A Week of "Firsts"

It was the first time I used my "new" chalkboard when I wished Mike a happy birthday.  To celebrate his birthday, we went golfing with Tud and Diane and it was the first time we both truly enjoyed a 9-hole course.  After golf, we went for dinner at The Otter, first time we have ever been there but I am sure it will not be the last - good food!

 

A couple of days later, Corky came to visit and we went fishing.  This was just the first of many times Mike would take us into the weeds to retrieve a lure.

I have seen many loons on our lake and they always delight me,

but this is the first time my camera caught two of them in this position...

Sheba seemed to enjoy her time in the boat - first time she has come fishing with us.

 

I caught my first fish on Little McDonald - a bass.

First time I remember seeing this unique tree sculpture sticking out of the water.

Corky caught her first fish of the year.

First time I caught the loon "walking on water".

I love this first.  Look carefully, the woodpecker is feeding its young.  It is so much fun to see these little miracles and be able to photograph them.

This is definitely not the first time I have taken a picture of our place from the water and I am sure it will not be the last.

 

First time I have ever seen underwater signs telling the fish which way to swim... okay, we decided it was probably on a fallen tree that was part of an old snowmobile route... but I like my story better.

This isn't the first turtle we have seen building a nest this year but it is the first I've seen that decided to build right on the roadway.

This is the first year I remember seeing this bird - think it is a thrasher.

Several weeks ago, I was walking up the stairs to the deck and the stairway dropped 6 inches.  It was at that time we decided the deck probably needed to be replaced.  So, one day this week, Mike and I cut down our first Miss Kim Lilac Bush and

tore apart our first deck!

We could not have done it without the help of Corky who ripped and carried her share of rotten wood back to the burn pile.

First portrait of Sheba I've taken; she is beautiful even though she is getting old and gray and has a hearing problem... gosh, sounds  like some humans I know...

One night I was sitting in the Library enjoying the calm and seven families of geese decided to swim over to our dock and make themselves at home on our shoreline.  I was tempted to wake Mike - he really does not like the geese painting the dock and this was a new first - seven families!

We made a new friend this week.  This is Randy and he is Corky's son-in-law.  Since he is an ironworker and is currently working in Perham on some new construction, he drove up with her and spent a couple of nights with us. 

We had our first fish fry this week.  Suz and Duane joined Corky, Randy and Mike and I for dinner and we all ate too much and truly enjoyed one another's company.  I am sure it was only the first of many fish dinners.  Mike is fishing on the dock as I type this - good idea to have some in the freezer I think.

As with many of you, we experienced lots and lots of rain this week.  The electricity was out for several hours during the night and I have to admit it was the first time I hoped it would come back on so the sewing machine would run... Corky made curtains and valances for all the windows in the house this week.  Thanks, Lady!  Your work looks great!

Today, after Corky and Randy left, I took a nap.  It isn't my first nap but it is the first one I have taken in our new home.  Now the house is quiet for a few days before other friends and family visit.  I gotta say, I love this life!