Calm Lake Superior

I often dream of water skiing on Lake Superior when it is perfectly still . . . glassy. We had the perfect conditions the last couple days that made for the dream. We have had a very strong low pressure down around northern Illinois, southern Wisconsin which brought in 96 to 100 degree days. The humidity was high and for 2 1/2 days, hardly a breeze. This gave the tumultuous Lake time to calm and settle its restless spirit. Monday morning on the way to the Baraga/L'Anse area to work with some kids in the schools, I stopped and snapped a couple pictures of Keweenaw Bay as calm as I've ever seen it. It was so calm that you could see patches of ripples when a slight breeze would blow; it was so calm that when standing on the beach, hardly the slightest wave would break on the shore. It was almost perfect glass. The dream of water skiing in such conditions was finally here . . . the only thing missing was a boat, a water ski, and someone driving the boat . . . i suppose some fairly significant missing pieces of the dream . . .

From Winter to Summer

Funny thing about the U.P. We didn't have any snow in March or April . . . spring came early and then came May. Snow flurries a couple days . . . cool days, hard frosts at night . . . and along came this last week. PERFECT!! 70's . . . very slight breeze from the south . . . sun all week with beautiful blue skies. I was standing in a lake with my chest waders on, listening to the unbelievable quiet of the earth when along came the biggest hawk I've ever seen, swooping along the shoreline trying to lose the harassing small birds which were dodging in and around this massive bird of prey. The hawk landed in a tree along the shore and the forest erupted with the calls of all the birds warning of this dangerous visitor. The hawk flew around from tree to tree around this little bay I was fishing in all the time being harassed by little birds when it tried to fly around. This hawk finally had enough and took off across the lake and made an effort to grab one of the smaller, harassing birds (around the size of a robin) and was almost successful in grabbing the bird during flight. A few of the real small birds, which are very quick and very agile, darted in-between the hawk and the robin and saved the birds life. As I stood there and watched all of this unfold right in front of me, I couldn't help but feel sorry for the hawk . . . why? A fellow fisherman wanting some breakfast? . . . but not in the backyard of the smaller birds that don't like him. Was it my extreme dislike of bullying? Was this massive bird of prey being bullied? I suppose if I was a smaller bird, I wouldn't want him fishing in my back yard either. But still, why feel sorry for a hawk being picked on by a bunch of small birds? I suppose us fisherman have to stick together . . . but when the hawk turns to eating its own . . . then go get 'em little wren . . .

Found an old SD memory card and found some fun old pictures. Kameron or Kellen must have taken this shot when down in Green Bay at the Texas Roadhouse. I could eat 20 of those rolls they have at that restaurant and never get to the meal. I supppose the circumference of my face testifies of that fact without saying . . . MJ & the baby are still as beautiful as ever . . . Funny how old pictures you run across really show how old you feel . . .

Happy Spring!!!

Sleeping Beauty

There is something about sleeping children that is so soothing. It's like a healing balm for the soul isn't it? I walked in on Breanna who decided to crawl up on mom and dad's bed and fall asleep with her "favorite danky" last night. She was just so peaceful I had to take about 20 pictures from about 20 different angles. She never stirred from that deep first falling asleep state that is so strong. I could just watch her sleep for hours . . .

HAPPY MOTHERS DAY 2010!!

All the children are healthy which is a good blessing, especially for all the interaction with other kids bugs all 3 of them receive every day. Fortunate with MJ & I, with all the interaction at the hospitals we have, have been fortunate to keep a spring time cold or cough at bay. "Nothing like your health," they say . . . isn't that the truth!?!"

Kellen & Kameron are headlong into, the end of the school-year cannot come quick enough, feeling and attitude. Kellen more so that Kam. I do believe Kameron likes school. He has all A's and is graded at well above average in all acedemic areas. Kellen is just as smart, just doesn't like school as much as Kam. Kellen's problem is that he has a Harry Potter book open on his desk during the middle of his math lecture. Now he is into Steven King and has another 5 inch thick book he's reading which he can finish in a matter of a weekend. That Kellen is a voracious reader. If we really want to get through to Kellen, all we have to say is that your grounded from reading. That brings out the most apologetic, submissive, kind and willing to do anything temperament that you could ever see. Imagine, grounding a kid from reading in order to get their attention? He is an amazingly cool kid.

This shot was taken at Grandma Crooks home on Easter Sunday 2010

The weather has been warm and nice for most of April and first week of May. It has cooled off and they are talking about maybe snow tomorrow . . . disappointed face. I was hoping to finish my current project of putting bricks down in front of our porch. I have it all framed for some concrete, but I'm thinking of doing something different now. We'll see. It always seems like whatever you do on the weekend depends on the weather . . . and U.P. here I suppose that means something . . .