Brenda Novak Road Trip Adventure -- Year 2

 Brenda Novak has another new release The Summer That Changed Everything. She challenged us to take a picture with the book. Since summer is for adventures, what is more fun than taking your book on an adventure with you.

This year's adventure takes us to Two Rivers, Wisconsin. A quick 90 minute drive up I-43 from Milwaukee and an hour or so east of Appleton and the Fox Valley, it made a perfect day trip for Stacy and I. We already had the trip planned and on a whim, I grabbed my book to include it in our adventure. Some people bring trolls, stuffed animals, or other toys, I bring a book on my adventures.

Stop #1 -- Sputnik crash site

Our first stop was not in Two Rivers but in Manitowoc. On September 5, 1962 a piece of the Russian Spacecraft Sputnik crashed in the middle of the street in Manitowoc. Being weird enough, it was something I wanted to visit. We actually missed the actual circle in the street but saw the sign and a monument plaza in front of the art museum. Inside the  Rahr-West Art Museum, is the piece that crashed outside. We did not go view it but one day I will.

Stop #2 -- Hamilton Wood Type & Printing Museum

Two Rivers was big in the printing press industry. The Hamilton Wood Type & Printing Museum is a museum dedicated to the history of the printing press. They still produce signs and posters to this day. It was amazing to see they went from printing presses to washing machines. It was a perfect place to explore especially with a book being printed material. 

Stop #3 -- Roger Street Fishing Village

Before the printing industry came to Two Rivers, fishing was the way of life in the early days. Being on Lake Michigan and two rivers, the water was a great source of income. The Fishing Village is a small museum complex that explains the history of the fishing industry in Two Rivers as well as the Coast Guard and the famous Christmas Tree ship that went down in the waters outside of Two Rivers. There is a wonderful audio tour that allows to learn about everything the buildings. 

Stop #4 -- Cool City Brewing Company

After our history filled morning, it was time for lunch. We opted to go to Cool City Brewing since it was near the Fishing Village and the Washington House. Even if you are not in to beer, the also have coffee. The menu is small but it does have plenty of healthy options and not to so healthy options. We split 3 different flights -- a cheese curd flight, a taco flight, and a flatbread flight. All were wonderful but it was a lot of food for 2 people. The beer was good too. 

Stop #5 -- Washington House

Even though we were full from lunch, we headed to the Washington House which is the home of the Ice Cream Sundae. It is also a treasure chest of days gone by. Besides having an ice cream parlor it is also a museum. Each of the rooms in the former boarding house and bar, depicts history of Two Rivers. We were even lucky enough to have an accordion player entertain us. After the browsing the museum, we each got a dish of ice cream. I have been here a few years ago and indulged in an ice cream sundae then. 

Stop #6 -- Spirit of the Rivers

Our second to the last stop of the day was an impromptu stop at a statue along the lake. We saw a sign for the Spirit of the Rivers and decided to check it out. It is a statue that honors the birch bark canoe which was a vital part of the Native American history in Wisconsin and the Great Lakes. 

Stop #7 -- Mariner Trail/Lake Michigan

On our way back to my car, Stacy mentioned we should check out the giant rocking chair. She just knew it was a in park by her friend's house. The park was Lighthouse Park in Manitowoc along the shores of Lake Michigan. The rocking char is not huge but it does give you a good view of the lake and a place to rest when walking the 6 mile Mariner Trail that connects Two Rivers and Manitowoc.  

If it was a nice day out, we probably would have enjoyed the beach but it was cold and windy. But it was still nice to take a few minutes to read on the beach. 

Overall it was a fun filled day. There is plenty more to see and do in Two Rivers/Manitowoc that we did not hit including the Wisconsin Maritime Museum. So if you ever find yourself in the definitely take a day to explore the history of Two Rivers and Manitowoc.

Stay tune in 2026 to see where my Brenda Novak Road Trip Adventure will take me next. 

5834. Go to Sisson's Peony Gardens in Rosendale

For the last 5+ years I wanted to check out the Peony Gardens in Rosendale but I didn't want to drive to Rosendale just to see some a garden. Last year on the way home from the State Tournament I could have stopped but I just wanted to get home. This year I told the hubby we were stopping on our way down since we had some time.

Sisson's Peony Gardens started back in 1920 by Wilbur Sisson. They eventually grew to 5 acres but over time it was sold off and overgrown. In 2005, the gardens began a restoration project and are now back open to the public during June when the Peonies are in bloom. 

Located on Main Street in Rosendale, Sisson's Peony Gardens are open when the flowers are in bloom usually in the month of June. Hours vary but if the gate is open, the gardens are open. Parking is on side streets. 

We parked on Lafayette Street in the back of the gardens. I walked up the path and into the garden.

Majority of the flowers date back to the original garden.  

There were so many different colors and varieties. Not all of them of them were in full bloom. We were about a week away from the entire garden being in bloom. 

My favorite was the peach colored ones. 

There was a bench to sit and enjoy the garden.

Sisson's Peony Gardens is a definite stop for any flower lover. Being halfway between Fond du Lac and Ripon, it makes it a nice stretch break between the two cities while you explore all the fun Fond du Lac county has to offer like the Galloway House in Fond du Lac or the Birthplace of the Republic Party in Ripon.  Just make sure not to speed through Rosendale.

25 in 2025 -- Try at least one new beer, cider, or cocktail -- Frozen Venom-Ade

 Last week at the T-Rats game, I saw a pink slushy drink that looked really good. Heather and I decided we wanted to try it. When we got to the game today, we headed to Carbliss Bar figuring that is where it would be as that's what has the drink of the game. 

We tell the guy that working we wanted the pink slushy drink in a mason jar and he knew what we were talking about. He told us to go to Leinie Lodge. They have the slushy drinks. Off to the Lodge we went.

It turns out there are two slushy drinks -- one pink and one blue. The blue one was a margarita and the pink one was a vodka lemonade. I'm not a huge Margarita fan and Vodka makes me loopy quick. Since I was not driving for a while, I opted for the pink one -- Frozen Venom-Ade. 

The Frozen Venom-Ade was Vodka, Passion Fruit Liqueur, and Lemonade. It cost me $12 but refills in the mason jar were only $10. Not bad for a game day drink.

The Venom-Ade was quite delicious. It was fruity but not overly sweet. Vodka really does make everything better. I liked that it quickly melted and wasn't so slushy. Slushies tend to give me brain freeze. 

We all agreed that we would get them again. I may try the margarita just to see how it is. I do want to try one of the special game day cocktails in the future. They all have fun names. Stay tuned to see what game day cocktail I try next at the T-Rats

Book Talks 2025 -- David Jones

 I  saw an Facebook post about Kimberly Library was having another author, a local author. The book looked interesting and I thought it was true crime. I was excited to check him out.

David Jones was from Phoenix, joined the Air Force, and since his wife was from the U.P. ended up in WI after he retired from the military. He joined the area police forces and eventually retired. After he retired, he decided to write books all set in and around the Fox Valley. His first series, Guardians of Rockport, is a dystopia series set in Sherwood. I am not interested in dystopia. but being set in the Fox Valley, I am intrigued enough maybe one day I will check it out. However, he also wrote crime fiction books, The first one is No Perfect Crime.

David spoke about his background, his secretive military career, and his police service. He was an amazing speaker. I could have listened him for hours. He had many stories to tell. 

I did buy No Perfect Crime. It is really weird reading a book set pretty much in your backyard. It is surreal when the characters visit local places, like JD's, just like we do. 

As David says, it is high-quality fiction but it is a fun quick read. It's not going to win any awards but not cozy mystery either. I definitely can't wait to read book 2. 

You never know what you are going to discover when you go  hear a local author. This was definitely another winner. Who knows what author I will discover next. 

8241. Do Paper Embroidery

 I loved going to Make and Mingle at Kaukauna Library every month. It was a great way to get out of the house and try my hand at various crafty projects. Then my work hours changed it was more difficult to get there. I was able to make it work in May and I dragged Danielle with.

May's project was paper embroidery which is almost like regular embroidery but on paper instead. My aunt used to do counted cross stitch while my mom the just regular cross stitch. I found both tedious and never picked up the craft. 

To start the project, we had to decide if you wanted to make a card or a picture. I opted for a picture. I don't send cards. I just needed one piece of cardstock type paper. Otherwise I would have used 2 (the second to hide the stitching inside the card.

Then we had to punch the pattern on the paper using a needle. This was a bit of a pain because the needles weren't very sharp. We were all doing the same flower pattern. 

Once we were were done with punching the pattern, it was time to start stitching. It was simple line stitch for the most part. We started at point 1 and then went to point 2 and back to point 1 and repeated until the flower or leave was done. 

The hardest part was pulling the floss apart into 2 strands. I cut my strands too long so it would not up. Danielle found if one of us held one end while the other split the threads apart, it worked much better. 

My picture didn't turn out too bad except for the one of the petals of my flowers is going in the wrong direction. I guess that's what makes it mine.

Like cross stitch, paper embroidery is not my thing. Definitely too tedious. It was a fun project and if it wasn't so tedious, it is definitely a project I could master. Even Danielle agreed with me. Maybe one day I'll attempt Macramé. 

5649. Go to Vern’s Cheese in Chilton

 Last year while I walked when the hubby had a tournament at Chilton High School, I wandered past Vern's Cheese. This year, I decided to check it out. 

Vern's Cheese is located just off of downtown in Chilton. It is open Mon-Fri 9-5 and 8:30-2 on Saturdays. It is within easy walking distance of Chilton High School.

I wanted cheese curds. They had no fresh cheese curds when I was there. It was all packaged sealed cheese curds. They definitely did not squeak. I was disappointed. 

Despite not having fresh cheese curds when I was there, Vern's does offer a wide selection of cheese including mozzarella whips which were very good.

They also carry cheese from other cheese stores. 

 I do like they have options to make your own gift boxes with the sausage, wine, and other gifts. 

I would definitely go back for the mozzarella whips and to try some of the other cheeses. If you ever find yourself in Chilton, go check out Vern's.