968 E.Steger Rd -- Crete, IL
(708) 672 - 1167

Some of our best, and funniest, family memories revolve around our annual visits to St. Germain WI. Our family has been going to the same resort--on Little St. Germain Lake--for approximately 60 years. The trees have grown bigger, and the cabins have become a little creakier, but we still venture up there every summer to the most relaxing place on Earth. Nothing compares to the smell of the pines, the sound of the loons, the sight of the bald eagles and deer, and a day on the water fishing under those beautiful big clouds. We liked to vacation there in July or August, but my dad and two brothers also liked to venture up there in May for the "guys only" week of fishing. I think they spent as much time eating, drinking and sleeping as they did fishing. Their idea of a perfect day was to go out for breakfast, then come back to the cabin for a Bloody Mary. Then a short nap. Then some fishing. Then into town for a trip to Karl's Dutch Door for a burger and a beer. Then more fishing. Then back to the cabin for a short nap. Then Happy Hour with my father's famous martinis. Then out to dinner, with another cocktail or two, followed by a nice meal at the Whitetail Lodge, Spangs, or some other local supper club. On one particular occasion, my dad and brothers had their usual Martini Happy Hour in the cabin, then decided to go the Pub & Prime for dinner. They pulled into the parking lot, and then walked into the restaurant and sat down at the bar as they waited for a table. Next to the bar is a large picture window overlooking the parking lot. They ordered some drinks, and as the bartender mixed them she looked outside and said to my brothers, "hey, do you two know that old guy lying in the parking lot"? My brothers were totally unaware that my dad had taken a tipsy tumble getting out of the truck and was now lying on his back in the soft sand. Without missing a beat, they said to the bartender, "oh yeah--that's just our dad". Now we always laugh about this every time we pass the Pub & Prime. This entry is in memory of my dad who passed away a few weeks ago. He was 81 going on 21, he loved a great martini, and he loved the Northwoods. I hope his heaven looks like St. Germain, and he's as happy there as he was in the Northwoods that we shared with him. M.B. Spinozzi, Tinley Park IL [You can see photos submitted by the Spinozzi family at--- http://www.caughtintime.com/test/index.php in the "Northwoods Hearty Home Cookin'" section]

I have many great memories of Wisconsin. When I was younger, my mother, brother and I always went up to Minocqua with friends. They had a really nice cabin located on Little Spider Lake. I thought that I would hate it being secluded in the woods with no TV. But, I learned how to swim, fish, and use the motorboat. We would go into town for supplies (homemade bread, sausage, and cheese - YUM!) and occasionally, if we were all good, we would go out to eat by a restaurant that overlooked the water. I always bothered my brother to go by the lily pads so I could pick waterlilies for my mother. We played games, caught frogs, told ghost stories, & enjoyed lying out on the dock. That eight hour drive always took forever but we never cared once we got there - as I grow older, I will always cherish those priceless memories with my family. When I got older, I took my mother to Door County for her birthday. We got cherry butter, cherry wine, cherry pies, it was just so much fun to go looking in all the shops, sit and have a picnic by the water. My most memorable restaurant was a bowling alley/restaurant. We had the option to stand in line or bowl until our turn to be called for the fish fry. It was so much fun and something that I think of as uniquely Wisconsin. C. Johnson, Chicago Heights, Illinois

My husband and I and several friends would take a trip up to Wisconsin almost every winter to go skiing. After a hard day of skiing we would drive to the nearest small town for dinner at some of their wonderful restaurants. The food was excellent and the atmosphere was great. Some of the places we stopped would take you back to a simpler time. Life in a small town is just great. We wouldn't want to leave. At lunch we would enjoy some food and drink at the lodge and sometimes we wouldn't make it back out to the slopes for hours. We all have such good memories of our skiing trips. We all can't wait until our kids get older so that we can take them up there and start a new yearly tradition. Patti Hurtt --- Crete, IL 60417

The Larson family has been going to Shady Nook Resort on the Chippewa Flowage since 1962. We have not missed a year yet. This is a tribute to the owner of the resort and a few pictures. [You can see the pictures at: http://www.caughtintime.com/test/index.php in the "Northwoods Hearty Home Cookin' Section."] Mark Larson Saint John, IN

While my family vacationed every year for probably fifteen years at a small town named Lakewood about two hours north of Green Bay, my favorite memories are on-going and recent. My husband of four years is from southern California, and never spent any time in the Midwest. We have taken several road trips, and he is absolutely stunned at the beauty of the northern parts of the Midwest, including Wisconsin, and how every spring things "green up" again no matter how harsh the winters. We currently live in Crete, IL.

I'am from Orland Park,Il. and found myself lost near spooner,Wi. I could not find my friends log cabin home last summer on vacation. Naturally, my cell phone signal was BAD up their! I swallowed my guy pride and pulled over and asked a couple of fishermen for directions. Believe it or not, they knew my friend and gave me exact directions and a cold soda for the road! This guy helped build my friend's home on the lake! What luck and what a good samaritan! ----Thanks, Jim farrell

Shore Lunch ----- Last September in the north woods of Eagle River, Wisconsin on Dam Lake, my brother Bob and I were on our annual muskie week. Caught a 22" Northern Pike in late late afternoon. Clouds came in and then it began to thunder and lighting. We scurried to shore in the pouring rain and ran for shelter. Next morning realized my great northern fish was dead on the stringer. We decided to drop it off in the middle of the lake. As we were fishing along the shore line, we noticed a Bald Eagle circling above the area where we dropped off the dead fish which was floating. The Eagle flew down to grab the fish, but the fish was too heavy to lift. The Eagle then landed in the water and proceed to swim the fish to shore using it wings. That Eagle dragged the fish about a quarter mile to the shore. Upon reaching shore, the Eagle had the fish for breakfast. Tried to fly but being so wet he decided to dry himself off on a tree limb he perched himself on. All of a sudden, the tree limb broke and he was in a free fall. He struggled to fly with his saterated wings and was about to hit the dirt - - when he recovered. He then flew to a highter branch where he draped his wings to allow them to dry. We then went to shore to examine the breakfasht scene. The only thing in the sand were a few fish scales and Eagle talon prints. That Eagle ate every thing head and all. Submitted by: Jerry Besser Steger, IL

Some years ago we owned a small house on Mud Hen Lake about 10 miles east of Siren Wis. We hardly ever fished the lake but had to go to the other lakes to fish dumb it was but that's what we did. We were in Burnett county known as the fish bowl of Wis, with 3000 lakes. We went to Grantsburg the county seat to vote for or against building a swimming pool at the High school. Voted no and what the heck with 3000 lakes do we need a swimming pool. Opened up another Grain Belt and went fishing Hope this gives you a chuckle; Ralph

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