May 24th 2014 Wisconsin and back

So I have returned...12,000 miles in just over a week is too much! I have a major case of jet lag which is why this update is late and I blame all grammatical errors in this post on that!
The trip itself went smoothly though and for that I'm grateful... I really do hate flying!   The memorial service for my brother was nice with one of the finest military honors, put on by the local VFW, that I have ever seen. I was able to see several long lost relatives that I haven't seen in many years and also some Aunts and Uncles. It was especially nice to see my Dad's brother, it was like listening to Dad when he talked and joked around! Two of my brothers arrived earlier in the week and went to work on Mom's house, straightening her very crooked deck and then along with some of my nieces and nephews they stripped and painted it as well.
                                                          They did a great job!

 They also took care of several other fixer uppers that Mom needed doing.  There were eight or nine of us in Mom's little house, we were sleeping in the guest room, living room, garage and a tent. I slept with Mom so I was spared the camping out! During the evenings, a fire was lit and we would sit around and talk.  
                                                                       

                                                               
Wisconsin doesn't generally have the drought problems that are common out West so bonfires are very popular ... that and we're hicks ... it's what we like to do! lol
Sometimes we were civilized though and would gather around the table in the house; sitting on my great-grandmother's chairs that have held several generations around tables.
                                                                 

During the day I liked to walk in the woods in the park near my Mom's house.  

                                    If you look closely, you can see Mama swan sitting on her nest!

                                               Papa swan came to see what I was up to!

All was fun and games until Mom and I ran into some very fresh BEAR poop! (of course I stopped to take a picture before we evacuated the area)

 It was a very long hard winter and the bears are out in force. Just after I left, Mom called to tell me that a Mama bear and her three cubs were spotted in her neighborhood, and that her garbage can that was set out for the collectors was ransacked. A well armed police officer came out to check on her and he kindly collected up the mess. Mom said she almost went to pick the strewn garbage up herself and then thought of the bear!

I spent several evenings at my sisters house, eating delicious venison brat wursts and other goodies. We also sat around a fire there (I tell you it's what my family does) and also enjoying the view from her back yard. Her property is up against the Chequamegon National Forest so it's very rural and nice. She has a funny dog that spends all day long running in the fields off in the distance. I only saw it up close a couple of times as it was always a blur running around in the field! I renamed it Forrest. "Run Forrest Run!"
                                                                 

Having hogged up all of the interior decorating genes in the family, her front porch looks like a Pinterest dream!

            Before my brothers and their children headed back out West we got some family photos taken.
                                                Here I am with two of my brothers.
                                                                             

                                                                 The Clan (only a few of us)

While I was gone Gary had the church's sign installed, it looks great!

That's it for today, you probably know more about my family and stuff than you ever wanted to by now, but that's what my last week was like! Gary laughs at what a hick I become (or return to being actually) when I visit my home state. I have all sorts of animal and wild life stories, he thinks it's funny. But hey,  if the truth be told, I'm just a country mouse living in the big cities!

That's all for now! Until next time!

May 7th 2014

So, I'm a little bit late getting this weeks blog post up.  I was out and about both Monday and Tuesday this week so I'm finally just now getting off a quick post before heading to the church to clean and have our weekly Beginners Bible Study.   Also  I'm trying to et things collected, washed and prepared for my trip next week. Thanks to some very generous brothers and sisters from our home church in Las Vegas, New Mexico I will be able to fly home to Wisconsin for my brother's funeral next week.  This would not have been possible without their very generous hearts and I am so grateful that I have people who care about me and are praying for me during this difficult time.  I will be flying out next Tuesday and be gone for one week. 
On Monday, we were quite rudely awakened by an earthquake! It was around 5 a.m. and it was shaking pretty good! Gary got up to stabilize the glass fronted bookshelf that was threatening to tip over on us but I was so groggy that I just sat there. If the "Big One" they are always predicting for Tokyo ever happens while I'm in bed I'll probably just die from confusion since it takes me a while to wake up and think clearly!                   
Later on, I did some running around Kichijoji. Since it was Childrens day and still Golden week it was very crowded!  I managed to take care of my errands though and get back home in one piece!
I discovered the new bakery in Kichijoji is of the same franchise as the one Gary and I really liked in Fuchu.  This is exciting and terrifying at the same time. Exciting because now we can get our delicious favorite bread treats when ever we want... terrifying because now we can get our delicious favorite bread treats whenever we want!!!
                                                                                

 

                                                                    
Yesterday we had a lovely visit with a family in our church. They invited Gary and I and our new girl to visit their home and enjoy a Filipino meal. I was very excited to try the dishes and they didn't disappoint!    

 

We had adobo, pancit, lumpia and a delicious fruit salad accompanied with a very nice lemon grass tea! My first foray into Filipino cooking was a delicious experience!

 

The next few days are going to be busy with church stuff and also a dentist appoint and then my trip. Lord willing, I will be back after the 21st to update you on all things 'Lisa in Japan' and also with some fascinating 'Cheese News' from Wisconsin!

 

Toodles!