Surprise in White

Case and I spent a few days in Iowa with Lucyna and her husband Shane.  Boys did projects. Girls went Christmas shopping.  There is a Tangers Outlet Mall along Route 80 that is less than 10 miles from her house so off we went.  Shopping was productive on all fronts.  Beautiful sunny day with light jackets on. 

Driving home to the northwoods, we met with snow on the side of the road two counties away from our house.  By the time we reached our mailbox, there was 5-6 inches on the level.  It is amazing what a 2016 Dodge Dart can do with snow tires.  We made it to the garage and left snow duty to the next day. 

This fall has been warm.  Usually there is a gradual cool down accompanied with light snows.  Not this year.  We received a surprise in white.

Turtle Log

Since moving here, I have wanted a turtle log of my own.  While kayaking and fishing, I would see turtles sunning themselves on a log peaking out of the water.   Usually at an angle because part of the log would be stuck in the bottom of the lake.  Case was not willing to stick a log in the lake near our shore.  However, nature took care of it after 7 years.  A log that had been floating in the lake settled in a very small cove where it can't float away.  This is a picture from our shore of my very own turtle log with two turtles sunning.  I am happy.

Mammogram and Vocabulary

Last week I went for my annual mammogram.  I was met at the front desk by a "fill in" young man while the usual receptionist was at lunch.  "What can I do for you?"  "I am here for my mammogram appointment."  "Cool."  You know me...I am never at a loss for words.  I was then.  I think I gave a sickly smile.  The generation who are in their twenties have a problem with a lack of vocabulary.  Everything is cool.  A mammogram is not cool.  It is sensible.  It is wise.  It is not cool - however, the machine is not heated.  Perhaps that is what he meant!  And if it isn't cool...it is perfect.  If this age person is asking questions, their reply to someone's answer is "perfect".  Someone teach these young people some other words! 

The results were A-OK.  And I related this incident on the follow up survey by email.  I told the hospital that it wasn't their fault but society's fault.

A Plunge and a Promise

This morning we brought in the boat for the winter.  There was little wind so today was designated the day.  The trailer is hitched to the truck which I drive to the public launch about 10 miles by land.  Case boats over to the launch.  I try to back the trailer into the water which always fails so Case backs it in the water after many attempts while I hold the boat rope.  If he luckily backs it close to the dock, all is good.  We hook it up and drive it home. However, if the trailer is far from the dock which is the usual, then I get into the water to line the boat up to get it on the trailer.  I always wear shorts (47 degrees this AM) and water shoes (don't know the water temp - it was cold).  We head home and warm up.  Our promise to each other driving home was to practice backing up next summer while the boat was off the trailer.  When we do this twice a year, we stink at it.  Backing up a trailer is not a skill nor training, it is a gift, which we don't have.  So we will practice next summer and cross our fingers.

Pine Needles

My walk in the woods today was scented by pine needles which were falling and had fallen.  They can be up to 6 inches long.  It was 70 degrees, overcast, and a strong breeze - perfect for enjoying the autumn smells.

We are still working

...lest you think we just play...

Logs in our driveway waiting to be split and stacked for winter 2018-2019.  If you heat with wood, you need to have the following winter's wood drying for a year before use.  In the last few weeks Case and I felled these trees, cut them into the size to fit in our wood stove, and stacked them here to be split. 

These trees are all birch trees which don't get much wider than this.  All of these trees did not have any leaves on them this year.  That means that the wood will begin to rot and eventually fall on its own.  We look for trees that are between healthy, having leaves and beginning to rot.  We are not clear cutting the Northwoods.  🌳🌳

Potty Talk

The last two Tuesdays at my hiking group has been interesting in a potty way.  The first week the woman who hosted at her house rented a port-a-potty for the day.  There were 45 or so of us=at least 90 flushes.  She didn't think her septic could take it.  What a hoot!  She did have seating for all of us which included seating around the fire ring.  Wow.

The following Tuesday we gathered at Grand View town park to walk the snowmobile trail.  Walked four miles in the shade-very nice.  The park was very nice with several pavilions, tennis courts and a statue of Chief Namegagon who was reported to have found a silver mine because he always paid his bill at the trading store in Ashland in pure silver. Nobody has found the mine...but I digress.  There was an inside flush toilet in the town maintenance building that was unlocked for us.  However, there was one stipulation with so many of us - again around 45 - flush every third person.  Enough said. 

Canada Quirks

Just returned from a short stay in Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada.  Only 5 hours door to door - lucky for us.  Here are the quirks in no particular order.

• No ice cubes.  We try to eat at Ma & Pa places and not at chains.  Ma & Pa places are usually European style - which is no ice cubes.  We frequented a Polish Bistro.  I ordered cold water with ice in Polish mind you.  Nie ice.  Oh.  At least the food was good.
• No cookies.  On a trip to walmart.ca (Walmart.Canada) to pick up supplies, we kept looking for the aisle labeled "Cookies".  No luck.  Snacks, Chips, Candy. But NO COOKIES.  In the snack aisle we found a 3 foot section of Canadian off brand cookies for 99 cents a box.  They were very hard - glad that we didn't break a tooth.  
• Better bags.  At this same Walmart the plastic bags used to carry the cookies out of the store were heavy mil.  Labeled walmart.ca (see above) these bags could haul rocks.  The plastic bags labeled Walmart (Hayward) are so flimsy that sometimes we don't make it out of the store before disaster strikes. If we can put a man on the moon, why can't we have heavy mil bags like Canada?

I've Been Busy

This is the link to the photographs of Lucyna and Shane's wedding in May in Iowa.

http://www.gregoryhitchcockphotography.com/Complete-Wedding-Events/20170520Lucy/

It was a beautiful weekend and a wonderful day. Just go to the pics that you want to see.  There are 1071 of them thanks to the digital age.  Wowser! 

(The photo on the church altar is the groom's father who died just a few years ago.  Flower girl is bride's niece -Kata just 3 and a half- Tad's daughter.  The little one year old boy is her brother Alek who thoroughly enjoyed himself.  The couple and witnesses signed the marriage license on the altar during the ceremony.  Father/daughter dance was Unchained Melody which was planned since she was a young girl.)  

Alek is One!

"Our grandson Alek had his first birthday.  He was already a toddler walking at 11 months.  This guy is so happy to be upright like everyone else.

Tad (our son and Alek's father) and Alek driving at the mall

Let me eat cake - and frosting!

Two days later he is dressed for his Aunt Lucyna and Uncle Shane's wedding

At the reception Alek shed his vest to bust a move on the dance floor

He is always happy and ready for action.  We so enjoy his company!

Federal Consultant

Case has now become a consultant for United States Government vehicles.

What happened was the substitute letter carrier Amanda got a flat tire on the road to our house.  She took a chance that someone would be home and have an "air hose" so she drove our quarter-mile lane.  Yes, we were home.  Yes, Case could definitely handle the situation.  Little did she know that she couldn't have stopped at a better place.  (We are 1 of 3 mail stops on our 3 mile road so I guess it was 1/3 of a chance that she would stop here.)  A sharp, pointed rock punctured her front passenger tire.  The spare was needed so she unloaded her entire trunk of a Chevy Impala full of packages for folks on her route to get to the spare.  While Case changed the tire, she loaded the trunk back up.  Then she was on her way giving many thanks.

And that is why Case is now a Federal Consultant.

Fun in the Northwoods...

Kata

My 3 1/2 year old granddaughter and I have a special connection.  All is right with the world when she and her Grammie are together.  As a Grandparent I can be unbiased and say that Kata is perfect in every way.  A favorite trait is her sense of humor which she has had for a long time.  When I interact with Alek with the "Alek is SO big" and raising of my arms, Alek laughs.  Then Kata says quietly "Alek is SO small."  Then I laugh.  That is really funny.

 

Kata and Dzia Dzia (Polish for grandpa) are decorating a lamb cake on Easter.

Photos as Promised

This is Alek 11 months who is thoroughly enjoying the Easter egg experience.  He is the newest member of the family.  

And, yes, Alek is that adorable.  He is a Daddy's boy (my son Tad).

$876.00

My ship has come in...I have received my first Social Security check.  Didn't have the pleasure of opening the envelope because SS requires direct deposit.  Still, I am ecstatic.  I opted for taking out MY money as soon as they would let me.  They do this big song and dance about waiting until you are your FULL retirement age and get more money per month.  Who are they kidding?  Not me.  I want MY money now.  And I have the first installment.  Goodie for me!

Jo's Household Tip

Friends, toss out your windex.  This is how I clean my bathroom mirrors.

Take a single edge razor blade.  Scrape any spatters until they are gone.  You are done.

Razors blades have many uses around the house and garage.  We buy them 100 in a box at the hardware store.

You can thank me later....

We Know the Drill

The wind has been gusting up to 40 mph the last 3 days.  When the lights begin to flicker, we each run for a flashlight.  Then we begin to fill large pitchers with water.  Lastly all the electric items are turned off except for one light.  We light candles.  Then we wait for that one light to go out.  And it always does go out. 

The flickering is caused by a tree that has fallen on an electric line causing the power to be intermittent as the tree dances on the line until the tree finally has its way and falls taking the power line with it.  By flashlight I go to the one phone in the house that does not need electricity to be in service.  (I had to buy that phone at a rummage sale.)  I call the emergency number for Jump River Cooperative Power Company.  In the last year they have gone to an automated service that you give your location so the crews know where to go.  Although I enjoyed chatting with the woman answering the phone and discussing the storm and where the other outages are.  Oh well...progress.

This episode was especially frantic because the flickering started as we were walking to the kitchen to make homemade lasagna.  With the flickering came both of us sprinting to the frig to pull out a leftover and warm it in the microwave before the power went off.  Flickered for an hour so leftovers were warmed and eaten.  By 7 pm the power was gone.  We sat in front of the fire for a long while just talking.  Then off to bed by 8.  Power was back on when we got up in the morning. 

It's the little things....

The 3 remotes have been in use as of late.  Winter.  Boy, can they get scuzzy.  Got out toothpicks, cotton swaps, lint-less wipes and a touch of soap.  Took a while but worth it.  What satisfaction to use a clean remote!  Don't know why we have 3.  They do different things.  I don't ask. 

55 in February

It is not suppose to get this warm in February in the Northwoods.  Snowmobile trails, gone.  Snowmobilers with money to spend, gone.  Ski trails, gone except in the shade.  Skiers with money to spend, gone.  Not good for a town built on tourism.  Especially this week because of the 12,000+ skier race on Friday and Saturday.  The finish line no longer goes over Lake Hayward since it is a lake again.  The last half of the trail is mainly in sunshine.  Looks like the race will finish at County Road OO where there are facilities and a warming station (ha!).  Disappointing for skiers, volunteers and the ski foundation that operates the race.

Mother Nature will do what she wants to do.  There is no predicting the weather.

Winter in Warm Places

I spent a part of January in warmer climates.  First, a birthday weekend in a Madison water park with family.  Then a week in Florida with my brother and sister-in-law.  (Let's just say that I put a dent in the shrimp population.)  Traveling is fun and exciting.  Of course, coming home one appreciates the comforts of your own home even more. 

Tigertail Beach, Marco Island, FL

Kata, age 3 and Grammie, age 62

A Most Pleasant Morning

We watched the peaceful transfer of power on TV this morning.  And a pleasant morning it was especially in light of the non peaceful transfer of power in Africa.  No politics in the blog today but a fashion critique - not exactly my strength but I have an opinion. 

Out going and incoming ladies both sported messy buns.  Great for a trip to Walmart but they were attending a formal event.  Perhaps they went to the same salon like the bridesmaids before a wedding.  SOMEONE should have told those two to head off to shop instead of going to the inauguration.

Saw a lot of winter white.  That looked very nice.  Exactly the type of thing that winter white can be worn to and not look silly.

I noticed several important women who dressed down - still elegant - but not wanting to be the center of attention:  Mrs. Pence, Laura Bush, Mrs. Paul Ryan.  I thought that was classy.

I feel like singing

Oh the weather outside is frightful
But the fire is so delightful
And since we've no place to go
I will sew, I will sew, I will sew.

About 12 inches of snow as the base
Negative 22 temperature
Fire is blazing in the wood stove
No jobs to get up and go to
Happily at my sewing machine,
making a wedding quilt...

Life is good.