The second leg of our vacation was a trip up north to see my family. My mom lives in

the North Woods of Wisconsin. Her cozy home is nestled in the woods of Pound, WI.

It's not in town, it's literally in the woods - near Pickerel Lake. Driving up north is

something I look forward to. It's a journey from my past. When we were kids, Alice

(my younger sister) and I often experienced this journey from the back of dad's

pickup, and I could find my way to our summer home with my eyes closed. Mom's

place represents a place to relax, unwind, and really enjoy the natural world. With

no big city problems to worry about, the days become dreamy, pastoral images that

float about you like a warm memory. No cellphone reception, no computer hook-up,

no problems and no worries. For Kim, this neck of the woods holds many family ties

as well. Many of the Kuchta family still call Crivitz and the Pound area home.

Cousins, Aunts and Uncles abound in these North Woods.