Old Sayings

By Uncle Hans

Kids today have lost sight of a lot of neat old sayings and idioms. Like "going like 60" from a time when 60mph was wide open and dangerous.

Ever hear of "having a leg up" ? or "gimme a leg up"? Like someone has a good deal because someone else helped them.

It comes from mounting a horse while bare back or, at least, not having stirrups. We were visiting Paulo, Hannah's horse. She turns to me and sez, "Gimme a leg up?"

So this is the origin of that old saying........................

By Uncle Hans

HAPPY MEMORIAL DAY

HAPPY MEMORIAL DAY, AND HERE COMES THE SUMMER OF 2012. PACK UP THE RV, LVSHACK, IF YOU’RE UNCLE HANS.

GET OUT THE GOLF CLUBS, CAMPING GEAR, HORSESHOES, FISHING POLES, BOAT, WATER SKI, MOTORCYCLE, 4-WHEELERS, OR WHAT EVER YOU KEEP IN YOUR TOYBOX AND HEAD TO THE GREAT OUTDOORS UPNORTH.

UNLESS…..

YOU LIVE ON THE LOWER MOHAVE DESERT. PACK IT UP, STAY INDOORS, MAKE YOUR ANNUAL DENTIST APPOINTMENT, CHECK THE MOVIE SCHEDULE, CONSIDER BOWLING, AND COMPLAIN ABOUT THE AIR CONDITIONING BILLS TO COME.

WE ARE ALREADY COUNTING DOWN THE DAYS WHEN WE PLAN TO SPEND A WEEK IN JULY, IN THE WHITE MOUNTAINS OF EASTERN ARIZONA.

HAPPY MEMORIAL DAY !!!

CABLE LAKE

WE SPENT OUR LAST DAY IN WISCONSIN ON CABLE LAKE WITH UNCLE HANS AND RENEE.

I DID WATER SKI WHEN I TURNED 40, AND AGAIN THE YEAR I TURNED 50. SO NOW IT WAS TIME TO WATER SKI WHEN I’M 60.

THE WEATHER ON CABLE LAKE THAT DAY WAS JUST LIKE THE FOURTH OF JULY, 84 DEGREES AND SUNNY.  WE WERE ON THE WATER BY NOON AND STAYED RIGHT ON THROUGH THE SUNSET CRUISE.

PERFECT WEATHER TO WATER SKI.

AIM DECIDED TO TRY TUBING. HERE SHE IS GETTING HER LAST MINUTE INSTRUCTIONS FROM UNCLE HANS.

READY AIM?

HIT IT !!!

 

  “OK DAD, YOUR TURN”

NOW I’VE BEEN ON THE LOWER MOHAVE DESERT FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS. MY BLOOD HAS THINNED OUT OR SOMETHING. I PUT MY TOES IN THAT LAKE WATER AND ASKED UNCLE HANS IF THE ICE WENT OUT LAST WEEK? !!!

WAY WAY TO COLD FOR THIS DESERT RAT, I’LL WAIT UNTIL IT’S REALLY THE FOURTH OF JULY.

WISCONSIN CHEESE

IF THERE’S ONE THING AIM AND I BOTH ENJOY ABOUT WISCONSIN IT’S THE CHEESE.

MY FAVORITE IS DEPPLER’S BABY SWISS AND THE HALF POUND AMY AND I HAD IN THE CAR FOR OUR ROAD TRIP RAN OUT IN THE FIRST HOUR AND A HALF.

AMY’S FAVORITE IS FRESH CHEESE CURDS. SINCE SHE WAS DRIVING, SHE STOPPED IN AT LEAST THREE DIFFERENT CHEESE STORES AND BOUGHT AT LEAST SEVEN PAKAGES OF THE CURDS.

THIS STORE WAS IN FENNIMORE, WI.

WE BOTH LEFT THE MSP AIRPORT WITH OUR CARRY ON LUGGAGE PACKED WITH CHEESE TO TAKE HOME.

WE FOUND MY OLE BUDDY MIKEY IN THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER TOWN OF MCGREGOR.

I ALMOST FORGOT AMY AND HER FAVORITE AUNT KATHY’S PICTURE FOR THE BLOG.

 

ONE MORE WISCONSIN BLOG COMING UP. DID REX WATER SKI?

TOKENS

WHEN MY KIDS WERE YOUNG MY PARENTS HAD A DAIRY QUEEN AND MY DAD WOULD SAVE ALL THE .50 CENT PIECES IN A FLOGERS COFFEE CAN.

IN THE SUMMER WHEN ALL SIX OF THE GRANDCHILDREN CAME TO VISIT HE’D HAND THEM THE CAN AND THE YOUNG KIDS CALLED THEM TOKENS.  TOKENS FOR ICE CREAM, TOKENS FOR THE WATER PARK IN THE DELLS, TOKENS, TOKENS, TOKENS.

WHEN WE ALL GOT TOGETHER LAST WEEK, UNCLE NEIL HAD SET UP A COFFEE CAN HALF FULL OF .50 CENT PIECES. WHEN WE WALKED IN, HE SHOOK AND PRESENTED THE CAN HALF FULL OF TOKENS. 

NEIL’S TRICK BROUGHT A SMILE AND LAUGH TO EVERYONES FACE, WHO FONDLY REMEMBER THE TOKEN DAZE OF SUMMER.

NICE JOB UNCLE NEIL, BUT I’M NOT SO SURE THE BARTENDER WAS TOO THRILLED ABOUT $300 IN TOKENS TO PAY OUR BAR TAB.

A FLYING TRIP TO WISCONSIN

I FLEW HOME TO WISCONSIN LAST WEEK FOR GRANDMA JEAN’S FUNERAL.  BEFORE YOU GET DOWN TO THE PICTURES, I HAVE TO WARN YOU THAT THE FAMILY IS OF SWISS HERITAGE, HENSE ALL THE RED SWISS SHIRTS.

THE TRIP HOME WAS A BLAST. I WAS JOINED BY MY DAUGHTER AMY FROM ABQ FOR OUR FOUR DAY ADVENTURE.   UNCLE HANS HAD US ALL SET UP WITH THE OD’S  1992 BLACK CADILLAC, AND WE WERE 40 MILES SHORT OF AN  800 MILE LOOP.

 

GRANDMA’S TWO OLDEST GRANDCHILDREN BORN IN 1976 ONLY THREE DAYS APART.  JAKE (THE OLDEST) AND AMY.

THE PERSONALIZED LICENSE PLATE SAYS “ENDLICH”, THE SWISS WORD FOR “FINALLY”.  1N 1992 WHEN MY DAD BOUGHT THIS CADDY NEW, HE GOT THE PLATE TO TELL THE WORLD HE “FINALLY” HAD ENOUGH MONEY TO AFFORD A NEW BIG BLACK CADILLAC.

THE SPOONER GROUP WITH AUNT JUDY.  THAT’S OUR FAMOUS UNCLE HANS ON THE RIGHT, ALONG WITH HIS KIDS, JAKE AND HANNAH.

 

HERE ARE MY MOTHER’S THREE BOYS DICUSSING THE NICE SERVICE AND BIG TURN OUT FOR THE FUNERAL.

 

AUNT SHARON AND UNCLE NED HAD AN OPEN HOUSE OUT AT THEIR FARM COMPLETE WITH LUNCH AND A PERFECT DAY.

 

GRANDMA ZUNKER AND HER THREE CHILDREN.

 

THE THREE BOYS AGAIN, POSSING THIS TIME.

 

AMY AND REX

 

TERESA AND REX. I’M USUALLY BEHIND THE CAMERA, SO I’M MAKING IT UP IN THIS BLOG WITH LOT’S PICTURES OF MYSELF.

 

REST IN PEACE, GRANDMA JEAN (1928 – 2012)

Camp Report

Rex is in Wisconsin this week for a family matter so blogs have been lacking.  To keep him up to speed, I decided it was time for a camp report.  II need to let him know that I am keeping up with his “camp chores”.

I emptied the litter boxes…indoor, wet…..outdoor, solids.  I have decided that a mask should be worn during this chore….I cannot believe the amount of dust this chore kicks up.

I watered the plants, the little pot flowers…(maybe I should say the flowers in the little pot), looked good and the water globe was empty.  The new plants in the big pot looked dreadful, the older plants looked fine  the water globes were full…they clogged.

I turned on the water fan.  I realized both tank and water jug were empty when I didn’t see any water dripping on the floor.  After correcting that problem, I am happy to report that both cats are enjoying it.

AZ Antics!!—You knew there had to be some mention of AZ.

I felt sorry for him so I got him some wet food…unfortunately, since I don’t usually feed him, I didn’t think about not putting the food can top in the garbage by your desk…do you believe that AZ actually noticed that little oversight??

Remember the great deal I got on my buns??  After AZ found them I only had 3 usable  ones out of the 8 in the package.  So much for a great deal!!

Susie, as usual, has been a little angel.

As you can see, YOU are invaluable to this campsite!!

 

 

Canadian Geese

By Uncle Hans

We have a few pairs of Canadian Geese on Cable Lake. They always have a family. On May 2 we saw this year's brood of 6 for the first time a few days later, they were back and almost twice the size already. If you think about it, they have to go from a few ounces at birth to a huge bird, capable of flying across the country to wintering places with adults who do not wait for them if they can't keep up. All in one summer and part of a fall or about 170 days! Does any domesticated animal pack on the meat that fast?

Anyway, here are a few pics from a bad camera of this years group. We expect to see a lot of them this year as our delicious grass is very close to the lake and we don't have a big dog patrolling the premises any longer..........

By Uncle Hans

Edible Art?

While putting my groceries away the other day, I noticed how pretty my fruit looked.  Artistic too.   

 

Would you believe this doesn’t last me even a week??  Following the 5 to 6 daily servings of fruits and vegetables guidelines takes a lot of trips to the grocery store!

Copper Falls State Park

By Uncle Hans

Our friends Don and Carol invited us to go camping in northern Wisconsin in April.

Really. They are friends.

Our destination was Copper Falls State Park. I didn't even know it was there. It is about 15 miles south of Lake Superior. And it is a hidden gem..............when the weather is warm.
It was a good way to check out how well the "Love Shack" works. Sort of a winter shakedown cruise.

....we found it works pretty well, but you have to have the right company to make it warm inside if it is cold outside.........

.....Carol enjoys cooking, which works well because she is good at it ( For example, I like cooking, too, but I suck at it). She whipped up a gourmet breakfast on a cold morning.....

......We went for a hike on a cool trail that was built by the WPA or the CCC in the 30's. Very cool with scenic overlooks for the falls.........

.....there are actually two waterfalls, both nice. They are the tallest falls in the state...........

.....there are actually two waterfalls, both nice. They are the tallest falls in the state...........

By Uncle Hans

PORCH FLOWERS

NOW WE’VE BEEN ON THE LOWER DESERT A GOOD LONG TIME, AND HAVE NEVER SUCCESSFULLY GROWN ANY PLANTS. OH, WE’VE HAD FLOWERS THAT LASTED A MONTH OR TWO, BUT EVENTUALLY THE DESERT HEAT WINS AND THEY HAVE DIED.

LAST YEAR WITH THE ADDITION OF THE PORCH WE DECIDED TO TRY AGAIN.  WE BOUGHT A BIG POT AND SET IT RIGHT BY THE FRONT DOOR SO IT WOULD GET THE MORNING SUN AND THEN BE PROTECTD THE REST OF THE DAY.



I HAVE A FOUR CUP PLASTIC PITCHER ON THE PORCH STEPS FOR THE CATS TO GET A DRINK OF WATER WHENEVER THEY’D LIKE WHILE OUT ON THE PORCH.  KINDA OF A BACK-UP WATER DISH. I’D HATE FOR THE CATS TO BE WITHOUT WATER BECAUSE I FORGOT TO FILL THE ONE INSIDE OR BECAUSE THEY TIPPED IT OVER.

EVERY MORNING I DUMP THE WATER ON MY FLOWERS AND GET THE CATS A FRESH PITCHER.

BELIEVE IT OR NOT THIS SYSTEM WORKS AND THE FLOWERS HAVE LIVED FOR A WHOLE YEAR ON THE DESERT!!! LOOK AT THEM TODAY, AND I COUNTED OVER 50 FLOWERS.


 
   “SUNNY & 90”

12.05.04

 

GUNS BLAZ’IN

WHEN TWO OLE CHEESEHEADS FROM WISCONSIN CARRY AND USE A HANDGUN, YOU CAN PRETTY MUCH FIGURE THAT MOST PEOPLE IN ARIZONA HAVE A GUN.

PERSONALLY I THINK IT MAKES RURAL ARIZONA A SAFER PLACE TO LIVE, KNOWING ANYBODY OR MORE LIKELY EVERYBODY YOU MEET HAS A HANDGUN.  WOULD YOU REALLY ENTER A CAMPER UNINVITED? WOULD YOU REALLY FLIP OFF THE DRIVER IN THE NEXT LANE GOING DOWN US 95 ON YOUR WAY TO WALMART? WORRIED ABOUT BIKERS OR RATTLESNAKES WHILE OUT HIKING THE DESERT?

HERE IS THE TARGET.

 

THIS OLD LAWN CHAIR HAS BECOME OUR TARGET HOLDER.  WE DRIVE OUT IN THE DESERT ON A DIRT ROAD JUST A FEW MILES FROM THE CAMPER TO DO OUR SHOOTING.

HERE IS THE SET UP.

 

AND OUR DETERMINED SHOOTER.

I’M PRETTY SURE YOU WOULDN’T WANT TO THREATEN ANY DANGER ON THIS “HAPPY CAMPER” WHILE SITTING IN THIS LAWN CHAIR, OR COME CREEPING INTO HER BEDROOM……

   “SUNNY, 80, & SAFE IN ARIZONA”