We are Less Fragmented For Having Had a Vacation - But I'm Fraggin' Anyway

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Today is the last day of our two week vacation. So, I'm filling up this Friday Fragment episode with bits and pieces of our two weeks luxuriating in the northwoods. If you've been following our vacation escapades, you may see a repeat picture or two - - - I'll try to change up the words just a bit in the hopes of keeping you interested!

Enjoy.

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We need to fill our senses with enough of the water and the eagles and the loons


And the sunsets - - - oh what sunsets - - - to last our souls until next July when we again return for two weeks.

You may think it boring to return to the same exact spot year after year for vacation.

We find it gorgeous.

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Captured in an unexpected reflection with Eloise
(pronounced E-Lois.)


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I took this picture with the setting sun at the wrong angle, so the quality is poor. Howsomuchever, I think you can see this lovely little cabin tucked up on a bank above Gull Lake right in the heart of the northwoods.

A few years ago it was for sale. Fisherhubby and I walked all around it, peering in the windows of the main A-frame cabin AND the garage/GUEST HOUSE in the back.

We drooled. We wished. We planned. We plotted.

All to no avail. Sigh.

I console myself that RENTING saves a multitude of the headaches of owning.

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Fisherhubby, besides being all sweaty from the nearly 100 degree temps that day, is quite sure you cannot see him when he wears his camo sunglasses. So, I guess we don't need to worry about how sweaty he was in the picture 'cause you'll never see it to know.

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This is Fisherhubby's favorite vacation pose.

Captain of his own ship.

Master of his own destiny.

And when embarking on his own destiny with his trolling motor powering his way, he controls it with this little remote.

I'd like to have a remote to steer my own destiny.

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This is what a northwoods pizza parlor looks like.

We didn't eat there, but we sat across the way for a few minutes waiting for our friends and the aroma wafting our direction was nearly irresistible.

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Earlier this week I reported that Fisherhubby STOLE and HID this puzzle piece - see the gap on the side of the little red shed???

Well, fair's fair - - - he put it in the puzzle late Wednesday night even before I finished all those boring sky pieces.

I think he took pity on me 'cause I was feeling rather pitiful last evening.

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Wisconsin is all about cheese, and milk, and butter, and ice cream, and


Happy cows like these, and DON'T YOU FORGET IT, CALIFORNIA!!!!

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We know this as "the Johnson Place." The Johnsons who built it are cousins of ours.

It is for sale - - - at what is a fairly reasonable price for a lake front property.

More dreams.

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Our Aunt and Uncle built this little unassuming cabin with the help of our dad and several other of the siblings.

Sister Pam and I grew up going here for vacation every summer, vacations paid for by the work our dad put in on the building of it.

It isn't for sale, another Aunt and Uncle live there still.

We've got ROOTS on this lake I tell ya.

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We rent "our" cabin from Terry. (This is not it, but hang on - - - I'm getting there.)

A few years ago Terry owned a whole resort on the site of this brand spanking new "garage" with cabin quarters above. I guess the owners plan to build a LARGE HOUSE later, just as a cabin, you understand. We don't quite understand WHY they need a bigger cabin - - - this is already ginormous compared to "our" little cabin.

Do you see the smaller structure behind and closer to the lake???


This little cabin is being built this week while we are here.

I guessed it was the guest quarters for, you know, the in-laws when they visit.

Nope - - - Landlord Terry, who seems to know all things Gull Lake - - - says it is just a PLAY HOUSE for the kids.

Play house for the kids!!! Go figure.

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Meet Wendy. She and her hubby Larry own and operate The Hayward Fly Fishing Company. Fisherhubby has been "haunting" that shop for years, befriending Larry and Wendy.

Tonight - - - for the first time in all these years - - - I ran into Larry and Wendy together. While I have chatted with Larry from time to time over the years, I had never had the opportunity to do so with Wendy.

Low and behold, while chatting tonight we accidentally stumbled onto the fact that we grew up at the same time in this little town and Wendy was in fact a childhood friend of and in the same class with Sister Pam!!!!

GET OUT!!!

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My 14 year old hubby (come on, admit it, you can SEE the 14-year-oldness OOOOOZING out of him) thought he was going out in PUBLIC dressed like this today, regular army camo on the shorts and fishouflage on the shirt.

I told him his camos clashed.

He said, "huh-uh!"

I said he looked like he was in his PJs.

He said he didn't care.

I said either change the shirt or the shorts.

He changed the shirt - - - for a blue one.

I let him go out in public like that

You can only do so much with a 14 year old.

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Now please hurry over to Mrs 4444's place
and see all the Friday Fragments!

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Say It Isn't So!! (AKA: Sex on the Boat)

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MORE dragonfly love on the boat, right in front of God, Fisherbubby, the Eagles, the Loons, and everybody!!

And about that AKA post title, that's just a cheap attempt to boost my blog google traffic.

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We'll Have a Table With a View, Please

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And why not when the view is Round Lake.


The INSIDE view, the northwoods ambiance, is pretty good too.


In fact, it is my all time fave for indoor and outdoor vistas.

We watched pontoons pulling tubers and skiers. (In this context a tuber is NOT a root vegetable, usually.)


And when each table comes with its own roll of paper towel on a dispenser like this, well - what's not to like?


For once in his life Fisherhubby even remembered his reading glasses and could read his own menu.

Win, win, and double win.

Let's play guess that place:

1) It is the original restaurant of a now nationwide franchise.

2) It specializes in food which necessitates the paper towels.

3) It's owner and CEO recently competed on the Food Network.

OK - guess away!!

NOT YOU, SISTER PAM, YOU ALREADY KNOW AND THAT'S CHEATIN'

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Feeling a Tad Poorly Tonight so I'm Wasting Valuable Puzzling and Reading Time Just Lazing Around on This Here Cabin Couch. It Hasn't Slowed FH.

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Proof Positive That Happy Cows DO Come From Wisconsin

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And NOT from that OTHER state that begins with a "C" and is trying to steal all our Wisconsin dairy fame!


This cow looks plenty happy to me.


And she's right here on the streets of Hayward, Wisconsin and that's proof enough for me!!


The End.

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Evidence That Demands a Verdict

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These facts you will have to take my word for:

1) The puzzle isn't missing any pieces.

2) There are no puzzle pieces on the floor.

Here's the evidence, you decide if Fisherhubby is holding out:

1) Puzzle 6 all finished except for the sky.

2) All the loose pieces are sky colored.

3) There is a nonsky hole right on the side of the red shed.

My verdict is FH struck, what's yours?

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It's A Rainy Day at The Cabin

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Perfect vacation weather if what you want to do is stay cozy in your PJs with a good book and a jig saw puzzle, which suits me down to a "T".


Even the great fisherman came in, but not because of the rain. No, rain does not chase him in, as you can see he is well equipped for rain. It was the thunder that sent him in because thunder means lightning and lightning, lakes, boats, and fishermen don't play well together.

Sorry about the quality of this shot, but it was the only one I mamaged to capture before the great strip tease act ensued. Blame the poor quality on camera operator failure.

Now that the great fisherman has returned, perhaps it is a good time to relate yet another of his mean tricks that he pulls on me just for the unbridled glee he receives from it. The man even declares that he is fulfilling his God given calling when he picks on me for he was formed in the womb for that very purpose.

But I digress.

He has hidden one of my puzzle pieces. AND FURTHERMORE, did he hide a boring sky piece which I would need last? Of course not! He took a majorly important piece so that I have a glaring hole driving me crazy.

I sent him a text and an email while he was out on the lake demanding to know where my puzzle piece was. He didn't deign to answer me.

When he came in the door all soggy in his blue rain suit I accosted him demanding my puzzle piece. He said he didn't know what I was talking about.

He lied.

I've been victim of this vacation prank of his too many times to fall for his lies.


And what should I expect from a man who picked out this naked girl lamp as a piece of fine art and tried to get me to bring it home to put in my football cave?

I'd better go finish the sky on my puzzle, 'cause I've been married to that mean old man long enough to know I'm not getting my VIPP (very important puzzle piece) back until it is the last piece missing.

TTFN
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When I Find a Shop This Cute - - -

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I like to share it with y'all.


The cuteness begins long before you step in the door.


What a clever way to use a pair of old screens.


Plenty of "distressed" around the place.


Even the siding could use a new coat, unless you happen to be a lover of all things distressed.


I'm lovin' the store hours. My kind of schedule!


When you step through the door, everything is warm and inviting.


Even Harold and Josie are glad you came.


I know some of you are vintage apron lovers. I believe these are vintage-esque.


The wares are a blend of new and old, east and west.

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Loon Family Antics, AKA: Loon-atics ;-)

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