Hoist bay.
Back at the lake for another summer.
Everything looks to be in good order. I'll do a more thorough inspection tomorrow.
The carport tarp did not survive the winter.
The swing under the porch is another casualty. This is destine for the burn pile.
The old tarp is gone. It lasted 8 years so no complaints. The question now is: do we really need this carport at all?
What a sad end for this swing. I enjoyed building it back in 2011 but it never did get much use.
I hope the Roomba is hungry for Asian beetle carcases.
This is unexpected for the middle of May.
First hummingbird (that I was able to photograph).
Biennial maintenance on outboard motor: change oil and oil filter, replace spark plugs, replace oil in lower unit and grease zerk fittings.
This is a big item off my to-do list. Next is the boat.
Motor on the boat and the boat is in the water. Thanks to Rich Halverson for some much needed help with the motor.
A little late this year but the ducks are finally in the water. I'm down to just two.
A new set of bumpers and cleats in anticipation of a second boat.
First fishing trip with Burney. It's not a BIG bass but it is a bass. Let the games begin.
My first bass of the season.
Rob, Terri and Riley arrive with the new boat.
The porch pine is looking pretty sad.
I doubt the hummingbirds care. I think they just want a spot close to the feeder to wait for their turn.
The new boat has been launched and is ready to catch some fish.
Preparing the deck for staining. I just did this two years ago. I wish now I had used some Trex-like boards instead of wood.
Rob & Terri got a bunch of new perennials for around the cabin.
Phase 1 of deck staining done. Still to do is 3' there on the south side and every other stair.
Finally, some flowers in the barrel.
I think I'm done with the deck now.The boards have been stained, the rotted section of railing has been replaced and the horizontal railings have been painted.
Rob, Terri & Riley leave for Denver. I always have a good time when they're here.
I'm late with the hanging basket for the deck too. Fuchsia again this year.
Big Mantrap Lake Association meeting at the Stell cabin.
Rewebbing these old lawn chairs is probably just makework. I'm sure there are more pressing issues that need my attention. (I may need to make all the colors the same.)
An inch of much needed rain last night along with very strong (blow stuff off the deck) winds. Luckily only two trees down on the road.
Amanda and Kyler's wedding in Denver. This was quite the production - great fun.
Brandon, Kaitlin and Rhys arrive along with their Kaitlin's brother Chris and his wife Megan and shy Maise. Not pictured are Roxie and Avi who are locked away in the log cabin.
Bad storm last evening. The road is a mess. Brandon, Chris and I cleared about a 1/3 of the road. We were rescued by Bill Mills and Dave Sauer with his Bobcat.
Thanks to our recuers the Texas crew was able leave as they planned.
Another tree in front of the log cabin went down breaking a pane in the kitchen window.
Fortunately there was a pane of glass for this window that has been waiting for over 60 years to called into service.
Starting to dispose of that big tamarack at the bottom of the stairs that blew down during the storm. This is going to take me a couple of days.
Dorothy arrives.
7/10/2025
The road after the storm
(MOVIE
Dinner with Barb and Burney. Fresh crappies.
Here's that tamarack that broke off in the storm. I want to use the winch to pull this hanging bit down and drag it up the hill.
Here it is up by the fire pit south of the cabin.
Dorothy flies back to Detroit.
Burning up the last of the Tamarack.
I need to do some repairs on the Little Free Library. It needs to have the plywood base replaced and new shingles
The library is back and as good as new.
So far this summer there have only been one or two hummingsbirds. Now all of sudden there are lots - eight just a moment ago.
Bass have been very hard to catch for a couple of weeks but today I got the biggest one I've caught all year - 4.3 lbs.
Northern Lights Opera production of Once Upon A Mattress with the Barb, Burney and Bill Mills.
Rob, Terri, Brandon, Rhys and Riley arrive.
Fischer's annual neighborhood party was a big success.
Woohoo.
I had to conjole these guys to drive down the road. They had their doubts.
The truck did make it through the road so we now have a new refridgerator in the log cabin.
Brandon and Rhys leave - heading back to Houston.
Rob and I (mostly Rob) replace the spring loaded chimney cap that blew off in the storm last month.
Chris Farden grades the road. It's finally in pretty good shape.
BMLA fall meeting at the old Trails End Resort.
Jim arrives.
Rob, Terri and Riley took a trip to Duluth for a few days.
Taylor, Casey, Ryder and Haven arrive first.
Aubrey, Mark, Luke and Lakelyn arrive a couple of hours later.
Taylor snags a 3.5 pound bass off the dock. She IS the bass master.
You never forget your first.
Aubrey, Mark, Luke and Lakelyn start the long drive back to Michigan.
Taylor, Casey, Ryder and Haven head back home.
Rob, Terri & Riley return from their trip to Duluth.
Jim leaves for home.
Rob opened up the path to Widow's Point. The July 5th storm left dozens of sections like this.
The birdbath iced over this morning.
Andrew and Crystal arrive from Houston. Banzai and Addy are racing around.
Rob, Terri and Riley head back to Denver. I'm going to miss you guys.
Andrew, Crystal, Banzai and Addy head back to Houston.
*****
Chris arrived on the late flight last night. It's time to go fishing,
I haven't seen a hummingbird in a week now. I suppose it's time to take in the feeder.
We added an outlet and rewired the sconce to be controlled by the switch next to the door.
Fishing in Burney's boat and then Barb made dinner.
Mike and Casey from Charlie's in PR came to take the boat away for the winter,
36th Annual Bass Tournament
Bill (11) 24.2
Chris (15) 31.6
Bass over 1 pound
Total number: 73
Total pounds: 162.2
Biggest: 4.6
The boat, motor and dock are tucked away for the winter.
Chris heads back to warmer Florida. Congratulations on your bass tournament victory.
The log cabin is closed uo for year.
One last look for this year.
And I'm out of here.
Northern Lights