Sturgeon festival

The week we were visiting, there was a big Sturgeon festival.  What is a sturgeon?

A sturgeon is a huge bottom feeder fish that can get to 100 years old and up to 8 feet in length weighing up to 800 pounds!  They can be eaten pickled, grilled or smoked.

The shops downtown had various painted sturgeon in their windows.

We decided to drive around to see what we could see.

We've never heard of this before.  

We saw all these fishing shacks out on the lake.  It is an ice shanty village.

Jill did not in any way want to go out on the lake.

But we convinced her.  Look how frightened she looks!

She had her daddy drive.

On top of water!  Are we crazy?

 Leftover Christmas evergreens mark where the road is.  

When there is a crack in the ice, you ride over these green "bridges".

crack in the ice

 But look, Jill, all those pickups are fine.

 Ice hole where they check to see how deep the ice is.  It was almost 2 feet deep we were told.  Even semi trucks can drive across the lakes here in Wisconsin!

We got out to talk to the local sturgeon fishermen.

"Come inside our fishing shack!  We are going for a record of  18 people inside!"

This is where the hole is.  They have to close it up at 1:00.  

The rules for this festival.

Evidently, they spear sturgeon through the hole in the ice.  I found a picture of a spear on-line.

The guys told us that 3 of them had seen one and speared it but all 3 missed.

They were all very friendly.  What an experience with the locals!

We drove back to shore.  We made it without falling through the ice into the frozen water and dying!

We had been told where to go see the catch so far. 

Hannah was brave enough to touch one.

Next we drove downtown to see the snow and ice sculpture competition.

 

Jill says that next year she might hold a Spurgeon festival at church instead.  Much safer.

Fun with the Wisconsin family

The girls still had school to attend while we were visiting there.  

Have a good day, girls!   My blessing to them as they walked out the door.  

May the words of your mouth and the meditation of your hearts be acceptable in His sight.

 -  from Psalm 19:14

Snuggles with Claire before she has to leave for preschool.

Claire has school in the morning only so she went shopping with her momma and me and her baby Rose.  I told her that one of my best friends growing up was named Rosie!



Here is a picture of me in 3rd grade - 3rd from right in front row and Rosie is beside me.  This was a school program at our one room missionary school.

Play time after school.  There is a tiny hill behind their house they can sled down.  And make snow angels.  The girls LOVE snow!  Not having it here in Kansas, so good thing they are in Wisconsin!

 The real fun was sledding down this big hill in a park close by!!

Claire plowed into a boy on her way down once and she said "I don't want to ever ride by myself again!"

It snowed off and on while we were there.  Al helped shovel the sidewalk.  Each day joggers and dog walkers come by.  Wisconsin people have no idea that it is too cold to do that!







 

Homework with Papa's help  - check out the photo bomber!

 Saturday morning fun with Papa

And because I had taken Claire shopping, I had to go with the big girls too!  They love being silly.

Sunday morning we went to church.  There was a baptism that was so very sweet.

My emotions were all over the place, so thankful for the Lord's work in their lives!

Sunday afternoon, we went to see Hannah in a school play "Shrek"

She was Shrek's mother

and a few other characters too. 

We were able to watch some of the Olympics too while we were there.  Most of it was after Clair's bed time but the other girls were able to watch a couple hours.