We found a brother!

Up at the cottage we have these two cute gnomes. Through the years we have gone to estate sales trying to find more of the same kind.

Yesterday I went to an estate and hidden in the garage I found a brother for these two.

I can see why he was hidden in the garage, he needs a little updating with some paint. By next spring he will fit in perfect with the other gnomies (what Tim calls them).

Rainbow Flowage - Lake Tomahawk, Wisconsin

Yesterday we took the kayaks to Rainbow Flowage in Lake Tomahawk, Wisconsin. This is a 2000+ acre lake. Not only is it a great fishing area but you can get a great work out kayaking to a fishing spot.
This is a beautiful lake with great views of wildlife.
Since the flowage is so big, you need a motorized boat just to go from one side to the other. Since we were in the kayaks we were limited on fishing areas. It would have been nice to have had a fish locater on the kayaks since this was our first time at this area. Here is one of the fish we caught. I have never seen a bluegill this big. After fishing we found a nice picnic area and had a nice dinner with a bottle of wine. We had a beautiful view of the lake and enjoyed great food and conversation. We'll have to go back here again to scope out other areas of the lake.

Birch trees gone

Last week we had 8 dead birch trees professionally cut down. We were worried with all the wind that one of them would fall down onto the house or garage.


The first picture to the left is the new look of the walk way without the trees.



The next picture is what the walk way looked like with the birch trees.

Cottage birch trees

A couple of years ago we had a massive caterpillar infestation up north. Caterpillars were everywhere eating off leaves from all the trees. That year we lost all the leaves on the trees. While the other trees recovered, the birch trees started slowly dying. Last year we hired a man to cut down four trees. This year that same gentleman will be cutting down 8 more. I took a picture of the trees. They are so prominent around the house and garage but if we don't do something they could do some major damage if their tops break off. The birch trees will be missed but thankfully there are some really nice pine trees near the birch that will now be able to take off and grow much bigger.

No longer a fisherman

Yesterday we took the kayaks to Lake Dorothy ,a small 102 acre lake outside of the town of Lake Tomahawk. Most of the land around Lake Dorothy is government owned so it is a very quiet lake. A perfect lake to Kayak and fish.

Once we got into the water and started kayaking, I cast my line into the water and immediately something took my bait. I reeled my line in and caught a nice size bass. Once I got the bass into the kayak it came off my hook and was flopping around inside the boat...... my worms and everything else were scattered throughout, but I got the bass and I did not tip the kayak! Tim came over and measured the bass. It met the legal requirements to keep but I looked into its eyes and decided I just couldn't keep it so I released it. I caught 5 more bass. The last one that I caught was a big one because it fought the entire time, it even pulled the kayak towards shore. Naturally, right before I was ready to lift it into the kayak....it broke lose. Good for it. It was fun trying to land it but after that episode I decided I love to fish but I would no longer keep the fish. The best part of fishing to me is the fight. Once you capture the fish it is kind of sad to remove it from it habitat. So from now on I'm a catch and release girl. I told this to Tim today and he just laughed.

Guess what we're eating for supper tonight...the 19 inch bass he caught at Lake Dorothy yesterday.

This morning he is back out fishing our lake. He hopes to catch a couple more bass so we have plenty for supper.

LifeSpring coffee shop

On Tuesday, while up at the cottage, our internet went out. Tim needs the internet for his job so we headed to Minocqua to find a cafe/internet. Luckily we found LifeSpring coffee shop, located in a vintage geodesic dome south of Minocqua.

As I waited for my special Alterra coffee to be made, I walked around the coffee shop and discovered not only is this a coffee shop but it offered a full supply of health foods, fine art by local artists, antiques and a great vegetarian menu for breakfast and lunch.

Bowl o’ beans
Sprouted mung beans and sweet lentils are mixed with spicy refried beans, home-grown rosemary and basil, red wine vinegar, Bragg’s Amino Acids and grape seed oil and served with a side of delicious organic blue corn chips.

Spicy bean and cheese quesadilla
A veggie wrap filled with spicy refried beans, sprouted mung beans and lentils, tomato and organic pepper jack cheese, served with your choice of Muir Glenn organic mild black bean and corn, medium garlic cilantro or hot salsa. Shhhhh! The secret to the extra tasty, crispy tortilla is a massage of grape seed oil.

Vegetarian pizza
Finnish flat bread topped with spinach, sprouted beans, red onion, tomato, olive oil, Bragg’s Amino Acids, tahini, red wine vinegar, organic Parmesan and plenty o’ garlic and toasted to golden crispy goodness.

Hummus sandwhich
A whole-wheat pita sliced in half and filled with spicy hummus, veggies and bean sprouts and topped with oil and Bragg's Amino Acids. Served with a side of organic lettuce, balsamic vinegar and oil.

Pesto panini
Panini flatbread spread with garden-fresh basil pesto, red onion, tomatoes, olive oil and Parmesan. While basil is in season only.


This is a really nice place to stop in if you're in the Minocqua area. I'm hoping before we leave this weekend to go back home we can stop in once again and try their vegetarian lunches.

Mosquitoes

Last weekend we were up at the cottage. As soon as we got out of the car and smelled the great north woods air, we were bombarded with mosquitoes. Thinking this was just our imagination (it is still spring and still a little cool out) we unpacked the car and got everything into the house. Unfortunately as the weekend progressed, the mosquitoes multiplied and were destined to get our blood! We were continuously swatting those little buggers.As soon as we killed one, another one grew in its place. Now I may be wrong but don't mosquitoes usually come out in the summer and only under wet and humid conditions? Maybe these mosquitoes are the cold weather kind and will disappear when it gets warmer out. Yeah right, wishful thinking.

What type of frog is this?

Early Saturday morning Tim went outside to start cleaning up the yard. He saw this "stone" on the deck and wondered how it got there. After closer inspection he realized it was a frog. He called me out and we both got down close starring at it. The frog did not move. I even took all these pictures and he still did not move. He must have thought he was blending into the environment and we couldn't see him???? Or he was just too tired to move. I'll have to do a little research and find out what the name of this frog is.

Up to the cottage

The first time up to the cottage is always a little stressful. You wonder how it survived the winter. Did the water pipes break or did a tree fall on the roof and do a lot of damage? How about mice getting into the house or the foundation of the cottage shifting.... This year the cottage survived. A birch tree did fall on the garage roof and did some minor damage. Everything else looks great. I always have Tim go into the cottage first and inspect it because you never know what you might find. In the past we have found dead mice, a bat, and even a mummified chipmunk. Yuk!
The lake is still down. Our neighbor said they got half the snow that Milwaukee received. The good thing about the low water line is we now have a nice sandy beach. The area of the beach that has been out of the water for awhile is now growing grass. We'll have to decide if we want that to grow natural or get out the lawn mower and cut it.
First thing Saturday morning was to start spring clean up. Tim raked all the leaves which took a good part of the day. I had the fun job of cleaning the inside of the cottage from months of dust and cobwebs. I also put out all the bird houses, gnomies and hummingbird feeders. As soon as the feeders were put out the hummingbirds were out in full force drinking the special sugar mixture.
THe loons are back. The people who live up here all year long say as soon as there is a hole in the ice in spring, the loons come back. Here is a nice picture of them. On Sunday I saw them on the nest so now it is a waiting game to see if a baby loon will survive this year. I'll get you updated on any baby loons.



These are two of our gnomes. Tim likes to call them gnomies. They stand guard at the gate keeping the cottage safe.
On Monday morning it was time to leave and go back home. Spring cleaning was done. Next time we go up there we'll be able to enjoy ourselves.