It's been too nice to blog (and other lame excuses for not posting)

Summer is in full swing, I've been spending time at the pool, filling in for vacationing co-workers, and putting together a 30 minute video retrospective of our family (all the way back to Norway). All the descendants from my grandfather's family are meeting in Westby, Wisconsin for a family reunion on August 1st. Find out about Westby: http://www.wistravel.com/cities_in_wisconsin/westby_wisconsin/

I leave for Wisconsin on Monday and I believe the video will actually be ready! It's been a BIG project-all done remotely since, like any family, we are spread all over the country. Emails, phone calls, photo CD's all gathered at my house for a pretty great look at our family from the Late 1800's to the present. I can't wait for everyone to see it!

There's a Fungus Amongus!

My first reaction when I came upon this growing in my garden was, "OMG, what the hell IS that?! It looks a bit obscene, other worldly and is slimy and spongy to the touch (yep, I did touch it)

Upon further research at http://www.mushroomexpert.com/, I found out it is a "stinkhorn" mushroom (Phallus impudicus). It's Latin name certainly seems appropriate!