Home again

 Fawkes slept with me this time.

The stars were pretty bright.  Orion was clear.

After breakfast, I made my sack lunch.  We had time to pick more beans.  We left the house about 10 to drive to Duluth.  We should have left a little earlier.  

Clear Lake

We thought that we had plenty of time.  But we did not calculate on photography time and the road construction.  I was getting a little nervous.  My flight was at 12:55 pm and our ETA was 12:35 pm.  I got stopped going through security. They did not like my Zup's seasoning ... AGAIN!!! Argh.  Hurry, Hurry.  I thought that I might have a chance to go to the restroom but just as I was going to the restroom my name was announced on the intercom.  Barbara Walker come to the gate we are ready to shut the door!! Double Argh!  Luckily the Duluth is a small airport.  But once on the plane I could relax.    

Overcast coming into Minneapolis. 

It is only a half hour flight between Duluth and Minneapolis.  I noticed that there were a few people who were wearing a mask and shield like me.  I only saw one person without a mask. I ate my lunch in Minneapolis.

I arrived into Portland about 5 minutes early.  I got a message from George that he was stuck in traffic and might be late picking me up.  I only had to wait about 10 minutes.  We were home by 6 pm.  

They are still working on putting out fires but our air quality is good. AQI 12 and 32 in Ely.  Now they are predicting and worrying about  floods.

What a great time I had.  Now I just hope that I did not get sick.  

Monday, Sept 21 and More Lakes

Night Furry is chewing on the fake plants.

We stopped by the Log Cabin to buy coffee before the morning coffee group.  The woman who started this little coffee shop built this little cabin herself.  Quite a woman.  It is the only drive through coffee place in Ely.  Very popular.

The Log Cabin was right across the street from the Lakeland motel that Jeri and Wally own.  They have been trying to sell it for the past 13 years. This is where the coffee group meets.  They used to meet M-F morning at 10 am in the DQ right next door but since COVID-19 they had to come up with an alternate plan.  Now they meet once or twice a week and they sit in a big circle outside.

Lucy, Butch and Bobbi

Margie, Jeri and Wally

Wally, Donna and Jeanne

We drove home in time for me to do my 12-3 pm shift with Viva Village.  It was very easy this time.  I had to take care of a few things but we could still sit and visit. 

We went a little different direction today.

                        

Shagawa Lake is a big lake just out of town. One end has the swimming area.  We drove around it.

New beaver damage

The water is pretty clear

See the Ely water tower

Miners Lake, was a filled in mining hole. 

Looking across the water you can see Jeanne and Jay's church.  It is the spire to the left of the round tower.

A large snapping turtle crossing the road.  We stopped to make sure that it successfully crossed the road.

The tiny mug with plant Jeanne got on our Rick Steves trip to Spain and the glass cactus was from our art show.

View of the bay from the back deck

We got home in time to sit on the back deck with our Smirnoff Ice before we started with dinner.

We made my crustless spinach quiche and roasted sweet potatoes for dinner.  I put a little too much salt on the sweet potatoes. Oh well.

The puzzle

Jeanne had not seen "Shall We Dance" so we watched that after we finished the puzzle. 

Church and More Lakes

 

A little bird flew into the window and was stunned.  Jeanne went to rescue it.  The cats were very interested.  She thought that it might be a warbler, maybe a Magnolia Warbler.

She put it on the bird feeder and later it was gone so I guess it was ok.  

We went to Ely to go to church.  They all meet in the parking lot. A few people bring lawn chairs but most people stay in their cars.  Pastor Dana was preaching this time.  Pastor Craig was on vacation so Dana was subbing. We did some grocery shopping before heading home.  

  

The Pileated Woodpecker came back.

After lunch we went on another lake tour.

There is water on one side of the road but apparently that is now where people put their canoes in. 

They put in on this side of the road but since it is only a stream here they have to carry their canoes to where they can put in.

This is where they used  to put in but it is so dry this year they had to keep hiking further.  We stopped here. We did not actually see the Mudro Lake.  This is one of the key access points for going into the boundary waters.

Great fall colors.

This is Ed Shave Lake.  

Jeanne used to like to go to this lake because once you get here you can get your canoe right in the water and there was great fishing.  It is nice to see these lakes because I have heard Jeanne talking about going to these lakes and now I have a visual.

Jeanne's driveway. They are 549 Loop Rd

White pine in front of the neighbor's house.

Love the fall colors.  

My bedroom

They have several paintings by this artist.  I have always liked it.

They have several tables showing off their arrow head collection.  Most of these they have found through the years. I have a lot of fond memories of hiking around the fields in Illinois during college to look for arrowheads.   

A drawing of the house.

We had an afternoon treat of frozen mango custard.  yummy. We worked on the puzzle until dinner time. 

After dinner we watched the Netflix documentary "The Social Dilemma" Scary and interesting documentary of some of the ways that social media can change our thinking. Kris had seen this and recommended it.