Hello From Hayward

Here are the warm blooded Woodbuts out for the weekend in the land of snow and cold. Here you will find us, with Henry Mullen, on the streets of Hayward Wisconsin awaiting the start of the Birkie Family Fun Race. The only real impediment to the fun here was the 10 degree starting temperature. Our toes were getting pretty cold waiting around out there. Owen and Henry did a 10k double loop around the downtown and nearby golf course. Joel, Neal and Brenda did the 5k single loop of the above course.

Had we only known then that the temperature for the big races the next day would continue to plummet. Starting temp was definitely subzero on Saturday morning. Joel got a bit of frost bite on his chin and cheeks, just adding misery to the already grueling 51k race/ski marathon. Brenda had a fun and successful first run at the korteloppet--short course of 24k. Korte means short and loppet means race.

The story of the birkebeiners goes like this: Back in Norway about 1200 CE, there was a lot of trouble between the people that lived there. Some liked the King, Haakon, others liked the other guy. His dudes were called the Baglers. When Haakon died in 1202, he left behind a little baby and the other guys wanted to kill Prince Haakon Jr. The Birkebeiners were on Haakon's side and they made a historical trek  through treacherous mountains and forests, taking  two-year-old Haakon Haakonsson to safety in Trondheim. Norwegian history credits the Birkebeiners' bravery with preserving the life of the boy who later became King Haakon the 2nd.  The fun part of the American Birkebeiner is that there is always a trio, two guys and a lady with a baby strapped to one person's back that ski the entire 50+ k race course. They do it in burlap sack looking clothes and on wooden clunky old skis that look like they were made in 1202. They of course are elite skiiers chosen for the part so they can whiz by the participants and make them feel really crummy about their own physical abilities when passed by a dude in rags on wood planks with a fake baby on his back.

Here is a famous painting of the Birkebeiners whisking Haakon Jr. to safety.

To finish off the story of cold and skiing, I will add historic eating. We stopped in Cumberland, WI on the way home. To the Corner Bar we went to eat a ginormus basket of all things fried. This was a first for all but one Woodbut, Brenda had been here before and partook of this basket. Here is the photo of only a part of what we ate for lunch post-Birkebeiner.

Yes, fries, onion rings, mozzerella sticks, jalapeno poppers, mini corn dogs, mushrooms, shrimp poppers... all of that fried goodness is stuffed into that mound of orange. I believe that even that bread on top was fried in some way. We ate it all, our poor arteries.

Brenda and Finn

Here's Brenda and Finn. good times had by all.

What's Fun to do in Minneapolis? Skijoring, of course.

Here (joel will insert) some skijoring footage from the weekend. Finn is amazingly strong and seems to like the skiing/running. Until we run into some other dogs we do pretty well. Once there is a loose dog that looks like it is having more fun, Finn tries to take off. He skiied about 10k on Saturday. We'll try again tomorrow.

The Snow Show Must Go On!

Owen's piano concert was still held yesterday afternoon. Luckily, we only had to walk there. Enjoy the video (shakily held iphone) of Owen performing, Fandango.

Snowmageddon 2010

School Cancelled! This never before experienced phenomenon has finally occured. Two days after the snowmageddon hits, with sub-zero temps and -20 degree wind chill, they have cancelled school. A robocall has never been so appreciated. I just loaned my car to my neighbor, Shannon, who lives on a not plowed at all street, so she, shocker here....can go to work, because she wants to!

Enjoy some pics here of the state of our street and backyard. Including one shot of Nerf armed soldiers on Hoth.

Neal, Evan and Joe the morning after the snow and birthday party.

Snow drifts on our cars.

Finn on his throne. He watches over the neighborhood from here, snow or sun. note how little fence is above our snow stores.

the drift across our neighbor's step is at least 2 feet deep.

Our share of the sidewalk.

Tree, Hobo Zombie and Princess?

Halloween has come and gone at Casa Woodbut. It is now Dia de los Muertos and all we have left to show for it is a bunch of candy wrappers, arborvitae refuse all over the living room and 4 jack-o-lanterns in great condition to ride out November. It was a close call yesterday, but all three Woodbut kids did dress in costume. We had a frenzy of costume making from 2- 4 pm and made it in time for the Wadman pot luck with all the neighbors.  Only 2 of them did actually trick or treat. New on the docket for All Hallows Eve was Tween Home Base Party Place at our house. Izzy invited her girl gang and Owen had a couple dudes over for an official boy and girl mixed gathering. Things ran a bit late, but the party was rated a success. Except for the part where the 7th graders conned Neal out of part of his candy stash. That was seriously uncool. Finn today ate a couple chocolate bars that he found in the couch and did not die, so that was a complete relief as well.

Rumplestiltskin Reads at Prestigious Author's Tea

Rumplestiltskin recently read his latest fairy tale at the Barton Author's Tea. He had trouble keeping his beard on straight that day, but managed to please the audience just the same. Readers can always expect to be swept into a battle scene or a brutal death sequence right off the bat in his work. This piece about the tailor was no exception. Stiltskin seems pleased with his reading and has promised to submit his piece to this blog for greater public consumption.

Old Cousins: They're just okay

Cuzins from left, Owen, Nick, Livvy, Neal and Izzy

While visiting Manhattan, Kansas recently The Woodbutz got to see every single cousin they have on the same day. Nick Coamey is allegedly going to college and made everyone go to walk around the K-State campus.  This walking tour was suspended briefly for all 5 cousins to play, pose and risk limb damage on the popular concrete sculpture with a circle cut out of it. (see photo)  Grandpa Gary took time out of his busy retirement to give a tour of some works of art in the Union and a run through the Art Department where he advised some students that didn't know him on their ceramics and painting work. The day continued with a wildly popular driving tour of the residences and hang outs of Uncle Joel and Aunt Ann. Just when the kids thought they might die from boredom, the afternoon was saved with chocolate malts and onion rings from Vista Drive Inn. Yes, Aunt Brenda did actually work there. And yes, Grandpa Bernie did actually live behind it and named the house, "The Ponderosa".

New Cousin Confirmed as Cutest Grandchild

After a long wait this summer, Alex (aka Fredrickson) was finally up for review with his three other cousins. The Woodbutz, formerly tied in the race for Cutest Grandchild, gracefully stepped down from their positions and handed the crown over to "A But". When asked how he felt about this change in status, Neal "Neiman" Woodward replied,"huh?". Owen "Bumper" Woodward was glad that Alex had such a rad nickname and felt that helped his bid for grandchild leadership. Isabel "Wizzer" Woodward has to come to terms with being out curly haired by this new cutest cuz. Alex refused to comment.

Mom, Teacher now Elite Duathlete

The IronGirl Duathlon was today, September 26, 2010.  40 degrees at dark thirty when I left the house. My goal was to finish under 2 hours. My best hope was to place between 100 and 150. I ran 2 miles around Bush Lake (or something like that), 22 mile bike on rolling hills through and around lovely Bloomington, Mn and then another 2 miles around the lake. Adrenaline and chills must fuel my fire. I had a good first run, a fantastic bike--only a couple people passed me on TT bikes and wacky helmets-- and a numb toed, jelly legged last run. It went fast and was super fun.  I came in at 1 hour and 50 minutes. I thought I did well, I felt confident, but now I know I placed 9th in my age group and 58th overall in a field of 989! Whooo hooo! Exhilarating, but I guess I should still keep my day jobs.

Owen year end strings concert.

Owen on the mound last night

Here is a little footage of Owen from last nights game.

Talking 'Bout The Twins (No, Not Those Twins)

It's pretty exciting that the Minnesota Twins have a really nice outdoor ballpark and a pretty decent team this season, but the big news is that the Target Dog went to the game yesterday!

Are you guys excited about the Twins? Are you going to see them play this summer? And what's up with Joe Mauer's sideburns?

Who Lived Here?

Here is a photo tour of some of the most memorable domiciles ever inhabited. Can you guess who lived in these fine homes? They appear in chronological order for your memory jump start.

 

  

Some have continued their fabulous deterioration that had begun twenty years ago. Others have improved. Good old Hashinger Hall is now a day spa. 311 E11 appears to have become a monoplex. Where is our front door? Neal dubbed it just as crappy as all the other ones in that particular neighborhood. I suppose, beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

Kitschy Kansas Tour 2010

March winds blow and Spring Breakers will follow. When looking for adventure on vacation in Kansas you can only go West with that wind. The intrepid Woodbut's (and Gappi) blew westward on Wednesday. 

The day started as we tumbled like tumbleweeds into Abilene, Kansas. This fine cow town was the home of Ike (recent reports indicate he no longer resides here) and more famously Wild Bill Hickock (see photo in jail). We were tickled to find that he still spends his winters at his former home and jail. The cot was a bit leaf filled, but he is a bachelor so we will excuse his domestic failings.

 

North and west of Abilene was Rock City. You may react to this with an "I'm not getting out of this car." or a "This is just a bunch of stupid rocks and I can't believe you are making me look at them." as others have, but once you are dragged out of the car and told to enjoy it, you will. Folks have been carving their names on these weird rocks since 1903 and crawling through Donut Hole Rock for just as long.  Put a smile on your face and know that if you show up before April, it is off season and you won't have to pay to see this attraction.

 

Next on the tour was little known and or visited, Minneapolis Kansas. We just had to go and pick up some acorns here (not much else to be had for souvenirs). Once in Minneapolis you may feel like Coraline, this parallel universe will trap you and keep you within its city limits with its impenetrable force field and bad signage standards. Only by stopping to ask the way to Delphos, will the locals turn the field off and release you with this magic phrase.

Though asking the way to Delphos gains one freedom, we should have refrained from driving here as it extended our trip causing us to almost miss the next attraction on our itinerary, Cawker City.

Some may believe that the largest ball of twine is in Darwin, Minnesota. They are wrong. It is clearly in Cawker City, Kansas. These people mean business. The ball is kept fresh looking with new twine by two really nice gals from Cawker City. They drive by daily to check on it and stop when they see visitors have arrived. These two ladies offered us a twine and pvc pipe device allowing all of us to make the ball EVEN BIGGER! It was really exciting to be part of the action. I was all tingly inside as we drove away, knowing what we had contributed.

Last stop Lucas. Inna Gatta Da Vida baby. Lucas is much further than Cawker City than you might think. There was a lot of time for deep reflecting and reading and as it happens, crossing your legs.  Once in Lucas, there is only one destination, The Garden of Eden. Created between 1909 and 1932ish by SP Dinsmoor this concrete miracle has amazed new and repeat visitors over and over again. Dinsmoor was a populist, which may mean he was crazy or just a little different. He built his house and his garden to be a tourist attraction in little Lucas and just kept adding more sculptures to get more folks to come. He even trapped live wild animals and kept them in concrete cages on the property to entertain his own and other children. Eagles, bobcats, badgers, all very entertaining animals. 

Dinsmoor dug up his first wife out of the cemetery and built a mausoleum for her. He joined her when he died and left a glass window on the top of his casket. Yes, we have all seen a dead guy. We saw him on Wednesday. He had a beard and a suit that still looked like they were in working condition. Neal got to see him twice, because he said please when he asked the lady!

Kansas, the land of Ahs, very kitchy, very big, not too many dead people,  and lots of string. 

Twin Cities "True" "Facts": What's Up With That Giant Spoon?

Recently, I was invited to be a contributor to this fine blog (a Scuttlebutter?), but there's one problem... I don't live anywhere near these Woodbut people. As a result, my entries will have to fit somewhere between reality and St. Paul.

Everyone knows the famous sculpture of the Spoonbridge and Cherry at the Walker in Minneapolis, but did you know that this piece of art has never been seen as the artists intended?

Citing a combination of budget constraints and health code violations, the Walker Art Center had to cancel the final stage of the installation: 50,000 gallons of vanilla ice cream scooped onto the lawn of the sculpture garden. Experts believe that this Build Your Own Sundae Bar would have been the largest in North America, but alas, it was not meant to be.

Interestingly, the artists did build a prototype in their studio, prior to the project's cancellation (as seen in the photo below.) They now weigh 1,200 pounds each.

Shape Up Neal!

Neal's class recently performed/ exhibited their physical prowess at school last week. They zen'd out with some yoga, punched and kicked their way through some kick boxing and Alabama Gal'd their way through some square dancing (Mom too!). You'll see a photo of Neal and his Mini-me hanging out at the table with his portfolio of work from the quarter. They made shape books, had Uli the Food Guy come to class, and did the exercise unit all as a part of learning about their bodies and healthy living. Ask Neal how to spell vomit or pus and he can! It is great to be 7.

the car

I got this car for Christmas and we just built it. To make it go, you have to have vinegar and baking soda. When they mixed together it made an explosion. Then the car went cheeeeewwww. It was fast.

fram neal w.

having fun on a normal day

Yo im just trying this out . this week we are going to like no home work woooooooohoooooooooooo! the zoo was lots of i touched a sea anamome , star fish , sharks and sting ray (ewww the were so slimey )  we started music class today yahhh . got to clean the pigs cage talk to u                                                                                     
                      
                         la8er  ga8er izz the mighty wiz

Birkebiener 2010

A few shots from this years trip to the Berkeniener.

Brenda, Owen and Henry Mullen of our host family participated in a 5 k ski at the telemark resort. Here are our glorious finishers all lined up at the finish line

Here we have the always lovely Brenda crossing the line. Go Brenda!

Owen motoring over the line in a scant 18 minutes.

he got third!!!!!

The whole crew and our host family, Mullen.

William Mullen in orange and his Stephanie Lowenstien in red invited us to stay at William's parents cabin in hayward for the weekend.

If was a beautiful weekend sking in the woods!

Thank you a ba-gillion to Bill and Carla Mullen for their incredible hospitality.