The intention of this page is to allow friends and family scatttered over the country a method of following the activities, changing seasons, weather and phenology of our little bit of "paradise". I will update this page every other week or so. Bill 11/21/98
Sept 19 - Oct 4, 2000
We returned yesterday from two weeks in Missouri. In retirement, I had wanted to spend some time assisting my brother and his son with the harvest. The corn crop is looking good and the soybean harvest is yet to come. The harvest is nearing the halfway point and my only regret was in not being able to help for a longer period of time. During our stay we enjoyed being witness to the Monarch migration, with thousands of Monarch butterflys flying to the south. Mom and Dad are in good health, while my grandmother is having a slow recovery from a broken hip.It was wonderful to share the time we did and be of some assistance. Fall color is everywhere we look here at home. The leaves are filling the yard and large patches of sky are where leaves were a short few hours ago. Snow has returned to the forecast for the weekend and frost covered all windshields this morning. With the frost, the trees now will drop their leaves at an even greater rate.
Sept 13 - Sept 18, 2000
Today I finished up the siding on the north wall of the porch. Nearly 85 degrees today, more than a week of wonderful summer weather. Last Wed and Thur we went sailing on Lake Superior with Rod and Meredith. Saturday we went golfing with Don and Diane, so we have had some R&R for a change. Sure is nice to see this project coming to an end.
August 21 - Sept 12, 2000
Today is the day I have been looking forward to! Except for the siding and the carpet upstairs, we are done! I finished the porch insulation (under the floor) and the heat ducts today. We have a PERFECT day today, sunny and temp in the high 60's. The trees are about 20% turned at this point and the view from the addition gets better each day. Sunday we invited the neighbors over for wine and pizza on the new porch. We are off on a sailing trip (Lake Superior ) tomorrow and Thursday. My 91 yr old dad had surgery this morning, and things are well at this time. We thank the Lord for that and all other things.
August 8 - August 20, 2000
"Back to Work"! All of our visitors have returned home and it is now time to start the final push to get things ready for winter. The weather has cooled off considerably during the past week. I am currently working on insulating and paneling the upstairs room since it is the only one of the two that MUST BE HEATED! Once done there I will start on the interior work on the porch. The visits were wonderful, and it was so nice to see everyone and get a chance to see how much Dustin had matured in the 3 months since we had last seen him. What a difference!! Huge. We had another 3 plus inches of rain while the kids were here. The Morning Glories are finally blooming as are the Holly Hawks (sp). The tall purple phlox also started blooming within the last two weeks. These flowers are pushing their luck being so late, because we are at a point where we could have a frost any week now. Most other flowers are beyond their prime. Bummer!!
July 24 - August 7, 2000
Well we hope to start to enjoy what remains of summer with things other than construction. Today we installed the last window and all of the roofing has been completed. With the house "weather tight" again, we can relax a little from the 12hr workdays.
Dave, Tracy and Dustin are in Minnesota for the next two weeks. Tracy's mom undergoes cancer surgery on the 8th so we are praying for the best there. Laura and Dean plan a trip back next weekend to see the gang and we look forward to the entire family being together.
July 7 - July 23, 2000
Pat and I just returned from a 4 day trip up to Winnipeg. I had a annual Amateur Radio Conference, that I had not attended for many years and we decided since it was so close, that we needed to return to see old friends. It was a very good conference and a good time. This was the first break that we have had from the construction for nearly two weeks, and it was a needed break. Progress continues, I finished the west near vertical wall Wed before we left Thursday. It is insulated, sheeted and shingled. I will start the east wall in the morning. We have yet to strip the shingles from the house on that side, so don't know if we have any water damage like we had on the other side or not. I will not be doing that until I have the east wall of the addition sheeted and perhaps even shingled. The weather has been dry for the last two weeks and in fact, we are now in the need of rain.
June 25 - July 7, 2000
The last two weeks have been spent in daily efforts on the addition. At this point all framing is done, windows and the door on the main floor is installed. Next is flashing between the original house and the addition and roofing. We discovered some water damage from failed shingles yesterday, as we started removing shingles from the house. SO a bit more work will be involved there. (Some sheeting will have to be replaced. The "Web Site" contains photos of the latest progress. Laura and Dean were home last weekend and between them and Don and Dianne, they organized a "Retirement Party" for us at the golf course restaurant. The Libby's, Meyers, Bleifuss's and Klennert's, Zimerman's, Walters all attended. We thought it was just going to be "lunch out", but it was much more. Many kind words were spoken, gifts were given and we had a wonderful time. Thanks gang! We love you all.
June 20 - June 24, 2000
Rain, Rain, Rain.. 4 inches total in a little over a week. Today (Sat) was the first clear day we have had in two weeks. However more rain is in the forecast. Stained the tongue and grove material for the porch ceiling/floor during the rain. Got it installed in the porch and started the beam system for the second floor. Boy to have a few more days like today!!
June 12 - June 19, 2000
Phil, Trudy, Laura and Dean all left Monday, so I returned to the construction project. On Monday I framed up the two remaining walls and the Tues-Thur, cut into the house and got the beams for the porch ceiling installed. Two days this week, construction was cut short because of rain. Friday, we were off to see Laura and Dean's addition now that it is complete. It is wonderful!
June 5 - June 11, 2000
The construction has been the focus of the entire week. I started on Monday morning and things are moving along OK. We had company for the weekend, so we were able to take a break from the 12hr days we had been working. Phil and Trudy Jacoby came in from Florida and we had a wonderful visit with them. This was the first time they had returned to the area since they left Grand Forks after the flood. They looked GREAT! Dean and Laura also came in Sunday afternoon from Wisconson, they had a funeral Monday for Laura's best friend's Mother. It was great to see them and they really enjoyed seeing Phil and Trudy.
May 29 - June 4, 2000
This is now the home of two RETIRED teachers! It became official Thursday with a district retirement breakfast followed by a building retirement lunch. There were many kind words, appreciated beyond any words, a few tears and now many fond memories. There is no question that the time was right, but it is still in ways hard to realize that that part of our lives is behind us. Now is the time to make new lives of things that have only been dreamed about and wished for in the past. Right out of our luncheon, Pat and I hopped in the car and drove through the rain and fog over to Duluth. We did a bit of shopping down on the waterfront in the rain, wind and cold and enjoyed meals in two of our favorite restaurants. Friday morning we had warmer but cloudy weather, for a wonderful walk along the boardwalk. Returning home, the first lumber order was made and now I will start the destruction followed by construction Monday morning. We HATE to lose our screen porch and hope that the large windows in the 4 season room will maintain much of the same feel. All will be chronicled on the "Pix Of The Week".
May 22 - May 28, 2000
The weather continued seasonable this past week with more rain. The weekend started very cool, but Sunday was great with a high of 73 and sun. Today (Monday) is partly sunny and cooler so far. On our boat ride yesterday back to "Little Pokegama" we saw one of the two eagles and a sunning/sleeping porcupine hanging over a large branch about 40 feet up in a aspen tree. We watched "porky" for 20 min and he only sturred once, yawning and "checking us out". Pat counted 35 sunning turtles in the channel. Speaking of Pat, she has RETIRED , with Friday having been her last day. She is thrilled to be done, the year has been very stressful. Her "work gang" had a great send off party for her Thursday night, while I also attended my own retirement party given by the Math Department. I have 3 more days yet, the third being district and building school-end social gatherings, two days with students. The past month has been such a drag, with so many students having "shut down". I sure am looking forward to Thursday afternoon and beyond!
May 13 - May 21, 2000
The weather has been seasonable this past week and with the rain last week the foliage looks almost summer time. One species of Aspens are still not fully leafed out yet, very pale green leaves and small leaves at that. Several of the Lady Slippers have bloomed, but not all. On a boat-ride mid week, Pat and I saw our first baby ducks. Don and Diane said they have seen one group of about 40 ducklings! We took a boat ride this afternoon and went up northwest of the islands and there was the eagle setting in the big pine. We only saw the one and could not see the nest well enough to know if the mate was at the nest or not.
We had a shower last night with a couple of tenths of rain. It was a cool weekend with only 4 or 5 hrs of sunshine Saturday and even less today.
May 8 - May 13, 2000
A cool/cold and WET week. Both arrived Sunday night. We have had almost 3 inches of rain spread over the week. Two inches of that came in a 4 hr period from about midnight to 4am Monday morning. With the rain, everything has greened up very nicely. The temps on the other hand has been so cool, the leaves have not really fully opened up. The Daffys are done :<( and the Tulips are almost gone as well. "The Island" is really looking very promising. A few of the plants are coming in slow, but most are really looking very good. The Hosta are real slow, the yellow violets and lilies are doing very well. I mowed the yard this morning enduring the rain and snow showers! Forecasted lows are in the 30's for much of the week. The highs they say will return to the 60's later in the week, but today we will not even make it to 50! When I went to get the gas for the lawn mower this morning, a Fox crossed in front of me about 100 yds from Highway 17. Sadly someone had hit another fox up on Highway 169.
May 1 - May 7, 2000
Well I spent the weekend getting a jump start on a spring/summer construction project. We are going to replace the screen porch with a 3 season (hopefully 4 season) porch and a second floor hobby room above it. I dug the holes and poured concrete in the 8 inch piers yesterday and today. Given the way my back feels the upcoming week of school should allow recovery. Pat was busy with spring cleaning and some yard/garden work. 4 days of 82 degree weather, Wed-Sat, and still VERY DRY. The forecast is for a 70% chance of rain tomorrow. Sure hope we don't get let down. The leaves are about 1/3 opened up and the Trillium bloomed in "The Island" Thursday. We have lots of plant activity in "The Island", which is so good after all the effort put into it after the septic system construction last summer.
April 26 - April 30, 2000
Pretty weather, 64 degrees and sunny. Saturday I put out the dock, put the boat in the water and built 2 bird houses and got them up. The swallows and the phoebes have returned. I so want to have the swallows nesting down by the dock again. Pat and I planted several balsam trees along the north property line that in time may close the woods in a bit after the septic work last summer. Even got the hammock up again! We did take a boat ride late, it was nice to be out on the water again and see all the ducks. We have yet to get any leaves, but it should not be long now.
April 17 - April 25, 2000
We just returned from another trip. We drove down to the farm in Missouri for Easter. Laura, Dean, and David, Tracy, Dustin joined many others for a WONDERFUL weekend. We also celebrated Grandma/Pa Davis' 60th anniversary. My sister Carolyn as well as Kristan and Gary joined us. Real green grass, leaves, and flowers! It was so......... nice to see MY Grandson for the first time as well as so many family members. :) Everyone returned home safe and sound and now are back at "the grind". It was 74 degrees when we got home and VERY DRY as it was at the farm. The grass is so dry here, that when I walk across the yard the grass "crunches" under foot.
April 11 - April 16, 2000
It is still winter here, snow showers and ice pellets several days this week. Next week they say it will warm up. We drove down to St Paul Saturday for a radio "swapfest" and a trip to the Art Museum to see the "Star Wars" exhibition. Pat took several photos and when they are processed, I will scan and post a few. Lots of models, costumes, story boards, production paintings etc. We sure were glad that we had a chance to see it. NEAT! "May The Force Be With You"!
April 6 - April 10, 2000
We just got back from a trip over to see Dean and Laura. The weather was great and we had a nice drive. Within an hour of returning we got more snow! Good timing. The kids are doing well and the addition progress continues, siding and interior walls are being done. A window screwup has got things a bit messed up at the moment, but there is plenty to do. Within 2 weeks they should be done. We sure enjoyed our weekend with them and I even had a chance to drive a few nails.
April 3 - April 5, 2000
** Headline **
April 5, 2000 The ice has left the lake as of this morning. It was one of the shortest periods of ice on the lake ever. The length of time the lake was covered was nearly a month shorter than normal. The "snow event" last weekend, ended up being about 2 inches. The temps continue seasonal 30s and 40's for highs. On Wed we had rain almost all day, which we need with the snow being gone so early.
March 27 - April 2, 2000
Do we ever hope that this weather forecast is wrong! The forecast for tomorrow is 100% chance of snow, and from 6 to 10 inches! Yuck!! No thanks. The ice on the lake is still with us, but we are very close to "ice out". For a while this morning the wind had blown the ice sheet ashore and it was only about 2 inches thick and very "rotten". The week's weather was seasonable and Pat and I were both very busy with meetings. Last night we joined Don and Diane Walter and went out to the Hong Kong Garden for Diane's birthday dinner. Great food as usual. After dinner, we then went over to visit Wes and Lucille Libbey for ice cream and birthday cake that Pat had made. A very enjoyable evening, the Libbeys look great and Lucille's recovery is progressing satisfactorily. As I write this, the freezing precip has started. (4/2/2000 6:45pm CDT)
March 20 - March 26 , 2000
Wednesday morning before work, I heard two Robins calling from the top of the trees, "This is my territory". A real sound of spring, but we have not heard them since. Also Wednesday morning we noticed that the small lake at the intersection of highway 17 and 169 was open. At least one chipmunk is awake, we have seen only one at a time, starting Thursday afternoon. Now we really have to keep an eye on Gizmo when she is out! Thursday about 10pm, it started raining and rained for most of the next 36hrs. Not much more than 3/4" total, since it was light and steady. The lake ice is starting to turn darker, with the rain, so it will be interesting to see just how long it will hold on. Today (Saturday) the wind is out of the northwest at 25+mph, with a temp at about 45 degrees, so it is a cool partly cloudy morning. With this wind, I would guess that today qualifies as a blustery March day!
March 13 - March 19 , 2000
Lordy, Pat and I are another year older this week (59th), and we feel like it. A long, and at times, hard week at work. We had 4 inches of snow Wed night and then the weather returned to "winter like" temps with ZERO again the last two nights. The red_wing blackbirds returned this week and a huge flock of grosbeaks are making "bird music" each morning. The longer days are great, even if the temps are cold again. Pat and I have spent a fair amount of time this week drawing and talking about a remodeling job for this summer. Thinking about remodeling the screen porch into a 3 or 4 season room PLUS considering a second floor room above it, sewing/hobby room. Oh would that be fun! This coming week will be the end of the 3rd quarter at school and then only one quarter to go.
March 6 - March 12 , 2000
Pat had a great time visiting Dave, Tracy and Dustin. She returned very late Thursday night. The cats and I did fine holding down the fort. The weather this past week continued to be quite strange. We had warmer temps here than Pat had in California! On Tuesday it was a very sunny 66 degrees in Grand Rapids and in the 50's in Corona! "Go figure!" As soon as Pat left Corona, the weather improved. It turned off cold Wed night, down to about 10 degrees with snow and ice pellets, and has been seasonal since.David bought a scanner this week so that he can share photos with us all. So..today I added two new Web Pages for Dustin's pictures!
Feb 28 - March 5 , 2000
Is it ever hard to believe, today 63 degrees after several days this week with high temps in the 50's. Today is really a "wonderful May day" instead of a day very early in March. It is just the cats and myself at home this weekend. Grandmother (Pat) flew out to see Dave, Tracy and Dustin Friday after work. She has been communicating by phone and email and is having a GREAT time. I understand that "The Gang" at David's work have checked the web page to see photos of Dustin (and David as a baby!). It is always fun to hear of new visitors visiting this weekly effort. Laura has also passed the page along to several of her business associates. The forecast is for more seasonable temps by Thursday,with a chance of rain or snow, I hope so because this is too scary.
Feb 22 - 27 , 2000
Dustin and his parents are doing well. We really ran up a phone bill this week. It has been hard to stay off the phone, to find how they all are. The weather has turned spring like, last Saturday it warmed up and it has been warm ever since, in the 30s and 40's. It rained much of Friday (25th) and it almost completely wiped out the snow pack. With more rain forecasted all weekend and the warm temps, the snow will soon be gone. We had a heck of a time getting up the driveway this morning. With the melting, the hill was solid ice. I fell once just trying to walk, we had to scatter ashes for both wheels all the way up the hill to get out.
Feb 14 - 21 , 2000
WE ARE GRANDPARENTS! Dustin Matthew Davis was born to David and Tracy Davis, Thursday Feb 17, 2000 at 11:52pm PST. The 8lb 9oz 20 inch boy and his parents are doing great. Needless to say so are the grandparents, aunt, uncle, great grandparents etc. Pat and I drove over to Laura and Dean's for the three day weekend and really enjoyed the phone calls to the new parents. Photos will be posted as soon as we get them. What a great week!
Feb 7 - 13 , 2000
Winter returned again, if it ever left. The last two nights the temp has been below zero again and it appears as if this will continue for a while. We have had snow in the forecast for several days and more is forecasted through Wed of this coming week. We have not had enough to even fuss with this week, only flurries. As I write this on Sat morning, there are times I can't see across the lake because of the continuing snow showers. Last night Don, Diane, Pat and I went up to Chisholm to Valentini's for a wonderful Italian meal. Such great food, at such a neat spot. It had been a year since we had been up there and long overdue, it's a shame to have to drive an hour each way to get good genuine Italian food, but at least we can!
I woke up this morning to see the gray squirrels chasing each other in the top of the trees up on the hill, it must be "Valentine Day" for these furry little guys too. A sign of MORE squirrels to come I would imagine. We haven't seen a crow or eagle all week which seems odd after seeing them almost daily for a couple of weeks. I did have to go to work before 7am two days this week and it may just be too early for them.
Jan 31 - Feb 6 , 2000
What a wonderful weather weekend we have had! The temps have been in the thirties both days and the sky was "clear as a bell". Gizmo has wanted to be out the entire weekend, the sun is so warm. It was zero when we woke up this morning, but it was up to 20 degrees by 10am. Pat went cross country skiing and I walked out on the lake this afternoon to take some photos for "Photos of the Week".
Jan 23, 2000 - Jan 30 , 2000
Winter still maintains it's cold dry grip on our corner of the world. Nightly low temps between zero and 10 below all week. The last couple of days the daytime temps have risen into the 20's, that has been a nice change from the most recent conditions. It looks like this coming week should even be warmer. The crows have returned from their brief trip south! I saw them for the first time Sunday afternoon (Jan 23)
surfing in the wind over the lake. Each morning on the way to work we see them setting high in the aspen trees adjacent to Highway 17 waiting for the warming rays of morning sun. (On Saturday afternoon, Jan 29th, these same crows were joined by two eagles. Probably the eagles that have a nest adjacent to Little Pokegama.) As I shoveled the snowplow ridge at the top of the driveway Friday afternoon, I heard them in earnest conversation back in the woods, their voices as nostalgic as that of the voices of old friends. We have come to the conclusion that the "neighborhood grouse" is very content with the neighborhood, (She doesn't have to pay the taxes!), for she is under the feeder every morning enjoying what the squirrels drop or the corn Pat leaves for her. Bluejays, chickadees and grosbeaks are the most common of the bird life. This afternoon we joined Don and Diane for a horse drawn sleigh ride up around Wabana. Good friends, bright sun and sleigh bell music, with the bass line provided by hoofs on the snowpacked trail.
Jan 17 - 22, 2000
It has been a busy week this week with the end of the first semester. I have my grades done now, so all I have to do is get ready for classes Monday. Huge turnover of students as we change semesters in the year long classes. It will be almost like starting a new year.
We have another snowy day today. We have picked up another 3 or 4 inches of dry snow this week. All of our snows have been of the dry variety, occurring in the presence of cold temps. It has been a cold week. Between 15 and 20 below two mornings and several days when we stayed in the single digits for a high. In the near term, more cold is forecasted. The birds and squirrels have been really been "pigging" out during this cold snap. The chickadees are now heard calling their spring "phoebe" call. Early this morning a woodpecker was pounding on a snag in the back yard, sounding his/her territory. Can spring too far off? YES......
I hope you saw the eclipse Thursday night, it was really beautiful.Pat described the color as being "peach like". It was very pretty, but it was also 16 below at the time, so I didn't spend all that much time outside. Pat did much better, she made at least 5 or 6 trips out to view the astronomical event.
Jan 9, 2000 - Jan 16, 2000
Cold weather continued this week with nights in the zero to ten below range. The days were cool as well and the highest we saw was about twenty. Our "neighborhood grouse" was observed under one of the birdfeeders last weekend and again today. Quite the "bowling ball" with just fantastic markings. Gizmo has discovered how to climb up the post onto the front deck. She considers herself to be really "hot stuff" having mastered this quick route to the front bird feeder. Except for the grouse, the bird life remains the same with the grosbeaks still being the dominant species. Pat and I joined Don and Diane as well as Wes and Lucille last Sunday to watch the Vikings game. Lots of fun and they won! (Their last game of the season :<( )
Dec 31, 1999 - Jan 8, 2000
Happy New Year 2000! We survived Y2K! We experienced no real problems here or at school that we are aware of. The school officials have the computer network shut done for the first two weeks to avoid potential "problems". (Strange decision from my point of view! It has been more winter like this week with about 4 inches of snow and several mornings of below zero temps. The coldest was about 10 below, so this continues to be a mild winter. It is an absolutely beautiful day today, clear and about 25 degrees! Well.... this week was noteworthy in that I submitted my letter of resignation effective May 31, 2000. Pat and I are eagerly looking forward retirement and are ready to enjoy other things in life. Having been involved in education for over 35 years, we think it is "time".
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