June: Plover Wi, Ray's visit and bears!

 We cleaned out under the pine trees next to the sauna.  Lots of branches and wild blackberry plants.  Added 8 planters to make it look nice.  We will see if the deer find the plants!!  Oh yes, they found the plants in one day!  

Docks finally in the water!

June 2: Eric's 63rd Birthday.  We did our usual chores, then went to Hayward Wi for early dinner at the McCormack House.   Scott Johnstone met us for dinner as he was up at his cabin in Hayward.  The guys had the Pimento Cheese Burger with bacon, while I had the She Crab soup and Shrimp and Grits.  The burger was HUGE and very good.  The She Crab soup was very good as was the Shrimp and Grits.  It was a beautiful evening to sit out on the front porch and enjoy a great dinner and fun company

June 8: we finally seen 2 fawns in the yard today!  Our Eastern Phoebe's eggs have hatched and turtles were laying eggs!   Update: Phoebes chicks left the next on June 19.

Porcupine crossing the road!  we generally see them up in the trees eating the buds

June 9: we headed to Plover/Stevens Point for a few days. The sun was shining with light winds until the afternoon when the winds spiked up a little.  We stopped at a few of our favorite haunts before arriving at the Hampton Inn in Plover.  After a much needed rest, not nap, we walked to Tulum a Mexican restaurant for a wonderful dinner.  We eat here every time we stay at this hotel. The food is always good, the service is exceptional, cold beer and outdoor dining tables.

June 10: after breakfast in our room, we went to the Buena Vista Grasslands and a few other places for our walks/birding. The weather began a bit cool but ended up hot!  Well hot for us as we have not really seen 80's in quite awhile.   We stopped at a brewery in Plover but it turned out not to be a brewery just a bar...  We did go to Oso's Brewery and was able to sit outside and enjoy a few refreshments.  For dinner we walked to Mikey's.  We have eaten here before and its in the strip mall right by our hotel.  We really like their whitefish dip, which we have to take back to the hotel as it is too much to eat if we want to have dinner.  Fish and chips and and the blue gill was pretty good too. 

Beautiful Dickcissel singing his heart out:

June 11: rain forecasted for the day. We managed to dodge the raindrops and got out for a few hikes before noon.  A break in our room, with lunch being left overs from last nights dinner.  We hit a few stores to kill the afternoon and the rain stopped just about 5 pm.  Went to Mr Brew House for burgers.  They were so good!  Great service too.  Hand made fries and onion rings to top off the meal.  It was all good. 

June 12: time to go home. Sunny warm day, makes for a good travel day.  We golfed at Tagalong with the Nine and Dine group.  We only golfed as dining was indoors. We did have fun and did not do too bad!

June 14: Flag Day was a hot and humid day.  We finally hit 90 deg, spending the day on the pontoon.  it was pretty windy but very hot and humid.  We were pretty much alone on the water.  We stopped at a few places for lunch but being Tuesday they were not open.  We ended up having  a nice lunch at The Landing. 

Our deer are becoming very comfortable, this young guy let me get. within 3 feet of him.  I was thinking he might let me pet him as we "talked" for about 2 minutes before I got a bit too close!  Just to be clear, I would NOT have pet him...  he has ticks etc 

First fish of the season!  Last year I don't think we caught one at all, of course I never put my line in the water last year.   

We had a 3 bear sighting day, mating time!  

June 17:  

June 19:    Our Watch Deer!

Busy week ahead:  Monday June 20: hottest day of the year and of course we have our carpet installed!  it was tough to keep the house cool as they kept coming in and out of the house.  the carpet feels and looks marvelous!  

Peonies have bloomed!

June 22: We have had a number of bear sighings this year, mostly in our yard. One of them seems to be pretty young as the other is a bit older.  The young one is pretty skittish where the older one is a bit more confident.

June 23: My new recliner arrived at 10 am! its beautiful, comfortable and just Perfect! 

Turtles are laying eggs and the raccoons etc are digging them up!  Eric protected two nest sites.  We will see if we get baby turtles in a few months!

Ray arrived in Wisconsin at 3:00.  just in time for a pontoon ride and float on Mud Lake. 

June 24: another Dark Day in the USA. We have had a few in the last 6 years, Supreme Court has overturned Roe vs Wade!  As of today, Guns have more rights than women and the future looks to be grim.  What are we to do? Stay and fight or leave it to the young people to fight the fight?

Bear found the bird feeders!

We (Ray, Eric and I) spent the day on the pontoon. It was a hot and humid day, a stop at The Landing for lunch and a drink at the Rockford.  

the pizza was good

It was very hot and humid

Saturday began with rain and had a few showers throughout the morning.  We went to Musky Fest in Hayward for a small lunch and walk around before stopping at Sevenwinds casino.  Boy did that place smell!  even through our masks we could smell the smoke and ???.  Not sure what the other smell was but we were there for about 20 minutes..  

Ray left on Sunday:  We love company but it really wears us out!!

Monday June 27: we are off to St Paul for a visit with Jenny.  Ray is still in town, so more time to visit with him.  We had a great trip to St Paul, picked up Ray at the hotel in Eagan on the way to visit with Jenny.  We had a nice few hours visiting with Todd and Jenny.  She seems to be a bit better. 

Ray, Eric and I went to Hanna's new home for a quick visit before walking from her house to the restaurant for dinner.  She has a cute house, small but cute, 5 chickens! and a dog. Dinner was fabulous, soul food.  Catfish for me and Hanna, shrimp for the guys. We had a fun time talking and catching up with her. 

Tues: Ray flies home, we drive home. We arrived at home after finding two more year birds! in Minnesota to find we have young turkeys and one baby Sandhill Crane!  the crane looks to be just a few days old.  

June 30: We finally went to the new brewery in Rice Lake.  It was nice, outside seating, ok prices and good beer!  The brewery is about one year old, we have seen it every time we go by the lake but its always too early in the day when we go shopping.  We made a special trip to check it out.

Well, No Purple Martins nested on our property.    we have had a few lookers but no takers.  maybe next year!