Sled run to the Sand Castle

I took a run up to the Sand Castle this afternoon.  I wanted to check out the plowing and also drop off a couple of items.  Took a couple of pictures and used the pencil drawing filter on my Pentax to edit.

Happy 2nd Birthday to Millija Esther Vanasse!

Milli is 2!

Happy Birthday Sweet Milli!

Cardinal Corner Perhaps

It seems like everyone has a name for their cabin or their farm or their corner of the world, so I've been thinking that I need one too.  Today, it was busy at the feeders and I took these pictures.  I think I have a name for my home here.  What do you think?

Hanging out with the Mrs.

A bite of lunch with friends

Looking like a stud

Dude, your beak is red...I mean really red!

This is serious

Barley was giving me the serious look.  

It's almost as if she knew there was something bad going on in the town of Durand where Kris and Lora live.  A fire destroyed 3 small main street businesses overnight.  Very devastating for a small community like Durand.  Cottage Hill Floral and Frame,  Toni's Interiors, and The Durand Cafe are all a total loss according to weau.com.  Plus, the temperatures last night were below zero so the firefighters had a dangerous weather situation to deal with on top of the fire.  The news reports say that no one was injured, which is certainly good news.  I suspect that Durand's fire department is made up of volunteer firefighters.  

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I am amazed at the dedication that small town men and women have to this very difficult, and often times dangerous, job of protecting their local towns.  

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Hats off to firefighters.

First Sunday

Not as cold as was predicted (YIPPEE) but this bird had his shoulders bunched up to keep warm.

Go Packers....Go Broncos

A New Year

New Year's Eve

Grandma and Milena and Elliana put together a jig saw puzzle.

Milena told me later that Grandma is "really good at jig saw puzzles!"

Grandmas have so many hidden talents.

New Year's Day

New Year's Day fun included some Madden 2010 on the Wii.  Jack is the All Star and Kyle was just learning.  It looks like fun, I'll have to challenge Jack to a game next time I visit their house in Luck, knowing of course, that I will likely lose to him.

Even though it was very cold outside, the kids could not wait to get out on the sleds.  They loved it when Ryan pulled them around the yard behind his 1974 'vintage' Polaris.

It seems like not that long ago that it was Ryan and his siblings sitting on the sled.

Many smiles and much laughing.

Milena, Stella, Jack, Gage, Elliana

Milena, Ryan, Elliana and Cam all took a short 4-wheeler ride.

Gus and Ruby were relaxing in front of the nice warm fire in the cabin.

Ruby had those tired eyes, but so much activity made a nap just too hard.

January 2, 2010

Fun holiday celebration, and now on with the New Year.  I came back to Rice Lake yesterday, sometimes less is more when you are not sleeping in your own bed.  It is below zero today but at least the sun is brightly shining.  I filled the bird feeders this morning, and right away my squirrel friends were at the chow line.  Must take a lot of seeds to keep those little bodies going in this cold.

Day 1, 2010

Happy New Year.

Took this photo last night in the barrens at Gus's cabin.  Cold, crisp, 'blue moon'.
(Just so happens that is what I was drinking too.)