Good morning all:

Weekly Wisdom from deep within the north woods:

“An American tourister once told me that; “a new technology tends to go through a 25-year adoption cycle”. Not really sure what he meant, except I think ice huts and ice-jigs have been ‘adopted’ for much longer.”—from our north woods everyman we’ll call Claire

Yesterday I finished up installing the rain-gutter on the back of the cabin. This is over the back section which now has the “French Drain.” Finishing the last section I noted that years ago installers had missed placing roof screws along the edge of the metal roof. This formed a perfect small gap between the steel roof and the wooden roofing it rests on; the resultant gap showed bat activity.

I draped some mesh screening and taped it down on the roof side. In theory, this will allow a one-way exit for any bats. As soon as it gets light I’ll see if there are any p.o.ed bats flying about looking for a new place to bed down. Later this morning that portion of the roof will get screwed down—guaranteed.

The good news is that it does appear that bats have started using the bat house we hung two years ago. Now best enjoy some coffee before I traipse all around the place on a bat patrol.

Activity time – Aside from several of the gang going nuts trying to assemble a 1000-piece jig-saw puzzle of a photograph showing only hundreds upon hundreds of Jelly Beans, we’re having a great time doing ‘stuff.’ So far they haven’t sucked me into participating.

Much more interesting has been the towing of two Kayaks and a Canoe across the top of the lake behind the pontoon, anchoring, and then paddling through the cut-through and into Little Pickerel Lake. Sounds easy, but try paddling a zigzag course through reeds and water lilies and across three Beaver dams. Actually it was wonderful.

How about last Monday when we went to spend time at the Little Rapids Community Festival. Aside from listening to old-timey bluegrass (really old timey) music Marin got to watch a Blacksmith make a pair of metal tongs from scratch—very cool stuff indeed.

The whole gang walked down a nearby abandoned access road to then end up at a deserted old Copper mine. After a bunch of exploring I showed them a couple of mounds of rocks pulled from the mine. Once there no one wanted to leave. Eventually, carrying two backpacks of prized rocks, we hiked out only to spend a couple of hours admiring our finds. You might not believe it, but rock collecting is very, very addictive.

Yesterday, while I was hanging gutters, the rest drove a half hour north of us to an area destroyed by a forest fire four or five years ago. As nature comes roaring back, one of the early plants filling the void are Blueberries. Armed with Bear Spray – they too love blueberries – everyone picked for an hour and a half. Eighteen cups of wild Blueberries have been picked clean, packed, and stored in the refrigerator—bring on the pancakes or yogurt.

I had never played Yahtzee before. Now I not only play Yahtzee, but also Apples-to-Apples. Every evening is game night, often time along with a campfire. Once even with smores!

Actually there are two activities which shot up the popularity ladder. First, it’s a daily ride on the ATV with Marin and Dinah to check the mailbox. Bloo-the-dog can’t stand the sound of the machine and races the loaded ATV up the drive, much to squeals of laughter from the two kids.

But, best of all, was little Dinah catching a nearly two pound Bass on her $4.99 toy rod and reel (a retirement gag gift I got three years ago). Try to beat that for coolness if you can.

Animal Planet – Under the how to get a kid interested and extremely happy; allow him the responsibility of setting up a tripod with a camera, focus the zoom lens on the Hummingbird feeder, and then to wait. Eventually take the time to let him explain each of the resultant photographs of the little bird alighting and feeding. Wonderful stuff indeed.

Last evening Cathy and Jason took the old Folbot Kayak for a ride. Immediately across the cove from the cabin sits a tall pine tree which looks like an extremely tall Christmas tree. On the very top of the tree, normally reserved for a little angel were it really a Christmas tree, sat a majestic Bald Eagle. They stopped and watched it for a while and eventually returned to the cabin. Once told, everyone had a long look through the binoculars. Interesting is that while having my coffee yesterday morning I noted a Great Blue Heron flying to the top of that very tree—maybe it’s a “king-of-the-mountain” thing.

Closing – Run, swim, bike a great race doing the New York Marathon Vince. Hopefully you won’t freeze trying to adjust from the 100+ degree Austin temperatures.

For those who believe that their kids are the only ones who ever have a melt down. Even as I am finishing writing this post there is a very cute little four year old demonstrating how to embark on a proper melt down—complete with adenoids hanging in front of the chin screams. Trouble is, no one, other than her, can figure out a reason for this event. Ah, the mysteries of childhood.

Oh, the melt down is over; ending as quickly as it started. Peace and calm has returned to the north woods.

Make it a great week everyone.

Cheers,
Dirk