Little Blake Lake

It's several weeks later than usual, but we made it back to LBL yesterday. No ice. No snow. No spring clean up yet from the grounds crew. And we need it.

The last heavy, wet snow brought down a couple big branches. One of them landed on the roof and then the deck. The new gutters barely got a chance. Now half of them have to be replaced.


No running water yet. The plumber has been delayed and very busy too. But good neighbor Skip pulled a hose from his place to our deck. That made it easier to heat water on the stove for washing dishes. We needed that.

We had a first. A mouse (or two) got into the cupboards. I sort of thought they were inaccessible to the little critters, but I was wrong. All the "Sweet and Low" packets were torn open and the little rodents really liked the dried instant soup packages. I wish they'd eaten the styrofoam as well as the contents.


There were good signs of spring as well as major cleaning jobs to do.

Labels: May 2013, opening

From 5 May 2013, the day after the fishing opener. Photo by Gary Sankary of the lake in front of their place.

Someone has posted the new Google Maps picture of the lakes Blake. It's much better than the older one.

See it at BlakeLake.com

Somehow, this didn't get published last summer. I wrote it on August 3rd. I guess I saved it as a draft, but never posted it. 

Here it is for the historical record:


August 3, 2012:

We traveled back up to Sidetrack today.

I had a 1:00pm appointment with a contractor who wanted the job of cleaning up the trees that came down in the yard.

I learned at the Andersen Window dealer that Andersen no longer makes skylights, so we'll have to completely replace the skylight.

While there waiting for the contractor, the insurance adjuster appeared. He did his inspection and came to what I thought was a good conclusion. The only real surprise was his conclusion that the steel roofing on the lake side will have to be replaced (along with the skylight).

[Here's what the deck looked like after being partially cleaned off.]

[The deck acquired a dip when the tree drove the support posts farther into the ground.]

[The Henny Handrail will have to be rebuilt.]

Then the contractor arrived with his bid for the clean up and his son's bid for repair work.

What a great result. The bids were nearly identical with the insurance estimates.

All is G for go.

Then a little later the construction contractor arrived to go over details of the repairs.

Nancy repaired the broken glass in the kitchen window. David and I picked up small branches and the boat.

[See where the boat ended up after fleeing its storage position down by the lake? It was up next to Skip's foundation.]

Then we all cleaned the deck. It was VERY hot and VERY humid. No fun.

At least a big fish skeleton probably left by an eagle and the blossoming tiger lilies were great distractions.





About 4:30, we came home to the air conditioning and showers.

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Labels: Storm damage

The people at Sherrard’s Resort posted a picture of Big Blake from their deck.

I don't think much fishing was done during this year's opener.

Labels: Big Blake, fishing opener 2013

I neglected this blog during the summer. First, I was too busy. Then I was distracted by some health problems. But here's a summary.

We were around for the blooming of the tiger lilies this summer. They are such a treat. (See the August 12, 2009 entry.)

And we saw a wonderful foggy morning.

With the cooperation of everyone along our little road, we had some much needed repairs done.


We found two great guys from Mankato to refresh the ten-year-old paint job. 

Once they finished, our favorite Californians visited again and left their own contributions to the cabin decor.

There were some plumbing emergencies that resulted in a new water heater, a new hose spigot, and a new kitchen faucet. (Great thanks to our plumber. Ask and we'll share his name and number.)



We were at the lake on a cool and very windy day to begin the closing up process. The willow tree looked like it had a comb over because of the wind.

A late season dragon fly was also being blown around and hung on to the fallen needles on the deck.

I went up for the final closing  (and couldn't clean adequately because the water was turned off), but it was a reminder of times past when two kids (now in their 40s) and I would spend that third weekend in October (Minnesota teacher convention time) at Sidetrack.



Until spring...

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Labels: Fall 2012, October, plumbing, road work

It's a few years old, but fun

I have a feeling I should give someone new access to the blog here.

Oh, let's make this easier.

Labels: bear

Check out the comment on my post about the bear at Little Blake Lake or just go to the video.

Sphinxmoth has left a new comment on your post "I did have one chance to photograph last weekend's...":

We last saw the bear on June 15th up on the northwest side of Little Blake Lake, (Howard's end):

http://youtu.be/UVGhD97_Wwg

I did have one chance to photograph last weekend's bear visit. But it was through the screen and the camera used its flash.

When I looked at the result on the camera viewer, I couldn't see the bear.

But when I downloaded the photo, I could sort of see the bear. (I could see it about as well as I can see most Sasquatches or UFOs.)

So, here it is. If you don't see it, hang around and take one of your own. I'm guessing that after the Fourth of July and the attendant fireworks, the bear will not hang around the populated part of the lake.

Labels: bear, May 2012

I spent several days at Sidetrack with lots of time to read and rest and admire the beauty of the place. Besides the bear, who got away before I could take his picture. I did photograph the deer family that lives on the edge of the wooded hillside next door.



A couple dozen geese paddled noisily up the lake.



 The a big skein of geese flew noisly in the same direction.



The geese on the lake decided that was a signal to take off. More noise.



 There were still lots of fish making little circular "nests" around the dock.



Most of all there was just a lot of peace and quiet that I enjoyed. That's one of the main things this place is for.

 

Yesterday, just before sunset, I looked up and looked outside to see a small black bear nosing around Mark's fire pit. I did a double take, made sure I was seeing what I thought I was seeing, and went to get a camera.

By the time I got back to the south door to the deck, the critter was gone. So, I have no photograph. I will testify that I've seen bear scat in the neighborhood a couple times and the old suet feeder (that had been on the tree so long that the bark was growing around it) was torn off the tree a couple years ago.

Now I am pretty sure I know why I found the hummingbird feeder pulled down and the metal brackets holding the pole bent when I arrived yesterday.

More wildlife...

Labels: bear