Winter Weekend 2012

This year's winter weekend included cutting down a dying tree. We picked what should have been the coldest weekend of the year so that we could use the ice to assist in tree cutting. Unfortunately the mild winter thwarted that plan and we still had to do all the cutting while suspending in the tree. Jason went in up to his waist, but that was the extent of the damage.

We didn't take care of the whole tree, but cut out a lot of branches and made a big bonfire.

Snowstorm 2011

Everyone has a story about the massive snowstorm we had last week. For the most part we had an uneventful week. My 5 minute drive to work took 8 on Wednesday.

I personally enjoyed the creative nicknames for the storm:

• Snowtorious B.I.G.
• Blizzard of Oz
• Snowmageddon
• Snowzapalooza
• Kaiser Snowze
• Mass Snowsteria
• SNOWPOCALYPSE
• SNOW-normous

This weekend we had some fun in the snow piles.

Erin built 3 comfortable chairs in our snow bank.
I built a passable tunnel.

Winter Weekend 2010

The pickerel lake gang gathered for another winter weekend. Unlike the last 5 years we actually had sunshine, not very much snow, and mild temperatures. We were hardly 'roughing it.'

On Saturday afternoon we hiked across the lakes and explored some woods trying to find the famed 'old water tower.'

We didn't find the water tower, but did find some good trees along the way.

At night we had our traditional 5 lbs of 73% beef hamburgers (27% fat). They were awesome, and VERY flame broiled.

Of course nighttime brings on games of all kinds. Regular ping pong, around-the-world ping pong, Super Settlers of Catan, Carcassone, and poker were our choices this year.

Annual Skiing Quota

We spent this weekend at Boyne Mountain with nearly the whole Veldhof group. With our baby due near spring break the Veldhofs cancelled their Florida vacation plans for this year. As a consolation they reserved a weekend at Boyne.

It has been a brutal winter. Basically every day has been bitterly cold with heavy snow many days as well. We really lucked out on the weather this weekend. It was near 30 and sunny. The ski conditions were great on Saturday and the driving conditions were ideal on Friday and Sunday. Our weekend consisted of relaxing, skiing, and eating...and reading for Erin. I skied Saturday afternoon and evening with Josh, Lindsay, Dave, and Gwen. Our condo was right on the slopes which was very nice. It was easy to stop back for a relaxing dinner before heading back out. Over the course of the day I regained my skiing confidence and was a solid blue hill skier by the end of the day.We left our 'Amish Friendship Bread' home alone all weekend. It ferments during the holding days and we came home to a near disaster. A few more hours and the bag would have surely blown.