An Empty Nest Father's Day Weekend

Saturday morning Fred and I set out at 7:15 AM on the Harley, bound for Custer--near Stevens Point--for the Midwest Renewable Energy Fair. The sky was clear blue and the day on the way to 85 degrees. After stopping for a yummy breakfast at the IHOP in Wausau, we headed south and arrived at the fair. Fred was interested in information on solar and wind energy, and there were plenty of sources for both. I thought the scene looked like a Woodstock 40th reunion--lots of guys with long gray pony-tails and middle-aged women without bras. (I won't reveal if I was one!) There were exhibits on all kinds of renewable energy, but also on organic farming, composting, energy efficient vehicles, raising animals for clothing, sustainable living, natural soaps, candles, lotions, conservation cemeteries--where you are buried without embalming in a biodegradable box. These were just a few of the hundreds of exhibits, workshops, and speakers. Fred picked up literature and listened to a couple speakers, and I was happy with some great root beer and a free canvas bag from WPS. The exhibition tents were really hot, and after almost 3 hours we were ready to get back on the bike and cool off. We had hoped to visit Heidi and family in Wisconsin Rapids, but their boys had ball games in two different places. So we headed north, stopping in Auburndale at Cutler's Antiques and Mercantile. We love browsing through these kinds of stores, even thought they smell like Grandma's attic or basement! Fred takes longer to look at everything than I do, but we can't buy anything big when we're on the bike. He picked out a metal Jack Daniel's container with four heavy drink glasses and JD napkins inside for his bar at the cabin.
We continued on a route that would take us near Rib Lake and stopped for short visits with a couple friends we used to teach with. By then I was having trouble getting on and off the Harley--hot, sunburned, and suffering from major "biker butt." We arrived home 12 hours and 280 miles from when we left.
It was an enjoyable day, and before bedtime Fred whined until I gave him his Father's Day presents early. He never did guess what I'd gotten him; a stop at the Leinie's Lodge in Chippewa Falls last week provided a Leinenkugel's canoe paddle from which hang small canoes bearing the names of various Leinie's beers. He also got a Leinie's rain gauge and ice bucket. His guess had been camouflage suspenders!
Yesterday I made him a breakfast of eggs and sausage and let him take my money playing gin. He made a trip to Menards to buy some lumber for our deck, and also replaced a basement window. (He's coming right along on his Honey-Do list!) He received phone calls from all five daughters throughout the day, and not one asked him for money! He watched a little golf on TV, I made chicken and rice and a banana nut cake for supper, and he ended the day with a couple beers outside while burning some scrap wood.
I think he enjoyed the weekend, even though he didn't get to see any of the girls. Hopefully next year he'll see them all the weekend before Father's Day--at Erica's wedding.