Dam Nice Day

Membership bash down at Jubecks.

 But we got a great table.

Bow.

 Home in time to fish

 Mooove

 Nice Brown

At sunset

DAM!

Quick trip south for the warmer temps *50+

 We checked out the Figge down in the QCA

 Americana

 I pitty the fool.

Not too bad for strip mall chinese.

CHRISTMAS PAST AND PRESENT.

TOTALLY MODULAR - CONSTRUCTION

Marty has been busy the last few weeks working on our bike shed for the city house. 

 It's the only time in the last 40 years that Marty has built a pre-fab structure.

And it turned out great!  All the work was done in his shop on top of the ping-pong table.  Then we hulled it up to DBQ a couple pieces at a time and Saturday as temps reached 45* we called in the troops and assembled it.

 Not a La Cinta Inn. But, a water barrier for the future green roof that we will be planting next spring.

Jimmy was a big help.  He came over several times to help with some heavy lifting.

The crew on an OSHA mandated work break, behind bars.

Beautiful cedar trim form the farm.

 

This weekend it was across the river to Galena for the lighting of the luminaries

More than one thousand lit up the night,

Susie heading up the the bridge over the la feaver river.

 We stopped by John and Sarah's  to listen to Pearl and Scott and to warm up a bit.

It was also the opening weekend of the second season deer hunting.  So, we decided to hike the state park hill with the dogs.  There's an Eagle Scout project at the base of the hill.  A new informational kiosk.  

I think we're both happy to get out for a walk and to burn a few more calories so we can eat some chex mix  :}0

Beautiful Brown.

 WoW! A Jackson Co. brown and Josh did a great job of getting his pops in the background.

 16" + 

 Catch and release.  Maybe Jace will hook it,

 Hike up to the lodge to make sure it was ready for the big storm.

 Mart's on the look out.

We're ready for what ever come next.

Thankful

 I was thankful to find this tree down so close to the edge of the hay field.  As I carried many loads of wood up the hill to load in the truck I had a lot a time to reflect on all that I'm thankful for.

 Looking at the rings I figured the tree that is providing me with exercise and warmth throughout the winter was about the same age as me.  I'm thankful for my time out doors, living the life that Sue and I have chosen in this beautiful place we've made our home for the past 30 years.

 I'm thankful for our friends, old and new.

 The time I spend along the streams in the driftless region

 and being able to catch a trout on a fly

But, most of all I'm thankful my lovely wife Susie and for our family even though we're apart we alway think of our boy and look forward to being together in just a few short weeks.