The Lundy 5

Still here, just not here, and loving Little House!

noreply@blogger.com (The Lundys) — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 09:00:00 +0000

We haven't posted for a while, because we haven't had any internet access for a while! We're visiting Little House areas, and apparently, just like back in the 1800s, they don't have phone coverage or wireless internet. :) We found a hotspot here though, and I'm working all night and sleeping on the drive tomorrow.
We have so many pics and stories and we'll try to share soon, hopefully the next stop. We're in De Smet, SD heading west toward the Badlands tomorrow! The green and blue are some stops we'll consider. But check out our westward progress. Finally! :)
South Dakota's been beautiful so far. I can see why the Ingalls family stayed so long!

Updated our RVing travels map

noreply@blogger.com (The Lundys) — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 18:00:00 +0000

We updated our fulltime RVing map with links, pics, and info. At least you can see a slight westward direction now! 7 states in 2 months, so quite the snail's pace. But we're thoroughly enjoying it!

View Scrap The Map in a larger map

Little House in the Big Woods, Laura Ingalls Wilder Museum & home site

noreply@blogger.com (The Lundys) — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 01:00:00 +0000

Today we visited the Laura Ingalls Wilder Museum here in town (in Pepin, WI) and then went 7 miles north to the place where she was born in 1867. The cabin in a replica, but it sits on the land actually owned by the Ingalls family. We looked for black cats that might be great great grandkitties of Black Susan, but haven't spotted any yet. The museum had some really neat memorabilia and great old photos of the family. (Side note: Photographers back then must have said things like don't smile or look at the camera, try to think of something to make yourself angry!) We also went to Lake Pepin, (which is just this section of the Mississippi River with dams up and downstream) and tried to imagine crossing it with a horse and wagon in the winter. Scary! Today was short and sweet, but a nice first peek into Laura's life. We can't wait til Walnut Grove, MN and DeSmet, SD next week!
Pa had a crazy beard! :)
We tried to picture Laura playing here!
Lake Pepin, the Mississippi River.

Pepin, Wisconsin, birthplace of Laura Ingalls Wilder

noreply@blogger.com (The Lundys) — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 03:00:00 +0000

We're finally getting to visit some Little House places and we're excited! The kids and I more than Allen, since it's not life-endangering like he prefers. Since we did the Little House curriculum last year, together we learned about Laura and read all the books. Now we're watching the TV series and the kids LOVE it. SO many great lessons from the books/show.
Today we drove southwest to Pepin, WI (population: 848 - it's on the sign!), where Laura was born, from her book Little House in the Big Woods. We're a block away from a park dedicated to her, where the kids played today. And Allen, but I said kids, so that's redundant.
Tomorrow we'll head to the Laura museum, see Lake Pepin where Pa fished, then visit a replica of the home she was born in on their actual land in the big woods (which apparently aren't big woods anymore due to farming).
So right now, we're in the Little [Tree]House in the Big Woods.
The kids saw the Mississippi River for the first time too. It's right behind them at the end of our road.
Here's today's view from my office. Love those pretty paint jobs!

What we've done all week in Wisconsin

noreply@blogger.com (The Lundys) — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 05:00:00 +0000

In case you were wondering what exciting adventures we've had this week, stop wondering, there were few. Allen and I worked, but you don't really want to see pictures of us sitting in front of our computers. We did get a photo shoot in and we'll share a few of those pics soon, post-Photoshop. The kids swam, swam, and swam some more. They loved the little swimming pond here and it was perfect. Right in our backyard with a fountain, beach, and paddle boat. They're now a scary shade of dark brown. They played at the playground and with some new friends too and were outside most of the day every day, just the way they like it.
Were they learning? Always. What did they learn about? Sunburns, leeches, bug bites, flat tires, friendship, when to come home, asking permission to leave, angles and geometry (okay, pool), respect, how to be polite when you're bored, how to win a [mulch] war, rinsing makes washing dishes easier, and much more I didn't see. Can they solve a quadratic equation right now? Nah. Can you?! :)
Tomorrow we're heading to Pepin, Wisconsin, the birthplace of Laura Ingalls Wilder! Wednesday we'll visit the Little House in the Big Woods! Our first Little House stop, and we can't wait!

Testing our camp iron thingies

noreply@blogger.com (The Lundys) — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 04:00:00 +0000

What do you call these?! Camp irons, pie pans, hobo irons, fire pans? Whatever, they make yummy grilled cheese and grilled ham/cheese sandwiches! Next I want to use crescent roll dough for the outside and for the inside roll a marshmallow in butter, sugar, and cinnamon. Sounds good anyway. We rarely make fires because 1. I'm lazy, 2. the oven's so convenient, 3. no bugs inside, and 4. so many transporting firewood restrictions, so we hadn't used these until tonight. Now I can't wait til the next chance!

Deep thoughts over the campfire about patience and marshmallows

noreply@blogger.com (The Lundys) — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Tonight I did something I never do. I roasted the perfect marshmallow. Hard? Nope, not at all. Just takes a little patience. Normally, I simply dip my mallows in the fire and let 'em burn. Blow out the fire and enjoy the blackened sugary yumminess. It takes about 20 seconds.
Wouldn't I prefer the perfectly browned slowly roasted kind? Absolutely! Why don't I make them? Patience. Yeah, I lack that.
I'm the type who wants to move on the second something is done, figured out, planned, or whatever. If that's in the middle of your sentence, yeah, I might end it there. I get it, so why bother finishing the conversation? I know, it's not a good trait. I'm ~~stuck with~~ lucky to have a husband who ~~mostly~~ nicely puts up with it, and points it out when needed. I've been working hard on it lately. It's uphill.
Our kids have some pretty big issues (from trauma that sometimes adoptees experience and that you'll never read about on this blog, it's a happy blog, sorry) and the main thing they need from me? Yep, patience. Anything else would be easy for me, scheduling, structure, corrective shoes, driving to specialists, a kidney, I'm there. But no, they need patience. All. The. Time. Patience. Again, I lack that. But I'm trying.
So back to the marshmallow. I took 2 mallows out and purposefully decided to slowly roast 1 to perfection and I did it! While that's no biggie for you, it's huge for me! It was hard, very hard. It was also yummy, and very worth it. All of which I contemplated, and applied to my relationships and parenting, as I quickly scorched an ate the second one. That's okay, see? I got the point after the first one. I would have taken a picture, but um, well, I didn't have the patience.

Boring (but needed) downtime in Wisconsin and a puffy headed kid

noreply@blogger.com (The Lundys) — Sat, 17 Jul 2010 03:00:00 +0000

We're enjoying some downtime to catch up on work and life in Eagle River, WI. We're loving Hi Pines Campground. Convenient, not busy, laundry, super clean, ice cream shop, swimming pond with a fountain, paddle boat, playground, full hookups, free wifi, breezy, beautiful, and half-priced. Good times! We had a lot to catch up on and are making progress, while the kids are loving swimming, boating, and playing with their new friends here.
When Matt's super fine hair dries in the wind it puffs up like a Q-tip and cracks me up. :)

Big news about our tour!

noreply@blogger.com (The Lundys) — Thu, 15 Jul 2010 21:00:00 +0000

Big news from my online world! We got to announce that Adobe is sponsoring our tour!!!! I love Adobe of course - can't post a photo of me without wearing a little Photoshop! :)
We do have to work while we live on the road of course. And I'm extremely lucky that I love my job!!!! But this year I will not be wearing reindeer antlers for the group photo! :)

Here's the release:

Digital Scrapbooking comes out of the computer in LIVE LOCAL laptop crops across the USA. Whether you’re wondering what it is, or you’re a seasoned digiscrapper, you will enjoy one of these unique events coming to a city near you. Scrap the Map, an innovative venture of Digital Scrapbook Place, and sponsored by industry leader Adobe Systems, is a series of country-wide events for attendees to scrapbook their memories, learn from experts, see product demos, win great prizes, meet other scrapbookers, and have fun! If you’re new to digital scrapbooking, learn what the buzz is all about, check out amazing scrapbooks, and meet the pros. If you already love digiscrapping and online crops, come scrap with your friends in real life.

Come learn about, try out, and even win great tools from DSP and Adobe. DSP offers amazing digital scrapbooking graphics, classes at Digital Scrapbook University, and a large, supportive online community. Digital scrapbookers enjoy the powerful software solutions Adobe provides which enhance photos and incorporate DSP graphics for the creation of beautiful scrapbook pages. Come to any laptop crop for the chance to win the popular Adobe Photoshop® or Photoshop® Elements software! Adobe will also be a favorite stop on the tour. Come to Adobe’s corporate headquarters in San Jose this September as we scrapbook in the ultimate laptop crop location!

In a bold move for the love of digital scrapbooking and adventure, DSP is now mobile. Scrap the Map is led by DSP CEO Margie Lundy as she travels the country fulltime in an RV and actually scraps the entire map, bringing DSP to you. Meet the designers, instructors, staff, and members behind the success of DSP. With years of experience hosting both online and live crops, DSP wants scrappers everywhere to experience the joy of gathering with others who share their passion. Watch for a laptop crop near you at www.scrapthemap.com. You might spot the DSP RV in your hometown soon!

The first few locations are now open for registration, so sign up now and help Scrap the Map!
July 24, 2010 – Minneapolis, MN – Mall of America
August, 2010 – Portland, OR Area – (Pending)
September 25, 2010 – San Jose, CA – Adobe Headquarters

More about Digital Scrapbook Place:
Digital Scrapbook Place, Inc. offers high quality products, community, support, and education at the largest digital scrapbooking site on the Internet: www.digitalscrapbookplace.com. DSP products are also in scrapbook and photo stores around the globe. Besides extremely creative, the DSP staff is also helpful, friendly, and fun! DSP is dedicated to helping you use digital technologies to capture your memories, create scrapbook pages, and captivate your loved ones for generations. Come and be inspired!

Leave a comment in the Scrap the Map Forum!

We thought we outran the thunderstorm...

noreply@blogger.com (The Lundys) — Thu, 15 Jul 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Well, we thought we broke the streak of rain at every stop on our 70th day on the road! Unfortunately, it rained as we were leaving Michigan, then when we got to Wisconsin, so we're not as sure now. Major thunderstorm complete with tornado warnings, so the same one that's stalked us for months!
The campground flooded, but the kids thought that was pretty cool. Me? Not so much. But movies, dinner, cookies, and free wifi, it's all good!

Keweenaw Peninsula, copper mines, mountain drive

noreply@blogger.com (The Lundys) — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 01:00:00 +0000

Today we explored the Keweenaw Peninsula of MI. That's the part that sticks way up in the northern part of the Upper Peninsula. (The UP, apparently they're Yoopers!) It's a place of, well nothing now, but they have a great history of copper mines. We learned about mining and saw some cool equipment and buildings. The kids got their Jr. Ranger badges (we didn't even realize it was a national park area, bonus!) They had to work hard on those since we only had half a day there. We also drove over a mountain road (and were so glad we weren't hauling the RV!) and saw great views of Lake Superior from 726 feet (according to the sign at the top).
Another very interesting look at Michigan, which we'll be leaving tomorrow for Wisconsin. It's been a great few weeks in MI though and we have to admit we like it! As good Ohioans, we still have to say Go Bucks, Michigan sucks, but just the team. We like the state! :)
This is roadschooling, quite literally. :)
At the tip top of Michigan looking over Lake Superior.
We finally tried pasties since that's apparently the thing to do here. Ick (but the kids liked them). :) When in Rome...
This guy was on a business call and I just wanted to say "Nice!" But you know, he was on a call and that would be rude. It was fun to see someone obviously free from the cubicle though. I can't imagine riding up those hills though, shew!

Need an idea for blocking light from the kids' skylight - RV modification

noreply@blogger.com (The Lundys) — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 03:00:00 +0000

We need RV advice! The kids have a huge skylight that they love, but we need to find a way to block the light when we're parked under lights (not a total coincidence that I'm posting this from a parking lot). Or when we're on the edge of a timezone change and it's still light at 10pm (like say western MI). And preferably something that doesn't involve sewing! :)
We can run wires and hang a curtain (that I'll totally have to beg someone to make) but I really don't want wires up there all the time and curtains drawn back. Ideally, I'd like something like those reflector deals people put in their windshields. Something that folds up and poof, opens up to the right shape. Does anything like that exist?! Something that suctions to the shape of the sticky uppy window? Like a giant sheet of tin foil, but less stupid. :)
It sticks up maybe a foot, so something needs to curve up. It could just go under it, even with the ceiling, but they'd lose a lot of head room that way. Here's Lizzy up there looking out of it and a view from the side for an idea of how it looks.
ANY IDEAS on how to cover this? (From the inside of course)
Thanks ahead of time!

Roadside stop for Lake Superior

noreply@blogger.com (The Lundys) — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 23:00:00 +0000

What a perfect spot for a quick swim in Lake Superior for the kids. Allen and I sat inside and could easily watch the kids play outside. And a bonus: we had an internet connection from a nearby lodge! So the quick stop turned into a few hours. :)
I've figured out the appeal of this area. It's just like the beach in Florida (or SC or NC or wherever) but no salt, cleaner, AND easy access everywhere. It's like they WANT you to come swim there! In FL, you have to fight for a spot, with houses and businesses everywhere, and anything you can find is crowded. Here in MI, there are so many inviting parking areas and roadside parks, and if someone happens to be there, you can find another a few hundred yards away if you'd like. So nice!
You can also see my Pam Kellough painting that's hung over the door in 5 houses and now the RV over the past 13 years. :)

Pictured Rocks, Munising MI

noreply@blogger.com (The Lundys) — Sun, 11 Jul 2010 02:00:00 +0000

This area reminded us of sights we saw in New Zealand, not something we ever expected in Michigan! I know it's getting old, but we're just amazed at the diversity and scenery up here in Michigan.
We did the typical tourist stops of seeing Pictured Rocks from the overlooks, but fortunately we have time to kill up here so we took the kayaks out to check them out up close. WOW!
The rock cliffs are so much prettier from the bottom, with more colors to see and caves you can paddle into. Allen and Josh even found a cave behind a waterfall (the big one people point to from afar) and they went right under the falls and in! They found a "pirate's treasure" in another, just a natural huge pile of beautiful rocks.
We also saw a bald eagle again, and a rootbeer river! We keep seeing brown rivers and even sections of the Lake Superior that really look like rootbeer, we guessed from the copper or iron ore deposits. A park ranger said it was acid from the leaves. Whichever, it's pretty cool and really makes you thirsty for a rootbeer. :)
See the cave on the bottom of the cliffs on the top left? We paddled through it from the other side.
See the waterfall (white line)? Allen and Josh paddled behind it into a cave. The rootbeer river, right beside the lake. Sometimes you just need to bury a sibling in the sand.

Bridge jumping, why not?

noreply@blogger.com (The Lundys) — Sun, 11 Jul 2010 02:00:00 +0000

On our drive, Allen saw people jumping from a bridge, so what did he do? He asked the kids if they wanted to. Of course! Lizzy, not so much. But the boys had a ball!

The view from my office, at Gwinn, MI

noreply@blogger.com (The Lundys) — Sun, 11 Jul 2010 01:00:00 +0000

At an RV park in Gwinn, MI (really, really middle of nowhere, but not too far from middle of somewhere). This one had a neat little hidden gem though. A spot on the river with a little rapid at one end, then the river widened out to a little swimming pond with a beach, then it narrowed down to a shallow place where you could walk across to an island!

Our first porcupine

noreply@blogger.com (The Lundys) — Sat, 10 Jul 2010 01:00:00 +0000

Unfortunately it was road kill. :( But no, though it probably should have, that didn't stop us from checking it out! So cool.

A swim in Lake Superior

noreply@blogger.com (The Lundys) — Fri, 09 Jul 2010 00:00:00 +0000

On our drive to Gwinn, we stopped at one of the many many many great spots on Lake Superior so the kids could swim. It's so convenient to have your house with you, especially when it has a hose to wash the sand off before they come in! :)

Yep, sand angels. :)

Upper Peninsula, Soo Locks, Canada eh? Back to USA, all today!

noreply@blogger.com (The Lundys) — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 04:00:00 +0000

Today we headed north, over the Mackinaw bridge (5 miles long!) between Lake Michigan and Lake Huron, up to Sault Saint Marie to see the Soo Locks. (We left the RV at a campground on the way.)
The locks connect Lake Superior to Lake Huron, so we saw 3 of the great lakes today! Having grown up in Ohio along what was the Erie Canal and hearing about locks, it was very cool to see some in action. We watched ships come in from Lake Superior, the lock locked, the water lowered 21 feet, the lock unlocked, and off they went into Lake Huron (safely avoiding the falls). The water fell and rose pretty quickly, but calmly (much to the kids’ dismay as they preferred the water rush in!). We read about it, watched a short movie about it, then saw it live. Nothing beats that kind of education!
Before and after. The boats are still there, just 21 feet down. :)You can still see these 2 a little easier, the top anyway. Then, simply because we could, we went over the International Bridge into Canada. Have passports, will travel - or at least have dinner so we can say we visited another country. The kids were surprised that it looked like the US and that everyone spoke English. :)
Then back to the RV for a movie and sleep, and we’ll be off again tomorrow. I’m not exactly sure where, but we’re finally once again headed WEST!! We’ll spend at least a few days in the upper peninsula of Michigan. I guess all the cool kids call it the UP. :)
Oh, we also stopped at a ranger station and the kids got some fun Smokey the Bear stuff. Remember, only YOU can prevent a forest fire. :)

The view from my office, at Kinross, MI

noreply@blogger.com (The Lundys) — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 01:00:00 +0000

Just an overnight stop at an RV park near Sault Saint Marie.

A day in Petoskey, MI

noreply@blogger.com (The Lundys) — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 04:00:00 +0000

Since we’re traveling at a snail’s pace to be sure we don’t miss anything, we broke up our 2 hour drive today with a stop at the beach. We found a great roadside park and the kids swam for a bit, played, and read. Allen and I worked for a bit, and I might have snuck in a nap. (Unless I was working with you, then I totally didn’t!)
Later we stopped for fresh picked cherries, since we’re apparently in the cherry capital and didn’t want to leave without trying them. We also bought a cherry pie made by Mrs. White (who was a very nice lady). They liked our story and gave us a bunch of cherries for the road too! Everyone loved the pie (except for me, seeing that I don’t like cherries. Really no dessert should be ruined by fruit in my opinion.) Now I get to try to make a cherry pie. Found out they have pits (remember I don’t like them, how would I know?!), so I guess the kids will de-pit them or whatever you do (I’ll ask Mr. Google, no worries).
On the drive we also saw a bald eagle! That’s 3 points in Allen’s wildlife game. (He makes up things like that, he’s weird.)
We stopped at the Petoskey Walmart for the night, and to buy groceries. So was the stay free or $230? You decide.
And nope, we didn’t find any Petoskey stones, bummer!

Blue Angels video from the Cherry Festival, Traverse City, MI

noreply@blogger.com (The Lundys) — Mon, 05 Jul 2010 04:00:00 +0000

There's nothing like being there of course! But here are a few of our favorite video clips of the Blue Angels from the 4th of July Cherry Festival in Traverse City, MI.

What a Fourth of July! Blue Angels and fireworks over the lake!

noreply@blogger.com (The Lundys) — Mon, 05 Jul 2010 03:00:00 +0000

We had a wonderful Fourth of July and hope you did too! We visited (and very much enjoyed) Bay Pointe Community Church in Traverse City, MI. It started with a very inspirational America the Beautiful led by trumpet. The rest of the songs were awesome and the lesson was great. He talked about freedom at the soul level. The kids' area was a whole wing decorated like a tree house, very bright and happy. They said they had a great time too!

Then we headed into town and saw what the fuss about the Cherry Festival was all about! We're not really festival people, so we weren't excited about it at all. We just wanted to see the Blue Angels in the air show! BUT we were pleasantly surprised yet again! Traverse City is just miles of beach and sand right beside the roads (and festival this week). We wished we'd have looked into it because there was even RV parking! Imagine a hot day enjoying the beach, festival, air show, and going home to relax for a few!
The show was awesome of course! They're amazing, and so fast and loud! (Videos in the next post!) The kids had lots of specific questions about the Blue Angels, so guess what they're learning about? :)

Then, since we didn't bring our home to the show unfortunately, we drove home and back again that night for the fireworks. Over the lake, as we sat with our toes in the sand, in perfect weather, so fun! The kids played in the lake as we waited. It was just a great day celebrating the 4th!

We live in a van down by the river!

noreply@blogger.com (The Lundys) — Sun, 04 Jul 2010 01:00:00 +0000

I couldn't wait to be able to say this phrase! And it still cracks me up every time I hear it.

But here we are in Honor, MI by the Platte River, which was perfect for kayaking. Not whitewater for Allen, but a very scenic, peaceful float. Allen took Lizzy, then Matt, then I took Josh. (Or Josh took me if you'd ask him!) But I did get in a boat for a change, and I didn't flip. Granted if I had, it was only a few feet deep. :) I'm so glad Allen forced me to stop working and go have some fun. I sure did!

The breakfast of champions, for dinner!

noreply@blogger.com (The Lundys) — Sun, 04 Jul 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Allen sure rocks breakfast. Especially for dinner! He made us french toast with peanut butter and bananas AND Amish french toast for dinner and WOW. Yes, that's a lot of sugar, but mmmmmmmmmmm...