Spring...

Spring It Is A Coming....

The driveways and the yard are starting to turn to an

icy slushy mess. Hubby has been pushing slush/ice the

last two nights to help it along.

a few of the dirt roads are just that -- Dirt

But we still have snowbanks on the sides of the roads....

Spring It Is A Coming!

A New Season -

With Spring arriving, it means in Minnesota we are spending time in a new season....a season when everything comes alive!  No more snow of the winter and the anticipation of the soon-to-be flowers  and gardens right around the corner.

I'm wondering what wildflower surprise the Hoefs Rock will have.  The Hoefs Rock is a very large rock Hubby hauled in last year and then we planted wildflowers around it.  See last years'  beautiful flowers.

It is yet another season in the country - dusty road season!

And don't forget cleaning ditches season...

Another new season is my Weight Challenge  "I'M BACK"!!

I had a good night at the scale (finally) - goals for next week:

**Continue drinking water
**Lessen my pop consumption - one pop a day or none by July 1st.
**No snacking at my desk
**No snacking after 8:00 pm
**Soup or salad once a day (usually lunch)

Another WW lifetime member made a comment regarding exercise.  It is noted that you don't have to exercise to lose weight but it is recommended that you do exercise.  Another lifetime member agreed with me in that she has to exercise - she has too!   That is exactly how I feel = if I miss more than one day my body begins to ache.   ...and why does it feel like you are starting all over again!

Another new season is coming up -- in May it will be a year since I starting blogging and over 300 entries on Livin' It Up Country not to mention the number of pictures and other stories posted on my other blogs.  And I noticed today I have some new followers - why?   I always wonder why a new follower pushes that button  except it must be like myself you either enjoyed a story, a poem or a photo and thought hey interesting folks or hey they are kinda like me ---whatever your reason I hope you enjoy your visit and maybe even "smile" about  something you saw or read about here in my part of the country!

On the other side I see some bloggers hanging it up... I will miss their stories and especially their pictures!  I know it can be overwhelming and sometimes downright addicting....but I enjoy blogging in moderation - some like to watch tv (I don't watch much) -- some like to read (I like to read also but when I do I  make time for that)...  I enjoy taking pictures and blogging has been a creative outlet for that and I've come to enjoy what blogging does -- it makes me always look for things of interest. 

Now some country pictures:     "Enjoy"

and Tigger found a new place to take a nap or

is he just keeping the cardinal company!

First Day of Spring -- Locals Still Icefishing!

While some are busy outside in their yards or

taking care of some spring cleaning - the locals

are still enjoying the winter sport of icefishing.

This is the same area that the community

fishing derby was held in February.

The fishermen(women) must now use portable fishhouses

which are taken on the ice with them and removed

when they are finished.

Most are using "ice cleats" they slip on over your boots

and are suppose to keep you standing upright on the ice -

some use other  means like my father-in-law who rides

his 4-wheeler out.

I asked Lineman Son (who is in the house on the far left)

how much ice is out there - he said "Enough, Grandpa is

still out on the ice!"

So when Grandpa is done fishing for the year apparently

then Lineman Son will call it quits!

This family is busy setting up -  drilling the hole

with a powered ice auger!

And here they are done fishing and have

all the gear packed up...

The catch is "panfish" -- the really small ones...

Lineman Son and his girlfriend went fishing the other day

and did catch quite a few....

He later was teaching her how to clean them - which

is interesting - since neither of them

are so crazy about "eating" fish!

The last few days have been quite chilly and frosty in

the morning so as long as that continues the ice

will remain on the lake. 

Some fishermen will be out there as long as they can --

they are the same ones that are the first ones out

in the beginning of the season ---  I hope they wear

their swimming trunks!  :) brrrrr...

Looking Back -

Looking back at my week...

We didn't have much sunshine this week but did have one foggy

morn with a hint of Mr. Sun...

My computer is back after a little tuneup and running great - I took

some time off of posting but tried to check in the last

few days on lineman son's computer - it was sure nice of him to

hook his computer up so that we didn't all have those

computer withdrawals!

Lineman Son has been home this week - the boss says it is too

muddy where their jobs are at -- close to the North Dakota rivers which

are not staying within their banks!

Zoey checked in on some fishing that was being done..

This is the fishing bucket - anything in it?

How about over here?

I took a day off and began some cleaning --- yahooo

I can see the floor in the extra room and

Lineman Son even got the itch....

I was wondering if he was moving when I saw all

the stuff removed from his room!

Spring is here!  Hubby has begun grading or

leveling out the driveway and the snowmobiles have been

packed  away.....

Do you ever run into this?

Hurry up and wait... Hurry up and wait...

Hurry up and wait!

Take a deep breath -- patience!

It is suppose to be a cool weekend - I may need

to join Moe -- and have a cup of hot chocolate, too!

Will It Be A Winter or A Spring Weekend?

This time of year Minnesota weather can be a bit crazy.

Not sure what our plans are for the weekend --

we would like to snowmobile up North to a

little town that is sponsoring a snowmobile event

and some track racing! We would be going to

watch this time.

But the trails and ditches are showing some dirt

and Hubby always hates to ride (hard on the sleds)

when the conditions start getting bad.  But we still

have quite a bit of snow so who knows.

The weatherman says we are to get freezing rain

or snow!  Well which is it?  Doesn't he know

we have things to plan - anything to get out

of house cleaning!

If it is raining - oh I have plenty to do!  I crossed off

the fridge and taxes so on to some new things on my list.

Back to work today - thank goodness it will be Friday though.

Having yesterday off with the animals was refreshing

and makes me anxious for spring - wish we could just

skip the ice and mud!  I almost dug out my Birkenstock slip

ons that I wear most of the year but changed my mind

when I walked down to get the mail (at least no jacket)  :)

This picture is also from the Headwaters of the Mississippi -

the little walking bridge for those who don't want

to cross over stepping rock to rock...

Are you having a Winter Weekend or a Spring Weekend?