The Gym

When the weather turns bad and we can't log or kayak or hike, we go to town and join the gym.  A husband and wife own it, treating customers like family.  Today, the first day, Case biked 5 miles, walked the treadmill for 15 minutes, worked on several machines.  Let's just say I didn't go that far...elliptical for 7 1/2 minutes, lots of machines, lots of stretching.  The positive side is that I can only get better. 

White Christmas in the Northwoods

We are receiving snow before heading south (southern WI) for Christmas.  New tires on the 4X4 truck will help us travel with no problems. 

Tree decorated.  Packages wrapped.  Goodies baked.  Almost time to go...Merry Christmas to all!

A Good Day

This morning I wrapped presents and this afternoon I went for a long walk.  There was no wind and a bit of sun.  So quiet...so peaceful...not like next week I am sure!

Decorating for Christmas

My second cousin by marriage made the tree I am holding in his wood working shop. The branches of the wooden tree fan out with small circles to place Hershey Hugs on each one.  When all the candy is eaten (soon), it swivels and folds up to be flat for storage.  (Thanks, Scott!)

As I am looking at the photo...there are way too many wires showing behind our entertainment center...my hair looks great even though I hiked for 90 minutes that morning with my Tuesday group during a snowfall...the big tree only has a few ornaments on it as we are trying to keep with the church calendar that this is Advent - waiting for Jesus - and not fully decorate until the 25th so we are decorating a bit at a time....the first ornaments up are a few of our Star Trek ornaments-they talk, light up and have sound effects - nothing says Christmas like Star Trek!  In all seriousness,
Gene Roddenberry, creator of ST, depicted the future as all people trying to live together peaceably...except for the Klingons - if there wasn't conflict, there would be no show. 

What a Christmas wish...peace in the universe!

Nightly News

I usually watch NBC News with Brian Williams.  He seems real and reassuring.  This evening's news had two extremely funny parts...at least to me.  First, there was speculation if one of the ISIS leaders was killed in the recent air strike.  His name is...wait for it...Bagdaddy.  This is my spelling.  Bagdaddy.  Like he is P. Diddy's rapper brother or something.  I was still laughing when the economic summit in China was discussed.  Instead of the leaders wearing their own clothes, they wore costumes or shiny Chairman Mao tunic type things.  I thought I was watching graduation day at Star Fleet Academy. 

Perhaps everything is funny to me because we are in the middle of a two-day 16 inch snowstorm.

'Tis the Season

The evergreen bough (balsam) gatherers have been at work for two weeks now.  If you buy a wreath at a big box store, please know that the greens were collected in mid October from my neck of the woods.  Some companies around here pay as little as 30 cents a pound, but if you collect a pick up full with a trailer, you may receive several hundred dollars a day for your efforts.  I wonder what the income tax situation is for this seasonal work.  Perhaps I should look into it....

Pittsburgh Flora and Fauna

 In the morning we visited the Phipps Conservatory - the largest under glass of this type.  Each room was stunning.

Then we crossed Pittsburgh to tour the National Aviary.  A bit smaller than expected but very well managed.  This toucan looked so soft that he looked like the toy toucans in the gift shop.  Several toucans shared this enclosure with a sloth.  Go figure...

Falling Water House

 I always had wanted to visit Frank Lloyd Wright's most famous house - Falling Water in Pennsylvania.  I finally did on this trip and it lived up to my expectation.  It is built over a stream with stairs going down into the stream.   The whole experience was amazing.

Here I am going upstairs (NOT) to visit Frank and the family. 

Bedford Springs, PA

 

I so enjoy history and this property fit the bill.  It is Bedford Springs Resort that has been in operation since 1796.  The US Presidents would stay here. In fact it served as James Buchanan's summer White House.  There were many ledger entries where the Presidents had registered.  Lincoln couldn't come because of the War so he sent his entire cabinet.  It is a magnificent place.  

This is their logo embroidered on the back of chairs like this one.  Of course, many other places as well.

There was also a hall of First Ladies that showed silhouettes of each Presidential couple who stayed there.          Ronnie and Nancy

Fun Out East

In September we traveled to Pennsylvania to visit friends and then traveled home through Niagara Falls and Canada.  I will show a few pictures of our adventures.

That part of Pennsylvania - Somerset County - has many covered bridges that you can still drive through.  We enjoyed several of them.

Our friends live 4 miles from Shanksville.  I brought my camera and snapped the entryway sign.  I did not take any more pictures.  It felt like sacred ground.  It was a bright sunny day just like September 11, 2001.  Whoever is in charge of the ideas as to how to set up this memorial is doing it right.  A house has been purchased on the edge of Shanksville to accommodate any of the families of the victims who come to visit. 

October 3, 2014

It snowed yesterday and is still on the ground today.  Enough said.

Fourth Anniversary

It was four years ago that we moved lock (precious items), stock (our birds), and barrel (it just seemed like every box weighed as much as a full barrel) to our place in the Northwoods of Wisconsin.  We pulled away from Mt. Prospect with the Dakota pulling an enclosed snowmobile trailer* (fits 6 snowmobiles) that was filled from floor to ceiling.  Oh my goodness!  We asked Tad to take a day off from work where he networks computers in the largest privately-owned printing company in the US to help his Mom and Dad set up our system at the new place.  (We have to get something back from that fancy school learning!) 


The last four years has brought ups and downs as with everyone everywhere.  No one is immune to problems and challenging situations.  We are enjoying our new life in the quiet woods.  Starting year five...


*One of our new friends loaned us his trailer. 

Sunflowers

In our travels around the "neighborhood" we came across this field of sunflowers.  What a happy surprise!  Don't know why sunflowers are grown. (Hey Kansas, let me know.)  But the yellow heads in our Northwoods landscape of green certainly made me smile.

A Toadstool/Mushroom Kind of Day

I think one looks like a pancake...with a little syrup, who knows?

The local newspaper had a picture of a "puff" mushroom measuring 38 x 40 inches.  Unbelievable!

Sentimental Fools

Selfie of Case and me in the parking lot of my apartment in Urbana, IL in 1975 when I was student teaching.  We were in the area for a family reunion last month and decided to visit the exact spot where we met.  There was a party on a Saturday evening for the residents of my apartment complex and for the residents of his apartment complex across town (same owner).  This is the exact spot.  Unfortunately,  one of the sentimental fools refused to get out of the car for this special occasion.    

Caught With My Pants Down

NO PICTURE for this entry!

Case and I usually do logging in the morning when it is cooler.  Years ago when logging was king in the Northwoods, all logging was done in the winter.  Horses pulled sleds loaded with trees over the snow to the frozen rivers to wait for spring thaw.  Lumberjacks returned to farming during good weather. 
Anyway, I digress...after a morning of serious log carrying, I went inside for a rest and nourishment.  Leaving my sawdust-covered pants and long-sleeved shirt at the door wearing only a t-shirt in the house until I put them on again to go outside to finish the day's task, I was inside by myself with my pants off when the FedEx guy comes to pick up a package from our porch.  Then Al, the mailman, dropped off a box.  Can't a woman sit at her kitchen table in the middle of the Northwoods with her pants off?  I guess not...

Ghost Plant

Grade School science comes back to me when I came across this plant with no chlorophyll - the Ghost Plant, Indian Pipe or Corpse Plant.  It is only 6 inches and usually blends in with its surroundings.  It is growing near the stump of a dead tree that is par for its course of obtaining nutrients from others because it has no green stuff of its own.  Fascinating plant in the Northwoods.

30 Years Old!

Recently we went to Iowa to help Lucyna give a birthday party for her boyfriend who turned 30.  I made all kinds of funny signs about turning thirty.  He especially like the one about not celebrating his birthday but we were celebrating the 45th anniversary of the first moon walk - July 20, 1969.

                                                  July 20, 2014        Shane and Lucyna

WOWW

WOWW=Women of the Woods and Water

This is the Tuesday group that I belong to.  We meet year round to hike, kayak, snowshoe and generally have a good time every week of the year.  Yesterday I hosted the group.  Lots of preparation in getting out enough tables and chairs.  Plus I am known in the group in serving desserts that the recipe is asked for.  I served Mississippi Mud Cake and Pound Cake, which Case made start to finish from his mother's recipe.  Both were well received.  We walked 4 miles on Morgan Road that I consider the prettiest roads around - all Chequamegon National Forest and no man made objects to view - 80% in the shade.  When we passed the wetlands, three sand hill cranes flew by on cue.  After lunch, I led the group to a near wilderness lake further in the forest.  We had the water all to ourselves.  I am exhausted today but please to have so many friends and to be healthy enough to accomplish all of this.

Case took this photo of us on our steps before our walk at 9 am.  Yes, we wear nametags because there are so many of us - more than 70 on the roster. 

Pie Auction

Pie Auctions are new to me but local Wisconsin folk say it's a tradition.  The Lions Club that we belong to has a full day festival for our main fund raiser of the year.  A Pie Auction is part of it.  I have helped in many capacities before and this year I added baking a pie - a 10 inch blueberry pie with fancy cut outs baked on top.  It sold for....$55.00!  A few went for higher but most were less than that.  My name was announced before the bidding and that I was a farmer's daughter from east central Illinois.  Don't know what caused the serious bidding but I am so tickled over being able to contribute in that way. 

Should have taken a photo of it....

Another Bird Story

Milsie loves to take a bath as most birds do.  However, my bird bathes in the bathroom sink.  He looks like a drowned rat when he is done and, of course, then flaps his wings fast to dry off, and I get wet in the process.  And stink....oh-weee - boy, do wet feathers stink!  After drying and preening, Milsie takes a nap because it wears him out. 

Case's Vacation

Case is quite involved with the car organization that surrounds the Dodge Neon.  Yes, I know it hasn't been manufactured in a few years...but the Neon lives on his mind, in the minds of several folks around the country, and three live in our garage.  Every June they get together for a Car Meet.  They have been to Minnesota, Colorado, Ohio.  However, this year for the 20th anniversary of the first Neon being built, they met at the "Mecca" of this group - BELVIDERE, ILLINOIS.  Chrysler has an assembly plant there where they made all the first generation Neons.  All three of ours were made there.  (Now they make Jeeps and Darts.)

Case won First Place in the category 1st Generation "Stock" Neon.  He is also one of the national moderators on group's website:  neons.org.

I stayed home and went to Musky Fest. 

A Pet in Wisconsin

Here is Milsie (my male lovebird) who will be 14 years old this November 1.  When I give him a treat, I give him a grain called millet - shown here.  Birds eat it like candy.  Usually, I have the stem cut into several pieces and add one piece to his food dish.  For this now Wisconsin bird, I announce that it's "Millet Time" - just like the commercials for the beer - "It's Miller Time."  I laugh every time.

Two for the books...

1.  Case drove to the post office in Hayward (20 miles) to mail an important small package.  As he drove up, he sees Al, our mailman and another letter carrier landscaping in front of the office.  "Are you being paid extra for this?  Case asks.  "No, we're off the clock.  It just needs to be done."  [Wow!]  Case then realizes that the post office closed 10 minutes ago and says so out loud.  "No problem,"  Al says.  "I can take your money."  Case not only wants a tracking number but also doesn't have exact change.  Again "No problem.  I will leave your tracking number and change in your mailbox tomorrow." 

Don't you just love small town America!

2.  In the nearly four years that we have lived here, I have never tipped the kayak until yesterday.  I was gliding into my spot next to the dock after an evening paddle.  My usual getting out procedure is standing up and rolling on the dock in one move so I don't get my feet wet.  Then I pull the kayak up to its parking place on land.  Well, as I am writing this...perhaps that technique shouldn't be used by a nearly 60 year old woman.  I had gotten away with it so far until yesterday.  The kayak bolted under the dock and I landed in 18 inches of water.  No possibility of drowning with a life jacket on and land within reach but I did get quite a soaking.  I am going to rethink my landing method. 

A Happy 4th!

Grandpa Case is playing a game with Kata (7 1/2 months)  in her July 4th finery.  She is enjoying it as much as our children did when he played it with them years ago.  (It has something to do with the Mexican Hat Dance tune.) 

Traveling

Been traveling around sightseeing and visiting friends.  Caught this "bumper" sticker on the back of a large boat ready to go into Lake Superior.  It is posted next to the steps on the back of the boat.  I do so enjoy people's sense of humor. 

While setting up for the Lions Club rummage Sale, I came across a mug with a drawing of a pirate - The beatings will continue until morale improves. 

Sometimes it's the little things that keep you going.

Turtle Rescue

It is time for the female turtles to leave the shoreline to go inland to lay eggs.  We see cars stopping to assist a turtle cross the road safely.  We have done it ourselves.  At breakfast we saw a color in the grass that grabbed our attention.  A HUGE turtle had rolled down a hill and was now on her back.  Case went out in his pj's and righted her.  His thanks was an angry hiss.  Happened all too fast to get a photo. 

Peace and Grace Be to this Place

...in my garden.

Stop...and view the flowers

Finally, some nice weather for the plants to catch up with the calendar. 

I found this white violet in the woods two years ago and planted it in my garden area.  It is looking mighty fine.  I also like white lilacs but don't have any of those.

Two years ago we also dug this up illegally - Trillium.  Usually they are masses of white there are so many on the floor of the forest, but we have only this one going.  Time for a trip with a shovel.

Logging

We've been logging to prepare for next winter.  To heat with wood you really need to have two years worth of wood to let the wood season.  We definitely haven't made it to that level of North Woodsmanship yet.  Lest you think this birch tree was a small one, here is one of my steel-toe Red Wings for comparison.

Mother's Day Treat

I carried the kayak from the loft in the garage, dusted it off, and went for a paddle in the warmth of the afternoon.  I can't remember if I ever kayaked when there were no leaves on the trees.  (There are only a few buds right now.)  What a pleasure to be afloat again!

2013-2014 Weather Report

I have been asked about snow this winter.  This report was just published in the weekly Sawyer County Record newspaper.

Snowfall in Sawyer County, Wisconsin 2013-2014:  110.8 inches

Only two other winters measured over 100 inches:  1896-1897 = 101.7 inches  (Yes, 1800's)
                                                                                   1982-1983 = 106.2 inches

So this was the snowiest winter ever.  I could have told you that without reading the paper.  Here are some additional facts that I didn't need to know.

• first snow:  October 20, 2013
• last? snow:  May 6, 2014
• For those of you who are not math inclined - that is over 6 months and two weeks of snow
• Now for the temps ---
• coldest temperature = 30 below zero
• first day below zero day = Nov. 24, 2013
• for last year's winter 2012-2013  =  99 inches of snow.  Seems close enough to 100.
  
  Sure is beautiful when you are retired and don't have to drive in it.  Photo from Feb.

The funny part is that the report was in last week's paper.  Then it snowed again.  So an updated report was published this week.  

Bits & Pieces

•  Snow melted.  Four more inches yesterday April 29.  Walking group hiked anyway.
• Easter was glorious.  I was able to do several readings during the week's many services.
• Only one restaurant open in a 15 mile radius last Friday night.  It was packed and I knew lots of folks who came in.  All restaurants going next weekend for fishing opener.  At least people can eat because there won't be much fishing except on the rivers.  Our lake still has ice but we are beginning to see open water.
• Best product placement ever in a TV show.  The Blacklist had a chase scene with one guy who we don't know if he is good or bad - driving a 2015 preproduction "Guard" color Ford Mustang.  Chase scene over and immediately the commercial is the same actor standing in the warehouse he just drove out from saying,  You don't know if I'm good or bad but don't you just love the new Mustang?  Then he drives a "Race Red"  Mustang around like he is being chased again.  A delectable by product was watching a 1970's Chevy Camaro being smashed as it was chasing the new Mustang.  Only car people would get that joke.

Why You Don't Live in the Northwoods

APRIL 17, 2014

 View out my kitchen door this morning.  I am not leaving the house today.  Hoping to be dug out by Easter to go to church.  Don't know how much there is...when you get to double digits, does it really matter? 

Fun in Line at the Post Office

The Hayward Post Office still has the original style in the lobby area.  One door even says, "Buy War Bonds."  It is warming to see murals of the local area and seriously patriotic artwork and statues.  Plus there is a Muskie mounted on the wall as well.  It is Hayward, you know, Home of the World Record Musky.  As I was standing in line, the clerk asks the customer in front of me if she needs any stamps.  It is their usual question.  The customer was a petite older woman, demurely dressed and also in demeanor.  She replied no.  The clerk continued,  "Are you sure?  How about Jimmy Hendrix stamps?  Or Harry Potter?"  The clerk and I are laughing quite loudly.  The customer chuckles and replies no thank you.  I thought the clerk was joking. 

I went home to check the post office website.  Sure enough, there were Jimmy and Harry.  Why can't there be the U.S. Flag and call it a day?  Obviously, I am not a stamp collector.  Anyway, it made for a fun visit to the Post Office.

A Trip Away

It is wonderful to get away to visit friends and catch up.  Actually my brain feels happy when I see a familiar face from my past.  Thanks, everyone!  I included a visit to downtown Chicago where I worked for 6 years in the 1980's.   My office overlooked a deserted rail yard that you didn't even want to walk by.  Though I had an expansive view of Lake Michigan so that more than made up for the eyesore.  The rail yard has since been turned into Millennium Park!  In the 80's I was in the right place at the wrong time.  Always fun to visit the Bean.

Election Day-Northwoods Style

Case filled in as an election judge yesterday because one of the usual people was ill.  He and other judges arrived at 6:30 am to open the town hall and set up the equipment.  Voting was from 7 am to 8 pm.  Yes, thirteen long hours.  There are 320 registered voters in the Town of Spider Lake.  (Illinois folks - just think township.  There are no "townships" in Wisconsin.  They are called towns.)  Forty-eight came out to vote.  Elections were for school board (2 contested seats), county supervisor (one contested seat), and town board members (2  seats running unopposed).  It certainly wasn't a glamorous election.  Writing this on Wednesday I can tell you the results that all the incumbents won.  At 8 pm, the judges counted the electronic votes, paper votes and absentee votes (2 this time).  Then they put away the equipment.  Case was home after 9 pm.   I don't know what he earned, but it wasn't enough in my opinion. 

Case said he learned a lot.  I ventured a guess, "How the wheels of democracy roll at the grassroots level?"  "No," he replied.  "After each voter left, I was filled in on their story.  I was fresh meat for the usual judges to tell the tales." 

A Bright Spot

We took a much-needed break from picking up road kill for a visit to Tad, Carrie and our 4 month old granddaughter.  Kata is, of course, delightful.  Growing like the proverbial weed.  The big question this visit:  "Do you see/feel her first tooth coming?"  It's a bit early, but Carrie got her teeth early, so it is possible.  No formal conclusion, but there is much drooling going on.

Yes, I see the reddish hair growing in, too!

Stephen King

Pick any Stephen King movie that you've seen and remember the scene that you thought "this is crazy."  That is Hayward, Wisconsin today.  In the next four days we will be receiving between 7 and 13 inches of snow.  Two on the ground right now from overnight.  This is, of course, in addition to the mounds we already have.  In fact the snowblower can't throw it any higher.  Continued desperate times call for strawberry shortcake for breakfast.  Bought the first of the strawberries on Sunday from Plant City, FL.  Made my famous homemade shortcake.  Add Cool Whip Lite and you've got breakfast!  All my usual Tuesday activities have already been cancelled.  Wood is in the stove.  (Thanks, Case.)  Books and sewing machine at the ready.  I'm set for the day.  Retirement is wonderful.

Picking Up Road Kill

It's not what you think...we're picking up fallen branches/limbs along the road from the winter storms.  Our wood supply is dwindling.  Because we heat the house with a woodstove and because the winter has been brutally cold, we see the log pile will not last until warmer weather.  Drastic times mean drastic measures....so we have taken to picking up fallen limbs which I have dubbed winter road kill.  We don't walk on anyone's property - just along the road or in the ditch.  At this point we haven't gone more than 3 miles from our house since there is so much of it.  Of course, we do have a propane tank as a back up and also for our hot water heater, clothes dryer and stove.  We only fill up once a year.  We are not "living off the grid" by any stretch but we enjoy using sweat equity. 

Odometer

There is bit of a thaw going on so we took a road trip.  Driving the magenta-colored NEON, we had the excitement of pulling over into a church parking lot and driving in circles several times to achieve the following photographs.  This event is all a tribute to Case's ingenuity and perseverance.  He bought this 1997 NEON for me in 2007 because everyone else in the family had a NEON except me.  We traveled to Kokomo, IN and back on a Saturday in January to pick it up.  After many months of restoration, it was truly in drive-able condition.  I have been using it for my daily ride ever since April 2007. 

      200,000 miles!

Lent

Case and I attended a Lenten study this morning and then received our ashes.  We need the somber tone of Lent to keep us from going wild-eyed silly crazy about the amount of snow now plus another storm on Friday.  Our church here in Hayward has provided us with a good environment for worship, service, study and fellowship.  This is such a blessing for us. 

This is our 1/4 mile lane to the road after the last storm. 

Winner of State Low...Again

Hayward has earned the honor of the Wisconsin lowest temperature this morning at 14 degrees below zero.

A wonderful time to enjoy jigsaw puzzles.  Here is the the latest one we have finished - extra fun because it is round.

Better Than Olympics

Olympics is watching - as enjoyable as that is.  I prefer doing in real life.  Case served as a race official for the Barnie - Birkie, a ski event (not race) for ages 3-12.  I spent my time registering the children that morning for a 12:30 pm start around the golf course.  Approximately 600 joined in the fun decked out with race bibs like the adults.  The bitty kids just went a few blocks.  That was on Thursday.  On Friday after digging out from a 12 inch snow, we went to town to serve spaghetti to about 800 skiers and families at the church hall.  Case bussed tables and I plated desserts.  Wonderful fund raiser for St. Joseph Church!  Then the day of the big race (19 or 33 miles), we sorted and returned 2,600 large luggage bags to skiers as they finished the race with members of our Lions Club.  We serve is the Lion's motto and, boy, did we ever serve that day. 

Doing is better than watching.

The Bin - Part 2

Visuals are always nice.  Here is a photo of our bin set-up.  It worked.  The FedEx man left the expected package in the bin yesterday as scheduled.                Why, you may ask yourself, is Jo spending so much time on something as mundane (and uninteresting and unimportant) as this?  I am doing this as a learning session for you - How to Be Retired.  This is what retired people do.  Think up ways to fix things that aren't really broken.  Since we are not wrestling with situations at work and then come home to relax, retired folks need to find problems to work on.  This week was the bin.  Who knows what non-exciting project we will do next week!

The Bin

This winter we are 4 wheel driving everywhere, including our lane and driveway.  No problem for us.  One time I made the mistake of catching a ride on "hiking Tuesdays" with a newbie to the Northwoods who had problems negotiating a slight incline.  One of the other riders asked if the 4 wheel drive was engaged.  She replied that she didn't have 4 wheel drive.  All three of us riding gave each other a what the #%& look.  Fortunately, we did not have to get out to push.  I learned my lesson to check on vehicle status before getting in.  Whenever it is my turn to drive in winter, I drive the 4 x 4 Dakota and not a Neon.  Duh!

This leads me to FedEx and UPS deliveries.  Even though the trucks are big, they don't have proper tires or four wheel drive so they come to our house and can't get out.  Then there is much gnashing of teeth.  At least none have ever had to stay the night.  Anyway..we have purchased a large rubbermade bin with a lid to put next to the mailbox.  It has a weatherproof sign for delivery people.  We have all the drivers trained except FedEx.  We have ordered something that is coming via FedEx.  I called the main number to have the bin added to the delivery instructions.  We'll see what happens on Thursday. 

A Day of Love

What I don't love are those USA sweaters they wore during Opening Ceremonies.  Some friends thought they were "retro" and "cute."  I thought they looked "dowdy" and "weird."  I don't care if they are Ralph Lauren.  Many if not all the fashion I see on the runway, I would never wear.  They would certainly win an ugly sweater contest, which seem to be gaining in popularity - another current activity that makes no sense to me. 

Back to valentines...the women's group at church sponsored a make and take valentine event yesterday.  Great fun!   We went to the gym this morning.  Tonight we are heading to a favorite restaurant with friends.  It is day that I am happy to be alive.  Happy Valentine's Day!

More Olympics

We are enjoying the cross country skiing the most.  I especially like the biathalon.  Ski as fast as you can with a rifle on your back, stop and shoot at 5 targets, then ski again.  Who thinks of these things?  This event seems the most practical for the Northwoods of Wisconsin.   Of course, figure skating has been a favorite of mine since childhood...the grace, the fluidity of movement.  Although I think many of the new moves are, in a word, unattractive.  The bonus is listening to Scott Hamilton as the "play by play."  I saw him skate in person years ago.  He was great!

Winter Olympics

We have been enjoying the Winter Olympics from Russia, where it is 62 degrees.  Why aren't the Olympics here where it was 7 below zero when my group showshoed this morning? (No wind, sun shining.  It was great.)  Anyway, I think people watch the winter games because they are like those movies based on young men doing stupid things - or Funniest Home Videos - except at the Olympics, where they are wearing colorful outfits.  There are people doing things at the Olympic that they shouldn't be doing:  falling down mountains on 2 little boards,  falling down mountains on 1 board, throwing a woman in the air while skating, flying down an ice chute on a board head first or feet first.  I could go on.  But we watch anyway. 

Pelicans

 

How about a pelican to brighten your day?  Usually they are found "posing" like this.  However, along the shore at low tide they fly very fast just skimming the water until a school of fish are located.  Then they fly up and then straight down under the water with a big splash.  I watched as they floated on the water to get their bearings.  If a fish was caught, they stretch out their long neck to swallow it whole and continue to float.  If no fish and no swallowing, then flight is taken to try again. 

Shelling

I love to go shelling, especially at low tide.  Great restraint was needed not to take many.  Why is it fun for me and many others?  Because it is free?....because of the surprise of it?...because you are out enjoying the weather?...because you are searching for the perfect specimen?...because it is easy to walk and talk at the same time?...because shells are beautiful?...perhaps all of these reasons...

Tigertail Beach, Marco Island, Florida - known for sand dollars - We found 9 whole ones in two days.

Yes, I really went.

Florida holds many happy memories from my childhood as well as being warm and in bloom right now.  This trip is the first time that I took "selfies."

 Everything is so bright!

With my brother on his boat...we are circling Marco Island on the the Gulf side.  Beautiful day!

&#*%

Enough of this...I am going to Florida.

Winners AGAIN

Hayward, Wisconsin again posted the state low at minus 26 below zero.  Case gets such a kick out of receiving this status.  Unfortunately, we seem to be the winners frequently.  I am still going in town today for a haircut, plus we are going to the gym for a workout.  We had a strong feeling that joining a gym this winter would be a good thing and we were right.  The last time it was this cold - two weeks ago - the schools shut down and many businesses as well.  Today everything is open.  It is amazing what one gets used to.

We had a taste of outdoors yesterday.  Our elderly neighbors got stuck in a snowbank.  Case and I got our shovels and buckets of sand.  They were out in less than an hour.  We had planned to go to the gym.  No need.

Kata and Friends

During Christmas week we had a lot of enjoyable "hanging out" time at Tad's house. Case, Tad holding his daughter and Jo

Message from Above

Religious classes are Wednesdays and the Youth Commission provides meals for the children as well as their families.  Otherwise, all the classrooms are filled with McDonalds bags.  It is my turn and I have spent much time preparing for serving 60 at church this evening.  Well, you know...the planning, the shopping, cutting up chicken and boiling eggs yesterday, arriving early afternoon to serve the first meal at 4:30.  There are others who are coming to assist, but I am the one in charge.  As all of this goes on, I try to keep a positive attitude.  I am human and a bit of resentment creeps in.  Then I read this morning's devotion from the Gospel of Mark.  Jesus preaches and heals all day, goes to Peter's house and cures his mother-in-law, eats and cures for the rest of the evening.    The writer of the reflection states "What does this mean for us who follow Jesus?  Do we recognize that time is given us not for our own needs, but for service of God and service of neighbor?  Rest if good, but the need is urgent."  That is what I needed to hear.  I will pack up and head to town with a smile on my face.

Indoor Activity

We finished this puzzle just about the time the temp got over zero.  I am particular about my puzzles - 500 pieces, landscape or a still life like this one.  No baskets of kittens.  No cardboards boxes of puppies.  It needs to be do-able and enjoyable.

Sorry, didn't turn the photo.  But sometimes I work the puzzle from the side or upsidedown to get a different prospective.

A Kata Christmas

I think that I need to spread out the grandchild pics for one of two reasons.  One, there are those of you who are waiting to see more photos, so I am stringing you along.  Two, there are those of you who think one or two are suffice.  Hence, I am spacing them out.  Today's grandchild photo shoot is on Christmas morning.

There was, of course, much hurrying and scurrying around to get to church by 10:30 with 6 adults and one 5 week old baby.  We arrived in plenty of time to choose a good baby location.  In fact, the organist was playing carols before Mass.  It was so peaceful there celebrating Christmas with family, sleeping baby, and the sun shining in the windows.  I thanked God for all my blessings.  After Mass we went home to presents and pictures.

Kata wore a smashing red dress (additional white sweater in church). 

But, like most models, being beautiful and posing is so tiring. 

 What a Christmas!