It has been a busy weekend so far. We accomplished a lot. Finally getting the gardens to where they should be. Pretty late in June for that but it is a strange year. I bought some flowers last Saturday and finally have a nice day without rain to do something with them. Trying the impatience this year with some marigolds in front. I went to a seminar last week on deer and landscaping. Deer don’t like the marigolds so maybe it will keep them from eating off the impatience. Also added some milorganite to the soil, the deer don’t like that smell either! So spent the better part of the day in the dirt. A couple of highway runs for supplies and to the dump for recycling.

Our road is under construction,bringing us city water. So the road is a mess, especially with the weather we have had the last couple of weeks. Oshkosh still trying to clean up from the floods this week. Thankfully the rain stayed south of us today, sorry Milwaukee. Construction crew keeps a generator and pump going 24/7 pumping out the trench they are working on. They keep a coupld of spots with pipes in back of where they left off Friday afternoon. I guess so when they come back out it won’t be full of water. Last Sunday in the downpour the manager of the crew had to come out. The whole road was covered in water and the hole was washing in. Tough to know how big the hole is when the whole road is covered in water! So he filled in part of it with gravel and by Monday morning the water had drained off the road. And surpisingly even after the flood later in the week they were able to keep working. I’m hoping by next weekend they are complete in putting the pipe in. Still challenges after that but making progress. So tomorrow a day of rest, going to Milwaukee to see Mom for part of the day. Hope all have a good weekend.

Randy

see more pictures in a new gallery.

Well it looks like everyone across the state is getting a chance at some interesting weather today.   So far we have lucked out.   One set of storms turned a little more southeast and went through Fox Lake Beaver Dam.  We got some wind and rain but not the bad stuff.  And it looks like Milwaukee got hit pretty hard after that.   Now we hear and see the thunder and lightening to the West and north and hopefully it keeps moving north.

It was very windy all day.   I did manage to work in the flower gardens today.   Turned over some dirt, pulled some weeds, put some seeds in.   So the rain should help those get started, and we will have some warm weather to help the seed, as long as it does not rain so hard as to wash them away!  From last week the radishes are up and the peas are just starting to pop out.   And the raspberry bushes look like they are getting ready to bloom and should be a good crop.    If we get some dry time tomorrow I’ll try to get some more things planted.  I hope to go to a local nursery tomorrow, they are having a seminar on  ‘deer proofing’ your landscaping, and I need some tips to keep the deer away.   Or I need to start hunting close to home.

So the week started out much calmer, one of the first days and sunsets without a lot of wind.   We seem to always have wind these days.  They added several dozen wind generators south of Fond du lac, and they should be putting out steady electricity.  I’m told a lot have been built north east of Fond du lac also.

So we are in for the night, will see what weather blows by.  We hope all are safe and the morning finds all your homes intact.

Randy

We made it to June and it almost feels like summer.  That’s quite a stretch since some of the area had frost a few days ago.   But our garden is mostly in as of today.  Yesterday was too wet from Friday nights rain storms but today was better and I did not want to wait any longer.  So we accomplished a lot this weekend.   Saturday had strong winds out of the north, coming across the lake at us.  But the grass got cut, some trees trimmed and some garden work started.    Last night we went to Fond du lac and listened to a freinds band play at the Ramada downtown.  We stayed the night and made it a get away.  Today slept in and then stopped for brunch on the way home.  Hardly any wind today.  So when we got home the vegatables went in and we got the Bayliner in the water and the cover on the shore station.   Chris cleaned out the boathouse and cleaned off the pontoon boat, so I guess we are ready for summer!   I think a pontoon ride and a cigar tonight is in order!

It turned out to be a pretty good day.   Lot’s of wind but the sun was out most of the day and felt warm.  A chance to get a little work done in the garden, although I tried to roto till and the garden soil is still wet and hard, so I did not make a lot of progress.   Some progress on getting the raspberry patches cleaned and mulched.   Chris and I got the grass cut, it needed it.  Next I’ll need to attack the weeds as the dandelions are popping up and the creeping charlie is in full swing again.  But need a calm day for that.

The tulips came up well, they won’t last much longer in winds like this but they liked the sun today.  One last batch is opening up.  We will have to see when the garden gets planted and we get some more color once the tulips are done.   A few blossems on one of the apple trees, so we will see if we get some apples this year.

And a little work done on the trailer.  Next weekend for Memorial day we head up to Hayward to stay near our friends Dick and Carol.   That will be a few days of fishing for Dick and I.  Looking forward to it, I better remember to pack my rods and buy a fishing license!

So just a good day, although I am beat now.   Just got back from church so we can sleep in tomorrow morning.  Then we will see what the weather is and what projects can be worked on tomorrow.    The condo in Florida is closed up for the summer now, so we can concentrate on Omro.

So the latest word on our new water is they will start construction May 27th.  That will be the day we get back from Hayward, so we will have to move the trailer elsewhere when we get home.

Hope your weekend is enjoyable.   Summer is getting closer!

I am in Florida, closing up the condo for the summer.  About 90 degrees here, but a nice breeze and partly cloudy.   The afternoons a thunderstorm seems to develop and blow through.   And then it gets nice for the evening.  Last night I grilled out down by the pool late, did a couple of burgers and watched the boats that came out after the rain.

Chris is in New Mexico visiting sister Marie and brother in law John. Sounds like she is having a great time and on the go.   She will make me jeolous today as they are going to our friends Tom and Barbara for homemade enchilada’s.

I fly home tomorrow night, Chris stays until later in the week (one of us has to punch into a building to work).   I hope it is better than 50 degrees and raining when I get to Wisconsin.

Happy Mother’s day to all!

Randy

April is almost over. Finally the warm weather seems to have taken hold and better weather ahead. We have taken some time to enjoy life. We went to Milwaukee for a surprise birthday party for my cousin Diane. Mom even came along. It was at Diane’s daughters house, which happens to be my Mom and Dad’s old house, which was good incentive to get Mom out! The surprise seemed to have worked. A good time was had by all, and we made it back Saturday night and still were able to work on some Spring projects! The dock got started and the boat lift moved into place.

And this last weekend Chris and I used a gift certificate we had purchased last fall at St Pius’s auction to spend a weekend in Milwaukee at the Hyatt. We enjoyed living downtown so much, I tell everyone if I told Chris we were moving to downtown Milwaukee tomorrow she would start packing no questions asked. So we had just a very relaxing weekend. We got down early Saturday so we could have lunch at Real Chili, I had been waiting for that for some time. And we were not disapointed, it has not changed a bit (maybe the price has gone up) and my craving was filled. And we walked around downtown, stopping to see Mike Zimmer in his bar, and stopping at Rock Bottom for a couple of beers and free pretzels. All the while catching some of the NFL draft. We walked a number of the skywalks, which even cross the river in a couple of spots.  And went through Grand Avenue.  It was a nice walk.

By the time we made it back to the Hyatt our room was more than ready and we checked in. We had champagne and truffles brought to the room and after relaxing a little went up to the Polaris for a great dinner. The steaks were great (and the lobster ravioli not bad either). That about did in our Saturday. Sunday we had a wonderful brunch at the Hyatt, and then walked to the cathedral for mass. They have remodeled since we lived there and the new pastor seemed wonderful. After church we started working our way back to the Hyatt,with a stop at Flannery’s for bloody mary’s, since we used to stop in there when we lived downtown.

So just a lot of fun, the day turned out to have better weather than forecast, how much better can it get? Enjoy

We had a great time in Florida.   Blue skies everyday, warm weather, what is not to like?  I had the chance to see my good friends at the cigar shop, spend time with our great neighbors, and even had a chance to visit with neighbors from Omro.   The flights back went well, and we had a short work week to look forward to.   And lucky us the Wisconsin weather has finally turned positive.   The local rivers are at flood stage, still some melting and the last of the frost coming out of the ground I think.  The lake is as high as any spring in recent memory.  But we have temperatures in the 70’s which feels wonderful.   Time to get the yard cleaned up and trailers prepared.  And try to find ways to keep the deer from eating the spring flowers trying to come up.  Shotgun season may be early this year!

Yes,  I have been lazy.  I have been delaying waiting for some new pictures but I should not wait!   Life is good.  We are in Boynton Beach, temp 80, light breeze off the ocean, blue skies.    Chris has been down since last Friday.  I was back at work Wed, Thurs Fri and now am back. 

I got some work days in, and to enjoy 37 degrees and rain!  Chris has a nice tan!    We get to stay until Wednesday now.   I have some work done on the bath off the master bedroom.  A new vanity and sink in.  Need to do some more finishing and then paint.   Still to decide wether that will be this year or next!  Probably this.   I will be back in May to close up for the summer and put everything away for hurricane season.  

For now life is good, just got back from the pool.  They manage to keep the pool cool, which is refreshing.   Off to church tonight (Saturday) and tomorrow will meet some neighbors from Omro up in Fort Peirce.   They picked out a spot about halfway for both of us.   I look forward to having more time some day to get to go see more people.  For now we try to fit it in a few days.  

Chris got some lamps for the living room this week and some new towels for the main bath that she wanted.   No one from her work even knows where she is logging in from if she does not tell them.   If only I could figure out how to do that!

When we get home I need to decide what to do with the 5th wheel trailers in the driveway.   They will start work on our road in a week or two and I have a feeling even if we can get our vehicles out each day, pulling the trailers over construction may be more difficult.  Some friends have offered a place to park them which I will take them up on, if I cannot find a place close to home.  It will be nice to get piped in water.  They say it is soft and award winning, so I can take all the filters and the water softener off line. 

So enjoy life, there are no guarentee’s how long it will last.

Randy

For the last Friday in February Chris and I flew to Savannah GA.  Our old friends Bev and Wally invited us to join them at their time share.  The Marriot Grand Resort is a beautiful facility.  The condo’s them selves are very spacious 2 bedroom 2 bath with a kitchen and dining area.  And a full patio that overlooked the pool and the common area.  There are multiple pools and hot tubs on the property.  Between  the buildings where some of the pools are are also a quiet stream and bridges, many trees, and a grilling area with 14 gas grills.   It was a relaxing area without leaving the complex.  And we used the grills to make a wonderful dinner one day and ate on the patio.  I love the warm weather.   We found a great upscale grocery where we bought the steaks, asparagus and the fixings.   Other pool areas were larger, and of course there was the pool with the outside bar nearby.  Chris loved the Malibu / banana / strawberry concoction the bartender came up with.  All that was just on the property.  And we walked right out on the ocean front beach.  We managed to keep up our exercise with long beach walks.  The Hilton Head beach is very hard sand and easy to walk.  And good for bike riding although we did not find time to get that in before we left.   And Hilton Head island is very scenic and relaxing.  Lot’s of great restaurants and shops of course.  We just had a great time.  Got a little sunburn and tried to store up some warmth to bring back (it did not work).  We only stayed with Bev and Wally 4 days but packed a lot of relaxation in.  Another important break from Wisconsin weather.    Wish you could of all joined us,  I recomend the trip to everyone.   Bev and Wally spent a little time in Savannah, which sounds like is is worth a trip also.

February in Wisconsin continues to be cold and snowy. The yard, house, roads remain heavily covered. But we can still remember Florida and keep planning trips to stay warm. We did get a weekend that was nice and made it to Milwaukee to go out to eat with my cousins and then had a family brunch with Mom to celebrate her birthday. She is doing great. And I think she enjoyed the company and getting to see everyone.

But the week has turned cold again, I can’t believe it. It will be close to zero tonight. but we have the weekend to look forward to. Chris and I will fly to Hilton Head for a long weekend with our friends Bev and Wally. We are looking forward to that! So there will be more pictures coming from warm South Carolina.