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Time for an update!   Marie is down to her last day with us.  She flies home on Monday, and she will be missed.  We have had lot’s of fun and kept very busy.  And Chris and I need to go on a diet, as we have eaten very well!    And we have tried to get a lot of boat rides in when we have been home.   Today we have some showers passing through the area, and with very warm weather a chance of storms, so not sure we can get on one of the boats today which is too bad as I think Marie has enjoyed the rides.

Yesterday Chris and Marie came out to Brews and Blues in Oshkosh.  My SOB (Society of Oshkosh Brewers) club has a booth to serve our beers and sell some of our glasses and shirts.   And there are lot’s of beers to taste!  And a couple of blues bands played through out the festival.   More pictures on the album page (click on one of the pictures, it will open up larger, then you can click on previous or next).    Chris and Marie getting ready to head down the line of brewers,  Marie comparing glass holders with a friend, and some pictures of the festival.  A good time was had by all.   And a few of us headed back to O’Marro’s afterward to hear some more of the band and Shawn joining in on the harp.

And need to spend more time on the trailer today.  Next weekend we head to Door County for our yearly end of July vacation.  Camping in Penninsula State Park with good friends.  Mary Jane and John will be up, with their new dog.  I will work Tuesday and Wednesday of each week,  saving vacation time for the winter trips.   I can drive back to work Tuesday morning,  be home Tuesday night to check the mail and cut the grass, and then head back north Wednesday after work.  I hope to get a number of rounds of golf in,  even though I have yet to golf this year!

So everyone have a good week, wish Marie a safe trip home.

About time I do an update even if it is short.  The girls just keep me too busy.    Summer has finally arrived so we can’t afford to miss any of that either!   We had some rainy days,  during country USA here in town.   A co-worker was there for the week and said it got pretty muddy.  And all the local stores sold out of rubber boots,  but they week ended with great weather and all is forgiven!

And we are having great weather.   Trying to catch up in the gardens again, flowers and veggies are all doing well.  And I picked the first raspberry for Chris yesterday.   Yesterday we hit the Oshkosh farmers market on main street in Oshkosh.  And had a very nice time, topped off with some bloody mary’s at Oblio’s.    Then some yard work and then to our neighbors Thoma’s annual July 4th weekend extravaganza.  Somehow they outdid last year.   The roast pig was great,  super company, and topped off with Darrell’s pyrotechnics.   He may love that as much as Judy.   And it was great.  See if I can get the link to a partial video to work

July 2 Samers Bay

Friends Mike and Mary,  Sam and Sarah came out with us on the pontoon to watch the festivities, and it was a gorgeous night.   Today we made it to church,  now to wash the car and trailer, and do some work on the trailer.  Door County is right around the corner.

Happy Birthday MJ

Another week gone by.  Why do the weekends go faster?   Well the last 10 days have gone quickly, as I have not had an update.   Lot’s of good times.   Weather has been a little up and down, but we try to make the most of it.  Last weekend was a little cloudy and cool.  But we made it to the Oshkosh farm market downtown Saturday morning.  And I spent time planting flowers the girls bought for me the day before.   Trying to catch up around the house, and the garden seems to be off to a good start.   A little weeding this weekend is in order.   Monday night we took Marie for a long boat ride into town.  Had a beer and then back out for a ride.  The weather was predicted for colder and rain the next days so I wanted to get the ride in.

Wednesday night was my SOB meeting, the girls came to pick me up but stayed for awhile!  So Thursday, luckily I was very busy with work and did not have time to get tired!   And Thursday night we went down to Waterfest in downtown Oshkosh.  The Thursday night music concerts.  The first band we knew, Tin Sandwich, plays Chicago blues to great Santana.  And my good friend Mike plays bass and does vocals.    The second band was not very good and we scattered at that point.  Chris and Marie headed home and I headed to a local establishment with other friends who were not thrilled with the band.  At that point my lack of sleep started to kick in.  So when I headed to the car I heard some of the headliner at Waterfest that night,  Dennis DeYoung from Stix’s.  Sounded good but I made the better decision to head home as much as I wanted to hear more.

Tonight a good Wisconsin fish fry,  which Marie topped off with a blue tail fly!  Tomorrow to Milwaukee for awhile, then home to hopefully get back in the garden and to house projects.   So hope all are doing well and enjoying life.  Have a  fun weekend!

OK,  I keep falling behind in updates.  Life just goes too quickly.  Or the cocktails come too quickly!   We have kept busy.    Memorial day weekend we extended from Thursday afternoon to Tuesday.  We visited Hayward with Dick and Carol, and had a wonderful time.   Dick and I had quality time in the boat, and we brought fish home.    We took Marie through towns she never knew existed, and I think she had a good time.   In the Hayward area the girls got some quality shopping time in.  And Marie was not sure how Dick and Carol ever found those restaurants back in the woods!   So it was a successful weekend!  Tom and Barb we missed you.  Glad to hear Sandi and Max will be settling in for awhile.  Hopefully that helps everyone’s health.

And back home we have had a start of summer.  Warm sunny weather the way I like it.  Charles I would love to come and plant for you,  but after that short season we would need to head to Florida.    Summer is just starting here and some of our flowers are blooming, a pleasant sight after the long winter.    The veggies are starting to grow and blooms on the tomato plants.  Also the mosquito’s are blooming,  but they are going after the New Mexico blood.

We were in Milwaukee this weekend.  Had a wonderful meal at Pitch’s with some of my cousin’s.   That was a great night, and spent some time the next day with Mom.   Then back home for some catching up on yard work,  which I made good progress on.  and have the runabout in the water, and we got a nice boat ride in on Sunday.

And I was teaching the girls how to fish,  see them on the dock?  Next I will get them to dig worms and clean the fish.     We did have a fish fry Monday night,  mostly thanks to Dick sharing what we caught in Hayward.  They were very good if I say so myself.

Back to work for the week, Mondays are not my favorite. And Tuesday was not better!   But it’s just work, I’ll get through it.  Bad news in one of our plants is closing, one I spend most of my time in.  And a plant in Iowa I spend some time dealing with.  Too many good people losing their jobs.  But as one friend told me,  life will go on.  So we pray for the best for them,  often good things happen with a new start.  This week a stock club meeting coming up, and an executive board meeting for the home brew club.  Those will be highlights.

So get out and enjoy life.  It is much too short so we need to make some time to enjoy.

Almost to the weekend!  That feels good.    I am taking off early on Thursday and then am off until next Wednesday.   We will be heading to Hayward for the long weekend, as we have for several Memorial day weekends.   This time Marie gets to come along and see Dick and Carol’s place.    It looks like it will start off cool but end the weekend on a warm note.  Let’s hope the forecast does not change too much as the days go along!

So the trailer is about ready.  Lot’s of rain today held back some packing.   But lights and electrical are working.  Fishing equipment, and beer are packed!  We can make do with the rest.  Otherwise work is hectic but everything else is going well.  I planted some of the garden last Saturday.  It was warm,  of course it started raining while I was working on it.  But finished with what I had bought for plants, may as well before the ground was fully drenched.  Of course I was fully drenched when I finished.   But the tomato’s and peppers should get a good start.  Otherwise it would have been into June before planting.

But tonight we have a fire going downstairs!   48 degrees and rain,  not pleasant.   Sorry Enders!  It should warm up by the time you leave Door County.

We hope everyone has a good holiday weekend.  Say a prayer for a soldier,  and take time to enjoy!

I am way over due on an update!  I am finally starting to believe that spring is here.  Flowers are growing well, and the grass needs cutting.   And we are supposed to be in the 70’s on Friday.  That is very welcome.

The pontoon boat is in, but we have had bad weather since it went in.  Strong Northeast winds pounding the boat for 4 or 5 days in a row.  I had to do some extra ropes and adjustments.   And will need to take out and reset the posts to tie it off when I get a good day.   A couple are bent over from the force.   But today was a calm day, and while Chris and Marie were out at a dinner tonight I finally took the pontoon for a ride.   I tried throwing a lure in the water for awhile,  no luck but it felt good!   The lift is set for the Bayliner,  so next I need to clean that up and get that in the water.  Maybe this weekend but we will see.

Marie is doing well.  She struggled with our stairs at first but has gotten better.   So we are having fun.   We have kept her busy and hopefully enjoying herself.   Next weekend we all go up to Hayward to visit with Dick and Carol.   We have done this several years for Memorial Day.  This is when I do most of my fishing!   And Marie has never been up there.  Very relaxing and of course lot’s of choices for bars and restaurants.    Hopefully no bears though!

So this weekend need to do some prep on the trailer yet.   And I hope to get the garden started.  Will have to see how the weather and my time goes!  I always have more plans than time.

If you get a chance check out  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MTHg3vCt7OU .   My home brew club participated in National Big Brew day.  A chance for home brewers to get together and share the home brewing process with others.  And there is a National contest for best video,  based on the number of views we get.  I think we are currently in second place.

So have a wonderful weekend.  Think summer!

OK,  so there are good signs in Wisconsin.  The sun is moving north, and the first nice sunset of the spring.  Low winds and some warmer weather.  And nights above freezing.  Maybe Spring is arriving.  It was a nice Easter day and the 40 days are over.  Now I am hoping we will have warmth, and sun, and and new growth.  I had a nice night last night with Al Miller, sharing some great beers at the Sugar Maple in Milwaukee.  And today a great brunch at Mom’s with Skip, Claire and Denise.  And I ate way too much.  But it sure was good.   Now I have to eat light several days!

And good news, Chris and Marie have booked flights to come home.  May 5th they will be flying home, drinking tequilla on Cinco de Mayo.  So I will be happy to have them back to Oshkosh.

So I hope you all had a great Easter Sunday.  God Bless.

So Craig does the Lake still look good?

And this is just the start.   They are saying 9″- 11″ now.  Very wet and heavy.  And we have had a couple of hours of thunder and lightening.   Our cat who always hates storms and wants outside for some unknown reason,  ran out when I pulled in the garage and stayed out for a couple of hours.  But even she got tired of the snow, even though it was still thundering, and came in.   This sucks.  And my wife and my daughter are in beautiful weather.   I may just skip work tomorrow rather than deal with it!  There is probably a couple of more inches after these pictures.  The flowers will be buried by morning,  and I am guessing will not bloom after this.  The daffodils can come through a light snow OK,  but not this heavy cover and cold!

I accomplished a lot on Sunday when the sun came out.  See the uncovered pontoon boat?  And I moved it around to get Enders’ trailer out and set for them.  See them in the snow?   A couple of new tires on the pontoon trailer so it is ready to roll.   The winds Sunday were out of the north at 30 mph so no chance to start putting the dock in.  Now the lake may freeze.  But it is blowing pretty good again tonight so it will be hard to form ice other than along the shore.    No wonder my wife won’t come home.

Saturday I did make it to the crawfish boil.  They did a nice job.  With some corn, rice, hush puppies and potatoes.  Nice and Spicy.  Craig the heads are runny so you can just suck them out!

OK,  I just needed to complain.

Made it to another Saturday.  Although a grey and wet one.  And yes,  those are snow flakes blowing past the camera.   So there won’t be a lot of outdoor activity today.  But I have plenty of projects to work on.  Have to change a tail light on the car, and will put the hitch back in the truck.   This weather reminds me Enders will be coming home soon,  this is usually what the weather is to welcome  them home to Wisconsin!  Time to move their trailer and charge up the batteries.  Good news,  no mice this year in either trailer.    And I will have to make a run to the dump to take in our recyclables in.  It has been several weeks, and even without Chris here the bottles keep adding up.  The neighbors must bring them over.

It sounds like Marie continues to improve.  Still a lot of pain when she over does it some days,  but she is trying hard as she said on the last post.   She is doing great and looking great.   She just has to keep her patience and stay with it, and she will.  It will be good to get them both back to Oshkosh,  but neither want to come home to this weather!

Work has been interesting,  our plant remains the busiest in our division.  And just found out one of my co-workers is taking a month medical leave.   So it will remain interesting.   I will have some opportunities to put some extra hours in,  but it looks good on the resume!

Tonight a local establishment, O’Marro’s, is having a crawfish boil.  I missed it last year but will partake tonight.  And Chris is going to be sorry she will miss this!   Some Irish music their tonight also, or another local band at Kodiak’s I may stop at with a friend.

And looking forward to Sunday,  when we are supposed to see some sun.   Temperatures still won’t get back to normal,  but things will continue to green up after the rain.  Have your self a great weekend!

Looks more like a scene from Titanic?    But this is Wisconsin.   So believe it or not last night we had thunderstorms and the lake level has risen.   The ice from the shorelines have risen and are drifting out in the gusty winds.  And the temperature is in the 70’s.   It won’t last long, but the windows are opened after a too long winter, and the fresh air blowing through.  But don’t worry I have some  firewood in the breeze way, because I am sure I will have more fires yet this spring.

But it does feel wonderful.   Yesterday when I made it home from Mom’s I spent the rest of the day in the yard.  Cleaning up our gravel driveway, working in some of the gardens.  It is good to see new growth the sign of good things to come.  So perfect for the coming Easter, new life rising, new hopes.      Would I miss this if I didn’t live in Wisconsin year round?  Well not really,  I could come back when the weather really gets nice.  But for the moment I will revel in it.

Marie and Chris have a doctor appointment tomorrow, and hopefully more good news.   Enjoy!

New life