tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-193938832024-03-07T12:32:56.280-06:00Gunflint Lodgelocated on the Gunflint Trail, Grand Marais, MinnesotaSue Kerfoothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03292173685567749906noreply@blogger.comBlogger491125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19393883.post-49487539893924297322016-09-13T13:16:00.000-05:002016-09-13T13:16:14.941-05:00Welcoming John and Mindy
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">It is the end of another season at Gunflint.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The leaves are quickly turning and fall is
here.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is also the end of our time
at Gunflint Lodge.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As many of you know,
we decided to sell the resort several years ago.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is something that is easier said than done.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">First we had to emotionally get over the fact that our life
was moving on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then finding the buyers
was a project.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We searched to find a
buyer who would feel as we do about the lodge.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>John and Mindy Fredrikson have really fulfilled our hopes.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">This couple were raised in the Midwest and then moved out
east as Mindy worked as a lawyer for Delta Airlines.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They came with their son Jack to be active
owners of the lodge.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Bruce and I were pleased
to sell to a family rather an investment group.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>This is turning out to be a wise move.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>They are moving in to truly make Gunflint their home.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Bruce spent about two months working with them about the
operations at the lodge.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think you
will find that much as remained the same.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>As they worked planning packages for the next season, Bruce found that
already John and Mindy had ideas to contribute.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>They will, of course, make changes but we did too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We all knew that Bruce was never against
making good changes so he was happy to see new ideas coming from them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After all, we didn’t have a monopoly of how
to run good resorts.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The managers have pretty much stayed the same so you will
see familiar faces as you visit us again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Bruce and I are not here but we still live in the area about five miles
from the lodge.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In fact we hope that
many of you will visit us at our home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Just a phone call will let you know we are there and it will also give me
a <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>minute to pick up the house.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Personally this change has been a great relief for Bruce and
me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You always hope to sell to people
who share your goals and we feel that John and Mindy do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It has also enabled us to do more of the
activities that you all come up here to do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We have done more fishing and eaten more fresh walleye than in years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It has also freed us up to travel a little
bit more and know that the lodge has successfully passed into new owners hands.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">As usual, we hope that you will visit Gunflint soon.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It will always be a special place in our
hearts with very special guests who spend time with us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>John and Mindy seem to already find that it
is a special place on the Gunflint Trail. </span></div>
Sue Kerfoothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03292173685567749906noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19393883.post-2595739706656207082016-04-25T11:09:00.003-05:002016-04-25T11:09:56.630-05:00Open Water Seaason
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Bruce just called home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We are now into open water season!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Traditionally we follow the stages noticed by our long time mailman Don
Brazell in the 1950’s and 60’s.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Don
drove the Trail delivering mail for many years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>He noticed that if the North Brule River was flowing freely on a given
day then one week later the smaller lakes went out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In another week the larger lakes like
Gunflint went out.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">According to that plan, the ice should have gone out on
Gunflint around the first of May.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Yesterday the ice on Gunflint Lake was really black but there was no
wind to blow the ice out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This morning
we had a strong east wind storm.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Rain
was coming down steadily and the temperature was sitting right around 30
degrees.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">It’s almost 11:00 a.m. now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It’s still raining and the east wind is strong.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ice is starting to accumulate on the branches
of trees.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Usually it takes a northwest
wind to move the ice out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Well
everything is different this year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That
east wind just blew the ice out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Bruce
said it just flew out in a matter of hours.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">So start planning your fishing trip cause the ice is
gone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The walleye season opens in
Minnesota on May 14<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">th</span></sup>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I can
already taste those fish frying in our frying pan.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Lake Trout will also be open in Minnesota.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We like to grill trout fillets.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is nothing better than freshly caught
fish for dinner.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Of course, there are many other signs of spring around.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My bird feeders are emptied as soon as I fill
them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Spring birds are back like
red-wing black birds, ravens, crows, purple finches, etc.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Everyone is hungry.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Also the last couple of days I have walked to the Trail (2
miles round trip), I have heard partridge drumming their mating song.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They have been on the road.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The other night Bruce and I drove home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There was a partridge right in front of us on
the Tucker Lake Road.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He fly off but not
very far.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We backed up a couple of feet
and there was the partridge on a branch looking in our car window!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Ducks are also around.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Many of them keep going north but the mallards are here to raise their
broods.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>By the beginning of June we will
have lots of little ones on the beach at the lodge.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">When I was in town on Thursday, there was a loon in the bay
at Grand Marais.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I imagine that loon will
be flying up here pretty soon.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is
nothing nicer than to lie in bed at night and hear the loons calling.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is when I know we are really at home.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">So you can go to bed tonight and imagine the waves splashing
up on the shore of Gunflint Lake.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s a
bonus that those of who live on a lake get every spring.</span></div>
Sue Kerfoothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03292173685567749906noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19393883.post-85162489918045178222016-03-26T16:16:00.003-05:002016-03-26T16:16:15.369-05:00Snow Again
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Last week’s
snow has almost melted.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was able to
walk the Tucker Lake road for about 1 mile without getting mud all over.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All that changed last night.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We got abou2 inches of snow and it is still
coming down.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Tomorrow we have a chance
of rain/snow and then sunshine.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is
just that time of year when the weather changes every day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All we really want is sunshine and melting
temperatures.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Once Easter week is over,
there are very few guests so we don’t have to worry about snow conditions.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The purple
finches are still around.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The snow must
have covered up all their feed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That
leaves my feeders as their source.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We
are going through sunflower seeds like there ie no tomorrow.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They are also squawking at each other
constantly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Luckily it is cold enough that
the windows are closed so I don’t hear them all the time.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Tomorrow is
Easter and we are having a small buffet at the lodge.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am going down in the morning to make
deviled eggs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We (I) must have them for
the buffet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The only question is whether
I can make them in a large quantity any more.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It will come back to me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After
all the years we had deviled eggs on smorgasbords, it is amazing that the
recipe isn’t on the tip of my tongue.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I just came
back from managers’ lunch at the lodge.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The Tucker Lake side road was covered with a wet, slippery snow.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I at one point it upped my speed just a bit
and felt the back tires slide over.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>By
the time I got to the main Gunflint Trail, it was wet and free of all ice and
snow.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Coming back the Tucker Lake Road
was starting to melt as the temperature was up above the freezing point.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This all just the temperature changes that
makes driving so much fun at this time of year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Luckily it only last for a short time in the spring.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Bruce is out
in the workshop with a “project.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He got
some containers that fit onto a rack on the wall.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Into them he is emptying all his cans of different
types of nails and screws.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The idea is
that once he has the time, he will have all his tools, nails, screws etc.
organized for projects.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">One of the
first projects is new (pretty) trellises for my garden.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We need them for the green beans this
summer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We eat beans for about 6 weeks
when they are at the peak of freshness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">In fact I am
starting to plan the garden out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
first thing to get in is spinach.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It
will grow up quickly and I may even get a second crop in.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With new snow on the ground, it all sounds
pretty good.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hopefully this is our last
snowfall and it will melt quickly.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
Sue Kerfoothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03292173685567749906noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19393883.post-41738204016772326112016-03-18T09:24:00.000-05:002016-03-18T09:24:01.910-05:00Spring Activities
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Bruce, April
(front desk) and I spent a long last weekend in Minneapolis at the gift
show.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hopefully we bought enough
enticing things to tempt you to make a purchase or two.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was two days of looking and two days of
buying.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t even want to try to
total how much we spent.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It adds up
quickly.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The trip had
fun highlights too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On Saturday night we
went out to dinner with Grant and Mae who graciously brought along their
parents.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We all laughed at the chef who
cooked on a hot plate right in front of all 8 of us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When the oil got hot and sprang into flames,
the kids could feel the heat from the flames.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It was so much better than having to sit still while waiting for dinner
to come.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Another
highlight for Bruce and I was Penzey’s Spice store on Grand Avenue in St.
Paul.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had made a list but it was
really long because we had not been there for a long time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then I left the list at home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So we had to walk through everything.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It all fit into a little basket but the price
wasn’t little.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We will use every grain
of the spices.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">There was
one place that was recommended to us and we didn’t get there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In St. Paul on University & Hennepin is
Surdyks. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is a wine and cheese store.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am told that they specialize in the stinkiest
cheese there is.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I looked them up on the
internet and they are on my list for the next trip.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">We got home
on Monday to snow banks that had shrunk to nothing while we were gone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The side road from the Gunflint Trail into
our house was down to gravel and dry.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It
was really nice and we both felt that spring was coming.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Little did we know that by Thursday morning
we would have 13 inches of new snow.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
had an early appointment in town but could not go because the mile out to the
main trail was not plowed until the middle of the morning.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Bruce could not get out either so he cleaned
the snow up in our yard.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The banks there
are up to five feet now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It would be
really pretty if this was November.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Of course,
the birds are really starting to come with all the snow.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All day I seem to have a great number of
purple finches attacking the bird feeders.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>When I am done with this, it will be time to go fill all the feeders.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Also we
appear to have one pregnant pine martin.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I have not seen her but that is Bruce’s opinion.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Between birds and pine martins we seem to be
feeding the whole neighborhood.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
Sue Kerfoothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03292173685567749906noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19393883.post-12944086032713068972016-03-09T14:06:00.003-06:002016-03-09T14:06:54.924-06:00Longer Days and Sloppy Snow
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">March blew
in yesterday.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The morning gave us a
thunderstorm and rain.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>By afternoon the
main Trail was free of snow and ice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Driving
home during the afternoon and evening was nasty because of the fog.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Both Bruce and I did it at different times.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It wasn’t fun for either of us.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The good
part of the day was that we still had two feet of snow in the woods.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some colder weather is coming and our guests
will be out skiing again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And of course,
we are all remembering Marches in the past.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Those were the years when the snow was really going and it was almost
gone except we got a storm that dumped two feet of new snow on us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No matter happens, we will enjoy the fact
that within several weeks real spring will be here.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Besides snow
or rain or whatever, March is also bringing us longer days.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The extra hours of daylight are a true
blessing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t even mind have a hour’s
less sleep as we spring forward into daylight’s savings time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our longer days will just keep moving onward
until the 21<sup>st</sup> of June when we start going the other way.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Bruce and I
and April (from the front desk) leave tomorrow for the annual gift shop buying
show.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>April has done all the hard
work.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She has inventoried, read catalogs
and made her lists.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The gift shop at the
lodge without the clothing doesn’t seem very big.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The three of us, however, will spend a day
and a half just looking at the various show rooms.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then we will spend an equal amount of time
buying from various venders.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you have
ever been on a business trip for Bruce, we will spend every minute working.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The best
part of the trip will be Saturday night.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>That is the night we go out to dinner with Lee, Eva, Grant and Mae.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I love to see my children and their spouses
but, like all grandmothers, it is the grandchildren who are always to stars of
the show.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is so hard to realize how
much they know and grow.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I thought
about this just the other night.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Like
many of you I am getting the family organized through Ancestry and their Family
Tree Maker.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Pictures are very meaningful.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I just saw two pictures that really hit
home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Each picture had one of my
grandmothers holding me the day I was baptized.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It’s hard to see me in that little baby.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>And have I lived up to all the hopes that those two women had for me?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">It is
getting a little colder outside.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My
thermometer reads 30 degrees.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The rain
yesterday and the colder weather today have pretty well cleaned the snow off
the roofs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Tucker Lake Road from the
Gunflint Trail to our house is just a mess off slush and soft snow.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Somebody hit the snow bank very hard.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Bruce asked if I did it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Luckily I had not come close to the
bank.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is a matter of knowing when to
drive very very slowly in the sloppy snow. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
Sue Kerfoothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03292173685567749906noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19393883.post-57020092868907986102016-03-05T14:31:00.000-06:002016-03-05T14:31:55.735-06:00The Season of Change Starts<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">March is
here and it seems that all the weather has changed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The sun is in a different position regarding
my living room window.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It can be -22
when I get up at 6:00 a.m.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>By late
morning the temperature is now in the teens.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The snow on the roof is melting steadily.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Snow on the ground is melting until about
4:00.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then it gets that granular quality
as it starts to freeze again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Soon it
will be covered by an inch of new snow.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">It’s hard to
believe that all of this can happen in just a day but it does.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The change will occur for several days in a
row.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then we will have just
melting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The snow shrinks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The ice starts to turn gray.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now it is time for serious melting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The warm weather of late March feels like
summer temperatures.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When these same
temperatures hit us in May, it feels like winter is back.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is why these months are unpredictable and
always changing.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Meanwhile my
thoughts are turning to planting the garden.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Can I grow just 3 cabbages?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That
is really all we can eat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And which kind
of tomatoes should I try this year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My
goal is to just get a reasonable bunch of delicious, home-grown tomatoes with
that vine-ripened flavor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Green beans
seem to be solved.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Blue Lake have worked
really well that last two years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Oh but
let’s not forget about beets.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Also Yukon
Gold potatoes do really well here too (baked ones are for dinner tonight).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yellow onions were great.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We ate every one.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is plenty of time to day dream about
the garden. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I usually don’t plant until
June 1<sup>st</sup> so everything is protected from a late frost.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Back to what
is outside my window today –pine martins are here almost every day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think there are about 3-4 living around our
house.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even with their distinctive
markings I still can’t really decide how many are around.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One thing is for sure -- they love sunflower
seeds.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They also love any bones or
scraps from the dining room table.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Two days ago
there was an otter hanging around.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Between our house and the lake is a small valley and then a little
ridge.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You can’t see the lake but it is
just on the other side of the ridge.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
was upstairs and spotted the otter on the little ridge.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They really are beautiful and graceful animals.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">There has
also been a few rabbit tracks in the snow.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Those we can do without.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Two years
ago we started some green beans in the house.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I planted them in the garden and we left for two days for our granddaughter’s
high school graduation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When we came
home, a rabbit had eaten every leaf off the plants.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Birds have also
started to come home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Right now the
purple finches are all over.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Soon we
will have lots of colorful birds.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
spring is when there seems to be a great variety of birds just flying all over.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There will be new ones to spot every week.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">So we are in
the season of change.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m ready for it.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
Sue Kerfoothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03292173685567749906noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19393883.post-54666481376232973612016-02-25T15:46:00.003-06:002016-02-25T15:46:58.353-06:00A Quick Story of Winter<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp-mrg1ep8n80lJXBJqehTSeRxSpG41HtL8wXhN4Y7nlinyTxlC949_vGzudFULk3Yb7mE6XL2HrtYDQSImA5RtpYXnaH-o8g74ee656_CUfZkp3krwElOynGWzSApFt7DFT0z/s1600/1fresh+snow+mid-feb+070-001.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp-mrg1ep8n80lJXBJqehTSeRxSpG41HtL8wXhN4Y7nlinyTxlC949_vGzudFULk3Yb7mE6XL2HrtYDQSImA5RtpYXnaH-o8g74ee656_CUfZkp3krwElOynGWzSApFt7DFT0z/s640/1fresh+snow+mid-feb+070-001.jpg" width="640" /></a>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Many of you
know that Gunflint Lodge is for sale.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Just to keep the record straight, we have not sold.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If a sale is finished, we’ll let you know.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">It’s almost
March and I don’t know where January and February have gone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It has been a strange winter so far.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Gunflint Lake did not freeze until January 4<sup>th</sup>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even now we do not have a lot of good
ice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What we do have is slush!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The east end of Gunflint seems to be hit the
worst but you can find slush almost anywhere on the lake.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Most of the lakes are in the same shape.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">We have had
a fair amount of snow.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The side roads
are very narrow.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No one is driving them
very fast just in case another car is coming at you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Also as things warm up, the roads are very
slippery.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is another good reason to
go slowly.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Moose seem
to be coming back.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Above is one of Sheryl’s
pictures from just a week or so ago.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Momma seems awfully heavy with one (or maybe two) new moose waiting to
pop out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We have a bunch of moose around
the Seagull-Sag area.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is also a
big buck moose near the “Octagon” house on Loon Lake.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Around Birch Lake and the Laurentian Divide,
moose have also been reported.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You and
your vehicle are never going to win by hitting a moose so slow down.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The deer
population on Gunflint is very sparse.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We
always have ups and downs in deer depending on how many wolves are in the
area.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For the past couple of years we
have had 2 wolf packs on the lake.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now
that the deer are down, the wolves with start to look someplace else for
dinner.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In a couple of years the deer
population will recover and the wolves will move back in.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Bruce and I
spent a good portion of January and February on vacation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This year we picked the island of Faisel which
is one the islands that make up the Azores Islands of Portugal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We rented an apartment for three weeks and
explored the entire island.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The first
two weeks were walking all over the main town of Horta.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The last week we had a car and drove all
over.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Here is a little of what we
learned.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">In 1957 they
had a volcano that started out to see and worked its way in for 15 months.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The lava flow eventually covered and
destroyed the main fishing villages for whalers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We spent<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>quite a lot of time going through the underground museum that was built
to tell the story of the volcano.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Eventually the island lost 35 % of its population who moved out as a
result of the volcano.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Up on the
highest peak of the island was also the remains from a volcano thousands of
years ago.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The town had built a hiking
trail around the rim which was about 3 ½ miles long.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Bruce tried to walk part of the rim one
foggy, windy, muddy afternoon.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The wind
was so strong he was almost blown off the rim even though he was using walking
sticks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The next day we came back to
beautiful blue sky.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He walked up about
1000 feet to some communications towers we had not been able to see the day
before.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At the base of the towers was a
gravel road to them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We drove up on this
little road to look down into the hole.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">During World
War II this island was a stopover for planes being ferried from the U.S.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was also a main stopping point when the
first trans-Atlantic cable was laid.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Most of our
time in Horta was spent learning the rhythms of the people who lived in town. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We both like to watch what is going on around
us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There was also plenty of time to
pick a restaurant for dinner, play three games of cribbage daily and sleep late
in the morning.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">As much as we
enjoyed the trip, it’s good to be home.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
Sue Kerfoothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03292173685567749906noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19393883.post-23648258708995728342015-12-16T15:09:00.001-06:002015-12-16T15:09:31.475-06:00Getting Ready for Christmas
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Sheryl took
this picture after lunch the other day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It is one of the Christmas trees we have lining the front patio.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Look carefully and you will see that the lake
has no ice on it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are wondering if
the lake will freeze before the first of the year.</span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn9pRs2qZ-xjbO28tbEYoTMdt9Ywy-ojXSks1pp6KDcf8jYUFMJPICvM_nqRZFRpWFxC-h2ZefNoKUpxvYquY8JBJnbVfeUdaOaLWNfgX2kUdeUZ3Npp_dEXz2SLfb9SYJwkvj/s1600/1sunday+snow+ice+rain+001-001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn9pRs2qZ-xjbO28tbEYoTMdt9Ywy-ojXSks1pp6KDcf8jYUFMJPICvM_nqRZFRpWFxC-h2ZefNoKUpxvYquY8JBJnbVfeUdaOaLWNfgX2kUdeUZ3Npp_dEXz2SLfb9SYJwkvj/s640/1sunday+snow+ice+rain+001-001.jpg" width="346" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></span> </div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Today is our
day for snow.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is coming down fast and
thick.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The tracks from Bruce’s truck as
he went to the lodge are all covered over.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I think I will be driving very slowly down for lunch at the lodge.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Well, I made
it home from lunch.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Bruce was right
behind me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He spent an hour or so
plowing the driveway.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I guess the snow
was really heavy but it looks nice now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I shoveled a little around the edges and filled the bird feeders.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We have four good sized feeders and they are
emptied by the birds in 2 or 3 days.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">When I came
back from the lodge the other day, a very unusual sight greet me in the
distance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There was a pack of 3 lynx
going across the road.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I never did get a
really good look at them but I could tell from the way they moved that it was
lynx.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Seeing a group like that is such a
thrill.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The other
night we had our annual Christmas party.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>With only 30 employees at this time of year, it is a small low key event
but we all seem to enjoy it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We supply
the prime rib, shrimp and cheesy potatoes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Actually our main food company, Upper Lakes Foods, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>gives us the meat and shrimp for which we are
truly grateful.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After dinner we all play
a gift exchange game.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">My Christmas
presents are either in the mail or ordered to be sent.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is a great point to be at this time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now I can to start to enjoy this season.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are going to our friend Bev’s for dinner
after Christmas services at church on Christmas Eve.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m bringing a frozen cranberry salad.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We’ll drop it off at her house before going
to church.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Christmas Day
will just be Bruce and I at our house.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>No one on the staff is working.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We
pack up and deliver meals for all the cabins so they can cook their own
meals.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We also plan it so that no cabin
leaves and then has another party check in on Christmas Day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This means we won’t have any cabins to clean
that day.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The week
between Christmas and New Years is one of the busiest for the entire year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Unless the temperatures really drop, the lake
ice will probably not be safe but there are lots of ski trails that will be
open and ready to go.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Also the deer are starting
to come in.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They all remember to eat out
of your hands.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">One more
week before the big day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Get your
projects done and then just relax and be thankful for all we have.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
Sue Kerfoothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03292173685567749906noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19393883.post-43175993655870751452015-12-04T15:27:00.001-06:002015-12-04T15:27:40.464-06:00Christmas Is Coming
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Bruce and I
have just returned from a couple weeks on vacation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We spent a week on a cruise in the islands of
the south.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Most of the time was very
relaxing – sleeping, reading, cribbage, eating, etc.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After a very busy summer, it was good to just
do nothing.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Then we
spent a week going down to Robert and Miranda’s in Missouri for Thanksgiving.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Zach was there too and he seemed to have
grown several inches more.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I expect that
he will be taller than his father eventually. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He wears a size 13 shoe at 15 years of
age.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was a very pleasant visit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Miranda is wonderful about finding places to
visit around Kansas City.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This year we
attended the Leonardo Da Vinci exhibit at Union Station.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Robert is in charge of finding bar-b-que
places for meals and supplies for Bruce’s smoker at home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After watching the weather forecasts, we left
a day early and avoided a lot of snow coming home.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Here is what
came two days after we got home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is
wet, heavy and about 5 inches deep.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This
picture was from the front porch at the Tucker Lake house.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> The lumps in the lawn are the new rock garden that we will plant next spring. </span>Today is two days later and much of this has
melted.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> The hazy is morning fog coming in after the snow. </span>We are having a very mild winter
so far.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is probably the El Nino effect.</span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy17cLgfYDtF40pen_bff0YvL9uaxnDlB5S0zKh5XWAASF0XCRTNxfM27M96srG1jQZ86ciUrUIeUJ4Cww1WM80dqaa6_DQji201zIux9fiBphCJIGZmhN4ZgPalhpF1FMIr0f/s1600/Snow.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy17cLgfYDtF40pen_bff0YvL9uaxnDlB5S0zKh5XWAASF0XCRTNxfM27M96srG1jQZ86ciUrUIeUJ4Cww1WM80dqaa6_DQji201zIux9fiBphCJIGZmhN4ZgPalhpF1FMIr0f/s640/Snow.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></span> </div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I am slowly
getting into the Christmas list.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Things
are ordered.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Christmas cards are waiting
to be written.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The most important thing
is cookies.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I always make a plate of
cookies for each staff person for the annual party.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Today I brought over a bunch of the necessary
ingredients so the project can start tomorrow.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I always try to bake when college and professional football games are
on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You know that anything important
will be repeated several times.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So by
this time tomorrow my kitchen will smell good but be a mess.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">This weekend
is a first Christmas decorating weekend at the lodge.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The maintenance has already started to put up
the outside lights.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With the warmer
weather, this project is much easier than when the wind is screaming in across
the lake.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Most of the guests will spend
their time decorating inside the main lodge.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Over the years we have accumulated many decorations to give holiday
cheer to the main rooms.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>By lunch
everything will start to sparkle.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I filled my
empty bird feeders right after getting home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It always takes a couple of days for the birds to realize we are home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Chickadees, nuthatches, blue jays and gray
jays have already found us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Grosbeaks
take a little longer but they will soon start to eat their way through the sunflower
seeds.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is amazing how much life they
add to the outside of the house.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The final
job right now is to finish buying and shipping presents and the get a tree for
the house.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With just the two of us for
Christmas, we don’t decorate as much as years ago.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It will be just enough to give the house a holiday
feel. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
Sue Kerfoothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03292173685567749906noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19393883.post-68782496297202094822015-09-02T13:54:00.003-05:002015-09-02T13:54:56.162-05:00September is Here
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">September is
here.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After the busiest August ever, we
are all ready to catch our breath.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our
occupancy rate was 92% so there were not a lot of empty cabins during the
month.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>High room counts are both a
blessing and a curse.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The housekeepers
always seemed to have lots of do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Luckily everyone from dock boys to outfitters to gardeners helped
them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Head housekeeper Jesse did a great
job keeping them all organized.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At the
end the money is nice but you wonder if you will live through it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Monday night was one of the first nights
during the month that Bruce and I did not go back to the lodge after dinner.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We just sat.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">As fall
comes everyone is seeing more animals on the trail.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Many of them do not seem to be in their
normal habitat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Dave at the front desk
has seen a lynx as he drives to work for three mornings is a row.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Wife Bonnie says take a picture but Dave says
it is too dark that early in the morning.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Down at the dock we have had a blue heron hanging around the past couple
of days.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Neither Bruce nor I can recall
ever having one here.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They are fun to
watch.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Bruce and I also saw a wolf down
by the South Brule bridge as we drove to Duluth early one morning.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">This is also
the time of year when we finish up some of the summer activities.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As the kids go back to school, Joey’s fishing
fun will end.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Next Sunday is the last barbeque
for the summer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As soon as it gets a
little cooler pizza Tuesdays will stop. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In fact as it cools down, fewer and fewer
people will be eating on the patio.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Outside eating is a blessing for only a couple months of the year in
northern Minnesota.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The standup paddle
boards and small kayaks will get put away as the lake gets colder.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Berry picking is basically over.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We did not have a lot of berries this
summer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I never figure out why but am
grateful for those that we do get to pick.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Speaking of
picking, my garden is exploding.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Green
beans seem to be the big winners this year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The trellises they are growing on are almost ten feet tall.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Blue Lake seems to be the kind that grows
best for me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Also my onions and potatoes
are producing huge crops.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I will be
giving stuff away just to use it all.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It
takes a long time for two people to eat the potatoes from an 8 foot square bed
of them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Lettuce is also hanging
in.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The lodge is using lots and lots of
my parsley.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I made some pesto from the
basil crop.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That will taste good during
the winter.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The other
thing that we are starting to see is the color change.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yellows are appearing in the shoulder
shrubs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The maples are starting to turn
red.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That is not a big deal because we
don’t have a lot of them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Next week the
poplar and birch will start to turn.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Then everything brightens up.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
Sue Kerfoothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03292173685567749906noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19393883.post-37285302234854712182015-08-22T08:13:00.003-05:002015-08-22T08:13:53.121-05:00The Totem Pole
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Schools are
staring and we don’t have as many children here.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our big family are giving way to couples for
the fall season.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Cabins are all full but
not with as many people.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is a little
relaxing to slow down a bit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We all need
the break.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The weather is a little
cooler which also helps.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I thought
you might enjoy the story of our totem pole in the lodge.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is one of those things that Bruce’s
parents picked up to decorate the grounds and then we moved it inside.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So here it is:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">This really
ought to be called the “Wildwood Lodge Totem Pole.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Before most of us were around thee used to be
a resort on the west end of Seagull Lake called Wildwood Lodge.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was started in 1931 by Andy and Sue
Mayo.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They built the resort into a fine
business.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">In December
of 1948, the folks on the Gunflint Trial decided to put out a tabloid called
“Call of the Trail.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was four pages
long and had stories about the various resorts and people living on the
Gunflint trail at the time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The section
devoted to Seagull Lake contained the following article:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Wildwood Lodge is situated down at
the west end of Sea Gull Lake about six miles by water from the Landing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Last year the Mayos had a young man working
for them who had a distinctive artistic frame of mind.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He worked during his spare hours on a full
sized totem pole.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Completed it now is
some twenty feet high, a mass of grotesque figures in brilliant colors and
topped by a large carved bird with outstretched wings.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On each wing is painted a large door
key.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The answer we like.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the midst of our winter, this bird sits up
there on his lofty perch and calls out, “KEY – KEY-KEYRYST IT’S COLD.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">In the early
1950’s Andy and Sue decided that they had had enough of running a resort.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Rather than sell the property they just
stopped doing business.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After continuing
to live at the resort for several more years, the Mayos sold to the Isaak
Walton League in what would later become an expansion of the Boundary Waters
Canoe Area Wilderness.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Since the
Izaak Walton League bought only the land, the Mayos sold the contents and
buildings separately.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Bob and Marge
Cushman bought the main lodge, disassembled it, towed it down the lake and
reassembled it for their main lodge at Sea Island Resort.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Bruce remembers going out to Wildwood by boat
with his parents during the contents sale.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>On a whim, Bill and Justine bought the totem pole.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The Kerfoots
transported the totem pole by boat across Seagull Lake and then down to
Gunflint.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After giving it a fresh coat
of paint, the totem pole was erected between the trading post building and the
parking lot.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Today that would be in the
southwest corner of the parking lot.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A
small flower garden filled with peonies and iris was right in front of it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Until the trading post building was replaced
in 2001, that totem pole was the center post of many pictures taken by guests
and visitors.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">After almost
60 years of life and numerous paintings, our grand old totem pole has been
retired to an easier life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The harsh
winter winds and summer rain are too much for her now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She got a new coat of paint and moved into
the warm climate in the main lodg where we think she still has many years of
life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
Sue Kerfoothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03292173685567749906noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19393883.post-24865376747086550442015-08-08T16:21:00.003-05:002015-08-08T16:21:14.074-05:00Fruits of the Season
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Last night
was a zoo at the lodge.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We served about
160 people.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My job was to fill in as
needed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Eventually I ended up selling a
fishing license.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It turned out that I
had sold this gentleman a license last year and he lived in the town I grew up
in – Arlington Heights, Illinois.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When I
moved there in 1948, the town had a population of 10,000 people.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was surrounded by corn fields.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now all those fields are gone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Arlington Heights is surrounded by towns
named Rolling Meadows, Hoffman Estates, Prospect Heights.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The little two-lane backtopped road (Hwy 53)
we used to drive to my aunt and uncles in Glen Ellen is now limited access with
who knows how many lanes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>O’Hare Airport
was a converted Army field with one small terminal then.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Further out about 25 miles from Arlington
Heights was Barrington, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Illinois, where
Bruce’s mother had been raised just 40 years earlier.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Somehow we all got together at Gunflint
Lodge.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Who would have guessed when my
family moved out from Chicago in 1948?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">My garden is
exploding.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The plants are huge and fruit
and vegetables are almost ready for eating.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Yesterday I picked 8 red raspberries.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Today I picked a cup which we will eat for breakfast tomorrow.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We have had two red tomatoes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If all the green tomatoes ripen, we will have
20 lbs of them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My green peppers are
about 2 inches long.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Eggplant has flowers
on it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Zucchini has yielded two nice ones.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I will be making zucchini bread soon.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My second crop of spinach is also ready to be
picked.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am going to make basil pesto
next week.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Potatoes may even be past the
new potatoes stage and into bakers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Bruce and I will never be able to eat everything so I will give it
away.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I wish you all lived closer so I
could share it with you.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The lakes
have been giving up their harvest too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
have walleyes and lake trout in the freezer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Bruce and I will be feasting on that too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is no sense in letting the fish dry out
in the freezer when we can be eating it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Walleye seems to be perfect fried but we think lake trout is best
grilled.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I may even make some chowder
with the lake trout.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">All of this
food tastes best when we eat on the screened in porch.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Tuesday is the third of my porch potlucks for
the summer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>About 25 of us will gather
to share some great food and great company while a nice breeze blows in through
the screens.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We used to eat outside all
the time at the Florida house.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In
Minnesota this kind of dining is reserved for a few short months.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We try to make the most of it.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Not to put a
damper on this nice tale of summer, but our days are already getting shorter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Full daylight does not come until 7:00
a.m.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>By 9:00 p.m. it is dark
outside.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The leaves on the side of the
road are turning yellow.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We all know
what this means but we will enjoy every day of summer we get.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
Sue Kerfoothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03292173685567749906noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19393883.post-25891506770179537342015-08-01T13:11:00.001-05:002015-08-01T13:11:47.635-05:00Highlights of the Season
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">It is August
today – unbelieveable!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The next four
weeks are going to fly by if for no other reason than we are full of
guests.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Many of them come practically
every year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is like old home week for
them and us.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">July was the
week we had Robert and Lee with their families visiting us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In fact I am washing the sheets from Robert
and Miranda’s visit as I write this.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As
usual, every bed in the house is getting changed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Miranda is always busy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As a result many projects I have overlooked
are now done.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They were also able to
spend time fishing and blueberry picking.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The walleyes and blueberries went home with them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am hoping that they will bring back
memories of Gunflint each time they eat them.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Lee and Eva spent 10 days with their children
reminding us how active young children are.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We did get through almost all their requested activities during the
visit. Othe family members haae been here. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Shawn’s daughter Emma is a waitress
in the dining room.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Brian’s son Sam is a
host with lots of other jobs to fill his time with. Bruce’s sister Pat and her
husband, Jim, spent a few days with us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One of my cousins was here for fishing with
his son and grandson.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was good to see
them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Seeing family during the summer is
a great Minnesota tradition.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Walleyes
and blueberries are also traditions.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">During July
and August, one of the most popular spots around the lodge is the patio
overlooking the dock and swimming area.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Any warm day or evening will find it busy with guests from breakfast
until dark.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Eating or just sitting
outside can only happen a few months out of the year in northern Minnesota so
the patio is a real treat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That is what
Lee and Eva thought when they put it in.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Everyone enjoys just watching the activity around a dock area.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Parents enjoy comfortable chairs to watch
their children play at the beach.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No one
really does much.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They just sit and look
around.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ducks, seagulls and eagles also
add a bit of activity to keep your attention.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">August, of
course, brings summer to a close for us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>With the coming of Labor Day, we will see an end to children.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They will all be back in school.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is amazing how far reaching this change of
guests is.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The dining room will see much
smaller parties.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The volume of cookies
and hot chocolate will significantly go down.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Most high chairs will be put in the back room.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The ducks will gradually take back the beach
area but corn will not be given to the
ducks quite a liberally without children around.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">One of the
things that Bruce and I enjoy the most about our guests at the resort is how
they change.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Summer is families.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Fall is for adults especially those who love
to hike.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even the late fall of October
and November brings people who like their special charms – the first snow fall,
walking through noisy leaves, crisp mornings.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>By December and through March our guests are thinking more about the
winter activities – cross country skiing, snowshoeing, dog sledding, short
days, cabins with fireplaces, etc.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then
in April some melting is evident.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
ice is black and we count the days until open water.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>May’s open water brings fishing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Days that seemed wonderfully warm at 35
degrees in March are frigid in May.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When
summer comes, our guest cycle starts all over again.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
Sue Kerfoothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03292173685567749906noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19393883.post-2616018204871864862015-07-19T16:10:00.002-05:002015-07-19T16:10:46.811-05:00Canoe Races and Family Vacations
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">My garden is starting to produce!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So far I have harvested parsley, chives, 2
kinds of lettuce and broccoli.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
picture is of Bruce standing next to my green beans.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are going to have a lot of them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Next to the beans are tomatoes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I hope to have some ripen but they don’t usually
do too well for me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sometimes I wonder
why I even try growing them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Behind
Bruce is a long bed of raspberries.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They
look really<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>good.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Pretty soon we should start to see little red
berries.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizuybCDCZv09bLtaK-THRfjdQzhbJ-nWXg0aUY4jM7viwtQBMGoZz-oCGViJCt-xB0MePTNPGxhMTTYX6_2MnZYGWVpoGWJfDUvhuTemDn7YRqKZ26FYhuptl_bbdl0SaaHYyT/s1600/Green+Beans.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizuybCDCZv09bLtaK-THRfjdQzhbJ-nWXg0aUY4jM7viwtQBMGoZz-oCGViJCt-xB0MePTNPGxhMTTYX6_2MnZYGWVpoGWJfDUvhuTemDn7YRqKZ26FYhuptl_bbdl0SaaHYyT/s640/Green+Beans.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The lodge and outfitters are really busy now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Families are here with kids and
grandparents.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is great to have them
running busily around the property.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Many
of the families have been with us for years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It is fun to see kids grow up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They
surprise us every year with how much they have grown.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Soon it is time for college and weddings and
grandchildren.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Life is fun.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Last Wednesday was time for the annual canoe races.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They have been held on Gunflint Lake for over
25 years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In addition to the actual
races there are sloppy joes, calico beans, hot dogs, homemade bars, pop chips,
etc in the food tent.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The raffle goes
all night with great stuff to take a chance on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>There is a silent auction and several live auctions. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Bruce and I got a beautiful wooden depth map
of Gunflint Lake.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is the kind of
thing you never could buy in a store.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">My job the last few years has been to sell raffle
tickets.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is one raffle for the
various gift items and then the grand raffle for a Wenonah kayak.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You cannot imagine how busy we were selling
tickets.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There were 3-4 of us working on
it and people seemed to be just throwing money at us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We could hardly keep track of who was getting
what.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The smart ones are the
grandmothers who bring their return address mailing labels.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">When the night is over, it is time to go up and count the
money.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This year we set a new record.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Gunflint Trail Volunteer Fire Department
got about $20,000.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That is not too bad
for just a little event.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Of course it
takes lots of people to put in lots of time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Chris Steele from Seagull Lake headed up the event.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He did a great job.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Pretty soon Bruce and I will go back to the lodge for Sunday
BBQ.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He carves and I stand around
talking.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Don smokes the ribs, salmon,
and chicken over hickory from Missouri.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Tonight
we have just about 150 people in camp.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>There are a few clouds in the sky but it is supposed to be a beautiful
night.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After the guests have eaten, we
will feed the staff.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The BBQ starts on
Memorial Day weekend and ends on Labor Day weekend.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When it is over, I can’t eat ribs again for
several weeks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Restaurants just don’t do
them as well as Don does.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></span></div>
Sue Kerfoothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03292173685567749906noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19393883.post-23710017069083180672015-07-10T10:41:00.000-05:002015-07-10T10:41:37.544-05:00Family Visits
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">What a beautiful few days we have had around here.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Last Sunday night we had a loud, crashing
thunderstorm.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was wonderful!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On Monday through today we have had some
great days.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Lee and Eva and the kids have
been out and about.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some friends of
theirs are here and the two families have been out every day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Probably the only thing we have not gotten
done on the kids’ list is camping.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We
will save that for next year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t
know how Mae and Grant have kept up with the older kids and adults but they
did.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Of course, with everyone so active
we have gone through a ton of food.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It
is a lot more than Bruce and I go through when we are alone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A little extra food is a small price to pay
for having everyone around and having a great time.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">One of our most unusual times was with Tucker, the golden
lab.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He is about ten now and seems to be
a perfectly normal dog.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One of the
people who take care of him when Lee and Eva are gone claimed that Tucker could
sing!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In fact they even sent a video of him
doing it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Last night we decided to test
Tucker out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We all sang Rudolph the Red
Nosed Reindeer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After a few barks,
Tucker started to howl along with us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We
all laughed so hard but he loved it.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Tucker was the star of our dinner last night in another way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We ate outside on the porch because it was
such a good night.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After dinner were
sitting around playing Old Maid.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Suddenly Tucker makes a lunge for the screen door.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He had seen a squirrel on the porch.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After two lunges, he was through the screen
and after the squirrel.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>By then the
squirrel was on his way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We were all in
shock watching Tucker as the squirrel sped away. </span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Today is going to be an outside day of work.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>First the kids and I will fill the bird
feeders.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then we are going to cut the
weeds that have grown up along and through the steps.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The kids particularly like that because it
involves using tools – the clippers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We
need to give a very strong safety talk before starting the work.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then the kids will water the garden while I
weed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All in all it is a fun day of
projects outside.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Isn’t that what summer
is all about?</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">We can tell the families are at the lodge.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yesterday Bruce was sitting on the patio
having a business discussion.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was late
in the afternoon.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The dock area was
filled with people in kayaks and on paddleboards.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Younger kids were playing in the sand.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Adults filled the chairs as they watched the
boaters and younger kids. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was a
perfect end to the day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For those of us
who live here all year around, these are the days we remember in January but
right now it is time to just enjoy them.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
Sue Kerfoothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03292173685567749906noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19393883.post-10503561364904819912015-06-28T10:44:00.000-05:002015-06-28T10:44:08.919-05:00Getting Ready for Summer Visits
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">As Fourth of July approaches, our dock takes on a more
summer appearance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The buoys marking out
the swimming area are now up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Of course
the swimming beach has to share with the flocks our newly hatched mallard
ducks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We must have about 5 different
flocks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The only way to tell them apart
is by their size.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Since there are still
fully grown male mallards around, there must be more flocks waiting to be
hatched.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>By the end of August we will
have about 50-75 ducks around.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They are
so used to eating corn that you can feed them from your hand.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">My garden is also getting bigger.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Although still small, tender lettuce is ready
for harvesting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Parsley is fully grown
and ready for plates in the dining room.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Chives are full of purple flowers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>They also look great on our dining room plates.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We have 2 tomatoes that are about 2 inches in
diameter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There seems to be a good blend
between rain and sunshine for a garden this summer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Keep your fingers crossed that it continues.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">From around the Bearskin Road on up the Gunflint Trail, it
should all be called Lupine Lane.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
lupines are out in full bloom and just marvelous to see.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But don’t forget all the other wild flowers
that line the road.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We have yellow
hawkweed, red hawkweed, white Shasta daisies and yellow buttercups.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It really makes for a lovely roadside as you
drive up the Gunflint Trail.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The past few days the patio tables have been full for
lunches and dinners.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Today we will
entertain the North Shore Healthcare Foundation for their annual fund
raiser.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With 50-60 extra people coming
for the BBQ, it would be nice to have a gorgeous sunshine day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Right now it is raining out so keep your
fingers crossed for a little sunshine later in the day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At about 3:00 Don will consult the weather forecasts
and radar maps to decide if the BBQ will be inside or outside.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Getting caught serving outside when rain
starts to come down can be a difficult adjustment.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Friday Lee and Eva arrive with Grant and Mae.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Things will be a little more lively in the
house for the week they are here.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then
like all grandparents we will spend the next week catching up on our sleep and
getting into our usual routine.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our
friends Ron and Pat Malina will visit with their son James and his family for a
few days next.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The month ends when
Robert, Miranda and Zach and Nick and Sandy spend a week with us.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">During the months of July and August we will be overwhelmed
with old guests at the lodge and with families of all sizes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is always fun to see everyone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Of course, during those two months we go
through more cookies than at any other time of the year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One day alone last year we went through
almost 300 cookies.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I remember watching
a teenage boy stack four cookies and then carefully bite down all four of them
at once.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All the joys of summer! <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
Sue Kerfoothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03292173685567749906noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19393883.post-15130073527834567272015-06-21T11:08:00.001-05:002015-06-21T11:08:15.879-05:00Father's Day
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Happy Father’s
Day to everyone!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Right after a fresh
scone breakfast, Bruce went off to work.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Sunday’s are always busy days for him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>During the summer they end with the BBQ for dinner.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is one of our busiest meals of the
week.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Both he and Don are kept running
starting about 5:30.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">After the
BBQ ends, we feed the staff at it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now
that almost everyone is here, it is really a long line of employees to
feed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This year we seem to have a good
staff which is nice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They are all
digging in and keeping busy as the guests come and go.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">My garden is
coming along well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We have had two meals
of spinach.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The strawberries are
starting to form into individual berries.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I haven’t seen any red one yet but they will be coming soon.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yesterday we got a really nice rain for
several hours.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That will get everything
growing quicker.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Wild strawberries still
have some time to go before we can start picking.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The road
work on the Gunflint Trail is coming long very nicely.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>About half of the 4 miles has the first coat
of pavement down.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That really cuts the dust
down.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>By the end of next week most of
the pavement should be down.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There’s still
a lot of odds and ends to finish but the end will be in sight.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Daughter
Shawn and son-in-law Bob came up last weekend.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>They worked like dogs on the pond.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It is really starting to look good.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We still don’t have it filled with water because our well will go dry if
we run it for hours.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The rain yesterday
helped get a little more water in.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
pump circulating a small water fall is wonderful.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is no motor sound.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All you hear is the trickling water.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We still have a bunch flowers to plant on the
edge of the pond but the worst is done.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Speaking of
trickling water, last night just before we returned to the lodge some water
started to drip and then flow through my office ceiling.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Bruce rushed upstairs only to discover that
the toilet tank in our bathroom had cracked.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>He turned the water off and we started mopping up the mess.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You can’t imagine how much water can spread
everywhere.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We knew that it could have
been much worse.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In ten minutes we were
going to leave and be at the lodge for3 hours. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then we would have really had a mess!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I hope all
you dads get to spend time doing your favorite things today. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
Sue Kerfoothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03292173685567749906noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19393883.post-57141303656562230542015-06-10T09:58:00.000-05:002015-06-10T09:58:47.918-05:00NOW summer is here.
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">With the
coming of June it seems that summer has finally hit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Of course, there are some unpleasant parts of
early summer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My three beautiful tall
tomato plants succumbed to the last frost in early June.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My basil is also not very happy right now
with the cooler weather. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The first ten
days of June are the worst of the bug season and this year is no
exception.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mosquitoes, black flies, and
no-seeums are around and sampling bites from us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>By the middle of the month, the worst of the
bugs will be gone.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">We do have, thank goodness, plenty of rain so
the fire danger is low. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The rain has
also helped cover the fruit shrubs with flowers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All around my house there are lots of wild
strawberries blooming.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My domestic
strawberries also look like they will have a bumper crop.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is a little early to tell about the
blueberries and raspberries but I am keeping my fingers crossed.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">As with most
of Minnesota, June has brought road construction to the Gunflint Trail.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This year from the north end of Highway 92
for four miles until it connects with last year’s road work is under
construction.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It slows things down a
little but it is no big deal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just go
slowly and watch the flagmen.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Animals are
moving around.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Last week I was driving home
on the Tucker Lake Road after dinner.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>What should appear in front of me but a bull moose.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was a large animal whose rack was still
covered with velvet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I would guess that
this one was a good strong teenager.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He
certainly could run away from my car.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">My long-time
friend Bev is staying with us for some time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>She was in a car accident and needs me to keep track of her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We both share the same doctor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Dr. Stover told Bev I was to take Bev’s blood
pressure every day and then I could take mine too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We laughed about the fact that 50 years ago
who would have thought that the highlight of the morning would be to take our
blood pressures.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Getting old is not
exactly what we expected back in the St. Olaf days.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">This weekend
Bruce hopes to finish his pond.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Daughter
Shawn and her husband Bob are coming up to put the waterproof tarp in.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then the new circulating pump will be put in.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Flowers have been saved to put around the
edges.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Shawn will supervise the two men
and I will be the overall supervisor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Mine is more title without actual authority but my authority goes back
to the old saying that if momma ain’t happy, ain’t nobody happy.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Lee and Eva
will be up with Grant and Mae this summer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>A couple weeks ago the kids came up with a list of activities.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They want to feed the birds and go
fishing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then they have to learn to
fillet the fish.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Grant gets to go
horseback riding for the first time this summer since he is 7.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Grandma gets to take him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mae then gets to cook with me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Bruce gets to take the kids by boat to
Little Rock Falls.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Of course, all they really
want is for Grandpa to take them down the rapids by boat. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They want to go camping and make
campfires.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On rainy days we will play
cards and eat M&M’s.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sounds like a
fun visit.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
Sue Kerfoothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03292173685567749906noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19393883.post-15547460544341565852015-05-28T09:41:00.001-05:002015-05-28T09:41:06.219-05:00Summer is Almost Here
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Yesterday
was one of my favorite days of the year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Our shipment of flowers and vegetables arrived.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The picture above shows the inside of the van
before being unloaded.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ronnie and Chris
will be busy planting for the next week to get them all in.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I will take the vegetables over to the Tucker
Lake house.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Many of them such as the
parsley and basil with appear on the lodge meal plates throughout the
summer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are approaching a full moon
now so let’s hope it does not freeze.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Basil is especially sensitive to cold.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I have frozen basil many times but this year should be good.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The
hummingbirds are back.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With three
feeders out, they are around the house all the time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I can see them eating at almost any time I
look outside.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>American goldfinches are
also adding lots of color to the bushes and trees around the house.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Right now the birds have full changed over to
their summer colors of bright yellow with black highlights.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is one red-breasted grosbeak and lots
of purple finches and bluebirds to add more colors.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is fun to watch them all flying around.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Memorial Day
was really busy at the lodge.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We were
full Saturday and Sunday nights.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then on
Sunday we had our first barbeque of the season.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It was a lovely night with no rain.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Last summer we seemed to have all our rains on Sunday nights.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>About 4:00 pm everyone one would be crowded
around the radar maps trying to decide if we were going to get rain or
not.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If the rains come in the middle of
a meal being served outside, things get to be a real mess.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">There have
been a few animals appearing on the roads.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Between Tucker Lake and the lodge, a mama bear with two yearling cubs
has been hanging around.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They are cute
but not a threesome you want visiting your house.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Bruce saw a wolf on the Tucker Lake Road a
few days ago.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He also saw a moose.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am ready to see anything.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Lately the most I have seen is partridge on
the road.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We should start to see some
coveys of new born birds soon.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Bonnie and
Dave gave us a large Lake Trout fillet yesterday.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We immediately had it for dinner.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Bruce grilled it and we feasted.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is nothing better than fresh fish.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The leaves
are out on all our trees.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The line green is gone and we have the dark
green of mature leaves.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There are also a
lot of them blooming like the pin cherry trees.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The white flowers look great.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
Sue Kerfoothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03292173685567749906noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19393883.post-41367566346038243872015-05-20T07:55:00.003-05:002015-05-20T07:55:54.662-05:00Chik-Wauk Museum Opens for the Season
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">This coming
weekend is Memorial Day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On Saturday the
Chik-Wauk Museum and Nature Center opens for the season.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They will be open from now until MEA Weekend
in October.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Bruce and I went up with our
neighbor Fred Smith to install this year’s temporary exhibit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is called “The Paper Trail.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is an essay about how we all
communicated with each other before computers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We also have some examples of the many journals that people kept about
their times on the Gunflint Trail.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Copies of these journals are available to read at the museum.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Take some time while you are on the Trail to
read one of the journals and learn about how life really was on the Trail
before electricity, indoor plumbing, snow plowing and other modern conveniences
were available.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">While we
were at the museum we looked out the window.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>In the bay there is the Ritz Carleton of artificial loon nests.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One of our neighbors gave it to us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There are high growing grasses that surround
the nest to protect it from eagles swooping down to steal a baby for lunch.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On each side there is a slide that loons can
easily use to get on and off the net.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Right
now there is the crown jewel sitting on the nest.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We didn’t know when she started sitting but
on the average loons sit on their eggs for 17 days.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Both the male and the female take turns
sitting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you go to the Chik-Wauk
Museum and Nature Center, you can visit our camera and see the activity on the
nest.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Today I am
starting my visit to all the resorts in Cook County.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I will be dropping off rack cards for the
stables and the canopy tours to let people staying elsewhere know that we are
open.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Many people staying at places
other than Gunflint will visit us to go horseback riding or zipping.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is great fun for everyone.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Of course,
there is a reason why I am starting to drop off rack cards today.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The World’s Best Doughnuts shop opens for the
season.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I would not want to miss a nice
warm fresh doughnut.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There are not a lot
of places up here to get a really great doughnut.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When you are going through Grand Marais, be
sure to stop for this tasty treat.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Bruce and I
spent last weekend in the Cities.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
needed a grandchild fix.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There were some
times when it rained alot.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then we found
out the kids favorite indoor activity.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Grant always seems to move over to his Legos.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have no idea how many he has but there are
lots and lots.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He can build most
anything with them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is fun to watch
his assembly methods.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Mae, on the
other hand, was into jigsaw puzzles.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Her
eyes just see how they all go together.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>At age 5 she is now up to 500 piece puzzles.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You watch her and suddenly she picks up what
appears to be a random piece and announces, “I know where this goes.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She does!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Neither Bruce nor I can do as well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We are going to have to practice!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
Sue Kerfoothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03292173685567749906noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19393883.post-11436932354577916242015-05-12T13:44:00.001-05:002015-05-12T13:44:28.022-05:00The Case of the Elusive Lettuce
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Yesterday we had rain most of the day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was good to see it coming down as things
were getting a little dry.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Unfortunately
we woke up this morning to snow.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I know
we need moisture but this is not the way to get it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Rain is how water is supposed to come down in
May.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One of the wonderful side effects
of rain is that the leaves pop out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Right
now most of the poplar and birch have wonderful lime green leaves under the
snow.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>By tomorrow all the snow will be
gone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hopefully it is the end of it until
this fall.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We will be looking at the
green fuzz of new leaves.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Bruce is picking up on an outdoor project that did not get
finished last year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>During the summer he
started building me a pond.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It started
leaking and then never got done.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So as
the picture shows, he is back at it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
problem is that he needs to get a new liner to keep the water in.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I understand that there is even going to be
an island with a troll on. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I will keep
you up to date on how the construction project goes.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Do you ever have a series of days where one thing goes out of
whack and you just can’t get is back on course for a bit?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We just did.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I am calling it “The Case of the Elusive Lettuce.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On Saturday Sheryl asked if one of us could
go to town and pick up a few things she needed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Bruce’s computer was down and I was lazy so we both decided to run
in.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We got what was needed and then came
home.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Saturday night the cooks informed Bruce that we were out of lettuce
and did not have enough to get through Sunday.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>So off Bruce and I went on Sunday to get the lettuce.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We ate lunch in town which was a nice Mother’s
Day surprise.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Unfortunately neither of
the grocery stories was open.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We did
pick up some lettuce at the coop.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was
very nice looking lettuce and cost a small fortune.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">On Monday I am asked to pick up some lettuce in Grand Marais
that will be delivered to the Best Western at 2:00.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So in I go for my third trip in as many
days.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Best Western has already
gotten their groceries and there is nothing for us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I call the food company and after a little
messing around, I get sent to the Blue Water.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The girl there knows nothing about it.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">So I call the food company again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They get in touch with the driver and call me
back.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The lettuce was definitely dropped
off at the Blue Water.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But it is not
there so I call the food company again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>This time further information comes to say that the food was dropped off
outside the Blue Water to someone from the lodge.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I called the lodge and asked to talk to one of the
cooks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thinking to do us a favor he had
asked one of the guys who was going to town to pick up the lettuce.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The elusive lettuce was in the cooler at
Gunflint.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It shows how the best
intentions can just not work without equally communications. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
Sue Kerfoothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03292173685567749906noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19393883.post-19920475062483151842015-05-03T15:49:00.002-05:002015-05-03T15:49:41.012-05:00Out with the Ice and In with the Docks
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">More
critters keep on returning during the spring days.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This bear came to Sheryl’s back door the
other night.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I really don’t have
anything against bears but they get into everything.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All winter long Sheryl can keep her birds
seed outside but a bear will get into it the first night it comes around.</span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYsSrR6zNXqljXr3Tg43UnoGHHlVAXO2wDU_LbAzZKIe5SZOy7lk0ptjMf5tbSyKhwnrqzXHBxeVWsEIl3T7NOF75KUx1qMcPT5zqCD7TBpQf2poS99yqR_wkhUXyZNWRgUeX0/s1600/ice+melt+and+bear+112+(2).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYsSrR6zNXqljXr3Tg43UnoGHHlVAXO2wDU_LbAzZKIe5SZOy7lk0ptjMf5tbSyKhwnrqzXHBxeVWsEIl3T7NOF75KUx1qMcPT5zqCD7TBpQf2poS99yqR_wkhUXyZNWRgUeX0/s1600/ice+melt+and+bear+112+(2).jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></span> </div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">We also have
been able to bring over the docks and get them set up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Here is a picture of the dock coming across
the lake.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It takes about a morning to
get both docks hooked up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That first
evening there were three people casting off the end of the dock.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The only fishing season open now is
northern.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However there is something fun
about just casting a lure.</span></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></span> </div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">All the
vegetable gardens at our home are ready to be planted.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Of course, there is not much that can go in
yet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Raspberries, strawberries, chives
and rhubarb are coming up nicely.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Yesterday Bruce planted his potatoes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Today I planted the first batch of spinach.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It felt good.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I also put some bone meal on the irises.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Now we just have to be patient and wait for the ground and air
temperatures to warm up.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Tuesday Don,
Marilyn, Bruce and I will spend time at the Upper Lakes food Show.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Upper Lakes is our main food supplier.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am sure that you have seen their blue trucks
delivering at the lodge.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Every spring
all the suppliers gather to show the new foods for the season.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So off we go to eat our way thru every kind
of food you can imagine.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After a while
nothing tastes good. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All the neighbors
will also be there so it is a good time to catch up on the gossip.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Bruce and I
will come home after the show.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are
having meatloaf for dinner tonight (Sunday) and Tuesday night the cold meatloaf
sandwiches will taste good when we get home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It is better than stopping at a restaurant for a meal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In fact if we are really lucky, the
temperatures will be warm enough that we can eat on the porch.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just thinking about that sounds good.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The main
summer season is fast approaching.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The horses
are here and Mandy is now running the stables and I don’t get to see her in the
dining room.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The trainers come next week
for the new sky guides.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In fact new
staff is popping up everywhere.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I can’t
remember anyone’s name.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Eventually they
will all straighten out in my mind.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Lee and Eva
are coming up with the kids for 10 days in July.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am already looking forward to it especially
since they sent me a list of all the things the kids want to do with us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So many things we do every summer when they
come up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One of my friends says that you
have to implant the woods and water in the hearts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That is just the way I feel.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
Sue Kerfoothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03292173685567749906noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19393883.post-29761216973610789842015-04-25T15:40:00.000-05:002015-04-25T15:40:54.085-05:00The Beginning of Gunflint Lodge
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Bruce and I
were sitting around talking after dinner.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The question came up about how old the lodge was.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We tend to start counting the age of Gunflint
from when Grandma Spunner and Justine bought it in 1929.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But, of course, that is not correct.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is actually 90 years old.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Gunflint Lodge
was started in 1925 by Dora Blankenburg and her son, Russell.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Blankenburgs bought a small resort called
Lighthouse Lodge in Three Lakes, Wisconsin in 1920.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They catered to wealth fishermen from the Chicago
area.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As one of their guests was
checking out, the guest said that even though they had been happy at the lodge,
the next summer they would be checking out a new fishing area in Minnesota
called Gunflint.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Russell came
up to investigate the Gunflint area.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In
1925 he bought some land on Gunflint Lake for the family to build a resort on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They built Gunflint Lodge, a small lodge with
three rental units.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Running a second
resort so far away from the first was more difficult than they had
expected.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After a few years, Mrs.
Blankenburg decided to sell the new resort.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The Blankenburgs
also owned property on Lake Zurich in Illinois.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>One of their neighbors and friends were the Spunner family from
Barrington, Illinois.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mr. Spunner was a
lawyer who had helped with the purchase of the land for Gunflint Lodge.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After a visit to Gunflint Lodge, Mrs. Spunner
and her daughter, Justine, decided to buy Gunflint Lodge.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They sold two farms to come up with the money
for the down payment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The purchase
happened in August of 1929.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was not
the best time to invest in a new resort but no one knew that at the time.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">While Mrs.
Blankenburg returned to run Lighthouse Lodge, Russell Blankenburg stayed in the
Gunflint Trail.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He took money out of the
stock market and bought property on Loon, Gunflint, Seagull and Saganaga
Lakes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Over the years he would build
resorts, run canoe outfitters and sell land for summer homes on this property.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Russell’s story will be told in another blog.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Meanwhile,
as this picture shows, Bruce has finished his fireplace for #18.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Right now it is a big mess to get cleaned up
and ready for guests.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Bruce’s body is
quite happy the job is finished.</span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnjrMBkFGof2VyJJkmuNTbtvRAOlv2PFZqbqnp5SaAiNnKQEkSZkiATndvOYrrIC_k7MzQkpXnLRtteSyXARAGYcgiHKTAmG62ybw-gIUmH739krFG5H6EhPrcN2MUksPES_cj/s1600/Cabin+18+fireplace.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnjrMBkFGof2VyJJkmuNTbtvRAOlv2PFZqbqnp5SaAiNnKQEkSZkiATndvOYrrIC_k7MzQkpXnLRtteSyXARAGYcgiHKTAmG62ybw-gIUmH739krFG5H6EhPrcN2MUksPES_cj/s1600/Cabin+18+fireplace.jpg" height="640" width="602" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></span> </div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The ice on
Gunflint Lake is quickly going out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Right now the entire bay in front of Cross River Lodge is out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are due to have warm temperatures and wind
during the next week.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That will probably
take the ice out pretty quickly.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Not everyone
is happy to see the ice go out as we discovered during lunch today.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We were looking out at the lake and what
should appear but an otter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The animal
was running across the lake for about 6 steps and then doing a belly flop and
sliding on the ice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We all stood
watching until it reached our shore and disappeared among the rocks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was perfectly obvious that the otter was
enjoying every minute of his play time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We were tempted.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
Sue Kerfoothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03292173685567749906noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19393883.post-36944554086362628932015-04-19T10:58:00.001-05:002015-04-19T10:58:53.548-05:00Rain and Ice
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Today is our
first day of rain and does it look wonderful!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We have had snow flurries but starting about 5:30 this morning, it was
all rain.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As a result, Gunflint Lake is
quite black.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I can tell by some of the
plowing marks that the ice flow is moving east.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>That is what we want.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A good
strong northwest wind would really help the process.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On the north shore of the lake, the open
water coming out of Cross River is getting close to the end of the point.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Eventually the flowing water from the river
will drive all the ice to the east end of the lake and then out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are ready.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Over on
Tucker Lake the ice is so black that Bruce figures he could drive a boat right
through it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t think we are going
to try just yet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Tucker Lake is a long
narrow lake and not anywhere near as deep as Gunflint.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So, it will probably be out at least a week
before Gunflint it.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">This weekend
was another one of the dog lovers weekends.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I think we have about 19 dog lovers with their pets.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We have doggie socials, homemade doggie
treats, etc.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The most popular events
with the dogs is to just take long walks in the woods without leases.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think the people enjoy it the most
also.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Luckily Friday and Saturday were
just perfect for this activity.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now the
rain can come.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">As the
spring comes along, we have more than just birds wandering back.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our neighbors down the lake have already had
two black bears on their porch.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Adam’s
dogs woke everyone up barking at bears.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>As long as they stay out of the garbage, I don’t care.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">While
walking down the Tucker Lake Road, I saw some wolf scat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is no doubt that the wolves are around
but we don’t get to see them very much.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Right now the wolves may be living on partridge.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There appear to be lots of them on our road.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Driving to
the lodge today, I saw a rabbit on the shoulder of the road.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Most of its body was changing color to summer
browns.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Its feet were still white but
they are the last to change color.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Much of my
vegetable garden is thawed out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Bruce
wants to do some trimming in the raspberries and strawberries.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sounds good to me but today is not the day to
do it – remember it’s raining out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am
going to start a small asparagus bed this year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It will take a couple of years to get anything to eat but in the end
there will be some good dinners each year.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">As I have
been writing, the rain has let up some.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The wind, however, has increased.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>All of it helps the ice melt out.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">P.S. Take a look at Bruce's picture from last week. The rocks are up to the ceiling now. All he needs to do is the hearth.</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></span> </div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
Sue Kerfoothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03292173685567749906noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19393883.post-54841618139166908272015-04-13T09:44:00.001-05:002015-04-13T09:44:44.547-05:00More Sping Projects
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The
temperatures have been in the fifties the past few days.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That may not sound good to those of you who
live further south but is heaven to us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>There has been no freezing the last couple of nights.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yesterday the afternoon was filled with wind
to cut through the ice and snow.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then we
even had rain at night.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The next two
days will be warm.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is really feeling
like spring.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">As a result
everyone is into spring projects.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Here
is a picture of Bruce working on one of his favorite spring projects – building
a fireplace.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This one is in #18 and it
is converting a wood fireplace to a gas one.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Building fireplaces is one of Bruce’s favorite projects.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He just steadily works on it each afternoon.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I walked
down to Tucker Lake yesterday.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The path
is almost all clear of ice and snow.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
dock is clean but a little tilted in places.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Once the ice goes out we will see how it settles in.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is a little melting along the edge of
the lake with some water on the ice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Things are not quite ready for a boat ride but I can start to dream
about it.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">All the
garden beds at my house are clear of snow.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It will still be weeks before I can plant anything.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The next step is to bring over some more
horse manure to enrich the soil.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Everything
is going to come in nice and strong. We will have spinach and fresh lettuce by
the third week in June. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Another project
we hope to get finished this summer is the pond between the house and the
workshop.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Bruce has ideas in his head
about how it will look.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I understand
that there may even be a troll on a little island.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Spring birds
are starting to appear.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Snow buntings
and juncos are passing through to their summer habitats.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There are lots of ducks on the open water by Cross
River.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yesterday the first red-winged
blackbirds appeared at my house.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Front
Desk Dave saw two robins on his way to work the other day.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The ice on
Gunflint Lake is quite gray.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At this
point I would not recommend that anyone try to walk across it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Wind like we had yesterday really melts the
ice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have been watching as the wind is
coming up today.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It will be interesting
to see how black the ice is when I go over for lunch today.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Also the ice is very soft along the
shore.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some guest sunk in to their
ankles the other day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It must have been
really cold.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hope they had extra shoes.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">For those of
you who remember Zach – Robert and Miranda’s cute little boy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As usual time has flown by.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Last week he passed his driving permit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is scary how quickly these kids grow up. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
Sue Kerfoothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03292173685567749906noreply@blogger.com0