Kozue Was Here

We hope everyone had a wonderful 4th of July weekend. Unfortunately I worked all weekend long... but definitely had something very special to look forward to. Kozue came to visit us on Sunday for a few days. It was just so nice to hang out and catch up. Of course, it was better with beer. Even better sitting outside with tiki torches.
Sunday Joe cooked his stunt fish (saved in the freezer from previous outings in case fishing with Kozue didn't produce any fish, which was the exact case) and teriyaki chicken on the grill.
Monday I got to have a relaxing girls day (including my first pedicure). After work Joe joined us to go out for dinner, stroll along the lake shore, and local brew on a beautiful evening.
80% chance of rain on Tuesday prevented us from getting on the road, though Joe also took a day off. Instead we went to see a movie "How to Train a Dragon 2," then made gyoza dumplings from scratch for dinner. 
It was a team effort, including Joe making us special rolling pins for making dumpling wrappers. Everything we cooked tasted great, but more importantly we enjoyed the ordinary yet precious time spent together. Next early, early morning Kozue had to head home. We said good bye around 5 and went back to bed, already missing her, yet knowing our bodies would appreciate to have more sleep in place of alcohol!!

Summer in the U.P.

After a chilly work week, it got quite warm this weekend. And a morning thunder storm delayed our fishing trip this morning. By the time we got out to the stream, it was warm and steamy. Fish weren't moving much. I actually had more luck then Joe for a change. At the last hole, I finally landed a keeper: 10" German brown. We let it go though.
Last night we sat outside with a serving of Margarita till dark. We hope we can enjoy a couple of nice evenings with Kozue next week when she comes to visit!

P.S.

Here's a couple more pictures from the stream. Joe's 14" brookie cooperated when we didn't bring our camera, of course. We at least took these photos with Joe's cell phone. Dead fish pictures just don't do it justice.

Rhubarb Pie and Brookies

Last week I used a fraction of our rhubarb plants to make pies. The unique tang of rhubarb is a taste of summer... for me at least.
And on Sunday we each caught a nice brook trout. Joe got a trophy brookie, 14" and 2 lb! Mine looks small in comparison. But after missing a couple of nice fish, I was determined to hook this respectable 10" brookie. Guess what? My small fish tasted better! 

Father's Day

Thinking of all our father figures on this Father's Day, we went fishing on Apple Creek this morning. It was too breezy, changing weathers, for fish to be cooperative. After one major snag (where I almost lost a brand-new lure), I caught a nice brookie, my first keeper of the season. Appropriately enough, out of the hole where Joe's dad used to hook quite a few big trout.
Pink lady's slippers were blooming here and there along our walk. We also managed to bring home a couple of ticks as well. 'T is the season.
In the afternoon we went to check out an antique car show in town. Joe really liked the motorcycle. Anyway, we wish everyone a happy Father's Day!

Traveling with Joe's Mom

We spent a busy but wonderful weekend in Chicago/Milwaukee for Joe's youngest sister Catherine's graduation. She is now a Doctor! It was also quite an adventure: Surviving the Big City with Joe's mom and family!
Just imagine all six of us going places in the Big City, driving and parking a huge Chevy Avalanche. Joe was so glad that he didn't have to be the driver in the city. None of us would have survived.
We visited the Bean... as well as the Art Institute.
Next day before heading for Milwaukee, we got to enjoy the Botanical Garden, through English garden to Japanese garden, desert plants to tropical.
Every place we visited, we couldn't possibly have enough time. Still, we wouldn't have traded this very adventure for anything else. It was priceless to be there for Catherine's graduation, knowing that she will make a wonderful doctor.

Our First Fishing Trip

Finally! We got to go out fishing Apple Creek this Sunday. The water has started to warm up, as the air temps climbed up. In fact, it reached almost 90 this weekend. A mosquito weather! The trout stream was even more lovelier than I remembered... after the long cold winter.
And Joe caught a very nice 21" steelhead, weighed 3 lb. That was exciting!
Of course, it was super fresh and tasty. A perfect way to start our "real" trout season (5 weeks after the season actually opened). Cheers to fishing!