Stepped on a Snake at Lost Lake

Today I stepped on a garter snake at Lost Lake.  The air was a chilly forty degrees so the cold blooded critter was barely coherently aware of the thunderous foot steps of a human descending upon it as I stepped on the tip of his tail.  He quickly curled back in pain and then retreated down the bank into the lake water.   

It reminded me of the time on the Gunflint Trail.  I learned the definition of the word "yelp" by the means of stepping on a wolf paw.  I was headed down the steep shoreline of Iron Lake.  Ambivalent to my surroundings I was running down the portage trail; jumping down each steep terrace to the next.  One moment I'm a child on a jungle gym and the next I'm stopped dead in my tracks leaning over a gray wolf!  I'm not ashamed to admit that is it wasn't the wolf with the loudest screeching yelp!  The wolf scattered off with it's tail between it's legs; leaving me hoarse and checking my pants!

It was also like the time near Duncan Lake on a spur trail along the Border Route when Amy was talking away when she walked into the butt of a young female moose.  We were in a swamp.  In an instant the routine hike went from a discussion where we were changing the world to complete silence.  Before I knew it we had walked backwards a hundred or so steps over cobble stream bottoms while the moose is still staring at us chomping it's cud alarmed but clearly not frightened .  Thankfully there was no calf between us.  That same moose walked through our camp that night.  Evidently our tent wasn't far enough off the trail.  This time it was the cow that was startled when it realized that humans were close by and jumped into the lake.

I guess it goes to show that any single one of  life's steps can throw a curve ball at you.  It's a good reason to  take every step deliberately and with reverence for the unknown that may come your way...

First Planting & Waiting

Soil temperatures are just shy of 50 degrees.  However, during most evenings we are having a light freeze along the North Shore as the first seasonal weather of the year has dominated the atmosphere.  The growing season has not quite begun.  Tomatoes and zucchini are slowly sprouting indoors.  Outside spring garlic, onion and lettuce are buried one inch and germinating with every degree increase.

 Preparing a bed for planting 

As we have been anxiously awaiting the arrival of "little sprout" our friend Hazel generously gave us a painting of the Spirit Tree to add some more color to our babies first glimpses of life.  

Thick green bands of northern lights drape across the clear spring sky; a nocturnal input of solar energy.  A positive sign for the adventure ahead...     

Stormy.  Springs rains have persisted for about a week.  Heavy rain, gusty winds, hail and even accumulating snow are all in the forecast.  I welcome the rain.  It's either rain or forest fires.  Despite the forecasted "s" word, soil temperatures in the garden are nearly 50 degrees.  We have all the seeds that we are going to sow this year and are planning on planting most varieties within a couple weeks.  Understanding the climate and not to get ahead of ourselves we will surely still keep the sensitive plants inside.   I have a deer fence project ahead of me too!  The signs of warmer weather are everywhere: sprouting wild strawberries & columbine to name a couple.  This weekend I cut through the "reserve" wood pile and have started to split and stack the wood for next winter.  

Demmlet's Abode

The east facing window draws in the morning sun.  Light green walls, wood floors and pine trim  accent the local art on the wall.  Inside the crib, dresser and changing table are quilts, hats, sweaters, blankets, booties and moccasins; all made by our loved ones and friends.  Their generosity still overwhelms me!  Even the mobile is hand made.  The cradle was built by Amy's father.  The flooring was installed and walls painted by Amy's moms.  My parents gave us the dresser.  The books, not to mention the lamp to read by during the long winter nights were thoughtfully given by countless friends and family.  

The baby's room is complete.  As with everything that goes with homesteading, it took a lot longer than expected.  That doesn't matter, our "nest" is ready for the little Demmlet's arrival.  It may be early, however, I am already convinced in the validity of the old saying "it takes a village".  Thank you!!!

Bogus Lake

Today marks the beginning of the paddling season!  

With gusty winds out of the west and temperatures in the mid forties all three of us explored Bogus Lake.  It's a small lake (only 17 acres), yet sports a decent population of Splake (hybrid of brook and lake trout).  A babbling, cedar and sugar maple-lined brook drops from the northwest shore and meets up with the Kadunce Creek.  A paddler along the southern shore of Bogus feels as if they're on the top of the world.  The shoreline itself is subtle but immediately drops into a black ash wetland.  Bogus Lake sits over 1,200 feet above Lake Superior and yet is barely five miles in distance giving it an odd alpine feel.  The big lake looms in the distance from it's southern shore.

True Northerner: 38 weeks and paddling  

Judging by the buckets hanging from trees along the sugar bush of Maple Hill sap is still flowing.  Wild blue flag iris have sprouted along the lakes and in our front garden.  A fox crossed the road during our drive down the hill.  Just shy of two tenths of an inch of rain fell yesterday evening. 

I recently built some pantry shelving.  I continue to sift through the poplar from the winter clearing for "keeper" firewood and figure that I have about one and a half cords stacked.  This prompted me into the beginning stages of planning a new wood shed.  Anyone wanna come help peel spruce logs?  

 

Clear, sunny skies.  Seasonal temperatures: highs in the mid to upper 40's and lows in the twenties.  A light frost at night.   Snowshoe hare are turning back to their warm season brown coat.  Saw a wolf on the road in the early afternoon.  Grouse continue to drum incessantly at night.  The local rivers are beginning to beckon anglers for Steelhead.  With water temperatures in the 41-42 degree range folks have lately been having decent luck.