Thursday, July 28, 2011
End of July at LBL
One or two last bits from the end of July.
This is the time of year when we normally run away to the cool of the mountain west. It is, on average, the hottest fortnight of the year. This year we stayed home and hid in the air conditioning. (The AC is now my favorite bit of technology. It's replaced the snow blower. However, my opinion might change in 6 months.)
One of the joys of being here is that this is the time that the tiger lilies bloom. They've just begun. The style that I'm used to and this year some of the heritage plants I put in last fall.
And finally a picture of the shoreline north of Sidetrack. I've taken this picture at least half a dozen times in the last 30 years, but I still like the scene.
We'll be back after seeing the twins down in Illinois.
This is the time of year when we normally run away to the cool of the mountain west. It is, on average, the hottest fortnight of the year. This year we stayed home and hid in the air conditioning. (The AC is now my favorite bit of technology. It's replaced the snow blower. However, my opinion might change in 6 months.)
One of the joys of being here is that this is the time that the tiger lilies bloom. They've just begun. The style that I'm used to and this year some of the heritage plants I put in last fall.
And finally a picture of the shoreline north of Sidetrack. I've taken this picture at least half a dozen times in the last 30 years, but I still like the scene.
We'll be back after seeing the twins down in Illinois.
Tuesday, July 26, 2011
Beautiful day
All looks copacetic at petit chez Sank on the big lake.
On the little lake, just beauty.
Note that the sun went down on July 25 in the gap in the tree line. Watch for sunsets farther south later in the year.
On the little lake, just beauty.
Note that the sun went down on July 25 in the gap in the tree line. Watch for sunsets farther south later in the year.
Monday, July 25, 2011
Late return to the lake
Well, it's been a couple weeks since I've been at Sidetrack. The heat wave persuaded us to stay home in the air conditioning.
I came up because the weather let up for a couple days, so I hope to get some work done while looking at the lake.
I also came to check on the mouse traps I set when we left. At that time, we expected to be back a few days later. The great and wonderful Medora suggested that if my trap line had been successful, there would be some swollen, stinky mouse corpses in the cabin. Luckily, the mice have enough to eat outside and none came in to take the bait.
There'd been enough rain to fill the wheel barrow and creat a stinky compost mess in the courtyard. Watered the lawn and put the wheel barrow out in the sun.
The only big thing to report on is in the garden. The hostas and the day lilies are blooming wildly. There are some coneflowers blooming too.
Oh, and one of the wild residents stopped by. Usually it stays under the deck, but it's used to having the place to itself.
I came up because the weather let up for a couple days, so I hope to get some work done while looking at the lake.
I also came to check on the mouse traps I set when we left. At that time, we expected to be back a few days later. The great and wonderful Medora suggested that if my trap line had been successful, there would be some swollen, stinky mouse corpses in the cabin. Luckily, the mice have enough to eat outside and none came in to take the bait.
There'd been enough rain to fill the wheel barrow and creat a stinky compost mess in the courtyard. Watered the lawn and put the wheel barrow out in the sun.
The only big thing to report on is in the garden. The hostas and the day lilies are blooming wildly. There are some coneflowers blooming too.
Oh, and one of the wild residents stopped by. Usually it stays under the deck, but it's used to having the place to itself.
Sunday, July 17, 2011
Wimping in
We wimped in again this weekend. We stayed home in the cool. Ken couldn't even make it around one of his two-mile loops this morning because the tropical weather sapped his energy. (I'm pretty sure he would rather have been hiking up Mt Wasburn even though there's still snow on that trail.
It seems like the July equivalent of late January when it's below zero for a week at a time. It's 9pm and 80° in Northfield with a dew point of 74°. Not safe for man nor beast.
We'll get back to Sidetrack soon.
It seems like the July equivalent of late January when it's below zero for a week at a time. It's 9pm and 80° in Northfield with a dew point of 74°. Not safe for man nor beast.
We'll get back to Sidetrack soon.
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
Tom Day's creation
One thing about Little Blake Lake.
There's this BBQ grill next door that was built by Tom Day, the former owner.
After the place changed hands, one of Tom's grandsons left a note on the grill saying he'd like to have it.
The current owner is willing to give it to Tom's grandson, but the "kid" left no contact information.
Tom's grandson, if you find this message, get in touch. Offer some identification. We'll see what can be done.
There's this BBQ grill next door that was built by Tom Day, the former owner.
After the place changed hands, one of Tom's grandsons left a note on the grill saying he'd like to have it.
The current owner is willing to give it to Tom's grandson, but the "kid" left no contact information.
Tom's grandson, if you find this message, get in touch. Offer some identification. We'll see what can be done.
Long weekend
We made up for being AWOL last weekend by coming up on Wednesday and staying until tropical Sunday arrived.
The gay lilies were showing off. We often miss this display because this is the time of the summer we usually head for the mountains and cooler weather. We're here this year.
I got the canoe out right away.
I got out and toured the lake. It's still a beautiful place.
Wednesday evening everything was still. I paddled right up to a family of loons at dusk. I was quiet and they didn't seem upset. They just paddled away from me and I followed for awhile. It was too dark to take pictures.
I could even sit inside and watch the hummers of Blake Lake at work.
At another point in the long weekend a somewhat larger bird flew over. I think it's a juvenile bald eagle.
On Thursday, we wandered around the countryside and finally found the Barron County Historical Society (to donate some old glass plate negatives). While there we gave thanks for modern dentistry.
Sunday dawned hot and humid. We cleaned up and packed up and headed home early in the afternoon. No sense sweating in the tropics when we had a good four days to enjoy at the lake.
The gay lilies were showing off. We often miss this display because this is the time of the summer we usually head for the mountains and cooler weather. We're here this year.
I got the canoe out right away.
I got out and toured the lake. It's still a beautiful place.
Wednesday evening everything was still. I paddled right up to a family of loons at dusk. I was quiet and they didn't seem upset. They just paddled away from me and I followed for awhile. It was too dark to take pictures.
I could even sit inside and watch the hummers of Blake Lake at work.
At another point in the long weekend a somewhat larger bird flew over. I think it's a juvenile bald eagle.
On Thursday, we wandered around the countryside and finally found the Barron County Historical Society (to donate some old glass plate negatives). While there we gave thanks for modern dentistry.
Sunday dawned hot and humid. We cleaned up and packed up and headed home early in the afternoon. No sense sweating in the tropics when we had a good four days to enjoy at the lake.
Monday, July 04, 2011
New arrivals
We stayed home this weekend.
One of the reasons was the heat and the threatening weather. The AC at home was just too inviting. Plus we had things we wanted to do around the yard. And we didn't have to worry about where to take shelter if the weather was really threatening.
The other reason for staying home was to stay in touch with Jim and Angela about these two, who arrived on Saturday.
Leia and Lane Wedding. Each was born at a weight greater than cousin Haley when she was born. All's well. We're anxious to make a pilgrimage to see them.
One of the reasons was the heat and the threatening weather. The AC at home was just too inviting. Plus we had things we wanted to do around the yard. And we didn't have to worry about where to take shelter if the weather was really threatening.
The other reason for staying home was to stay in touch with Jim and Angela about these two, who arrived on Saturday.
Leia and Lane Wedding. Each was born at a weight greater than cousin Haley when she was born. All's well. We're anxious to make a pilgrimage to see them.
