So in the late summer... when the sun still shines ... in the early evening... you can look back at the house from the pond and say ... one of these days I'll be able to sit on the porch of my "little house" and look up at the big house!!



The cat tails are doing well and with the recent rains the water is coming up a little more in the pond. I have lots more room for water since it is down well over 18 inches.


No, they are not all the same shot ... just had orders for a picture from the back of the pond looking toward the house!


So, on the fall weekend ... what better place to go but to the fair ground and watch the horse pull. These big guys are just dancing and when they hear the wipple tree drop onto the hook on the stone boat they just want to go!!

Don't get in their way... they warmed up with 2,000 pounds... and peaked with the last pull having 9,000 pounds of steel rails on the boat!






Rather impressive when you think that the team weighs in at about 3,000 pounds or less.



Of course the fun team that everyone was rooting for was the pony's.... they weighed in at about 1,900 pounds and were able to pull about 4,000 pounds. Lots of fun at the fair....
Sam, Ben and Luke will enjoy this event one of these days... at if the horses are to their liking ... then the demolition derby, tractor pull, or ATV pull just might be!!

The beauty of the lily is amazing. These flowers somehow find their way up from the bottom of the lake... and float along the shore for all to see.


Okay, Ben, let's go for a little ride... maybe we can drag a line along while we ride ....



Well, on the other hand... maybe it is more fun to make waves ... and then run over them .... and then make more waves... and make more waves!!



Well after being on the water for a while... one just has to have a little snooze! With a little insulation on his legs ... Ben didn't bother getting out of the lake for a nap... Sam on the other hand was shivering, and shaking... but didn't want to get out of the water either!!

In no particular order... the pictures come from a week with the grandchildren, children and the son-in-law. The good news is that we all survived and Daddy only had to be asked if he needed a nap once!! Seems that the pool on the bridge was a hit... maybe not so much as the lake... but a decent way to cool off. And oh by the way... the lake water was much warmer than the well water!


Grandma successfully lulled baby Luke into lala land... much to everyone delight!


Picture time Poppa!! Okay hit it quick 'cuz this might not last too long!



Okay .... everyone smile! --- oh you mean all at once!!



Heidi.... you on the phone? Again or still!!



After 15 years of work maintaining a loon island... Uncle Bob was successful in having a pair of loons nest on it and produce 2 baby loons. Pictures will follow somewhere.... but right now ... who knows where they are.




One more good reason to move north... my last trip across 401 was slowed a little by this event!!



Of course Great Grandpa George had to take the boys for a ride on the scooter.... it was obviously a big hit!!



with anyone who could drive it and take boys with busy hands for a ride!! What does this button do Poppa... and this one ... and this one.... why!



So Mom and Luke had a little cabin on their own.... oh so quiet and ... ooops maybe Daddy and the boys had their own cabin.... not quite a tent but... those hard walls and solid roof are hard to complain about in any kind of weather.


And this little guy keep climbing the door of the house... right up the window ... those are little suction cups on his feet... he was at a frog's buffet when the lights came on and the bugs came to the white light!!

Well there will be more pictures to come... but for now... that's all!

Let's start with the clamatus ... one flower is beautiful.... but wait until all the rest of the blooms begin to open... the northern flowers...

Not to be outdone.... this wild flower that will at this point remain unnamed was found on our beach at the lake... Solitary in it existence the flower survived the annual brush with the weed wacker!!

Of course a short tour of the lake ... did not include the Uncle Bob Island for loons... which for the first year is hosting a family with three eggs in the nest... apparently a 30 day gestation cycle ... so we should get to see some little loons on the lake this year.

The raw power of an old 6 horse johnson... is quite impressive... that is when it is the only motor left by thieves this year!

Of course when I looked at the picture of the motor .... below.... I saw all kinds of blemishes and marks that would have discouraged the casual thief.... little did they know that this old thing still runs!!

Anothe project on the go.... new landing at the bottom of the steps... still more work .... and more sand and more time!! One of these days I'll have the whole thing together ....

Well with a delay in posting... and the time just flying past ... I thought I would try and get at least one post done during vacation. In no particular order... here are some shots to highlight the exciting days of the past couple week...
Our pet moose returned to the pond for snacks again last night... a most impressive creature. I was at least able to get a few shots during her second visit!






Practice with a loader and backhoe... things go slowly but are starting to appear like there is a plan....



Of course, things in the north slowed somewhat while we took time out to visit with our youngest grandson... Luke. For a more complete photo journal and the full story please follow the link to the Burly blog... lot's more pics there with all the boys...


Mom with Luke... after only 8 hours... both doing very well and Mom was ready to head home!! She did stay overnight...




Words just don't capture the feelings of having three grandsons.... they are all unique and very special. More posts to come with features on each of the boys... but for this time Luke gets all the attention.

I just could not help but post a picture of the little girl who a few doors away from the boys... Clare's eyes were just beautiful... so... she gets a spot her as well.
More to follow.... but not tonight!

Hello Poppa... welcome to Gurnee!










Now who could have more fun with the box....??? Ben and Sam both enjoyed the packaging more than what was in the box.... of course the contents were actually for Mom & Dad ...






And talk about sitting at a table for food... Ben is a happy camper when there is food to be eaten! He seems to be generally a happy camper... but the smile does appear to get a little bigger when there is something to eat or when the glass is full of milk!




Oh Naomi.... is that you?? Why sure it is... but when you turn around....












oh my.... how did you get that basketball under your shirt?
Well, I guess you really are ready for number three to arrive... almost.... here is one fine little Mom!









And here is one fine little boy... making his strong man face... hard to do ... when the smile is just wanting to be there too!

Sam and Poppa went for a ride on the Milwaukee County Zoo Train. Poppa wanted the smokey engine.... Sam wanted the diesel .... Sam got the diesel!! But Poppa got some good pictures of the smokey one!!

We did have to wait in line.... and it was just our luck to land on the diesel train!! Sam was happy!!

Of course the real steam engine has a far better whistle!! and is so cool to listen as it starts up at the station! The engine is coal fired and the water tower is right beside the station!!

Sam was a little unsure about the goats... but little brother was terribly excited and wanted the attention from the goats as we made our way through the "domestic" section of the zoo...

Okay, so you want me in the car... I like rides.... let's go!!

Sam was enjoying his ride on the train.... probably his last free ride... since after three there is a small fee to ride! But actually, a very nice ride through the wilderness of the zoo.

Another shot along the way... the ride was long enough to be enjoyable and not so long that you are "waiting" for it to stop. In fact, Sam was ready to go around again!!!

Well, there will be more pics latter but this is a good start from a great weekend with the kids!!