March Rolls On....

March 13: Grilled out tonight. Usually when I try to grill out this early I have to fight the snow! Made some hamburgers and hotdogs that were amazing!!

Old grill but it works!!!!

March 14: Last thing I will complain about is the weather!

7 day forecast! 

March 15: I kept seeing all these posts about people standing up brooms. So I googled the subject and found out it has to do with the Equinox and the position of the planets. I also saw one with an egg. I did the egg and broom together!!!

Maybe I should quit my job....

March 16: Opening day for baseball season!!! Oh, how I've missed you sunflower seeds. There was two baseball games tonight and after the sun went down I put on a wind breaker (had shorts on) usually I have four blankets on me!!!! What a great night!

March 17: St. Patrick's Day. Usually this is a crazy day for me. Let's just say it has been in years past. Wearing ridiculous outfits, getting in fights, running at 4am to my car with wet hair. Would this year be a repeat??? No, this was the only year since I had turned 21 I had not gone out. There comes a point where you grow older and realize that it isn't worth fighting the crowds (all whom think they're Irish), trying to find a way home, and then waking up the next day always regretting something.

Rick and I went golfing in 82 degree weather today. I had never gotten on the course this early in the year. My golf game struggled as a result of being off for the winter. The years of softball playing seem to always come out the first couple of times in the year. I like to try and step then pull my head, resulting in my poor attempt of shooting a 56.

Green water!

Simon taking in the sun rays!!

So Not a Lion.

Before the day started....

Had to make sure my sandwich fit before I
headed out!!!! 

March 12: Last day off, boy with the weather right now I wish I had all week. Forecast says 68 and partly cloudy. Wake up it is rainy and cloudy...I think to myself that the meteorologist is wrong again. I took care of a couple of things hoping the weather will clear up to go out kayaking. I start putting on the kayak and it is  still rainy,cloudy, and just dreary out.

I even got some worms for my big day, I was
hoping the milk was good luck to store
it next too! 

I was thinking is this the best move...I drove out to Powdercreek to try out my fishing skills while kayaking. I had the lake all to myself. Not one other person showed up all day while I was there.

Got my pole..should of brought my littler one

Weather was starting to clear up, but still some waves. Making it a little harder to fish and stay semi-put. I was having no luck in the kayak with any fish so.....

Tried fishing from shore

Still nothing....I walked some of the shore to see if there was any fish and I didn't see them. Not sure when they stock the lake. I have fished here in previous years and caught some sunfish. Since I wasn't having any luck I decided to switch locations.  And to give up fishing....

There is a place called Goat Island on the Nebraska/South Dakota border. I know they have some geocaches, wasn't too sure how the flood was on them so I headed north. 

The sandbar goes forever!!!

Well I found out where I launched at (the only place I knew of) was two miles down river--the Missouri River. The river was nice and calm, but I still underestimated the power to paddle upstream. There are many sand bars now created due to the flood and the low water levels at this point in the season. Made it kind of difficult.  I thought I did pretty good had to paddle and even carry my kayak across sandbars to get to more water. There was a final sandbar which was .7 long followed by water. I decided that was enough and I wasn't going to get to the geocaches today. I walked around the sandbar for awhile since the weather got really nice. 

Huge sandbars, carried the kayak across this one. 

Stank's first encounter with the dead. 

The only thing I caught today

Since I saw some of the dead fish I headed for this tiny pond. 

I thought maybe I could find some fish to rescue in the water that was trapped. I would hate to see more dead fish because of this. I tried to get close but started sinking to bad and getting stuck. I couldn't get close enough to check it out. 

Some of the sandbar drop offs-  a couple of feet

Not sure what exactly this was, looked like mussels, but I
don't think those are in the Missouri River. 

Cool piece of wood. 

The colors on this wood was nothing else
I had seen on the sandbar. 

 Let's just say the paddle back was a lot easier. I have now researched and found a place A LOT closer to go in at Goat's Island.

The Lion is Not Fierce...

March 7: Bowled after kayaking last night...esh... 127,132,118...sooo not close to a 200. Good news I'm off for five days AND my mom flies in!!!

March 8: Went shopping with my mom today. Bought a chair I have wanted for at least 8 years!!! My mom finally met my boyfriend's parents. Whew-it went good :)

Simon likes the chair too!

March 9: Went to Lincoln for the day. Mom had never been there and we wanted to watch  Boy's basketball in state. We had time to kill so headed to the old Haymarket. It's got a cool rustic feeling! Decided to eat at Buzzard Billy's a Armadillo/ Cajun place. Wanted to try something new! They had alligator so I decided to go for it. Alligator with crawfish patties and hush puppies! It was awesome! Would so get it again. Mom got jumbalia. First time I tried that too-if your ever in town you should try it. I love Swamp People so I kind of felt the need to go here!!!

 Boy's won their game and our in the championship tomorrow. Since we were going to the championship game we stayed the night in Omaha. That was an early night for me-bazinga!

Want a mint??

March 10: Went to Cabelas to get a better life vest. One that is matchy-matchy and doesn't ride when I sit..

A moose outside of Cabela's 

Then off to the championship game. Boy's were not hot shooting and ended up losing by three. It has been a great three years watching that team. Drove back home- I was exhausted by the end of the night!

March 11: Drove to Omaha and said goodbye to my mom. My little truck has really put the miles on last week. Bought my fishing license today, suppose to be nice tomorrow!!!

Sorry a little blurry...don't take pictures and drive!!! 70 even..

In Like a Lion?

March 1: Now I have to get a life vest. I am a matchy-matchy person. The only ones I can find in town are blue!!! They do not match my kayak by any means. I may just have to pick one up till I can get to Omaha. My brother sent me a website to get some cool ones but they don't do returns and I am not sure I like that.


March 2: Today, I wonder what I was think trying to launch a fundraiser for softball in the middle of getting ready for prom. Crazy or stupid?? This time I am doing something totally different to try selling pasta. The pasta has many different shapes of various hobbies. A cool thing is that you can order from the website and ship it to your house. I am getting the website ready to go!

March 3: Went back and got the blue vest-it is suppose to be 70 on Tuesday and I am going to take full advantage of it on the kayak!!!

March 4: I still need my paddle so I can go kayaking tomorrow......keep your fingers crossed!

March 5: Rushed home after work hoping my paddle would be home. I pulled up and didn't see it. I got  sad, but the delivery man put it in my door! I was SUPER excited, loaded up my kayak, and headed to a spot called Powder Creek Dam/Reservoir. It was built in 2002 so very new! They built it to help with flooding and duel as a recreation function. It is located in rural Nebraska about 40 minutes from me. The Reservoir is stocked so I will be fishing in it. I bought a water proof back the other day hoping it would keep my phone and keys dry. Didn't do a bad job!!!

My new favorite photo!

Sun set from a kayak!

Trees are still visible from when they filled it
the effect on the bottom was from the bad-sorry!

I paddled around till the sun set and the wind was starting to pick up. I loaded up my kayak and headed to bowling!!!

Finishing out February

February 22:  Four months to Moose's wedding on the beach!!! Can't wait!!!

February 23: SPAM is produced in Fremont, Nebraska! 

February 24: The world's smallest police station is in Friend, Nebraska. The bad thing is I have been there to play a slow pitch softball tournament. When you get off the exit you take a left in less then 200 feet it turns to a dirt road....no lie!!!

February 25: I am also an Athletic Trainer (not sure if I have said that before) for the Sioux City Bandits. The Sioux City Bandits are an indoor football team. We won the championship last year, lets see if we can repeat. Practice started today!!!

In action!N Not the best view...

Everyone has to drink out of the cup!!

February 26: BEST DAY EVER!!!! I GOT MY KAYAK!!!! I did go with the inflatable roof rack and got the Pelican Kayak. 

There it is on my new roof rack! 

My new love!!!

February 27: My brother ordered my paddle for my kayak!!! Can't wait till it gets here!!! Thanks Toddy, I love you and miss you!!! 

We went fishing this summer, this was our "big" catch

February 28: What should I name my kayak????????? Seriously, I love to name my stuff. My Honda Accord is actually named "Truck" because it gets through EVERYTHING!!! Out in Nebraska we have tons of dirt roads and he loves to push through them!!! Please help me think of a name?!?!

February 29: Leap year!!! One week till my mom comes to visit!!!

Heart of February

February 15: Well bowling was okay to me. Bowled a 118, 127, 132. Still no 200.

Strike Zone in Vermillion. Two years ago they got automatic
scoring-big time!

February 16: Nebraska is the birthplace of the Reuben sandwich. (This is your fun fact of the day :)!)

Looks good! 

February 17: Loves a snowy morning!

On my way to work! No one said taking pictures
 and driving was illegal...

February 18: Another great morning, this beautiful one I went geocaching. I can't tell you the last time I went in Nebraska. I dropped off a trackable and picked up another!

Crystal Cove 

February 19: Totally player Mario Kart for N64 all alone today! Was a nice alone day :) Here we goooooo, watch out for the bananas!

February 20: Pondering....I know super scary....Well, it is official we can play softball at the facility at the High School. I have some work to do, I love that it is at the High School so more people attend the games. The field is not enclosed due to the flooding last year we shotgunned our season and moved it up to the High School. The field isn't enclosed, we use an orange construction fence for our outfield fence. I really want a batting cage, so now I have to number crunch and see how much it will be to get one!!

Softball field after the flood. You can see the line of "crap"
 which measure how high the water was

The softball shed, can see the water line. 

February 21: Full moon. You can tell by the sky and wild kids!

Yes, that's the moon!!! I thought it was a pretty cool picture. 

February Moves On

February 8: Prom is coming. You might think what adult cares about prom. I do! I'm in charge of making prom happen. Without me there would be no prom. Well I guess I'm a big deal to prom! Totally different from the school I went to. This year the theme is Hollywood--Rockin' the Red Carpet! Starting to get stressed....can't find invitations or tickets....

February 9: Get through today, day off tomorrow. Get through today, day off tomorrow. Get through today, day off tomorrow.

February 10: We didn't have school today due to a comp day. I needed it! Went to Omaha to pick out my kayak and roof rack. I drive an older car so I had no idea what the rack would run me, I was still kind of stuck on the inflatable roof rack, but not sure...

My first stop was Bass Pro Shop. I used to love this place growing up and wish we had one in my hometown. It was ever outdoor girl's dream. Except this time I was very disappointed by their kayak selection. They had not one with a drywell!! I asked one of the associates and he was like stunned I knew what I was looking for. So, turned off by my once love-- Bass Pro Shop--I decided to leave.

Next stop was Cabellas. I think this was the first time I had ever been in one. They had a half dozen roof racks and one that totally caught my eye- the inflatable one! Maybe it was meant to be. After spending thirty minutes looking at the section I moved on and checked out the life preservers and paddles. But they had no kayaks! Struck out again!!

Dicks Sporting Goods was my third stop. Felt like home since the first store started in my hometown of Binghamton, NY in 1948. They had kayaks!!! A good selection of them!! I found one I fell in love with ( dang it I should have gotten the roof rack) but Dicks didn't have roof racks.

The original location! Kinda old school! 

Now I can go home and research what I liked to see if others agree!!!!

February 11: Finally I can bottle my beer!!! I mixed up the corn sugar, started siphoning the full bucket into an empty one and put in the corn sugar. After all was siphoned into the bucked I started to fill the bottles. The biggest thing when doing this is SANITIZE everything!!!!!

Bottles are sanitized!

Great Color!!! 

I bottled the beer, got 53 bottles out of it. Now I have to wait another two weeks to try it. Not sure if I like this wait thing.

February 12: I have lost thirteen pounds!! Working out does pay off!!

February 13: Snow Day! Very unexpected!! First one of the year which is pretty good since I live in Nebraska.

Rick and I celebrated valentines day today due to me bowling tomorrow. Our first one together! He made reservations to a place that overlooks the Missouri River. This was actually a place we had never been. We walked in and no one was there! Either the weather helped us out or everyone wants to go out on the big V Day! Had a great dinner and ended up driving home in freezing fog. That was my first and hopefully last experience ever with that!

The flowers I got :) Looooove them.....

February 14: Happy Bowling Day! Oh and Valentine's Day! Every time I bowl I hope for a 200.....but it never comes....there is always next week!!!