Spring? Wisconsin-style

What a difference ten-score miles makes!  

We spent last weekend at my parents' cottage in Wisconsin, where the snow (unlike at home, where it has all but disappeared) still covers most of the landscape and the lake has 15 or more inches of ice - enough for ice fishermen to spend the day with ATV or truck to haul a temporary shelter out to a fishing hole. 

See those tiny dots?  Ice fishermen.

Oscar is always ready for a walk, no matter the conditions.

We were lucky to have sun and bright blue skies on Friday - lovely for a walk in the snow.  

Oak leaves still cling to the trees, adding color to a gray landscape.

A robin sings amongst the bare branches.

The old boathouse, its green tile roof still snow-covered.

A more-than-half moon rising through the birch branches.

Love this detail on the boathouse.

Oscar and I ventured out again Saturday morning as the sun was coming up and saw five deer on the frozen lake in front of the old hotel down the shore.  Odd for me to see them in that spot, though they didn't seem to find it strange.

Saturday's dawn over the lake.

Golden-pink beams of sun on snow.

Deer traversing the frozen lake.

Clearing the clouds

Friday night dinner with my sister and her family for a birthday dinner for her youngest (who had just won Player of the Year for his high school basketball conference, as well as being only the third player in the school's history to score more than 1,000 points - talent he did not inherit from his Aunt Ginnie), another visit with my sister over lunch on Saturday, and the day ended with a cozy dinner at home with my parents in front of the fireplace.

Oscar, ever watchful

The cozy fire

My wonderful parents

Bliss.