BEWARE - Something Fragmare This Way Comes

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It is Friday.

It is well INTO Friday.

That means I've almost missed my window of opportunity to share various and sundry fragments of life with you, my bloggy readers.

Fortunately I've arrived at the fragment dock just in the nick of time to catch the fragship before it sails.
  
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College football season arrived last night and the NFL will be back in full swing as of Thursday evening.

Some of us are WAY more excited about this turn of events than are others.

Obviously from the above scenario, little Piper is in the less than excited category.
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I, on the other hand, am definitely in the excited school of thought.

I've already got three versions of my College Pick 'Em game going - - - as evidenced by the return of my "bookie" ways shown above.
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Suddenly this week our temperature soared back up into the high 90's - - - yet further evidence that FALL ISN'T HERE YET, just in case you were tempted to forget that it is summer until the sun's position says it's fall on September 21.

Anyway, with the return of heat my Famous Wacky Macky Pasta salad sounded really yummy, so I made some.

Alas, it's only famous in my own eyes.

I proceeded to eat it, with precious little help from Fisherhubby who isn't a pasta salad connoisseur, in a two day window of time.

Oink oink.
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Do you shoebox???

We always fill shoeboxes at church this time of year to be sent to children all over the world at Christmas.  It's such a fun project.

This is my first "installment" of donations for the shoeboxes - - - 12 boxes of brand new crayons.

I can hardly keep my hands out of them - - - that's the effect new crayons have on this old gal!
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Fisherhubby proudly and affectionately dubbed this his "Tower of Tackle." It resides in our small one car garage, right where I TRY to open my car door.

And I'm pretty sure there are two facts about it you really do need to know in order to comprehend the IMPORT of it:

1)  NONE of it is mine.

2)  This is only PART of Fisherhubby's fishing paraphernalia, in fact if you look around and behind it you will see handles of poles, nets, and various other fishing accoutrements.

Sigh.
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Social Media Faux Pas and Don't Dos

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1)  Don't make posts, tweets, or statuses that mainly consist of endless lists of what you have accomplished - sorta like this:  

"I just tore down our house with my bare hands, rebuilt it with bricks that I made myself from mud and straw, harvested the wheat in my garden, ground it, made lasagna noodles with it, and made homemade lasagna for hubby AND half the neighborhood, then I weeded all the flower beds for a 120 block radius, after I finished my 20 mile run.  Now I'm making sure there is nothing else I need to do BEFORE I sit down to rest my lazy bones."

This just looks like a humble (or not so humble) brag and is BEGGING for the "atta girl, I could never walk in your footsteps" response.

2)  Don't make whiny health posts.

All of us get colds, runny noses, cookie-tossing episodes.  We aren't cold hearted, but we come to our social media to ESCAPE the minor drudgeries of our everyday lives.  So, unless you are dying just skip that part of the post, K?

Now, I realize that some of us are suffering - - - truly suffering - - - with chronic long term conditions for which we desperately hope others will pray.  I'm not talking about that, that's not whiney and is an animal of an entirely different color.

I'm also not talking about telling a medical incident with full on humor - - - those are fun and funny.

OK - - - enough for today.  I may or may not revisit this social media faux pas topic on another day.

You'll thank me later.  ;-)
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One of the VERY BEST things about moving back to my junior high and high school hometown has been getting to see school chums, usually for the first time since we graduated 41 years ago, from time to time.

This time I got to spend some time chatting with Conrad at his parent's 60th wedding anniversary.  Conrad lives in Oregon now.
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I also got to spend some time with his sister, Gretchen, who was a year behind us in school and graduated with Sister Pam.

What a joy!!!
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Somebody around here figured out - first time they saw it - how to use my communication station!!!

No, Fisherhubby is not my Cleaning Fairy, though he has left me ONE message so far.

All his message said was:  Cigars.

Don't ask.  ;-)
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This is Packer country.

Ever since an infamous "Fail Mary" game between the Packers and the Seahawks late last season, the Seahawks are despised.

Well except I don't despise the Seahawks.  

I'm a Russell Wilson, former WI Badger QB, fan - even when he and his boys play the Packers.

So, yes I did wear my Russell Wilson Seahawks jersey out and about on the evening that the Packers met the Seahawks in a preseason game last Friday.

I even made it back home unharmed and unscathed.

I'm happy to announce that Russel and his boys won.

It's only preseason - - - but I'm just sayin' anyway..

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And now - - - the fragmare this way comes!

"Ain't" he a beauty????

I saw him in a little antique/collectibles shop and I truly wanted to bring him home and put him beside Fisherhubby's bed.

Fisherhubby HATES snakes.

But Eloise, whose transportation I was enjoying that day, said she wouldn't let Fragmare in the car, so that was that.

But doesn't he have gorgeous, if evil, amber eyes????
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And that's it for this week's edition of frags.

Please head over to Mrs. 4444's place

To check out more frags.

I can pretty much promise you NONE of

Them will be fragmares - - -

Those other fraggers are nice people.

While you're there, why not join in the fun???

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Sunday at the Red Mill

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Sundays in My City is a chance to cruise around the world investigating all kinds of interesting places without ever leaving the comfort of your own computer.

Come with me today to the Red Mill.
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The Red Mill is a quaint little eatery tucked quietly along a rural stretch of County HH (we do that here in Wisconsin - we name our county roads in a very alphabetical manner) near Stevens Point, Wisconsin.

Aside:  Fisherhubby says he can't drive on nor even find roads like HH because he doesn't know his aa bb cc's.

Now back to the matter at hand:
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I don't know if it's called the Red Mill because it's red or if it is red because it's called the Red Mill.
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Not being one, I didn't park in this spot.

But NEITHER did I advertise the fact - - - not in THIS state anyway.

;-)
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This Bucky Badger was guarding the parking lot.

I could park by him as I AM his biggest fan.
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There were all kinds of other sentinels watching the parking lot.
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Most of them were of the bear variety.
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We are up here just south of the Northwoods
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And bears have occasionally been known to make their way down into our vacinity.

Especially THIS kind of bear.
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The yard behind the Red Mill was a quiet, inviting oasis
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Where I found this miniature replica of the Red Mill's namesake.
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There were a variety of inviting dining areas
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Scattered about the Mill
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Both indoors and out.

My dinner was delicious and didn't entirely empty my purse.
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Thanks to Unknown Mami

For hosting Sundays in My City. 

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Friday Metamor"phrag"sis

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Welcome to my Friday Metamor"phrag"sis post.

There are so many phrags metamorphing around in my brain that I just have to share them with you.

In fact, it would appear that this little ole blog is turning into one long metamor"phrag"sis, as phrags appear to be all I'm capable of these days.

So many thanks and shout outs go to Mrs. 4444 who makes this meme available to us each week.  After you finish here, be sure to follow the links over to her place and see what kinds of phrags are metamorphing all over blog land.
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Meet Maxzilla, the Monarch larva (caterpillar for those of you who may or may not recognize the biological term larva) our grandchildren (and their parents) are observing this fall.
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Maxzilla, like all of his (her?) kind is quite an architect.  In a matter of 15 minutes he was able to remodel himself into this beautiful pupa (chrysalis).

I'm especially fascinated by the golden jewels he (she) weaves into the top third of the "building."
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Our "pet" chipmunk, Chippy, who used to live in our back yard has disappeared.  We are pretty sad about it as we did so enjoy watching his (who turned out to actually be a her) antics.

He did, however, leave us a surprise which has sprouted up in our window well.

We are letting his sunflowers grow - just for fun - and to remember him by.
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I had my hair cut and color appointment this week.

There is NOTHING quite like the "make-over" of a new do.
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I just wish THIS part - - - where Tracy is gently arranging my "locks" would last longer.

BTW, Tracy is da bomb.   No lie.
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I have been a BAD Kamma and have passed my poor speller gene on to my grandson Mack.

Oh Mack, how I WISH I would have given you a GOOD speller gene - - - I remember struggling with my own spelling words back in the day.

I also remember while doing my homework shouting out to my parents:  how do you spell _____?   Only to hear them reply:  USE THE DICTIONARY!

And I'm sure it is NO HELP AT ALL to tell you that in just a few short years, after your spelling classes are over, it WON'T MATTER at all if you can spell or not 'cause spell check and google will take care of all that for you.

Sigh.
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SOMEBODY in this family drives a candy apple red Durango AND has covered it with Badger pride.

Then the other day SOMEBODY noticed another vehicle with a BIGGER Badger helmet on it.  True, that vehicle just had the ONE bit of Badger flair, but still SOMEBODY felt passed by.

Hmmmmm - - - SOMEBODY better get on the stick and find a bigger helmet for herself.
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These are my cute little "summer" salt and peppers,
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And these are my cute little flip flop corn on the cob holders.

I NEARLY forgot to put these fun summer ornaments out this year!!!  Fortunately I thought of them in late July and got them out.

Since summer doesn't end until September 21, I can enjoy them for nearly two months.

Whew.
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The three "children" that have joined our family via marriage are gems.  We couldn't have hand selected better spouses for our three married kids.

This is Jason, the first SIL to join our family.  He comes up with little witticisms which his wife, Keri, has dubbed "Jasonisms"

This is one of those.

Funny guy that Jason.
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This evening the Seahawks are playing the Packers at Lambeau Field.

I doubt that I need to remind you that THIS is the Packer state, and nearly everyone here is a RABID Packer fan.

Except for me of course - - - I'm pulling for "my boy" Russell and am proudly wearing my #3 Seahawks jersey all day - - - even when we go out for supper tonight.

If you don't hear from me on this blog again for more than two weeks, you better send a search party out to look for my bludgeoned and bloodied body in some ditch or woods where the Packer Backers will have left me when they are finished with me.

I do kid.

Kinda

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Fisherhubby "tried" to burn our house down this week by turning on the patio light and then forgetting it.

The flammable problem was THERE WAS A ROBIN'S NEST ON TOP OF IT.
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I don't know how many times he had told me "don't turn on the patio light or you'll set the house on fire."

Then HE did it.

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Fortunately my "bloodhound" nose saved us in time that this was all the damage that was done.

First time EVER that Fisherhubby was thankful for my bloodhound nose.
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Marry a Fisherhubby and you too can have THESE in YOUR refrigerator.
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Now please head over to Mrs. 4444's place

To check out more metamor"phrags".

While you're there, why not join in the fun???

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Friday Fragways

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A segway links one talk show topic to the next or transports a mall cop to various parts of the mall.

A fragway takes you, my bloggy reader, from one of my weeks to the next in a somewhat concise manner.

Much thanks to Mrs. 4444 who was the creator and is the sustainer of this fun weekly Friday meme.
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I believe I must be cheap and easy.

I'm easy 'cause it only takes a cheap thing like a few packs of brand new cotton dishclothes to make me happy, happy, happy.
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The grans returned to school on Monday, August 12th.  WAY too early in my humble opinion.

For Pipe's it was her first foray down public school lane, and she had quite the nervous trauma over it ahead of time.  She was afraid she'd do something wrong, disappoint her parents or teacher, and not know how to do her homework.

Kindergarten probs.

I'm very glad to report that she returned home all smiles after the first day.
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Fisherhubby has found a new Wisconsin fishing buddy - Mark, whose wife's name is Jenny.  (Mark is pictured above holding a muskie he pulled out of the Wisconsin River and then promptly released so all you animal lovers can CHILLAX)

You may, or may not as the case may be, remember that Fisherhubby's best ever Indiana fishing buddy's name is also Mark, whose wife's name is Jennie!!!!

I guess if your name's not Mark or you're not married to a Jenny, don't bother trying to fish with Fisherhubby.

That's why I don't fish.  I'm neither a Mark nor married to a Jenny.
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I found this cute little magnetic dry erase board at WallyWorld for a couple of bucks.

I thought, THIS will make a great communication station for the fridge so
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This guy, known to bloggy land as Fisherhubby, will have a place to leave me a message as to his whereabouts and other bits and pieces of vital information.

He took one look at it and said, "but I don't know what that MEANS!"

Arggghhhhhh - I shall NEVER be able to train that boy.
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Little Miss Piper completed 1,000 books BEFORE Kindergarten.  (Having them read to her counted.)

When she turned her reading list into the library, they called her name out over the PA system.  She had the graciousness to blush.

She also got a hand written note of commendation from the librarians and her name in the paper.

Already a celebrity at just barely 5.
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Lately Fisherhubby and I have been taking evening fishnics at this very lovely spot on the Wisconsin River.
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First we sit on a bench and eat the "nic" part (yes, that IS my Wisconsin mug, funny you should ask)
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Then hubby indulges in the "fish" part while I text and tweet to my heart's content.
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Some of his catches are FAR more noteworthy - - -
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Than are others which barely should be mentioned at all.

Note, small or large he ALWAYS catches something.

Yes my friends, he throws them ALL back to swim (and be recaught) another day.
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This little video of our daughter and her fam car dancing just makes me happy, happy, happy.

I guess the family that car dances together stays together.  ;-)
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Now please head over to Mrs. 4444's place

To check out how others are fragwaying.

While you're there, why not join in the fun???

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