Tuesday, May 22, 2012
Stürm and Schön
My long "weekend" at Sidetrack began mid-day Friday. I stopped at the library in Amery in search of a book to read and a chance to check e-mail. I'd dropped Nancy at the train station in Red Wing so she could get to Chicago. Then I stopped and shopped for some essentials. It was a fine day.
When I arrived at Little Blake Lake, I was pleased to discover that our reliable plumber had been there and got the pump running and the plumbing working. That's always a sign that summer is near.
Then I looked out the front window and discovered that the lilacs were in full bloom and very fragrant.
I dug out some of the rocks from the foundation of the old front yard fireplace and from the ring around the old fire pit in hopes that the lawn will be flat enough for mowing. As a bonus, I added a couple more rocks to the border around one of the front yard hosta gardens.
During one of the breaks from digging rocks out of the ground, I toured the terrace behind Sidetrack. One of the jack-in-the-pulpit plants was large and looking healthy. The wild geranuim were flowering.
The Solomon's Seal and the Bleeding Hearts I planted last year are spreading and looking good.
Saturday was hot (85°) and stormy. I went to Amery to buy some plants and some more groceries. Those of us here Saturday night worried about the severe thunderstorm warnings posted for the county. We had a few gusts of wind, a bit of lightning and thunder, and lots of rain, but nothing destructive.
Sunday was a cold rainy day. I went from hoping for a cooling breeze on Saturday to turning on the heat Sunday afternoon. But I did go out and plant. There are three pots with red salvia that will eventually help feed the hummingbirds. I also planted some things in the terrace. I'll report on them if they actually grow.
I read a lot on Sunday and wrote a couple Reading Blog entries and something actually professional.
Monday was a bright, wonderfully cool day. I planted some red geraniums (gerania?) in Red Tom (the top of the old lakeside fireplace). And I dug out around the base a bit.
While working there I noticed a wild strawberry.
And I checked on the progress being made by the rescued tiger lillies. They look pretty good, and they're multiplying.
I had seen a humming bird in the pine tree next to the deck, so I mixed up some hummingbird "food" and hung the feeder. It took the little critters about 10 minutes to find the feeder and begin snacking.
I had one more visitor before the day ended. An adventurous turtle nearly got up on the deck. It was a fair distance from the lake. Was this little critter looking for a really high place to lay eggs? Had it gotten a ride from a local dog up the hill and was now searching for home? I took a couple pictures and picked it up for the trip down the hill to the lake shore. I didn't know these little things hissed. But it hissed at me when I picked it up. When I put it down on a rock next to the lake, it scrambled very quickly into the water.
Tuesday morning was another bright day. But, I discovered we might have plumbing problems. I intended to shave, but only warm water came out of the tap. Usually, the hot water is hot. I gave up on the shaving idea and took a quick shower in warm water. I checked the fuses, and they seemed okay. After breakfast in Luck, I washed dishes in warm water. Water heater giving up the ghost? Oh, goody.
And the freezer doesn't seem to be as cold as it should be. If only the coldest setting were an 11.
I have to stop at the Amery library to drop off a book and maybe visit a plumber on my way home. Things to do and places to be.
When I arrived at Little Blake Lake, I was pleased to discover that our reliable plumber had been there and got the pump running and the plumbing working. That's always a sign that summer is near.
Then I looked out the front window and discovered that the lilacs were in full bloom and very fragrant.
I dug out some of the rocks from the foundation of the old front yard fireplace and from the ring around the old fire pit in hopes that the lawn will be flat enough for mowing. As a bonus, I added a couple more rocks to the border around one of the front yard hosta gardens.
During one of the breaks from digging rocks out of the ground, I toured the terrace behind Sidetrack. One of the jack-in-the-pulpit plants was large and looking healthy. The wild geranuim were flowering.
The Solomon's Seal and the Bleeding Hearts I planted last year are spreading and looking good.
Saturday was hot (85°) and stormy. I went to Amery to buy some plants and some more groceries. Those of us here Saturday night worried about the severe thunderstorm warnings posted for the county. We had a few gusts of wind, a bit of lightning and thunder, and lots of rain, but nothing destructive.
Sunday was a cold rainy day. I went from hoping for a cooling breeze on Saturday to turning on the heat Sunday afternoon. But I did go out and plant. There are three pots with red salvia that will eventually help feed the hummingbirds. I also planted some things in the terrace. I'll report on them if they actually grow.
I read a lot on Sunday and wrote a couple Reading Blog entries and something actually professional.
Monday was a bright, wonderfully cool day. I planted some red geraniums (gerania?) in Red Tom (the top of the old lakeside fireplace). And I dug out around the base a bit.
While working there I noticed a wild strawberry.
And I checked on the progress being made by the rescued tiger lillies. They look pretty good, and they're multiplying.
I had seen a humming bird in the pine tree next to the deck, so I mixed up some hummingbird "food" and hung the feeder. It took the little critters about 10 minutes to find the feeder and begin snacking.
I had one more visitor before the day ended. An adventurous turtle nearly got up on the deck. It was a fair distance from the lake. Was this little critter looking for a really high place to lay eggs? Had it gotten a ride from a local dog up the hill and was now searching for home? I took a couple pictures and picked it up for the trip down the hill to the lake shore. I didn't know these little things hissed. But it hissed at me when I picked it up. When I put it down on a rock next to the lake, it scrambled very quickly into the water.
Tuesday morning was another bright day. But, I discovered we might have plumbing problems. I intended to shave, but only warm water came out of the tap. Usually, the hot water is hot. I gave up on the shaving idea and took a quick shower in warm water. I checked the fuses, and they seemed okay. After breakfast in Luck, I washed dishes in warm water. Water heater giving up the ghost? Oh, goody.
And the freezer doesn't seem to be as cold as it should be. If only the coldest setting were an 11.
I have to stop at the Amery library to drop off a book and maybe visit a plumber on my way home. Things to do and places to be.
Friday, May 11, 2012
April? at Little Blake
Not only have we been infrequent visitors to Sidetrack, I've been very slow to post here about our last visit.
Well, we were there a couple weeks ago. It was our second visit and still earlier than most of our first trips to the lake.
I was reminded of this old photo from 1996.
The ice that year was a deterrent to returning before Mother's Day.
But the ice free water this year meant there was work to do. And the dock was sitting there as a reminder.
I spent some time digging rocks our of the lawn where the "Red&Tom" fireplace had been. A couple of the rocks were too big to move far, so I rolled them to the lake edge. Others joined the rock border of the hosta gardens.
The old "Red&Tom" was a danger, but now there's an unmowable hump in the lawn where it stood. It will be flattened sometime. Maybe even soon.
This time of year is the time to see some of the critters who stop here briefly while migrating north. The mergansers are shy and flighty. This is the best pic I could get. As soon as I stepped outside, it was gone to the north end of the lake.
Spring flora was also putting on a good show. There was a little blue flower in the terrace garden.
And nearby a shoot of some kind of little lily.
In the woods behind the Shakespeare House, a jack-in-the-pulpit was already showing off.
The family favorites, the trilliums (trillia?) were just beginning to show off.
And finally, we have to note the two species of flamingos that wintered over at Sidetrack. There were some casulties, but these two look like they're in good shape.
Now to find the time in our schedules to get back. Next week?
Well, we were there a couple weeks ago. It was our second visit and still earlier than most of our first trips to the lake.
I was reminded of this old photo from 1996.
The ice that year was a deterrent to returning before Mother's Day.
But the ice free water this year meant there was work to do. And the dock was sitting there as a reminder.
I spent some time digging rocks our of the lawn where the "Red&Tom" fireplace had been. A couple of the rocks were too big to move far, so I rolled them to the lake edge. Others joined the rock border of the hosta gardens.
The old "Red&Tom" was a danger, but now there's an unmowable hump in the lawn where it stood. It will be flattened sometime. Maybe even soon.
This time of year is the time to see some of the critters who stop here briefly while migrating north. The mergansers are shy and flighty. This is the best pic I could get. As soon as I stepped outside, it was gone to the north end of the lake.
Spring flora was also putting on a good show. There was a little blue flower in the terrace garden.
And nearby a shoot of some kind of little lily.
In the woods behind the Shakespeare House, a jack-in-the-pulpit was already showing off.
The family favorites, the trilliums (trillia?) were just beginning to show off.
And finally, we have to note the two species of flamingos that wintered over at Sidetrack. There were some casulties, but these two look like they're in good shape.
Now to find the time in our schedules to get back. Next week?
