I Moved

Due to space issues this blog has moved here.

Please come find me.

Pretty please!?!

HEY YOU GUYS!!!!!

I need help!! (Imagine that!)

Seems I have filled up my blog space, well 96% of it anyway. Go figure, a quiet shy thing like me filling up my blog space!!

So my dilemma is, what to do about it?????

What I'd really LIKE to do is purchase more blog space and keep this very same little ole blog going. BUT - - - I cannot find any place on blogger that offers me that option, or any other suggestions for that matter.

My second idea is to begin a new blog and link the old one as one big archive. My worry about that is Blogger could decide it is "idle" too long and delete the whole thing.

So - - - - all you blogging brilliants out there - - - - WHAT DO I DO?????

Back Home - - -

All of our kids, except Korie, were here to greet us last evening when we returned!!!

Kelly and his lovely girlfriend, Cathy. Greg presented her with this "small" diamond and said if his son was slow about asking her, we all wanted her to know that we love her and WE want to marry her!!! Hehehehehehehe Grins all around


Mackinley and Papoo reunited on the porch!!!


Piper's first trip to Papoo's house!!!


Mackinley antics - - - notice the cookie in his hand.


He made himself right at home.

Fur

This and the next two posts finish off my Northwoods Vacation saga. They really go together: Fur, Feathers, and Fins. Enjoy!!

The main furry creature that we saw in the Northwoods was Cheney - - - our vacation dog. He kinda "comes with" the cabin, belonging to the owner, Terry. He stops by several times each day for a visit and a snack.

We also saw deer, rabbits, squirrels, and a fox - - - but didn't manage to capture them with digi cam.

While fishing at Grindstone Lake one day, Greg, Mark, and Bob saw two bears on shore. If you look closely near the white boat rack on the left side of this video, you will see a black spot running left toward the woods. That is a bear cub. Mama bear was nearby and they also took a video of her - - - but for the LIFE OF ME I cannot find her in said video!!

Feathers - - -

We spotted quite a few of our feathered friends in the Northwoods. Too bad those feathered friends wouldn't hold still to pose before my camera - - -

Several times we saw a small flock of wild turkeys on the same road bank. I managed to catch a fleeting shot of one.


We take hummingbird feeders and always enjoy their frenzied antics. This is a female Ruby-Throated at our feeder. Notice the water line in the feeder - - - these birds have voracious appetites!!! Greg refilled the feeders about every other day.


Papa Ruby-Throat.


Red-Headed Woodpecker. This little scoundrel appeared often in our trees, but was very adept at hide-and-seek with my camera.


Cedar Waxwing. My only life-time sighting of this particular little beauty.


Loons. We are simply LOONY about loons. Here is an adult with a juvenile. Look closely for the red eye on mama.


Entire loon family. One parent has a fish in it's beak ready to feed the young.


On water these birds are all grace - - - different story when they go on land to nest.


Sand Hill Cranes.


Greg radioed in from the boat one evening that there were pelicans on the lake. I responded that we don't have pelicans in the Northwoods of Wisconsin, it must be something else. He, being a Floridian said, "Keetha, I know my pelicans!!!!" To which I asked what he'd been drinking!!!! Well - - - he snapped this picture - - - and what do you think? PELICANS.


Later in town he told the "experts" at the fly fishing store that he'd sighted pelicans. Their first question, "Was alcohol involved?" He promptly showed them this picture to which they said, "Those are pelicans all right!!!

Pelicans!!! In the Northwoods!!! Go figure.

They were only on the lake one evening and the following morning. We guess they were migrating from Lake Superior (which does from time to time have some pelicans) south.

And Fins - - - -

For Greg vacation is all about the fins!!

Northern Pike


Large Mouth by sunset


Maybe this was the 5 pounder bass - - - not sure since I neither fish nor was in the boat when he did.


"Kiss my bass."


Does little count?

Madtown Madness

Last year we started a new vacation tradition of stopping in Madison on our way home so I can make an annual pilgrimage to Camp Randall Stadium and just soak up the vibes.

This year I reserved a room in a downtown hotel so we could enjoy the whole university ambiance.

As soon as we arrived, hubby collapsed on the comfy bed and began to snore - - - LOUDLY.

I let him rest before we set out to walk to the stadium. I had checked the store hours for Bucky's Locker Room, and it seemed we had plenty of time.

Oh if ONLY those online hours had been correct - - - -


On the way, we passed the Kohl Center where the Badgers play basketball. Nice place - - - - but NOT the football stadium.


Camp Randall is just oozing with history, having been the camp that housed Wisconsin's Union Soldiers and held Confederate Prisoners of War during our Civil war.


This will give you all I know about that history.

And that's it - - - - that's ALL I'VE GOT for this trip to Camp Randall because though the web page PROMISED me the store was open on Saturday until 7 PM, the sign on the tightly locked, DARK store itself said it closed at 5 - - - - and of course we got there at 5:30. BUMMER

But - - - - we didn't let that totally spoil our evening. We found an eclectic little burger joint called "Dotty's." Yummy burgers.


Interesting decor.


Truer words were never written - - -


And what's this hand doing coming right through the wall?????

After we ate, we found a "lesser" sports wear store - - - -


And this is the loot we came away with. Guess which hoodie is mine.

Oh, of COURSE the coffee mug is mine and I'll share ONE insignia with hubby for his truck - - - the others are MINE. I have plans for SOME of them to adorn the windows in my classroom this fall.

And that is all the Madness we could stand for ONE day!!!

Last Northwoods Day - - -

On our way into town on Friday, we ran into this traffic jam on County "F." Honestly, how do the folks up here cope with such busy roads????


And we were forced to drive past this eyesore. Just look at those white birch trunks against that green pine background - - - hideous!!!

Hope you know facetious when you see it. :-)


Meet Rosie. One of my blogging friends, Heather, left me a comment saying her M-I-L works across the street from West's Dairy.

Sunday when Greg and I accidentally were at cross purposes (surprise, surprise) I stopped in at Rosie's shop and introduced myself. She was absolutely lovely in every way and took pity on me, a poor "street walker" at that time. ;-)

Friday on our last trip into town I went by to chat with her one more time, snap this picture, and say good-bye.

BTW - - - isn't that picture of the red Wisconsin barn in the background AWESOME??? I really wanted to buy it, but managed to resist the temptation.

A Farewell to the Library

This is it. That sad day that always comes - - - the last day of vacation. Bright and early we will be leaving the northwoods and our little cabin.

This is my last blogging session from the library. I have enjoyed this library - - - it has been an awesome place from which to blog.

This was my favorite library blogging niche. Unfortunately, it must also be the favorite of a lot of people because I couldn't use it every day.


But today as I make this final northwoods post, I AM sitting just like this at my favorite round table.

When I finish posting I always let hubby check his e-mail - - -


And his Facebook.

Tomorrow evening I will blog from our hotel in Mad Town on the way home. Once home, I have one last northwoods post to do, I'm still collecting pictures for that one.

Anyway - - - you have really helped make this vacation fun. I've had more hits and comments on my blog each day than ever before in any other two week period of my entire blogging history. Thanks!!!

I HOPE I can come up with more fun from home to keep you coming back.

TTFN

Or as the CBers say, "over and out."

A Touch of History - - -

When I was a little girl and up until two or three summers ago, this historic building was the Hayward Library. Even though the new library is lovely, I was really missing the old one. New buildings just don't have the, well the HISTORY of the old ones!!!

So imagine my DELIGHT to find that someone has purchased, restored, and lovingly renewed the library building!!! It is now a shop, Madonna Rae's, just brimming with ambiance!!!


As you enter the front door you are greeted by this quaint little horse bench.


Advertising art adorns the entryway walls.


Just look at all this wood!!! The entryway is split three ways - - - straight ahead is the stairway to the basement and on either side of it stairs to the main level. This is the right hand set of stairs to the upper level.


The shop is arranged and decorated so as to show off the architectural features of the building. They even saved the library service desk which is now the cashier's counter.


Dressing rooms


Their inventory ranges from furniture to toys and everything in between.


In the basement you'll find Persian rugs, antique armoires, book shelves and - - -


One really old antique!

Vacation "Clips"

AWESOME cloud bank


More "meeses" - - - - Gary Moose (My friend Geezer)

And Keetha Moose.


Musky anyone?


Getting ready for the fall College Football season!


This is what Greggie does at the library if he has to wait for me to finish blogging AFTER he's made his rounds of all the tackle shops!!!

Meet Kate

Kate Karibalis. For all the years we've been coming to Hayward and eating at Karb's, she's been our waitress - - - well, most of the time anyway. Her dad started the restaurant which is now owned by her sister and B-I-L.

Anyway, Kate KNOWS what my favorite dish is, and she KNOWS that it's been off the menu for over a year, and she KNOWS I really want to have it again!!! So - - - bless her heart, she sweet talked the chef and just looky here:



Shrimp Scampi Venetienne!! In case you can't see it, those are large shrimp with chicken breast wrapped around them lying on a bed of wild rice and covered with some delectable sauce. Really yummy!!!

Thank you Kate AND Chef for doing this for me. I owe you both a big time feet kissing!!!!!


Greg ate well too with steak, shrimp, and hashbrowns.

You KNOW You're in the Northwoods When - - -

In order to travel from point "A" to point "B" you drive through a lot of this - - -


And then some of this - - -


And finish off the trip with some of this!!!


You see plenty of these, paper birches.


The lakes are natural and look like this.


McDonalds and - - -


Subway, and LOTS of other places are made of logs!!


You see trucks like this rolling through town multiple times every day - - -


All those logs in all those buildings have to come from SOMEWHERE ya know!!! And also - - - all that paper you use has to come from somewhere too!! NOT TO WORRY - - - trees are renewable.


The water towers still look like this.


You run across displays like this, and see these chairs in nearly every yard.


And LAST BUT NOT LEAST - - - you KNOW you're in the Northwoods when you can find THESE for sale!!!! :-)

Some Tuesday Randomness - - -

I think this is all I've got for today! So, let me close out my posting with a little randomness from last week while Mark and Jennie were still here. They headed home early Sunday morning.

We enjoyed a meal at another of our favorite places - - - the patio of Karibalis on Main Street in Hayward.


Peaceful, relaxing, AND good food!!!!


What can I say about this?

Ya'll come back now - - - I'm still collecting pictures for two very special posts (well, I think they are anyway)

Place Full of Contrasts - - -

Perhaps you've heard of Famous Dave's Bar-B-Que, they have them all over the US now, but the ORIGINAL is here in Hayward. It is one of our favorite haunts. From the first time I went there, I was struck by the hodge podge that is it's decor - - - - see what I mean:

This rough-hewn bear greets you at the front door, Greggie optional.


High in the rafters you will see - - -


A Northwoods mural.


At the river-rock fireplace, complete with the quintessential log mantle, you will find fine china plates and lamps.


Hanging around the entire perimeter of the main dining area are - - - tin coffee pots and tin cups.

Now, step with me please, into the ladies' room. (It's ok guys - - - you can come for this tour too - - - )


I have never seen sinks like this anywhere else in the world - - - notice the gold fixtures!


The mirrors are framed with bows - - -


And the green tile walls are trimmed with gold. Quite "posh," I'd say!

Now, back out in the main dining room - - -


Each dining table is adorned with a paper towel holder like this!!!!! And you know, if you've been to one, that their signature "dinner" is served on an aluminum garbage can lid.

I'm telling you - - - it's like going to the prom wearing your oldest sneakers under your gown!!!!

What a fun place.

Friends are Friends Forever - - -

While lazing on the couch reading a book early Sunday morning, I was SORELY tempted to stay right there and SKIP going to the Little Pastor in the Woods' church.

But I RESISTED said temptation, got up, and into town we headed.

Oh how GLAD I am that we did so. One of my childhood friends (did I ever mention I LIVED in this town from kindergarten through fifth grade?) was there!!!! Gary, AKA "Geezer" back in the day, was in town visiting his parents. I had not seen him since Teen Camp in 1972!!!!


Geezer's folks - - - Gwen and Owen were also there.


Today Geezer and his mom met us for lunch and we had such JOY reminiscing about old times and catching up. What a treat it was to see them again!!!

Weekend Adventures

Nope - - - a bear did NOT come out of the woods and eat me on Saturday. I was not bothered nor molested by anyone or anything as I sat in front of the library waiting for Greg to come back and get me.

However, on Sunday when I tried to blog (remember - - - the library ISN'T open then) I ran into glitch after glitch trying to get online and stay online at various and sundry places around Hayward.

Finally in desperation I gave up and decided to walk to Greg - - - - only I couldn't find him and walked blocks and blocks in the rather warm sunshine carrying lappy. By the time I found him, I was hot and tired and out of the blogging frame of mind.

I'm trying to make up today for my crass lack of blogativity over the weekend!!!


Other than the blogging faux pas (as if anyone really cared that I missed blogging) we had a fun weekend.


Spent some time on the put-put course - - -


Nope, I didn't win - - - not even close.


We also headed back the West's Dairy


Where we each indulged in our favorite flavors - - -


Mine was chocolate peanut-butter in a waffle cone dish.


Surprise, surprise - - - the boys fished.



And hello!! What is this??? It's a fish, it's a dolphin, it's a submarine - - -


Oh, it's super Greggie snorkeler.

I Took These Myself - - -

With my very own trusty little camera!!!

I know I've posted sunset pictures on here before - - - - but how many beautiful sunsets are too many? No further words necessary

So Now - - -

The library is closed - - - at 3 P.M. on a Saturday afternoon - - - and since Greg, Mark, and Jennie LEFT me here to blog while they made their rounds in Hayward, I'm now SITTING on that bench as previously pictured, blogging in an empty parking lot in the middle of the bear-infested Northwoods. Who's worried about me?

Oh - - - If I get too scared I can call their cell phones and they'll come get me - - - - -

I think - - - -

Eatin' Good in the Neighborhood - - -

Some nice soul cooked us a yummy northwoods breakfast this morning. I won't mention any names, but her initials are Keetha Denise Broyles.


Mark loads up some bacon and egg on toast sandwiches while Cheney begs silently in the background. Cheney is our vacation dog. We don't OWN a dog - - - but Cheney visits us at the cabin every day. We like to believe he loves us - - - but really I think he's making his food rounds!!!


Jennie doesn't love the camera, but she does love Cheney. He KNOWS she'll feed him.


Keri, why do you suppose I cropped this picture EXACTLY this way?????

Don't Moon Me

Grammy requested pictures of the moon over the lake. I don't think my camera is up to doing this particular assignment - - - but I really did try!!! Here are three of what I ended up with.

The Angry Minnow

Yesterday Greg and his two fishing buddies, Mark and Bob, got up before the crack of dawn and drove to another lake to fish until sunset. I'm sure you will be SHOCKED to hear that Jennie and I had zero interest in going along. So - - - we were FORCED to find our own fun.


And THIS is what we found. A new restaurant, The Angry Minnow.


Well, it's new to us anyway. I think it's been open for a couple of years now.


It used to be an antique mall, and long before that a school house.


Just look what they've done with it!!!!


We haven't even stepped inside the door yet!!!!


I'm sure you are all shocked that Jennie and I


Would rather spend our time like this - - -


Than fishing all day - - -


With three smelly guys in a boat!!!!

The Inside Scoop

AKA - - - Virtual tour of "The LIttle Cabin in the Woods."

When you enter the door, this is the view straight ahead. The two small bedrooms are to the right of the bathroom door, which is the door you see.


As you stand in the entry, the dining area (AKA - jig saw puzzle table) is to your left. There are two patio doors onto the deck, this one and the one you saw in the above photo which is on the other side of the TV.


Oh - - - looky what I found on TV!!!!!


This is the main couch area, directly across from the TV and where I got all cozy to watch that classic football game last evening!!!


To the right of the entry is this "L" that is the kitchen.


This is the "big" master bedroom. The other is nearly identical to it, only (believe it or not) a little SMALLER.


Both bedrooms have built-in vanity, armoires. This is the one in the master bedroom - - - complete with computer, which isn't online and thus my daily library trips.


Do I need to explain this room???? There's a full size tub/shower behind the door and you can just barely see the stackable washer/drier beyond the door.

Gull Lake Glory - - -

Not my fishermen - - - but you wouldn't know that if I didn't tell, would ya?


Last light of the day - - -


Shimmering over boat wake.


All's peaceful once again.


Time for the sun - - -


To rest his weary head - - -


And for all the world, to go to bed!!

In Hayward - - -

It's all about the balconies - - -


And the rustic store fronts - - -


Or so it seems to me. Such a fun little place.

It's Gotta Be - - -

Frustrating to get old (er)


Of course I wouldn't know anything about that!!! :-)

More Fun in the Northwoods

Just look what I found in a spa bathroom in Hayward:

Yes, it was JUST like this when I found it and NO I did NOT turn it around just for the picture. I wonder what they would say if they found out their TP was a "star" on my blog!?! Hehehehehehe


Our friends Mark and Jennie have joined us for the rest of this week. Mark is even more crazy about fishing than Greg is!!


And just so you know, we're here too!!!


This is the view from one of our "favorite" places to eat - - - a sidewalk cafe at the Angler.

I wasn't going to do a blog post today - - - I was just going to check in, read comments, and respond to them. BUT - - - after reading your comments I just couldn't resist posting.

It is TRUE that YOU are making our vacation more fun. Even though you aren't here with us in PERSON - - - you are blogging with me and that is adding a very special dimension to the whole trip. I'm telling ya - - - I need to go on vacation more OFTEN, my blog hits are WAY up which tells me while my vacation life may be quite exciting, my regular at-home life is not!!!

I am working on a couple of what I hope will be fun and funny posts - - - but they are going to require a series of pictures and I have yet to capture all of those. So, at this point they are only in my head and in my camera - - - stay tuned - - - there is MORE to come.

Last evening our friends Mark and Jennie arrived. Greggie is sooooo happy to have a fishing buddy and Jenny and I just read and do puzzles to our hearts' content. The three of them are moseying around the shops while I blog. We just finished playing put-put, which I am proud to say I did not lose - - - only came in THIRD instead of dead last. That's NEWS folks.

We expect the arrival of our friend, Bob Streeter, at any moment. There WILL be funny Bob stories soon, I'm SURE.

This is my vista from the library window as I sit here blogging.


This is the shore line in one direction from our cabin. I took this picture on one of the weekend days when the lake was pretty choppy.


This is the shoreline going in the other direction from our cabin. This USED to be a resort, which was sold, the buildings leveled, and these empty lots sold for $350k EACH!!!!! Somebody on this planet must still have lots of pocket change!!! So far no "mansions" have been built there yet - - - but they are COMING.


And this is a view of our Little Cabin in the Woods from the dock. You can tell from this angle that it actually is a LITTLE cabin. I took some flack from some of you about it not looking very little - - - so last night I paced it off and did the math - - - it's about 600 square feet inside. I DO call that little!! Lovely - - - fun - - - relaxing - - - BUT LITTLE!!!! Now, I will give ya this much - - - the DECK is big.

Stay tuned - - - - more vacation clips to come - - -

Too Silly For Words - - -

But I'm going to write them anyway.

Your geography teacher probably told you there were NO MOUNTAINS in Wisconsin. She told you wrong. There is at least this One.


Girls, I hate to tell ya - - - but THIS is what we have to look forward to!!!!


At least her EYES are a beautiful shade of blue!!!

Makes me think of Maxine.

Little Pastor In the Woods

Meet my friend - - - "Little Pastor in the Woods."

Pastor Mark O. Wilson may be small, but he packs a mighty preacher punch!!! You should DEFINITELY schedule a visit to his services if you are ever in the Wisconsin Northwoods.


And this is the Hayward Wesleyan Church - - - - it may be in the woods, but it isn't so "little" averaging around 700 people in Sunday morning worship services in a town whose population is 2500. What impresses me the most is that I see a cross section of "all the world" worshiping and praising God together here.

Go West Young Man - - -

We returned to West's Dairy yesterday - - -

This time to sample the wares. NO I did not eat a cone THIS SIZE!!!!!


Remember these? I do. This is what we used to get on our door step several mornings each week. We had a little metal insulated box in which the milk man placed the bottles. In the winter when it was really cold - - - like 30 below zero - - - dad would LISTEN for the milkman at 5 a.m. or so and get right up and bring the milk in or it would freeze, even in the insulated box.

No - - - West's doesn't USE these bottles any more, they just had then sitting there for people like me to use for going down memory lane - - -


When I was a girl in this town, the dairy didn't look quite like this on the inside - - - but they have decorated it in retro and have lots of dairy antiques scattered around.


And this IS the "scoop" of ice cream that I ate. This is a "half" scoop of Death by Chocolate and a "half" scoop of Chocolate Peanut Butter. I couldn't eat TWO scoops in one sitting if this is only ONE!!!

Greg Stuff

What is there to say about this? Two "meeses." Or is that "mooses." I know, I know - - - Moose is ALREADY plural, but where's the fun in that???


This is Greg's FAVORITE store. You have to go up a narrow stairway to a tiny one room showroom. In my opinion, there is NOTHING up there. But Greg loves it - - - so to each his own.


At least they have these cool Musky benches outside.

Where We Are and What We Do

Here it is - - -


Our "Little Cabin in the Woods."


The view of the lake from our deck - - -


And from another angle.


The boat tied up at our dock.


This picture pretty much sums up what I do on vacation. I spend a lot of time at this table looking out over the water and doing jig saw puzzles. That was my first and I'm now on my second. Do you see lappy at the end of the table? Well, so far I can't get online from there, but I can edit my pictures and BLOGGING is the other thing I do. Everywhere we go, I'm composing a post in my head!!!


Hubby fishes. How many tackle boxes does one fisherman need?? I see at least THREE in the boat.


Better question yet - - - how many fishing POLES does one fisherman need? I gotta tell you, he left a PILE of poles on the picnic table on the deck when he took these out in the boat. Craziness!!!


Heading out to find the big one.

The Now Famous Hayward Library

Yesterday and today I've been blogging thanks to the free wireless service of the Hayward Community Library. Today I'm sitting in air-conditioned comfort at a lovely table. Yesterday was quite another story.


Yesterday the library was closed. Here you see Harley, our truck, parked in the empty parking lot. Hubby was going to let me sit on the bench outside the library and blog while he trundled away to a tackle shop.


The bench was quite inviting, and normally I would have thought that was a great plan. But are you remembering where we are?????? The NORTH WOODS of Wisconsin? A metropolis this ain't - - - -


As you can see from the OTHER view of the parking lot, it would have just been me and the wildlife!!!

Hubby looked at me sitting there in the middle of the wilderness on that bench with naught but deer and bear to keep me company and thought better of it. THAT'S how I ended up posting from inside the truck while hubby accompanied me with a drum solo on the steering wheel.

Happy Cows

There are commercials on TV which proclaim that happy cows come from California. Now I do not have any direct evidence of the mental state of California cows, but I DO know about Wisconsin cows - - - and they are not only HAPPY but contented as well.

And what bovine wouldn't be content grazing on the grass of these rolling hills - - -


Living in a barn like this - - -


Or better yet, and more traditionally, like this!?!? And you know, from all those happy contented cows comes the BEST dairy products on the planet!!!


This particular image of a contented milk-producer graces one of the best old fashioned dairies left in the country - - -


Found right here in downtown Hayward.

Oh the memories - - - this dairy used to deliver milk TO OUR DOOR in glass bottles with cardboard caps on them. When dad stopped by to pay our monthly bill, we LOVED to go with him in the hopes that we could wrangle an ice cream cone or a quart of chocolate milk.

Yep - - - those happy cows made for some delighted kids!!!

This Will Be Short and I Hope Sweet!!!

Here I sit in the parking lot of the Hayward Library in cab of the pick-up while hubby is drumming impatiently on the steering wheel waiting for me to check e-mails and ye olde blog. It's SUNDAY y'all - - - most libraries aren't open then, least of all this one tucked away neatly among the pines and birches of the North Woods. But the wireless is working even here in the parking lot!!!

I have more pictures and more ideas of blog posts - - - - but they will have to wait until I am sitting at a table instead of being propped sideways in a truck cab.

We arrived safely and all is well. There wasn't another family already in the cabin as I feared there might be - - - what with all the mix-ups of dates and all. Terry, the cabin owner, seems confident in his belief that this mix-up is all of my own making and that if he hadn't CALLED ME on Monday, we wouldn't have known in time. LOL - - - the delusionalness of it all!!! I distinctly remember that I CALLED HIM!!!

Its cool and windy here. The water is all chop - - - but hubby caught 4 bass yesterday anyway. The wind did NOT deter me from doing most of a jig-saw puzzle. I have a bit of sky to finish before I start the next one.

Thanks for visiting and checking up on us.

Stay tuned to this channel for more stories from the North Woods!!!