Hazy Days

Smoke from wildfires burning in Canada and Alaska filled the air around Smith Lake in early July.  We could even smell the smoke in the air!  The sun became a huge red ball in the early evenings, and sunset came at least a half hour earlier than usual as the sun suddenly disappeared behind the smoke that cloaked the horizon.

Not a cloud in the sky... smoke from wildfires at sunset.

Here is a map that shows how smoke from the fires traveled around the globe in early July.  The article notes how Minnesota was "hit particularly hard."

Boat launch weekend

Lots of boats were launched on the Lake this weekend, including our pontoon.  The weather was spectacular, nearly 80 degrees on Saturday, and we took our first sunset cruise of the year.  Looking forward to many more.

Friday sunset, "Before"

Saturday sunset, "After"

Ice out, docks in!

What a lovely weekend at the Lake!  Days are noticeably longer and the sun is setting in the west rather than the southwest of winter days.  The ice went out on Wednesday, April 8th this year.  We arrived Friday in time for a sunset photo in a perfectly clear sky.

A sunny Saturday was just right for putting in the docks, and by sunset we were relaxing by a small campfire without a mosquito in sight.  We barely needed a light jacket.

Sunday there was a strong breeze that brought very warm temperatures.  Our thermometer registered 75 degrees!  Then, around 4:15 pm a thunderstorm rolled through and lasted about 20 minutes.  There was even some small pea-sized hail as if to say Winter was not going out without a fight!  The rain was welcome, as conditions are so very dry right now.

We saw so much wildlife this weekend!  Just after the thunderstorm rolled through on Sunday a flock of nearly 100 pelicans circled the lake and the pot-holes for a while.  Chickadees, Robins, Nuthatch, Downy Woodpecker, a pair of Wood Ducks, Swans on Mille Lacs, Turkey Vultures and Eagles were only some of the birds that could be seen this past weekend.   The earliest wildflowers are starting to poke their leaves out of the cool soil.  Soon the Hummingbirds and Orioles will return and spring will burst forth once again.

Almost Spring

What a spectacular weekend.  Sunny and near 70 degrees: it sure felt like spring was coming at Smith Lake!  The sun is up later now thanks to Daylight Savings Time.  Nearly a 7:30 pm sunset on Saturday over an icy lake.  Snowdrifts still hug the shoreline.

The lake ice was looking dark and crystalline all weekend, and by Sunday it was getting puddle-y.

Spring is on the way!

Winter sunrise

A cloudy blanket kept temperatures hovering near freezing last weekend.  The ice fishing was successful and there were even a couple keepers on Saturday evening!  No sunsets on cloudy days, but for a brief moment on Sunday morning the sun peeked through, and the far shore turned from grey to gold.

2015 - a new year of sunsets

New Year's Day 2015 was a beautiful day at the Lake.  The sun came out, and temperatures in the 20's were perfect for outdoor activities.  We had a lovely campfire, and there were several folks out ice fishing.

The first sunset of the year was spectacular!

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.