Robert gave a slide show and spoke about taking a trip to Mars at the Winchester Academy in Waupaca.  The theme was “what to pack for the journey?”  For example, do you need a compass?  No, Mars has basically no magnetic field so a compass would be useless (the lack of a magnetic field is also the main reason it has such a thin atmosphere).  Robert worked on the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, MRO, (  http://marsprogram.jpl.nasa.gov/mro/ ) his last year at JPL playing a small but enjoyable part in the project.  His lifelong love and learning of science continue to be  an additional source of joy and inspiration while running the Inn.

P.S. Go see the Imax movie “Hubble 3D”! Besides the spectacular images and knowledge, you will get a new appreciation of the work done by  the Shuttles Astronauts.

P.P.S. Image is MRO’s picture of  Mars’ Victoria Crater.

Deb in front of the covered bridge enjoying peaceful, rural Wisconsin. We only hear the river flowing and birds singing!

After freshly fallen snow we love to go out in our snowshoes. We drove two miles east just down Rural Road and then continuing on K to the historic Red Mill. Robert got Deb’s picture in front of the covered bridge (over the Crystal River) that leads to the little wedding chapel… peaceful and picturesque.

We just finished blowing and shoveling about a foot of new snow off the driveways here. What a gorgeous day with the sun shining and temps in the mid 20’s. Our guests just returned from cross country skiing at Hartman Creek State Park and they said it was perfect with fluffy snow and well-groomed trails. I just took this picture from the front porch of the Inn. Here’s our 1902 barn and milkhouse and in the background through the trees is the Little House on the Prairie.

We just cleared away about a foot of new snow - great for skiing

We went to Iola for the Winter Carnival Norwegian Supper of lutefisk, lefse, meatballs, real mashed potatoes and gravy, cooked corn and salad and to top it off Norwegian pastries: rosettes, krumkake, sand bakkels, spritz cookies – yum! It’s served family style by community members of the Sons and Daughters of Norway, Kiwanis, and others dressed in colorful Norwegian vests. We also shopped in the Scandinavian crafts room and got several Norwegian rugs for the Little House on the Prairie and two rugs for the Welcome Room made by a weaver in Amherst out of old bluejeans! We love the concept of making something new and beautiful out of a cast-away! Remember this for next year – first Saturday in February – come stay with us and go to the Winter Carnival – see the Badger Games and enjoy some Norwegian hospitality. It’s such fun!