebrated fathers and fabulous cars. Keith is an honorary brother and sure felt like it today. It was wonderful to feel the connection and love among these very special people. The Father’s Day Car Show at Lakeside Park was an annual tradition with these folks for decades, until the Optimists moved it from the gorgeous wooded park on the shores of Lake Winnebago, to a barren parking lot at the fairgrounds. It is forever more boycotted - and the boys have their own mutual admiration society. Linda pulled out all the stops on the food too. Live entertainment from this musically gifted gene pool. A joy filled day!
How did we not see this movie in 1985? It is fantastic! When I started telling my sister Carey about this hidden gem, she said she’d seen it three times and loves it still. We all know Spielberg is a genius, but this was clearly a labor of love for him. I was struck by the fact that it was released almost twenty years before Harry Potter and how much influence this movie had on the movie designers. It is a guilty pleasure for sure and was a lovely departure from Rathbone and Cumberbatch, both of whom I adore. On other detective news, we were too loaded with yard work to work on our cold case and I still have a Sherlock-inspired art project up my sleeve. This will wrap up a very delightful week for us.
I finally found a place worthy of our souvenir from the Kaminsky’s epic trip to the Bahamas. The 1955 Chevy reproduction was hand-fashioned from a coca-cola can. It hit two birds with one stone: the chevy for Keith and the coke for me. They represent each of our most cherished talisman. Mollie bemoaned that they didn’t offer a Diet Coke can. It doesn’t really matter a whit. My diet is pretend anyway.
As we continue our celebration of Sherlock Holmes week, we started in on solving a famous Cold Case: The Murder of Jamie Banks. I figured we needed Detective ID’s to put us in the right head space, and maybe get free donuts. The FDLPD would not issue them to us, so I made them.
In 1999, the United Nations voted to make today an international holiday called The Day of Vesak. Millions around the world follow the teachings of the Buddha and on the Day of Vesak commemorate the birth, the attainment of enlightenment, and the death of the Buddha. In the West, it is simply called Buddha Day! To commemorate, Paw and I will celebrate the First Noble Truth by watching Nick Cage movies and YouTube videos of Trump rallies. Happy Buddha Day!
For yet another activity, Sherlock and Watson continue to provide solid entertainment and puzzlement that tickles our Mind Castles. Here Paw is pondering the strange case of sweet Jaimie Banks. We will solve it. It’s been a great week so far at 221B Baker Street - and now, finally, the game is afoot!
Here’s Keith heading out for the first car cruise of 2023. It takes both of us to get it running, but, somehow, we mange every year. Purrs like a lion! Click the image to see more photos.
After another exceedingly jolly lunch at TJ’s Harbor Restaurant today, Carey and I decided we needed Samantha to join us at least quarterly. We made a plan to seduce her. As you can see, the CIA won’t be hiring us anytime soon. Here is the note we sent with the invitation: “Sam, Carey and I have been having sister lunches for awhile. It always feels like something’s missing. We thought it was our figure, our youth, our retirement savings, or our cognitive function. It wasn’t until today, we figured out it was you. Wanna have lunch in June with us? - Mary & Carey
P.S. Say yes.
Your dad and I are celebrating Sherlock Holmes Week. Our first activity was a Sherlock Kick-off Dinner. I was able to purchase his actual violin on eBay and used it for my centerpiece. (I started violin lessons in fifth grade and continued until I was a sophomore in high school. This is that same violin I started with and the same decrepit case too). The menu was Bloodstained Brats, Baker Street Beans, Moriarty Melon, Criminal Crudités, Prove-it Pickles, and Elementary Eclairs. Next activity: “Young Sherlock Holmes and The Pyramid of Fear” Movie Night. (Click to see more photos)
What would Grandma Ada and Grandpa Bob think if they could see their little mischief-makers today. It has been one of life’s most precious gifts to me to know these men since they were children. The goodness just keeps growing.
Ten days left until the deadline for the Fabulous Family Photo Contest. I think it’s your turn to win!
Sent this to Carol and Leah:
"I thought you might be interested in this plant that grows in Maggie’s yard. Her husband Dan took this photo earlier today. It looks so alien. I’ve never seen anything quite like it. You both popped into my head because of the gorgeous flower photos you’ve submitted. I know you must love them and I hoped this might be something unique enough to give you a little thrill.
I hope you are thriving and enjoying some hints of warm weather. I look forward to your photos for May and, in the meantime, send my love." - Mary
Maggie was kind enough to forward a Twitter post about this 200 ft. bird sculpture. I got curious, didd some research, found some superb photos, and wrote a post for the Artesian Nature Center bird art section. You should put this place on your bucket list. I had no idea how magnificent this is! - Granny Here’s the link for more mind-blowing photos: https://www.lifeat240.com/anc-blog/jatayu-nature-centre
We used to have a honeysuckle bush intgertwined with forsythia in our front yard. Someone must have planted them together. Every Spring it was like a giant pink and yellow bouquet. I will have to visit this spot next time I am at the Artesian Nature Wonderland. Thanks for rekinddling the honeysuckle love in my heart, Dan. - Grann
In honor of Sytennde Mai, Paw and I are celebrating our Viking heritage today. To brighten your morning with thoughts of conquest and battle, we send you the Gunderfam mascot Paw invented and the poem I wrote about this amazing Viking. Take a moment to pause and feel your fierceness. Sending love always. - Granny & Paw
It was an unforgettable Mother’s Day. From the tiny flowers for my ears, a tulip cookie and song for my tummy and soul, pink lilacs to inhale, another year with my special Kid Mom, the cute tote Paw gave me (*wink-wink*), and a performance of White Choral Bells which pleased the fairies who watch over the lilies of the valley, it was spectacular from start to finish — and especially the carrot wrapping and loads of taped tissue paper. I feel very loved. - Mom. P.S. Ada, please thank Morgan for me. 🌷
Between Mollie leaving for the Bahamas today and my friend packing for two weeks in Norway, I was feeling way too provincial. I decided to start planning Bastille Day so I could look forward to a few hours in Paris. Usually we just have a champagne picnic in the park and do pleine air painting, so I decided I’d ramp it up a a few notches and go to a fancy French restaurant wearing all black and a beret. Google made fun of me. - Mom
Who knew all those years of training for a Black Belt would pay off in cooking skills. The food will probably be so terrified, it will cook itself!
Morgan seems like such a fantasy creature. He looks like he might live in a nearby tree and just stopped over there to visit his White Oak friend. Magical Nature Boy!
Your dad and I have been unable to compete with the stunning Green Acres collection of nature photography excellence. Our dream is to take a photo that would be worthy of the Green Acres collection. Our three-day hunt around the neighborhoods of Southside Fond du Lac finally led to the discovery and capture of this ridiculously huge tree with gorgeous white blossoms less than two feet from the ground. It almost stands up to the Artesian Wonderland you inhabit, but is admittedly missing the wildness of your magical world. (If you want to see the tree in person, it’s on National Avenue, between Johnson and Marian, on the east side of the street.
Even though she groans at stuff like this, I couldn’t resist the “You are Awesome” inspiration cards. To soften the blow, I stuck twenty bucks in the card and leftover May Day candy in the bag. You can guess who picked out the fancy apple. It’s so fun having a kid mom. When you are orphans, you really should consider having some child adopt you. If for no other reason, it is a delight to be so old and still shopping for Mother’s Day gifts. Happy Mother’s Day! See you later for more fun. I love you. - Mom
Ada is the winner of this year’s Golden Week Haiku Contest. She won $30 toward a sushi dinner. She is already planning to go to a restaurant called Sequoia with excellent selections. Her five haiku poems were so wise and insightful, they made me cry when I read them. I am so proud of my little poet. You can enjoy them too. Just click on the image to read them.
It was lunchtime. Keith and I returned home from running errands, and there on the back porch was a surprise May Basket filled with all our favorite things: flowers, popcorn, a scented candle, heath bar bites for Keith, and Milk Duds for me. It was such a surprise. I got a phone notice that my package from Ada had been delivered, but I suspected she had done the ordering, but was in cahoots with Maggie and Mollie to surprise us. After a comical text exchange in which Mollie claimed to be the lone sender, we learned it was all Ada and her very loving heart. She said she thought about all the decades I had made May Baskets for everyone and figured the time was overdue for me to get one. Her sweetness abounds!