Saturday, March 6, 1993 - entry by Pat
Sunny and 42. Arrived about 11:30am. Had to park on 49 and walk in. Snow was
knee deep. We walked in and shoveled open the garage. The crawler wouldn't
start. Jeff put the charger on the battery. I started a fire to warm the cabin.
Jeff started the Jeep and tried to drive out the driveway. We got stuck three
times and gave up. We walked back out with the sled, filled it up and hauled it
in. It kept tipping over and it was very hard going. Took an hour for one load.
Crawler still wouldn't start. We rested a few minutes. My boots were soaked so I
had to wear Doug's old moon boots. Very clumsy and large. We walked back out,
pulled the Jeep into T'man's driveway, walked down the back and hauled our
last load over the frozen lake. It was a lot easier as the snow was melted off
the bank. We sat down for a beer and Bill and Bob walked up from the lake. Were
we surprised. They invited us over for a drink and sauna. We found what dry
clothes we had and went over. Jeff took a sauna while I chatted with Sharon and
Margo. We got back to the cabin about 8:30pm. Ate dinner and went to bed. It was
snowing when we went to bed.
Sunday, March 7th, 1993 - entry by Pat
Slept great. The cabin was warm. Jeff tried the crawler one more time and it
still wouldn't start. We packed up.
Friday, April 9th, 1993 - entry by Pat
Arrived about 8:30pm. Not much snow in the driveway. Just patches in the low
spots. Filled the stainless steel milk cans from the pump. The lake was melted
back from the shore about six feet.
Saturday, April 10th, 1993 - entry by Pat
Partly cloudy, 45. Went for a morning walk. Planted four Ponderosa Pines along
the driveway and planted six more down by the lake. Jeff worked on the water
lines. We started the water about 5pm. Cooked pot roast all day - Ate dinner
about 8pm. Took showers and went to bed.
Sunday, April 11th, 1993 - entry by Pat
Snow, 33. Went for a morning walk. Tried to transplant some trees, however the
ground by the sawmill was frozen. Packed up, went home.
Friday, May 7th, 1993 - entry by Pat
Cloudy, 60. Arrived about 10pm. We realized that we forgot the keys around
Aitkin. We also forgot the flashlights. Jeff held up the cable just high enough
to squeeze the Jeep under. We weren't sure that we had a spare key in the hiding
place. We bought a small flashlight in Grand Rapids. The fish flies were in full
force. Jeff started the water. Brought our new cellular phone.
Saturday, May 8th, 1993 - entry by Pat
Took a morning walk. One of the new treasures was dug up. There was a tree down
on the old road. We walked over to T'man's. They weren't there and it started
to rain. Walked back thru the woods. Jeff started the Jeep. Started to rain so I
painted the electrical wire on the wall and cleaned some shelves in the closet.
Rain stopped so we drove the Jeep out with the chain saw and a shovel. Took down
the tree blocking the driveway and moved another one that was in the logging
road. We also transplanted two more trees. We planted four more Ponderosa Pines
by the garage. The six trees we planted last time by the lake were dug up. Only
one was there and we tried to replant that one - the rest were entirely gone
only a hole remained.
Sunday, May 9th, 1993 - entry by Pat
Cloudy, 60s. Very windy. Went for a morning walk. Jeff tried to fix the coffee
pot.
Friday, May 28th, 1993 - entry by Pat
Clear, 41. 1.5" rain gauge. JoAnn and Jeff N. arrived 10pm. Started the
fire and did nothing. They had Megan with them. They started everything. They
drove JoAnn's new Saturn and only used $5 in gas. We arrived around 2:15am. Had
a drink and went to bed.
Saturday, May 29th, 1993 - entry by Pat
Slept late and had a big breakfast. We took a walk. Jeff fixed a couple lamps.
We decided to paint the dock. Jeff and JoAnn went to town and tried to get a
free six pack of beer with a rubber glove balloon that we found on our walk on
the beach. The glove stated that they could get a free six-pack at Richies. Just
a joke, but they came home with a loaf of bread. We painted the dock while Jeff
started the lawn mower and put some new boards on the dock. Then we cleaned the
steps - between the boards and Jeff mowed. Down by the lake under the corrugated
metal, Megan flushed out a large black and white squirrel (skunk). She got a
mouthful of fur and a new odor. Jeff and JoAnn went back to town for Fels Naptha
soap. Megan got a bath. By then it was happy hour. Jeff couldn't mow anymore
'cause he pulled the starter rope out of the mower. We grilled chicken and went
to bed.
Sunday, May 30th, 1993 - entry by Pat
Rain and cloudy, 47. 1/2" rain. Had waffles. We couldn't go for a walk so
we went for a ride to look at property for M. Murphy on Turtle Lake. The first
piece was muddy. Then we stopped at Larson's to see their addition. The second
piece had a big hill. When we had to drive up the hill to leave we had problems.
It took us five-six tries even in low range 4WD. We thought we wouldn't get out.
Finally Jeff in low range burned up the hill slipping all over. The Jeep was a
muddy mess. We stopped at North Woods Industries and the bait shop for ice
cream. When we got home we cleaned up the iron stuff and hung it on the wall.
Jeff and JoAnn played gin. Jeff won and got to sleep in the top bed. Jeff B.
washed the car and went fishing. He caught a 5 pound lake trout in the shallows.
He let it go. The rest of us walked to the big rock and Jeff picked us up for a
boat ride. The sun came out. We had chili and went to bed. Watched news.
Monday, May 31st, 1993 (Memorial Day) - entry by Pat
Snow warnings from previous evening didn't happen. Went for a long morning walk.
Came back and put the dock in. It was very cold. Jeff and JoAnn did the cold
stuff. We ate lunch, packed up, and wrote journal.
Saturday, June 26th, 1993 - entry by Pat
Partly cloudy, 70. 2.5" rain gauge. Arrived 12:30pm with Doug and 4
wheeler. Unpacked and mowed grass. Jeff had to fix the lawn mower. Recoil
starter. Mowed lake shore and out by the road and Jeff mowed all the way down
the driveway. Doug came back from T'man's with the four wheeler making noise.
We determined that it shouldn't be driven so we reloaded it on the trailer. We
loaded the Jeep to go to Duck Lake and on the way out the driveway the wheel was
making so much noise that we had to turn around. We went fishing on Caribou and
caught one but it was cold and windy. We came back and started dinner. Bill,
Sharon, Bob and Margo stopped over for a visit. We ate dinner and went to bed.
Sunday, June 27th, 1993 - entry by Pat
Cloudy, rainy, 50. Worked on the Jeep wheel for hours. Never came off. Walked
out to sawmill and got the plastic to cover the beach. Cleaned and packed up.
Friday, July 2nd, 1993 - entry by Pat
Clear, 64. Trace of rain. Arrived about 9:15pm. Stopped at L&M for battery.
Unpacked etc. Just finished when JoAnn and Jeff arrived. Moon was shining on a
calm lake. Brought an 8 gallon keg leftover from JoAnn's grad party. We tapped
the key, ate pizza, turned in around 12.
Saturday, July 3rd, 1993 - entry by Pat
Cloudy, 60s. We got up around 8:30 made breakfast and took the boat to the
campground to launch. Jeff worked on the Jeep, still the hub won't come off.
JoAnn and I cut the pad for the rug on the porch while Jeff N. put all the games
away in the closet. Jeff worked on putting the new battery in the crawler. No
success. JoAnn, Jeff N. and I went to Lara Williamson's (North Woods Industries)
while Jeff replaced the screen in the screen door. A thunderstorm came up so we
cooked inside. After dinner, the wind came up so strong that we had to go down
to the lake and beach the boat. We had Jeff N's birthday party and played his
new game till 11:30pm (Jeff and I won). It rained and thundered and blew all
night.
Sunday, July 4th, 1993 - entry by Pat
Sunny, 70. 1.5" rain. It was raining when we got up. We ate waffles. Jeff
worked on the Jeep again. It cleared up about 1:30pm. Jeff and I put the battery
in the crawler. We had to jack it up and jump it. Finally it started so we could
raise the bucket and get it in. JoAnn and Jeff N. raked the beach. Jeff N.
started digging up a stump. Jeff came down to the lake and we all worked on
getting the boat out of the sand. We took a boat ride to T'man's. We stopped
at Bill's first then Bob's to see his new garage. We went home and barbequed.
JoAnn and Jeff N. started a game so Jeff and I went for a boat ride. We came
back and shot fireworks. (too windy for a bonfire) Went to bed about 12 after a
moonlight boat ride.
Monday, July 5th, 1993 - entry by Pat
Sunny, 75, windy. Jeff and JoAnn hit the beach early. Jeff B. and I went for a
walk and saw three deer at the sawmill (Meg chased one of them). Jeff ran the
crawler down to the beach and finished the job Jeff N. started. He pulled the
stump out. We raked in the huge hole. JoAnn fed flies to the frogs in the
lagoon. We went for another boat ride. Cleaned up the beach. Packed up, cleaned,
etc.
Thursday, July 15th, 1993 - entry by Pat
Cloudy, rain, 65. 2.2" rain gauge. Arrived about 10:30 unpacked the car in
light rain. It rained heavy and thunder storms all night.
Friday, July 16th, 1993 - entry by Pat
Rain and 61. Windy. Slept late. Made breakfast. Jeff and I cleaned all the
windows inside and out in spite of the light rain. Removed all of the furniture
from the kitchen and washed, stripped some areas and waxed the floor. We took
Meg for a walk. Lake up about 3". We have to jump to the dock.
Saturday, July 17th, 1993 - entry by Pat
Partly cloudy, 80. Calm. Humid. Got up early ate a lite breakfast. Went to an
auction south of Bovey. Crossed over on #61. Looked interesting...we should
explore later. Auction was okay. Some things going high. Bought Lincoln Logs and
old toys for Doug for B'days, etc. It was going pretty slow so we had to leave.
Stopped at L&M and Coles Hardware for screening for chimney and piece of
sheet metal for the old chimney. Returned home around 2:30pm. Jeff washed our
"stuff" with the hose while I split some kindling wood. Jeff went upon
the roof to see if he could see where the old chimney is leaking. Some of the
bricks have deteriorated. He BlackJacked suspicious areas and cleaned the wood
stove chimney. About 5pm we put the Jon boat on the white Jeep and drove to Duck
Lake. The hill was very muddy - we had another four-wheeling adventure getting
out of there. We did catch three good fish. Jeff cleaned the fish and took a
swim. We had fresh fish for dinner.
Sunday, July 18th, 1993 - entry by Pat
Sunny, 80. Had to leave early to go to a family picnic.
Friday, July 23rd, 1993 - entry by Jeff Neau
Temp: Unknown. Jeff and JoAnn brought Jeff K. and Sheila up for the first time.
Arrived about 10pm (pitch dark outside). Fooled Jeff and Sheila into thinking
that the old cabin was the cabin. Sheila wanted to go home until JoAnn
turned the power on and they figured it out. We stayed up pretty late playing
"Mind Trap" and eating junk food.
Saturday, July 24th, 1993 - entry by Jeff Neau
Temp: 60-70, mostly cloudy. Made "Egg Bake" for breakfast. Went and
put Jeff K's boat into the water. Spent the afternoon skiing, tubing, and
watching Jeff K. troll. He couldn't get over how clear the water was. Jeff K.
put us all to shame with his skiing and tubing expertise. We were all pretty
worn out by 5pm. The sun kept trying to come out all day, but never quite made
it. We had a long happy hour, ate a big dinner, and fell asleep playing games.
Sunday, July 25th, 1993 - entry by Jeff Neau
Got up around 10am. Took the boat around the lake a few more times. Cleaned up
the cabin and got ready to go. JoAnn and Sheila ended up driving the boat over
to the landing while the Jeffs drove the van over and locked the gate. As soon
as they got the boat out on the lake, it started raining like cats and dogs.
When the Jeffs got over to the landing, JoAnn and Sheila were waiting out in the
lake while some guy took his time getting his boat out of the water. He finally
got out of the way, but it took Jeff K. another ten minutes to back his trailer
into the water. We loaded up the boat, almost got the van stuck in the mud, and
took off.
Friday, August 13th, 1993 - entry by Pat
66 and clear. 2.2" in rain gauge. Arrived about 9pm. Opened up and
unpacked. Ate pizza and went to bed.
Saturday, August 14th, 1993 - entry by Pat
Rain, partly cloudy, 75. Rained. Stopped about 10:30am. Went for a walk. Jeff
pruned the balsam Christmas tree. We cleaned the bushes and grass around the old
gate and took pictures. We then hung the moose head and antlers above the
windows of the cabin. It's very heavy. Jeff had to first mount it on a board. We
were going to mow the grass, but Jeff had to first fix the lawn mower. While he
did that, I painted the screen door. We then mowed the grass around the cabin,
out the driveway and down by the lake. Afterwards we took a swim. We cooked and
ate supper. After supper we went for a walk out the driveway. When we got back
it was dark. Meg ran down along the lake. We walked up to the deck and called
her. She came straight up the bank to us and we realized that she had been
skunked again. Jeff had to take her down to the lake for a bath. We dried her
and went to bed.
Sunday, August 15th, 1993 - entry by Pat
Rain, partly cloudy, 80. Humid. Looked for the skunk along the beach. Didn't
find it. Cut down two trees. One maple and one birch. Took a swim. Cleaned, etc.
Friday, September 10th, 1993 - entry by Pat
Sunny, windy, 55. 3" rain gauge. Arrived 12:30pm. Unpacked, etc. Cabin was
cold built a fire. Took naps. Walked down to the lake. Meg thought the skunk was
under the metal culvert piece. Jeff got his gun and worked on trying to get him
out. No luck. Ate dinner, went to bed.
Saturday, September 11th, 1993 - entry by Pat
Cloudy, windy, 50. Took a morning walk. Jeff did the mowing while I pruned the
trees down the road down to the lake. We mowed out by the road as well. Jeff
fixed the door lock and installed the two GFIs by the sinks while I puttered
around dusting, etc. Still very windy so we took the hide-a-bed mattress and
cushions out on the deck to air out overnight.
Sunday, September 12th, 1993 - entry by Pat
Windy, drizzly, 60. We woke to rain and had to run out and bring in the mattress
and cushions. John Schwartz, the Jehovah Witness visited. Jeff was in his PJs
and let his pee pee hang out. We couldn't get rid of him fast enough. Are we
ever safe?? We went for a walk. When we got almost back to the cabin, Meg caught
a scent of something and ran down along the shore. Jeff followed her. He could
see something in the grass next to the lake just below the cabin. He called for
me to get the gun. I brought him the gun and carried Meg up the hill to the
cabin. She fought me all the way. Jeff determined that it wasn't a skunk. It was
a raccoon. we couldn't get it to move. I went back up the hill and Jeff watched
it. The raccoon had trouble walking so Jeff determined that it was sick or
injured and should be destroyed. Jeff shot it and I got the shovel. We buried it
below the cabin and covered the grave with rocks so that nothing would dig it
up. It was injured...it had something wrong with its hind quarter.
Friday, September 17th, 1993 - entry by Pat
Sunny, 65. .8" rain gauge. Arrived about 2:30pm. Unpacked the car and put
the boat in at the campground. Ate dinner about 8pm and waited for Steve, Pat,
Ted, Elizabeth and Butchy. They arrived about 10:30pm. We had some snacks and
drinks and put the kids to bed. We walked down to the lake to take a boat ride.
Butchy walked off the end of the dock into the lake. He didn't see the water. We
shut off the lights on the boat and looked at the stars. Went to bed about 1am.
Saturday, September 18th, 1993 - entry by Pat
Sunny, 68. Made breakfast and everyone but Ted took a morning walk. He stayed
behind to fish off the dock. We walked out the driveway and through the woods
down to the big rock, along the shore and back to the dock where we had to
untangle the line in Ted's reel. We sat around the beach a while, looked for
mushrooms to carve. Then we decided to go into Grand Rapids looking for garage
sales. The first one we found was at Stone Acres. We then decided to go to
Marcell instead. We stopped and explored around the Rice River and at the
tourist shop in Marcell. When we arrived back at the cabin, Jeff, Steve and Ted
went fishing. Pat took a nap and Elizabeth and I went for a walk at Suomi Hills.
Ted caught two bass. When we got back from our walk, Pat was sitting down by the
lake. Elizabeth, Pat and I started the bonfire. The guys came back from fishing
and Jeff took Pat, Ted, and I for a boat ride. Ted drove. We sat around the
bonfire till dark and decided it was time to fix dinner. We made veggies, garlic
potatoes and barbequed steak (on the grill). The kids were in bed before we
finished eating. We went to bed about 12.
Sunday, September 19th, 1993 - entry by Pat
Sunny, 70. We had waffles for breakfast. Ted and Elizabeth went fishing to the
big rock while we made breakfast. After breakfast we all jumped in the car and
drove to the CCC camp. We explored around there and found the old fireplace, old
footings and sidewalks, etc. We then drove across the road to the Suomi Hills
trails. We walked from Adele Lake to Doctor Lake to Pot Hole Lake and almost to
Spruce Island Lake and we had to turn around because we ran out of time. It was
a beautiful day for a walk. When we arrived back at the cabin, Ted, Elizabeth
and Steve target practiced with the 22 pistol. They left about 5pm.
Monday, September 20th, 1993 - entry by Pat
Cloudy, windy, 55. Telephone man came about 10. He wanted to run the line down
the driveway. We took a walk over the T'man's and looked at Bob's garage. Meg
took off on the way back. Jeff worked on the Jeep wheel. Still couldn't get it
off. I ran into Marcell to the garage to see if they would work on the Jeep
while Jeff started pulling the wire for the new bathroom heater. I helped when I
returned. He stepped on a board and went through a kitchen ceiling tile. We ate
dinner and went to bed.
Tuesday, September 21st, 1993 - entry by Pat
Cloudy, 55. We took the little Jeep into Marcell for a new wheel bearing. We
stopped at the lumber yard and picked up sheet rock for the bathroom and the
kitchen ceiling. We returned to the cabin and the telephone people had begun to
run their line. We started tearing the shower wall out and put the new plumbing
in place. We quit about 8:30. We had to park the white Jeep in the garage and
cover the sheet rock on the top.
Wednesday, September 22nd, 1993 - entry by Pat
Sunny, 60. We continued working on the bathroom. We took the rest of the north
wall out and I insulated while Jeff sheet rocked. We put up a vapor barrier of
old plastic and Knox door bags. I ran into Marcell to check on the Jeep. They
had to order more parts and he said that the brakes were bad. When I returned
home Jeff called the garage and told them to also fix the brakes. We were
suppose to check back Friday AM. We worked on the bathroom till 9pm. We did get
the door ledge done and one interior strip in place.
Thursday, September 23rd, 1993 - entry by Pat
Sunny, 70. We continued in the bathroom. We glued up the rest of the enclosure.
Jeff caulked the inside and we installed the door. We finished about 8pm. Doug
and Clarice called and they are coming up Friday about noon.
Friday, September 24th, 1993 - entry by Pat
We ran into town to get the Jeep. They said it would be another hour so we
picked up propane and groceries (at Pete's) and returned home. We started with
the kitchen ceiling. We weren't quite done when Doug and Clarice arrived
(12:30). When we finished the ceiling we put up the rest of the sheet rock on
the bathroom wall. We went into town to get the Jeep. Now they wanted to replace
the seals and bearings in the other wheel. We made arrangements to drop if off
on Sunday and they could work on it for two weeks. Jeff and Doug drove the Jeep
back. We stopped at Boeke's garage sale and Clarice & Doug reminisced with
the about Stone Acres. We returned to the cabin and fixed dinner. We ate earlier
than usual and had trouble staying up.
Saturday, September 25th, 1993 - entry by Pat
Sunny, 75. We took a morning walk along the old road just newly opened up by the
telephone people. We ended up down at the beach. We took a slow boat ride around
the lake. The fall colors were peak. Jeff and Doug took the little Jeep over to
Duck Lake to fish off shore. While Clarice and I took a ride to the Buckhorn
Craft Shop (closed) and to Duck Lake also. Doug and Clarice left about 1:30. We
went out and cut some wood. Jeff installed the bathroom heater and finished
wiring it into electric box. We picked up the construction equipment and the
junk for the dump and hauled it down to the garage. We took the Jeep over to
Duck Lake fishing around 5pm. It was calm and warm and we didn't even get a
strike much less a fish. We were over in the bay when we heard some splashing.
We looked over on the shore and saw two moose feeding. We watched them for quite
a while. They watched us as well. It appeared to be a female and a large calf.
We arrived home about dark. 8pm.
Sunday, September 26th, 1993 - entry by Pat
Cloudy, 50. Bill, Bob, Sharon and Margo stopped over for a visit. We pack up,
etc.