Last two weeks of July

Hey, where ya been? 

We've been here and there.  Back and forth between the lake and home and preaching in Detroit.   Detroit Lakes that is, in Minnesota, not Michigan.  As you can see the loons which just a couple of weeks were riding on their Mother's back, now are approaching the size of their parents.

I finally got a picture of the Bald Eagle perched in our neighbor's tree.  They usually aren't quite so visible. 

The sun caught the red feathers on this Ruby Throated Hummingbird.  Sometimes it just looks dark, until the sun hits it. 

Last weekend our neighbors took us out for a boat ride. 

We came upon a couple of other neighbors trying to catch the big one.

Since we live on Eagle Lake we have to have an eagle's nest.  And we do.  These two juveniles still haven't left the nest though the parents started nesting in March.  Guess some kids just don't want to leave home. 

Leaving our lake and following the river to Potato Lake.  Oops ... what was that bump?  Oh, just a rock we ran over. 

We passed a number of Loons and this one displayed their characteristic red eye.  

Of course the Eagle was around even on Potato Lake.  That's not so strange.  It would have been really strange if we had seen a potato in a tree, don't you think?

And this week our Son-in-law's parents came for an afternoon.  Of course we had to go to Itasca and since we are old timers, had to visit our log cabin. 

This cabin was built in the thirties by the CCC boys.  Now those are some big logs!  What a great place this would be with a warm fire in a blizzard.   

We had a good time visiting, driving through Itasca, and having lunch and dinner together.

I actually got in a picture for a change.  Love my Tilley Hat....made in Canada by "persnickety" craftsmen.

Fourth of July and Boat Ride on Lake Itasca

The 4th has come and gone quickly like the rest of the summer.  Notice the hazy sky from Canadian fires up north. 

We had a BIG parade at the campground.

Then early this week a long time friend brought his boat to Lake Itasca and gave us a 3 hour ride. 

All these people gathered to wave at us as we drove by.  Actually, it is the place where water drains out of Lake Itasca and becomes the Mississippi River.  You can walk easily across it if you have better balance than I do.  Here is where the long river starts it journey south to the Gulf.

On our ride we came across several loons.  This Momma Loon was out for a swim with her two chicks which were bigger than the ones on our lake.  We were puzzled because one of the chicks appeared to have no head. 

But soon it's head popped out and joined the parade.  I think it was sleeping with it's head tucked beneath its wing.

We saw a couple of Bald Eagles. 

I really think that the Lord went overboard with the feathers on Loons.  Unlike some species, it is the same for both sexes, which is good cuz they sound looney enough without having to go more looney over who looks better in their summer dress.  Loons are heavy and their bones are not hollow which allows them to dive for their fish lunch.  But the weight requires them to get a long "run" in order to get into the air.  You can hear the "pop, pop, pop," of their wings hitting the water as they struggle to take off. 

"Let me see, if I stretch out my leg, I can scratch that itch." 

We saw several Bald Eagles... oh, I already said that.

There were just a few Pink Lady Slippers in full bloom left.  Most have withered.

What a great ride and the weather was absolutely perfect.  So maybe we just might have hit the one perfect summer day in Minnesota for our boat ride!

Water, water, everywhere...

Here is what lake people do when they are tired of the lake.  They slide down a soap and water lubricated home-made water slide over sticks, roots, and pine cones on their behinds and make a splash at the end before they hit the hay bales.  Sound like fun to you?

I was at Itasca State Park recently and saw this boat again that took us for a ride a year ago when we were celebrating my birthday.  Wish the kiddos were here!

After a year's hiatus my knee felt strong enough for a kayak ride. The hardest part was pulling it up the hill after the ride

It's a good thing we went out for another ride the second day since we spotted this Momma Loon with her two chicks on her back.  I have wanted to get such a picture for eight years but everything has to come together to make it happen.  We were bobbing up and down from the wakes of other boats plus drifting in the wind, but I managed several shots that were worth keeping

Often the babies look like a grey blob since there is little contrast on their bodies  This time at least I could see their eyes and beaks.  This hatch is quite late as other sites I have seen had hatches a month earlier.  Last year we had none on the lake, but I think we have four or five babies this year.  Now to keep them safe from eagles above, and pike and snapping turtles from below.

So all I need to get now for a picture is a Bald Eagle swooping down and using its talons to grab a fish to make my wish list of pictures complete.  I hope it doesn't take another eight years.

Minnesota's Pink Orchids

The end of June is the usual time to find the Pink Orchids called Pink Lady Slippers in Itasca State Park.

I have always found it interesting that though there are miles and miles of trails in the park, the Lady Slippers miraculously show up at some very popular trail heads.

Could that just be a coincidence or is some DNR person "planting" them so that most people will be able to find them and enjoy them.

They are said to be quite rare, but I guess trail heads are the best spot they have decided to put on their show. 

They certainly are pink, and they look like a slipper. 

I always look forward to their blooming and have been out guessed as to when they are blooming, but not this year.  Here are some facts about them that are interesting.

• Adopted as the State flower in 1902
• Botanical Name: Cypripedium reginae
• Also known as: the Queen’s lady slipper and the showy lady’s slipper
• The lady’s slipper is uncommon in Minnesota
• Fun Fact: Some people can get a rash from touching the leaves of this pretty orchid
• In its first year, the orchid grows only about as tall as a pencil point!
• Each year the lady’s slipper may produce a half-million seeds, which are as fine as flour dust.
• With the pink and white lady slipper’s longer than average life span – some species may grow be 100 years old! 

My only wish is that they would last a wee bit longer.  But like many Spring flowers they are here for but a moment for us to enjoy.  Thanks to the wonder of photography I will be able to enjoy them anytime.