Our small "bragging" and memory wall.

When you live in an area of the country with some of the best fishing and hunting opportunities you better take advantage. I'm not much of a hunter but I have always loved to fish. Starting in 2001 my wife Donna started to fish with me. So to commemorate the ten years 2001-2010 we decided to leave a little something to prove we did spend time fishing.

The mounted fish were all caught over one complete fishing season in 2010. Two Walleyes one caught in summer season and one caught through the ice. The Northern Pike was caught through the ice by Donna her first fish while ice fishing. The Bluegills / Pumpkin Seeds / Brim were caught on several of the small inland lake we like to fish.

None of the fish would ever even come close to making a record book but they each have there own "record" in our memories.

The fish mount was made by:  Bayside Taxidermy Ashland, Wisconsin.

The hat in the photo according to some is  my "lucky fishing hat".  But those who are close know that it's more than that. 

The hat has a fishing rod and a four leaf clover on it. The fishing rod is in memory of my dad who taught me to fish when I was five. The four leaf clover is in memory of my mom who could walk along nearly anywhere grass grew and simply bend over while saying "here's one" and pluck a four leaf clover out of the mass of green. 

So is it my lucky fishing hat? Yes! it is but it's much much more. The one hanging on the fish mount is the original one I had made. Since then I have had four or five backup hats made to wear.

The wall plaque on the left contains 10 years of Wisconsin Inland Lake Trout Stamps and 10 Years of Great Lakes Trout Stamps (2001-2010).  In the center is a picture of Donna and myself each with a fish on the line.  Hint: Donna's fish a Largemouth Bass and is, shall we say much bigger than the specimen I'm holding in my picture. Some days your luckier than others.

Above and below our photos are our 2001 (red) and 2010 (green) Wisconsin State Husband and Wife fishing licenses.

We had the plaque professionally mounted and all the stamps, photo and licenses are in archival envelopes.

The plaque was done by: Karlyn's Gallery Washburn, Wisconsin

Today it rained. We spent the day inside. I took trips down memory lanes.

My paternal grandparents were first generation Americans. They were born in England and immigrated to America in the early 1900's. One of my most vivid memories of visiting Gramma & Grampa G. was having tea and crumpets. To this day I do not like tea. On the other hand crumpets with butter and Lyle's Golden Syrup were a treat then and remain so now. 

Over the years I have searched for a source for crumpets without any success... until Google. In early September I (thanks Amy) found a source for crumpets. A little additional research led me to this vendor British American Imports.  A recommend great source for any crumpet lover amongst my readers.

Once my mail order crumpets arrived I shared them with family and friends.  They were good, real good but they were missing the Lyle's Golden Syrup. One of the friends that I had shared the crumpets with arrange to have his mother bring a can from the UK on her recent visit.  He gave it to me yesterday. It's a small world moment. What a surprise. Thanks Gary and Gary's mom.

After nearly 55 years of carrying this great memory I finally had all of the pieces. Breakfast this morning was crumpets with butter and Lyle's Golden Syrup. And of course NO tea.

UPDATE: Yesterday at lunch I introduced my nephew Ryan and tonight after a quick supper I introduced our son Scott to part of their Great Grandparent's diet. Crumpets and Lyle's Golden Syrup. Both thought the crumpets were good and they thought they might enjoy one occasionally. The Lyle's Golden Syrup was seen as a sweet treat that they would maybe use less frequently. It was great fun sharing the experience with this young generation. In a very small way it connected them to Great Grandparents they never met.  

Up next ..... Lamb's kidneys with bacon and eggs for breakfast.  Seriously it is quite good in moderation. Well .....  maybe it is an acquired taste. We'll see.

After breakfast, as the title of this post suggests I took a second trip down yet another memory lane today. This trip was made possible by a generous loan of historical newspaper articles, informational literature and personal recollections of a former camper, staff member, board member and great historian of the former Y.M.C.A. Camp Clark.  Thanks Pete M.

For those visitors to this website who might not already know one of my other ongoing projects is to document the history and the personal memories of former campers who spent time at Camp Clark between the early 1940's and 1972.  For a more detailed account of this history please visit the Camp Clark website.

I have been told by visitors to the site that even though they never went to Camp Clark the stories and memories found on the website brought back personal memories of the camps that they had attended.  Hopefully you will experience similar recollections of your childhood camps.  Enjoy!

Ice out on Chequamegon Bay 2011 edition.

For the most part today was "ice out day" on Chequamegon Bay. Some years the right wind will completely clear the bay. This year although the majority of the bay is clear and open the southern shores of the bay have "cocktail" ice floating along the shore.

This video is a little longer than usual but give us a break... after 5 months of ice it is nice to see open water. Real nice to see open water. So sit back and enjoy. The last couple of minutes of this video are here by special request. For one of my loyal reader. Enjoy the sounds. Enjoy the thoughts.

We are doing well. Hundreds of cards, notes, calls and Facebook posts tell the story.

We knew Ed was a friend to all. We knew Ed moved throughout the entire community. We knew Ed brought together individuals from every corner of the city and the Chequamegon Bay Area.

What we did not know was that he influenced change. Profound change. Lasting change. Ed will be remembered.

People will smile when they see a wheelchair in the downtown area. They will for a brief moment think... there goes Ed.

They will see a small orange flag in their minds eye when they push the handicap button to open a door.

They will smile and raise a fist in victory when they pass through the "tunnel to everywhere". When they pass through "Ed's tunnel".

Ed in a quiet and lasting way has become an icon in Ashland WI.

What more can one hope to accomplish in life than to be remembered for having made a difference. For making the world a better place in small and meaningful ways.

Hundreds of cards, notes and Facebook posts have made it clear. It won't just be Mom, Dad, Scott, Kellie, Aunt Cheryl, Skip and other family members that will remember Ed.

Thanks to all who cared for and remember Ed.

Labor Day annual family outing. With lots of friends.

Youngest (23 months) to oldest (92). Sons, daughters, spouses, grandkids and great grandkids.

A family photo tradition. Rabbit ears that is.

Family at the hunting shack. Fifty-one years of family gatherings at the shack.

Some extended family joining in for the photo op.

Grandma Honey and Becky the oldest cutest granddaughter.

Great granddaughters at play.

Lunch!

Chef Ryan.

Great form ;)..... Archery...archery. ;)) 

Young determination.

Like father like son. A dozen plus ears of corn between them.

NOT lunch. Not even an invited guest.

Also not lunch.

Double digits. Driving on the ice. No ice fishing.

 

Chequamegon Bay Lighthouse

  

We are standing just NW of the lighthouse over the shipping channel. The water depth below us is ~ 30 feet.

  

This  winter will probably be the last opportunity we will have to have this picture taken. If things go according to the current plan the Oredock will be torn down starting this spring.

  

We are standing NW of the Oredock. The water depth below our feet is probably 30 feet.

  

Ok, here is the explanation of the title "double digits". We have lived here since 1978... 31 years and I had to prove there was 24 + inches of ice below our feet...... before my wife finally drove on Chequamegon Bay. 31 and 24 double digits.

  

Here she comes off the bay after her first solo spin out on the ice.

  

Driving up onto the "landing". Finally ashore.

P.S. for those keeping count I did fish yesterday. Slow but caught smelt and perch. Had fresh fish with K & S for supper.

David Genszler benefit activities. Parade, auction and music.

David Genszler




Videos from todays activities including the parade, auction and the music with a message.

Activities in the tent. Music, music, music, music and food.

Additional news coverage with some video.

Additional photos and story at the site Leslie Hamp setup for the event. Great job Les.
All links posted at www.davidsparade.com


Photos from Carol Seago.














Photos from Kelly Randolph

Remembering Gramma and Grampa Lockhart.

My maternal grandparents Hattie and Joe had a Trumpet Vine on their garage.

I use to pluck the flowers and taste the nectar at the bottom. I never wondered how safe that was. It was a kid thing to do. Sure glad I didn't taste any of these visitors.

Sure must be something still sweet about these flower. Other than just the memories.