This entry was posted on Saturday, August 27th, 2011 at 9:49 am and is filed under Family & Friends. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.
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Good morning all:
Weekly wisdom from deep within the north woods:
“I’ve read that after a storm comes a calm; of course if all the forest’s trees were blown down, then, calm ain’t much of an improvement.”—from our north woods everyman we’ll call Claire
It’s early and the coffee was not yet perking, while the wind could be heard moaning through the surrounding trees I was softly humming “Goodnight Irene” (softly since Marcia was still asleep).
Early morning here in the north woods allows us to pick up clear-channel AM radio from most anywhere east of the Mississippi. Hence, I know that Hurricane Irene means the end of the world as we know it will come to the east coast; even cancelling one marvelous vacation. Then I heard that Irene, though in a downgraded state, will still mean Armageddon for those poor New Englanders—for the weather weenies have told me so. Goodnight Irene Good Night, as I sip my morning coffee—this morning made with water fresh from a local artesian well. Yum.
Fun times – Bat days are behind us. Our little cabin is protected. The securely placed “bat hotel” high on its post is still sparsely populated, but early evening and morning I can see them flapping about on their beginning and final insect sweeps—so they must be nesting somewhere nearby. Just not in our place. Excellent!
It was therefore a good time for some celebratory play time. Thus, Marlene, Donn, Marcia and I took a long bush ride on the ATVs to a small lake not accessible by any other route—Puddingstone Lake. Through woods, fields, creeks (several), bogs, and mud-holes we went. About nine miles one way. To then reach a beautiful view of a gorgeous little lake and its single hunting cabin.
Marcia now says she’s done riding to this place—for ever. Not certain it was that one occasion she thought I’d flip the machine with her on the back. Or if it was the four-hours of pounding her bones received. She says she is serious though.
Drainage part deux – Weeks ago the French Drain was built along the east side of the cabin (working beautifully I might add). This week the work started on the west and north sides. Planning went well as much sitting, staring, and ‘deep-in-thought’ posing took place. Yesterday the first real shovel loads of dirt were struck.
Initially it was a 10” wide trench to the lake that was laid out. Then the grass sod was taken off and saved. Finally it was time to dig.
Barely begun when Marcia called out there was a rock that I needed to remove. About an eight inch bit of stone was visible; then, more rock and more rock as I tried to shovel around the thing; two feet of rock and still no end in sight. Off to Bob-the-forester for his pickax. Half an hour later I was back at it with a freshly duct-taped handle. Ten to fifteen whacks later I began to note that I had embarked on an exercise of sheer futility.
Neighbor Bulent stopped by to give some martini induced insights (it wasn’t really very useful stuff). It was not till Bob-the-forester came over with five and six foot breaker bars that some movement in that stone was detected. The old logging chain then became invaluable and was used to haul the beast out and over the trench, along with the hitch on a 4X4 pickup truck in low drive acting as a come-along.
The resultant – never to be moved again – rock (guestimated to be in the range of 400 pounds) is now part of the seating venue in our front yard.
More drainage efforts scheduled for the near future.
Animal Planet – Paul is driving folk on the south end of the lake nuts with a newly installed “Birds of the Universe” app for his iPhone. Not only does it have cute little pictures and a paragraph or two; but is has their actual screeches and cries. These are heard with almost concert amplification; to the point where he can sit on his deck and bring in a flock of Ravens or most of the area’s Loons to his locale.
It was a difficult decision and everyone on the north end of the lake was polled. The bottom line being that a resident Porcupine needed to be shot – eating of cabin exteriors and danger to pet dogs proved his undoing. The 30+ inch adult can be quite imposing.
Little went to waste of that little rodent. With about 20,000 quills of differing sizes to choose from, Marcia harvested a box full and is doing pro-jects (Canadian pronunciation). A communal porcupine stew was served – actually quite good. Then life returned to normal.
This week fishing was horrible for most everyone on the lake – other than Bob-the-fisherman that is. All it took was a 45 minute outing, a tiny fishing skiff powered by a 30-year old 1½ HP motor (found at a yard sale on his way up to the cabin) and four Northern Pike ranging from 18” to 24” were brought aboard and ready for preparation.
The resultant fish fry for everyone at our end of the lake is for the memory books.
Oh, yes. On the trail to Puddingstone Lake a mama bear and two small cubs crossed about 100’ in front of us. It was surprising just how small the cubs still were.
Closing – Happy birthday Vaioleti! Hard to imagine seeing her now versus the itsy-bitsy little bit of humanity that spent three months in the neonatal ICU of Good Samaritan hospital. That group of caregivers and that facility is truly among the best in the world.
Last night eight of us had dinner and then went the see Tyler Marshall and Friends from Sault Ste. Marie play Bluegrass at the Auld Kirk arts center in Thessalon. Its amazing just how talented two kids, both sixteenish and in their mid-highschool years, are. Wonderful banjo and mandolin playing. Wonderful evening.
Safe travels home to Bulent, Barb, Bob-the-Forester and lady B as the north end of the lake, once again, becomes a serenely quiet place.
Make it a great week everyone.
Cheers,
Dirk
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