We spent the last week, April 5th – 10th, at Domek. It was great weather except for one day, it snowed (a little). We had a low temperature of 23 Friday morning, after a high of only 36 on Thursday. But it did get up to 61 on Friday.
 
I finished up raking the leaves. I guess I did more than I thought the last time up. It only took me a few hours to finish up. I moved dirt around. I add dirt to raise up the “Fern” bed on the road side of the house. I did that so the water would run away from the house. I also added Window wells to keep the water away and prevent the dirt from splashing up on the windows.
Typically April is the “muddy” month in the North woods. Muddy because that is typically when the spring thaw occurs, but this year it was way early. The ice was out on the Lake (Since April 1st). All the snow is gone. It was very dry. Most restaurants close for a few weeks in April to get ready for the tourist season that starts May 1st. Since most of our favorite restaurants are closed we try new places.

I saw on Minocqua’s Chamber of Commerce page a few places that were rated very high. So we decided to try them. The first place was the Black Bear Bar. It was a nice place, casual. It had a very north woods theme. Everything from Antler chandeliers to dead fish on the wall, a very typical north woods bar.

To go along with the bear theme. We went to a place named Smokeys. (Fine Dinning). It too had a North woods theme. But more of a rich man’s hunting lodge feel. It was fine dining.  It was worth the 85 mile round trip. I will have to go back to see if they can make a Maker’s Mark Perfect Manhattan.

Friday we decided to walk around downtown Minocqua. We did our typical trip through the town. Stopping at Loon Land Trading Company. When we walked in the place was remodeled. I asked the owner when did they remodel? He said 2 years ago after the fire. I was confused because I was sure we went in last year, and it was not remodeled. I thought maybe we did not make any trips in the Minocqua in 2009, or I totally missed 2009.  Any way they have nice stuff there, and one day I am going to buy those “Loon” Martini glasses.

We did go to one favorite restaurants “Tula’s”. They remodeled too! And they too are now a North woods them. Well it is more of a Nuevo north woods theme. They had paintings of animal on the walls and an artist’s rendering of a deer head. I had to ask when they remodeled because if they said 2 years ago, then I would know I totally missed 2009. They remodeled last month.
I was able to put the boat dock in. My chest waders had several leaks. I was able to get 3 out of the 4 sections in on Tuesday. But I go very wet. The water was not that cold. I did purchase a new set of Waders which are more like a wet suit. I finished up putting in the boat dock on Friday. And we did go for a boat ride around the lake.

Having a house in the woods has issues. You do get mice in the house. And we had visitors over the winter. They made a mess of the house and the garage. I cleaned up the house the last trip. But I knew we still had mice in the house. We did bring all 4 cats up with house this trip. And they are probably the best way to get rid of mice. A few years ago Nikki was chasing a mouse around the house, but she tried to catch it by its tail using her front paws. Friday night we had excitement. I was asleep in bed when I heard a cat running into our bedroom. I asked Susan what was going on, she said it was Riley chasing after something. Riley had a mouse cornered in our bedroom. I tried to help Riley out by moving things out of the way, but he thought he was doing something wrong and the mouse ran into the closet. Riley went in after the mouse, but I did not want Riley to get hurt.  I closed the closet doors and blocked it so the mouse could not get out, and set a mouse trap. Riley setup camp out side the closet. Riley even went and got all his toys to keep him company. In the early morning hours Saturday the mouse escaped the closet, Riley chased the mouse. But the mouse disappeared. It was a very exciting night for Riley. He was wiped out on Saturday. Before we left I setup mouse traps to catch the remaining mice. But I am sure they will leave knowing Riley is on the hunt for them.

Joe