The first week in August, Mike and I went camping at Wyalusing State Park near Prairie Du Chien. Our campsite was on the bluffs overlooking the Wisconsin River where it meets the Mississippi River. The views are hard to desribe, besides breathtaking! We drove across the river to McGregor, Iowa and visited Pikes Peak State Park. We could look across the river to Wyalusing and see the bluffs we were camping at.
 

These pictures are from our 4-wheeler ride to the fishing hole. The deer were playing hard in one of the fields and didn't run until we were pretty close to them. The grasses are close to 5 feet tall and Mike enjoyed driving through them and scaring me by going thisclose to the water! No fish that day though. Some of the trail is muddy in the woods so we saw lots of turkey tracks, even baby ones! No bear tracks thankfully. But as we came into our driveway, a baby skunk ran into the grass! That night Moose came into the house and  had a faint smell of skunk, so he got a bath. He did behave for it. None of the other cats have found the family of skunks living down below the garage. It has been too hot to go out in the woods and Mike has been working nights, so maybe Tuesday or so when he goes out to make wood, I'll tag along and take my camera.

 Saturday July 2nd we celebrated Dad's 66th birthday. He enjoyed his day. Mike and I, Tony & Sarah, Wes, Kenna, Mark, Brian & Julia, Uncle Ken & Aunt Gloria, and Uncle Ed were there. Moms friend Gail and her family stopped in for a visit also. It was a fun day. I actually drove over and back without any problems. I wasn't too over tired today, so slowly getting better. We go on the 12th to Milwaukee for my 8 week check up with the neurosurgeon. Hoping for good results.

                                                Shadow sat staring at a pheasant that was across the road.

                                                        Miss Millie!

                                                        Kitty on the prowl in the field!

Finally took a 4-wheeler ride with Mike today. We went slow but it still aggravated my neck pain. And it wore me out. Slow progress I guess. Anyway, we saw lots of deer tracks along with tiny fawn tracks the size of a quarter. Should be good hunting this fall. The fishing hole was surrounded by tall grasses, so I didn't get off the 4-wheeler while Mike fished. I still remember the snake under the 4-wheeler last summer. Do not like them at all! There are beautiful wildflowers out, tons of columbines, and I didn't take my camera with! Next time! Mike brought me home and he went back out to fish while I made venison and onions for supper. Smelled and tasted so good.

The picture above is of my staples at the back of my head and neck. 20 staples I believe.
Great to see the sun out today. I'm having a hard day, recovery wise. Just a little depressed and wish I could make Mike understand how I feel. On the other hand, we have two extra cats, Tigger and Tia. They belong to my son Wes. he is going through a breakup and can't keep his cats where he is staying at. So far they all get along. Moose loves having a smaller kitten  (Tia) to play with. She is the only one out of them all that stays inside all the time. Kitty, the oldest of them all, has become very attached to me. I don't think he liked me being gone for my surgery. he even sleeps by my pillow, where as before he stayed outside every night. Even the dogs could care less about the added felines! I can't imagine how hard it would be to recover without my animal brood!

Home at last! Mike and I came home Tuesday the 24th. It was the longest week ever! I went in for surgery on the 16th, and spent two days in ICU afterwards. I was very sick from the pain meds and was poked for IV sites two many times! I think I'll be black and blue forever. The NS said once he opened up the original surgery site, he found not one, but two blood vessels sitting tight against my brain. So he thinks maybe that is what was causing all the pain on my left side, not to mention the headaches! It's  amazing what medical science can do to help now. I had a hard time recovering in the hospital, lots of nausea and weakness but man was the staff great. They kept me on track to leave on time and then we stayed at the volunteer place, Kathy's House in Milwaukee until my wound check day. I get my staples out up here next Tuesday then my check-up isn't until July 13th! It was hard for both Mike and I to be there with no family and we're still feeling the effects, but we'll make it. Lot's of catching up to do!

                                                        Moose

                                                   Millie

                                                    Hazel

                                                       Shadow

                                                       Kitty                                                                                                    

Today I have so many things on my mind. First, Mike got his 2nd turkey this Spring. He is quite the hunter and fisherman. We had fresh Northern and Bass Saturday night for supper. Then today, he caught a Walleye and a Northern. That will be our dinner tomorrow. Later tonight my brother-in-law Dennis is coming to do his turkey hunting on our land. He and his friend Leo stay in our cabin while they are here. The biggest thing on my mind is my upcoming surgery. We leave Sunday morning for Milwaukee, Columbia St. Mary's Hospital. We will stay at Kathy's House, a place people stay who are going through medical hospitalizations and appointments. Mike is staying there while I'm in the hospital and then I'll stay with him there until my staples come out. I am putting Shadow in a kennel while we are gone. I'm very nervous about it, he is such a momma's boy. Kenna, Tony, and Mike's friend Lyle will take care of the other dogs and the cats.