Spring is FINALLY reaching Minnesota. The weather has still been cool, 40's to 60's. Even had a few days I think that got into the 70's. None the less, it is nice enough to get outside and start cleaning up and sprucing the yard.
This is year two at our house. Last year, A. worked extremely hard at clearing the left hillside of weeds and underbrush.  The hillside had been unattended for years. I planted a few plants and flowering bushes that hopefully survived this winter and will comes back this year.
This past fall A. and I raked up as many leaves as possible. I'm glad we did but there are so many leaves laying on the ground now.

In just a few hours I picked up quite a pile of sticks.

The hill will definitely look better this year than last but we know it won't be ideal this year or probably next.
Thank goodness, A. is so hard working and we will continue to tackle it together. What outdoor projects are you doing this year? gardening? new deck?

Life on the lake is beautiful. Most people probably think it is a quiet, destitute place in the winter. Not so. Frozen over and dusted with snow, the lake is still as busy as ever. Just look at all those ice houses and portables.

This is the view out the kitchen window. Definitely, I have more neighbors now then I did all summer! We even have the picture perfect man sitting on his pail trying to catch the big one.

Weather doesn't keep Minnesotans off the lakes. Not when it's 101F or -40F! Ice fishing is still relatively new to A. and I. A. loves to fish and can't wait to one day have his own ice house or portable. I may tag along with a book and a bottle of wine. Fishing honestly isn't my thing but I sure do love to people watch from the kitchen window.