Notes on Trip to Wisconsin Dells Part 3

 Today is the last day of our time away from home!  Tomorrow we head south again.

Saturday was our 'Do Nothing Day' and we did just that ---nothing.  Naps. TV.  Reading.  Eating from the fridge which meant leftovers and snacks.  It was a good day.

Sunday - Outlet Mall.  Small, just one long strip, but there are nice stores.  Most of the spots are occupied---there may have been a couple empty store fronts but not anything like Lodi north of Wooster.  The walkway was open but covered.  In fact there was a rainstorm while we were shopping but nothing was wet except the outer sidewalks and the parking lot.  Scores for me----a new Vera Bradley purse (like I really needed one but it was cute and a new pattern and I didn't have that style).  A pair of black Hey Dude shoes (after the three people working there ignored me the first time I was in, then I returned and one of them say 'HI!  Welcome back!').  Three new tops at Old Navy.   Gary found two pairs of tennis shoes.  He also went to the Beef Jerky store while I was in VB, and we bought some popcorn at a specialty popcorn store.

Monday - Return trip to New Glarus.   We were looking for nesting dolls for the little girls and New Glarus beer for Wally Hooker.  With the help of the clerk at one of the gas stations, we bought two cases of Naked Lady.  Who knew there were so many flavors of beer made at this local brewery?  Then we went to my favorite grocery store, Roy's Market, and we found cases of the Kid Kolaske for him also.  While we were there, I told Gary we probably needed to buy just a six-pack of something for him, Blaine, and Matt to share.  We had lunch at the Culvers and watched the elementary kids on the playground at recess (school is behind the Culvers).  There is a HUGE bridal shop next to one of the gas stations also---many beautiful dresses in the windows.  I don't remember that shop being there but then...it has been 21 years since we visited the town.  Also we chatted with the owner of the shop where we found the Nesting Dolls for the little girls.  She  remembered the lady who sold the cow bells (She said she was 'gone' and I took that to mean that she had left with her cowbells from the downtown area but Gary thought she was dead!) and we chatted about our staying in the apartment above the funeral home while M and A' s house was being build (she thought they prepared the dead bodies on that second floor!).  It was fun to visit with her.  The only thing I didn't do was get a picture of the thing (and I don't know what it is called) by the street to turn into town with the Swiss people and flowers.  We have pictures of M and H standing by it and the last picture we took was in March 2000 when Hilary brought Veronica and Jessica with us for spring break.  Once again....New Glarus was my favorite place where Mike and Angie have lived.  

Tuesday - Wineries.  As I was planning the day, I discovered that one of the wineries, actually the one I was most looking forward to visiting because of the fun names I had seen on the bottles at the liquor store in Reedsburg, was closed on Tuesday and Wednesday.  WHAT?   We went to Woolersheim Winery at Prairie du Sac and it was a really nice place.   We chatted with one of the workers.  I was a little disappointed in the selections of the wines for tastings, but it worked out ok.  The pours were generous, and since I had eaten just oatmeal for breakfast, I really needed to eat something about those tastings!  We went to the Bistro, but they offered only cold sandwiches and salads and snacks on Tuesdays (who knew?) so we had some kind of chicken and cheese sandwiches, a bag of chips, and we bought a bottle of pear wine because I wanted to taste it and it wasn't included in the tastings.  I liked my sandwich.  Gary said it was horrible.  We drove to Baraboo to another winery which was new and out in the middle of a field but on the edge of town.  We had three 'pours' for $11, a good sized amount in each glass, that we shared.  We ordered a large pretzel, and it was.  HUGE!  There were three small cups of dipping sauces---cheese, a mustard, and another I didn't try because I really liked the first two.  

More naps, then Cracker Barrel for a late dinner. 

One more day!  Then home tomorrow!