RUSTER ROLLER REPAIR

This is my son Adam our family mechanic. He came over this afternoon after work to help me do a little repair on the roller. But before we got started He had a little work to do on His truck. I think He was looking for the dip stick. Can you find the dipstick under the hood?

Anyway we greased the front end and front week barrings. Nothing under their was bad just preventive maintenance. Then we fixed the windshield washer. Everything went fine. Actually Adam did all of the mechanic work, I just posed for pictures and handed Him parts.

I've got to git this thing running like a top before the big road trip. Because when I roll up to the beach in Malabu I'm going to be cool.

WHATS NEXT

Everyone seemed to like my story's of a time I know best. Most of my memories of the 50s and 60s were good ones. Just like Ozzy and Harriet, The little rascals and Maybarry . And I mean it, that's the way it was, most of the time. But not all of the time. You all seemed to like the Texas Bill story. I have another memory and story of Him. On a day he met an unsavory man. You'll hate this man we all did. And we all learned something none of us were ready to know .


On a lighter note. The Rusty Roller run like a top and got twenty seven miles per. gal. I'm pleased with that.


Tomorrow I'm going out and getting some pictures. All my good pictures are stuck in our dead computer. and all the good pictures I get in E-Mail are mostly tiny when I put them on my blog. I'm sure it's just something I'm doing wrong.

TEXAS BILL

We moved to Parkville when I was in the sixth grade, I was eleven in 1959.

The first person I met was Wally, who lived three houses down. We were still unpacking when He knocked on the door and asked my mom "Do you have Any kids here my age." Well my mother though I was the one out of the four of us that was closes to his age. So she brought me out. He then introduced himself and asked if I wanted to go out to play. It was winter so we went sledding and have been friends ever since

It wasn't long after that, that Wally introduced Me to Texas Bill. Texas was an old man that lived on the edge of town. He was skinny and would have been tall if he could stand up straight, but he was all bent over with artheritis. He was very old, when asked , he would say he thought about one hundred, but wasn't sure. He had a twinkle in his eye, and a couple of good yellow teeth, everything he ate had to be soft.

He had a very small house that use to be a one car garage. He had a couch that turned into a bed, a wood burning cook stove that He used to heat with , and a bathroom so small he had to take a bath in the kitchen in a wash tub. He did most of his cooking and cleaning and living outside in his back yard.

Most of the adults in town said us boys should stay away from crazy old Texas Bill. He might be dangerous. And his story's were all lies anyway. They probably were jealous, Because all the boys in town would rather listen to Texas then their teacher , or even their father.

He taught us a number of important things like how to spit and fight. He told us how to sharpen our pocket knifes and play mumble peg, and how to cuss ,and how to be polite to girls and women.

But his stories were the best part of our visit. He said he was a Texas Ranger. He would talk about the bad guy's He tracked down , Like Sam Bass and John Wesley Hardin. He told us of gun fights and ambushes and riding horses across the plains chasing rustlers or murderers. He fought Comanches and chased Mexicans bandit's back across the border.

He told us stories of when he was in the wars WWI and WWII. He was in the Calvary in both . The first with horses and mules, the second was mostly trucks.

We all though he was a man among men. A real live hero. We couldn't understand why the adults couldn't see this.

He told us other Texas stories to. Like of the Alamo, He could make you feel like you we're there, along with Sam Huston, Jim Booey, Danial Boone and the rest of them fighting to the last man to make Texas free.

In our minds their was nothing crazy about Him.

About the time I left home my little brother started hanging around Texas Bill's place. Then I was eighteen and I was sounding like all the other adults. I told my brother He's just a crazy old man in a little shack telling lei's. Nobody could have done all the things he say's He's done.

Two years later I was in the Navy and half a world away when I got a letter from Wally. In it was an obituary for Captain Monroe Fox formally of the Texas Rangers, veteran of world war one and world war two. Born 1865 in Brownsville Texas died 1968 age 103 Known locally as Texas Bill.

I don't know what happens to us but somewhere between childhood and adulthood we lose the ability to see anything special in someone that's plain and unspectacular.

****************************THE END************************

ROAD TRIP TO DANI'S

Friday morning Grandma, Me and Flynn gassed up the rusty roller and headed to Sulli's house for a surprise birthday party for Danika's sweet 15th. Of coarse Grandma wanted to take the good truck . But wheres the adventure in that. And no that's not a mini camper on the back. Flynn doesn't travel light. I took many pictures of my beautiful grand kids. And this is the best one I got of Olivia with Sulli's chickens. And no Flynn didn't eat even one chicken or one grandchild.

On the way home we stoped in the town of Akely to visit Paul Bunyan. Nice guy bet He don't say much. So we didn't stay long

On the way home we hit and killed four birds before we were half way home. It was weird birds don't just fly in front of you're truck. You usually just drive and the things get out of the way. I don't know if all the snow just made them want to it. Or if their was a Field of marijuana burning somewhere. But after that I was very carefully and slowed down when ever I seen a bird on the road.

HAPPY BIRTHDAT DANI

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DANIKA!!!

RUSTY ROOLER

Rusty Roller update. One more thing off the list before I take off for the coast. The door handle on the diver's side was broke. I got one off a junked 1998 Oldsmobile and made it fit a 1989 Chevy pickup. A little bit of drilling, a little hammering, A little cussing, two bloody knuckles. And three hours latter and it was done.

Me and Flynn went for a ride to see if it run any better. It seemed to run the same. But running the same for my level of mechanical ability is pretty good.

Flynn was happy with the results and sat proudly in the best tuck He has every known.

GRAT GRANDMA

Hears Grandma, the back ground you see is the alzleimer ward of the nursing home she lives in. She looks happy and on the most part I believe she is. Her memory is getting worse all the time, but when We visit her she can remember Me and Wanda, and every thing that happened fifty years ago. She can't remember what day it is or what she had for lunch or how to read or even turn on the T.V.. When we visit, it's the high point of her day or week. We've more then once just got home from a visit and the phone would be ringing , It's Grandma wondering when were coming for a visit ," I haven't seen you for such a long time" She'll say.
My younger brother Dan came to visit her from Washington last year, She didn't remember Him. One day she wont remember me. One day she wont remember how to eat, then She wont remember how to breath . That's alzleimer's, not a nice thing.

FIRST COOKOUT

This is Uncle Wayne With his Grandson Wade going up the Mountain.

Yesterday Me and my granddaughter Alissa along with Wain my brother in law and his grandson Wade went for a Four Wheeler ride to the top of Firecracker Mountain

This is me with Alissa riding up the hill through the mud.

Here we are at the top. Me, Alissa and Wade having hot dog's We just cooked over an open camp fire. First open air cookout of the season.

When we reached the summit of Firecracker we all gathered stick,s and firewood and built a fire. We all had a good time eating hot dogs. Then we all learned how to put out a camp fire and pick up all our trash. We Left only our footprints and went home.

STICK HEAD

*********STICK HEAD*************

I suppose this isn't a peticuler happy story. But it was a happy time

In 1958 I was ten years old in the forth grade. Life was good , we lived in the town of South Grove. and it was the start of spring, the snow was leaving, the days were getting longer and us kids were having a wonderfull time. we were finding ponds full of frogs and pollywog's. That was our thing in the spring of 1958.

That's also when we got a new kid in school. He seemed OK. I can't remember for sure what His real name was, I think maybe Steve. Anyway, He was a little small for his age and he missed school alot because he was sickly. But when He was there we all played together. Even being small he could play all the games we played. Tag, dodgeball, marbles, and generally running around and being ten.

The reason we called him Stick Head was the fact that he didn't have any hair. Non at all. But for some reason we couldn't understand when he came to school, or was in class His mother made Him wear a wig. It was a bad wig but he had to wear it. When we went to His house to get him to come out to play. His mother would make us wait on the porch. And She would take Him into the bedroom and stick his wig on his head. He had some kind of glue stuff He used to stick it on with.

When we ran through the woods He would take it off so he wouldn't wreck it Then before We went home, We had to help Him stick it back on.

My most memorable day I had with Stick Head would have been forgetable with anybody else.

We were playing in the school yard, just boy stuff. But our teacher Mr. Left who was overly protective of him seen me push Him pretty hard from behind. Old Stick Head went flying flat on his face.

Mr. Lefts solutions to boys fighting in the school yard was only one thing. He would take the guilty party's down in the basement of the school. Put us in over size boxing gloves and let us fight. He would be the ref and stand close to the side of us so He could stick out his hand to block any blows that looked like they might be to hard. He though it was punishment. We boys more or less had fun with in. Each combatant got in a couple of blows. Then the fight would end in a draw. Every one was happy.

But this time Mr. Left wouldn't let me get in any blows, And Stick Head got in quite a few. Then again out of character Mr. Left told me, He better not ever catch me playing ruff with Steve (or what ever His name was) again.

We all thought that was weird. But like everything else the teacher told us we forgot it, and went back to being ten.

Well it wasn't long after that we saw Stick Head in the back of His family car leaving town. They had to move. I never seen or heard of Him again.

Fifty years ago is alot of time. If I knew then what I know now. I wouldn't have played ruff with Stick Head or pushed Him from behind.

I'm glad I didn't know then what I know now. Stick Head would have missed out on a little bit of childhood. And so would have I.

**************************THE END********************

FORTUNE BAY

GOOD MORNING; THIS MORNING INSTEAD OF GOING TO WORK I'M GOING OUT TO BREAKFAST.

I had a chance to work today but I took it off . I plane to rest up for the work to come I'll have very few days off between now and the end of May. Busy time.

so to start my one day vacation Me and Grandma are going out.

De Rainged Mom........Love it.

WORK ON SAT.

Good morning; for some reason my computer won't let me upload any pictures. But that's OK . I haven't much time. It's Saturday and I'm going to work. I could work Sunday to but I'm going to cry uncle and take a day off.

Well every one have a good weekend. And I'll try to come up a story for my Monday morning story blog.

I got a picture to come up. It's not the one I wanted but it's something.

REFLFCTIONS

But is their realy a tiger in the tank? In a little while I will be off to work. The work I do is way to physical for me. I'm a wreck ,I'm sore and stiff all over. But I keep doing it because I do enjoy it. Especially when the lake opens and I'm on the boat, witch is also to physical for me . Every year I tell myself this is it. I'm suppose to be retired. Every year the price of gas goes up. And every year I say I can do it one more year.
But one day I'm going to look in the mirror and see what I'm looking at.

DANIKA'S ADVENTURE

Danika's adventure with Grandpa.


Life is full of adventures. Some are big, some are small. Their are scary adventures, brave adventures, Sad or happy adventures. but the best adventures are the ones you can share.

It's like the question; If a tree falls in the forest and no one is there to hear it, does it make a noise? The answer is; It doesn't matter.


This is an adventure Me and my granddaughter Danika shared in 2003. Danika was ten and I was old enough to drive the four-wheeler.

At the time I had a bait shop and trapped a lot of my own minnows. Dani was visiting me and her grandma for a week.

On that day we got on the four-wheeler and headed to rainbow river, a round trip of about eight miles. Out of tower we went east to the taconite trail for the first leg of our journey After about one mile we got on the rail grad section of the trail. This was smooth running so we were making good time. And me with tunnel vision was watching straight down the road. Dani, riding on the back was an excellent observer. She was seeing everything ,birds, squirrels and rabbits. Her head was swivling left and right up and down. then all of a sudden, little fist were pounding me on the back. Dani was trying to be heard over the sound of the wheeler.

When she finely got my attention I stopped. Dani was out of breath from excitement. But when she told me she seen a moose, I was excited. But a ten year old, come on. she might have said mouse."not moose". Ya but does she know a moose from a deer, Their is a lot of deer around. But we were going to find out.

We drove a little further until we found a place to turn around. We went back, we drove slowly hopeing that what ever it was, it was still there. What's the chance?

But there it was. A moose, a real moose. It was a gigantic female at least fifteen hundred pounds. Bigger then a horse and twice as ugly. We stopped the wheeler and shut it off to listen. It didn't move much at first. Then it started to walk around. Not threatening but I was getting a little nervous. This was spring and she probably had a calf with her.

A moose doesn't have claws or sharp teeth but it does out weigh Me, Dani and the four wheeler. If she was defending her calf I had no doubt that she would try to kill us. But after watching ten to fifteen minutes it wondered out of our sight.

Seeing a moose in the forest is a lucky omen. I'm in the woods all the time. If I see a moose once every ten years I would consider myself lucky.

So we happily continued our journey through the forest to Rainbow River. We collected our minnows out of the traps, and headed back. We tried to find the moose on the way back, no luck. Dani stayed with me at the bait shop and we told everyone we saw that day about our moose encounter. We had a good week.

So not only is Danika pretty, a star athlete in volley ball, a musician in the band and an honer roll student. she is the best wild life observer I've ever been in the forest with .

************not even the end**********
Love Grandpa,

TAX DAY

This is also a sign or spring. Yesterday was April 15th tax day. And once again on April 15th I find myself at my tax mans office in Ely. Hurrying and scurring to get my taxes done. This is my tax guy's office. I know it's not to impressive looking . Run down and shady but that's the kind of tax man I need. Oh well that's out of the way tell next year.
I'd like to apologize for the length of my blog yesterday I got carried away. I should have extended it by one more day. But their was so much stuff going on that day I guess I just got carried away.

A HIKE AROUND ANGLEWORM LAKE

*A hike around Angleworm Lake*

(part two)

Angleworm Lake was shaped kind of like an angleworm but more like a hot dog about one hundred's yard's wide and about five miles long. Like a fat river with no current. It had mostly sandy beaches and on one side it had a cliff. The trail went over the top of this twenty foot cliff to give us a view of the whole lake.

In the sandy spots we found a lot of animal tracks. We had a boy scout hand book with us. So we were able to identify all the tracks we didn't know. We found of course deer, moose, rabbit and raccoon. We might have seen wolf tracks , but Banjo was running all over making his one tracks so we couldn't tell for sure.

Banjo would be a big help if a bear showed up. If a bear hears a dog bark he'll take off running. Everyone knows that right? At least we hoped that's what would happen.

We got to the first rest stop on the right side of the lake It was on that cliff half way to our camping spot. So we rested, we looked around for tracks and eatable stuff. The rules about finding eatable stuff in the woods is If the dog won't eat it, you don't eat it. We were pretty safe because Banjo wouldn't eat anything we wouldn't eat.

Banjo was a good dog. He liked to run a lot. He was what you would call a mutt. Back then nobody made excuses like "he's a retriever mix" or " he's a cockaterrier" or some other exotic designer breed. Banjo was a mutt and happy with himself. So what. He was mostly brown and black spots on a white background. He was about as big as a collie but with shorter hair. He didn't know any tricks but everyone liked him just fine.

We continued our hike,we made it in a total of four hours. I know that because I borrowed my dads watch so we would be on time for our ride home.We started our hike at 10:00 AM and got here at 2:00PM. So to meet our ride at 6:00 PM tomorrow we would have to leave at 2:00 PM to get their on time. We're going to be safe so we will leave at noon. We do want to go camping again.

We set up camp on a beautifully sandy beach with a fire pit and bench. We pitched our tent so we could see the fire and the lake. We tried a little fishing no luck. So we made supper. cool aide, beans from a can and hamburgers. we seen some tracks around our camp site mostly deer, no bear, good.

We told stories into the night. Then with stars shining we let the fire go out and we fell to sleep

two tired and wore out adventurers and one brave bear dog was sleeping soundly till morning. Me and Marty got up early about 5:00 AM . Their was a mist on the lake and the sun wasn't quite up. Banjo was in the woods doing what dogs do in the woods.

Then we seen it coming out of the fog. A moose, A gigantic moose horns and all coming right at us. We were in our underwear. Marty called Banjo. I could hit it with a rock, and he was getting closer. We backed into the trees about the time the moose stepped on our pup tent. Then out of nowhere came Banjo, Barking and yelping at that moose at least one hundred times bigger then him. Then he actually bite the thing on the ankle. That just made the moose mad, It started to bat our tent and camping gear all over the place with it's horns. Banjo kept barking and running at him. We were hiding just out of reach in the tree line.

Then he got Banjo. That moose hit him with the side of his horns. the dog let out a yelp and was flung like a rag doll, into the brush. Then Marty and Me started yelling and throwing rocks and chunks of wood at the moose. Marty hit him right on the forehead. It didn't even faze him. Then just like that he just turned and walked away.

We were shaking, all the bravo gone. Our camp gear was a mess and our poor dog Banjo, When we found him he had blood on his side and he couldn't move. What do we do? We were trained boy scouts. What do we do?

It was 5;00 AM we built up the fire, carried Banjo over to it. We boiler water and got out the first aid kit and boy scout hand book. Banjo had a little blood on his side and couldn't move without groaning. nothing in the hand book to cover that. We were on our own. We cleaned him off and fried up all the bacon, and gave it to him.

How are we going to get him back to our pick up spot five miles away. But we had to get out of here with wild moose running all over the place it wasn't safe.

So we collected our camping gear and made a litter to carry banjo. The sun was up the fog was gone. We felt safer. But we had to get moving. carring the dog was going to take us a lot longer then four hours. It was 6:00 that gave us twelve hours we should make it, So we started our hike out with Banjo moaning and groaning.

On the way out it seemed we could go only fifteen minutes before we had to stop and take a break. This was much harder then we though it would be. We never thought once of leaving Banjo behind so we could go for help. Banjo risked his life to save us. so we trudged on trying to make him comfortable. we finely got to the half way point on the top of that cliff.

We had to be extra careful. We had our wonderful comrade to think of. "we'll get him out" we told him , scouts honor. We took a longer rest here and gave Banjo the rest of our food so he could keep up his strength.

It was 11:00 AM it took us five hours we had seven hours left before we missed our ride. We could make it with time to spare if we had no problems. But problems is all we had. Me and Marty were both wearing out. One or the other was always falling to our knees. We started taking breaks every ten minutes.

We were almost their it was 5:00 we were both sweating. Could we make it. We got a little closer and herd a car horn and Norvil calling us. We were covered with sweat and about dead from exhaustion . But when Banjo heard his name he jumped off the litter and took off running for the car and Norvil. Marty and Me looked at the dog then at each other. Then smiled we were happy . We saved his life.

The End

HIKE AROUND ANGLEWORM LAKE

**HIKE AROUND ANGLEWORM LAKE**

(part one)

Angleworm Lake is north of Ely on the Gunflint trail. Their was a hiking trail all the way around it's eleven miles of shore line. I don't know when the D & R established it as a national park hiking trail and started to maintain it. But in 1961 it was a well marked trail that had three rest stop benches along it's route.

That was when I first hiked that trail. It was with boyscout pack 165. We nine boy scouts and two adult leaders packed for a day hike and got their early. We hiked half way around, cooked hot dogs, and hiked out. A pretty good adventure.

But me and Marty had better plans. We were going to come back with camping gear and the two of us were going to spend the night. We would camp at the half way point at the back side of the lake. A perfect plan. Non of the other guys wanted to go. But that was OK sometimes to many guys take the fun out of it. We were thirteen years old and we've been camping in the woods around around town before with our parents permission. So this wasn't to mush of a leap.

Our parents talked it over with each other and with the scout leader. When they were sure we were trustworthy and wouldn't get lost we had our permission to go.

Marty's brother Norvil and his friend Bebo would drive us to the start of the Angleworm Lake trail.

I could hardly wait. It was going to be next Saturday morning. We got packed early, we had a pup tent big enough for two. Marty's dog Banjo would have to sleep outside. We packed sleeping bags, hunting knife, hatchet, cooking stuff and food. We were going to fish with willow sticks so we brought hooks and line. We had our canteens full of water. But we had strict orders from mom's, no guns. Which was a bummer because we were both pretty good shots with our .22's. No swimsuit's again mom's orders. No swimming, stay safe. We wouldn't have taken swimsuits anyway. Skinny dipping is the way you did in in the woods.

Saturday morning finely came. And Norvil and Bebo shooed up at our house for the ride to Angleworms. Before we could leave Novel got the lecture from my mother about safe driving, No speeding, Make sure the boys get their safe and don't let them forget their camping gear in the car when they get out. I was mortified knowing I would get the raspberries all the way to the lake. After all Norvil and his friend were seventeen and to old to get lectured by anyone.

But anyway after all that we were on our way. And after enduring one hour ride with Marty's brother and bebo, we made it.

We got out with all our gear and Marty, Me and Banjo took off down the trail.

Norvil like all big brothers would probably pull some kind of a trick. So we took off down the trail to the left got out of sight then circled back and hid in the brush. They finished their cigarettes and just took off. Then we back tracked and went down the trail on the other side of the lake. Just in case they came back and tried to follow us they would be on the ring trail.

We thought up that plan before we left. I guess we were a little disappointed that they just got in the car and left.

*********END OF PART ONE**************

RIVER MELT

I went out looking for sings of spring. not mush around here. The only thing I could find were some of the rivers are starting to open up due to all the snow melt. As you can see from the surrounding area I'd be hard pressed to find any new growth buds coming though.
I did see a bird but I couldn't get a picture he was to high and flying back south as fast as he could go.

The two pictures above are the West two river. And the one below is the East Two river.

NOTHING TO SAY

Good morning;

I have no good pictures that I haven't showed. I have no good story's I haven't told.
But the weather looks good. so we're going to have a nice day. according to the weatherman we'll have a good week.
I had the breaks fixed on the rusty roller last week but its been parked in the garage throughout this set of snow storm. Today I think I'll dig it out and take it for a spin. Then start work on the muffler.
So nothing to say. Tomorrow being Monday I'll try to come with a story. Everyone seemed to like the last one.
Wall have a good day,

I love Minnisota

SPRING IS COMING!!!!

In southern Wisconsin It's been in the 60's with the sun shining, the birds are singing, the grass needs mooning. Livvie and her family are out picking flowers and playing in the sunshine.

We on the other hand are again under winter blizzard warnings. Again! Last night we got another foot of snow . It's still snowing and blowing. And it won't stop for two more days at least. The news on T.V. is taking about all the people with out power, all the schools and stores that are closed, all activities are canceled their saying don't leave your house. The mail well not be going through. So much for the rain, snow hail and dark of night thing.

I just lost the T.V. Oh well we have a lot of movies and still have power. And I don't have to go anywhere.

I love this country, I can't imagine why. Maybe it's just because of the unknown or maybe its because I need therapy.

NAPPY THE CAT

You have meet my dog so let me introduce my cat .
She use to be Allison's lap cat and had a pretty good life. But now she's Flynn chew toy. Sometimes life sucks. But in Flynn's defence you should know that the cat is the instigator most of the time. Flynn could be sleeping and the cat will come out of no ware and slap him on the face and run for the upstair stairway (ware the dog can't go) to get away. In the house the dog can only be in the living room. Cat goes ware ever she wants . So she has that advantage . And the advantage of height. So when she runs up to slap the dog food all over the floor. The dog takes chase, tackles the cat and holds her down with a smile on his dumb face. Nappy will put up with this for a minute then bite him in the belly and take off for a high perch and laugh at him. And this goes on most of the day. But at times I've seen them both lay together and actually lick each other's faces.
Its cute, but ha what do I know. Their probably just tasting.

SNOW AGAIN

Good morning everyone;

It is mid week Wednesday already. The weatherman just said more snow in the future.

Tomorrow night it's suppose to start. Winter storm warning for this area, 8 to12 in. with high winds. OK I don't mind a little snow this time of year. But enough is enough right. We have no place for it right now. We just got our ally plowed yesterday afternoon. and they only did a narrow path because their is no place to put it. But they say it will get to 45 degrees today that will help. And to think our yard was just about all dried. Oh well I hope you all have a god day.

P.S. Thanks for all the nice comment's on my story yesterday.

Lake Wob'a Chue Part two

*********Lake Wob'a Chue** A fish story**********
I caught the first fish " hot dog I won a nickel." Then grandpa caught the next two, one right after the other. All little northerns. Unless I could catch up and pass grandpa in the amount of fish I caught he would win the second nickel. That was the rules. First fish,most fish and biggest fish all got a nickel. Some times I would win. But mom would always give me three nickels. Because if grandpa won he would take them. Rules were rules.

Then we had for quite a time nothing. It was still early. I took a little hike along the shore,came back nothing.We had lunch. " Bobber down" I shouted. Grandpa pulled in number three with a big grin. Darn "I'll catch up with him", I thought.

Then for quite a wile we were both skipping rocks. when my bobber went down. Goods deal my turn! I picked up my rod and wanted to set the hook. It went down again . I reeled in a couple turns tell I had tension and BOOM I set the hook. To my surprise my rod bunt and drag was pealing out. Wissssssssssss it stopped, Grandpa was just as surprised. He reeled in line to get out of the way and give me room. Wissssssssssss It went out again the fight was on. I knew I could get it in. Grandpa said I could so I could.

With more advice then I've ever got at one time."keep the rod tip up," "Keep up tension," "Don't let it get in the weeds," "let it run."

He took off his shoes and rolled up his pant legs. We were Both in the water up to our ankles. Wisssssssssssssss. Holly cow, but grandpa said I could get it in. "I can get it in"
But the rod was bent, but I was winning. It was coming in. And then their it was, we could see it about five feet away. It was coming, grandpa went out a little further. We had no net. We didn't think we would need it. It was closer. Grandpa was out to his knees he reached down and grabbed it by the gulls. It was big and it was slippery but he had it and I had tension on the line. Then BANG the line snapped. I fell backward on my but in the water. grandpa fell forward on his knees and the fish slowly swam away..........................Nobody said a word, I though I screwed up I was about to cry. Grandpa started to laugh out loud "did he lose his mind?" "Did he finally go off the deep end?" He was wet from his armpits down. I was wet from my butt both ways. Grandpa was hooting and whooping.

He slapped me on the back and said that was the biggest northern he has ever seen in his life, fifty pounds at least. He told me how good I did. I would have had it but I only had twenty pound line on my rod.

We built up the fire to dry off our cloths. We talked for two hours about that fish. Grandpa let the other fish go, And right their he renamed that lake. On the maps its still called Four mile lake but now it's real name is "Lake Wob'a Chue" which in Indian language means " Lake with one dam big northern."
****THE END** OF THIS STORY****

APRIL SNOWFALL UPDATE

*****APRIL SNOWFALL UPDATE***** Flynn says "What the f^#@"
He had snow up to his roof this morning. Snow on his nose from trying to get off the path to go we we. He couldn't make it . But later I shoveled him a latrine area. Just in the nick of time. He was relived to be relived.

My poor 4-Wheeler, I parked it last night at 9:00 this morning it's completly covered and stuck. It's just to much snow to push. I'll dig it out later. The truck is also stuck, I'll dig that out after the snowplow comes up the ally. Or------- maybe I'll just walk down to food & fuel and rent a half a dozen moves and buy some popcorn and want tell it melts.

LAKE WOB'A CHUE part one

*********Lake Wob'a chue** A fish story**********

I remember my first memorable fishing trip. I was six and I went with my grandfather who was to my eyes one hundred. We went to Four mile lake not far from my home in northern Minnesota. Grandpa said it's really name was (Lake Wob'a chue),. He said it was a Indian name that meant " Shitty little lake with small northers."Well that's what he said and grandpa knew a lot of things.

It was 1954 grandpa wasn't 100. He just looked that way to a six year old. He was sixty, about the age I am now.

I was a tough kid. I don't remember being especially smart or good looking, or a good singer, but I was tough, I could run through the woods like the wind. I could clime a tree like a bear, I could get a sliver in my hand and pull it out without even crying. I got that from my grandpa he was tough to. He could lift me over his head like I weighed nothing at all, and that impressed me.

But anyway on this day grandpa came over to get me at six A.M. because that's when those little northern bit the best. Mom packed our lunch, Sandwiches, apples, coffee for grandpa and two bottles of pop for me one grape and one orange crush.

We got in his panel truck and drove to four mile lake witch was four miles from town. "That was strange to." We parked the truck got out our gear Rods' tackle box, can or worms and lunch. We walked down to the lake witch was about a quarter of a mile. It was almost like camping. Truck ride, long hike. Then we set up camp . No tent but we had a spot for a camp fire with logs on both sides to sit on.

But first things first. We put worms on our hooks grandpa casted out first. He got it exactly were he wanted it. Then it was my turn, but before I could cast grandpa had to get behind a tree out of the way. I wasn't really a bad caster. But grandpa said he just wanted to give more room because I was more of a creative caster. After three or four tryes I got it out their to.

Then I cleared the rats nest in my real and we were ready.

Bobbers bobbing grandpa built a fire and we settled in for the first fish.

***************come back tomoro for part two******************

GOT SNOW

Woke up this morning and what did I see? I seen a snowy world looking back at me. I guess the weather man said something about snow and rain mix,. But of course I couldn't believe it. The weather has been so nice. Just look at my four Wheeler and you can't even tell my truck is blue. We have seven inches right now and it's still snowing.

It's twenty-five degrees right now, and still snowing.

I just went to sulli's blog, she's got snow to. WOW do I love Minnesota. I can hardly want to get out side on my wheeler and play. I suppose the dog won't be able to run with me, His ears will be dragging in the snow. Well maybe we will try.

I was working just yesterday. We set up three decks that I was going to paint Monday. I can't spray paint anything unless it's forty-five degrees and sunny. I guess I'll find something else to do on Monday.
I can enjoy all this snow I don't have to go any ware. Sarah's car is stuck in the road on her way to work, and Adam is on the way to work in Virginia right now. He called me to say the roads are really bad, he said thy were plowed some time during the night but its snowing fast.
Good luck to everybody.

***************Weather update************

This morning when I got up I looked out the window and guessed seven inches of snow. I went out at 11:00 and measured thirteen inches of snow and its still falling. Who said April couldn't be fun.

HAPPY FRIDAY

HAPPY FRIDAY.. We have a weekend coming up. And a terrific weekend it will be the weather man said it might hit 60 degrees. I love it, as do most of us.
But not only can winter be Served winter can be fun. I don' t mind a little winter especially in August when it's been in the ninety's for a few days. But now is the time to get rid of it. And that's what I'm going to do today. I'm going to get a shovel and spread out the snow pile in my back yard so the sun can get at my grass.
Have a good weekend.