Runway Show

A couple Fridays ago, Heather joined me on a small escape downtown to the third ward.  The Aveda Institute of Beauty and Wellness teamed up with ABCD (After Breast Cancer Diagnosis) and hosted an open house complete with a silent auction, in house contest and runway show.  We meet Matt, Jess, Bill and Angie just before the runway show and all sat together.

There were many sponsors supporting this event, (boutiques and spas) After a few introductions were made, thanks you were given and a donation check given to ABCD, the runway show started.
Though I was not a fan of the bouffant hairstyle, I did like many of the outfits that walked past us.
Then the model we were there to see..
Amy, a student at the Institute of Beauty and Wellness was one of the models and of course, in our opinion was the star of the show.

A fun night for a very good cause.  Thanks Amy, for letting us join you.

Glacier Rock Farms

A whole bunch of us (Lori, Julia, Amy, Kaylee, Suzie, Maggie, Judi, Amy H, Weston, Lawson, Leah, Nick, Piper, Heather and me) all visited the Glacier Rock Farms on a beautiful and hot October day.

With visions of pumpkins dancing in our heads, we arrived bright and early and were the only visitors there.  We went into the store.  There was an indoor corn maze visible right through the door, in front of us, so it was decided WE HAD to do the corn maze first.   (future note, gotta resist the corn maze!)   We walked through the indoor maze, then back outside, up up up a hill, then down down down a hill and the maze beckoned.

           Eventually it got too hot for Heather, Piper and Leah so they ditched us, but Nick and I kept going!

 The object of the maze is to get the the tower, which did have a pretty nice view.

  Enough time spent in the maze, time to retrace our steps to get out.  Our group got fragmented, some went one way, others went another.  Here, Nick is directing me on where to go next.  Congrats to Amy H, Judi, Lawson and Weston who made it to all 10 stops, and also found the bridge.  They got all the stamps at all the hidden spots but there wasn't any prize for accomplishing this (geez, they could have given them a sucker or something)..sorry guys, guess the prize was the satisfaction you got doing it.
As Nick and I made it out (hurray!!) we decided to pace into the pumpkin patch and pick a pure pumpkin.

                         One for Nick and one for Piper, and one for Grandma!  These were only $1.00 each!

The Petting Zoo was free.
There was Doug the Turkey, standing proud!

a lot of horses,

Piper hung onto the horsey.

geese were all at attention!

chickens everywhere,

yes, it was ok to hold these younger chickens

peacocks, cow,

Doug the Turkey, here he is sounding off

a hedgehog,

bunnies,

 a chinchilla, goats, other turkeys, and did I say Doug the Turkey.  He followed wherever we went and Suzie did not like being shadowed by him.

Then it was Pony Ride Time:  Howdy Partners, you guys are so cute!!!

and Juice Pak Time:

Maggie looked like she was doing some window shopping:

                       

                                 Then Leah performed some emergency surgery (darn sliver)

and we all decided it was time to leave

Overall I liked this farm better than the one we visited last year.  The animals seemed to be healthier, it was cleaner and it was a larger farm.  The cost was similar.  Glacier Farms offers the Petting Zoo for free, $6.00 for the Maze for everyone 3 years and older (I think  ages 3-12 should pay less).  $3.00 for a pony ride and there were larger horses for older kids and adults to ride with a small child).  $4.00 Hayrides.
Mining Fun and the Apple Shot costs were not listed.  (I saw a bullseye near the pumpkin patch, I believe they have something that shoots apples into the air towards the target).
Dark Side Haunted Adventure, not sure what it entails but it appears to be take place at night.
Best Buy:  mini pumpkins and gords (about the size of your palm) 10 for $1.00.
This farm is very popular with school groups as they show how to milk the cow, and have lots of hands on activities.
Glacier Rock Farms   N1255 Hoard Rd, Ixonia, WI
 
Reviews from the others in our group.."I liked it more than last year, less poop, less people." "Seemed the pumpkins were cheaper than last year, and this one had pony rides."  "Liked this one better, less crowded, but not a fan of the corn maze." 

Another Successful Adventure!

Boerner Botanical Gardens

Suzie joined me on this escape to the Boerner Botanical Gardens located in Whitnal Park in Hales Corners.  Now it's pretty obvious if you are going to visit a garden in the fall, you don't go expecting to see flowers blooming but rather plants going dormant. I was more curious to see how the area has changed since I have not been there since Heather was born.  The weather was fantastic so come along with us as we explore the Gardens.

First, let me give you a little background on these Botanical Gardens.  In the 1920's Alfred Boerner and Charles Whitnall purchased some farm land, over 600 acres, and between 1932 and 1941 the majority of the land was developed into a park system and was named after Charles as Whitnall Park.  During this time the original Formal Gardens (Annual, Perennial, Rock, Rose and Peony Garden areas) were developed and named after Alfred as Boerner Botanical Gardens.  Additions were made over the years including a Herb garden, the Bog Walk, Rose collection and the Visitor Center.  I remember when I was young my dad took a clipping from one of our trees to the Garden House (still used as a research building) at the Botanical Gardens to find out what kind of bug had burrowed into the bark.  Turned out it was the Elm borer, and the Dutch Elm Disease hit many Elm trees that year.

We entered the visitor center as the Admission gate must not be used in the off season, then after paying the fee* we left the building, went past some sculptures and through the Annual Gardens, which had very little left in bloom.  We turned by the Shrub Mall (yeah no flowering shrubs at this time) and found the Rain Water Havesting and Recycling Project.  Here is where Suzie accused me the first time of trying to "kill her" as I asked her to walk out onto a log.

                                       "Its not flat you know" remarks Suzie.

This is a very pretty area, and the walkway leads to the botton of the Rock Garden where there is a waterfall

                                                                   Further along the path we encounter the Bog Garden Walk

Between the waterfall and the Bog there is the daylilly path but none were in bloom now.

We did see some colors                          pinks

                                                                       orange

                                                              Suzie teasing the Koi
                                       
                                                          Reds and Yellows

                                    

There are a lot of trees, unfortunately most of the trees were still a faded green color.  The Herb garden was still growing chives, rosemary, oregano and lavender.  The Herb garden lead into the Rose garden and a few bushes were still in bloom.  The Perennial Garden also had a few mums that were in full bloom.  Time for some fun:

                                     First we found the perfect climbing tree

                                             




                                                And Suzie climbed onto a Moth Sculpture.

Then we saw a whole lot of color straight ahead and went into the Trial Garden.  This deer proof area is the test sight for All American Flowers, Vegetables, and Roses.  Plants grown in this area are carefully maintained and then judged by color, height, and appearance and the outcome determines which plant seeds will be labeled as All Americans.  This judging is recorded nationally.  

 

Lots of color, lots of blooms.  There were also desert plants and a pumpkin patch!


The Boerner Botanical Gardens are most popular during the spring and summer months as everything is in full bloom. The Garden area is open Late April through October, other times as weather permits.
During the fall it is definitely quiet and very peaceful.  This particular day we were among only a handful of other visitors.  This was fine by us, the weather was great, a perfect day to walk along path after path and it was fun to check out an area I had not been to in over 25 years.

  *The admission is $5.00 for adults (18+) , Seniors and Students $4.00 and Juniors (6-17) $3.00.