A Touch of History - - -

When I was a little girl and up until two or three summers ago, this historic building was the Hayward Library. Even though the new library is lovely, I was really missing the old one. New buildings just don't have the, well the HISTORY of the old ones!!!

So imagine my DELIGHT to find that someone has purchased, restored, and lovingly renewed the library building!!! It is now a shop, Madonna Rae's, just brimming with ambiance!!!


As you enter the front door you are greeted by this quaint little horse bench.


Advertising art adorns the entryway walls.


Just look at all this wood!!! The entryway is split three ways - - - straight ahead is the stairway to the basement and on either side of it stairs to the main level. This is the right hand set of stairs to the upper level.


The shop is arranged and decorated so as to show off the architectural features of the building. They even saved the library service desk which is now the cashier's counter.


Dressing rooms


Their inventory ranges from furniture to toys and everything in between.


In the basement you'll find Persian rugs, antique armoires, book shelves and - - -


One really old antique!

Meet Kate

Kate Karibalis. For all the years we've been coming to Hayward and eating at Karb's, she's been our waitress - - - well, most of the time anyway. Her dad started the restaurant which is now owned by her sister and B-I-L.

Anyway, Kate KNOWS what my favorite dish is, and she KNOWS that it's been off the menu for over a year, and she KNOWS I really want to have it again!!! So - - - bless her heart, she sweet talked the chef and just looky here:



Shrimp Scampi Venetienne!! In case you can't see it, those are large shrimp with chicken breast wrapped around them lying on a bed of wild rice and covered with some delectable sauce. Really yummy!!!

Thank you Kate AND Chef for doing this for me. I owe you both a big time feet kissing!!!!!


Greg ate well too with steak, shrimp, and hashbrowns.

Some Tuesday Randomness - - -

I think this is all I've got for today! So, let me close out my posting with a little randomness from last week while Mark and Jennie were still here. They headed home early Sunday morning.

We enjoyed a meal at another of our favorite places - - - the patio of Karibalis on Main Street in Hayward.


Peaceful, relaxing, AND good food!!!!


What can I say about this?

Ya'll come back now - - - I'm still collecting pictures for two very special posts (well, I think they are anyway)

Place Full of Contrasts - - -

Perhaps you've heard of Famous Dave's Bar-B-Que, they have them all over the US now, but the ORIGINAL is here in Hayward. It is one of our favorite haunts. From the first time I went there, I was struck by the hodge podge that is it's decor - - - - see what I mean:

This rough-hewn bear greets you at the front door, Greggie optional.


High in the rafters you will see - - -


A Northwoods mural.


At the river-rock fireplace, complete with the quintessential log mantle, you will find fine china plates and lamps.


Hanging around the entire perimeter of the main dining area are - - - tin coffee pots and tin cups.

Now, step with me please, into the ladies' room. (It's ok guys - - - you can come for this tour too - - - )


I have never seen sinks like this anywhere else in the world - - - notice the gold fixtures!


The mirrors are framed with bows - - -


And the green tile walls are trimmed with gold. Quite "posh," I'd say!

Now, back out in the main dining room - - -


Each dining table is adorned with a paper towel holder like this!!!!! And you know, if you've been to one, that their signature "dinner" is served on an aluminum garbage can lid.

I'm telling you - - - it's like going to the prom wearing your oldest sneakers under your gown!!!!

What a fun place.

The Angry Minnow

Yesterday Greg and his two fishing buddies, Mark and Bob, got up before the crack of dawn and drove to another lake to fish until sunset. I'm sure you will be SHOCKED to hear that Jennie and I had zero interest in going along. So - - - we were FORCED to find our own fun.


And THIS is what we found. A new restaurant, The Angry Minnow.


Well, it's new to us anyway. I think it's been open for a couple of years now.


It used to be an antique mall, and long before that a school house.


Just look what they've done with it!!!!


We haven't even stepped inside the door yet!!!!


I'm sure you are all shocked that Jennie and I


Would rather spend our time like this - - -


Than fishing all day - - -


With three smelly guys in a boat!!!!

More Fun in the Northwoods

Just look what I found in a spa bathroom in Hayward:

Yes, it was JUST like this when I found it and NO I did NOT turn it around just for the picture. I wonder what they would say if they found out their TP was a "star" on my blog!?! Hehehehehehe


Our friends Mark and Jennie have joined us for the rest of this week. Mark is even more crazy about fishing than Greg is!!


And just so you know, we're here too!!!


This is the view from one of our "favorite" places to eat - - - a sidewalk cafe at the Angler.

Go West Young Man - - -

We returned to West's Dairy yesterday - - -

This time to sample the wares. NO I did not eat a cone THIS SIZE!!!!!


Remember these? I do. This is what we used to get on our door step several mornings each week. We had a little metal insulated box in which the milk man placed the bottles. In the winter when it was really cold - - - like 30 below zero - - - dad would LISTEN for the milkman at 5 a.m. or so and get right up and bring the milk in or it would freeze, even in the insulated box.

No - - - West's doesn't USE these bottles any more, they just had then sitting there for people like me to use for going down memory lane - - -


When I was a girl in this town, the dairy didn't look quite like this on the inside - - - but they have decorated it in retro and have lots of dairy antiques scattered around.


And this IS the "scoop" of ice cream that I ate. This is a "half" scoop of Death by Chocolate and a "half" scoop of Chocolate Peanut Butter. I couldn't eat TWO scoops in one sitting if this is only ONE!!!