Starved Rock
Went for a walk at the Starved Rock State Park. No waterfalls this time of year, but all the canyons are still beautiful and very photogenic. And crowded, of course.
Gotta go there again in about a month, never seen in in fall colors.
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Mackinac Island
We've visited Mackinac Island many years ago, courtesy of my cousin Boris. Just the two of us, couldn't bring boys along for some reason that I don't even remember. It was 2004, I believe, and photos from 2003 to 2006 are still not posted here. Some day I will do it, I swear.
The island looks and feels the same: the fort, Grand Hotel, fudge stores, even the seagull on Marquette's head, but this time around our entire family had a chance to enjoy it all. Despite being ungodly touristy, it's a unique place with a very special vibe, as Annie put it. Girls loved it, and boys had some good time as well. And so did we. We really need to do things like this more often.
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Bird Feeder
Owners of this AirBNB house are really into birds. There are five bird feeders right outside the living room picture window - including two for hummingbirds - and two sets of binoculars on the mantel.
Now I want a bird feeder outside the window of our breakfast area at home.
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Devil’s Lake
The day before our departure for Devils Lake Liza decided to get sick: mild usual symptoms and positive COVID test. We considered not going, or going partially - I was to stay home with Liza, and Yelena would go with Annie, - but decided to go as planned. It looked like a good idea to get Liza out into the sun instead of leaving her to marinate at home. Since Isa was supposed to join us, we warned her parents about the positive test, and they didn't mind. Nor did Isa.
After we got to the lake, set up the camp, and hiked to the Devil's Doorway, Liza did get better. Yelena got worse though, and so did Annie. I even had to take Yelena to the hospital in Baraboo; they did the test, treated her dehydration, gave her some pills for nausea, and discharged her with instruction to take lots of fluids and use Tylenol for everything else. "There's not much we can do for Covid, you see." After the hospital Yelena felt so much better that we stayed for another day, and in the end went home on Thursday instead of Friday because of rain. There was no more hiking, but the kids still managed to have fun. I taught them to play Durak, and they enjoyed it. For some reason that game is unknown here. All in all, as Yelena put it, it was the "best way to have Covid."
So we are home now, and both Yelena and Annie are still sick. Hope it will not last long. I also wonder when it is supposed to be my turn; weird how this stuff works.
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Nationals
Bottom line: girls made it to the World Team as WS Junior Quartet and are going to Buenos Aires this October.
In the Solo Dance event Anne got fifth. Could be third, but that didn't happen for the number of reasons.
I am very tired, and on Sunday we are leaving for Devil's Lake. No details, sorry.
Anne:
Photo | Style Dance | Style Dance Official | Free Dance | Free Dance Official
Quartet:
Photo | Quartet | Quartet Official | Quartet Pro
Те, кто читает по-русски, несколько более детальное описание могут найти здесь.
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Regionals
Just got back from Appleton, WI, well, technically it's Grand Chute. Just to remind: there are ten USARS regions. We belong to the Great Lakes Region that consists of Wisconsin, Illinois, Michigan, Indiana, and Ohio, and the Regional competitions serve as a qualifier for the National championships. Where, in turn, winners in World Class events get qualified for the US World Team. This year's World will be held in Buenos Aires.
Liza didn't skate for obvious reasons. Annie skated Junior World Class Solo Dance and got third.
Quartet skated as a trio, with alternate just doing rollout. She will be skating at Nationals as well, if there is no competition. If there is, Liza will try to skate.
Here are the videos:
Anne Style Dance
Anne Free Dance
Quartet
In a few weeks we are going to Lincoln, Nebraska for Nationals.
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First work day
Annie's first day on the job: she works as a lifeguard at the Butterfield Park District. Beautiful day to be a lifeguard: overcast, 57 degrees, and probably not a soul in the water.
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Some bad luck
Aaaaaand it looks like Liza broke her arm. Practice, bad fall. Will know for sure tomorrow.
One week to Regionals, five weeks to Nationals.
UPD: broken wrist, both radius and ulna, with displacement. They tried to re-align broken bones, but they can't be sure about the result until next week. There will be another x-ray, and either everything is right, or a surgery will be needed.
UPD 2: Since Liza was in a lot of pain, Lena took her back to the doctor's office, and they did another x-ray without waiting a week. Turned out bones are re-aligned perfectly, surgery not needed, 4 to 6 weeks to heal.
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Herb Garden
Annie was asking me since forever to build raised beds for her herbs and tomatoes; the problem was we couldn't find the proper spot for them. Finally, we destroyed a giant old stump and a couple of bushes in the backyard's furthest corner, got two ready-made raised beds from Costco, and now we have a great little herb garden. Our friendly neighborhood rabbits will appreciate it a lot, I am afraid.
Got to do something about the neighbor's fence, since it is very visible now. Not sure what exactly, there's not much of that fence left to paint. Will probably plant some climber there.
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