Tangled Tackle and Lost Lures

My husband Dave was the only real fisherman in the whole family. Grandson David O'Connor's tenth birthday prompted a gift of one of Grandpa Dave's rods and reels to introduce the art and sport(?) of fishing to the next generation.
I taught David how to assemble the rod and reel, string it, tie on a swivel, cast a lure, hook a worm, etc., then he was on his own. Over these last few days the inevitable has happened....messy tangles to fix and a lure lost to lake bottom plants, but he's sticking to it and if anything big enough to eat should swim by the dock, he'll learn how to clean it and cook it. Fingers crossed! Love, Liz

Who Knew Squirrels climbed trees?

CInda and Happy, both desert dogs have discovered a whole new world here in the forest. The very first day found them exploring on double time everything and every new smell. Among the discoveries was a duck sitting on a nest of 5 eggs. As they approached her nest, mama duck went flying and quacking away from the nest, flapping like she was injured, and led the two naive dogs away from her nest in a merry chase to catch a duck. I watched in awe as Cinda went right into the lake in hot pursuit, forgetting that, up until now, she HATED getting wet! Mama duck keeps them away from the nest, and the eggs are so far all safe.

Morning opened with showers and grey skies. After a few hours of work, we decided to take a trip to Sault Ste. Marie, a two hour drive north to the border of Canada and USA. We lunched at The Antlers, a landmark restaurant started in the early 1940's, and our family's eating tradition for almost that long. We bought our deck stain at the Sherwin
Williams store, provisions at Walmart, then headed home to end the day fishing on the dock in beautiful weather.

Angela leaves at 4:00 am to catch a flight to Chicago via Detroit. Ada, bless her heart, has offered to drive her to the Kinross airport. The kids and I will try some early morning fishing. Wish us luck!!

Love,Liz

opening the Island

Ada and I have been here on the island for two full days, and Angela, Hannah, and David got here yesterday, driving up from Chicago. Beautiful weather is making it easy to work through the process of opening up the camp for the summer. We have the boat in, the big sleeping porch put together, the cook house in order, the roofs swept of leaves, and chimney opened on the main house. LOTS more to get done, but the kids are a big help, and loving being here with the dogs. Tom Flood has been invaluable helping us. He came over this morning and power washed the deck and stairs to the main house. After a couple of days to dry, the kids will put a new stain on it all. Tom is replacing a lot of cedar on his dock, and had a pile of cedar ends, which we can use in our fireplace, so he taught David how to drive a tractor, and pull two carts of wood down here. David loved it!
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>> Everyone but me went into Cedarville to buy groceries. I got to stay home, because I did the first shopping and, being a minimalist, left out a lot.
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>> Hannah and David have joined me and Cinda sleeping in the van. Cozy! The kids get the new van bunk bed, and Cinda and I get the lower bed, except just before bed and just after waking up, when we all cuddle up together, to talk.

Jeff, Lauren, and Katelyn started on their journey back to join us yesterday. They are driving back with a trailer and their Golden Retriever puppy, Lacey. What fun these dogs will be!

>> Life is good! Love Liz
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The Last Lap

The van is buttoned down, and we are ready to go...four hours of driving, and we will have reached our destination, Hatch Haven on Island #8, Cedarville, Michigan. CInda and I have driven 2,500 miles to get here, picking up Ada and Happy in Arizona. This pictured campsite was right on the shore of Lake Michigan, cool, green, quiet, and beautiful. We lost another hour as we entered Michigan...maybe that is why I am dog- tired tonight....or MAYBE it is because we arrived to a locked up, winterized and winter battered place, needing LOTS of work to get it habitable. We attacked the cook house first, getting electricity going, which starts the water pump, hot water, lights (the shutters, still in place, make it dark inside), the stove, refrigerator, etc. We have put in a long day, but tired as we are, Happy and Cinda are even more tired. They are both first timers to the island, and have cased the whole place, at a dead run! Tomorrow, with more energy, I will report on a surprise with Cinda. Right now, we'll say good night! Love, Liz

Mason City, Iowa

There couldn't be a more pleasant place to be on this, the longest day of the year than right here, in The heartland of America. We are staying at the lovely home of Jim and Carmen Loveland, which has become a favorite stop of mine as I cross the country. The Lovelands always throw a neighborhood BBQ while we are here, so it's like getting together with longtime friends. Folks living in this cul-de-sac of nine spacious homes have been friends and neighbors for 30 years. Our two dogs were welcomed by Jim & Carmen's two dogs and another neighbor dog who showed the girls around the neighborhood. No fences here!

I met Jim Loveland about six years ago when he was assigned as a Law Enforcement Professional (LEP) to the 29 Palms Marine Corps Base. He rented my guest house for several weeks, and I met Carmen when she came out for a visit. We have enjoyed a friendship that reaches across America. Happy Summer Solstice! Love, LIz

Crossing South Dakota

We awoke this morning in Valentine, NB., about 9 miles from South Dakota. Tonight we are in Palisades State Park near Brandon, SD, about 9 Miles from Minnesota and Iowa. Tomorrow will tell which state we choose to travel to. We are ahead of schedule, so have many interesting options to choose from.

We had forgotten that this is Father's Day weekend, and legions of families are out camping! The first two campgrounds we tried were full, so we ended up in this delightful park about fifteen miles north of I-90. It is cool and shady and very pleasant. It is wonderful to be a part of Americana that sees families spending time together riding bikes, kayaking, swimming, BBQing, etc. We are blessed to be Americans!

Happy and Cinda are now seasoned hunting buddies. Once out of camp we let them loose and they run and leap over the tall grasses like truly freed souls. It's great fun to watch. They return, thirsty and panting, and happily ride for hours in the air conditioned van.

We stopped in Mitchell, SD. To visit the Corn Palace, where they make murals with dried corn on the cobs, all in different colors of corn. An amazing part of American history, as they have been putting up fresh murals annually since the early 1900's. For two days we have been driving across the great American plains....maybe something new tomorrow? Love, Liz

Valentine, Nebraska

We now have a week to get to Hatch Haven, so we can slow down and take some easy days. We left Carnine Ranch this morning, and only drove 218 miles today - a solid day of driving through the rolling Sandhills of this state reminds me why I usually turn north to get OUT of Nebraska in the Summer! The town of Valentine is just 9 miles from South Dakota, so it should start getting cooler. It is time to re-organize the van camping, to avoid flying briefcases,etc. That will be our activity tonight. Showers are in order, too! Love, Liz