Guess what happened yesterday. 

Yeah! It snowed, again.

This morning I went down and shoveled off the swimming hole. This is what it looks like right now. I think it's going to be a little while before it's open. Maybe tomorrow I'll go and drill some more holes. We were too busy today...

 Cuttin', splittin', an' stackin'.

 I have had a couple of suggestions that Grasshopper should go for a swim if we make it to $1000.00. Since she is still outside stacking wood, I'll agree to that. Grasshopper doesn't like swimming, even in the summer. I'm not sure that she'll go in her birthday swim suit, though. That might take more than a thousand bucks.  

Here's a better pic of the dark eyed junco. We only have two, so far.

We only have one robin and it looks kinda bewildered.

This could be me.

Or, this could be me.

Just a minute, I'm thinkin'.

Whoot! Whoot! 

So, we know that I'm going for a swim, and we know that I'll be in my birthday swim suit. I'm now trying to think of something special if we hit $1,000.00. Any Suggestions? 

By yesterday morning it was known that I was, at least going for a dip. I headed down to the lake drill some holes so the sun and rain would help open a bigger hole. Richie, I,m not ashamed to admit that your tool might be bigger than my tool, 'cause my chainsaw won't cut thru 4' of ice. 

Not thru yet!

In some places there was a crust of ice, over water on the ice. 

 The crust gave away and I dropped down to over my knees. You can see where my head and arms hit, just behind the auger.

You can see that there was a crack in the ice and I was lucky enough to be standing right over it.

Hopefully this will make a hole big enough to swim in.

About an hour ago.

This is where I fell in.

There is about an inch of ice over the holes.

 I'd like to thank everybody who donated. Janet, Grasshopper, Jon and Mary-Lou, Sister Margaret, Anne, Colette, Dona and Tina, Tom and Mary-Anne, Itchy Richie, Josie, Jaione, and Chris. 

You will have to believe me that it's a dark eyed junco.

Avian stand-off.

Him.

Her. She doesn't have her mean, married look, yet.

First red-winged black bird.

We still have our 'jacks.

These two appear to be married, already.

No jokes today, just truisms. 

 You know that this is my motto.

And, this is Kaeden's JDRF walk for a cure team uniform.

 I might have done this one before. Everything after this needs no explanation.

 

 
 

Today is YOUR day! 

 

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It's time for another Public Service Announcement.

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As some of you know, my 12 year old grandson, Kaeden, has juvenile diabetes. He has had this disease for 6 years. His family raises money every year with the JDRF walk to cure diabetes. This year I would like to contribute by doing a "Polar Bear Swim". If I can raise $250.00 in pledges, I will go for a swim as soon as I can make a hole in the ice. If I can raise $500.00, I will do it in my "birthday" swim suit. Since we will be isolated when this happens, Grasshopper will have to take porno-, I mean photo-graphic proof, which will be posted here on the blog. Get behind me on this, but not too close! 

Here is the link to donate.  

 

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We now return you to your semi-regularly scheduled Blog. 

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Last Saturday the evening grosbeaks showed up.

And MoreRon, too.

And a woodpecker in the peanut butter.

Quick, what kind is he?

Last Saturday, sunrise shining thru wolf's bay.

American gold finch, on the left and a grosbeak.

An air hole, right beside our tree line.

For supper I made that bacon wrapped pork loin recipe that's been floating around on Facebook. To me it was just, meh.

Monday morning. Check out the pock marks on the lake.

Mr. and Mrs. G. Beak.

Check out the sunrise reflecting off of a window, or maybe the steel chimney of the sauna at Bedrock.

Not a great pic, but, the first robin of the year. I bet it was surprised by how much snow that we have. Grasshopper also saw a Canada goose flying and honking in the narrows.

It's been so hot here lately. So, how do the lumberjacks dress at this time of year? Man! I stepped off of the trail, in my snowshoes, and sunk right up the the Y joint.

We are going to town tomorrow, so, we'll wish Mr. Slate an early birthday. 

Happy Birthday Mr. Slate!