The enormous lake stretched flat and smooth and white all the way to the edge of the gray sky. Wagon tracks went away across it, so far that you could not see where they went; they ended in nothing at all.
Laura Ingalls Wilder *
Today is Foursday. Our Ezra attends preschool on “Tuesdays and Foursdays”.
Since today IS Foursday, and since I’ve been rather absent from these pages lately, I wanted to tell you about a few adventures we have had after the terror of Tula 2. Our little adventure started last Foursday as we headed up North to visit with our northern family and help Katy while our son-in-law, Tom, was away for a few days, but, let me begin in at the beginning.
My Tom, whom I will refer to as I often do as Antler Man, and I decided to take a little extra time driving on up, in part to soak up what we hoped would be a colorful landscape of colors throughout Wisconsin. The further north we went, the more vivid nature’s palette became.
We finally arrived at our destination in time to meet Kezzie’s school bus. For those of you close to grandchildren, this is likely routine, but, for those of us with some distance between our grands and ourselves, it is a treasured treat.
Katy, Tom and crew have been observing what is bound to become a family ritual, and one I highly recommend to all of you, wherever you live and whatever you climate. For them, way up north, they have dubbed their activities Parktober, in which they visit a state park every weekend in October.
On Saturday, last, before Tom left, we all piled into the car, layered with warm clothes and provisions. We drove past sweet little towns along the Minnesota side ledge of the Mighty Mississippi. Some lunch, some ooh’s and ah’s at the famous river town of Red Wing, and we headed to Frontenac State Park for a hike.
This is one of the first views we saw, overlooking Lake Pepin. By-the-way, the photo was taken by our Kezzie.
This is from the Minnesota side and it is Lake Pepin. THE Lake Pepin that Laura Ingalls Wilder wrote about as she told of the Ingalls family’s westward migration from the Big Woods of Wisconsin, crossing the lake, which is a very wide spot of the Mississippi. They crossed in winter, over ice, as it was the most expeditious way to cross at that time.
For those of you who often read my words here on the Cutoff, you know from my ramblings how fond I am of Laura’s books and her story. It was so thoughtful of Tom and Katy to include us in their weekend’s Parktober, and sweet of them to pick this particular state forest.
The wind was brisk, so off we went, following a trail into the woods.
We started to descend down dirt steps and I realized that what goes down, must come up. Hesitant, with a bum knee, I opted not to take the trail. Katy took pity on me, and we ventured in a different direction – through the prairie. It was warmer than on the bluff, with sun beating down on us, grasses surrounding us, and the colors of Autumn at their peak. Laura and Ma, er, Katy and Mom, walked close to two miles, snapping photos, talking, not talking, the sorts of discussions one has when on the prairie. It was one of those times where life grows sweeter by the moment.
Well, dear reader, it is still Foursday and I have a few evening chores to attend to. Before I close, here are two stores we stopped at in Red Wing on our way home. Who can pass up chocolate and books?
I took a photo of Kezzie – and she took a photo of me.
One last photo, in the prairie. I couldn’t see the camera’s screen for the glare of the sun. Sometimes, you just have to click and hope for the best.
I think I will call it my Foursday tree. Thanks, Ezra, for a brand new word.
*Read more at http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/l/laura_ingalls_wilder.html#mSCuTTI5s8UyO0Cy.99
You and your family are so great at creating memories and enjoying them in the moment…love the whole Wilder Lake Pepin thing. Did you stop at the Wilder museum??? We have always gone home in the Wisconsin side never have been to Frontenac…must take the drive.
Penny thanks for the reminder to enjoy precious moments.
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Thank you, Vickie. You and yours do a great job as well. Love seeing you and Mike with your grands. 🙂 We did not stop at the Wilder museum. I don’t know why I haven’t done Pepin and Little House site, with all the trips up to MN over the the years. I hope to see the Wilder museum someday soon. Tom (the younger) drove us back the Wisconsin side, and it was lovely. You might try to the Minnesota side some time. Red Wing is a sweet town. We’ve stopped in Waubasha a few times (Grumpy Old Men).
You are welcome. 🙂
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Very special and sweet travel diary! Love the photos, but the stories with them are awesome.
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Thank you so very much. It was such a nice excursion – though pretty cold on that bluff. 🙂
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What lovely, lovely photos! So glad you took us on this trip. Your grandchildren are so blessed to have time with you. Love the fall colors! What wonderful memories you’re making with them.
Love Foursday and Parktober!!!!!
I complain about my smartphone sometimes. But I’m really glad that I can use it to take pictures.
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Thank you, L. Marie. It really was a special time with them. The colors were spectacular heading up to MN last week, fading a bit but not too much by the time we came back. They were at peak at Frontenac on Saturday.
Aren’t they great, new words?
We are so fortunate to have all our modes of making memories, aren’t we? I use my two regular cameras, often, but, my smartphone is always on me and it often sees what I don’t.
I hope you are enjoying this day.
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I can’t believe how much Kezzie and Ezra have grown since the last pictures! Your family does know how to make those memories and take photographs that place the reader right with you. I can now say I have seen Lake Pepin and it is a sight to behold. Foursday is one of my favorite days and now has a name. Have a nice weekend and by the way I forgot to say too bad about the
cubs a while back!
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They are certainly sprouting like weeds. It was such joy to be with them for several days. Thank you, Marilyn. I do hope we are making memories, as children need them in life. I know how grateful I am for my own.
Lake Pepin and the Frontenac State Forest are really spectacular and now I find myself compelled to read the Little House books once again. 🙂 Son-in-law Tom did his homework and found this to be one of the few areas still peaking in color – Lake Pepin was a definite bonus.
Isn’t Foursday fun and rather Winnie-the-poohish.
Thanks, Marilyn – and you, too. Cold and rainy here. A good day to settle in with a book.
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How wonderful, Penny. It is just wonderful that you had this amazing time with the family and it turned into a real adventure. I think I really can feel how exciting it was for you to meet Kezzie at her school bus. Such sweet reunions turn an otherwise ordinary moment into extraordinary. The children are collecting memories that will last their lifetime, and you certainly know that. I love the idea of Parktober! It’s just lovely that you had your sweet family, a prairie experience with meaning, and and such a happy time following the deep emotional toll of Dottie’s hospitalization. Your photos are so beautiful, and it looks to me that Kezzie and Yia-Yia make a great photo-journalism team. I’m so glad you shared with us, Penny. ox
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Thank you, Debra. I do think they are collecting memories, along with leaves. Katy and Tom are very conscientious, letting them pick up leaves and rocks and such, but, they also have a rule that everything the pick must stay in the forest.
Ezra was excited to see us, especially Papa. When his daddy came home from work, Ez opened the front door and shouted out “come in, Daddy, my friends are here”. 🙂 🙂 🙂 We remained friends the whole time.
Isn’t Parktober a great idea? They have visited at least 6 MN state parks and I’m wondering if this weekend will bring another as October ends. I really admire them for this initiative.
October, as opposed to Parktober, has been a bit of a roller coaster ride, for certain, but, now, especially with your kind words to carry me, I have this incentive for photo-journaling with Kezzie. Honestly, Debra, she was showing me things to do with my camera that I didn’t know I could do. 🙂
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I love this post! Beautifully written. Thanks for sharing.
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Thanks to you and Tom for sharing this Parktober adventure on such a majestic bluff! and thank you as well, Katy, for your kind words. Love ya!
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What a wonderful account of your day at such a beautiful location. I’m sure knowing that you were walking the footsteps of Laura Ingalls Wilder added a layer to the day that made it all the more special. Lovely photos!
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It was a special day and it was, indeed, layered with many nuances, Janet. Now, I need to go the town of Pepin and all things Laura. I don’t know why I haven’t all these years we’ve made the journey up and down. Oh well . . . we’ve hit other sites. I was really surprised at how big Lake Pepin is. Imagine: the Ingalls and others had to cross it in winter, with all of their possessions, on ice – and it is 25 miles across.
Thank you.
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I love “Foursday” and could just hear him saying it in my mind while reading this!
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Isn’t it a great word? Rather “poohish”. Ezra not only says it, but, we get a finger count as well. 🙂
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I love knowing about Twosday and Foursday (and being reminded of the wonderful way young minds work). You were so fortunate to have your daughter and granddaughter with you when exploring and remembering this part of Laura-land. We didn’t visit this Park when we were traveling, but did spend some time in DeSmet SD where they lived …Bill was patient — but, you know, I don’t think even the best guys are ever going to understand the kind of bond we have with these books!
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It was a wondrous day and yes, I was lucky to have them with. We were in the hotel in Burr Oak and I kept talking so much the docent just told people to ask Penny; my Tom is patient too. Ha! What our men put up with. I would love to visit DeSmet. Someday . . . hopefully on a Foursday. Thanks for commenting.
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Penny, I enjoyed coming along for the ride with you, and joining in your time of curiosity, exploring, and delighting in nature’s wonders as well as the warmth and fun of family. After Tula 2, this must have been such a welcome reprieve. I love the idea of Foursday, and the photo of the Foursday tree.
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It was balm for the soul, Juliet. It is always rejuvenating for me to walk in nature, especially while with the youngsters. 🙂 This particular day was long and filled with beauty from nature and the inquisitive nature of children – all six of us. 🙂
Kezzie always finds something interesting (and usually small); this time, a wooly bear caterpillar. Ezra is “into” stones, feeling them on his cheeks; such a sweet way to commune with nature. Thank you, Juliet.
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What a gift it is, to enter nature through the eyes of a small, curious child.
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Parktober and Foursday ~ two of my favorite new words!:) So happy that you were able to get away for some light-hearted, carefree family times, Penny! Kezzie’s interest in photography is wonderful and Ezra’s happy thoughts of ‘friends’ are a delight! Thank you so much for sharing your grandchildren with us, dear Penny!
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Aren’t they great words, Dawn? I truly admire the way Katy and Tom have seized the season and found such a meaningful and fun way to enjoy October with the children – and appreciate that we were able to participate in one Parktober day. They took another hike this Saturday, the last of October, and I’m anxious to see photos of their day.
You are very welcome, Dawn.
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