SPRING THINGS

Little browns are a lot easier to take selfies with than the big brown trout. I'm always happy to see natural reprouduction occuring here in the driftless.

but I don't mind catching a few stockers at our urban fishery, for a little stream side therapy 

Driving the back roads I always see plenty of wildlife

deer on the daily basis 

in the gardens I've cleared asparagus beds, planted greens, potatoes and a few dozen onions.

one of lasts years garden visitors

Prairie burn down at Jace's

I finished up a project that I started last year

I mounted this Rooster weather vane that I made at Bellies last spring

Cleaning up the yard means firing up the hippy hot tub

 

BIG BROWN TROUT SELFIE

The ice is gone and I've got open water here in the Driftless at least for now. I hit the stream trying to catch the big one I missed before things froze up.  Sometimes I'm happy with catching one and done.  But, today I took my time and pushed on to try my luck at catching something more than this nice stocker.

 I don't really know what it is about fishing the Driftless so much but it's something our family has done all my life.  My father would catch and eat every fish he could no matter what the size.  I very seldom keep any trout unless we're camping or I deep hook them...

Size doesn't really matter but I know the rubber part of my spinning rods handle is 10" and the end of the gold wrap is 13"

Today I caught 3 nice browns and a rainbow for good measure.

The Salmonoid family has a fatty fin know as the adipose fin which is full of nerve endings which helps the trout detect changes in the water around them.

I'm glad I kept fishing because I was lucky enough to catch this beautiful brown.

but the picture doesn't do it justice unless you know the distance from the tip of my finger to the bend in my elbow is 20"!

After fumbling with a wet fish, cold fingers and a camera the only real way to to judge th.e size is to look at the size of my smile

 

Exploring Illinois West Coast

Driving the old river road below chestnut

Not many folks on the mountain today 

A look across from Blanding's

Jimmy stayed warm in the car while i explored this old root cellar

Great stone work

view from the inside looking out

The bucks over by Jimmys are still holding antlers

Adios, see you in April , Gringo 

SNOWTREAD SNOWSHOES

 

Susie and I busted out the 1960's Snowtreads and went for a walk.

for more on the history of Snowtreads click on the link below

ATLAS SNOWSHOE BINDING REPAIR

making tracks

Dress for success

 

Going Bananas in Phoenix

Our friend Amanda Banana

duck

Warm-ups

Fan banana toss

The Stretch

We explored the neighborhood

Lemons

and a little walk to the Lux

 

Back to a spring routine

Well, I must say we've been busy.

Catch and release 

Single digit morning hikes 

pruning the espalier apple tree

Susie reupholstered the chairs that Steve got the folks over 50 years ago.

They turned out so nice

Some assembly required 

I cleaned up around the sugar bush

I got some stream time in 

My 2025 ice breaker and a few others for good measure 

And many precarious hikes...No sheds yet!

Time to Head for Home

We traveled along the Rio Grand in NM

Next time I'll bring my pole

 

The Santa Fe Square

Close to 14 yerars sencse we've been here

Lunch off the square

On a Mission to get to Taos

Check it out

St. Francis

Time to go to the Springs

I put my new multi tool from Kensley and Jace to use

Well, we made a great call by going back to the springs to see Beau. 

He's a great host, baker, cook and son.

Mac & Cheese Pizza!!