A GOOD DAY FISHING!!!

Loading up our machine.

All dressed up and ready to fish!!!

Packing Ron's sled - this is Mary's machine

Ron's catch.

Mary and one of her nice fish

Mine - those fur hats are the warmest things on earth. Thank you Susan and Joanne.

Rejean, Me and Ron - and our catch

The finished product - 5 nice pan size Brookies

We woke up and it was -25!!! Maybe a little too cold to go fishing??? We had postponed the fishing trip the last 2 times so we decided to let Ron decide if we go or not - we waited for the phone call but it never came so we got ready and headed out the door. We rode the snow machine over to Ron's on the lakes - nice ride. It was very cold but sunny. We followed Ron and Mary to the lake and the guys got the holes drilled and Mary and I got the fire ready. It kept me warm wandering around gather sticks and trees. Rejean got one right off the bat - usually the first line in gets something. But, by the end of the day, everyone had caught fish. Rejean and I got a total of 5, and Ron and Mary got 5 as well. Ron W and his son Brent got 8.

The fire was keeping us warm and Ron and Mary brought some soup and other stuff to munch on. I brought some hot chocolate to keep me warm. I did have a beer but I had to tuck it into my snow suit to warm it up - it was starting to freeze. I had my camera in there too. Nice and warm in there.

We packed up at about 3:30 and headed home. A nice day fishing - I'm glad we postponed it until today - I think it was the best day - cold but nice. Everyone survived.

See Ya Bye

BLOOD - IT'S IN YOU TO GIVE...

...if they can find a vein!!! We gave blood yesterday - it was my 33rd time and Rejean's 45th time (sometimes they can't take my blood). I usually have issues giving blood. Sometimes my iron level is down so they can't use it - sometimes it takes too long for the blood to come out so they can't use it - sometimes they can't get a vein so they can't even begin to get it - sometimes I have a small mark on my arm so they can't take it. But yesterday I sailed thru the iron testing, my blood pressure and temperature were good and my arms were clean of any scratches or marks - I got on the chair and waited for my technician to start the process. It was Allan and I could tell right away that he wasn't too sure of what he was doing. He wasn't confident - he was having trouble with the tensor band to find a vein. He found one and started the procedure. Well, he was taking a long time with it - I usually look away because I don't like to see the needle go into my arm. I could feel him poking it around so I looked. There was a lot of blood - he said the vein must have rolled. He took the needle out and wiped up the blood and got someone else to do my other arm. Jenn was the new technician and she did a great job. It was over in no time (actually about 15 minutes). After you are done you get free cookies!!! And I like the cookies. Clarence volunteers there and he bakes great chocolate chip cookies - it is so worth it just for the cookies!!!
I have already prebooked my next appointment - it is worth it because you get to help other people and you never know when you will need a blood transfusion - it is one of the easiest things to do that can do so much good. Think about it...and just do it.
See Ya Bye

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P E T A WOULD APPROVE

Rejean and Ron - they cook good fish - and have fun doing it :o)

Some of the Motley Crew

Looking down my hole - lots of ice

Ron W outside tending the tip-ups

My corner

Where they put me - Ron's permanent ice fishing hut

Rejean all set to go

There appears to be a continuing theme at our derbys - no fish are harmed during our events. This was either the 3rd or 4th (can't remember) Cheney Lake Fishing Derby and no fish were caught!!! Rejean was in the temporary shack and saw one of his tip-ups outside go down signalling a hit, but by the time he got out of the shack, it was gone. John also had a hit but that was about it. I got there about 11am and Ron took me out to my hut on his machine - he acted as the chauffeur , ferrying people in and out all day long. I was overdressed to say the least - his ice fishing shack couldn't really be called a shack - it had a propane heater in it, 3 permanent holes cut in 3 corners, done all in cedar and sided. It was luxury. My fishing partners were Arnold and Ron W. We had a couple of holes outside but I never bothered going out - I was quite comfortable in my hut. We went in around 1pm for lunch - chili, beans, cheese and crackers and kobassa - it was delicious. Linda, Dianne and Mary stuck around the heated party garage all afternoon while us crazy people tried to catch something. Then, all of a sudden, it was 4pm and we heard that the other shack had thrown in the towel and were all back at the garage. We closed up our shack and headed back. Bob gave me a ride back and what a ride it was - I was trying to hold onto my rod, my hat and him at the same time. It was wild. But we made it back.

Ron had taken out some walley and bass - probably anticipating our luck at fishing. Together, he and Rejean cooked up some great fish and Mary had prepared a pulled beef mixture for sandwiches plus some beans and cole slaw. For desert there were Linda's world famous Rice Krispie Squares (that I just love) and Joanne made a cherry cheesecake. We were stuffed. But a good time was had by all and everyone was gone by 8pm. I didn't give out my prizes because no one caught a fish!!! We will have another derby on our lake late in February or early March - just to carry on the tradition.

See Ya Bye

DERBY DAY

-20 right now but supposed to warm up to -8, with a wind chill of -13 - overcast and a light snow - p e r f e c t.
I'm getting my chili and dinks and beans ready, all the paper plates and bowls and cutlery is packed - I just have to get dressed and out the door. I have my fur hat packed as well.
Film at 11.
See Ya Bye

SNOW REMOVAL ON AXE LAKE

This is the road equipment on Axe Lake - the duties are shared by Bob, John and Arnold. And, I must say, they do a good job of keeping the road open in the winter. Otherwise I would never be able to visit...:o)

SATURDAY NITE ON AXE LAKE

Fastest snow angels I have ever seen!!!

Wing Nite at the Shepherds

Because we didn't have wings last nite (see blog below) John decided to cook some wings for Saturday nite at his place and then we were going to head over to Joanne and Mitch's place for a sauna. It was c-o-l-d!!! The wings were delicious - Randy and Robin were there as well, and Skip too. Randy prepared a chili with Beaver and Grouse in it and it was tasty - no beaver jokes, please. I think we heard them all last nite. John deep fried the wings and everyone had their fill. John and Linda went with us to the sauna. It felt really good. Every 10 or 15 minutes, you had to go outside to cool off. I only stood in the snow whereas John and Rejean made snow angels!!! Must had been alcohol induced. But everyone enjoyed themselves.

The cold spell is continuing today - it was -30 this morning on our balcony!!!! Thank goodness it is supposed to warm up tomorrow for the Derby - only -8 but with a wind chill of still -24 - I have dibs on a hut...

See Ya Bye

ps - you left too early Brent - maybe next time...Hi Nat

HOT TOWN ON A FRIDAY NITE

Gonna polish up my boots, and head into town, scrounge up $20 and throw it around - I heard those lyrics in a country song and it sort of sums up our Friday nite. We thought it was Wing Nite at the Curling Club so we got John and Linda to come with us. Well, it turned out it was last Friday nite - so we headed on over to the Pepper Mill for dinner. I thought they were going to ask us to leave we we causing such a ruckus. We ran into Erla and her gang and John knows everyone so we were having a good time. The Pepper Mill is not licensed so after dinner we hit the Sinton, the only bar in town. It was about 7:30 and we were the only ones in there, other than the bartender. The picture was taken at about 8:30pm and when we left at about 9:30, there still wasn't anyone there. On a Friday nite to boot...

See Ya Bye