NorthBound River Rat: July 2011

My cousin Amy's youngest, Natalie. So much fun!!

Each year, we go up to the cabins (off the Gunflint Trail in Northern MN) for one weekend as a family. The extended family on my Mom's side. It is a great time, with lots of laughing, and more food than can possibly be necessary. This year, we skipped the traditional renting of a cabin at Loon Lake lodge (in addition to the Struve cabin and our cabin), because the Struves added another cabin to their estate....a bit different than our other ones- with running water and electricity, road access, even laundry. It is more like a small house, but beautiful, and perfect for Grandma and small kids. Not as many people came up this year, because we had all been together over Memorial Day to celebrate Grandma's 90th birthday, but a few of us did, and we had a great time. The weather was freakishly hot for the Boundary Waters, reaching over 90, but this gave us a great chance to try out the new dock, which detaches at the end and floats out to the lake for swimming. Even Arlo enjoyed jumping off this, after getting quite a few pushes of persuasion first. He had a grand ole time, chomping on lily pads to my dismay, and chasing dragonflies and other dogs. On Sunday, Jim and I drove up to the end of the Gunflint trail and checked out a few other spots along the trail. We then headed to 2 harbors, where we explored the trains and some things there, ate at a nice Thai restaurant in Duluth, and then headed down to Minneapolis, to catch our early Monday flight out to Utah. Arlo went home with mom and Reily, to sleep for a day and visit relatives for the week.

The 4th of July is also Carol's birthday (Jim's mom). Last year on the 4th we paddled from our house down to below highway 35 on the Black River. This year, his sister and Chris were in town, and my mom and Wayne joined us as well. We started in Melrose and paddled down TO our land (or right next to it at the boat landing anyways. We like to keep the kayaks up near the house, and then we just drive them the 4 blocks out to the highway, and down the next road to the launch area. We could keep them below, but then we would have to go through mosquito haven to get to the crick, and I am not quite so keen on leaving them where anyone can see them and grab them. I would be devastated if anything happened to them. So, Monday was Arlo's first boat ride- a 4 1/2 hour paddle...he was very antsy, as we have never asked him to sit continuously for so long. But, despite a bit of whining, and lots of reminders that he couldn't chase dragonflies and leaves while in the boat, he did pretty well. And he LOVED being out on the islands! I have never seen him swim so much. He has been resting pretty much all day today, two days later. I did get to paddle my new "zone" kayak for about 10 minutes, but spent most of the time in the canoe with Arlo. My goal with my new sit on top is to get him to lay down in it so we can paddle up to a sandbar, just around the bend upriver and get some swimming and exercising in while Jim is at work =) I would say I have my work cut out for me, and I should expect to tip quite a bit, but I really hope to get there! Arlo is a chaser....a born and bred duck dog without training- and he chases everything from leaves, to bugs (butterflies by day and moths and fireflies by night), to my cat, to Kunguk's disdain! He is a very happy go lucky dog though, and never does so menacingly. He is 11 months already!

Our paddling trip was a lot of fun- a little bit of sunburn, but not really bad. One thing to note: banana boat sunscreen has an orange tinting in it! We sprayed it on, then spent the day as oompa loompas! We looked like we were trying to fake tan. I really enjoy "our" river though! The rocks along the sides were beautiful, and there are so many sandbars to stop and swim at along the way!I definitely need to get out more! Today, however, I am getting caught up on odds and ends at home finally- as I have been too busy the last 3 weeks! I am spending the whole day at home, and I am determined to finish planting the rest of my blueberry bushes! I planted 2 last year that my mom gave me, but one was too little and did not come back. The other has big green berries on it already! Next year, with 3 more plants in, I might be able to make something out of the berries- and I am going to make sure the ones that make it this year get into the ground so I can maybe get some more! I have already figured out a large area that I want to turn all into blueberries on my land. Hopefully this week the Har-Mur will be coming out and putting in our driveway! We also are trying to get the septic people to come out and put in the drainfield for our septic. At home, I am finishing up things like shelves, trim, and when I get the wood from Jim's shop I will start putting the good wood up on our ceiling (which right now is just Luan board). I have this week and next to work at home- then Jim and I are headed out to Idaho Falls, Nevada, and Utah. We are putting up a tower with one of the wind turbines he designed, to collect data in a high wind site that isn't so nice to wind turbines to see how it does. I think it will do great- he has a good design, that has been doing well in other places; he even got a contract to make slightly bigger turbines for the army now! I am excited that as part of the contract he was able to hire a mechanical engineer to help him, so this time around he isn't doing all the hard parts on his own, though I am sure he will still be plenty busy. I am excited to help put up a tower and see that part of the country, which I have never been to (except overhead with a plane). Other than that, I am working on moving into a new classroom this summer- as I will now be back at the Elementary school. Right now my class is a mess, full of supplies for all the 4K classes, things belonging to the last teacher in that room, and furniture that stays with the room, though I already have a classroom of furniture that got moved in there as well. It is a mess. But, I will be really glad to be back in the main building, where I can make copies, have reliable internet, have bathrooms right by my room, have a smartboard again, have things kid sized, and not share a room (and noise) with another class. I WILL miss my enclosed playground that I had, so I didn't constantly have to count kids and wonder if someone had wandered off, and being close to another playground within walking distance....and the kitchen in the next room. But, I found a free mini fridge in the dumpster, and I am going to take my stored microwave with, and I even bought an "Easy-bake" to use with my kids- as the lunchroom ovens are used for a large part of the day. I think my room will be really nice once I get it set up. Problem is, I can't do much right now, as they want to clean my floors, and don't want me to use the tile yet, and I am working around other things. But, it will work out- it just needs a work. Good thing I have the summer off! I also need to go in for a few days to work on curriculum stuff- but I actually get paid to do that! Which is nice, as I am a bit broke right now. I spent too much on birthdays, parties, traveling, and house things at Menards....and I need to do things like car repairs, take the cat to the vet, etc. I did sign up for a 3 credit class (another expense) but, that should stop me from taking a pay DECREASE this year, as we will now be paying more for health care, and our salaries were frozen. Can't complain too much though, when I have a job when many don't. I also own my own home- I just need to pay off the land, and my car is paid off. I have been paying a lot into my loans for things like my new teeth and school, which is mostly why I feel broke. I wouldn't have to pay so much, but I am determined to keep the same monthly payment goals to meet my personal payoff dates =) Well, I have been sitting at the computer long enough- time to get moving and meet some goals around the house! Sorry it has been so long between updates. All I can say is that life is busy.....and if it wasn't I would find something else to make my life more full!