Flowers

I think (hope) we're out of the danger of frost.  Yesterday, I went to town to pick up my flowers for the season.  The costs are going up, and I am cutting back a little bit.  Next year, we will do more landscaping and I will incorporate more perennials. 

I was at the dollar store and found these cute little pots.

I bought three. 

 Add a whimsical bunny:

 I incorporated another rabbit, a chicken and a watering can:

I put it all together on short step ladder I picked up at a rummage sale years ago. 

 And walla........

And that's the way it is..............

A Life Time Ago

The year was 1971, we were newlyweds, looking for a nest to raise our family.  The real estate market was slim back then.  After looking at a few homes we found out they were  in need of much renovation or repair.  My dad posed us the idea of building it ourselves.  Of course he was confident, he was a home builder.  We had very little money to even think of a brand new home.  Mom and dad  must have discussed their plans for us way ahead of time.  Their idea was, for the Mister and me  to move into their home, while they spent the winter in Florida.  When they returned in Spring we would break ground!!  They had it all planned out; by staying in their house we would save about six months of rent.  And that would be all the money we would need for our down payment. 

 We still weren't sure if we could financially swing it.  My father-in-law, gave us the advice we needed.  He said, "build the SOB, if you loose it you loose it!"  And that's the premise we went on!!!  We stored most of our furniture at the Mister's brother's vacant upstairs.  And off to Hollandtown we moved.  House plans were sent back and forth from Florida to Wisconsin, revisions being made with each exchange.  Finally the plans were a GO!!!

We purchased our lot, and I imagined what the view would look like if I were looking out my front door, and here is what I saw!!

With the help of family members and both of our dad's knowledge,  construction began.

We worked all summer!  There were millions of decisions to make; almost too many for a young couple.  We relied heavily on  the advise of others.  Some of those decisions were good choices, and others were 'if I had to do it over, I would have...'

About July of that year, the Mister and I were so sick of the house, we wanted to sell it 'as is'!  But our Dutch and German heritage said no, and we pushed forward.  

Moving in day was one of those memorable moments of married life!!  

Those 'four walls' were our home for many years!!  We raised our children there.  We had many celebrations that were an intricate part of our family.   

The house has changed in appearance through the years; and so have we.  When we retired two years ago, we wanted to make our cottage our home, but to be sure we hung on to the house in the city for a year. 

Our next chapter in our lives is beginning today.  We are closing on our house in town, and the cottage will now be called 'home'.

We will never forget our first home, as it served us well.  Now it is time to move on and make more memories in our current home!!!

And that's the way it is!!

The Derby

Here in the north woods we do things a little differently, and that includes how we participate in the Kentucky Derby.

Most of the neighbors and many of the campers will watch the derby at 'The Lodge.'  

As if we were at Churchill Downs, there is a lot of emphasis on hats.  

 I found my hat a rummage sale for $1.00.  I took off the embellishments and added my own.  A new hat band, and flowers, lots of flowers.

Prior to the race, bets are taken, and pay off is for the top three horses.

The bookie is hard at work getting the numbers to correspond with the horse names.

This was quite the hat!!!

As were these...

Even the bartender got into the act, but I don't know what event he was celebrating.

Before the race, all the hat wearers had a group photo.

As anticipation mounted, the mascot was positioned in his place of honor.

My Old Kentucky Home was sung, and the race began!!!

My horse didn't win, but we had lots of fun.  And that is what we do in the north woods, to entertain ourselves, while waiting for spring to settle in!!!

And that's the way it is..............

Decorator

When I looked at this bird feeder I thought, 'oh the Martha Steward of the bird world has been to my neighborhood.  

She has been busy embellishing bird feeders throughout the night.'  

  

She embellished my porch rails too.  And she painted the deck floors with a coat of white. 

 Oh wait, I don't think it was a  busy decorator,  but a ticked off Miss Spring, who refuses to bring her warmth!

And that's the way it is.............

Finally

Finally it feels like spring in the north woods!!  The windows have been opened!

The snow is fading away, taking the winter with it.

The  tulips are coming back to life~

As are the day lilies:

Another sure sign that spring is on its way are the native grasses are appearing!

For sure spring is on its way when you see this sight!!!

 

And that's the way it is.......................

Today--April 25, 2013

This morning we again woke up to more snow!!!  When will it end? 

We have been back from Arizona for almost a month.  And it has been mostly dark and dreary and SNOWY since we've been home.  Yesterday, the snow melted a little bit, then this morning we woke up to this.....

The forecast says 70's by next week.  I'm wondering if they are making that up... just to give every one hope!!!

On the brighter side, I did get some neat photos of Yellow Rumped Warblers.  They are migrating north from Mexico.  According to my bird book, they reside a little farther north of here.  Perhaps some will stay for the summer. 

And that's the way it is.

Heros

I don't want to know his name. I don't want to see his face. I don't want to know his life's history, his back-story, who his family is, where he went to school, or what he liked to do in his spare time. I don't want to know what "cause", if any, he was fighting for. I don't want to know why he did it, or may have done it, or what possessed him to carry out his actions. I don't want to know. Because that's what he really wants. I'll be damned if I'm going to give him what he wants.

Put him on trial, but don't cover it. Tell me when you decide to jail him for three lifetimes - because that number matters. That's the number of lives he has to now pay for. That's all I want to know about him. Nothing else.

Instead, tell me about the first responders who ran towards the fray, within seconds, fearless. Tell me about the ones wearing the yellow volunteer jacket, or the neon police vest, or even the ones in the regular everyday t-shirt who became a helper. Tell me the story about the first responder who held gauze over a wound until they made it to the hospital. Tell me the story about the volunteer who held the hand of the injured spectator until they got into the ambulance. In six months, tell me the story of those who lost a limb, who beat the odds, pulled through countless surgeries, and are learning to walk again. Tell me the story about the love, the compassion, and the never-ending support of thousands, millions, of people who support the victims here. Tell me their stories. Tell me everything you can, because they are the ones that matter. Tell me of the good that they have done, are doing, and will continue to do, regardless of... No, not regardless of, in spite of. In spite of that someone who would do them harm. Because that's what freedom in this country means. It means coming together in the hardest of times, even in the face of unfathomable adversity, to make life better for all those around us.

Tell me the good stories. That's all I want to hear.


Article taken from Cam Sicilaino's  Facebook post.