Northwoods Journal
Saturday, May 25, 2013
Five adults and five dogs in this two bedroom mobile home means cramped quarters, but I wouldn’t have it any other way! No big family breakfast this morning though, because Mark had more sales he wanted to get to first thing, so everyone had to make do with cereal and cinnamon rolls. We headed out in the nippy morning air, with another crystal clear blue sky. The kids went out on their own, going toward Alpena to visit the Fletcher Street brewery over there and do some shopping. At our second garage sale stop we ran into the friends we cooked out with last night. I really wasn’t much in the mood for sales today. The day was much too gorgeous to be stuck in the car all day, so we were back in Atlanta by noon. Stopped at the junktiques store to have a quick visit with our new buddy there, and took a peek at the new ice cream place in town. The air in there was heavy with the sweet aroma of homemade waffle cones. We are definitely going back there with the whole gang!
We ate our lunch in the sunshine, kicked back in the Adirondack chairs. The temps were a bit crazy; too hot in the direct sun, too cool in the shade, so I had to keep moving my chair to try and get half-and-half. Friends of ours from down home, who have a cabin in Lewiston, stopped in for a short visit. Our kids came back from their adventure to Alpena so we all lazed around in the sun and shade. Mark finished the second set of porch steps so was finally able to put away all the tools. Katy and I stuck our noses in our books while Pete and Nathan played “A Game of Thrones”, a new board game they bought while they were out. Sometimes for me, the best northwoods adventure is no adventure at all!
Mark and I and Katy took the five dogs for a walk – just back to the lake that is behind our place. Saw bear tracks on the trail. Came back feeling hot and sweaty but within ten minutes I was cold again! The guys got ORV stickers for their vehicles so were anxious to go out on the trails and do some 4-wheeling. They headed out after dinner but I stayed behind to wash up the mountain of dirty dishes and enjoy a bit of quiet time.
They had a great time on their off-road adventure. Pete managed to give his new Wrangler a red-neck paint job, so he was happy. They went over to Lookout Ridge and tried to drive all the way to the top. Normally we park near the top and then walk the last steep hill to the peak. They tried several times to drive to the top but no luck and it was a good thing Mark remembered to take the shovel!
We had a campfire and made s’mores, listening to the night sounds. No owls, coyotes, whip-or-wills or hermit thrushes. Nothing but the peepers. Mark and I stayed out until the stars began to appear one by one.
Female rose-breasted grosbeak.
Birds today: ruby-throated hummingbird, chickadee, white-breasted nuthatch, rose-breasted grosbeaks, blue jays, downy woodpecker, hairy woodpecker, chipping sparrow, mourning dove, robin.
45 Degrees North 