Showing posts with label Fran and Charlie. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Fran and Charlie. Show all posts

Friday, June 29, 2018

Island 2018 - First Trip Fourth Day: Wood's Hall

Sunday, June 24, 2018

After breakfast Dale had to skedaddle to work but Fran and Charlie had a little time to do some shopping before catching their ferry. We tried stopping at Madeline Island Candles but they were closed. We also went to Dockside and then ended up at Wood's Hall where Fran bought a bangle. Lots of interesting stuff in there.

Island 2018 - First Trip Fourth Day: Farmhouse

Sunday, June 24, 2018

Breakfast with Fran and Charlie at Farmhouse (the former Ella's) They've really got some wonderful food there. I had the hash which was sweet potato, parsnip's, potato, carrots, and onion, topped by two eggs. Divine!!


Island 2018 - First Trip Third Day: Chamber Concert

Saturday, June 23, 2018
Our friends Fran and Charlie came up today for an overnight visit. We had some wine and cheese on the deck and then headed over to The Pub for dinner. After dinner we went to see the Arianna String Quartet which is part of Madeline Island Chamber Music's 2018 Chamber Music Festival. It was a fantastic concert and featured music by Shostakovich, Bartok, Portnoy, and Brahms.

Thursday, July 13, 2017

Island 2017 - 2nd Trip Day 3: Happy Trails

Sunday, July 2, 2017
After a stop in Big Bay Town Park we drove to the north tip of the Island. On the way back we found a nameless trail that had lake access. We ventured in for a ways but didn't make it down to the lake as it was way to buggy.
We found another trail down the road named the Burroughs Memorial Trail. It was quite narrow and overgrown. Charlie mused that you'd need to a  least push a town mower in front of you to have a shot at making it though.

Island 2017 - 2nd Trip Day 3: Big bay Town Park

Sunday, July 2, 2017
After breakfast we all took a drive to Big Bay Town Park which I was surprised to find out is someplace Fran and Charlie had never been. It was a gorgeous day to be out - pleasantly warm in the sun and pleasantly cool in the shade. I saw a turtle swimming close to shore as we crossed the bridge over the lagoon. 



Island 2017 - 2nd Trip Day 3: The Farmhouse

Sunday, July 2, 2017


We took Fran and Charlie to breakfast this morning at The Farmhouse (the former Ella's). It was my first time there since the new owners took over Ella's last year. Their farmer's breakfast is quite awesome.



Tuesday, July 11, 2017

Island 2017 - 2nd Trip Day 1: Bedtime

Friday, June 30, 2017

Athena usually sleeps on the spare bed but since Fran and Charlie were up she had to make due with her blankie. 

Island 2017 - 2nd Trip Day 1: Departure & Arrival

Friday, July 30, 2017

After leaving home around 1:00 p.m. I had a long, uneventful although very pleasant drive up to Madeline. I'm guessing it took about an hour and a half longer than usual partially due to the rerouting of Interstate 94 and other construction but also due to the holiday weekend. I did NOT forget my suitcase this time!

Fran and Charlie, visiting for the weekend, were having cocktails and snacks with Dale when I arrived. They cooked for us a fantastic dinner of grilled steak and roasted vegetables which included brussels sprouts, fennel, red pepper, sweet potato, and onion. Muy delicioso!!

Tuesday, July 14, 2015

Madeline Island 2015: First Trip Day 4 - July 5th

Saturday, July 5, 2015


Beautiful concert last night. The American String Quartet played Quartet #11 in F Minor by Beethoven, Quartet #12 in F Major by Dvorak, and Sextet in D Minor by Tchaikovsky. The concert was at The Clubhouse which has a nice deck around it.  Before the start of the concert I tried to walk out one of the open sliding doors onto the deck but it was dim enough out that although I could see the sliding glass door was open I couldn't see there was a screen covering the open space which stopped me, stunned, in my tracks. A very sweet woman, who was standing nearby waiting for the restroom, asked if I was okay. I told her that, other than being embarrassed, I was fine. "Don't worry" she said, "I've done that before too." I felt better.

Walking home after the concert proved to be rather treacherous. It was dark and the only road back was not well lit. Charlie had a flashlight on his cell phone. I've always wanted to know where to locate it on my cell phone and he said it was an app. I downloaded it and how convenient it is. What a great tool to have. We had a couple of close calls but I think having the flashlight helped.

This morning the 4 of us had coffee on the deck. I offered to walk over to the Island Store to pick up a newspaper. The woman who runs it is still plugging away despite the fact her husband died recently. I guess he was sitting out in front of the store, as he often does, and died while sitting in his chair. 
The folks he was talking too kept talking to him for five minutes before they realized he was dead. Sad to hear. He was quite a town favorite and institution.

Fran and Charlie went to one of the strings concerts given by the camp's students at 11 a.m. I ambled down to The Beach Club at around 1 p.m. for a fish sandwich. I got the trout. After I ordered a couple of old fashioneds at the bar. The same gal was tending bas as Friday. She said she was out of oranges so she substituted Cointreau instead. It worked. Yes, I went for brandy again (When in Wisconsin...).



For dinner Fran and Charlie made steaks. What awesome house guests. They cook, they're self sufficient, they know how to take some time for themselves and schedule some things to do on their own, and, on top of all this, they both have such lovely dispositions! We ate on the deck and chatted for quite a while after after dinner over many things including church and politics (we sparred good naturedly with Charlie). Lovely evening.


Monday, July 13, 2015

Madeline Island 2015: First Trip Day 3 - The Fourth of July

Saturday, July 4, 2015

What a fantastic 4th of July. I started my day with coffee on the deck with Dale. I then ventured off to Mission Hill for another blueberry muffin (mission accomplished). Had a nice chat with Fran, Charlie, and Dale upon my return. We hit the 4th of July parade at 10:00 a.m.  It was full of, as it was last year, cheesy, corny, kitschty, sentimental goodness. Afterward the pledge of allegiance was said, the flag raised, the national anthem sung, Common Sense by Thomas Payne read, choir anthems sung, and parade award given. Afterwards we all took a nap!

Fran and Charlie made a fantastic dinner of ribs, coleslaw, fried potatoes, and black beans. Absolutely fabulous. What a load of fun today was. Tonight we're off for the strings concert at the Clubhouse and then fireworks after.

Wednesday, July 8, 2015

Madeline Island 2015: First Trip Day 2 - Muffins, Old Fashioneds, and Fran and Charlie

Friday, July 3, 2015

I started the day with my favorite ever-lovin' blueberry muffin from Mission Hill Coffee. It's the best blueberry muffin in Wisconsin (probably Minnesota too).

Lots of lounging around reading today. Went on my own to the Beach Club. Sat at the bar and ordered and old fashioned (brandy again) and also a chili dog with fries for lunch. The Beach Club bar looks over the lake and I noticed there were a lot more sailboats out that usual - really quite stunning looking on a gorgeous sunny day. I was the only one at the bar so the two gals working it were quite attentive. They were also working hard to make sure their shelves underneath were fully stocked for the onslaught that's going to occur for the holiday weekend. I was surprised it wasn't busier but the gals said they were expecting it to pick up more in the afternoon.

 Tomorrow is gonna be nuts! It's always funny because Dale felt it was so busy today due to his being used to it being so dead here in June. I thought today was just right. It's nice to see a little activity compared to how incredibly quiet it is here prior to July 4th. 

Fran and Charlie made the 2:00 pm ferry. They left their car on the Bayfield side so I met them at the landing to help them carry up their things. The brought up groceries since they've offered to cook for us the next two nights. Tonight we took them to the Pub. Tonight I had the trout and another old fashioned (yes, brandy again). 

Madeline Island 2015: First Trip Day 1 - Departure and Arrival

Thursday, July 2, 2015

Left today to visit Dale Up North. Had meant to be out of the house by noon but was on the road by 1:45. Coulda done worse, I suppose. I only stopped once between Minneapolis and Bayfield which was pretty good. 

Fran and Charlie are coming up tomorrow for the weekend which is why Athena is in the kennel. Dale thought she might be a little overwhelming for them. 


Made the 7:00 p.m. ferry so I was on the Island by about 7:25. Dale's thinking that by tomorrow they'll be running the ferries pretty much nonstop as it gets pretty crazy up here for the 4th of July holiday.

Dale and I went to the Pub for dinner. We both had the whitefish and it was delicious. I ordered and old fashioned for a cocktail. Our server asked if I wanted brandy in it (the Wisconsin version) but I told her I better start with the familiar and go the bourbon route. For my second one I told her I'd go with brandy. When we left I told her I liked the brandy version better. "See," she said, "You must have just enough Wisconsin in you."

Thursday, June 26, 2014

Island 2014: First Trip - Ella's

Fran and Charlie took us to Ella's for breakfast this morning. After that we chatted at the apartment for a bit and then they took the ferry back to Bayfield thus, ending their visit. It was nice to have them for company.

Wednesday, June 25, 2014

Island 2014: First Trip - Looking Toward Bayfield



Saturday, June 21, 2014

Looking toward the Wisconsin mainland. What a gorgeous day.

Fran and Charlie took us to dinner tonight at The Pub. I had the whitefish and it was fantastic. I ordered a martini to start and Charlie began with a Maker's Mark Manhattan. Bless his heart.

Island 2014: First Trip - Fran and Charlie

Friday, June 20, 2014

Evening walk with Dale down to the ferry landing to meet friends from church, Fran and Charlie. Pictured above is their ferry as it arrived. Fran and Charlie visited last year as well but not during one of my weekends up so it was nice to have a chance to visit with them. They had been to one of the concerts in Bayfield tonight before coming over.