A Glorious Day

We spent a good bit of time outside today.  It was sunny and unseasonably warm - t-shirt weather.  However, ice still covers about 3/4 of the lake.  When we walked next to it, the wind was much cooler from blowing over the ice.  In the wooded area we felt satisfaction from seeing all the little evergreen trees we had planted in the last 4 years that had made it through the winter.  Robins have returned.  The spring peeper frogs have started up.  We had lunch and dinner on the porch.  I think it is spring...until it snows again.  We will wait and see.

The Fifth Season is Over

It has been unusually warm last week and forecasted the same for the next week.  The snow is gone except for a few piles.  There are open water patches in the lake.  It is mid-March and this is not as it should be.  We accept what we get so we are enjoying - eating on the porch, logging trees - you know, the Northwoods thing.  I need this wonderful distraction because it has been rough otherwise.  I have been arguing with my new health insurance company about what prescriptions they will cover.  I have also been dealing with the opposing lawyer to the township about the March 28 meeting.  Insurance companies and lawyers - need I say more?  I ended up in tears and throwing papers a few times.  The insurance company has finally agreed, but I feel that I am worse for the wear.  I believe the ugliest part with the lawyer is over but we'll see.

The Five Seasons

Wisconsin has five seasons. 
Spring - a time to plant new trees, log old trees and enjoy the Northwoods. 
Summer - a time to fish, kayak and enjoy the Northwoods. 
Fall - a time to hike, view the leaves and enjoy the Northwoods. 
Winter - a time to snowshoe, ski and enjoy the Northwoods.
________ - I don't know what to call this fifth season between winter and spring.  I can't ask anyone else either because they have all left for vacations to avoid this time of year in the Northwoods.  There is snow on the ground but it is all slosh and can't be skied or snowshoed.  You can't walk on the roads - all mud or whatever it is.  You can walk on blacktop if you can get to it - which I can't.  It is difficult to be outside because of the wind.  I guess this is a time for pre-spring cleaning and doing projects indoors.  I'll be thinking of a name.

One of those days

I had one of those days today.  I won't mention the list of things that went wrong - only the last one.  I went to the Town Hall to put up a poster inside the building about an upcoming Lions Club event.  Believe it or not I have a key for the place because of my lofty status.  Well...the key got stuck in the door.  I could lock the door.  I could unlock the door.  However, I could not remove the key.  So I drove home to get Case.  There is no cell service between town hall and our house so I had to drive to get him.  He can fix anything!  After a few moments, he was able to remove the key.  How?

He was doing this bare-handed so the warmth of his hands melted the bit of ice in the lock.  I was using gloves. 

Government Work

There is a township meeting next week that I am secretary for.  To abide by the Open Meeting laws of Wisconsin I need to notify the public.

• email the agenda to the newspaper to publish in the legal notice section - check
• email the agenda to the township webmaster for the town website- check
• print three copies of the agenda and post them on the township bulletin boards - check

The last point took 29 miles in 1 hour to do.  I earn $10 an hour and $.555 per mile.  That was $26.10 worth of government work.  Yes, I am living large in the Northwoods. 

Timing is Everything

I left to visit my daughter Lucyna in Iowa on Tuesday morning.  It was a lovely 45 degrees with dry ground there.  Meanwhile 13 inches of snow fell in Hayward and 18 inches where we live.  While I was visiting in the sunny south, the roads were cleared off.  And Case took care of the lane and driveway.  I arrived home late Friday without a problem.  Didn't have to drive in any snow.  Timing is everything.