An eclectic week

The work week started out pretty intensely as Mondays tend to do this time of year. As we often do (but not without a bit of protest and stern looks before we cave) we accepted someone's freight as we have forklifts and most people don't. At least not at their homes or cabins. This week it was candy. Not your ordinary candy or your ordinary amount. This was tons. Not figuratively as in "We ate tons of candy," but literally tons. Approximately 3 tons. It consisted of some kind of commercial s'mores in one carton, gorp in another, and coarsely shaved chocolate in another. I'll show you.

I have never seen anything like it. Apparently it is bait for the upcoming bear hunting season. Bears must be difficult to hunt so you get to lure them in with junk food. I suppose that shooting them after they eat this stuff might be considered a mercy killing. Then again...

Long ago I had the time and money to learn to fly and so I did. Then life happened and time and money would go the way of the dinosaur in my world. I enjoyed it and expanded my long term bucket list before I knew what a bucket list was. A realtor friend and I were talking at a get together a few weeks back and we thought flying his airplane and me taking pictures for the real estate business might be worth trying. So we did. On Wednesday evening we flew around the area for about an hour. I even got to take the yoke for a few minutes for old times sake. My friend was a little disappointed that we didn't see any moose, but there were sure a lot of trees and lakes. That's what you would expect living in a National Forest near the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness.

 We got to see some of the river canyons and falls.

And even my own little farm.

A last look at the town and harbor before we concluded our hour in the air.

But the best event of the week was getting to meet, live and in person, none other than our own Professor Batty and The Weaver. The Cooker, Stitch, and I got to meet them for dinner at one of our local (thirty miles is considered practically next door up here) establishments. Good food and good spirits abounded at this joyous occasion and a good time was had by all. Hopefully, I'll get to visit Flippist World Headquarters in the near future and visit the Professor in his native habitat.

Dragons and 'shrooms

Last weekend was the annual Dragon Boat Race which consists of a lot of people paddling their asses across the harbor at a high rate of speed. Some of them are even serious about it, but that doesn't spoil the fun.

 Here is Stitch steering her team in after another grueling heat.

The Coast Guard and local law enforcement were on hand in case anyone fell into the water. Luckily no one did as the water is about 40F (5C). and you won't stay conscious very long.

Not everyone was in a hurry that day. The folks on board the Hjørdis were out for a leisurely cruise.

Of course, the local ducks are always out for a leisurely cruise until it's time to head south.

Finally,  we have been having some dry weather after a particularly wet winter, spring, and first half of summer. People have been starting to get out and have some fun. On the way home from work the other day I saw these people paddling between shore and Five Mile Rock. The rock is a couple of acres in size and is a favorite place for gulls to nest. It got its name for being five miles from town, but sometimes it is called guano rock because of the gulls.

The other thing about this time of year is that it is chanterelle season! Those tasty golden mushrooms that grow under the large leaf asters that add so much to a steak or risotto or some of these other recipes. It is delicious fungus among us that is only here for a few short weeks. This is where they hide.

So after a late afternoon stroll through the woods, checking our favorite hillsides for this prize, we stroll back to the house with the Cooker carrying a basket full. We always leave enough behind so they will be back next year.