Welcome to Domek Lesny!



This blog is dedicated to our house in the north woods of Wisconsin.  We took ownership of the house after Joe's father died in March of 2006.  It needed a lot of TLC as the work was beyond Joe's father in the later years.  This blog is the tale of our clean-up, restoration and decoration efforts.  We decided to name the property Domek Lesny as it means forest cottage in Polish.

In the four years after my Fathers death a lot of work has gone in the house. The 1st floor or "road" level of the house has been totally remodeled or redecorated. The last 2 year with the help of Susan, Larry, Pam and Lou we started to basement or "Lake Level" of the house. And early in 2009 the basement was finally finished. In 2009, it was all outside work. The house has been repainted. New gutters, a new sidewalk, retaining wall, and drive way repairs are underway. 2010 brings the boathouse repairs.

Joe Wardzala

The blog is moving to Facebook check out and like http://www.facebook.com/#!/DomekLesny

Joe

Earlier this week I received an e-mail from one of the neighbors of Domek Lesny. She said in her e-mail that there was a fire at the place next to ours. I was planning to make a trip up this weekend any way. It was just me and Riley making the trip, we had to drive in a heavy fog. At one point Riley decided to help drive. But even Riley could not see. Any way we made it up.

This was the 6th year I have opened the place. And for the 4th time in a row I had no problems. Since everything went smoothly I decided to check out the first damage. I looked outside at first. I could smell the smoke but I could not find any damage. So I went in side and looked out from our 2nd floor windows towards the south. I have looked the Windows thousands of times and I am very familiar of what I should see. I can see Bob's place next door, and over Bob's house I can see the former Perlwitz house. I was so busy looking for fire damage. But was surprised to see this.



I know it's hard to tell because my camera focused on the branches. But you do see the roof of the house next door. But beyond that, sand. A house used to stand there. Now the house did not burn down, the new owners of the property had it knocked down. There are a lot of memories with that house. RIP Anita.

After the rain and fog cleared out I was able to clean up the property and fertilize the lawn. Wait it is still March, I normally do that in May sometimes in June.

I was able to enjoy the weekend and got a nice photo of this guy.

That reminds I have to get some to cut that tree down, it's dead. And notice the buds on the trees. Again it's only March.

Hopefully it will be a long season and we don't have Winter in July.

Joe

Happy 2012 everyone. I know I have not posted much last year but I hope that changes this year. In 2011 we bought a Toyota Prius because the 2006 Highlander has a lot of miles on it. The Highlander has been retired to trips to Domek and the Prius for local traffic.

I was not alone in the purchase of a Prius in 2011. My Sister Pam and her husband Lou purchased a red one.
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Obviously they were purchasing diamonds or jewelry when they took the above phone.

My Brother Larry purchased a 2012 Prius V recently.



Obviously that photo is not from Wisconsin.

And finally my Prius.



While people in Wisconsin have been busy trying to recall their Governor, Illinois has been passing new laws. One of the new laws as of January 1st it is legal to pick up road kill for it's meat and/or fur. So we have been driving the roads of Illinois looking for road kill. And what is more American than picking up road kill? Perhaps we can start a new reality TV show, American Road Kill.

Speaking of all American. Did you notice the color of the Priuses? Red, White and Blue. Now that is more American. Driving Toyota.

Have a fun 2012!

Joe

People have been asking me why do I not post to the blog any more. The truth is after making the long drive back I am too tired to write. This past weekend I final got some help with the drive.



As you can see he has both paws on the wheel, he is looking down the road and checking his speed. The problem is that he cannot reach the pedals, so I have to set the cruise control for him. He does very well unless a truck or bird goes by.

This past weekend (Columbus day weekend) we spent 4 days at Domek. The weather was beautiful. We went on the Artist tour on Saturday. We went to a glass making studio, a Weaver and a pottery maker. Those people lose to talk, we spent an hour at each place and it could have been 2.

I am getting ready to close down for the winter. I pulled in the old boat dock. Possibly for the last time ( I know I said I was going to get a new one, next year). The boat dock was falling apart when we pulled it in. So I have to find out the cost of a new one and set a budget, ideas?

And Wisconsin is one step closer to recalling their Governor. Elect David Obey!

More to come.

Joe

A lot of things have happened over the last week; I turned 52. We became Great Aunt and Uncle to Sydney Ella Crosbie, born July 8th. I finally took Susan to a restaurant she always wanted to go. I caught a fish. And Turtles are taking over the world! Where do I start?

Congratulations to Paul and Jessica Crosbie on the birth of their daughter Sydney. All are doing well.

Now on to me. For my 52nd birthday I painted the interior of the garage. I enjoy the smell of paint fumes. Susan also took me to the best place in the world to have Prime Rib (excluding Lawry's) Pub 'n Prime in St. Germain, Wi. It was great along with 2 Marker's Mark Almost Perfect Manhattans (they put olives in it, which made not so perfect.) But it is still the best Prime Rib you can get anywhere.

Now on to the not so nice stuff. Warning the rest of this posting is not suitable for younger viewers or people who have weak stomachs.

Susan has been asking me to go to a very popular restaurant in the area. I will the real name out of this posting but we will just call it the Giant who wears flannel. I have been to the place twice in my life and I remember it was really awful. I offered to take Susan out to Lunch on Friday, and I asked her wear she wanted to go and of course it was the Giant who wears flannel restaurant. I asked if she was really sure and reminder it was really bad. But we went any way.

We arrived at about noon and parked the car. And walked into the restaurant, while walking in we saw a guy outside throwing up along side the building. Most people would have stopped right there and went elsewhere. We continued.

The place is a family style buffet and you have to pay before you enter. There were 3 old ladies at the cashiers desk to take you money. One of them was sneezing like crazy. Not a good sign. We entered the dining area and were sat at a very large table, one side just had a bench to sit at.

The waitress came up and offered to bring us our Buffet. Which confused us because we thought there was buffet line. But not it's Family style buffet where they bring you plates of food. About 5 minutes later the waitress brought the food. Susan looked at the food and I thought she was going to run outside and throw up too. It was bad, it was so greasy and over cooked it was disgusting. We ate any way.

Susan noticed that all the dining room employees were wearing red shirts. She asked me if the guy outside had a red shirt. I said no. And Susan said OK I have been here, we are not coming back!

Later I told Susan the guy outside was an employee. They send him out to throw up to warn people away. They figure if you come in and eat, you will eat anything. Anyway it make a good story.

During vacation I try to go fishing in the morning. This trip was no different. But I was not catching any fish. But finally Saturday morning I had a strike. I caught a small mouth bass, a small one. But it was a fish. While I went to grab the fish to remove the hook, the fish jumped and the hook went right in to my right index finger. So now I had a fish on a hook hanging from my finger. The fish jumped again yanking the hook not only out of my finger but out it's mouth too. Ouch! I was done fishing for the day.

For the past month I have seen more turtles around than ever. I spotted this guy this week swimming in the lake.



I know you cannot see him/her very well, I need to get a better telephoto lens. But it's a turtle or is it? Any way I think turtles are going to take over the world soon.

I also rescued this guy earlier the same day.



I am sorry if you got sick if you read this. Have a good summer.

Joe

Spring has finally arrived? The ice is gone and I was able to put in the boat dock. We were going to buy a new boat dock to replace our 40+ year old dock, but that did not happen. I had to do some minor repairs, but it still good. The first section of the boat dock is older than the house, my Dad built it soon after purchasing the property so that section is 45 years old. The decking is redwood and is in good shape. So I guess I will maintain it for now.



Susan went to the  Sayner Stampede on Saturday. She was gone all day. Sorry I cannot take the excitement of a Stamping and Scrapbook convention. I would rather stay home and sand Drywall. I sanded the ceiling of the attached garage and it's is almost ready for paint. But it was very dusty, I had drywall dust in my Eyes. Ears, Nose and Throat. And you would think it was a good idea to use a Leaf blower to blow out the dust out of the garage, no it was not. I have dust all over the outside of the house. Let's hope it rains to wash it away.

We found out that one of our favorite restaurants closed.  www.youtube.com/watch?v=cBNsjyzqkRQ Oh well maybe we will find a new place.

Joe

We just got back from a quick trip to Domek Lesny. It has been almost 6 months since the last visit. The house and everything is still there. But big changes on the highways. At the 94/894 interchange just south of Milwaukee, the entire interchange is being redone. I think this is the 5th time in my life time that interchange has been redone. And in Oshkosh at the Lake Butte Des Mortes Bridge / highway 45 interchange that is being redone. The construction in Wausau is done, but they are going to be started new construction soon.

I guess Wisconsin has plenty of money since they took all the money away from the State Union workers (I know the highway money comes from the Federal Government).

We did go to a new "Mexican" restaurant in the area. People make fun of me when they ask how was something. If I like it I say "It's OK". Well this place was below OK. The best part about it was they served Pepsi Products, so Susan was able to have a Diet Mountain Dew. Needless to say we probably won't be back.

This morning I did walk around the property to inspect. And I found someone has been eating trees.



I know it's hard to see but someone ate the bark off on the trees. I think it's the Republicans!



You can see wood chips at the base of the tree in the above image.



And the tree that is laying on the ground nearly hit the power line. I think the republicans are trying to cut of my power! Seriously the tree just missed the power lines and even though it does not look like it, almost hit the garage.

And it was very foggy this morning. There is still ice on the lake.



I know it is hard to tell but that is ice and fog. We hope the ice will be out for our next trip. And it looks like the projects for this year include cutting down trees.

Joe

I don’t know if any one remembers but Wisconsin used to have an Ad of "Escape to Wisconsin". They had bumper stickers, Radio and TV ads. People from Illinois would take out the “to” and change the bumper sticker to “Escape Wisconsin”. I wish I had some of those for the Wisconsin Democrats now “hiding” in Illinois. Hey they would be a great bumper sticker “I am a Wisconsin Democrat Hiding in Illinois” or just “Hide in Illinois”.

Soon we will hope to return to the North Woods of Wisconsin. That is if the current Wisconsin Governor does not stop people at the border and only let republicans into the state. It appears that while we are hiding in Illinois the State of Wisconsin was taken over by a Dictator who wants to take away rights from people, threaten them with their jobs and make them suffer. Is this Wisconsin or Libya? They both appear to be very similar.

Don’t give up your rights. Support the Badger 17 and the state employees of Wisconsin.

Joe

I have not been posting much this year, I have been busy with other things. Any way I did finish up the drywall in the garage, The joints are taped, I just have the finish coat to complete (next year) and some sanding then paint. I has made a big difference, the house stays warmer.

Because I have drywalled the garage I noticed that the service door to the house from the garaage never had weather striping. So we had cold air rushing in around the door. I fixed that this weekend.

In the fall field mice tend to move into the house. And this year was no exception. Last night I was woken up by the sound of a very large Maine Coon running around the bedroom. Susan was still awake and I asked her what was going on. She said Riley was chasing after a mouse. I asked "Toy mouse?" No a real mouse. He was chasing after a small Field mouse. He play a game of field hockey with the mouse, I guess that would be field mouse hockey. He play with the mouse all night, he did not kill it. And he was exhausted, but he could play with the mouse for days and days. The mouse ran off, I guess we will take care of it the spring.

Next year I iwll finish up the attached garage. And then start work on the big 2 car garage. I needs electricial rewired. Insulation. And Drywall. I thought about tearing it down. But it's built on a concrete slab that is about 12 inches thick, that would be a lot of work. So it stays.

And next year I need to replace the 40+ year old boat dock. It is in bad shape and it's time for a new one. I hate to get rid of the old one because it's made out of redwood. But time to let go and move on to more modern materials.

And i have a lot of door trim to replace. I have a lot of wood rot. Time to use PVC or other material. So next year will be the year of plastic.

Have a good Winter. See you next year.

Joe