Things are Heating Up

Over 70,000 people protested in Madison yesterday. As things continued to heat up this week in our state capital the snow started to respond to the warmer temperatures up in the North Woods.

Mad City
Demonstrations continue.
photo- Salon.com

Crazy Kitty
Enjoying the February sun.

Last week's weather was mild, in the high twenties and low thirties. Mr. French came out and saw his shadow. When a groundhog sees his shadow he hides back in his burrow, and it supposed to mean winter weather will continue for six more weeks.

Mr. French ventures outside

There's his shadow

Mr. French reminded he that he is NOT a groundhog. Nonetheless, after a brief romp out-of-doors he decided to retreat to his basement abode with the prediction that he won't be able to fully enjoy his forest for another month or so.

photo- Salon.com

Yesterday, one of the speakers in Madison said, "This governor has to understand Wisconsin is a stubborn constituency. We fish through ice!" Last weekend the Mercer Lions Club hosted their annual ice fishing jamboree.

A beautiful sunny day
on Mercer Lake.

Lion Pete on the job.

Raffles

Prizes

Good Food

Plenty of Beer

The Daily Globe reported that, "The sun was shining and the fish were biting. . ." The largest northern pike caught was 28 inches and the largest bass was 20 inches.

The scoreboard

The Andrews brothers
caught a 21" northern
photo - Jon Hawley

It was a beautiful day and everyone had lots of fun. Stay tuned for more ice adventures.

Pack Wrap Up

Packerland Plus, in Minocqua,
is fully stock with victory paraphernalia

No Packer game this afternoon. So, it's time to wrap it up and pack it up for the season. The state is still celebrating though, and probably will be for quite some time. Everyone we know was ready for the game last week.

Maddie & Asher Cheeseheads

Mr. French wouldn't miss it

Even the squirrels
were ready

Karen & Mary
with their cheese bracelets

The game was action packed with a lot of ups and downs. Maddie Jo calmed her nerves with food.

Before

After

I'm sure you can imagine the in-between phase.

Yup, you guessed it.
MADDIE JO! NO!

The other dogs had different coping methods.

Asher chewed
his blanket

Gracie watched the
game closely

In the end, the Packers pulled out a win and there was a celebration.

Pete's victory dance

"Shhh, I'm trying to watch
the ceremony."

Mrs. Foss's Lemon Bars
Green Bay Packer style

It's time to clean up and pack our gear away until next season. Wait and see what next August holds as the Wetzlers and the Weimaraners root for the home team.  

What Shall We Eat?

Green and Gold Cheese Curds

Pete and I have decided to watch the Super Bowl at home.  We made our decision yesterday afternoon in Minocqua and headed to the nearest store to stock up.  A few must-haves were brats, beer and chips.

Ready to Stock Up

Famous Trig's Bratwurst

The Chip Man

Trig's famous brats are 2010 Grand Champion winners at the Wisconsin Association of Meat Processors Convention. It was a no-brainer, pick up some brats! We picked up beer and chips on sale and some soup bones for the dogs. There were a number of items that we passed up, including the green and gold cheese curds.

Huge Chocolate Chip Cookie

Green & Gold Bouquet

Hey, how did that get here?

We couldn't pass up the Packer ice cream!

This morning we realized that we forgot to get sauerkraut, so I headed over to Snow's Family Market in Mercer to pick some up. As a vegetarian, my heart sang when I reached the produce department. No, they still don't have any organic vegetables, but they had a whole section devoted to the Packers.

Super Bowl Salad?
Green & Gold section in Snow's produce dept.

I found Pete his sauerkraut, so he will battle with the jar and enjoy its contents with bratwurst.

If you know me, you probably already know what I will be eating during the Super Bowl. It is the perfect dish. It should be served at every and any occasion. I'm not sure why there has not been a Top Chef  competition focusing on this dish. Yes, I will be eating a bean burrito!

We had a great time preparing for the Game. I think everything is in place for a Packer win. It would be a great way to celebrate our first year living in Wisconsin. Help us out by going through your Packer preparedness checklist. Do you have enough brats and beer? Is your TV working and programmed for the game? Are you wearing a Packer shirt, hat or socks? Are your dogs and cats decorated? If you can safely answer yes to these four questions, then I don't see any reason why the Packers shouldn't win Super Bowl XLV.

"I'm decorated, now
when do we eat?"

What Should I Wear?

Claire d'Loon is dressed
for the Super Bowl

It's not very easy to commit a Glamour Don't in the North Woods, but there is one sure way to get on the Worst Dressed List. A clerk at Snow's Family Market told me that she arrived for her first day of work wearing a purple polo shirt and was met with suspicion. If you live outside of Wisconsin, this might not seem like any big deal, but here the color purple is synonomous with the Minnesota Vikings. You don't see very much purple in the typical North Woods wardrobe, and NEVER during football season.

You can wear any crazy, tacky, torn piece of fabric that has a Packer logo on it and you will be welcomed anywhere. If you are a  little more discriminating, Pete, the dogs, Mr. French and I have come up with some suggestions.

Gracie with
Traditional Cheesehead

Gracie with
Rapper Cheesehead

Head gear is important, but so is neck wear.

Asher with Packer neck band

Mr. French with
cheese necklace

Maddie Jo
Packerchief &
Packer leash

Maddie Jo
brings her own bag

Maddie Jo likes to make a statement when she goes out. She is modeling a Packer scarf and Packer dog leash in the photo above. To the right, Maddie shows off her shopping bag. "Paper or Plastic?" "No, I prefer the Packers."

Men's wear modeled by Pete. Pete has everything covered with Packer hat, T-shirt, pajama bottoms and handmade socks.

Packer Huddle

  

Pete testing out
the TV

I bought these for Pete
at the Mercer Holiday Craft Show

 Trig's, a grocery store down in Minocqua, was selling a Super Bowl XLV T-shirt inside a mug. One of us will probably be wearing that tomorrow - the shirt, not the mug.

I have a really nice personalized Packer Jersey; it was a Christmas present from Pete. It is one of the items available from the NFL Women's Apparel -Fit for You line.  That's what I'll be wearing.

If you really want to see a wide variety of Packer gear, go to Packerland-Plus in Minocqua. I don't think they have a website, but they have stores in Park Falls and Wausau as well.  I stopped by their Minocqua shop on 4th Avenue last week and found myself in a real Packer House of Fashion.

Don't forget to dress up your house and yard for the Super Bowl. The birds and squirrels will love it.

  

Remember when planning your wardrobe,

GO GREEN!

This is one time when black is not fashionable.