This past week was the second time that I have visited our cabin this year. Last year I came up to the cabin on the 20th of April, got stuck in the driveway and had to call a friend to plow it out. This year I came up earlier in the month and found just a hint of snow.
I have been entertained by the birds visiting my feeder. There are Juncos, Nuthatches, Black Capped Chickadees, Downy and Hairy Woodpeckers, Chipmunks and the infamous Red Squirrels. There are enough critters to keep this old guy entertained for some time.
I received my invite to the Governor’s Fishing opener this week. It was later than usual, but I was glad to receive it and keep my sting of openers intact. I started going to the Governor’s Opener in 1995 and have been attending each year since then.
In visiting the cabin this week, I had plans to do some work on the cabin, but a few things kept me from doing all that I wanted to. Monday I visited Grand Rapids to buy some lumber, but it had started raining hard and kept it up for the remainder of the day. I scrapped the lumber idea and headed back to the cabin.
No rain on Tuesday and it actually turned out to be a decent day to work outside. One thing about owning a cabin, you never run out of things to do. I raked the leaves around the cabin until my body begged for a break.
I do, to a certain extent, enjoy a little alone time spent soaking up the peaceful solitude of the cabin and the woods that surround it. When I am up here alone, I can always see things that need to be done, which keeps me out of the recliner.
I can’t believe that we have had this little piece of God’s Country for almost nineteen years. It seems like just yesterday that we had our camper at Best Point on Lake Tetonka in Waterville. Those were some great times with some really nice folks, but nothing ever lasts forever. Where does the time go?
Speaking of time, what happened to the days when I’d go up to the cabin with one or two of my grandsons in tow? Those days are gone, but the memories are still here. I have said it many times that, when I’m here alone, I can close my eyes and almost hear the laughter and excitement of my grandsons as they would come running up the hill from the lake trying to out talk each other just to show me their catch.
On some of our visits north, the boys all had different things that they wanted to do. Trevor would quickly eat breakfast and head down to the lake to fish. Taylor always wanted to be the one to light the campfire. In the fall we would have a fire going all day long, while Trevor would be down by the lake stalking ducks and geese.
When my two youngest grandsons, Dylan and Grant joined the festivities, they would have a lot of laughs. Dylan would come up here quite a bit with his Grandma and me and he loved to fish. I could teach the kids how to fish, but they had to learn the patience thing on their own. All of the grandkids got along well and having those four little fishermen, their dads and grandpa in one boat was quite a challenge for the skipper (me) who had to try and avoid getting lines tangled in the motor and dodge a few lures to boot. Yes, there are a great many fun times and pleasant memories to cherish from those earlier years spent with family at the cabin.
Today, Trevor has taken his love of fishing to a whole new level. Dylan, his cousin, is also big into fishing. While both Taylor and Grant like fishing, they are not as hardcore as the other two. All of those boys like to hunt and fish, so it makes Grandpa proud to know that there will be Herfindahls enjoying outdoors adventures for many years to come.
Until next time: As the weather gradually gets warmer and the days get longer, it’s a perfect time to get outdoors. Whether it’s a walk around the neighborhood or a hike at the state park, just get outdoors and enjoy.
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