Life At Buck Lake

Mike's Lamp Is Done except...

2009-04-02T09:02:00.000-07:00

I have to buy a lampshade to match it better.

We don't have to shower downstairs anymore!

2009-03-28T14:06:00.000-07:00

More Beautiful Woodwork From Mike

2009-03-13T17:10:00.000-07:00

Vases, lampbase and pen/pencil holder...

Where Oh Where Did My Vacuum Cleaner Belts Go....

2009-02-27T05:18:00.000-08:00

To my talented husband of course...putting scrap wood to better use than using it for our woodstove!

Fishing In The Trees

2009-02-23T14:30:00.001-08:00

Mike and I went out fishing for an hour and 1/2 and caught these nice sunnies...fish fry tonight!

We are deer killers again!

2009-02-15T20:03:00.000-08:00

After driving 825 miles with no problems today...we met a herd of deer on highway in Indiana. Car ahead of us hit one too.

A Week On The Ice

2009-02-09T09:58:00.000-08:00

My old 24 year old Si-Tex did as well as the Vexilar!

Brianne got worn out from following Mikey with the minnow bucket.

Sunset on O'Leary Lake.

Mike snowmobiled 30 miles to see how well we were doing on this lake...he was glad we had some hot chocolate! We then all met up and had a burger at Swampsider's.

Some of our Saturday night fish fry. Mike Hexum came over to enjoy the feast as well.

Brianne finally getting to fish...

Mikey and I hit Blue Lake early in the week and caught a mess of nice sunnies.

Heck with games...

2009-02-02T13:42:00.000-08:00

I jinxed myself on my last post...I forgot about the two Mikes in this family... especially the son who would fish till his dying days...that Mike and his Mike the dad...would go looking for another lake they could get stuck in the slush on...I didn't want to join in on that fun and had too many loads of laundry to deal with. First time I saw that old Mike excited about ice fishing his son's method when those guys came home! Frozen fingers again...not using fish house! They nailed the big crappies! O Freddie the Filet Knife this time! Fantastic fish fry at our house tonight or I'll give bad reviews to our chef! Not!

Picture Fun!

2009-02-02T08:01:00.000-08:00

Emily posted on her blog a picture game that I like! You are supposed to post the 4th picture in the 4th file of your pictures in your computer and describe the picture. This is pic was taken last spring of Carly when she and I were crappie fishing off our dock. No belly pics here! :) And I'm sure glad I don't have to clean those today!

We tried...

2009-01-25T09:29:00.000-08:00

Emily and I tried ice fishing in our neighbor's ice shack. Last week this was the hot spot for large sunnies and northerns. Well we didn't do so well Saturday. Only 7 sunfish and 5 crappies. Emily did catch a tree about 4 times. Neighbor warned us about that hole as he has around 10 lures lost to it as well.

Back On Blue!

2009-01-10T19:26:00.000-08:00

Mike and I took our neighbor out ice fishing on Blue Lake this morn. The old guy has been so itching to get out and ice fish. Since most of the lakes around here including ours have serious slush problems it has been difficult to fish. In fact, Mike managed to get two of our snowmobiles stuck in the middle of our lake last night. Andy helped get both out...one last night and the other this afternoon.

First...we decided to try Mikey's nightmarish backwoods route to the lake. (I can't believe he took Brianne down that trail !!!) my thoughts...I was in back seat and no way to get out of truck but did keep my mouth shut (my wide eyeballs might have been seen by Mike in rear view mirror)...so we backed up and drove another 15 minutes back nightmare trail to the main access. We went out on lake as far as well-travelled trail took us and then set up lines. This area was definitely not like our "Honey Hole" but Mike was able to catch 2 northerns and lost more of course to the trees. I was panfishing and didn't have the touch today...I needed Mikey's girlfriend Brianne's anger to catch them I guess. Charlie caught a few perch. Tomorrow we (Mike) are hauling Charlie's shack out to that lake so Charlie can drive out himself to do more fishing. You should see this guy with his diamond willow cane with ice pick bottom in that snow-packed ice! I was a nervous wreck!

Ice Fishing Again!

2009-01-06T21:11:00.000-08:00

Mike, Mikey and I drove up to Red Lake today. It wasn't a hot bite but we managed to catch around 10 fish. We kept one wallhanger crappie that Mikey caught and 5 walleyes that were under 17 inches. There is a slot on that lake where all walleyes between 17 and 26 inches have to be released back into the water so our nice 18 1/2 inchers took our minnows and took a dive back down the holes.

The Best Dressed Swimmers!

2008-12-27T22:13:00.000-08:00

Sarah and Cole

We had a Splashing Good Time!

2008-12-27T21:50:00.001-08:00

Mikey & Andy Great Grandpa????

Andy & Dan

Andy being Andy

Fun in the pool at Christmastime!

2008-12-27T21:35:00.000-08:00

Great Gram

Anna getting Grandpa tired doing laps around the pool.

Sarah and Great Gram

We were kicked out of the house today...

2008-12-19T22:33:00.000-08:00

Mike had a 2 hour overseas conference call with work this morning and wanted quiet...so off the boys and I went...to Blue Lake!

Of course Mikey caught the biggest fish!

Future fish fry!

Proud Parents!

2008-12-13T20:01:00.000-08:00

We drove down to Menomonie, Wisconsin today for Mikey's graduation from UW Stout after staying overnight at Emily, Jamie and Anna's house. Andy also drove down from Bemidji earlier to icefish and party with his brother. We sat with Andy and Mikey's beautiful girlfriend Breanne (sp) at the ceremony and then had a nice buffet dinner at the college after. We then drove to Mikey's rental house by college to trade vehicles with him so he could haul all his furniture and clothing back to Buck Lake in a few days. Way to go son! Magna Cum Laude too!

Video that has been giving me fits!

2008-12-04T10:49:00.000-08:00

Clarifying Somethings...

2008-12-02T19:26:00.000-08:00

Emily stated on her blog that we were robbed again on Thanksgiving. We weren't robbed...we were vandalized again! As I predicted...deer are everywhere now after rifle season!!! All our fruit tree's branches torn down if under 7 feet high. And I mean torn down!!! Cedar tree that was becoming so nice next to house now barenaked. Deer tracks everywhere in yard even with 3 dogs who probably slept through the whole devastation!!! I'm sorry Carren but they are becoming rodents in my mind that taste good! We were only gone one night over Thanksgiving...they are so bold now that they are coming every night! Andy busted a mess of them a few nights ago around 3AM by our front door. I am even contemplating buying a muzzleloader license and use Mikey's new gun that came today!

I'm still a totally dummy on a funny video I was supposed to post. I can't even view on puter when putting sd card in although I can view it on my camera??? Any help from my puternerd daughters would be appreciated.

We have ICE!

2008-11-26T21:52:00.000-08:00

My hunting deer is over for this year. I will now see them daily everywhere! I did have one opportunity...on a nice buck. Too close to find in scope on gun sitting in my son in-law's stand. I'm happy that I finally saw one while freezing my tush for days!
My two sons went ice fishing today! I guess I have to make more slip knots! Just in time too! Mike and I ate the last fresh water fish in our freezer last night. Mikey finally home to show me what to do with all the salmon and halibut.

Buck Snort Did It Again,,,

2008-11-14T16:47:00.000-08:00

Mikey shot another deer tonight. Button Buck we put on my bonus tag. He also arrowed a trophy 10 pointer last week in Wisconsin and shot a big doe opening day of rifle season up here. He butchered the doe before I got my camera out last week. The guys are now figuring out what kind of sausages, jerky, bacon...to have made. Me...I haven't seen any kind of 4 legged creatures in the woods...just more stupid grouse. I think I'll stick to fishing.

What My Dog Does While We Are Hunting...

2008-11-14T10:50:00.000-08:00

Reads...

Andy's Dry Spell Is Over...

2008-11-14T10:24:00.000-08:00

Shot while phone texting...

A Very Stupid Bird...

2008-10-31T15:28:00.000-07:00

First I had to brake for this bird in our driveway coming home from work. It then flew and almost smacked into the big cruiser boat. It landed in the fruit trees and liked what was there. I came out with camera instead of gun or Gunny. It didn't even do the nervous clucking when I approached. I don't think this bird will live long when the guys get home or Gunny gets him.

MY Pumpkin

2008-10-28T19:37:00.001-07:00

This took too long to carve!

Last Ride Before Going Home

2008-10-19T12:49:00.000-07:00

Mike with our granddaughter Anna and nephew Cole...

What The Guys Did During The Day...

2008-10-18T21:18:00.000-07:00

A Night Of Pumpkin Carving...

2008-10-18T20:06:00.000-07:00

Butting Heads

2008-10-18T09:27:00.001-07:00

Having A Ball In The Fall!

2008-10-18T09:02:00.000-07:00

More Fun With Anna

2008-10-16T18:28:00.001-07:00

We Have a Pumpkin In The House!

2008-10-16T05:58:00.000-07:00

Random Rage #8

2008-10-12T14:57:00.000-07:00

I think I'll save iron and ditch outboard motor that hates me. My knee and that kill switch! Kill switch almost sent me swimming today again. Trying to fish holding switch in by myself in wind...I said some bad words that nobody heard up until I got to our dock.

I've Been Tagged?

2008-10-11T15:38:00.000-07:00

I guess I am going to follow my son Andy and just write...

7 Random Facts About Me...

#1 I can't sew...don't wan't too learn either. That is what talented relatives are for.

#2 I've been a closet collector of old fishing lures for over 30 years and know names of most...and I love learning anything about them!

#3 My favorite food is...roasted marshmallows done to just brown all over. I ate one whole bag full once at the Brainerd funplace...then went nightfishing by myself. Gave birth to my youngest of five a few hours later...long story. I still love them... marshmallows and Andy too somehow after that!

#4 I want my old '76 Cutlass with the T-Bar Top I special ordered in metal flake blue to match my old racing boat back!

#5 I love to read books, newpapers, magazines...about anything and everything.

#6 After this weekend...I think I will toss my spendy iron in lake after getting new curtains done! What a nightmare job for me! My mother can attest to this...she always did my ironing! I absolutely detest that invention and always will!

#7 Frozen dead dogs don't revive when placed next to wood burning stove in my kitchen and I didn't freak... just remember forever!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM!!!

2008-09-29T07:43:00.000-07:00

Have A GREAT Day!!!

Dueling Pianos

2008-09-28T08:55:00.000-07:00

Heidi came over for supper last night. Fun to hear real music come from these...

Having Fun With Anna, Cole and Sara

2008-09-27T06:30:00.000-07:00

Mike and I were priviledged to babysit Anna and my brother Dan's kids on Thursday because of a daycare emergency. We also watched Anna on Friday. We had a great time! We went to the park near Em and Jamie's home in the morning so Mike could get some business done on his computer using high speed internet for a change.

On Friday we had to get out of the house in the morning with Anna, Quincy and our dog Gunny. Em and Jamie had their first showing of their home. We all piled into our truck and headed to Great Grandpa Walsh's house. We all survived the trip and came back to Em's loaded with beautiful furniture great grandpa had made...a desk for Em, a miniature upright piano for Carly and a miniature grand piano for me! Mike and I left for Buck Lake after Em and Jamie got home from work and we played with Anna for a little while more. What a grand time we had until...we drove into a severe lightning storm with high winds and torential rain between MaGregor and Jacobson, MN. (The furniture survived but Gunny might have been traumatized since he was in the back also in his kennel.)

Em and I went shopping Thursday night and I bought a new laptop! Thank heavens Andy is home this weekend to help me with this thing! I now have lots of memory...at least computerwise. :-)

First Time In My Life...

2008-09-18T00:29:00.000-07:00

I finally got the first black eye of my life...on day of Anna's big bash birthday party slipping on wet grass into truck door. Eye looked good then with only a golf ball size temple bump. Black and Blue has gravitated big time now to left eye. Very embarassing when grocery shopping at local small town store! Thank heavens no kids with cameras are around!!!!

Pineapple Upside Down Cake with Leeches for Dessert!

2008-08-31T18:05:00.000-07:00

Stef had a little trouble with that funky mixer I won in fishing tournament making that tasty cake. Her shorts were almost good to eat...

Hmmm...Bernie looks like a Softer Ride!

2008-08-31T17:57:00.000-07:00

Riding With Grandpa!

2008-08-31T17:07:00.000-07:00

Labor Day Weekend

2008-08-31T16:37:00.000-07:00

What can I get into next?

Future Olympic swimmer!

WHOOPIE!!!!

2008-08-25T21:10:00.000-07:00

Burning the mortgage party and all those cardboard boxes that were supposed to go in that campfire last weekend this coming weekend!!! We even got a nice check back today stating I paid too much on final payment !

Downside is...I'm working 3-11 all week and for the next two months on a government project...180,000 Military dog tag covers. Hmmm.... Upside is...Mikey is home to feed us royally for the week (he made a taco soup to die for from our left over taco night stuff!) and I get to have Anna next Saturday when her mom and dad get down and dirty 4-wheeling!!! I'll get my camera shooting pics then!

Mikey and I are going out on Buck in the morn...hopefully Sonfish will still have his fishmagnet charm! Carly and I didn't have much luck off our dock this past weekend. Weeny sunnies hiding under our dock and teenager sunnies within casting distance were our only catches. Windy conditions and the COLD were a factor!

They Have Flown The Coop!

2008-07-26T18:29:00.000-07:00

Wildlife Tell!!!

2008-07-23T21:41:00.001-07:00

First Robin has her brood and I make a comment about being a Grandma again...Andy and I get to see the largest fish of our lives two days later. Those creatures were just preparing us for...ANOTHER GRANDCHILD ON THE WAY that will make all of our family giddy again! Best wishes Carly and Josh!!!

These guys send their LOVE as well!...they aren't so bad lookin now after MOTHERLY LOVE!

Shakin in the boat...

2008-07-21T20:28:00.000-07:00

Andy and I went fishing yesterday on Spider Lake. The last time I fished that lake was with Carren too many years ago. Andy and I read the maps and info...good smallmouth bass lake, designated musky lake...yadda yadda. Andy is a manic bass catcher and had never caught a smallie and this looked like the nearest...closest best bet to catch one. First three hours we caught over 30 northerns and largemouth bass and having a ton of fun catch and releasing although all were small and not what Andy really wanted to catch. I finally decided to catch and keep some nice sunfish that were hovering around boat for Grandpa Walsh in Rosemount. Andy had finally caught what he wanted...a nice 2 1/2 lb. smallmouth bass and so did I only a much smaller one. For some odd reason, he decided to throw a large antique McHarg bucktail spinner I had in tackle box for awhile. I was busy with this huge school of sunnies. Andy then screamed...and I mean SCREAMED!!! "MA! Look!!!"

Andy had the biggest darn freshwater fish following his lure I've ever seen!!! It was a Musky! The fish of 10,000 casts. Andy only cast this large lure 3 times. This fish followed lure right up to boat for us to get a great look at it and then casually swam away. It was twice the size of Mikey's 17 lb. northern on our wall I'm positive!

When we both calmed down, I had to get into the act and rigged up a contraption of two lures in one to make it large enough for this fish. This musky surfaced and rolled top water 3 more times within casting distance and followed Andy's lure once again. We fished hard for this beast for way over an hour.

It started to rain and then lightning strikes were near so we had to get off lake. On drive home both of us thought about that fish. If one of us had caught that thing there was no way we would have gotten it in the boat and I did have a fairly large net along. I had one other shaken in the boat with Carren and learned my lesson about nets! I guess I didn't... :/

Here's a few funfish we caught that are now probably food for that Musky!

Worms Anyone?

2008-07-18T19:24:00.000-07:00

Open Door Policy

2008-07-15T19:13:00.000-07:00

I mentioned once before about open door policy for a few people up here in the northwoods. We now have an avian creature that is treated this way as well...Mama Robin Walsh. She liked Mike's garage that he puts his truck in and made a nest atop some auto supplies so...no closing of garage door for awhile. She has attacked me every morn for over a week when I go to my car to get to work. As I was out tonight to restock bird feeders and give dogs a swim in the lake, Robin came out to watch I guess. She actually let me reach up with my camera to see what was in that nest! I'm a Grandma again!

Fish Feast

2008-07-06T08:29:00.000-07:00

Last night we had grilled salmon from Mikey in Alaska, fried sunfish Em and Jamie caught earlier in the day and a northern pike from one of our ice fishing expeditions and a smoked turkey for the non-fish eater in our family (Stef). Stef made a tasty seasoned potato bake and Em made a lemon raspberry dessert. Everything was yummy!

Grandpa and Anna Taking A Nap

2008-07-04T16:34:00.000-07:00

Well, one of them is.

Buck Lake Babysitters

2008-07-04T16:10:00.000-07:00

Emily and Jamie went 4-wheeling with friends today up here in Nashwauk. Mike and I are babysitting Anna with help from Stefanie. We had fun in the new pool and swing.

The Not-So-Good Week For This Family...

2008-06-25T15:26:00.000-07:00

Chef Mikey in Alaska removed from his abode in Alaska because of mold and put into a tent with spiders...geez! I'll trade bats for them! Brown Bears I WON'T!!! One sick employee had to go home for the summer. Mikey has had enough dealings with doctors for the past year!

Emily and Anna in St. Paul...well, I've been there, done that kind of thing with her and her sibs many times when they were little so I can really relate to that! Her card reader or whatever is wrong technically...I really can't relate to except when my computer went bonkers and I lost my easy Ebay photo download thingy. Thank heavens she still has most of the pics.

Now Nashwauk...The freekin mosquitoes are driving us all nuts! We first enjoyed all the rain up here to bring lake waters up. It seems those nasty little buzzing critters enjoy it more...Now I WANT TO SEE the BATS that eat them! Not in my house though...

It Looked Like Christmas Around Here Last Night!

2008-06-21T08:21:00.000-07:00

I drove home from Brainerd last night at 8:30 hauling a truck full of ash logs from Gram and Gramps place. I had to brake for...5 does with fawns crossing highways, a porkypine, two fox and...a BIG Black Bear. My dog Gunny went absolutely nuts when he saw that bear and I was so loaded down with gear inside truck that I almost rolled down window to let the hound hop out! Sorry no pics but camera was in back seat and I haven't figured out my new cell phone camera yet... I arrived home at 11:00PM...20 minutes before Mike the Dad came home from Tampa, FL.

When I arrived home there were packages inside house...Women Angler purchases from Tournament and a package from Chef Mikey. Jeff the UPS man and our Mailman have open door policy to our home...Mikey sent his dad and myself Columbia shirts with logos from where he works. NICE! Thanks son!!! We will wear them proudly!

Turtle Soup Tonight!

2008-06-19T19:25:00.000-07:00

Gram, Gramp and I were sitting on the boat trailer this evening looking at a beautiful rainbow. Across the lawn came this creature heading for the lake. Gunny didn't know what to make of that thing! I had to grab him before he lost a nose to that snapper.

Happy Father's Day to Mike!

2008-06-14T12:25:00.000-07:00

Mike went shopping this morning...apparently not just for gas for lawnmower. He said this was his Father's Day gift from me. Thank you Mr. Perch and Mr. Bass from Women Angler's Tournament for helping pay for this!

It isn't set into cedarstrip boat entertainment center quite right yet but we couldn't wait to see if we liked the plasma hdtv. We do!!!

Mike liked Emily's and Stefanie's televisions so well this past week while he was in the cities that he just had to have one of them for himself to watch the basketball playoffs.

All That Practice Paid Off!

2008-06-08T18:02:00.000-07:00

Carly took home some cash with this fish at the WAM tournament! We have Stefanie to thank for this spot that I also cashed in on...An errant cast into a floating bog and getting lure stuck in it took us into a HOT SPOT!

Goofy Gunny!

2008-05-31T12:37:00.000-07:00

Need I say more...rocks on the brain this dog has.

I Have This Bird...

2008-05-31T12:09:00.000-07:00

That comes into my feeders. It is a well-fed Mourning Dove. This morning it decided to take a nap after eating...

Mike running lawn mower, two red squirrels running circles around it to find scraps of seed didn't faze this bird. All it took was for me to go outside to get a better pic. :/ These pics were taken from my dirty kitchen windows.

Rumor Has It...

2008-05-27T20:03:00.000-07:00

Cell phones are Marvelous!!! Sonfish Mikey is fishing! Andy says...50 pound King...fishermen are soooo tale tellers...fisherwomen show

Hulk Has A Horrible Problem!

2008-05-27T18:00:00.000-07:00

A few posts ago I told you about this parachute toy for Andy. Well...we need a cherry picker to retrieve him this time! It seems that Andy loves to fly his toys amongst trees. Anna will see this poor green thing when she's in college and then she'll have a new super hero up there with The Hulk!

Carly Is Ready For The WAM Fishing Tournament!

2008-05-24T20:21:00.000-07:00

Carly and I caught these nice crappies off our dock tonight.

More Dock Fishing

2008-05-21T19:41:00.000-07:00

We caught 6 bass, 3 crappies and 1 northern.

Fishing Off The Dock Tonight

2008-05-21T19:28:00.000-07:00

Mikey is feeling better after his IV of antibiotics yesterday...doctors don't know if it was lyme disease or a terrible case of the flu.

Gunny was up to his same jump in lake after the fish tonight.

My Birds Are Back!

2008-05-18T19:41:00.000-07:00

It was a little windy for the oriole in the tree...

Andy Playing With His New Hulk Toy

2008-05-18T10:44:00.000-07:00

I bought this from a Mexican beach vendor. I couldn't resist.

OOPS!

The little soldier parachute guy has been hanging in our apple tree since Andy was a little boy.

We did manage to retrieve Hulk from harm.

Quick Fix!

2008-05-13T19:32:00.000-07:00

I hit Walmart today after work and bought 5 dozen hangers and a portable wardrobe/closet...blue to match Andy's room. I'm patiently waiting for Andy to assemble. 10 loads of guy things are washed and dried and ready to hang in that thing. If only Andy could get away from that darn new video game... Mikey hit the road again to turkey hunt for a few days before heading to Alaska. Gram wants next bird he shoots for sure again! ;0

College Boys Home!

2008-05-09T18:34:00.000-07:00

I think I kinda liked the "Empty Nest Syndrome". I absolutely have no idea where I am going to put all those two guys stuff!!!! This is what I came home to this afternoon...this is only from ONE son. I had this bedroom clean and set up for our little Anna!!!

More Damn Bats!!!

2008-05-09T18:05:00.000-07:00

I am over my life under blankets at home...dog did finally get that one...cornered it in bathroom. Today...Barb...a friend, neighbor and coworker...had one come out at her when using seldom used fax machine at work. Barb can be loud at times...today was exceptional! We could hear her screams over plastic injection molding presses running at the time. If these critters would only stay outside...

What Men Do When Women Aren't Around...

2008-05-06T20:30:00.000-07:00

Mike and Rich...guys with so many brains flowing between them...had an oops day today. I did see that our cabin cruiser boat was on blocks...not trailer when I got home from work. I am just so thankful nobody got hurt! Story and maybe pics will follow later....

My Early Mother's Day Gift...

2008-05-06T20:11:00.000-07:00

From my youngest baby...Thanks Andy!

Andy bought me the best crappie rod ever!!!! After work today I had to go to local L&M Fleet store to buy paint for our 1955 year model metal dock. Mike sandblasted old paint today and we are trying to get ready for Minnesota Fishing Opener! I had to walk by fishing aisle and couldn't resist...Andy gave me a spendy rod and I just had to put a spendy reel on it! Now...if the fish will bite!

Birds On The Lake

2008-05-04T06:23:00.001-07:00

These birds were out on the lake this morning before we headed to church.

First Sign of Spring!!!

2008-05-01T19:47:00.000-07:00

I will now not sleep well tonight...first bat flying around in my house!!! I like those ugly creatures because of their mosquito eating ability and will tolerate them flying around my head when out fishing but NOT inside my home...especially when there is still snow outside! Gunny had him once...and then the chicken mutt crawled into my chair curling up undercover of blankies with me. My husband...well...he just went to bed and had this little "snicker" curl to his lip when Gunny couldn't finish off the beast. Sometimes...living up in the woods is not so fun... :-/ I think I need a "help" license on Gunny's collar as well. I am now admitting this...all creatures, great and small...please don't be a bat or a snake in my hall!

Check Out the License Plate!

2008-04-30T18:17:00.000-07:00

Carly did some photo wizardry with my pic. Your dad loved it Carly!

No Dust In The Wind Here!

2008-04-29T18:15:00.000-07:00

As I was Instant Messaging Emily, Mike finally came home from ATVing around here. Since I heard no motor sounds...I knew I was going on a ride too. Mike's OLD Polaris decided it would throw a chain mid-waterhole. He had to hike the 2 miles home to get me and our Yamaha. Well...I shoulda known better...don't wear brand new jeans doing this! Give me Mexican Mountain dust any time! This Iron Ore muck sucks!

Again...More Snow!

2008-04-27T09:19:00.000-07:00

Freddie's kennel will never be the same after the first April biggie snowstorm. We also lost a tree by the cabin due to that storm. Mikey will have to get out his chainsaw when he comes home from college before heading up to Alaska. (I will definitely make him use a helmet this time!!!)

Mike took off the cover on the cabin cruiser during the short warmup to work on it...well, now he's using electric power tools in snow!

2008-04-22T19:15:00.000-07:00

2008-04-22T19:02:00.000-07:00

Dust, Wind and Water!

2008-04-22T18:50:00.001-07:00

Wild Old Farts!

2008-04-22T18:26:00.001-07:00

Mike and I went to Mexico a week before our 31st Wedding Anniversary...well...we pretended we were on our 1st I guess because we did some wild things!!! We went ATVing up in the mountains, Zip Lining down mountains and Ocean Fishing. My camera will never be the same after dusty ATV trip... My insides are now back to norm after that Zip Line thing...Mike and I were at least twice the age of the others...When on our 10 hour fishing trip we caught Yellow Fin Tuna and Mike caught a tournament class Durado (Mahi Mahi). We were fishing among many other boats 40 miles out of Puerto Vallarta. We were the only ones who had success in this off season for fishing. We gave our fish to our Captain and his Mate. In return...they made us Sebeche (sp) right on the boat. I always said that I'll never eat raw fish. Well...I did and it was delicious!!! We also saw 3 Humpback Whales, around 20 Sea Turtles, numerous Dolphins, and 3 Manta Rays...one that swam under our boat! It was Huge!!!! My pics of fish aren't great because Mike and I always caught them at same time. He has the honors of biggest fish in both species.

Mexico

2008-04-22T18:04:00.000-07:00

I wanna go back!!!! We stayed at the Royal Decameron in Bucerius, Mexico. Bucerius is a little town 15 miles from Puerto Vallarta and more laid back than the big town. Of course we got the vendors on the beach but not as much. This resort we were at had at least one employee to every person staying there and every one of them were so nice! We wanted to adopt one of our waiters! Here's a few pics of hotel and "other" guests...

No Snow!

2008-04-22T17:32:00.002-07:00

I still have this darn song in my head...On the Road Again. I just had to get in a vehicle again...to get food! I don't know what Mike and Andy ate while Carly and I were on our trip but my fridge looked like it does when Chef Mikey does a cleanout! The Eskimo dogs are now mudfoot dogs. Gunny looks good...I wonder how long it took Mikey to even out his bad furcut. Emily was blogging about Anna's new separation anxiety...hmmm....Gunny must have caught the sickness too or else he is just reliving his attack from Merlin the Monster Cat at Em's!

Is It Ever Going To Stop Snowing?

2008-04-06T16:54:00.001-07:00

Carly and I are waiting for snow to slide off cabin roof. Two feet of the darn stuff has fallen since last night.

Carly and Andy are stuck here for the night. Eight more inches are predicted.

Puerto Vallarta...we are coming Tuesday! Even if we have to snowshoe to the airport!

Eskimo Dogs

2008-04-06T16:44:00.000-07:00

Bad Hair Dog

2008-03-25T15:50:00.000-07:00

Carly has a better pic of 3 of our family dogs on her blog. Gunny was too embarrassed to be in her pic because of his looks.

Stef and her dad decided to give Gunny a haircut last Friday...well...I don't think I'll hire them again! Mikey took the clippers with him to Wisconsin to try and even his coat out. Mikey now has my dog for one month of dogsitting while Mike and I are in Mexico and when Carly and I drive Grandma and Grandpa Walsh's van back from Arizona. It will be interesting to see how he reacts to coming back to the northwoods next month! Hope he has a better look!

Sonfish/Chef Mikey catching all the fish!!!

2008-03-24T15:41:00.000-07:00

After working at Tackle Tamer for one week driving us both nuts, Mikey and I decided to go in 2 hours early last Friday so we could get one last fishing hurrah in the afternoon before he had to go back to college. Our secret lake produced a limit of crappies for us. I caught 5...Mikey caught 15 keepers. Of course, he threw back many more...I just followed him and the 30 holes he drilled.

So Big!

2008-03-23T19:43:00.000-07:00

Andy and Anna on Anna's New Quilt

2008-03-23T19:34:00.000-07:00

Aunty Carly made.

More Easter Pics

2008-03-23T19:17:00.000-07:00

Say Ahhhhh....

2008-03-23T19:12:00.000-07:00

Anna and Her Easter Bunny

2008-03-23T19:04:00.001-07:00

For Carren

2008-03-18T21:54:00.000-07:00

Remember When? ;)

Why do I get this Email from Gram?

2008-03-11T20:25:00.000-07:00

Minnesota Luck

Ole, a furniture dealer from up at Brainerd MN, decided to expand the line of furniture in his store, so he decided to go to Paris to see what he could find.

After arriving in Paris he visited with some manufacturers and selected a line that he thought would sell well back home. To celebrate the new acquisition, he decided to visit a small bistro and have a glass of wine As he sat enjoying his wine, he noticed that the small place was quite crowded, and that the other chair at his table was the only vacant seat in the house.

Before long, a very beautiful young Parisian girl came to his table,asked him something in French (which Ole couldn't understand), so he motioned to the vacant chair and invited her to sit down. He tried tospeak to her in English, but she did not speak his language so, after a couple of minutes of trying to communicate with her, he took a napkin and drew a picture of a wine glass and showed it to her. She nodded, sohe ordered a glass of wine for her.

After sitting together at the table for a while, he took another napkin,and drew a picture of a plate with food on it, and she nodded. They left the bistro and found a quiet cafe that featured a small group playing romantic music. They ordered dinner, after which he took another napkin and drew a picture of a couple dancing. She nodded, and they got up to dance.They danced until the cafe closed and the band was packing up.

Back at their table, the young lady took a napkin and drew a picture of a four-poster bed. To this day, Ole has no idea how she figured out he was in the furniture business. Dad's woodwork might not be a four poster but... :)

Andy Praying That His Snowmobile Will Keep Running!

2008-03-11T20:01:00.000-07:00

In the mountains of Wyoming last week.

What kids will do to stress their moms!

What We All Looked Like After Chef Mike's Sat. Nite Feast

2008-03-02T11:22:00.000-08:00

Look what we got our guys to do on Saturday!

2008-03-02T11:15:00.000-08:00

Go to a Bridal Shower!!!!!

Good Thing I Didn't Clean MY Carpet!

2008-02-22T22:18:00.000-08:00

Andy brought this snowmobile track into livingroom for dad...dad had a mishap with his...geez!!!! Can't this be done outside?

Isn't It Grand To Be Grandparents!

2008-02-22T20:04:00.000-08:00

Carren, some of the pics on Anna's Blog I took. When the girls take pics of me...I usually blink and get laughed at!

I got my passport today...no blinking on pic but not good!

Where Did That HAIR Go?

2008-02-22T19:32:00.000-08:00

A Little Bird With Big Ideas

2008-02-22T18:57:00.000-08:00

Here goes my first trial post without help from Em. I was at Inga's place on Tues. and Weds. and steamcleaned carpets. It was below zero outside but I needed to cool off on deck. This woodpecker didn't seem to mind my intrusion.

On the drive home Weds. night I watched the lunar eclipse. I tried to take pics of it when I got home. Best one is this funky double vision one...

Can I Have Some of that HAIR Uncle Andy!

2008-02-16T07:27:00.000-08:00