Last Sunset of 2014

After a series of long and cloudy December days the sun came back for it's last hurrah.  We celebrated the Holidays at the Lake with good food, warm campfires and card games into the wee hours.

The sun sets so far to the southwest at this time of year that I needed to go out onto the ice to get a photo.  In spite of recent warm weather, ice fishermen in the family reported that the ice is about a foot thick.  I was pleasantly surprised to find areas in excellent condition for ice skating.

A few minutes later my son headed out to take his final Smith Lake sunset of 2014.  As he was lying on the ice taking the shot he felt a rumble and nearly shot into the air as the ice boomed, expanded and shifted underneath him.  The sounds from the frozen lake are so unique and unexpected - a low, rumbling growl like a 50's roadster in the distance making a single slow engine rev.

Deep in a fog

It's been a long time since a Smith Lake Sunset has been posted and it looks like we'll have to wait longer.  The Lake was shrouded by fog and mist all weekend.  Late on Friday afternoon one lonely ice house across the snowy lake could barely be seen through the mist.

Ice house in the fog.

Saturday was much the same.  The far shore was invisible until the breeze picked up between 3 and 4 PM and cleared some of the fog away so that the far shoreline came into view.  The unseasonably warm temperatures have melted most of the snow, and anywhere from an inch to a foot of standing water is on top of the lake ice.  In some places the water is deep enough to ripple in the breeze, and gives the illusion that the lake is open and ready for boating.

Standing water on top of the lake ice.

The mild temperatures were perfect for evening campfires, and it was not too difficult to keep the cabin warm.  About an hour of ice fishing was attempted, but it was just too wet.  The fish weren't particularly hungry either.

As we headed  home Sunday afternoon, we saw an unfortunate pick up truck submerged in Lake Mille Lacs right across Hwy 169 from our road.  The driver made it out of the truck without injury from what I hear, but only about the top foot of the truck could be seen.  The Sheriff was on hand and a tow truck was getting into position to retrieve the vehicle.  A reminder that the ice is not safe for vehicles, especially after this December thaw.

Wildflower Wednesday

As we walk along the road, 

the bright red berries of the Sumac bushes 

tell us that summer has drawn to a close. 

Soon the sumac leaves, too, will be a brilliant red.    

End of the Season

Leaves are starting to fall, and autumn chores are well underway at Smith Lake.  Docks are being pulled onto shore, and boats are being readied for their long winter sleep.  No water skiers on the lake now.  The water temperature has cooled considerably to a brisk 40 degrees or so.   There was frost on the rooftops on Saturday  morning!

Bright golds and oranges burst from the far shore as the morning sun touched the autumn leaves still stubbornly clinging to the trees. Soon they, too, will be convinced by the autumn winds to let go and fly through the air in a brief moment of freedom before they tumble to the ground.  Already a soft blanket of leaves covers the ground in the woods.

The sunset is no longer across the lake from us in the west, but way down the shoreline.  It looks like even the sun is moving South for the winter.

Fungi Friday

Walking down the road through the woods this week we saw some interesting mushrooms growing on this old stump.  The leaves are turning red and gold.  Many have already fallen to carpet the woodland floor.

October skies

Not many sunset photos recently.

We arrive after dark now on Fridays.  The days are getting notably shorter!  And, of course, there are no lovely sunsets if it's cloudy and windy like it has been recently.

But the leaves are changing, and when there is a peek of sunshine the colors just POP!

I love the wonderful, earthy smells of autumn leaves and delight in the crunch of the leaves underfoot.  Even raking leaves be an enjoyable chore on a lovely autumn day.

Thursday Storms

Strong storms swept over Smith Lake last Thursday morning.  By noon the electric company was in the area with trucks and three new poles were up and back in service by evening.  The chain saw chorus could be heard all the way through the weekend, and though most of the damage was cleared quickly, you can tell who had trees down by their freshly stacked piles of firewood.

Our thanks to so many wonderful neighbors who chipped in to help one another with tree and debris removal.

With all the work to be done we still were able to get out on the lake, where my husband snapped this lovely sunset photo.

Labor Day Weekend

Here it is already.  The end of the 'summer' cabin season.  The lake temperature has cooled considerably due to chilly evenings in the 50's and several inches of rainfall.  The lake levels are quite high for this time of year, lapping against the bottoms of the docks.

A peek of morning sunshine caught some folks fishing before it vanished and the dark clouds to the north rolled in.   But, the threat of rain was held at bay for quite a while, and it looks like the fish were biting.

Late in the day the sun peeked it's shy head though the clouds and lit up the sky with a peachy sunset glow.  The storm clouds fled with a wash of navy blue.

We noticed there were a few boats and even some docks coming out for the season.   Say 'Goodbye' to summer, for next weekend autumn will be in the air.

August Mist

Last weekend we had a good dosing of rain at the Lake.  Early Saturday morning 2.6 inches fell in just two hours.  It was a real deluge!  We had additional rainfall off and on, but were spared from severe weather when a strong hailstorm split and went around us.  Sunday the humidity soared after the rain, and a foggy mist settled over the lake in the late afternoon.

Rain showers cancelled out the sunsets for the weekend until late Sunday.  Then, for a few brief moments, a brilliant strip of magenta pink edged the horizon after the sun dipped below the trees.

Pastel sunset

The evening sky was filled with the most delicate colors when we were last at Smith Lake.  Soft yellow, peach, baby blue and lavender were delightfully scattered across the sky a few minutes after the sun set behind the gathering rain clouds.

The following day we received a good all-day soaking.  Three inches of rain had fallen by the time we checked the rain gauge in the evening.  The lawns had been getting quite dry, so it was a welcome rain.  It was an excellent day to complete a few indoor activities that we had been ignoring, and enjoy some family time.

Brush strokes in the sky

This past weekend the clouds took center stage at sunset.  They crisscross the sky like hasty brush strokes from the hand of an unseen artist.  The lake and sky were washed in lovely purple hues, so different from the brilliant yellows and oranges of recent days.

Wildflower Wednesday

Wildflowers continue to delight us at Smith and Holt Lakes.  Sweet Joe-Pye-Weed with it's tightly bunched pinkish purple flowers attracts the Monarch butterflies to our gardens.  Bright yellow Wild Lettuce cheerfully bobs it's head in the summer breeze.

A party of loons

No, I don't mean the Lake Association Annual Picnic.  Well, maybe....

It was wonderful to see so many neighbors at the picnic and get to know a few new friends a little better.  Thanks to all who worked to put the event together for us.

We learned some new things about loons this year.  After their first summer as babies on our Lake, they spend the next three years in the Gulf of Mexico growing up.  Then they return to our lovely Minnesota Lakes for the next few years until they reach maturity at about 7 years of age.

The groups of loons we see swimming and fishing together are 'non breeding' loons and are called a 'Party of Loons.'  So now we know that those groups of loons really ARE having a party out there.  Sounds like fun to me!

Loons can live for 30 years, so I expect the loons we see on our Lakes return year after year to spend their summers with us.  Loons are the Minnesota State Bird for a good reason.   The state has about 12,000 loons during the summer months.  Maine comes in second place with a mere 5,000.

I love hearing loon calls at sunset as our summer days at the Lake come to a close.  We all were reminded to boat very slowly through the shallow, tight turns in the potholes to protect the shoreline there where loons frequently nest right at water level.  When the nests are swamped, the birds abandon the nest.  Hopefully some 'no wake' signs can be posted again as a reminder to visitors as well.  I must admit, I don't think I've ever seen anyone racing through there.  Mostly folks are anchored and enjoying a little fishing.

Come sit a spell

The first weekend in August this year can only be described as spectacular!  Calm winds, low humidity and sunny days made for picture perfect times at the Lake.  Doesn't this look inviting?

Wildflower Wednesday

In mid-July the sunny golden Stella 'd Oro daylilies are in full bloom.  They certainly live up to the English translation of their name - Star of Gold.  Planted with these wild Oxeye Daisies, they make a cheery flower bed as they bob in the breeze coming off of the lake.

I can hardly imagine calling the daisies an invasive species, but so they have been named by the Minnesota DNR.  I always have thought of them as a native prairie flower, but apparently they are native to Europe and were brought here as an ornamental flower.   They have become a major roadside 'weed,' though they are not a serious threat to intact prairie or savanna.

Now, the definition of a weed is 'a plant considered undesirable in a particular situation,' and I think that daisies along the roadsides are particularly lovely.  I wouldn't call them weeds at all!

Brilliant Reflections

Early July at Smith Lake was spectacular this year.  The skies were so clear at sunset that the reflection of the sun off of the lake was nearly blinding.

By the second weekend in July the smoke in the atmosphere from wildfires in the western states replaced this brilliance with a softer glow.

Catching the big one

As last Saturday day drew to a close and I hurried down to snap a sunset photo, a neighbor's grandson pulled out a huge Northern Pike right in front of our dock.  The lighting was just right to silhouette the boat, the fisherman and the catch of the day!  He brought it in to show the rest of the family and then....Splash!  It was catch-and-release.

A spectacular Fourth

The long Independence Day weekend at the Lake was just what many of us needed to relax and rejuvenate our spirits.  Weather was sunny, not too hot, not too cold, ...Just right!

The boat parade was another rousing success, and at the end deteriorated into a watery reenactment of some Revolutionary War battle or another.  The spectators were as enthusiastic as the participants.

A blazing campfire at sunset was just the right way to burn off those small branches we picked up earlier in the day before mowing the lawn.  S'Mores anyone?

The anticipation of evening fireworks filled the air, and appreciation for the freedoms we share as Americans filled our hearts.

A good breeze kept most of the mosquitoes away, but an extension cord powering a box fan proved to be the real trick to watching Garrison fireworks from our dock without being eaten alive.  There were a few families that shared their patriotic spirit by setting off some fireworks from their docks on the lake, which we also enjoyed.

Wildflower Wednesday

Single Peony

Every week there are new wildflowers to see along the roadways and in the gardens along Smith and Holt Lakes in Minnesota.  This week the lovely old fashioned peonies are in full bloom.

This plant must be quite old.  It has a single flower, unlike the full double flowers we are more familiar with in our garden at home.  I wonder if it was planted by Barney and Anna when they first built the cabin in the 1930's.



In the open spaces, lawns and roadsides we can see large swaths of oxeye daisies.  Can you just imagine little girls making daisy chain wreaths from these cheerful summer flowers?

Oxeye Daisies along the roadside

In the deeper shade there are pops of yellow flowers bobbing their heads on fine stems.  They are Swamp Buttercups, and you can see where the color Buttercup Yellow get's it's name.

Swamp Buttercups brighten the woodlands

Finally, the most unusual find along the roadside.  At first I thought this was a volleyball, but no, it's a Giant Puffball!  I have never seen a mushroom this large before.  After spotting the first one close to the road, I saw several smaller ones in the same area.

Giant Puffball 

Thunderclouds in the distance

The last weekend in June brought dramatic skies and sunsets to our little piece of heaven.

Tall thunderclouds could be seen in the distance above the treeline.  Most of the storms passed around us, and those that rumbled through were short lived.  The colors of the sunset changed by the minute, and every time I thought I had taken just the perfect photo, a new view presented itself as if to say, "I'm not done yet!"

An early summer walk

Such a rainy spring and early summer!     

It is good to take advantage of the breaks in the sprinkles 

to take a refreshing walk along the road.  

The irises are showing off the dewdrops as we pass by the woodland gardens.  

Among the wildflowers, we find Dames Rocket peeking at us through the split rail fence.  

It looks very much like Phlox, but blooms much earlier.

Around the corner there is a lovely glade filled with ferns.  

Most look like delicate Bracken and Ostrich Ferns,

but there is a stretch of Rattlesnake Ferns which have a much wider leaf.

Such a threatening name for a lovely plant!

 Delicate pink Wild Geraniums peek out from the ferns to say "Hello."

"Nature gives to every time and season some beauties of its own;"

Dickens

Flag Day 2014

The long summer days give us the rare opportunity

to arrive at Smith Lake on Friday nights just in time for sunset.

Clouds were rolling in, but parted briefly to reveal a lovely soft peach and blue-grey sunset. 

Overnight and morning rains left the first 1/2 inch of weekend rain in the rain gauge.  Finally, the sun broke through on Saturday afternoon and the flag could go out to celebrate Flag Day.

Just after dinner we had to pull the flag in again as a thunderstorm rolled in.  The dishes were all done and we played a couple rounds of cards while the storm lashed at the windows and docks.  A full inch of rain fell over the next hour or two.  

Then the storm tumbled and rumbled it's way eastward and, through the last lingering raindrops, this magnificent sunset closed our day at Smith Lake.

No sunscreen necessary

It was surely a wet weekend at Smith Lake!

Columbine

It began to rain late Friday, and by Sunday morning the rain gauge measured 3 inches.  The ground had been quite dry because most of the early rain soaked right in, and the areas that are usually soggy after a rain of that magnitude were still relatively firm.

The woodlands are ponding the rain and had lots of standing water, which nature will filter before it makes it's way into the already swollen lakes.  Unfortunately, the vernal ponds make perfect breeding grounds for the mosquitos, and they are out in force.

The surprise on Sunday was the arrival of glorious sunshine around 4pm.  Naturally, just the time most weekend visitors are heading home.  Never fails to happen.  The winds came along and blew the mosquitoes back into the woods, which was a great relief.

Wild orchids: Yellow Lady's-slipper

The wildflowers that can be seen in our Smith Lake gardens this weekend are Columbine and Yellow Lady's-slipper.  This lovely yellow orchid is protected by a bit of chicken wire in the garden so it isn't inadvertently disturbed during the year when we are pulling weeds or raking leaves.  Here is some more information about the Yellow Lady's-slipper.





One more lovely flower in bloom that is a transplant from the Twin Cities is Bleeding Heart.  It's a favorite of mine from childhood, and fits beautifully in the woodland gardens at the Lake.

Bleeding Hearts and ferns

.

Spring wildflowers

Wildflowers are blooming at Smith Lake.  The back yard is dotted with White Dogtooth Violets.  They are naturalized through the lawn and many will succumb to the lawn mower once they have finished blooming. They are so unlike purple violets, despite their name. But, what a joy it is to see these sweet flowers with petals swept back like wings from their yellow centers.  I can picture Sally Field as the Flying Nun in her white winged hat.  Are you old enough to remember?

Down by the lake-shore we find a patch of Wood Anemone.  Their blossoms were bobbing in the cool breezes coming off the blue water.  Their leaves look quite a bit like strawberry plants.  Perhaps a distant relative.

Finally, in the woodsy garden we find Merrybells.  What a lovely and cheerful name they have!  Golden yellow and hanging their bashful heads, they brighten up their little corner of the world with sunshine.

Wildflowers spring from the cool damp earth

a bright and cheery token,

A sweet sign of hope and of re-birth,

for winter's grip is broken.

Memorial Day Weekend 2014

Memorial Day weekend was bright, sunny and Warm! at Smith Lake.

It's probably the only Memorial Day Weekend in 30 years that we haven't had the heat on at the cabin.  Highs were in the 80's each day.  I'd have to say that this would be spectacular weather even for Fourth of July.  Simply amazing.

The oriole feeder had lots of customers.  Two males in their bright orange plumage courted a single female, who seemed to be enjoying all the attention.  The gentlemen sang their hearts out in glorious song beginning around 5am, and it was such a nice change from the traffic noises of the city that I didn't mind the early hour - too much.





The hummingbirds also enjoyed the bright orange nectar and zipped in and out all day for a treat.  It's hard to say how many there were, but I saw at least three all at once on Sunday afternoon.  By Monday afternoon I had to refill the feeder.

Other visitors lakeside were a flicker, goldfinches, and of course loons.  On our boat ride Monday we saw two eagles sitting high in a tree on the Smith Lake side of the potholes, just into Barbour Lake.









Sunset Saturday was very colorful, but the mosquitoes came out for their long summer picnic and we reluctantly headed indoors after a brief campfire.

Sunday evening the clouds rolled in, but no rain.  A pair of loons cruised by to see what we were up to before diving down to enjoy a late dinner.


Fishing was good and the guys brought in four lovely bass which we enjoyed for lunch one day along with scrambled eggs.  Rhubarb is ready at home and I brought up enough to make some tasty rhubarb muffins.  A few survived long enough to go into the freezer to be enjoyed on our next visit to Smith Lake.

Wishing you beautiful sunsets,

Jean