North Branch 2010 Christmas

Since it's so hard to get together right close to Christmas, we planned ours this year for Sat. Dec. 11th in North Branch, MN. Of course the weather decided not to cooperate by dropping about a foot of snow, cranking up the wind machine, and opening the freezer door. So, leaving Laura & Damon home (they had work and school to go to on Monday), we left Sunday early eve and had Christmas with Julie's family on Monday, Dec. 13th. Couple of pics to share that Julie took while we were there. After visiting, opening presents, kid meals, etc.; both Elsie Mae & Nels Allan took naps (first 2 pics) at the same time allowing the adults to enjoy a little liquid Christmas Cheer with their Chinese carryout dinner.

Been away for awhile

Hi everyone. It's been awhile since I've posted anything. Here are some pictures from birthdays and closing the cabin. If you would like to see some of the photos from our trips to the cabin this summer, they are on Zenfolio under (take a guess) Darby Cabin 2010.

Nels Allan & Elsie Mae

Pictures are probably from about 1 month ago. Currently Elsie Mae has a cold and couldn't get her flu shot again today at the doctor's. Nels Allan was checked out today and has the new following stats:

Height 24 1/2 inches 93%

Weight 13 lbs 9.4 oz 89%

Head 16 3/4 circumference 96%

Nels Allan Efram

Nels Allan Efram joined the family at 11:34 AM on Thursday, September 16, 2010. Weight 8 pounds and 7 ounces. Length: 21 inches in the delivery room but 20 inches put on the birth certificate. Pictures are from Sept. 18th & 19th.

Lisa and Brandon Wedding Pictures

Hi Everyone,
Lisa and Brandon wedding photos can be viewed at http://reyub05.zenfolio.com/p1015856089/slideshow. You can copy and paste the link or click on the title of this post "Lisa and Brandon Wedding Pictures". Jan and Dave

More Cabin Photos

Hi everyone. I was looking at the pictures of wildlife on the front room wall that Russ has taken over the years and realized I don't have a picture of a fox, bear and cub, raccoons, or large buck.

Cabin shots

Hi everyone. We spent the week at the cabin and had a great time despite the rain. Here are a couple pictures of the wildlife.





I have some Eagle pictures too and will post some more later.

On Sunday, June 20, 2010, Linda & I went to the Efram's lake lot on Little Pine Lake in Northern Minnesota. It was a combination Father's Day celebration AND Elsie Mae's 2 Year Old Birthday Party (a week early). Excellent weather, food, visiting, relaxing, & celebrating.

Brewers Star Wars

Damon has been going to Brewer games lately (Fri. eve with his dad and Sun. with his mom). He ran into a couple of far-out people while at the Sun. game.

Car Door-1 Damon-0

Damon learned the results of slamming a car door on your own finger!

Snow on Fri. & Sat. May 7 & 8, 2010

Damon, Linda, & I got up to the lake Friday eve, May 7 through the rain & snow after stopping at the Oneida Village for supper. Friday eve we started the water softener and water heater, turned up the thermostat, made beds, built a fire, fiddled with the unresponsive tv satellite, played Rummy Royal, etc. Saturday morning showed some snow accumulation from Friday with snow showers continuing some Sat. morn. On Sat. we all pitched in and continued "opening" up the cottage (dusting, cleaning toilets & sinks, removing plastic from the porch, changing out the storms for screens on some doors and windows, cleaning the eve troughs, picking up big sticks, removing the well straw covering, removing the mailbox milk can & post, etc.). We saw the bears for the first time that evening. We also played Trivia Pursuit and made s'mores in the fireplace. Sunday, we raked the lawn, and when Laura showed up played Fish cards before she and Damon went home. After they left, the bears showed up again.

Bear Facts May 8 & May 9, 2010

Linda, Damon, & I saw 3 bear cross 1/2 way between the lake & house around 7:00 pm Saturday, May 8, 2010. Looked like a sow, teenager, and cub. Sow probably about 30 to 50% bigger than the teenager. Sunday, May 9, 2010 I was fishing on the dock and saw the bears walking in the dry edge of the lake by Lodel's heading toward the road. I ran into the house, grabbed the camcorder and waited watching toward the lake. No bear, so decided to check road side of house. Momma was already a little past us headed towards Quicks. I couldn't catch her on the camcorder, but did get the teenager and cub.
This happened second.



This happened first. Please ignore my comment at the end of "s***" when I realized I hadn't been able to find Momma through the trees with the camcorder to record her.

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Shawano Municipal Utilities (SMU) has over 6,000 customers that will receive this front page of the SMU newsletter along with their May monthly bill.

Turtle Lake WI Pool Time

3 Wisconsitites spent Sun. eve in Turtle Lake at the Hotel. 2 Minnesotians came over Monday to visit, swim, & eat lunch.

Another delay

Hi everyone. I'm still in Cambridge. We have a flight scheduled for Wednesday at 7:55 AM. It's anyone's bet as to whether we'll be able to leave though. I spent Saturday wandering around Cambridge just enjoying the wonderful weather. It's been sunny and very pleasant. Our group is very fortunate that we were able to extend out hotel rooms. We are not wanting for anything except a flight home.

It's spring here and many of the plants are beginning to bloom. Gardening is a very popular activity here.

This is one of the many churches here in the UK. The picture doesn't really show you how large it really is.

On Sunday we went to see Stonehenge. It is located in the middle of a sheep farm way out in the middle of nowhere. However, it is a really popular tourist attraction and they bring them in by the bus load.

Hopefully this situation will clear soon and we'll be on our way back.

Still in Cambridge

Hello everyone. Yes, I'm stranded in the UK because of the volcano eruption in Iceland. I've got a flight out on Saturday afternoon. Here are a couple more pictures. Lots of steeples and clocks.
This is the backside of Kings College.

Lots of statues.

I think this church was built in the 1100's. Be back on Saturday.