Today is another dark, dreary & rainy day. Suppose to be like this for the rest of the week.
We actually had sleet, snow & slushballs on Saturday! Nothing stuck & it didn't last for long, but still!   Then Sunday was a beautiful day

Such sad news out of Oklahoma about all of the tornados & several deaths & so  much destruction. That is one thing that I do not miss anymore. I had been in plenty throughout my life & they still scare me to death.

Hubby had no luck in his turkey hunting. But there's always next time! The weather had things messed up quite a bit anyway.  Including the fishing. We did end up getting out on the boat on Sunday but nobody was having any luck with the fish. But that's ok...it was nice to just be out  on the water & enjoy the nice weather while it lasted!

One thing about Wisconsin is that you learn to fully appreciate the nice days. 

Here were a couple of kayakers out on the lake

The turtles were really loving the sun!

This guy took his lab out for a ride. Then later we saw him playing fetch  on the shore & retrieving from the water...labs love their splash time!

Daughter had to work until 3:30 on Sunday, so we played while she worked...then came home to visit with her & she cooked us dinner.
Hubby celebrated his 45th birthday, so it was a double celebration for us.
She made us a yummy pasta dish.
I had bought some peach tarts for hubby...here he is being silly blowing out the last candle...the first few he was very silly (or drunk) and extinguished them in his mouth. Yes, he is getting older, but he isn't growing up! lol...

Backyard photo...

I was able to capture a grouse and a bunny rabbit! yay on the 2 for 1!!!!

These next few photos I took on Saturday.   While hubby was hunting, daughter & I got out & took a drive. The rain had finally let up & it was nice to just be outside.
We stopped at this old deserted farm house & walked around to get some photos. 

I just found out last night that my niece whose wedding that we just went to last month is pregnant! They didn't waste any time! lol... They have been together for several years now, and they say they were both ready. So I am happy for them.
That means that my parents will be great grandparents! wow!  One thing that my mom pointed out was that her & my dad are so happy & comforted by the thought that this is just another extension of my brother who passed away...so that makes this baby even more special to them.

Daughter gets to see her bf tomorrow & Thursday & spend some time with him. He is off on Wed. & Thursdays the rest of this month, so she has arranged her schedule to be off those days as well (which means working the weekends) But this way they can get together & see each other.  This week, they will go to his hometown as he has some business that he also has to take care of. Next week, she may go to where he is at which is on the St. Croix river. I don't know, they haven't planned that far ahead yet, or if they have, they haven't shared it with me! 

That's about it from my neck of the woods. This weather is really making me sleepy! I think that I am going to go & work on my cross stitch project for a while.

Zany lovin' to you all.

Yesterday afternoon I was working in my dining room when I looked out the window & saw this....

She heard me as I walked up closer to take her picture.

It must have been the mild winter & the early snow melt why all of the wildlife around here are looking pretty healthy right now. She has a lot of meat on her. That bear the other day wasn't starving either.

She just passed through the yard. Stopped long enough to look at me & pose for the picture!

Hubby did find some teeny tiny deer tracks out there last night when he went out to gather up all of the birdfeeders to bring them in so the bear wouldn't come & destroy them!
I can't wait to start seeing some of the babies.

While standing at the dining room window watching to see if any more deer were going to come through, I snapped a couple of more photos of some visitors...

This one I took Sunday morning. I liked the way the sun was shining through the trees.

It was shining on just a touch of the apple blossoms

and one last shot

I think I was just so happy to see the sun shining after a stormy day that we had on Saturday.
Unfortunately, it was still very windy on Sunday.  We weren't able to take the boat out at all over the weekend
Well, I take that back...hubby actually took it out Sunday afternoon...but only as far as the driveway. He had some things he had to do on it, so while he had it out I took advantage and took a picture ...

awww...I love them both! lol...

While I was out with the camera I took a couple of shots of the massive clouds that were out

Hubby's turkey tag starts on Wed. & runs through Sunday. I'm hoping he gets one.

I have gotten all of my mother's day cards & gifts bought & mailed off. Don't forget people...it is THIS Sunday....be sure to remember your mothers....
Hubby's birthday also falls on Mother's day this year, so it will be twice as special in our house   Of course, the boat is both of our gifts, so hopefully the weather will cooperate so we can get out & enjoy it!

Two movies that I have recently watched & really enjoyed were The Lovely Bones (although it was not as good as the book...of course!) and Law Abiding Citizen (wowsers!).

OK...chores are calling....gotta get busy. I hope you all have a great week.
Zany lovin' to you all.

Happy Weekend & May Day!

We had storms the last 2 days & now today is is super windy outside. 

I think that I am finally over the "crud". It sure took it long enough. Hubby was only bothered with it for about a day, so he was lucky!

First off I have to report that the bears have come out of hibernation here...at least this mama bear...

yep...she's in the front yard at a birdfeeder...

Aren't my lilac bushes beautiful ; )

Then she meandered across the driveway & went under the huge evergreen there & walked around sniffing at stuff & then went down the driveway a bit & crossed over into the neighbors yard .

These were taken Thursday evening. I was on the computer & happened to look outside in the front yard & my first thought was "that sure is a huge dog"...then it hit me, "that's not a dog, it's an f'ing bear"!!!!
We have now had to start taking the birdfeeders in at night again. We will put them out during the day as we enjoy our birds, but if the bear starts coming around during the day then we will have to stop the feeding all together.

Afternoon at the park...

I have been meaning to post these pictures that I took last Sunday from me & daughter going to the park. My stupid satellite internet connection has been horrible with the clouds & the storms, so I finally uploaded them & am just now getting around to getting them on here!  Some of you may recognize this park. It also has a mini "zoo" if you can call it that! But it is a neat place that is close by and free & full of pretty stuff to look at & get some exercise.

"here's looking at you"

kind of reminds me of Gene Simmons!

He doesn't look too happy with  me taking his picture!

You think you have it bad when you have an itch on your back!

struttin' his stuff

OMG...he charged at me through the fence as I was taking this one! lol...I jumped & screamed!
Then right after this he did the same thing to daughter!
He looks a bit p.o'd doesn't he?

love the pretty pine trees

This looked really cool...it is kind of hard to tell in the picture, but the big "v" is a plant & it looked like it had barbed wire wrapped around it

which upon closer inspection was some type of a clinging vine that was wrapping itself around it.

The famous cave

Hieroglyphics? mmmm....maybe not "authentic"!

golden fields of yellow...."achoo"!

We finally got to try out the new boat for a few hours on Tuesday afternoon, thanks to hubby's boss who let him leave early!
It was about the only nice day that we have had to be able to get it out.
I can tell you that we LOVE it! Now if the weather would just stay nice so we can get it back out again!
Here a few shots from that trip. I can't believe that I didn't get any better boat pictures...but what can I say...I was too excited to just get there & get it out in the water! lol...

Captain Mike

Heads or tails? or turtle soup? lol...

his 2nd fish that he caught...a crappie.  NO, I didn't catch anything! boo hoooooooo!!!

He also caught this ugly nasty creature...

some type of a salamander or a "mud puppy" ????
eeeeeewwwwwwwww

That's all that I've got for now...

Y'all have a great weekend now, ya hear!

Monday again? Why do they have to come so frequently?

The weekend here sucked. We were all ready to take out the boat....didn't happen....rain, wind...blah!

Now they say the week will be pretty, but come time for next weekend, more storms. GRRRRRR
I told hubby, he is just going to have to try to rearrange his job schedule around the weather...work when it is crappy outside & take off some of the pretty days so we can get out on the water!

I have been sick for the last several days. Allergies, sinus infection...ugh. I spent the first part of last week working outside. Then wham! Started with a horribly sore throat, then all went down hill after that.
Now hubby must have been jealous that I had something that he didn't ...so he is now trying to come down with it too.

I took a walk around the yard the other day with my camera. I had told my mom that I would take pictures for her of the lilacs as they begin their spring journey.

Here's a few things that caught my eye....

Lilac buds...

weeds which have now been treated or pulled...
I don't mind the flowering weeds though

apple trees putting on their blooms

I love the strangest things!

my own little fairy village

the lily of the valley is all coming up  & putting on its buds.

It is amazing at already how differently the yard looks from the time these pictures were taken to this morning. After the rain, things are bloomed out even more!

The turkeys have been moving around more. We are seeing them in our yard again just about every day.
No signs of  Mr. Bear yet. Although that time is rapidly approaching. I did go out & buy some bear bells this year. I wore them last week as I worked out in the yard.

I want to share this yummy recipe that I made for hubby & I a while back. I got it out of my Rachael Ray cookbook.
It is very flavorful and not too bad for you!

Chili Verde
(makes 2 servings with leftovers or big seconds)

2 tablespoons vegetable, sunflower or corn oil
1 1/3 pounds ground turkey breast or chicken breast  (I used turkey)
2 1/2 tablespoons ground cumin
2 tablespoons cayenne pepper sauce, such as Frank's Red Hot or Tabasco
1 1/2 tablespoons grill seasoning blend, such as Montreal Seasoning by McCormick
1 jalapeno, seeded & chopped
3 cloves garlic, shopped
1 small white onion, chopped
1 small zucchini
1 small yellow or green bell pepper, seeded
12 tomatillos, husks removed
2 to 3 tablespoons chopped cilantro leaves
1 1/2 tablespoons fresh thyme leaves or 1 teaspoon dried thyme
1 can (15 ounces) pinto beans, drained well
Shredded cheddar, Monterey Jack, pepper Jack or smoked cheddar cheese for topping chili (optional) I used 2% cheddar
2 scallions, chopped
Corn chips,Tortilla dhips,  polenta chips or soy chips for dipping & scooping (optional) I used Blue Corn tortilla chips

Heat a deep skillet over medium high heat.  Add oil and turkey. Season turkey with cumin, hot sauce and grill seasoning.
Start to brown and crumble the turkey and add jalapeno, garlic, and onion to the pan.
Chop and add zucchini and bell peppers as you work- chop and drop into the pan.
Let the vegetables and turkey cook while you chop tomatillos.
Stir in the tomatillos; add cilantro, thyme and beans, then cover the pot.
Reduce the heat to medium. Cook 5 minutes, covered; remove the lid and cook another 3 to 5 minutes. adjust seasonings.
Ladle chili verde into bowls. Top with cheese, if using, and chopped scallions. Serve with chips for dipping if desired.

As Rachael would say....Yum-O!

Alright my dear friends & family...I wish you all a good Monday & a great new week.
I'll be coming around to visit with those of you who are here.

Our trip to Texas for my niece's wedding, only over a week old now!  This past week flew by. Things have been busy around here. 
We went & picked up our boat this past Saturday!!! Now can't wait to get out in it...hopefully very soon.
Also got to attend a sweet little girls first birthday party  over the weekend.  I was surrounded by many young children who were all very active! lol...
Daughter got her acceptance letter to the University of Wisconsin! Yes, she has decided to  continue her education : ) She want to be an English teacher . She will start the fall semester. Just not sure yet whether it is going to be here in Eau Claire or in Wassau yet. All is kind of depending on her bf & where he might end up.  He starts his summer job (Park Ranger) on Thursday. He will be up in St. Croix Falls, which is about 2 1/2 or 3 hours from here. They have been joined at the hip for the last 5 mos. or so, so this will be a bit lonely to start with for the 2 of them. But distance makes the heart grow fonder
I have been busy working out in the yard. There is SO much to do & my body is getting too old to do as much as I use to all in one day! So now, I have to limit myself to just a couple of hours at a time.
I had done good & was staying caught up with everyone over here, but then 1/2 way through the week, I lost touch again. So will be attempting to catch up with you all once again!

OK...here is our Texas trip....

me & my mama

nana & Lori

I don't miss those nasty Texas critters! ugh!

hubby & my dad

my brother  finally made it Friday night.  Love this picture of daughter with her uncle

country livin'....the rocket in the middle was their old hot water tank...my dad is pretty clever in recycling!

Bob brought his guitar (one of many!) and wanted to hear Lori play.

Then he got to show off!

Saturday, about to leave for the wedding...we clean up pretty good!
my parents, daughter & hubby

my parents, me & hubby

parents, daughter & me

My parents did come to visit us last May, but we hadn't seen anyone else in 2 years, so it was quite a surprise to see my niece who is now almost as tall as daughter!
She is only 9, but takes after her daddy (my brother from above pics) in being tall
This was a cute shot...taken as soon as we got to the church & they were hugging hello.

my sister in law & niece

the men....hubby, my brother & my dad.

me, Elaina & Lori

hubby always loves playing with the kids or getting them in trouble! lol..here, he is showing this little one how to ring the church bell!

not a great shot, but better than nothing! taken prior to the wedding when they were doing pictures.
A good old fashioned Texas wedding...cowboy boots and all! lol..

my niece was one of the flower girls

It's official! Mr. & Mrs. Estrada!

yep, that's the preacher in the Levis & the white cowboy shirt!

arriving at the reception

The reception was held in this neat old style saloon . Cute picture of my brother & sil

my mom & dad

my favorite shot....Sara (my niece) & my brother, her uncle Bob...
for those of you who do not know, Sara is the daughter of my brother who passed away 21 years ago. She was only 3 years old at the time.

daughter & me

check out the chairs! lol... the newlyweds..yes, the bride wore cowboy boots too!

nice shot of the rings

We stayed about an hour or maybe a little longer at the reception, then had to leave to get on the road again.

We actually changed clothes in the car as we were driving...well, except for hubby...he ended up pulling off on a sideroad & changed!

on the road again....

We went through some huge wildfire somewhere in Arkansas, I think it was

We drove until 11:00 or a bit later that night...then hubby really peeved me off the next morning at 4:30 when he woke me up wanting to get back on the road. grrrr
But it was a long drive home & he is they type that wants to just get it over with as quickly as possible!

It was great getting to see everyone, but once again...there is no place like home!

I think it took this trip to make us all realize just how happy we are living up in Wisconsin now.  It was great to get to see family & friends, but we were so happy to get back home!

It is funny how you can get so accustomed to something. I started my life in the Dallas area & when I moved to Tulsa it was only suppose to be temporary , but once I got there, I fell in love with it & decided to stay. It was a much smaller place than Dallas was. Well, now it is HUGE compared to the little town we live in here in Wisconsin!

Funny also at some of the differences between the 2 areas...that you may think was odd, but I really notice. One is the difference in the sky & the clouds! lol...Oklahoma skies are very beautiful or very wicked...depending on the weather! I also loved seeing the Redbuds and Bradford Pear trees all in bloom down south.  And all of the beef cows versus the dairy ones that we have up here! lol...

We spent the entire day driving on Wed.  Checked into a beautiful hotel in Broken Arrow. It was actually a 2 bedroom suite! Very nice & only about $10 higher than most of the other hotels with just a regular room. We were also right in the Bass Pro shop  shopping center ... which is where hubby & I ended up eating dinner that night.  I really had missed my alligator bites!  Daughter hooked up with some friends & got to visit with a few of them.

Some pretty clouds in the Okie sky

only down south! lol..

Wed. sunset over Tulsa

Thursday morning before heading out to see relatives, we drove by all 3 houses that we lived in .
This first one was a rent house...it is where hubby & I began our lives together....

This next one is our first home that we purchased. It was a very good little house.

 
We lived there while daughter started kindergarten and through her 4th grade.

And this was our house that we lived in from daughter being in the 5th grade through her graduation...

It was fun to go by & see them all & reminisce, but I have to say that I do really love not having many neighbors now & living up here in the Northwoods!
I also do NOT miss the traffic! lol...

We then went to Vinita to visit hubby's grandma. She is going to be 89 in August & is the sweetest thing. She still takes care of her house & yard & even puts in flower & vegetable gardens!

Here is a pretty redbud in her front yard. I loved how the sun was shining through the top.

hubby, grandma & daughter

hubby's Aunt lives right across the street, so we also got to see her....


After our visit here we head back into Tulsa to see hubby's dad & step mom.
They took us to some Mexican restaurant for a late lunch & we got to eat up on the rooftop. 
I have to admit, the Oklahoma wind is another thing that I do NOT miss! lol....

sunset from a week or so ago...

Hello all....I hope you all had a great holiday weekend.

We had a nice visit with daughter & her bf. I made a lamb roast & a small 1/2 ham. Sides included scalloped potatoes, rice dressing, roasted asparagus, steamed broccoli & carrots & buttered rosemary rolls. BF brought over a nice bottle of wine
For dessert, I just had one of those Pepperidge Farm cakes...the lemon one...it was delicious! Also had some sugar cookies.

I only managed to get 1 picture the entire day & that was early afternoon before daughter's bf even got there. I was just so busy the rest of the time that I never picked up  my camera!
Here is Lori with her daddy

Hubby's Lasik surgery went fairly well. He did have one complication, but it is all taken care of.  I went prepared with a book to read & a soduko puzzle book to work, as they said to plan on being there 1 1/2 hours. I was surprised when they asked me if I wanted to watch the surgery while it was performed! I had no idea that would be an option. Of course, I said yes...then started to wonder if I would actually be able to watch or if I would have to close my eyes like I do in gory parts of movies! I actually found it very fascinating & was able to watch the entire process. I was in a viewing gallery (not quite as plush as Grey's Anatomy, but it did remind me of it!)  The first thing they do is put drops in your eyes which is a numbing agent. Then they asked if hubby would like a valium...it is so that he could sleep after the procedure, which they encourage you to do as you are to keep your eyes closed for 2-6 hours. Hubby declined the valium. They then brought us into a "relaxation room".  A place to let the eye drops work, relax yourself...they had a fountain  & spa music playing softly...dim lights...it was quite...well, relaxing!  Then they brought hubby to the operating room & me to the viewing gallery.
The entire surgery did only take about 10 or 15 minutes.  They use this suction device that holds your eye open, they then cut the "flap" with the laser...the grossest part was then the dr. uses a tool that reminded me of the hook that you use to make those latch hook rugs with...he puts it in the flap to pull it up. Then the laser does its thing, correcting the eye...that part was pretty loud & freaky sounding. After that, they lay the flap back down & use a device that looks like a small paint brush & actually  brush it down smooth.  Then the go on to do the other eye. Afterwards, your vision is pretty blurry which is normal. They then bring you into another room where another dr. then looks at your eye through equipment to be sure that all looks good. This is where they found that the "flap" on hubby's right eye was not quite smoothed down, so he had to mess with it for a while & brush it back & forth. This ended up being the complication, as when hubby started seeing that night, he had perfect vision out of his left eye, but his right eye was blurry & scratchy. The next morning at his appt. they had to do more smoothing on it & insert a contact lens to keep it in place, which he had to wear through the weekend & then remove yesterday. Which after removing, all is just fine now & his right eye is now catching up with his left.  There was no actual pain with the procedure. He has several drops that he has to use for a variety of things, anti-biotics, anti-inflammatory, lubricating, tearing. He actually has to use some for up  3 mos.  About the only drawback to this surgery, if you can even call it that, is that you may need reading glasses eventually, but who doesn't anyway!

We head south early Wed. morning. I will hopefully have lots of pictures to share with you from our trip.  I just wish that we had more time for visiting once we got there, but hubby's work schedule right now is very hectic and daughter has to get back to work as well.

I had one other picture on my camera from a week or so ago that I want to share. I think it came out pretty good...

I will probably not be around much if at all until we return next week. So y'all behave yourselves!

Yes, I do believe that I can safely say that Spring has arrived up here in the Northwoods! My bulbs are finally coming up. There are buds on the trees & my lilac bushes. ALL of the snow has now melted. The temps have been wonderful, getting into the 60's. Today they say it is even going to reach 70, but it is windy like Oklahoma out there! lol...It is gusting at 25 mph right now.

Hubby & I worked outside the weekend & I did some more yesterday. It is neverending! I actually had planned to get back out there today, but with it as windy as it is, I think I will take the day off!

Hubby's Lasik eye surgery is scheduled for this Thursday! He underwent 2 days of testing last week and all looks good for him. Everything is completely done by the computer, so there is virtually no room for error. I went & picked up his 2 different prescriptions yesterday that he will need. One is an antibiotic drop, the other is a tearing agent drop. The grand total for them both....$322.00   Yikes!

We finally watched the movie, The Blind Side the other night. LOVED it! What a wonderful message in it.

The weekend before last, we took a little drive. When we were passing through this one town we spotted some kayakers getting ready to head down some "rapids", so we stopped & got out & watched & of course, I took a few pictures

The rivers & lakes up here had been moving pretty good & were all pretty high with the ice melt. These guys were going to take advantage of it...

Those white things on the ground are all chunks of ice

We were standing on a bridge...the above is where they took off from....

and below is the other side of the bridge where they ended up at...

That one at the back almost lost it!

It was fun to watch them.   I can't wait to start getting out & about more & getting some new photos!

I have one last thing to share with you...a  blonde joke...I hope it leaves you with a smile

Blonde Joke

Two sisters, one blonde and one brunette, inherit the family ranch.
Unfortunately, after just a few years, they are in financial trouble.
In order to keep the bank from repossessing the ranch, they need to purchase a bull so that they can breed their own stock.

Upon leaving, the brunette tells her sister, 'When I get there, if I decide to buy the bull, I'll contact you to drive out after me and haul it home.'

The brunette arrives at the man's ranch, inspects the bull, and decides she wants to buy it.
The man tells her that he will sell it for $599, no less.
After paying him, she drives to the nearest town to send her sister a telegram to tell her the news.
She walks into the telegraph office, and says, 'I want to send a telegram to my sister telling her that I've bought a bull for our ranch.
I need her to hitch the trailer to our pickup truck and drive out here so we can haul it home.'

The telegraph operator explains that he'll be glad to help her, then adds, it will cost 99 cents a word.

 Well, after paying for the bull, the brunette realizes that she'll only be able to send her sister one word.

After a few minutes of thinking, she nods and says, 'I want you to send her the word 'comfortable.'

The operator shakes his head. 'How is she ever going to know that you want her to hitch the trailer to your pickup truck and drive out here to haul that bull back to your ranch if you send her just the word'comfortable?'

The brunette explains, 'My sister's blonde. The word is big.

She'll read it very slowly.... 'com-for-da-bul.'

I hope you & your families all have a very Happy Easter.

Hello all & happy St. Patrick's Day!
 
I have my Irish Corned Beef Dinner (recipe link on my home page, left column) in the crockpot.  Dontcha just love crockpot cooking? Put it all in, turn it on & foget about it!

Well, hubby finally decided on the boat that he wanted...I have to say that it is mighty nice!  We get it in a few weeks. He ended up getting a 2010 Tracker Targa 17WT

I will post real pics when we get it of course!
Now I just can't wait to get out there in it! 
We are still keeping the canoe. It is wonderful for getting out in on all of the rivers & small ponds in the area.
Hubby says you really need several boats...of all sizes. lol...hmmm...wonder if that means that next year we may get a pontoon?

I must say that the weather here has been SO nice! The only thing about the sudden warm up is that the snow melts so fast...too fast. It can't absorb into the ground & everything is now a muddy mess.
Also the rivers are full & flowing quickly with the ice melt as well.
So many things are so different up here compared to the south! Just a whole other way of living.

Speaking of south...we are making a rushed trip down there in a few weeks. My niece is getting married...or at least that is what we hear...we still haven't recieved an invitation!
It is just too hard right now for both hubby & daughter to take off too much time from work, so we will drive 1 full day...see hubby's parents the next, then head even further south...see my parents 1 day, then the wedding will be the next day & we will start venturing back north. Wish we had more time, but such is life.

This next thing I am mainly posting for my mom to see as she can't download stuff on her computer. This was in the March issue of a local magazine called Queen of the Castle. It was about the photo winners reveal party that we had back in Jan.

I am in the the first picture in the blue sweater...2nd from the right...
my tree picture that won honorable mention is the little one on the bottom right.

I have a recipe that I would like to share. Hubby & I have been trying to eat one meatless meal a week.  I made this soup & it was absolutely delicious! It is from The Barefoot Contessa cookbook. which I actually found on
The Food Network website.  I did cut the recipe in 1/2 & we still had enough for 2 meals! I usually don't "love" vegetable soup...but this one, I DO!

Happy hump day!

My internet connection has been super S-L-O-W the last couple of days. I don't know why except that it is satellite & it is raining...?? who knows.

Daughter has been sick the last couple of days. Really bad cold like symptoms. She finally stayed home from work today, so hopefully the rest & the meds will help do the trick.

My uncle...my dad's last living sibling passed away yesterday evening.  He has been very ill this past year & it was expected, but it wastill very sad to hear the news.

Hubby is hopefully going to get Lasik eye surgery done! He has been wanting this forever. Right now he is having to not wear his contacts for 3 weeks to get an evaluation done. He is on week 2 of wearing glasses right now.
I really hope that he will be able to get it done. I would love to have it done also...well, let me rephrase that...I am petrified of having my eyes cut on, but would love not having to wear contacts & glasses ever again!
I will see how all goes with hubby & hear about his experience & then decide if I think it is for me or not.

I have started wearing a finger splint at night on my finger that has been locking up from the rhumatoid arthritis.  The reason for this is because  a couple of weeks ago, I woke up in horrible pain & not only that finger, but my whole hand was locked up & I couldn't get it to open back up! It scared me to death. I just knew that I would be crippled like that. I would rather not have use of that one finger than to have my whole hand unoperable. Finally, after about 10 minutes (which seemed like forever & after so much pain that I was in tears, I did get it unlocked & opened up. During the day if I feel it starting to lock up, I can click it back into place, but at night I can't, so that is why I am wearing the splint. So far so good!

I can actually see a lot of my yard now! The snow has been melting & now the rain is helping. And time changes THIS weekend!!!! woohoo!!!!! C'mon spring!

OK...I think that is about all that is on my mind for now....
time to see the rest of my Duluth pictures....

lighthouses out in Canal Park. Also that big frozen wave has some idiots out there playing on it!

The lift bridge at sunset

my beautiful daughter & sweet hubby

hubby "on the boardwalk" ....I had that song stuck in my head the entire time we were walking! lol..
.yep, I drove hubby & daughter both crazy!

more frozen Lake Superior. It was cool seeing the "waves" that hit along the shoreline frozen...

"The Cribs", which can be seen a few feet off shore west of the canal in Duluth, are the subject of much speculation as to their original use, but one of the least romantic stories is the truth...it is a sand and gravel hopper from the 1920's, not a casino or any of the other tales you might hear. It is also known as "Uncle Harvey's Mausoleum" for the man who's brainchild it originally was.

Statue called "The Arising"

On the corner of the police station is a monument & to the left is an alley...

you can see the small plaque on the corner of the building... here is the history on it...

Clayton Jackson McGhie Memorial
The memorial is located at Second Avenue East and First Street
“It is by remembering the injustice of our past that we learn to live with justice in the future.” Likenesses of Elias Clayton, Elmer Jackson and Isaac McGhie are enshrined by a solemn memorial in downtown Duluth, right at the intersection where, in 1920, they were victims of a lynch mob. Falsely accused of rape, the three young African- Americans were dragged from jail, tried on the street in front of 5,000-10,000 people, and then hanged in the chaos that ensued. It was perhaps the worst day in Duluth’s history, but the opening of this memorial in 2003 helps begin the healing of the wounds of our past.

daughter looking quite cute...

another tidbit of Duluth info that I did not know..
Duluth is proud to be the birthplace of celebrated singer/songwriter Bob Dylan. Though his time in Duluth was brief—he moved to Hibbing, Minn. at the age of six. 

Mr Pigeon ...yes...I live behind my camera lens!

This just screamed...take my picture! lol...poor cold bench

Fitgers Brewery

We had to go in & try their beer!

This was inside the building...

kind of hard to see, but down these dark steps are skeletons & ghouls...and yes, that does say day care center!

ice fishing huts. I am still too scared to walk on frozen water & then drill a hole to fish.
It is extremely popular up here, but you also see a few idiots whose whole truck fall through the ice sometimes!
Maybe one day I will get brave enough to try it.

I thought this shot turned out pretty...kind of hard to tell where the water stops & the sky begins..

I had the best meal for dinner there in Duluth on Saturday night. At Bellisio's. Click on the link to check it out. It was a lot fancier than we were expecting, but well worth every single penny that we spent!
I had the lobster ravioli with grilled shrimp in a lobster cream sauce...OMG....it was out of this world!  Daughter had Fettucini Alfredo with grilled chicken & swore that it was the best. Hubby had a Pappardelle Seafood Puttanesca,
which was outstanding.

Remember I told you that I was wanting to eat at Hell's Kitchen? Well, we went there for lunch...but they are now Hell Burgers. They changed at the end of January.
I still got what I had wanted to try... a ham & pear sandwich...here is a description of it from the menu...

***  Kind of cool...just a little while ago I went in the kitchen to get a drink & I saw a fox in the back yard! Had I not gone into the kitchen at the time that I did, I would have never spotted him.
Which happens a lot with the critters around here... which reminds me...the bears will be waking up from their winter nap soon.