Snowflakes Arrive In Hamburg

 

One Last Christmas Markets Trip Downtown

One last train trip downtown to the fabulous Hamburg Christmas Markets. Gotta get one more Glühwein. Wonder if there will be any Glühwein in Lisbon next Tuesday night?

Peter's welcome back Amaryllis opened up in time for enjoying the flowers before we fly off.

 

Last Leaves - Never-ending Gray Days

 Looking outside of my studio window, the last few leaves cling to the tree. What they are hanging on for is a mystery. The never-ending gray cloudy days continue. At least there is not constant rain as we weathered through the last two weeks in Portugal. 

Now we are heading off to Harbor City and then an attempt of finding much less crowded Christmas Markets downtown Hamburg. Saturday night, there was a solid wall of humans shoulder to shoulder in the lanes between the stalls. This caused no possible visibility of the charming stalls featuring food and wares. The possibility of getting crushed was a legitimate fear so we left. (of course, after my glo-wine) The Gluehwein stalls were racking in cash and there was no shortage of filled cups and happy customers. I tried a Gin Gluhwein which was a change but today will revert back to the traditional Gluhwein. Peter is looking forward to his favorite Grünkohl. (sort of mashed green kale and potatoes)

A typical Gluhwein stall - packed with people enjoying their pots (mugs) of warming liquid.

My Christmas Market treat in the pot which by the way carries a redeemable deposit.

A traditional Grunkohl stall. Just look at all of those boiled potatoes.

Yum.

An old-time carousel for the little ones.

First Snow of the Season

 

From the North Shore down to the Twin Cities, Minnesotans across the state woke up to a coating of the white stuff Friday morning.

In Duluth, the National Weather Service recorded 1.8 inches of snow by 6 a.m. and set a new daily record when 2 inches was recorded at 1 p.m. 

First snowfall before the first freeze! For context, our average first measurable snowfall is November 4th, and our average first freeze (32°) is October 11th. We have yet to record our first official freeze.

Hot Potato

 

So happy that there was a potato harvest today before the frost kills them.

Bye Bye Mr. Mann

Another stunning sunrise.

Mr. Mann is high and dry after spending a  summer with his feet in the lake. It is always a sad bye-bye. I never like leaving Walleye World. Thanks to Jane and her organizing skills, the many boxes of papers are all now in the shop. Yesterday, Jermy returned to move the Happy Camper back to its winter home. I, all by myself, actually backed the little red Jeep snuggly into a cozy place next to the Happy. Then I unbelievably disconnected the red Jeep's battery. Yay Kay!

 

Wonderful Wednesday

  Another foggy sunrise.

Photo op with our hike leader. Goal: three trips around the lake. Looks like a senior high school yearbook picture.

Walleye World Parking Sign by Betsy.

Pre-dinner paddle show.

Jane caught me pushing the lawnmower to the shop for its winter home.

Pink Cloud Omen

 

Pink clouds = good omen.

Cooker girl = our good luck.

Tour De Du-luth

What will today bring?

From Hawk Ride to St. Schalastica.

 

A Pea Makes For Fun Times

Annie took Jane and Lucky Me-Me to the Old Log Theatre for the colorful musical performance of 

Once Upon A Mattress. (Parody of Princess and the Pea.) 

We all thoroughly enjoyed it. 

 

New Car Day

 

Tuesday Morning Good Bye

Another foggy morning sunrise.

 Closing up and counting down for tomorrow's departure. Hate leaving these glorious mornings.

The Harvest Moon hangs in the morning sky. (looks like a little cloud but that is the moon)

Tourist Posers

A rather early start of the day and we are off to Hawk Ridge.

Learning how many Blue Jays have been counted there this year might explain why we have seen so many Blue Jays here at Walleye World.

We learned that our precious little Hummingbirds have a very long journey ahead of them. It is hard to imagine those teeny little birds flying all the way to Mexico for the winter. Not hard though to understand that they are off to enjoy warmer weather. It surely would not take long for the Hummingbirds to freeze to death in this climate of severe winters.

Peter wanted to pretend that we were tourists in Duluth, so after Hawk Ridge, we took the North Shore Scenic Railway trip. We recalled all of the other trains that we have ridden all around the world. The only other slower train was in Costa Rica for Sloth spotting. Then, there was the bullet train or “Shinkansen" in Japan. Faster than a speeding bullet?

Next was a tour of the US Steel iron ore vessel the William A. Irwin. The guest quarters were my favorite. Must have been a sign to get on another boat. Fast.

After posing as tourists we really did not leave much more to see.

Where is Uncle Bob?

Where is Uncle Bob? His fish are calling his name.

 

Raindrops Keep Falling

 It was a rare rainy day where it rained most of the day rather than sprinkles off and on. It has been a summer void of any violent wind and thunderstorms.

Once there was a break in the rain, Peter harvested our Russian Blue Potatoes.

No blue ribbon for this farmer. The potatoes are blue but sadly very tiny.

Blue Jays Stopover On Labor Day

Another foggy start to the day but it did not deter a flock of Blue Jays from choosing a stopover here. 

Resident Birds: There are a few remaining female Hummingbirds but fewer in number. The males flew off a few weeks ago. Linda, once again, ditched Larry. What is wrong with that Loon? Side note: a group of Loons is called an asylum. (thank you, Aunt Karen) 

Northern Flickers are unusually busy right now. Once the fog lifted, Bald Eagles and Turkey Vultures soared overhead entertaining us as we sat outside eating our breakfast.

It is Labor Day today so we of course have a to-do list of labor planned. The shop will be cleaned and readied for the winter home of the Happy Camper and Celebrity boat. Too long grass is suffocating the Pink Flamingoes by the Honeymoon Hut. Watch out - Weed Wack a Doodle is on the agenda.  Oh yes, the HH will get its windows screwed closed in preparation for winter weather.

Baby Steps

 

Good Bye Rusty Tin Roof

 

Looks like it rained rusty tin.

Jeremy and crew have begun. It was a looong wait for getting that old roof replaced. At least the bad side of the roof was completed before they ran out of material. Now, hopefully not longer than another 7-10 days for more roof sections. 

As it always goes - do an improvement and...

 Now the new roof makes the rest of the old building look even shabbier. At least no more leaks.

Da Bear Was Here

Here is the bear left a calling card as done every other year.

So, don't go out in the woods today.

Learned so well from childhood from a little vinyl 45 record.

If you go down in the woods today, you're sure of a big surprise
If you go down in the woods today, you'd better go in disguise
For every bear that ever there was 
Will gather there for certain because 
Today's the day the teddy bears have their picnic

Every teddy bear who's been good is sure of a treat today
There's lots of marvelous things to eat and wonderful games to play
Beneath the trees where nobody sees 
They'll hide and seek as long as they please
That's the way the teddy bears have their picnic

Picnic time for teddy bears
The little teddy bears are having a lovely time today
Watch them, catch them unawares 
And see them picnic on their holiday

See them gaily gad about
They love to play and shout
They never have any cares
At six o'clock their mummies and daddies 
Will take them back home to bed
'Cause they're tired little teddy bears

If you go down in the woods today, you'd better not go alone
It's lovely down in the woods today, but safer to stay at home
For every bear that ever there was 
Will gather there for certain because 
Today's the day the teddy bears have their picnic

Listen here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dZANKFxrcKU

Bing's version: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IrvkHAxnjzI

 

Happy Birthday to RLA

 

It's knife preparation RLA style.

The birthday cake does look like a pancake but is a Japanese cheesecake.

Don't stab it Annie - cut it to share.

Birthday girl ends the evening with a special cake dance.

Best of all, she spent her birth day once again with her birth mother.

Plus, she brought along her personal chef to prepare her birthday dinner.

Happy Birthday wishes to my baby Andrea!

Bread for the Ger-Man

 

Well, the recipe is called German Bread. A good deal of love, kneading, and effort went into its creation. The official German claims it is an unknown bread to him. It however did pass the taste test.

Hmm...

Guess How Much Game

Guess how much these groceries cost?

Gotta get back to Europe for affordable groceries or skip Jerry's. Becky could get this for about 5 euros.

 

INSPIRATION

 

Someday it could be Hurricane Howes.

I just need to find the right shoes. Ones that actually "make" me run.

Mama Bear Alert

 

As Annie and I were driving to Pike Lake to pick up a few groceries, we had to suddenly stop the Jeep. We were only just a quarter mile from Walleye World. (too close to WW woods)

Mama bear then made the executive motherly decision to turn around and go back to the side of the road to stop her two cubs from crossing the dangerous road. The cute cubs then proceeded to climb a nearby tree. Must have been a lookout training time for the little ones.

Will they travel on the opposite side of the road or walk through WW? Peter has groomed the trail. We will see!

Sam's Prize Fish

 

Walleye World's new record holder.

It was a cold, cold enough to turn the heat on for Nicole day. Bob, Darren, and Sam did not let the drizzly, nasty cold weather stop their fishing efforts. Sam pulled in what appeared to me to be Steve's monster fish that got away. At first, we truly thought that Sam had some trick photoshop along with him in his dad's fishing boat. No, it was the real deal. Sadly, it was actually one of the only three fish caught after hours of diligence on the water.

Get Your Mind Out of the Gutter

 After all of Peter's work replacing rotting siding, the new gutters should help prevent wood rot.

Loving My Lillies