| The Calends of October |
October is the tenth month of the current Gregorian calendar and the second month of Autumn’s rule. It derives its name from octo, the Latin word meaning “eight,” because October was the eighth month of the old Roman calendar. The traditional birthstone of October is the opal and the traditional flower is the Marigold. October is shared by the astrological signs of Libra and Scorpio, and (according to some sources) it is sacred to the Greek Goddess Hecate. At the end of the month (All Hallows' Eve), the Great Solar Wheel of the Year is turned to Samhain, one of the four Grand Sabbats celebrated each year by Wiccans and modern Witches throughout the world. Happy October!!!!! |
| October 2nd |
Last night I received an e-mail from Dave Broers who, with his father Wayne, left here this past Monday after a ten day stay. Here is an excerpt from his note: This was my father’s 62nd season going fishing in Minnesota. The years may be adding up but his desire and his passion are as high as they have ever been. When we got to the dock the first day, I asked him, "do you want to ride or run the motor"? He said, “I will be running the motor!” I said, “It is all yours!” After the first few days we were blessed with nice weather, and we didn’t get rained on until we started packing the car on Sunday night. The fishing on this trip was better than it has been in years.
Click HERE.
Incidentally, Wayne and his family have used LBLR as their base camp for the last 14 of those 62 years. Also, take a look at the Chronicles entry for April 18th of this year.......it's HERE. Thanks for the note Dave. |
| October 3rd | The prime color time has passed but if the conditions are right it's still pretty, isn't it? Click HERE. |
| October 4th | Already the geese are heading south.......some more efficiently than others. Click HERE. |
| October 5th |
After three days men grow weary, Of a wench, a guest, and weather dreary. -- Benjamin Franklin (but with a minor change.......sorry Ben) We could use some nice Autumn weather again.......the sooner, the better.......okay? |
| October 6th |
If you're standing in a messy garage, you're standing in history. -- Red Green (circa 2000) As a lot of you may have noticed, the LBLR garage is full of history. In fact, there is an old dirty work jacket hanging in the very same spot that the previous owner hung it more than 22 years ago. |
| October 7th | As we speak, LBLR is host to two groups of Grouse hunters. One group consists of my Son-in-Law Jim and his friends from Sartel, and the other consists of a couple of guys from Virginia (the state, not the town) who are friends of Bob O. who lives across the street on Bass Lake. Good luck you guys!!!! |
| October 8th | The temps have been close to normal for this time of the year, but we haven't had a heavy frost yet, which is nearly a month over-due. |
| October 9th | Here's a rarity for you: Jim (my son-in-law) and his grouse hunting buddies got skunked this year. Well, they "sort of" got skunked this year.......it depends on who you talk to and how you look at it. You see, Mike did get one grouse but it was shot on LBLR property, so Jim and Tim declared it to be a "tame" grouse and therefore refused to consider it as legitimate game. Needless to say, Mike non-concurred with their ruling. |
| October 10th |
Yesterday the pontoons came out of the water. This is about the normal time of the year for that job.......except for last year that is, when it was almost a month later than this. Thanks for the help Mick! HAPPY BIRTHDAY Miss Twacie!!!! |
| October 11th | Welcome back to Sam S and his two cabins full of grouse hunters who are here for the second year in a row; apparently this will be an annual event. Good luck with the hunt you guys! |
| October 12th | Happy Birthday Erin.......exactly three months late!!!! And happy "real" Columbus Day!!!!! |
| October 13th | Click HERE. |
| October 14th |
You only live once; but if you do it right, once is enough. -- Mae West (circa 1940) |
| October 15th | Summertime is the prose of owning LBLR, and it's GREAT.......but winter is the poetry. |
| 16 Octobre | Tengo nada que decir. |
| October 17th | For a short time this afternoon the daughter of one of my friends was in a somewhat stressful situation, both physically and emotionally. My friend and I looked on as her Son-in-law comforted her daughter.......it was a tender and loving moment. I can't speak for my friend, but I suspect it was very comforting for her too, to see her daughter being looked after so well by her husband in a time of stress. What a great feeling for a parent!!!!! |
| October 18th | Congrats(!!!!) to Kate and Ryan on their wedding day. They were married today on the beach in Cancun. Click HERE. Ryan is Deb's son, so congrats to the lovely Mom as well. Click HERE. |
| October 19th | It's past the middle of October (even past MEA weekend) and still no hard frost.......very unusual. |
| October 20th | IGH!!! |
| October 21st | I've been gone for a little over a week and a lot of change occurred in that short time. The color is gone and the leaves are down; click HERE. But wait.......the colorful leaves may be gone but the Tamaracks are in their prime. Those people heading up here tomorrow to spend a long weekend in cabins 5 & 6 will see tons and tons of beautiful orange Tamaracks along highways 73 and 2. Consider leaving early so that the sun is still up when you go through those areas. |
| October 22nd | Click HERE. |
| October 23rd | Can you believe that this is nearly the end of October??? Click HERE. And these weird ladies even talked about swimming out to the raft this afternoon, but it didn't happen. |
| October 24th |
They didn't go swimming but they did take a final paddle boat ride for the year.......this is Colleen and Allie. Click HERE. The swimming raft has finally been removed from the lake for the winter. |
| October 25th | Oh my goodness, look at this; it's the new son of Tara, LBLR's "chief" cleaning lady. Congrats to her and Milo (and to their new son who is also named Milo). Click HERE. |
| October 26th | Welcome back to Sharon and Paul, our usual guests at this time of the year. |
| October 27th | On average, the lake should be frozen a month from yesterday (click HERE for the details if you'd like), but with the warm weather we've been having I can't believe that it'll even be close. On the other hand, who knows?!?!?! |
| October 28th & 29th | Click HERE. |
| October 30th | Today was dark, dreary, cold, windy, and had a little snow.......but still no significant frost. Oh well, maybe tonight. |
| All Hallows' Eve and Samhain |
The boundaries which divide Life from Death are at best shadowy and vague. Who shall say where the one ends and the other begins?
-- Edgar Allan Poe, from The Premature Burial (1831) HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!! And by the way, beginning around 1000 years ago in Ireland, a Gaelic festival called "Samhain" marked the end of the harvest season and the beginning of winter. It was celebrated from sunset today until sunset tomorrow. So.......HAPPY SAMHAIN!!! as well. The first hard frost is finally here, and it's quite a freeze. All the puddles are solid enough to walk on. WOW!!!! |
