Yesterday I woke up with a strong conviction. Joe and I needed to spend a “day out”, away from our towers of cartons packed and waiting to be moved.
We realized we’ve done nearly all we can until that last minute press (5 weeks from now) when a truck arrives to move our life. Then we’ll have the fun of loading a few clothes, cooking pots, and a handful of dishes and silverware into the van–along with our precious corgi and the African violets. Considering what we’ve managed to pack in just 3 weeks, a time out surfaced to the top of our priority list.
We wound through the Chequamegon National Forest, far from electric and telephone poles and houses. The roadsides are peppered with daisies, black-eyed Susans, butter and eggs, buttercups, and one variety (I’m not sure which) of liatrus. The forest is deeply green and fresh, thanks to plenty of rain.
Throughout the forest maples abound, and small shoots of new maples spring up along the roads. Almost without fail, each baby maple I saw had red and gold leaves at the top. Autumn comes and goes quickly in the northwoods, while winter waits quietly–ever ready to move in and stay for a long time.
As we traveled the forest roads it occurred to me that we never will really leave the northwoods. It will always be here for us. We hope to sell one of our two northern homes–and if we do, we’ll still have one home to welcome us on frequent visits. And even if we were to sell both homes, the wild woods will remain. There are cabins and B&Bs tucked away on hundreds of woodsy lakes in Northern Wisconsin.
We are in the process of “going home” to Southern Wisconsin, but we can always “come home” to our beloved north!
The circuitous drive eventually took us to Park Falls and the biggest library in our county. I found 4 newly-published books on water color painting, and 2 new-to-me Louis L’Amour novels.
Our final destination was the little town of Glidden, another 20 miles up the pike from Park Falls. Here we enjoyed huge bacon cheeseburgers at a favorite lunch spot–The Green Lantern. This restaurant is decorated like our home, with antiques and an eclectic blend of dishes and collectibles. There is a funkiness about the place: a combination Gypsy, English tea room, 50s retro, Victorian, and chipped-paint-primitive atmosphere that soothes the soul and re-charges the imagination. In fact, eating lunch there is almost like being at home!
But everyone needs an occasional time out!
Margaret L. Been–All Rights Reserved