Ice Fishing 101

We have owned our lake cabin since May of last year. This summer there were many fish caught - none of them were caught by me. Now the lake is frozen and we are ice fishing. Again many fish have been caught - none of them by me.

Both kids were home this past weekend

to spend some time at the cabin ice fishing.

They wanted to show me the ice fishing ropes.

I showed up at the cabin wearing this coat.

The kids just shock their heads.

Lesson number 1: You do not ice fish in a wool plaid coat and leather gloves. Who knew you needed special clothing to catch a fish? I guess you need Gortex™, Under Armour® and a goofy bomber hat - none of which I own.
And really, do you think the fish know what you are wearing?

Apparently they do.

(Remember to click on pictures to enlarge.)



Years ago everyone fished in wool coats - heck they fished in wool everything.
Wool coat, wool pants, wool plaid shirt, wool underwear and wool socks,
and they caught plenty of fish.
I'm just sayn' I don't think my problem is my clothing.

As soon as you get inside your hut, you take your coat off.
So does it really matter?
(Yes it is toasty warm in the little hut.)



And what is this? I ask.

Lesson #2:
You need weed to catch fish. Weed???
Gortex, a bomber hat and weed??? I don’t have any of these items.
The kids quickly set me straight. Fake vegetation. I guess you put some fake vegetation in the lake. Hopefully the fish will think it is a home??

I don't think the fish are buying it.

Lesson number 3: You need patience. I don’t have a lot of patience, so after a while I embarrassed my children by walking around the lake, in WOOL, to snap some pictures.

There is a whole little village out on the lake.
Can you guess which hut is ours?

Why yes, it is the one with the quilt on top of the roof.

(This is to cut down on condensation.)

I bet the fish are having a hey day with this one.

If you are interested in making this quilt for your ice hut - or any other reason, check it out at http://www.piecesfrommyheart.net/ Pattern #374 It's a Guy Thing. This quilt uses the stack and slice method of piecing, so it is quick and easy.

The wheel house behind our little hut is the Ice House Mansion. It seats 6 fishermen and a dog comfortably. However, the house has rules.

I see by rule number #3 that Bimbo and Bruce rule!

I also learned that some wagering goes on at the mansion.
Who is going to catch the biggest fish?

I am betting it is not me.

This little wheel house is Anthony and Bruce’s dream.

It is just the right size - seats 4.

They bought plans to make one,

but have decided it may be cheaper

to buy a good used one.

Frosty has just come in from a ski across the lake.

I don’t know if he has lost his face or if he has his back to me???

After my little stroll around the lake, I decided to make the fisherman a pot of chili.
We prefer plain ol' chili. If you like yours all doctored up this is not the chili for you.

Plain Ol’ Chili

1 lb. hamburger browned.
1 onion chopped
2 small cans light red kidney beans
1 lg. can petite diced tomatoes
1 can tomato juice
3 Tblsp. chili powder
2 Tblsp. vinegar

Simmer until onions are softened.
Ladle into bowls and top with a small pad of butter.

Our family is not a cracker crusher family. We never crush our crackers.
We like to spread them with cheese spread and eat them with our chili not in our chili.

Cheese Spread
1 jar Kraft Old English Cheese
1 tub soft margarine
Mix together and spread on crackers.
You can also spread this on French bread,

sprinkle with garlic salt and broil until bubbly.

While the chili simmers, I will see if I can catch a fish…

Fish tally:
Bruce: 3
Anthony: 4
Abby: 3
Me: 0

I failed Ice Fishing 101. :-(

From my heart,
Sandy

I'm to Stupid to Blog!

I am too stupid to blog! I am a person who very often leaves her purse behind. Now I have to remember to take a camera every place I go so I have blog pictures. Sometimes I do remember the camera but then I forget to take pictures. Sometimes I take pictures but they are blurry. Sometimes I take pictures and somehow delete them when I save them. It is just too much for my little pea brain to remember. I feel like saying I QUIT! But I am not a quitter - not just yet anyway. Instead I will bore you with a post with very few pictures.

In May we bought what is known as the "Oak Lake Cabin". It really is not what I would call a cabin - it is more like a little house on a lake 5 miles from Algona.

As we where walking down the hill to look at the cabin, I thought the fabric on the window looked very familiar. Sure enough the curtains were made out of my very first line of fabric. It was right there and then that I decided us owning this cabin was meant to be. The next day we bought it.

The cabin needed some redoing to become "ours". I took the curtains down. (It has been 15 years - I have moved on.)


Here is were I am too stupid to blog comes into effect.
Did I take any before pictures - NO
Did I take any pictures of us painting - NO
Did I take any after pictures - 2 of them.

So with my limited drawing skills, I will illustrate. (Remember in the previous blog I confessed that I really cannot draw without a lot of erasing and redrawing.) I do not have time to erase and redraw so bear with me.

Son Anthony came home for a weekend to help us paint. He likes to paint. He sometimes paints to pick up extra money.

Anthony's girlfriend Deb came along. She was a dear and painted the two teeny tiny closets, among other things. Bless her heart.



Deb's dog Coco also came along. Coco wanted to paint but couldn't.




Dear husband Bruce also helped. He really does not like to paint.



I painted the porch floor and screen door. I wish I had taken before pictures there was hardly any paint left on the floor.

We painted the dining room Benjamin Moore Jalapeno Green

This past weekend both of the kids and their boyfriend/girlfriend came home for a weekend at the lake to do nothing but relax.

Anthony and Deb relaxing on the patio. (Now you know what they really look like.)



Daughter Abby and her boyfriend Zach fishing. Zach caught a lot of fish plus the light pole.



Abby - just chillin'




Cousin Cory came for a visit. He caught the first fish - did I get a picture? NO



Anthony telling Cory a fish story - it doesn't look like Cory is buying it.



View from the patio and our bedroom window. Wonderful to wake up to.

We all had a great time at our little cabin and I can't wait to get together again.

I made this snack for the weekend. It's a fun snack to serve at the lake.

Hook Line and Sinker

6 Tablespoons butter melted
Add:
2 Tablespoon parsley flakes
1 1/2 tsp. dry tarragon
1 tsp. onion powder
½ tsp. celery salt

Add:
2 C. gold fish crackers
2 C. pretzel stix
1 C. Cheerios
1 C dry roasted peanuts

Mix until coated.

Bake in shallow pan @ 325° for 45 minutes
stirring every 15 minutes.

Serve in a clear glass bowl.

Have a good week and remember to take some time to do nothing but relax.

From my heart,

Sandy

P.S. On Saturday we all went to Jackson Minnesota to my parents farm for their annual threshing bee. I took my camera - but kind of forgot to take pictures. Give me a break it was 100 degrees in the shade - my brain was cooked. (Old people are not even supposed to be outside when it is that hot.) Go to my sisters blog http://www.withthyneedleandthread.blogspot.com/to read all about it as told by her grandson Beckham. It was a fun filled day - other than the heat.