Monday, October 31, 2022

China Lights and Organ Pipe Pizza

 

Sorry for the long silence. Friday I took about an hour off in the morning to get our boat out of the water for the season, which is always kind of a sad occasion, then in the evening I talked to Tiffy. Saturday Travalon and I met Jilly Moose for coffee, then we visited his mother and had lunch at the cafe overlooking the lake in the place where she lives. They have slowed her motorized wheelchair down to an excruciating pace, and every time she goes through a door, an alarm sounds and someone appears who says, "She's a wanderer. She can go as long as you stay with her." It all seems a little cruel, and I can see why she would want to make a break for it! Then we hiked on the Scuppernong segment of the Ice Age Trail. We went to Lapham Peak to see if we could go to the top of the peak; there was a festival going on near the main parking lot, but a ranger blocked the road up to the peak. They were having some sort of "Fright Hike" that evening.

Then we went to Hales Corner to go to China Lights, where the theme this year was Alice in Wonderland. We took photos, and I'll post some soon. Our favorite thing was the two big budgies that would repeat whatever you said. We got some hilarious video footage of that. Afterwards we went to Organ Pipe Pizza right nearby, because they have a theater organ from the 1920's that my uncle helped rebuild. They had an information sheet about the organ, but it didn't mention my uncle anywhere. The pizza is edible, but the real draw is the organ with all the great sound effects (like a row of ducks), and because it was so close to Halloween, the organist played scary songs like "Thriller" and also a medley of polkas, but he didn't play my aunt's request for "Elmer's Tune." I got some videos of that too.

Sunday one of the guys who regularly goes to brunch brought food for after Mass, and it was French silk pie, ice cream, donuts, kringle, and cookies, which wouldn't surprise you if you knew this guy. He loves food! Travalon and I took a hike on the path beside the Yahara, then we went to an All Saints' Day party... I guess, since nobody wore costumes. The hostess grilled burgers, and everyone else brought vegetables and salads. I brought a spaghetti squash I'd grown in my garden plot, and Richard Bonomo brought tomato sauce to put on it. We did have several desserts, including Rich's famous brownies and a pumpkin cake made by the guy who always makes fabulous desserts, even though he couldn't come himself, and Jilly Moose brought a bucket of Halloween candy. Then Travalon and I sort of half-watched that horrible Packers game. It was just as bad as I'd expected, since the Bills were 5-1 and were playing at home. A couple of drives looked really good, but mostly the offense couldn't get anything going, and where was the defense? It seemed like every time Buffalo got the ball, they scored. That game was the scariest thing about this Halloween season.

Today was actual Halloween, so I wore my devil horns to work, and people liked that. Some of the grad students dressed up - one was an ear of corn! I got a cupcake and some German treat that was a chocolate bonbon full of Nutella - so much sugar! Then on Night Prayer the leader wore a cheesehead, so I put on my Carmen Miranda hat, which inspired the Dairyman's Daughter to put on her turkey hat, Jilly Moose to put on her wolf ears, another guy to put on a bear hat, and Anna Banana II to put on her giraffe poncho. Rich did not get in on the fun. He said he has no silly hats. Guess I know what to get him for his next birthday...


Famous Hat


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