ANNUAL SUMMER ESCAPE
We headed to the cabin on Tuesday, August 7th
with Linds for our annual retreat. We had a couple of days of rain mid-week and
were not able to get outside for our usual activities. During the week, Linds
prepared some tasty dishes including a shrimp appetizer and a chicken/green
olive/artichoke/tomato dish that was terrific. We always complete a project
with Linds and this year it was an upholstered headboard that turned out very
nice.
Linds and I got out on Wednesday the 8th between
showers for a special duty. We went into the Nicolet National Forest to rescue
two little white pines we found growing by the roadside. This is a practice
that gives the trees a chance, as they are certain to be snow plowed, cut off,
or run over before too long. After 30 minutes of driving narrow logging roads
we found two white pines 2-3’ tall growing within a couple feet of the road.
Linds dug them up carefully and brought them back and planted them in memory of
two little angels, Catherine and Hattie. Linds took charge of the digging,
planting, and watering. I took care of the photography. We will continue to
water and look after these trees because they were planted with special
purpose. White pines grow well. In just a few years these will be stunning and
we will all remember with pride our rescue and the reasons why.
After the periodic rain on Wednesday and Thursday, we made
the most of Friday. Golfing in the morning at Big Sand, and kayaking in the
afternoon with Connie and Gary Greene on the Deerskin River.
If that wasn’t enough, after kayaking we went to an early
dinner at Eagle Waters and stopped at the new brewery in Eagle River, Tribute
Brewing. Had a great time sampling some guest beers and talking with the owner,
Bill Summers.
A highlight of the summer was a visit with Nathaniel (Puddy)
Greene and girlfriend Shainah Reid. They came up Friday evening and we could
not have had a better reunion at the lake. We went on a bike ride on the new
trail going west from Land O’ Lakes at the Forest Lake Country Store. This was
a ride led by Dick Leinenkugel of the Leinenkugel Brewing Company. Here’s a
picture of our group of 7 with Dick after the ride. Pics here also of Linds,
Puddy and Shainah.
Puddy had not been here for several years and he has a storehouse
of wonderful memories from coming to Manuel Lake throughout his childhood when
our families vacationed together. He quickly “went native”, eagerly jumping in
the lake for a swim. He and Shainah went sailing, her first time. From the
shore, I heard plenty of “Oh my God” as the boat tipped in the wind. We walked
the nature trail and Puddy climbed the white pines that the four kids used to
spend hours climbing. He even remembered many of the branches – their bends,
breaks and formations. On this walk, I learned that one of these trees was the
General Store and the other was the Rain Fort Tree. On Saturday night we had a
campfire on the beach and roasted marshmallows, using original “pot passers”
that Puddy’s dad Gary had made some years earlier. I had left these pot passers
in the shed, just where Gary left them.
Mary and I hiked into Blackjack Springs Wilderness with
Linds and made sure we visited the memory box with the guest book.
Puddy and Shainah, and Connie and Gary all left about Noon
on Sunday. Mary, Linds and I were not far behind.
