The weather was Prima. Thousands of happy people came to Retzer Nature Center to celebrate the apple harvest with a Royal Gala... or a Honey Crisp, Cortland or Molly's Delicious.

We started the day by slicing hundreds of apple pies and crisps, and had people asking for it before we were done at 9:00 a.m.. After that it was a steady stream of customers, which soon stretched out the door and down the hall. I felt the prices were very fair for what they got, and happily took their money until I was relieved as cashier around 1:00. 

I bought a slice to experience the sweet taste of accomplishment, and it was good. It was nice to see everyone enjoying the pies that so many people worked hard to produce.(They were baked right there at Retzer.) Apple Jam also entertained the folk with folk tunes while they ate their caramel apples and pie slices.

The scarecrows this year were great!

Wagon rides only a buck.

I bought a selection of the largest apples I could find among the 50 or so varieties. All the apples could be purchased for 50 cents each, or by the peck or half-peck, except Honey Crisp were a dollar, and they sold out first. The largest apple I could find was the 20 Ounce Pippin, a good baking apple.

I'll be selling apple pie slices from 9:00 to noon next Saturday the 20th at Retzer Nature Center's 22nd Annual Apple Harvest Festival, and you're invited to buy some. Keep me busy.

Last year the weather was great and a good crowd turned out for this applicious event. There will be all sorts of crafts for kids, horse drawn hayrides, planetarium show, over 50 varieties of apples and cider.  A couple of concerts are lined up: Folk group Apple Jam from 11:00 to 1:00 and Celtic ensemble Tairis from 2:30 to 4:30. There also will be Johnny Appleseed, scarecrows, essay and apple pie judging and a silent auction.

The fest runs from 9:00 to 5:00 and food will be available all day. Because the apple prices are relatively low, many varieties of those and the cider ran out last year. Get there early. 

Retzer is at the west end of Madison Street just before it intersects with DT. The number is 896-8007. Admission is $5.00, unless you're volunteering, (and they're still looking for a few of those too.)

The Nineteenth Annual Waukesha Art Fest couldn't have had a better weekend. The weather was as gorgeous as some of the works. With cool temps and a breeze it was perfect bike riding weather, so Schwinn and I swerved our way past multiple potholes to see what was going on in Cutler Park yesterday. 

I was pleasantly surprised by the variety. Forty artists from Wisconsin, and one each from Florida and Illinois. Eleven diverse areas of creativity; glass, fiber, painting, etc. Much of what we saw was useful as well as beautiful. The copper ornamental garden sprinklers of Jerry Ross - nice to look at while an attempt was made to bring back the trampled grass at Cutler Park. The plaque with nicely-lettered, thoughtful poetry that's also a picture frame. Clothing as art and, of course, ceramics - nice to display on a shelf, but also fun to use as bowls, candle holders, etc.

Of my more favorite local art, Jill Verbick's large, vibrant pastels are always eye pleasing. But the visiting Wisconsin artists who held me captive were the couple from Mt. Horeb, Sara and John Lash.

Sara and John's booth was rather spare and simple. A small white saucer represented their entire porcelain inventory. The woodwork; turned bowls and other delicate, oiled pieces, were represented only in the pages of an album. John did mention that he sold a few pieces, but the only things that remained around the 5:00 closing were metal objects. Even though many stamped owls hung in the air, the things that caught my eye, and ear, were the gongs. A four foot industrial gong made from a discarded scuba tank greeted browsers to his booth with a long, loud tone. Other gongs sat on a shelf. One of the gongs was made out of an old fire extinguisher and was suspended by an automobile leaf spring, another was with the Japanese kanji for "dream" welded on it and suspended by rebar.

While there were a couple of other pieces, a welded-wire bowl and torch-cut tree sculptures for instance, I was most interested in sound as art and, if they ever introduce Tibetan singing bowls, sound as prayer and meditation.

I became even more interested in the couple's art after I visited their website, www.elementsarts.com. Besides learning how and where the couple grew up and met, it was interesting to note that as much of their material as possible is recycled from dumps or scrap yards and are finished in the most ecologically friendly way. Also interesting to note that all profits from sales of the welded-wire bowls go to the Muscular Dystrophy Association. (I was guessing they must know someone with MD, but it turns out John himself has a form of it.) 

My Uncle Lee used to use found and discarded objects in his welded art years ago, and John Lash's art reminded me of him. It's a pleasant memory.

The Cutler Park stage is really great. The bands are drawing huge crowds yet there's still room to move without feeling crowded. It's unreal how dark the park gets on moonless nights - and it doesn't help that everyone is wearing black.

I don't recall the last time downtown streets were closed for a flood of people instead of a flood of river. It's Friday Night Live all weekend long, free music and lots of people strolling. Stores open late and doing good business.

Lots of sightseeing. Every bike is personalized in some way. I haven't seen any other countrys besides Canada represented. I saw a group from Japan five years ago at Rider's Ranch. This year there is no Rider's Ranch at the Expo.

It's amazing how loud a custom chopped bike can be. Fortunately my own neighborhood has been quiet. Even my younger bike-riding neighbors haven't been partying at all hours.

The best bargain around for $2.00 is a 15 ounce bag of Pinas Chris Mix found in a tent at Riverfront Plaza. The second best $2.00 is spent on a snowcone. The snowcone syrup wasn't very sweet, but it was a fundraiser for a good cause, Salvation Army, it was a warm day, and a stranger thanked me for buying it when she saw me with it later.

There's a Harley-Davidson exhibit at the Waukesha County Museum? I waited until this weekend to see the Lennon exhibit because I also wanted to see the bike exhibit. There were a few photos of bikes and Harley family members, even a bike or two, but the main exhibit was the Lennon display. It's too bad the Lennon exhibit alone wouldn't have been enough to attract viewers. It's also too bad that almost no mention was made of a fundraiser for the Les Paul exhibit. But at least something was done and I hope it helps.

Parking hasn't been a nighmare. I parked by the State Bank, the Waukesha Antique Mall and Corrina Blvd., none of which is very far from the action.

And they're saying we need rain. Just not this weekend, please!

This weekend could be an instant replay of the same weekend a year ago: Balloon rally in Hartford, Arab World Fest in Milwaukee, last weekend for State Fair in West Allis, car show in Waukesha, Bluesfest in Delafield. Heck, it even rained on Saturday afternoon, same as last year! Guess you have to stick with what works.

A little nervous when I heard that the only change to Bluesfest, beside performers, would be the ticket prices. Not enough people showed for the first one and, though we enjoyed it, thought it would take something major to bring it back again this year. It was $37.00 for a one day ticket last year compared to $15.00 each for advance tickets this time.

The restaurants were the same as last year, vendors same, artists same. Same park, Naga-Waukee. OK, even the same person accompanied me, Mom-in-law. But are fourteen artists in a tent gallery enough of a distraction for a 9-1/2 hour fest? Is there anything for kids to do?

Yesterday I'd heard that Friday's crowd was pretty light. I was afraid of that. I wanted to see this work for people like myself who enjoy this type of music, and for Waukesha Rotary Club's Charitable Fund, recipient of the proceeds.

We arrived around 1:00 for it's start and found everything as we left it from last year. All eyes were on the people, ears on the music. Would more people show than last year, and did the lineup suffer from the ticket price cut? The same tent with the same amount of chairs were filled with a similar number of blues fans. But then something started happening. A couple decent local acts played and people started arriving. Portable chairs were set up, picnic tables filling, artists seeing customers. It was a relaxed atmosphere where us mainly middle-aged folk could go barefoot, smoke, drink or get the blues without much restriction. I didn't see anyone get out of hand, mom-in-law excepted.

By the time the first of the three head-liners played, the tent seemed to be 3/4 full. We were really getting into the artist born in Two Rivers who later moved to New Orleans. His nieces took the stage to toss Mardi Gras beads to us and I caught one for Ma. People started cheering for me and I didn't know why. Correction, people were cheering for Bryan Lee not Brien Lee and it was because his group was really great. He signed my t-shirt the same way I often sign my name, B Lee, a neat trick considering he's blind.

As the evening wore on the tent filled almost completely and I was satisfied the one change made to the ticket price was enough. Younger fans appeared as day turned to night. Many dancers were enjoying themselves, especially to the tunes of The Bel Airs. We had an enjoyable night and will go again next year.

Spent several hours at Pewaukee Lake yesterday. With the no wake law still in force it's unusually quiet, and if my canoe didn't still have gaping holes in it... So we fish from shore. Very peaceful watching the regatta of around 50 sailboats. Later in the day was Taste of Lake Country and fireworks, but that's another story.

Making every cent of my weekend dollars count I went to Milwaukee today to do several things. I parked under the Hoan Bridge by the river, saving $10.00. I attended a very nice Lutheran service in the Marcus Amphitheater and was allowed into German Fest free, saving $13.00.

German Fest is one of the few festivals I missed last year, (Pride Fest will still have to wait) and I wanted to get there for the food and music. I haven't been to this one before. I wasn't into the music and dancing all that much, but the scents, tastes and sights were overwhelming. Got my first look at the new Harley Stage also. Very cool.

Wandered over to Discovery World next door to use the pass I obtained with the purchase of my Les Paul concert ticket, saving $17.00. I spent the next couple hours in my first tour of the Technology and Aquarium Buildings and the Les Paul House of Sound exhibit!  The Les Paul exhibit, indeed all of Discovery World, was way more than I could've imagined. I enjoyed handling everything, trying it out, playing with things, discovering at my own pace.

Discovery World has to be seen to be believed. When I thought nothing could possibly top the Les Paul exhibit, I had doubts while touring the rest of the building. The bed of nails was one very interesting interactive feature of the Technology Building. Fun to try. The Great Lakes are to scale in the Aquarium complete with interactive locks, rain and storms, and bluegills (not to scale). Also had fun touching the rays and lake sturgeon.

The schooner in the Aquarium Building is a fun play thing. Lots of things to touch, turn and see with many things identified with labels. I played with as many things as I could today and the best thing is I only got yelled at once - at the German Fest Splash Pad for not taking my shoes off!  

I'm 100% in favor of opening downtown to bikes by closing streets to cars. Of course I'd probably feel different if I lived downtown or if I hated loud music or bikes. But while listening to last night's Common Council meeting, all my questions were answered and I actually let my mind imagine what a wonderful thing this party could be. The alderpeople asked a lot of difficult questions and I always heard good responses. I could feel the enthusiasm from here. The only person to vote against it was Ald. Payne, who incorrectly thought he wouldn't have a voice in determining street closures.

The only business owner to speak against the Labor Day Harley party was a lawyer from the Nelson House, adjacent to Cutler Park where most of the music and drinking will be centered. She complained she'd have to pay her staff for the four days they'd have to close because they couldn't park nice and close to the building. I guess I must be really out of touch because I thought most lawyers had Labor Day weekend off.

I'm surprised more residents of downtown didn't speak up against it -- I can just imagine trying to sleep! But maybe they're like me and just want to wander around town with an open intoxicant while listening to free music.

This party will happen whether Harley endorses it or not.  They say that if it is endorsed it would give our city global exposure. Did I mention I saw Japanese bikers at the Expo Center campground during the 100th?

You might think it all seems so rushed. That it takes a year to prepare for an event like this. Actually, the organizers are experienced promoters who seem to work well with the many important people and large companies like Miller Brewing and Kirk Topel, owner of Hal's Harley, that things like this require. They know their limitations and are willing to take the financial risk that will ultimately benefit the city as a whole more than it will themselves.

New people in town think they can come here and not only turn a condemned dump of a building into a high class hotel and restaurant, but have the vision of something more for the city? And do it all at the same time? Their's isn't the only construction that has to be done by the 105th. I walk past the Harley Museum every day on my way to work. They don't have to work hard to attract people. People would come if the old bikes and memorabilia were stored in a tent on an old soccer field. Instead, a beautiful black building surrounded by water on three sides, with the majestic white 6th St. Viaduct suspension bridge on the fouth, is within months of welcoming visitors.

.

So it could be with our own museum and The Les Paul Experience. Time is running short. It should be a priority to get it done while Les can still come and see it's completion, and he's over 90 now! We could avoid town at all costs when the Harley enthusiasts come, but that would be a big mistake. We should promote our museum, we already know music will attract people downtown. Let's run raffles and promotions. (don't tell my wife, but I once bought a $100.00 raffle ticket for the chance to win a Harley V-Rod. I didn't win.) Let's get this Les Paul exhibit built! 

Within the last week and a half I walked, drove, rode a bike and chased a hot air balloon to the University of Wisconsin Waukesha.

A week ago Saturday was the last time I crewed, possibly for the season. All three balloons that took off together from a park on County K in Pewaukee landed together on the north parking lot of the university. Distance of travel; about five miles. It was fun landing in my own neighborhood for once.

This last Friday I attended the free Fall Instrumental Concert featuring the UW-Waukesha Handbell Choir and the Symphonic Band. Really impressed by the music and little stories behind the music. This was the first year of playing for five of the six handbell choristers and they did a fantastic job. The Symphonic Band took on more than one challenging piece and played extremely well also.

Sunday the university offered free hot chocolate and fireworks after the parade. Friendly volunteers had tables set up to do craft activities with the many children there. It was the second day of the second annual Festival of Trees, a fundraiser for the UW-Waukesha Foundation, a group that supports and promotes students and programs at the university.

Yesterday I had the pleasure of visiting the current photo exhibit in the Fine Arts Center on the south end of the campus. The gallery, open just 10:30 to 1:30 M-F, is currently showing 20 or so large, beautifully mounted and arranged photos by Janica Yoder.

Today I enjoyed even more meeting photo artist Janica Yoder during a Visions and Expressions lecture at the university. We saw many slides of her work and she commented on every one. She told us what camera she used, where her models were from, what she was feeling, where she took the photos, how she created certain effects... I found several of the things she said very interesting. First, she loves to photograph at Paradise Springs, the same place I was taking pictures at Thursday. Also, she always uses film, not digital cameras and she exclusively uses natural light for all her photos. We all enjoyed learning how her photos were created as much as seeing the slides themselves. But one of the nicest things of the afternoon was viewing the exhibit once again after learning how the photos were done. Janica's talk gave a lot of substance to the exhibit and I appreciated even more.

The outfits and costumes were large and colorful Sunday at Indian Summer. We sat in the sun watching the Grand Entry then joined in the circle dance with Native Americans and others. The food was very good. I had an Indian taco made with fry bread and a cup of wild rice soup. We enjoyed listening to Brule' perform. There was a very good turnout and the many shops selling wooden flutes, art, clothing, music and jewelery were crowded.

The dancers are wonderful! I enjoyed them last year and will see them again next. But the one new thing I enjoyed the most was trying to start a fire. Without matches or lighter. Notice I said trying. I really wanted to light that fire by spinning a basswood dowel against a second piece of basswood. I tried over and over but finally gave up in a pool of sweat. It was going to be a big ego boost - something I could brag about on my blog. The Native American instructor gave us a little folklore behind the first people to tame the flame and said it's the one thing that set us apart from other animals. Several people did start fire and were allowed to place their names on a big board. Because I didn't get a flame going, I limped away to join my animal friends in darkness and cold.

It's 3:00 a.m. and I'm too anxious to sleep. Too many things going on. Maybe if I blogged about it...

In two hours my phone will probably ring to go hot air balloon crewing. The grass is really wet in the morning and the mosquitos swarm around us when we're readying for a flight, but the days are getting shorter and I welcome any opportunity to go. Regularly crewing is one of the best things I've done with my swiftly-coming-to-a-close summer.

Yesterday morning we took an excited retired teacher up. She was simply following her dream, had already rode a motorcycle. Another thing to check off on her list of things she must do before she dies. Many of her fellow teachers, including the principal, chipped in for the flight and were there to see her go up. By the time they calmly landed on a residential street there were about seven cars following. One of them opened a tailgate and had a little breakfast party ready for everyone.

After ballooning this morning, my mom-in-law and I will drive east for the last ethnic festival of the year at the lakefront, Indian Summer. The non-denominational prayer ceremony will get us into the fest for free but the real incentive is to participate as a Native American. To learn more about Earth Mother, honoring ancestors, sacrifice and cleansing of the soul. There'll be much dancing, drumming, music, speeches and stories. Attending religious services at the many ethnic festivals is another of the best things I've done with my summer and I'm sad that the year is coming to a close.

I'm anxious to get going with this new blog tool we've heard about, and BrookfieldNOW's been using, for a month. It will allow readers' comments and dialog directly on my blog, and if it works right I should be able to add my own photos. It should have begun by now so I'm just waiting.

Still trying to get a new furnace and A/C. I signed a contract and scheduled the install with a highly recommended Rheem dealer then cancelled it after talking again with the Carrier dealer. Hopefully there will be resolution soon.

Looking forward to a tour tomorrow of the near half million sq. ft. Journal Sentinel printing plant in West Milwaukee. It'll be interesting to see how they produce 85,000 copies of the paper an hour, and it'll be nice to meet the publisher, editor and Journal Interactive V.P. Like the downtown facility, the new plant is something I've wanted to tour when I worked as a weekend Journal Sentinel distributor but never had the chance until I left that job and started doing this. Another blog-efit I enjoy.

Have been tired lately but don't know why. I got a good night's sleep Saturday after a late tether of the Re/Max balloon in Richfield and woke up at 4:30 a.m. Sunday to crew again. We set up alongside another balloon at a dairy farm on Hwy. G in Delafield and this time, instead of chasing the balloon, I rode in it. My second flight ever.

Yes, I heard about the two hot air balloon deaths in Canada the day before. I don't know what the cause of that fire was, and may not know for quite a while, but with the safety precautions we take here, I knew I'd be safe. Pilots have to be licensed, winds have to be calm, have to have enough daylight and weather prediction has to be good. We're in radio contact with competent crew, and redundant controls virtually eliminate accidents. (the balloon I flew in had two burners, two tanks, two vent ropes, three people in the chase vehicle...)

Winds were dead calm for my flight so we travelled just a mile or two in an hour, from north of Hwy. 18 on G to just south of 18 on G. There was a little wind at 100 feet so we used that to find a spot to land and took the envelope down on a driveway between a row of trees. It was neat to see Lake Michigan, Pewaukee Lake, Lapham Peak...

After a quick breakfast, and more coffee, I headed to Maier Festival Park for my fifth ethnic mass and festival of the year, Mexican Fiesta. Honduran Cardinal Oscar Andres Rodriguez Maradiga lead the two hour Spanish Mass, along with Archbishop Dolan and Bishop Sklba. When the cardinal remained seated for the homily, that should have clued me in. The half hour sermon must have been great because he gestured, raised his voice, got a few chuckles and a large applause, but I only knew about twelve out of the thousands of words he spoke.

I was still in the dog house for spending nine hours at Irish Fest the previous weekend, so I didn't stay at Fiesta very long. I did enjoy what I saw very much though. I got a good look at the Ballet Folklorico and Milw. Ballet II in the Cultural Village, along with many handcrafted items and demonstrations. There was a lot of music, food and activity, as you'd expect, with approx. 70,000 attendees anticipated for it's three day run.

To make a long story not as long; Soon as I got home gave son ride to party. On way home from party stopped at an acquaintance to visit. They're disabled and needed to mow the lawn that day because landlord coming. Mower not working -- grass real long. Went home, got my mower and finished what they had started. When done, rushed home to get ready for evening balloon crewing. Was pretty windy but we waited until after 6:00 and pilot, Rod, was able to lift off with two passengers. We chased the swift-moving balloon all the way to just this side of Holy Hill and walked it out to a gravel road through 6 foot tall weeds. It was dark by the time we got back but still only 8:30 so I went home, ate something, read the paper, and contemplated this blog entry.

Hope my wife doesn't mind, but I spent nine hours at Naga-Waukee Park yesterday with an older woman. We were there to hear performers on the last day of two day Waukesha BluesFest, a Waukesha Noon Rotary fundraising event. Besides the music, my mother-in-law and I enjoyed jambalaya, crawfish bisque, blackened catfish and barbequed ribs.

We washed the spicy food down with several of the many interesting beers offered and the music was washed down with rain. The rain came sometime after the 6:00 p.m. act, Shemekia Copeland, and stayed long enough to wet the grass but not make muddy waters. The sturdy tent holding close to 2000 chairs could have withstood a much greater storm but didn't even need the side curtains closed for this one.

The seven groups seemed to progress in quality up to headliner, Mavis Staples. I enjoyed them all, but my favorite was Ollabelle, an interesting New York quintet with two agreeable female singers who play accoustic and electric guitars and mandolin. Ollabelle is also one of Mavis' favorites and she's godmother to one of the female singers.

The sparse crowd for the first Waukesha BluesFest became a running joke for many of the bands so I gave it some thought. Obviously the $40.00 or so per day ticket price is the first thing to look at. As a fundraiser wanting to showcase quality acts it's understandable, but tickets should be low enough to fill the seats until it's well established. Besides, even if Waukesha was a big blues area, it would be hard to find another venue with prices as high. As a matter of fact there's a fun-sounding music, barbeque and fun festival coming up Sept. 28th through 30th at Menomonee Falls Village Park. The three day free "Big Pig Gig" offers 23 musical acts on three stages versus fourteen on one during BluesFest's two days.

Other things to look at would be the accompanying vendors or attractions. I saw the favorable crowd at the 2007 Waukesha Car Show in the Park today and wondered why a bike or car show couldn't be combined with blues music. Also, it was nice to have fourteen art vendors with the artists present but I saw the same thing for free during last week's art crawl.

On the happy side of the blues, with at most two hundred people in attendance, there was no waiting for anything and we could sit anywhere, taking up as many chairs as we needed. What the small crowd lacked in numbers it made up in enthusiasm and I was glad to be part of it, me and mom-in-law. Our quality time together.

African World Festival is the seventh. Last week I pointed out the six ethnic festivals at Maier Festival Park having Sunday religious services. Add another to the list because African World Festival also holds one. And, like all but one of the rest, allowed free admission to the fest.

Six of the festival masses, including African World, are Catholic so I'm comfortable. I had to be comfortable to sit through a two and a half hour service at the lakefront today. It seems this year I'm trying to go to as many ethnic festival masses as possible. As I may have mentioned; it's not only an inexpensive way to get into the different fests to try them, but diversity of prayer is also a great way to learn about other cultures.

The 10th Annual Sacred Liturgy at African World Festival was engaging, vibrant and electric. There was enough energy emitted from the choir, drummers, dancers and musicians to spread to the audience and we clapped often. The choir may have received the most applause but the sermon also got it's share. A Dominican priest from Chicago gave the homily and it started out in the usual way. But soon Father Paul gained speed and momentum and his sermon started sounding more like song than speech. His words all came together so rapid-fire that I thought I was at an auction for Jesus' Love and Father Paul was the auctioneer. It was wild, it was why I was there, and I applauded him.

After mass I walked around and tried to find lines of people at food stands, which would indicate to me which ones to be the best. I didn't find any lines, there weren't a lot of people there, so I bought some gumbo and worked up a sweat eating the spicy meal out in the sun. As I walked around the marketplace I kept seeing the same product offered -- one I'm not familiar with. Shea butter was being sold at probably more than half the stands and looked messy, especially when the sun got to it. African shea butter is made from the seed of the shea tree and is supposed to be better than cocoa butter for skin and best when it's not processed. There were huge chunks of it everywhere I looked.

As I headed toward the exit I discovered some long lines at the fried catfish and wings stand, but by then I was full of gumbo and had to get going.

I've been noticing that one of the best ways to get into many of the ethnic festivals at Maier Festival Park free or at reduced cost is to just attend Sunday Mass. I'm aware of four festivals with mass and only one charges a little for fest admission.

Fest masses are a good way to experience other cultures. You may pick up a little bit by walking through the grounds listening to the music, tasting the food and shopping the vendors, but to really get to know a culture you need to pray with them.

I couldn't have learned any more about the former Italian community of the Old Third Ward, and it's central fixture Our Lady of Pompeii Church, than I did at the Festa Mass. I learned Festa is really a continuation of the traditional religious festivals held on summer weekends not far from the current Maier Park. The mass and procession is the highlight of Festa Italiana and after it was over I wasn't drawn to stay long on the grounds, just long enough to enjoy a couple calzones.

I didn't attend German Fest's Mass yesterday. I didn't hear about it until it was too late. If I did go to German Fest I'd have missed the 18th Century Anglican Church Service I attended by chance at Delafield's Colonial Encampment.

I was drawn to the encampment by the price, free, and the location, St. John's Northwestern Military Academy. The Academy is someplace I've always been curious about and heard of but never visited. I thought this would be a good time to check it out. I was there by myself Sunday morning before it got busy and really enjoyed the time and knowledge the reenactors shared with me to explain what was going on. I'm familiar with civil war encampments and this wasn't much different except it was set much earlier - during the Revolutionary War. One of the reasons I feel these encampments make history come alive is that some of the reenactors research and live like their very own ancestors. If the ancestor they researched was a cloth merchant then they'd know everything about linen and cotton dyeing and weaving in the 1700s. They'd operate a small shop in a canvas tent and sell unusual gadgets as well as patterns and cloth made the 18th century way. They'd inform their visitors that the Revolutionary War coincided with the Industrial Revolution and the cotton gin helped America gain independence from Britain.

I was so long in listening and learning that the church service was about to begin at 10:00 and I had a decision to make. Do I drive back to Waukesha for mass at my own church or stay for a unique 18th century experience? I didn't even have to think twice. The service was held in the beautiful stone Victory Memorial Chapel on the Academy's grounds, a place I'd only seen pictures of, and it was phenomenal. We prayed like they prayed 300 years ago and it seemed strangely familiar. The message was very similar but so were several of the prayers, including the Lord's Prayer. The setting was so authentic, and not a single person didn't take the service seriously. It was an interesting experiment in history. I can see myself going again next year.

******* 7/31 addendum *********

A little more research on this topic produced a total of six ethnic festivals at the lakefront with Sunday religious services. Only Polish Fest charges a small fee and Irish Fest usually a couple cans of food to enter the fest grounds after services. The six fests are; Polish, Italian, German, Irish, Mexican and Native American.

It was something we were looking forward to for a long time. We wanted to pick up where we left off with the last balloon rally of last year. We wanted to hook up with the great couple we hung with last year and share more good times. We were going to help them get their bright yellow balloon up, chase it until it landed, then pack it back up. We were going to talk about the past year over pizza and check out the fair together. It was going to be so great.

Well, we didn't crew for "Yellow Fever" and we didn't even crew for the Re/Max balloon as I mentioned in my last blog. A nice thing about being involved in hot air ballooning is that having a good time doesn't depend on who you're crewing for. The only disappointment can be the weather and the weather was great last weekend. No rain and not too windy meant every time they were scheduled to launch they launched.

Crewing with someone new exposed us to a whole new set of fun. "La Ristra," the 800 pound, 128 foot tall, world's largest chili pepper balloon never took off, just inflated, but that was enough. The pilot, Mike Shrum, from my favorite state that I've never been to, New Mexico, was a lot of fun. Because it takes four times the normal about of crew members to fasten and unfasten velcro on 56 chilis, get trapped air out, lift it, etc., it seemed like a big party. By the time he took off in his regular balloon from Butler Middle School on Sunday morning he had more than a dozen people either in the cab or bed of the pickup truck or following behind in a car. In the two years I attended Butler I never imagined I'd be helping launch a hot air balloon from it's athletic field.

We didn't crew with the people we wanted but we saw them often and even launched from Butler together. La Ristra clearly needed our help. We not only helped unpack, inflate and pack up the chili balloon, but because we were from Waukesha we also navigated the chase vehicle when Mike flew.

Almost 20 balloons launched on four occasions during the Skyfest 2007 rally. I hope most people were able to catch a glimpse of them. Maybe you saw the chase vehicle convoy pass your house or maybe a colorful balloon touched down on your street. Till next year . . .

How was your weekend? Sunday was a day of firsts. First time I went to Polish Fest. Finally tried paczki for the first time. Attended a Polish mass, walked around Wisconsin's newest state park, Lakeshore, stepped inside and checked out Discovery World at Pier Wisconsin.

Mass at the lakefront started at 10:15 but I was already up by 4:30 a.m. to crew for a first time hot air balloon flight for someone who was turning 50 Monday. To get in to Polish Fest for just $4.00 I had to attend mass and, because I was attending mass, was the only one I could talk into going.

Because I was alone Sunday morning I had time to see what interested me. I enjoyed talking with an interesting man who was selling beautiful paintings he had done on large linden leaves. I listened to the Chopin Youth Piano Competition and was amazed by the skill of the 10 through 14 year olds. I played the benches under the Wind Leaves in front of Discovery World. Watched the sailboats, walked the beach...

With Summerfest starting tomorrow there is perfect opportunity to explore all the new things just outside the gates. On July 8th everyone gets in to Summerfest free from noon to 4:00. You can get a wristband any day from noon to 6:30 to leave and re-enter so you can check out the park, play the benches and turn the Wind Leaves, visit the gift shop in Discovery World, pick up brochures for sailing on the Denis Sullivan, walk the breakwater...

As taken directly from Friday's Freeman: You're turning this weekend into a feel-good comedy, and it starts now. Turn up the music, and drive with your window rolled down. You're only available for opportunities and people who promise to be fun.

With so much going on this first weekend of summer the horoscope is pretty accurate. I can think of so many fun things happening just a short drive away; Cedarburg, Milwaukee, Delafield and Brookfield, to name a few. But there's also lots happening right here at home with Fiesta Waukesha, St. Mary's Summer Festival and a car and bike show at Mt. Calvary. Enjoy!