Home Again

 We have returned to our home in the woods.  The roads were good until we got within 15 miles of home.  The North East wind blew snow across the roads.

We started out with blue sky and chased the weather front all the way home.   We unpacked the car and put most of our "stuff" away.   Not everything fit in the car so Andy and Jen will bring the remainder of our stuff when they visit. 

A storm is forecast for this week.  Today we will stop by the Post Office and go to the grocery store, the cupboards are not bare but they are lacking just a few things. 

Menu's will be planned for two weeks...and we shop accordingly.  Back to life in the country!  As you can see Spring is not visiting our part of Minnesota. 

Far Side

Mixed Up

 My footwear is not the only thing mixed up.  Any shoe will do. 

I wanted to show you what Spring looks like here and grabbed my slipper, couldn't find the matching slipper so I grabbed one of Far Guys old shoes that he gave Sadie...at least they were opposite feet. 

Spring missed the memo that it was time to arrive.  I took this photo yesterday about an hour after Spring officially arrived.  Spring is bringing us a couple more inches of snow this week.  Spring does not care that we are tired of snow.  Spring is mixed up. 

Far Side

Dust and the lake

The dusty open shelves have been cleaned up...everything is sparkling again.

I have a love hate relationship with the open shelves...I love that dishes are in reach to use and to put away. I hate them when they get dusty...and that top shelf is a real dust collector.  Far Guy did the ladder work for me and took the plate rack apart...it all helped!

I am done in the kitchen for now, the fridge and the oven await my attention some other day.

After our kitchen accomplishment we took a ride down to the lake.

There is still ice...I figured as much as the wind has been real cold.  Where the water isn't rippled is the ice.

Something large plopped into the water near the dock...a beaver, muskrat or maybe a turtle.
The Pussy Willows are out.

Spring might be coming soon. The light in the evenings is pretty much a waste as it has been too cold to enjoy an evening outside.

We are both feeling just fine.  No new cases of Covid-19 in our County the count remains at 2.
Far Side

Robin not a joke!

Far Guy saw a Robin in the yard yesterday afternoon while I was taking a nap.  He took a photo and showed me at supper ever so proud!

I went outside after supper and got a photo of my own.

First Robin in our yard  March 31 2020

First Robins In Our Yard:

April 19 2008, April 11 2009, April 5 2010, April 4 2011, March 23 2012, April 27 2013, April 9 2014,  April 24  2015, April 21 2016, April 5 2017, April 29 2018,
some time in late May 2019, and March 31 2020.

Not sure what happened in 2019...seems like I waited to see a Robin in our yard all spring.  Other birds were showing up but no Robins.

There is still plenty of snow and ice at the snowstick.

We had another quiet day, Far Guy woodcarved outside, we walked to the mailbox and wandered around in the woodshop/greenhouse.   I cleaned the bathroom and did some laundry and cleaned one more kitchen cupboard.

Life as we know it goes on.  Stay safe!
Far Side

Spring is taking a long time

Most everything is brown.  The grass is starting to green up slowly. 

Oaks are very slow to leaf out.

Farmers have begun working in the fields.

  A survey crew was by and began surveying our County Road...rumor has it that it will be redone this summer.  Only four miles are marked...who know what that means.

We had lunch with my parents for Mother's Day and last night I took my Dad to Bingo.  Neither of us bingoed but my baby brother did...so we weren't total losers.

Far Side

Dreary Rainy Day

No sun yesterday and it spit rain all day...it was chilly too.  ( Some parts of Minnesota got snow!) I decided it was a good day to get my twice a year haircut...she cut off about six inches...it might be manageable again...maybe.  Since you can fart around all day long looking for someone to cut your hair in our closest town we drove further away where there is no waiting...and they have a Craft Store.  I didn't need anymore yarn....but I bought some anyways...just because....and some envelopes and cards and sparkly pens. 

We enjoyed getting out of the house and saw Swans, Geese and Deer.  Far Guy waited for me in the vehicle when I got my haircut.

One of these years this barn will be history...but not yet.

Far Side

Island Cake take me away

You recall that old commercial "Calgon take me away?" I used to envy that woman in that tub.  In the late 1970's I had two small children and  just 5 minutes of alone time in the tub/shower to shave my legs was a luxury.

Snowmageddon has been forecast for us.  The snow is supposed to begin early Thursday morning and continue throughout the day into Friday. We both have appointments Thursday...who knows what will happen to them.  We are in the 12 -18 inch predicted area and it will be windy...maybe they are WRONG!

Oh well I can take all day to shave my legs if I want too!  And eat the rest of the cake.

Andy and Jen brought us a Caribbean Rum Cake from their adventure.

It was Key Lime...

They make 10,000 of these cakes a day in various bakeries in the Caribbean.
It was a cute little cake, the flavor was very pungent, but it was delightfully soft in texture.
Far Side

Flowers of Summer

Seem a long way off this winter.  It snowed again….and probably not the last time this winter/spring either.  The muddy rutts are now frozen rutts.  The days are longer but with the wind and the wind chills way below zero it seems that spring is never going to come…and summer well that is just a distant memory.

I took this photo last summer at The Dead Beaver Area.  We just happened by there at the right time.

Even though the days are longer we have not begun our evening drives, Chance misses them…I do too but there is just snow out there.  In April snow loses it’s magic…

I am still winter/spring cleaning kitchen cupboards.  I had a good day and got a few more done the count is 21 out of 28.  When I get them done I must spend a whole day washing everything in the open cupboards…and weeding out some of the extra dishes…it is a project for sure. I would rather winter/spring clean with the windows open but that won’t be happening anytime soon.

Bored with Brown? Try White

As soon as I complain about the state of brown we are in it turns cold and snows and makes our world white again.

Yesterdays muddy driveway is now white.  Oh well this will melt someday.

It snowed about 2 inches but it settled quickly.  The snow stick is at 11 inches and holding.

We waited for the main highway to clear off before heading to town to do errands.  Far Guy special ordered some saw blades and I had “stuff” to drop off all over town. 

Organizing and selling off “stuff” is going well.  I read an article recently about organizing during Lent it was called Forty Bags or some such thing…the whole idea being that if you took one bag of “stuff” out of the house every day at the end of forty days you would notice a difference.  I haven’t kept track of my bags…but by Easter I may notice a difference.

From the looks of the weather it looks like I have lots of time to while away before spring arrives for real.

Three Signs of Spring

We saw a Bald Eagle the other day, the first sighting this winter/spring.  The streams and little creeks that have water flowing are opening up. 

The second sign is the chairs that have been delivered to Ace Hardware.  Spring colors for sure.

Looks to me like there are a few more colors in the back too… yellow for sure!  They should have the best selection of colorful chairs around!

Bad Medicine Lake 2012

The third sign of spring was a dead skunk at the side of the road, they have come out to be lovey dovey and one apparently didn’t look both ways before crossing the road for a rendezvous with his sweetheart.  Stricken down during his quest, either that or it was a suicidal skunk. Whatever he is now what I call “a very good skunk.”

Spring is lost

Spring must have gotten lost.  It is lollygagging around down south or out west and forgot about us here in Minnesnowda.

Chance looked for Spring.  I told him it was here.

He looked really hard out into the woods..he couldn’t spot Spring either..maybe it is stuck in a snow bank someplace.

Perhaps the little hungry birds have found Spring?  Nope nothing but bird seed in that feeder.

The snowplow wiped out our mailbox.  Chance and Far Guy were very nervous..mail is their “thing.”  They were really worried.  They finally came up with a plan to use the same post as our neighbor..somehow their mail box survived.  It was unbelievable..we have had our mailbox on one of those swing away arms that swivels..when it was sheared off of it’s base 3 feet away from the road.  That snow plow driver should be fired.  He pushed snow way off the road..he practically had to drive in the ditch.  Forget about using the snow banks as visual markers for where the road is..you will end up in the ditch..he is an idiot. 

I know Spring saw the stop sign and stopped.

I wonder what Spring will do when the sign gets covered up.  Maybe then she will arrive:)

Time for a bath!

On Saturday afternoon we had a puddle in the driveway.

This little Junco must have been having a Saturday bath.  Maybe his first bath in a very long time.

Far Guy, Chance and I  watched as the water flew.

Wanna share your puddle?

I suppose ..here is a little shower for ya!

This little guy put on a show, we laughed..what great entertainment on a Saturday afternoon! The little Junco had quite a bath..and he did not relinquish his spot until he was good and ready.

Stand firm..even when other birds want to join you in your water hole.

Sunday morning the puddle had dried up..so take advantage of every puddle in your path:)

Spirit Lake

Chance and I visited Spirit Lake while we were waiting for Far Guy to get done at the Dentist.  As you can tell it was another sunshiny warm day..awe come on use your imagination.

Spirit Lake is right in town, so Chance stayed on the leash. The lake is only open around the edges.  It is mostly frozen.  It is going to be a late “ice out” this year. Maybe it will be gone for the big fishing opener weekend in May…and maybe not.  

No one is swimming at the sugar sand beach. Not even any ducks.

No one is on the public pier..it was way too windy and cold. Here you can see how the ice turns dark during the melting process.

Far Guy and I like the same Dental Hygienist, so we always schedule back to back appointments.  There was very little sunshine that day so Chance went along.  Far Guy walked him down to the bakery and bought some Flat Bread.  Chance loves the smells inside the bakery.  The bakery in Menahga is probably the best little bakery in all of Minnesota!

Our checkups went well and no one has any cavities!

The Antique Shop is not open during the winter, I drove into the parking lot and made sure they were closed..they were. Chance and I drove around aimlessly looking for Spring..it has not come to Menahga yet.

While we waited it rained, and it snowed..big huge flakes and the wind blew.  The weather was changing every few minutes. Just another non spring kinda day:(

Oh Spring where are you?

Spring where have you gone?  Are you stuck under a snow bank fast asleep?  Did you drown in the ice covered lakes?

Did you follow that watery path to the center of the lake? Are you just sitting there waiting for the lake to melt around you?

Chance thinks that Spring is stuck under the ice on Height of Land Lake.

Mr. Spring..I just thought that I would let you know you have pissed off some of the shivering snowbirds that have just returned from golfing the entire winter away down south. They are really unhappy with you..if I were you I would keep on hiding until you are ready to come out and stay out:)

Spring Might Be Here

I think that spring might be here. Not only have the beautiful little yellow flowers appeared, spreading their sunny dispositions all over. The first garage sale sign appeared in our neighborhood. Well not quite our neighborhood but nearby, it was only 8 miles away at a church.

Cookbooks and paperbacks were ten cents each..who can pass up a Michener novel , or a Nicholas Sparks that I have not read, or Charles Kuralt's America ( The one where he visits Minnesota) OR cookbooks..I just love reading cookbooks. It was a great day..I got a 1971 local hospital cookbook from when they were fundraising for their new Cardiac Care Unit it is called RX for Good Eating, and a Cookbook called Recipes from Ed and Eleanor's Catering..this one has Large Quantity Cooking..so IF I am ever having over fifty guests at once..this could come in real handy for Far Guy.

I also found this interesting item...If anyone has seen these before, or knows anything about them, please leave me a comment!

Black hand painted nesting boxes, on the bottom is a gold circle with four symbols..and around the circle are the words Lenghing Foochow. I have no idea if it is Chinese or Japanese. But they spoke to me, not loud, but like a nagging whispering..three dollars..are you curious enough? They are wood, a very thin wood. Two of the boxes have small chips, and show some wear, they are dirty, I need to clean them up, but the smaller boxes are perfect. I searched the Internet..maybe they are not old at all..but they are mine now, I have no idea what I will do with them..or the four Santa's that just happened to end up in my pile, along with a cute little photo frame and an aluminum salt shaker..and a couple of cobalt blue plates for Far Guy.

Spring just might be here..other than someone said we could get some SNOW today. IF it snows I will take a photo and then a nap..and I am not getting up until the snow is gone:)