Goodbye January

I feel like I should say something for the record about what a mild winter this has been so far.  Last winter was record amounts of snow and this year is record high temperatures.  I am not complaining.  So, now it is already February and Spring is within shouting distance, yay!

I am trying to do some computer clean up for Kyle at the Bella Salon, so I spent Monday in Luck.  I had lunch with Lois and Mary Jo, and we celebrated Lois's birthday.

I am continuing on piano lessons and some weeks feel like I am making good progress.  The teacher is a good cheerleader and I am enjoying playing.  I should practice more, but as long as I practice some each week, I count it as a good week.

The Bridge group I signed up with in Cameron is turning out to be a very nice group of women and I am learning much about Bridge that I either never knew or had forgotten.  Playing cards is fun and I am getting to know the others a little better each week.

The cats are fine, they seem to like their big cat bed and spend most of their time sleeping in it or in front of the fireplace.

I get a chuckle out of the Rice Lake Chronotype Police Log.  Whoever writes it, does such a good job of 'tongue in cheek' reporting of the calls to the police.

This one made me chuckle.

Small town life.

Cold & slippery but sunny

It was a really sunny, crisp day today.  The snow was crunchy.

Glenn's family was gathered at his cabin at Big Moon for Krista's (40th) birthday dinner and I was invited.

When I got there, the kids were busy sliding, so I took a few shots.

It's always fun taking pictures with bright sun, snow and lots of colorful winter clothes.

Here is a YouTube video I made of one of the rides by Breanna, Charli & Wynni.

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Milli had on her ice skates for the first time ever.

The ice is so slipper, thank heavens Mom is there to help.

Getting the hang of it

Push and glide, push and glide

Maybe if Mom walks backward it will be easier (not for Mom tho)

Mom & Grandpa helping and a hockey stick to hold on to

It sure is fun

But you have to take a break sometimes and stand someplace where you won't fall down so easily.

But then get back out there learning, Grandma and Mom helping

Millija

Milli came in the house to warm up and immediately crashed.

Learning to skate is very hard work, exhausting really.

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Charli, Breanna & Wynni

Glenn is just a big kid

Jackson and his flying saucer

Charli

We need a rope tow to get back to the top of the hill....Grandpa?

Jackson and some hockey

Grandpa and Jackson on the same team

Grandma and a little hockey

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In the house, there was visiting and some of the smaller kids and then a wonderful lasagne dinner.

Bryce was snuggled with Grandma so he could have is bottle

Vincent with Grandpa Mark

Vinny

Somehow I missed getting a picture of many other, owell, next time.

Gage and 4th grade basketball & more eagles

I spent the night in Luck last night and this morning I went to Gage's 4th grade basketball games.

The Luck kids won both games and Gage had quite a few points.

He wanted me to take some action shots and post them on my blog.

 Gage with the ball

Driving to the hoop

and the shot.

A tribute to Aaron Rodgers.

This is the LINK to the entire album of photos from today.

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On the way home I saw 2 eagles sitting in the same tree where I saw an eagle on my birthday.

It was snowing and windy, but I guess they were hunting for supper.

The one decided that I had taken enough photos.

But I got lucky and got him as he flew away.

Fresh snow

A light and fluffy 3 inches of snow fell overnight.

The sun was out this morning and the world was so beautiful.

I am still trying out a 300mm lens, so snapped a few winter scenes from the deck.

A path in the new snow into the woods

Little pine at the edge of the woods

I always love the shadows on snow

*****

I have been listening to books on my iPod while I drive for quite some time, today it dawned on me that I could listen while I push snow off the driveway.  What fun, the work was done in no time.

I'm listening to a good book, Edgar Sawtelle, and it made quick work of the driveway snow, that is for sure.

Life is Good.

Quick trip to Luck and back

I had a very successful day today.  I drove to Luck to finally do the final fix on Ryan's computer, and it is done, was easy and everything is working well for them again.  I dropped off my old set of dishes for Angie-yay that she wanted them and yay that they are out of my house.  Then I babysat for a couple of hours for Kyle and Heather so I got a few pictures of the kids to post.

Jens and Ruby were having a blast this afternoon....

But it wasn't long before it was nap time for the baby Jens...

And big sister Ruby needed a little recharge as well.

 But before I left, everyone was back wide awake and silly.

Stella and Ruby thought they were pretty silly wearing the big shoes.

I wonder what time these two finally settled down for bedtime.

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I was also test driving a new 300mm camera lens on my trip to Luck.

Much to my delight, 2 eagles were easy to spot along the way.

I was directly under this big guy.

He gave me the eye a couple of times, I took it to mean "Move along".

So I did.