Happy Sunday morning all:

“I like men with their heads on their shoulders. I hate necks” ~ our north woods everyman we’ll call Claire

It started by drawing a Red Line. I began writing and almost without realizing I had placed a Red Line underneath my beginning efforts. Let me elaborate. Two evening’s ago I was fully prepared to move forward and, at dawn, produce a shockingly clever Saturday morning blog. Later that evening I, and my camp director, took a walk through the South Garden (commonly known as Marcia’s veggie garden). Based on some transfigural thinking which took place in that garden I, as the Generator-in-Chief of these Dirk’s Ramblings, made a second decision. I did this alone, even without my best-bud sidekick, my everpresent harlequin, Bidly, and his little wooden tomahawk.

In the first place I have asked all the members of my informal council here at the lake to gather around some time after I finish going on a quad ride. Though surprised by my request, these lakeside boaters assured me they that they’ll provide me with their combined insights. Based on this input I feel comfortable going forward with production of Dirk’s Ramblings. And, after careful deliberation I have decided to produce the blog for a possible Sunday posting; possibly Sunday or maybe Monday, or even Thursday.

Let me be perfectly clear, this will not be an ongoing Sunday production; in other words there will not be any, so as to speak, “waders in the water,” demanding continuing large scale Sunday fabrication. This will be a short and quick one time production.

In preparation I have positioned the Sweetwater (a Pontoon class vessel) and the nimble Sea Nymph (a John-boat class ship) immediately offshore from Northern Comfort. These ships are at the ready as is my French heritage friend, Claire, a persons of great insight the latter confirmed by a senior lake resident, Curry, (who, as an aside, is the one person on the lake to use enormous amounts of Ketchup on his fried fish—a big no no in a country that demands that vinegar is the condiment of choice).

I must make a plan, I must make a plan, I must ma………. ZZZZZZzzzzzzz.

Are you ready? I will be once I have savored a bit more coffee.

It’s excellence in eating – all this past week. Now that Labor Day weekend is upon us it’s not too early to strategize how best to close Northern Comfort for the season. One of these is a constant review of our remaining victuals.

Marcia has discovered that constantly studying a wide array of cook books aids greatly in the exploration of new and exciting ways to use up our remaining foodstuffs. Saturday evening she hit a home run. A home run assisted by the very first of our homegrown Heirloom tomatoes.

The tomatoes were cut in half, hollowed out and lined with some Parmesan cheese, an egg was placed on the cheese, some chopped fresh Basil was added. All was baked and served on a whole wheat English muffin. Fabulous.

I can’t wait as the weeks progress.

In spurts – is how the necessary projects seem to get done. Friday it was nada, yesterday it seemed like non-stop. Earlier in the week it became a major learning event as I helped install two large roll doors on Paul’s boathouse.

Since these several hundred pound steel doors had to be placed in openings located over water the logistics for doing this were both planned and in-the-moment fabrications. Lots of sweat, cramped muscles, and an immense feeling of accomplishment ruled these days.

Animal planet – It’s not even that slow a process, the trees have begun to turn. Early Maples have started to turn a dark red and, in across the cove, bright greens are beginning to turn a greenish yellow. Soon, very soon, and glorious fall colors will dominate.

Working on the pontoon I happened to look up only to see a Bald Eagle soar overhead in large swooping circles. I called out to Marcia and together we watched this magnificent bird for at least five minutes before it disappeared to the north. Not once during this whole time did we see its wings take a single stroke. My oh my, what a sight.

Yesterday Marcia, Dia and I took ‘Our Duck’ to the Amish Farmers Market at the nearby round barn – a little over twenty miles away. By the time we finished gathering our veggies the air had warmed up enough to take down the top for the drive home. We were like three highschool kids on a weekend drive, waving at people, laughing, and hair blowing all over the place. Now, isn’t that a perfect way to stay young?

Fini –A Happy Birthday to a healthy Willem who was born to nephew Nick and Stephanie only yesterday. Mid week it’s a Happy Birthday to bro George who is now more than one day old. Make it a great week everyone.

Cheers.

Dirk

From the Archives
Saturday, September 05, 2009

From the North Woods, Good morning all:
Wisdom Of The Week:
“I am an optimist. It does not seem too much use being anything else.” — Winston Churchill

This morning I am sharing my first mug with a new-found North Woods friend—Ibu Profen. Twenty or so trips crawling under the cabin had Marcia introduce me to little Ibu. The building and re-building of the piers the place sits on is now well under way. Or so I think. I’ll bring my brothers-in-law over for an expert opinion.

I’d have Marcia give the ‘expert’ critique, but I question her true motive. I am slowly convincing myself that her, “uh-huh, it’s just fine” comments are made just so that she can go back to counting stitches for a new Afghan she is knitting—her third since we got here.

The trees have begun to turn so the winter-to-do preparation folder is out of case. This week it’ll be the start and finish for placing the place in winter hibernation; our second attempt to do it right. Already I have the list committed to memory; docks pulled onto dry land, pontoon trailered and the lower half of the engine drained and repacked; gas stabilizer in all left over gas, water off and lines drained, all outside furniture and stuff stored inside, and shutters on, and etc, etc.

I do want to get at least one more good kayak run in. Earlier this week Marcia and I had a nice long (14 miles) ATV ride. We ended up at a smallish creek draining nearby Pudding Stone Lake. And indeed she found a nice – 25 pound – Pudding Stone which we took back to the cabin. The stone will spend the winter outdoors.

At some point we asked each other if we’d brought anything to ward off Bears since we spotted fresh skat and bear activity all over the place. Especially so since we didn’t see another soul on the whole run and knew of bears having been seen immediately across the cove from us. As Shakespeare once said; “all’s well that ends well.”

I love the way that in Nature everything has a purpose. Marcia and I had been noticing a flock of Red Breasted Merganser ducks that paddle on by on a daily basis. Sometimes they’d just cruise slowly and at other times almost as if running on the water. Curiosity got the better of me and I did some reading. It appears that this is a hunting technique. Mergansers are fish eaters and they will hunt in groups, driving their prey into the shallower shore area by quickly forming an arc or a line and then paddling furiously and flapping their wings.

Then there are people—specifically politicians. Spending an extended period of time in Canada also means that one becomes aware that politically they are as screwed up as we are. Within the last month the top tier of Canada’s eHealth program – hired specifically to clean this group up – were all fired. This week it was the top strata of the Ontario Lottery Commission which all got canned; they apparently lived “high off the hog” on the people’s tax money. You guessed it; they too were brought in to “clean up” that agency.

Maybe they should have all formed a line and just raced about Queen Street in downtown Toronto flapping their arms as a more productive way to spend time and money.

Make it a great week everyone. Wishing a very Happy Birthday to my uncle Joop; who only yesterday celebrated becoming a very young 94. May you enjoy life as much this year as you did this past year. Next week Saturday I will be overly busy and my weekly post might not appear till Monday—my apologies.

Cheers,

Dirk

9/05/2009 08:31:00 AM