Some Changes Some Of The Same

We are here on our little island. It always amazes us how things change from year to year.

For those that have been here in the last couple of years you remember that the beach has been eroding and not coming back like usual. Well this year the beach is very nice and perhaps larger than I have seen it in a long long time. This is due to sand being pumped in from the ocean, which I have not yet got a picture of as they were not pumping yesterday when I had my camera...pic to come. It is quite the process and the kids love it.

They are trying to keep the sand on the beach with huge rubber 'socks' that are filled with sand to keep them in place and they then make a retaining type wall. The socks are, in this picture, in the water and running up the beach covered with sand. The green hose that you see is what they use to pump sand up from the ocean.And the kids playing on one of the many socks that are scattered along the beach.The beach in front of Cabanas Maria Del Mar where we most always sit. Big huh? Apparently the socks do work.So...Maria del Mar is the place that makes you pay for beach chairs and umbrellas. They must have gotten tired of many of us bringing our own chairs to the beach because they have now roped off a section of beach in front of their hotel. Of course it is the section that has all of the shade on the beach so.....here is the sign that 'warns' us all.HOWEVER the beach is a public place and they cannot keep people off of any particular area and many of us are under the shade in the afternoon anyway. So far we have not been told to leave.

There are now two new condos side by side. It seems that when they fill their swimming pools we get no water until the pools are filled. The islanders say that the 'privileged' get taken care of first.
Bugs, I don't know when you were last down here but the swing bar has not changed...here it is.

And Wes, this one is for you. David sitting in front of our Isla home with a cup of coffeeAnother thing that has changed...or maybe not...is that the Internet connection to my laptop is damned slow. I am not able to load pictures to the blog from my room or using the Internet cafe closest to our little apartment. SO we have to go to a coffee shop that has free Internet and drink their yucky, Loi would like it, coffee (you need to tell her that Kelly W!) SO since we don't like the coffee here updates may be a few days apart.

We love this place. After our walk each morning we grab the chairs and a cup of coffee and sit on the stoop talking to whoever will talk to us. Of course we can't understand much of what is said to us except 'Hola" and Buenos Dias". Here is the sun coming up on our street looking towards the windy side of the island.

More to come.

Happy Birthday

Lenny. We are so proud of you, you are a wonderful dad, a great husband, a cherished son and most of all an adult that you can be proud of. We love you.

You and your Grandma...get a load of that bouffant.Remember that plant that looked like a tree Len? That Granny had a green thumb.

You and your darling daughterWell this one isn't you and Julia but I love it anyway so here it is. Julia just started eating cereal and she loves it. Mom can't get it in fast enough!

Have a wonderful day Len

A Second Little Valentine's Day Wish

From our little Abigail. I just can't help it...have to share pictures of these grandbabies! Ry and Jen...she needs to be on a bear skin rug for this picture...cute!

By the way I am finally packed and ready to go.

My First Etsy Sale

I made my first sale just now. It was a special order for a bag and here it is....

Julia is helping me say Happy Valentine's Day to you all

Two Days And Counting

And I am still not packed nor do I have the house cleaned and ready for our dog/house sitter!

Mary...Grampa Otts and Joe Pye Weed feed the deer during the winter too! We saw this gal one early morning this week. It was still dark out which is why the picture is not real clear.

As The Sun Rises On Another Day

I am not yet packed for our trip! We leave for the cities this Sunday and fly out a week from today.

My type A personality has been lost and I have become a master procrastinator. It makes me just a little anxious to 'not be packed' yet and I am still in the process of sewing the multiple pair of shorts that I am taking along....however I am sure that it will all come together in the end.

So off of the computer and back on the sewing machine. Soon to come will be pictures of warm sunshine and blue water!

Aaahhh Winter

Since the snowmobile trail runs right past our house we get to see the trail groomer frequently.

Quite a contraption. The guys had to stop and wave as I took their picture.

Snow sculptures in a local town celebrating some cold day or another

We had no idea what this one was
A coffee cup in front of a local restaurant
A snowmobile in front of another
And our favorite...a VW bug in the grocery store parking lot. The theme seemed to be peace and love...and flowers in the daisy holder of the bug.

In fact when we first drove through town I thought it was an actual car that had been left in the snow.

We have a family of four deer living in our woods. They stay right on the edge of the tree line but I was able to get this shot.

Yes We Did

And a very proud time it was. I really had not given a whole lot of thought to the historical event that yesterday's inauguration was until I witnessed it on TV. President (oh how good that sounds!) Obama in my opinion was the person that gave us hope, the person for the job. Of course I know that he is black but I just didn't really think in those terms until I watched what it meant to other black folks and it hit me like a ton of bricks! Absolutely incredible all the way around! My friend Mary and I watched the inauguration together and both of us shed a tear here and there.

Watching history unfoldThey are a great pair. She will certainly be a strong and level headed first lady.These were the best words ever....President Barack Obama
Our new leaders
And the old boarding their helicopterBoth Mary and I did a heartfelt goodbye wave as they flew away...the sighs of relief were certainly audible!
I am not sure how I caught this but it is pretty cool don't ya think Mary?I think I snapped the two pictures one right after the other and one transposed itself on the other making a nice snapshot of the new watching the old fly away!!!!

While in the StP area I had my quarterly oncology appointment. All of my blood work was good, had a nice chat with the doc and on my way I went...see you again in four months!

And there was time spent with Julia and her dad. Kel was in Orlando for work so it was the three of us. Julia has changed a ton in just a few weeks. She is babbling and laughing almost constantly. She makes the strangest noise deep in her throat...I swear she will be talking in no time flat!


She now enjoys being on her feet although she needs help and this is one of her favorite places to be
Julia and Daddy having fun

Even I Am Bored With This Weather

And I am the one that loves snow and winter! When it doesn't get above zero for days and one can't go out to even take a short walk...the days get long. It is interesting though that the dogs don't want to go out to pee BUT they beg to go for a walk.

In an attempt to make them happy David and I take them for rides around the cold tundra (I know, pretty pathetic huh?). I actually got a few pictures today of something other than cold snow.

The dam at Federal Dam. Hard to see but there is water running from Leech Lake through the dam.
I spotted this deer on the roadside. We spooked him so couldn't get a good shot but it does show how deep the snow is. I do worry about the wildlife in this weather as it is not easy to find food under all of the snow.And a grouse in the ditch. We have tons of these up here. This guy is lucky that he is light enough to sit on top of the snow.So I have been wanting to buy an overnight hobo type bag and have been looking forever. After searching in stores and on the net and finding nothing that suited me unless I was willing to pay way too much money I decided to attempt to make my own. David designed the pattern and I put it together. What a team huh? Here it is and I love it if I do say so myself!

The empty bag
And jam packed stuffed full!It is made out of a heavy broadcloth type of material and is fully lined with the same type of cloth. It is large enough to fit everything one would need for a weekend tripI stepped out of the box in making this weekender and rather than buying handles to put on the bag I used a canvas type belt that I found at our local thrift store, cut it in two and sewed it together to make two handles.

To 'close' the bag I used a stretchy necklace that I found at Walmart for less than a dollar and a button found at Walmart (however I could have found one at the thrift store that I liked just as well). The 'necklace' loops over the top of the bag and wraps around the button, closing the top of the bag. To define and 'sturdy up' the bottom of the bag David found a thin piece of clear plastic in the garage. I put this between the outside fabric and the lining. did I mention that I found the fabric on sale at Walmart for under $5 a yard and I used about three yards. a pretty inexpensive weekender and fun to make! I do surprise myself sometimes!

A walk in the Northwoods

David the dogs and I

Sharing the trail

With a gal skiing by
We stumbled upon

An impression in the snow

What could have made it

Does anyone know?

Back home that same night

We looked out the window

To capture this sight

I know I know...I will never make a poet.

It is really quite beautiful up here this year with more snow than they have had in a few years I am sure. The snow is soft and fluffy and makes for great snowshoeing. It is a lot of work trudging through the woods in them but it's peaceful and fun to get off of the beaten path. David and I take a walk everyday that the weather permits. Nope he doesn't have snowshoes. I am just lucky to get him out walking this time of year much less with showshoes!