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I began to reconsider this bear bait pile thing for the Wisconsin boys after what happened tonight before dark. The hunters were here Sunday and told me they had just baited the pile with doughnuts, garbage, some corn husks and we will see what happens. Honestly, I've been a bit hesitant to check it out to see if the bear had been here for a free meal. I parked Blue facing a clean getaway just in case and quietly worked my way down the trail through the woods to the small lawn chair I positioned looking down a hill to the bait pile. About halfway there I came upon a HUGE scat pile that had to be from a bear. Sprinkled in it were corn kernels not digested and chills went up my spine. I remember 'Sudz' wondering how the bear would like corn. They like it I thinks. I don't mean to be gross but there was still steam coming off this pile. I slowly did a 360 like a lighthouse on a foggy night. I wasn't lost but was hoping not to be found.... Nothing.... Not a sound except for my heart beating. Serious. I am no hero nor am I really that brave except when backed into a corner. I worked my way back to Blue and fired it up and I was gone like a thief in the night. I'm not sure I'm ever going back there.... I got a free meal too after I picked another bunch of rasberries before the almost bear encounter and when I got home I baked up some biscuits and made a syrup from the berries I'd munched it up into a liquid and added a little sugar. Before I go to bed tonight I'm going to heat up a biscuit, put a scoop of ice cream on top and cover it with the rasberry juice. Not a bad little evening dessert, eh? With much sadness, I tore down the pole for my bird feeder and will come up with a feeder that is chipmunk and squirrel safe. I had enough when this one little chippie flies from the pole and lands on the feeder upside down and spins around like on a merry go round on steroids. He falls most of the time and tries again and again and again. When he rights himself he eats all the seeds while the birds are in the trees hungry again. This is why I tore the pole out of the ground. I don't get mad often, hardly ever, but one little hippy dippy chippie got to me. Wait til he sees what I have in store for him. Burner and I have come up with a plan. The perfect yooper feeder. You listening racoons? I'm talking to you too. I'll keep you informed. Have to sneak up on major projects around the penthouse cabin. Probably because the work starts when I'm done planning.... So, what's up for you this weekend. Summers fleeting folks. Make a new friend...I like it when I meet someone new who gives me a different look at life. I'm always learning and always wanting more. Go for it, eh? Easy...
My Gateway monster is crashing and my internet connection works half the time. Sounds like me. About the only thing I can depend on is Blue and we've been on the road again Willie. I spent Saturday night at Burners camp so far back in the northwoods it captivated me and even though he had committments I didn't. I bunked up for the night. Before dark, I climbed a huge rock bluff were so famous for and found a nice spot to sit and watch the sun go down. It's nice looking down on the world and believe me no animal looks up. It was a time I will remember forever and when it was dark I slid down the hill to another bed on another night. I woke up Sunday morning and the temp was in the 30's. Honest. I was so cold I would have cuddled up to a Penguin.... Did you know that, us, the taxpayers are putting up $100 million for the Democratic and Republican conventions? It was voted in as an add on to a war spending bill. It just doesn't seem right... John Edwards....I pray for him. God tells me to... My best bud Ticky had a heart attack last week. It was his third. He's home now waiting for more surgery. Please keep Jim in your prayers. We go back to Kindergarten and if you have read my book, he's about as close to Pete as I could write... I'll be leaving in a couple weeks for Ann Arbor and my six month Leukemia check up. It's a foregone conclusion that I'm Cancer free and it will be good to spend some time with my parents and see Janet along the way. I Can't wait to eat Mexican and take Pippen for a walk.... Anyone interested in buying my book please message me with your address and I will get it out the next day. I don't have many left and I would like my friends here to get a copy. I want to get my next book out soon and can't afford to do another printing of TFC. Thanks for all the nice comments and messages. Made me cry with happiness.... It's a beautiful evening on Island Lake. The fan is blowing full blast behind me and the PBS news is on the TV. I'm sunburnt from picking rasberries so ripe they bleed. So do my hands. I cleaned the penthouse cabin with a fine tooth comb today eagerly awaiting my neighbors JJ and Rose to arrive. Life is really good... Hope yours is too.... Easy...
I've been resting on my accolades lately taking my recent good news in stride and trying to make some sense out of it. To be honest, I am totally humbled. I feel like my writing talent has been validated. It feels like I can now actually call myself a writer. Heaven knows and so does Gracie how much I like saying I'm an author. You can be talking about the North Pole and there is a good chance I can mix in my book and my Leukemia in the same sentence. I also am a ham.... It's another picture perfect morning on Island Lake. Blueberry pancakes is on the menu in awhile after spending some time in the woods picking them last night before dark. It's always risky business competing with the black bear for the berries so I carry a bell I recently bought at the Wizard's Antique shop here in town. I remember my Mom telling me that she always had one when they picked berries years ago. Just give it a ring every now and then. So far it works, I like the sound and I can't wait to get at those blue flap jacks... I've been sitting in the woods thinking a lot these last few days. Where do I go from here? Another printing? A radio ad? Another book by Christmas? Plus, I want to do a story on my Dad's big weekend in Washington D.C. I have about four different spots I go to depending on my mood and I love them all. I become one with the squirrels, chippies, birds as they don't fear me and it's probably because I abring a baggie full of bird seed to scatter at my feet. Last night a chippie and I were fast friends as he almost went into my pockets for a meal. Then, he found a dead log and sat there munching the seeds and taking a break. Not six feet away. I always talk to my furry buddies. His ears perk up, they twitch and scratch, and he tries to figure me out. I tell him it's impossible. I have no idea what I will do next but I guarantee you that I will have enough time to sit at the command post this winter and I won't be a couch potato on days like this.... So, what's your plan for the day? I plan on staying active. At our age I think it is best. We can start slowing down, that's going to happen, but we can't stop. When the train stops at the last station it is time to get off. Lets keep this train rolling, eh? Easy....
Our local newspaper, the Mining Journal, finally did a book review of "Trout Falls Chronicles" and it is a raving review. As soon as I can find it on the computer I will post it for you to see. This is big...Really big. Already people have been showing up in Republic to find a copy. The bad part is I only have about 40 copies left and may have to go into my third printing. I wish I had lots of money to promote my book then I could be rich. Oh wait. If I have lots of money I would be rich.... Money doesn't mean much to me but readers buying and liking my book is priceless.... Burner and I were on a mission yesterday getting new tires on Blue when someone stopped me in the grocery store and said congrats. I said, "Thx. I'm not a bad guy". And he said, "No. I saw the review of your book in the paper and I want a copy"..... We finally found a copy at Burners sister in laws house and I had tears in my eyes by the time I had read the whole review. The guy really liked it and had this title, "A little bit of Mayberry in Upper Michigan". How cool is that? My feet haven't touched the ground since. Just wanted you to know and hope your weekend is a good one too..... Easy....
I have a new friend and his name is Dustin. He is 10 years old and we met a couple days ago on one of my daily walks to the mailbox. He was sitting on an ATV with his Dad cradled behind him and at the wheel. His wife was following on matching red machines that almost made me jealous. Blue is on blocks waiting for new tires that I will pick up Friday. I feel like a duck out of water without my transportstion and was lamenting that fact to this couple I had met many years ago and probably before Dustin was born. One thing lead to another and my Leukemia came up. I probably brought it up and sometimes I'm not sure why I do. In remission, it is easy to talk about and I guess it makes me feel better when I do. To my surprise, Dustin perked up and took off his cap and he was chemo bald. Oh my...... Dustin was diagnoised when he was 4 and I cannot even imagine what that must be like. Having your childhood taken away with Cancer is cruel indeed. I listened as his Dad told me of him relapsing after 5 years in remission yet Dustin seemed unfazed and even gave us a great imitation of a Loon calling for its mate. Lmao. Amazingly, he was smiling and joking. I loved and respected his confidence and the young lad was truly a man in a child body..... We chatted back and forth in Leukemia talk. In a way only two people who have been through the wars can talk. The fevers that feels like napalm on the brain, the inability to walk from the bed to the bathroom. The blood tests, the biopsy's, the hours waiting for the results telling you whether ou will live or die. Oh God, I thought, help this young boy with so much life in front of him who is fighting so hard. I stood there shuffling my feet with a tear in my eye trying to find the write words to say to comfort this boy but I realized he was comforting me. Isn't that always to case?.... I tried to imagine my relapse as I do often like an ill breeze blowing off Island Lake. Just the thought of ruining this wonderful life I have sends shivers up my spine. I am strong in mind and faith but the thought of a relapse buckles my knees.... I asked Dustin and his parents to stop by my camp and I would give Dustin an autographed copy of my book. In it I wrote, "You are my hero and my inspiration." I think he can relate to the story I wrote after a nurse asked me what Leukemia felt like. I think he will like Easy and Pete. At 59, I would gladly take the place of this young man and let it be me. But, after talking to Dustin, he is going to be all right. It is such a shame that he is forced to be so strong so early in his life but God does everything for a reason. I pray for his remission and a future life as easy as I have today...
What are the chances we would meet three miles from nowhere on some two bit trail? Coincidence? I think not. It was meant to be and I feel better about my life talking to this young lad. My new friend Dustin.....
Easy....
Last summer I was invited to a wine tasting party at the Hemingway museum in Chicago and last night I went to one at the Biker tough guys camp up and around the lake from here. It was almost a two mile walk and when I turned to the last bit down the hill a bunch of guys were waving up to me from the bottom of the hill. I thought that was cool to have a welcoming commitee and maybe this author business is starting to pay off. I strutted down the trail to a chorus of "Did you see the really big wolf?' I hadn't but they had just a minute ago right where I was standing and waving. I must have passed right by that really big wolf. Yikes. I shrugged it without fear because I hadn't seen it but if I had that would have been interesting to say the least.... These guys are all from Wisconsin and most ride Harleys. I've had an on and off relationship with this bunch through the years and specifically last summer while defending the honor of my Chicago sweetie. Let's just say the biker blinked first. That's patched up now and two of the guys brought out the bottles of wine that he both brewed in their basements. There was Choke Cherry, Rasberry, Rasberry/Rhubarb and a not so Concord Grape wines. I don't particulary like wine much but it was a hot day and I was thirsty. Just to clarify they did have water and pop too.... My favorite was the choke cherry because it reminded me of when I was a kid. More then once I went home sick purple puckered from eating too many of those tasty berries. The conversation got around to hunting bear and they were interested in finding a place to put a bait pile and I have 15 acres so I worked out a deal where they can hunt come August on my land. In return I get some bear meat if successful and some hay and corn to put in my yard for the deer and turkeys. After the wine tasting was done we set off to find a spot and we did giggling all the way. lol.... Ever wonder how you make a bear bait pile without all the other animals getting to the food first? Thought not. I didn't. They cut down these big logs from dead trees and all about six feet long. They dig a big trench and place the big logs over the hole. Only a big bear with massive strength can push aside those logs and get at the food scraps. See, you learned something today. I think wine tasting makes me smart....
My question and a big one is will I sit at the top of that ravine and wait for a bear to come waltzing in? I could really get some nice shots with the camera and the 20 second camcorder. I'm going to have to think about this... Another perfect day on Island Lake. Almost 80 with trees hanging limp and the surface of the water reflects those white fluffy clouds off the blue sky. The Chickadees dance on my feeder and send it spinning in cirlces reflecting the sun off the plastic. The fan is is on low behind me on the dresser and I have classical music on the radio. I love Peer Gent. Waiting for payday Friday to get Blue back on the road and until then it is walks to the mailbox, sitting in the woods before dark and catching up on some writing. I must cofess I do have a slight headache from the wine. Too sweet for my taste but will do after almost tangling with a wolf looking for a guy who may look like a sheep. Beep Beep... Happy Trails to you...
Easy...
The school is only open Monday thru Thursday...
You can have your food delivered to the bar from the restaurant next door. They'll even bring you silverware and a napkin.... The hardware store has been closed for almost 30 years but if you do need a 7/8th bolt the owner will give you a key and you can scavenge through what is still on the shelves.... The guy who sells bait on the highway not only will give you worms but he will tell you where the fish are biting, and when and with what bait... The bank is only open Monday, Wednesday and Friday.... The one gas station sometimes has gas and sometimes it doesn't.... You win a prize if you can identify the row of businesses that is now an empty parking lot... You never hear a horn beep unless someone gets married.... A guy will give you the shirt off his back but won't take you to his best fishing hole... The John Deere salesman will ask a guy if he wants a test drive and the farmer will say, "Why? You been lying to me?" The coffee and pastries are always there when you go visit... We have one stoplight that blinks, "Go ahead. No one is coming anyway"... It's all so Easy in Republic....
I love living on the shore of Island Lake looking out on the water just before dark. Check out the picture I posted from the sunset last night. It's a dandy. Tonight, three kids are out in a rowboat and I can hear them laughing from here. It is sweet music on a quiet night trying to find the words to write. One is paddling smooth strokes and the ripples drift away leaving a perfect V behind them. I feel close to them without knowing who they are other then neighbors..... It's dark now, their boat is docked and I see a light inside their camp and wonder what they are doing. Playing scrabble or maybe watching a movie with popcorn.... On the other side of the lake Mr. biker tough guy isn't so tough after all. His dog Lucy got hit by a car and is gone now and my bud is in tears after burying her in the back forty. A few years ago he paid a pretty penny when Lucy jumped out of his truck and broke her leg. I watched him baby that dog back to life and it's a shame he has lost his best friend. I can feel his pain from across the lake all the way to Chicago.... Myself, I'm a bit discouraged because Blue blew another tire today and needs four new ones or I'm back to hitchiking. Would you pick me up? Right. It's going to take a chunk out of my next check to reshoe Blue but it is long overdue. I've been asking Him to climb mountains on mocassins and the gig is up pard.... I wish you could smell the sweet breeze coming in my window tonight. It is stone cold quiet too. I can actually hear the clock ticking on the wall and I'm going to have to fix that. lol....
Hoping your weekend is as peaceful as mine. I'm just trying to find the good side of life. Isn't that what we all want on a Saturday night? Easy.....
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