simply north summer 2011
DESCRIPTION
Simply North magazine published Summer 2011TRANSCRIPT
Live. Play. Enjoy.Live. Play. Enjoy.
Summer 2011Summer 2011
SIMPLY NORTH★SIMPLY NORTH★
ALSO IS THIS ISSUE:
★ Learn how to make a kite
★ Recipes for a ‘RaspberryRickey’ and ‘AuntieBunny’s Blueberry Pie’
★ Hot summer reads
hhoobbbbyythe perfect
gardeningDeb Ciminski describes
...
Throw aMinnesota
LUAU:All you need is fresh fish
to fry and citronella tiki torches to keep
the bugs away
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1
SIMPLY NORTH★SIMPLY NORTH★
Live. Play. Enjoy.July ★ August ★ September 2011
2 Flippin’ And Sippin’Food, drink and recipes
4 Eye On The SkyLunar tables and constellations
5 Around The CampfireStories, treats, traditions
and legends
8 Cabin CoutureFrom shacky to chic!
14 Simple SolutionsTried and tested tips and tricks
16 Pets And PasturesFrom horses and hogs to dogs
18 Off The Beaten PathWhat’s going on in the woods?
20 Shack DoctorSimple solutions,
fix-ups and how-to’s
24 Without A PaddleThings for everyone to do
26 The Frozen GardenerSeeds, weeds and growing needs
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2
SIMPLY NORTH Flippin’ and Sippin’★
Warm summer nights call for coolingrefreshments, light meals and seasonaldesserts.
Try a “Raspberry Rickey” — mixed withred raspberry-infused vodka, or not — toquench most thirsts on a balmy summerevening.
Raspberry RickeyYields: 4 cups• 1 1/3 cup(s) red raspberries• 3 tablespoon(s) sugar• 1/2 cup(s) lime juice• 2 cup(s) (and up to 1 addition cup, per
recipe) sparkling mineral water• 1 cup(s) red raspberry vodka, optional
Directions1. Make raspberry syrup: Place raspberries in a
medium-sized bowl. Add the sugar and lime juiceand mash with the back of a wooden spoon. Letsit for 10 minutes. Strain the mixture through afine sieve to remove seeds and set aside.
2. Make the drink: Fill 4 large glasses with ice
Auntie Bunny's blueberry pie — all that awaits the pie is the whipped topping. This no-bake delicacy will help keep the kitchen cool.
SweetTreatsWarm summer nights call for
cooling refreshments, lightmeals and seasonal desserts
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SIMPLY NORTH Flippin’ and Sippin’★
More about blueberries
Who doesn’t like blueberries? Whether they’re in a pie,fruit smoothie or eaten straight from the bush, blueberrieshave been a healthy treat for northern Minnesota residentsfor hundreds of years and they continue to delight most peo-ple.
When to look: Mid to late July is the height of the blueberryseason.
Where to look: Exposed rocks and jack pine trees. Look onthe east or southeast side of the rock hill. Blueberries like somesunlight, but do not grow particularly big in direct sunlight.Some of the best berry patches have a swamp nearby.
What to bring: Pails, bug spray, sun tan lotion, a hat.What to do after they’re picked: Sort out the good and bad.
Handful by handful pick out leaves, sticks, stems, and bad berries.Place berries in a freezer bag and place in the freezer. Washingthem prior to freezing will cause them to stick together in aclump. If necessary, wash after they have thawed.
Why they’re good for you: Blueberries contain a powerfulcholesterol- and fat-fighting compound, USDA researchers report.They’re touted as antioxidant-rich fruits that protect against theravages of aging, heart disease, and cancer.
and pour 1/4 cup of syrup in each glass. Add 3/4 cup sparkling water toeach glass and stir to combine. If using vodka, add 1/4 cup (or less totaste) to each glass, stir to combine, and top with 1/2 cup of sparklingwater. Garnish glasses with fresh raspberries and lime wedges, if desired.
Nutritional Information(per serving)Calories — 64.6Total Fat — .3gCholesterol — 0Sodium — .4mgTotal Carbohydrate — 16.9gDietary Fiber — 1.8gProtein — .5g
Auntie Bunny’s blueberry pie2 cups blueberries1/2 cup sugar1 heaping T. corn starchBring to a boil and cook until thick.Remove from heat, add 2 more cups of fresh blueberries.Cool and put in baked 9 inch pie shell.Let set then cover with cool whip and serve.
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4
SIMPLY NORTH Eye On The Sky★
Moon PhasesAugustFirst Quarter — Aug. 6Full Moon – Aug. 13, Full Sturgeon Moon
— The fishing tribes are given credit for thenaming of this Moon, since sturgeon, a largefish of the Great Lakes and other major bod-ies of water, were most readily caught duringthis month. A few tribes knew it as the FullRed Moon because, as the Moon rises, itappears reddish through any sultry haze. Itwas also called the Green Corn Moon orGrain Moon.
Last Quarter — Aug. 21New Moon — Aug. 29
SeptemberFirst Quarter — Sept. 4Full Moon — Sept. 12, Full Corn Moon —
This full moon’s name is attributed to NativeAmericans because it marked when corn wassupposed to be harvested. Most often, theSeptember full moon is actually the HarvestMoon.
Last Quarter — Sept. 20New Moon — Sept. 27
OctoberFirst Quarter — Oct. 4Full Moon — Oct. 12, Full Harvest Moon
— This is the full Moon that occurs closest tothe autumn equinox. In two years out ofthree, the Harvest Moon comes inSeptember, but in some years it occurs inOctober. At the peak of harvest, farmers canwork late into the night by the light of thisMoon. Usually the full Moon rises an averageof 50 minutes later each night, but for thefew nights around the Harvest Moon, theMoon seems to rise at nearly the same timeeach night: just 25 to 30 minutes later acrossthe U.S., and only 10 to 20 minutes later formuch of Canada and Europe. Corn, pump-kins, squash, beans, and wild rice, the chiefIndian staples, are now ready for gathering.
Last Quarter — Oct. 20New Moon — Oct. 26
&all itsphases
The moon
t’s dark out. You hear the frogs and toads singing and smell the pine and spruce nearby. Look up and consider the uni-verse.
August, September and October offer opportunities.Look to the late August sky to see the largest planet, Jupiter. It will be the brightest star in the sky during this time and
will remain so for the night.In the September sky, the autumnal equinox occurs on Sept. 22 each year, signaling the start of fall. In the northwest
night sky, the visible constellations include Bootes, Sagitta, Ursa Major and Ursa Minor. Corona Borealis, Hercules,Cepheus and Cygnus are also visible in the northwest as well as portions of Aquila, Serpens Cauda, Ophiuchus and Lacerta. Tothe northeast the visible constellations include Draco, Cepheus, Cassiopeia, Andromeda, Perseus, Pisces, Triangulum, Pegasusand Ursa Minor, and portions of Aquarius and Ursa Major.
In October, the celestial sky changes as the Earth rotates on its axis. Many of September’s constellations remain visible, butin different positions and angles. Delphinus, Equuleus, Lyra and Vul are visible, while Bootes and Ursa Major are lower in thenight sky and beginning to move from view in the northwest. In the northeast sky, Auriga, Camelopardalis, Lynx and Taurusbecome fully visible along with Triangulum and Aries.
I
5
SIMPLY NORTH Around The Campfire★
Follow these simple stepsto create the perfect camp-fire:
• Select a site at least 10feet away from tents, trees,roots and other flammableitems.
• Gather firewood and kin-dling using only fallenbranches.
• Build a small, loose pileof kindling, making sure toallow space for air to feedthe fire. Include paper scraps,dry plant matter and othersmall, flammable items.
• Construct a pyramid ofdry twigs and small sticksaround and above the kin-dling pile.
• Light the kindling with amatch.
• Add increasingly largersticks and then logs as thefire grows in strength, alwaysleaving enough spacebetween them for the fire tobreathe.
All you need is a little oiland something to containthe popping corn kernels.Any pot with a handle anda lid will do.
If you are popping cornover a campfire, then youprobably want somethingwith a longer handle than aregular pot.
Or use an 18-by-18-inchpiece of heavy-duty tin foil,1 teaspoon of popcorn and1 teaspoon of oil. Create apouch of foil and pour thepopcorn in before placing itover a campfire.
Evenings in the summer can be made more enjoyable with a campfire to take the chill off
Top off an evening witha big batch of buttery,salty popcorn roasted
over an open fire
Campfirewith roasted
popcorn ...
perfect
Campfirewith roasted
popcorn ...
perfect
6
SIMPLY NORTH Around The Campfire★
AmberA Texas Ghost StoryExcerpted from Spooky Texasretold by S.E. SchlosserOh, you hear the stories about how dangerous
Ouija boards are, but hey — it’s just a game. Marywaited until midnight to begin our little game,and the four of us — Sarah, Jessie, me, and, Mary,started by asking all kinds of silly questions.
It was a strange-looking board, covered withletters and symbols. There was a plastic pointerthat was supposed to move across the board atthe behest of the spirits. The instructions called it aplanchette.
Around 1:30 in the morning, the planchettesuddenly froze in Mary’s hand. It wouldn’t move,no matter how much we pushed and pulled.
Mary turned her frightened blue eyes towardme. “I’m not doing it,” she said, lifting her hands.I grabbed the planchette myself and tried to pushit around, but it was fixed to the board.
Suddenly, a kind of electric shock buzzedthrough my fingers. I gasped and tried to pull myfingers from the planchette, but they were stuck.Mary and Jessie both tried to pull my fingers away,nothing helped. The other girls stared with wide,round eyes, as the planchette came alive undermy fingers — which were still fixed to its surface— and began to move.
“Help.” The words spelled out under my hand.“Help me. Help me.”
The planchette kept moving back and forth
between the h – e – l – p continuously, until Sarahcried out: “Who are you?”
“Amber.” The board spelled. “My name isAmber. I am eight years old.”
“What’s wrong?” Mary asked. Her face was sowhite all the freckles stood out like darkened agespots.
“Water. Danger. Help. Scared.” The wordsspelled out as fast as my hand could move.
“Call 9-1-1,” Mary cried suddenly. “Quick.Amber is in danger.”
By this time, Sarah was gasping into the phone.Then she hung up the phone. “They wouldn’t lis-ten to me,” she told us, almost in tears.
At that instant, my hand was suddenly freefrom the planchette.
“She’s gone,” I gasped,“See if you can contact her again,” Mary said
urgently. “We need to know if she’s okay!” I picked up the plastic planchette again.
“Amber, are you there?” I asked softly, afraid ofwhat might happen.
After a long pause, it moved slowly across theboard and spelled out the words: “Too late.” Andafter another long pause. “Water. Flood.Drowned. Mobile. Alabama.” The planchettestopped.
I knew that Amber was gone. None of us got much sleep that night. In the
morning, we rushed through breakfast and thenlooked up the Alabama news on the Internet.None of us were surprised to read that there had
been flash floods the night before. I read thenames of those who had died in the flood. One ofthe victims was an eight-year-old girl namedAmber.
Babe the Blue OxMinnesota Tall Talesretold by S. E. SchlosserWell now, one winter it was so cold that all the
geese flew backward and all the fish moved southand even the snow turned blue. Late at night, it gotso frigid that all spoken words froze solid afore theycould be heard. People had to wait until sunup tofind out what folks were talking about the nightbefore.
Paul Bunyan went out walking in the woods oneday during that Winter of the Blue Snow. He wasknee-deep in blue snow when he heard a funnysound between a bleat and a snort. Looking down,he saw a teeny-tiny baby blue ox jest a hoppingabout in the snow and snorting with rage onaccount of he was too short to see over the drifts.
Paul Bunyan laughed when he saw the spunky lit-tle critter and took the little blue mite home withhim. He warmed the little ox up by the fire and thelittle fellow fluffed up and dried out, but he remainedas blue as the snow that had stained him in the firstplace. So Paul named him Babe the Blue Ox.
Well, any creature raised in Paul Bunyan's camptended to grow to massive proportions, and Babewas no exception. Folks that stared at him for fiveminutes could see him growing right before their
From AmericanFolklore website,
comes an offering of spooky and funny
campfire stories
GhoststoriesGhoststoriesGhoststoriesGhoststoriesGhoststoriesGhoststoriesGhoststories
7
SIMPLY NORTH Around The Campfire★
eyes. He grew so big that 42 axe handles plus aplug of tobacco could fit between his eyes and ittook a murder of crows a whole day to fly from onehorn to the other. The laundryman used his hornsto hang up all the camp laundry, which would drylickety-split because of all the wind blowing aroundat that height.
Whenever he got an itch, Babe the Blue Ox hadto find a cliff to rub against, 'cause whenever hetried to rub against a tree it fell over and begged formercy. To whet his appetite, Babe would chew upthirty bales of hay, wire and all. It took six men withpicaroons to get all the wire out of Babe's teeth afterhis morning snack. Right after that he'd eat a ton ofgrain for lunch and then come pestering around thecook - Sourdough Sam - begging for another snack.
Babe the Blue Ox was a great help around PaulBunyan's logging camp. He could pull anything thathad two ends, so Paul often used him to straightenout the pesky, twisted logging roads. By the timeBabe had pulled the twists and kinks out of all theroads leading to the lumber camp, there was twen-ty miles of extra road left flopping about withnowhere to go. So Paul rolled them up and usedthem to lay a new road into new timberland.
Paul also used Babe the Blue Ox to pull the heavytank wagon which was used to coat the newly-straightened lumber roads with ice in the winter,until one day the tank sprang a leak that trickledsouth and became the Mississippi River. After that,Babe stuck to hauling logs. Only he hated workingin the summertime, so Paul had to paint the log-ging roads white after the spring thaw so that Babewould keep working through the summer.
One summer, as Babe the Blue Ox was hauling aload of logs down the white-washed road anddreaming of the days when the winter would feelcold again and the logs would slide easier on the"ice", he glanced over the top of the mountain andcaught a glimpse of a pretty yeller calf grazing in afield. Well, he twisted out of his harness lickety-splitand stepped over the mountain to introduce him-self. It was love at first sight, and Paul had to aban-don his load and buy Bessie the Yeller Cow from thefarmer before Babe would do any more hauling.
Bessie the Yeller Cow grew to the massive, yetdainty proportions that were suitable for the mateof Babe the Blue Ox. She had long yellow eyelashesthat tickled the lumberjacks standing on the otherend of camp each time she blinked. She producedall the dairy products for the lumber camp. Eachday, Sourdough Sam made enough butter from hercream to grease the giant pancake griddle andsometimes there was enough left over to butter thetoast!
The only bone of contention between Bessie andBabe was the weather. Babe loved the ice and snowand Bessie loved warm summer days. One winter,Bessie grew so thin and pale that Paul Bunyan askedhis clerk Johnny Inkslinger to make her a pair ofgreen goggles so she would think it was summer.After that, Bessie grew happy and fat again, andproduced so much butter that Paul Bunyan usedthe leftovers to grease the whitewashed lumberroads in summer. With the roads so slick all yearround, hauling logs became much easier for Babethe Blue Ox, and so Babe eventually came to likesummer almost as much as Bessie.
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8
SIMPLY NORTH Cabin Couture★
A northwoods
Select a themeLiving in the northwoods brings an
opportunity for a unique theme. Instead ofthrowing a Hawaiian luau, throw aMinnesota luau. Ditch the flower leis forcattail leis. Tiki torches will still work, but fillthem with citronella oil to keep pesky mos-quitoes away. Hawaiian button up shirtscan be replaced with your favorite resortshirt or a fishing vest.
Keep it cleanHosing off the deck may seem like a no-
brainer, but keeping grass clippings, dirtand other mess away from areas where peo-ple will eat is a must for any outdoor event.Keep trash cans handy during the party. Incase of wind, keep a few washed rocks or
thematic paperweights handy to keep nap-kins, tablecloths, and lightweight itemsfrom blowing away.
Create a menuNothing says a Minnesota deck party like
a traditional fish fry. Fish can be purchasedin bulk from area distributors or, withenough advance warning, guests can BYOF(bring your own fish.) To really tap into tra-dition, a number of local residents say afish fry isn’t authentic without bacon andonion sandwiches to kick off the meal. Asthe story goes, bacon and onion sandwich-es are served at fish fries to create grease tocook the fish in or if anglers didn’t catchany fish, at least they had a sandwich toeat.
DecorateCreating a comfortable atmosphere for
guests adds to any party, especially thoseoutdoors. Throw a decorative cushion orpillow on plastic chairs to add color andcomfort. Candles set the mood for anevening party — and help keep the bugsaway. Add bark and local plants and flowersto simple vases as centerpieces.
ActivitiesSet up a volleyball net, horseshoe pit or
croquet in the yard to keep guests enter-tained. Providing entertainment for all ages(including kids activities for family parties)will keep the party going and everyonehappy. Music to fit the theme of the partywill liven the mood.
deck party
Throw a Minnesota luau: All you need is fish and plenty of citronella tiki torches to keep the bugs away
9
SIMPLY NORTH Extras★
Downtown on beautiful
Lake Kabetogama
Fresh Baby Back Ribsevery
Saturday & Wednesday.
Try our Homemade Pizza and Soups,Hand-Breaded Walleye, Steaks, Burgers,
Full Bar and Menu
By boat in Peterson Bay
10064 Gappa Rd.
218-875-3481
GreatFun!
GreatFood!
“Vegas Moon,” by American crime fictionauthor John Locke is escapism at its finest.
This book is part of the Donovan Creed series.In this edition, Donovan Creed signs on as body-guard to the most famous gambler in Las Vegashistory, Jim “Lucky” Peters. Lucky, worth millions,has hit a losing streak and must raise a lot of cashin a short period of time from some of the world’screepiest people. It doesn’t take long for Creed tolearn that the person who holds the key to his sur-vival is none other than Lucky’s hot wife, Gwen,who has secrets of her own.
Another fun escape is any book in theStephanie Plum series by Janet Evanovich.
Plum is a bounty hunter with an attitude wholives in Jersey. An entry in Wikipedia describes heras a spunky combination of Nancy Drew and DirtyHarry. She is described by her creator as “incredi-bly average and yet heroic if necessary.”
Each book in the series is connected to a num-
ber, including “One for the Money,” “Two for theDough,” “Three to Get Deadly,” “Four to Score,”“High Five,” etc. So far, the final book in the seriesis “Smokin' Seventeen.”
With reoccurring characters, you really get toknow the people that Plum chases, loves, hates isafraid of and considers family.
A cute, feel-good summer read is “Heaven isfor Real” by Todd Burpo with Lynn Vincent.“Heaven Is for Real” is the story of the four-yearold son of a small town Nebraska pastor who dur-ing emergency surgery slips from consciousnessand enters heaven. He survives and begins talkingabout being able to look down and see the doctoroperating and his dad praying in the waitingroom. The family didn’t know what to believe butsoon the evidence was clear.
For those who can’t get enough of the latestseason of the HBO television series “True Blood,”vampire-romance fans will want to check out the
latest in the Sookie Stackhouse series, “DeadReckoning.” The 11th in the series continues thetale of the Bon Temps, La., as she navigates lifewith vampires and other supernatural beings.
“The Celestine Prophecy” by James Redfieldbegins when the narrator starts to track down anancient Peruvian manuscript containing nine“insights.” He encounters resistance from authori-ties, who believe the document will underminetraditional values.
E-readersAn e-reader is a portable electronic device
that is designed for reading books in a digitalformat.
The main advantages of e-book readers arebetter readability of their screens especially inbright sunlight and long battery life. This isachieved by using electronic paper technolo-gy to display content to readers.
Nearly any book can be downloaded onthe fly, especially those with 3G technologywhich don’t even require hooking up to acomputer — or even wireless Internet access— to connect. This makes this technologyperfect for catching up on reading at thecabin on a rainy day or keeping kids busy inthe car on road trips. And packing an e-read-er is a lot lighter than carrying a stack ofbooks.
Hot readsSimply North staff share some of their favorite page turners fit for reading dockside or curled up on a rainy day
10
SIMPLY NORTH Feature★
hobbyThe perfect
By EMILY GEDDE
gardening
11
SIMPLY NORTH Feature★
eb Ciminski doesn’t travelfar for vacation. In fact,she doesn’t leave herhouse. To find her self in a
relaxing vacation-like mood,she slides open her patio door
and steps into her backyard. Ciminski’s backyard isn’t a typical back-
yard with trees and a tire swing — it is fullof flowers, fountains, and benches. Thelocal art teacher cultivates 17 — yes, 17 —flower and vegetable gardens throughouther two-acre property .
“It gives me a sense of accomplishment,”she said of her gardens. “Gardening is rest-ful for the brain.”
Ciminski says watching plants growthroughout the season is her favorite part ofthe hobby.
“It (gardening) puts me in connection tothe earth,” she said.
A young gardenerGrowing up, Ciminski’s Ninth Avenue
home was full of what her father, Fred“Fritz” Glava, was known for — vegetablegardens.
“He loved his gardens,” Ciminski remem-bers of her dad. “He grew almost everythinghe ate.”
As Glava grew older, he realized his veg-etable gardens were too much for his aginghands to take care of. Unsure of what to dowith the yard that had been full of vegeta-tion and soil for so long, he turned to hisfamily for suggestions.
“I told him he should try landscaping,”Ciminski said with a laugh.
Ciminski explained her immediatechuckle was because her dad was a garden-er who planted everything in rows. So,when he planted trees, he planted them indouble rows.
After Glava left his home for a seniorapartment, Ciminski and her husbandRandy moved in.
Ciminski not only raised three daughters— Liz, Annie and Erika — in the home shegrew up in, she raised gardens as well.
Developing a styleAlthough she inherited her father’s green
thumb, only a small fraction of Ciminski’sgardens grow vegetables. The rest is bloom-ing with color and variety.
Glava died in 1993 and Ciminski says,“People always tell me my dad would justlove my gardens, but I know he wouldn’t.”
D
Continued on page 12
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She continued that one of Glava’s com-mon phrases was, “I see no sense in water-ing something you can’t eat.”
Despite her father’s motto, Ciminski’sAugust water bill has been known to exceed$200.
Still, the horticulturist loves her flowersand loves waiting for their arrival every year.
“Spring is the funnest. I love spring.”She claims that she has more fun finding
out what perennials made it through thewinter than she does watching buds turninto flowers.
“It feels like Christmas when the snowgoes away. I just walk around and peek andsnoop.”
From year to year, Ciminski forgets whatshe has planted and what her flowers looklike, especially her hostas (lily-like plants).
Ciminski hopes her gardens, which will be at their peak from mid-July to early August, will thriveuntil September.
“It feels like Christmaswhen the snow goesaway. I just walkaround and peek and snoop.”
SIMPLY NORTH Feature★
Historic Backus/AB, a community center in the heart of International Falls, where past, present and
future come together to celebrate the arts, culture,recreation and life-long learning.
BACKUSCommunity Center
Raffle TicketsFUNDRAISER for Dining Room
Tables & ChairsTickets: $50.00 (only 400 sold)
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Drawing September 1
Backus Community MarketBackus/AB 3rd Street
Parking Lot - Rain or ShineWednesdays: 5 - 7 p.m.Saturdays: 8 - 11 a.m.
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Bass TournamentAugust 27 . . . . . . . .Oberholtzer Foundation - 7:00 p.m.
Folk Music ConcertSeptember 1 . . . . . .Soup Supper 4:30 - 7:00 p.m.
Sponsor: Duty Free AmericasSeptember 24 . . . . .Last Community Market -
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Sponsor: Streiff’s FloralSeptember 30 . . . . .Street Corner Symphony - 7:30 p.m.
Border Concert AssociationOctober 6 . . . . . . . .Soup Supper 4:30 - 7:00 p.m.
Sponsor: Friends Against AbuseOctober 13, 14 . . . .Tim Sparks, Guitarist - Residency
Concert: 7:30 p.m. Friday
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13
“They’re a really neat, beautiful plant. Ihave several varieties.”
The gardener’s mind is always changingon what to plant and where. She groupssome colors together — one garden haspink, purple and blue flowers, another hasbright, vibrant colors, and one has mutedyellows.
“I’ve got nasturtiums stuck everywhere,”she said. “I love nasturtiums.”
She added, “I plant stuff I like looking at. Ialways tell kids at school to create some-thing they like looking at, not somethingthat’ll match their couch.”
Gardening with some kinksFrustrations come along with any enjoy-
able hobby, and Ciminski has encounteredher fair share.
One archenemy of gardening is frost —especially in northern Minnesota.
This year, frost made appearances as lateas June.
“I probably inherited a quarter acre ofsheets from my dad. But, I still had to doCPR on some of the plants.”
Even though she lives in town, deer are acommon nuisance to Ciminski’s pride andjoys. A number of remedies have beenattempted to keep the four-legged pestsout, including: human hair, nylons, pie tins,and soap bars. Each failed and just createdwhat Ciminski describes as a hillbillylifestyle.
“It looked like the Clampetts lived here,”she joked. “It (the yard) looked just terrible.I told Randy, ‘We can’t live like this.’”
A blooming futureCiminski sees herself gardening for a long
time, yet next year, she says she will bedownsizing her gardens — by one.
“I just need one less,” she sighed. However, she attempted to remove a gar-
den last year, but somehow it grew back. “I dug that dang thing up, but it came
back.”She enjoys that her daughter, Liz, who
now owns her own home, has gotten intogardening and frequently calls her mom foradvice.
“I’ve done a lot of reading and a lot of it is
self-taught. After a while, you just knowmore.”
She hopes her gardens, which will be attheir peak from mid-July to early August,will thrive until school starts up again inSeptember.
To sum up the pastime that has been apart of her life for so long, she said,“Gardening is the perfect hobby.”
Ciminski enjoys finding out what perennials made it through the winter. Above, is one of her gardens full of different hostas, which are a lily-likeplant.
“It gives me a sense of accomplishment. Gardening is restful for the brain.It (gardening) puts me in connection to the earth.”
SIMPLY NORTH Feature★
14
★SIMPLY NORTH Simple Solutions
ver since Benjamin Franklin’s 1752 famous kite experiment, children and adults alike have been fas-cinated with the wind-driven flyers.
And while plenty of store-bought alternatives exist, making a homemade kite increases the fun,especially for kids. So on a rainy summer day, stay inside with this craft that will extend the funonce the sun comes out.
This project is fun for kids of all ages, and can be made at little to no expense with common itemsthat can be found around many homes or cabins.
Simple diamond kiteWhat you need:★ Paper or light-weight plastic, about 3-
feet wide square (consider items such as trashbags, disposable tablecloths)
★ Two wooden dowels or straight sticks; one 36 inch-es, another 28 inches
★ String or fishing line, about 100 feet in length★ Heavy-duty tape★ Scissors★ Marker★ Long ruler
To construct:★ Measure to the center of the shorter stick. Place that center point of the shorter
stick (positioned horizontally) about two-thirds up the longer stick (positioned vertically) tomake the shape of a cross. Bind together with string, making an “X” shape with the stringaround all four corners to secure.
★ Place sticks on top of back of sheet. Mark four corners. Using straight edge, connect dotsaround edges of kite. Leaving 1/2-inch margin, cut around edges to make diamond shape.
★ At this point, an optional step is to decorate the kite using permanent markers, stickers and othercrafting supplies. The sky is the limit when it comes to personalizing a kite.
★ Fold extra margin edges over. Secure to ends of crossed sticks using tape. ★ Cut piece of string about 42 inches. This piece is called the bridle. Attach it to both ends of the vertical stick using tape or reinforce taped
ends and make a hole to tie through.★ Attach rest of string to center of bridle piece. ★ Create tail for kite using leftover scraps and tie to bottom of kite.★ Find a clear day with steady winds and hold on tight as the kite soars up high!
E
Go flya
kiteGo flya
kite
15
★SIMPLY NORTH Simple Solutions
The summer months can bring on aplethora of allergy symptoms for many peo-ple.
These folks can be identified by the watery,red eyes and clutched tissues.
Many people choose to suffer with theirsymptoms rather than submit to the manyside effects over-the-counter allergy medi-cines can bring.
Try these natural remedies for seasonalallergies:
★ Start with a non-allergenic diet. Allergensare external, but its the body’s response tothem that causes the allergic reactions orsymptoms. If a body is loaded with food aller-gy triggers, the immune system is alreadycompromised and will react to external aller-gens. Try eliminating wheat, dairy and excess
sugar — the most common allergens. ★ Just a spoonful of honey... Consuming
local honey produced by bees that live in yourarea can serve as an immunotherapy in thesame way a doctor may introduce tiny dosesof an allergen to reduce sensitivity. As beescollect nectar, they also pick up pollen grains,which gets into the honey creating a homoeo-pathic immunotherapy. Try a daily dose.
★ Try vitamin C and quercetin. Histamineis released in the body when mast cells, tinycells in the mucous membranes, are exposedto an allergen.
Vitamin C is a mast cell stabilizer andmakes these cells less reactive to allergens,reducing the symptoms such as eye irritation,sneezing and a runny nose.
Quercetin is a flavonoid that enhances the
effects of vitamin C.Try 1,500 milligrams of vitamin C with 500
mgs of quercetin at the first signs of allergiesand repeat every four to six hours as needed.
★ Drink stinging nettle leaf tea. Cominginto contact with this perennial can give you asting, but drinking it is safe. Steep tea for 10 to15 minutes to obtain the full benefits of theleaf’s oils.
★ Give a neti-pot a try. Pollen can becomestuck in the nasal passages triggering theinflammatory process that are the symptomsof allergies.
Neti-pots wash the allergens out of thenasal passages with salt water. With a littlepractice, most allergy sufferers can get reliefand often make use of a neti-pot part of theirdaily hygiene routine.
★ Inhale essential oil infused steam.Essential oils in a steam format can sootheand open nasal passages.
Bring water to a boil, turn off heat, add fourdrops eucalyptus oil, one or two drops tea treeoil, and three drops rosemary oil. Drape atowel over your head and inhale.
★ Acupuncture could be the key.Acupuncture can help reduce nasal and sinusinflammation that is the cause of much of thediscomfort of allergies. Find a professionaland give it a try.
Try naturalremedies
for allergies
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16
SIMPLY NORTH Pets and Pasture★
hen the summer sunshines and temperatures
climb, many people andtheir pets spend time in or
near the water.And while most of the time
a refreshing drink from the cool waters of anorthern Minnesota lake or river pose noproblem for a pet, in some cases they mayunknowingly lap up a parasite or dangerousalgae.
Blue-green algaeDuring warm temperatures, conditions
are ripe for Minnesota lakes to produceharmful algal blooms.
The Minnesota Pollution Control Agencyreminds people that some types of algaecan harm pets and even people.
Algae are microscopic aquatic plants andare a natural part of any aquatic ecosystem.Under the right conditions, some forms ofalgae, particularly a type called “blue-greenalgae,” can pose harmful health risks.
People or animals may become sick ifexposed to these blooms. In extreme cases,dogs and other animals have died afterexposure to lake water containing toxicblue-green algae.
“High rainfall results in nutrient-richrunoff, which enters lakes and fuels algaegrowth. As sunlight increases and tempera-
tures warm, we can anticipate blooms ofblue-green algae on many lakes,” saidMPCA lakes expert Steve Heiskary. Heiskaryis a member of an interagency work groupthat is spreading the word that blue-greenalgae should be avoided.
Most algae are harmless. However blue-green algae, when sunlight and warmthcause them to “bloom” in dense popula-tions, can produce toxins and other chemi-cals. There are many types of blue-greenalgae. They are found throughoutMinnesota, but thrive particularly in warm,shallow, nutrient-rich lakes. Often blowntoward downwind shorelines, it is in theseblooms that humans and animals most
Dog days of summer Dog days of summercan bring danger to the dog
W
17
SIMPLY NORTH Pets and Pasture★
often come in contact with blue-greenalgae, and where the risk of algal toxins isgreatest.
Complicating matters is that not all blue-green algae are toxic. There is no visual wayto predict if a blue-green algal bloom con-tains toxins and is harmful to humans oranimals. And distinguishing blue-greenalgae from other types may be difficult fornon-experts. But harmful blooms are some-times said to look like pea soup, greenpaint, or floating mats of scum. They oftenare smelly as well.
“When in doubt, best keep out,” advises aposter.
Pet symptomsAn animal that has ingested toxins from
an algae bloom can show a variety of symp-toms:
★ Skin irritation★ Vomiting★ Severe disorders involving the circula-
tory, nervous and digestive systems★ Severe skin lesionsIn worst cases, the animal may suffer
convulsions and die.
Human symptomsHumans are not affected very often,
probably because the unpleasant appear-ance and odors of a blue-green algal bloomtend to keep people out of the water. Buthuman health effects can include:
★ Irritation of skin, eyes and nasal passages★ Nausea and vomiting.Extreme cases can produce paralysis and
respiratory failure.There are currently no short-term solu-
tions to correct a blue-green algal bloom.Once a bloom occurs, the only option is towait for weather changes, such as signifi-cant rainfall, a wind shift or cooler tempera-tures, to disrupt the algae’s growth.
According to Heiskary, the key to solvingalgae problems long-term is to improvewater quality by decreasing the amount ofnutrients that runoff carries into lakes.
GiardiaGiardia and cryptosporidia are transmit-
ted to pets that drink from waters infectedby animal feces. Many northern Minnesotalakes are safe, but more stagnant waters,including ponds, swamps and bays where
beaver have created dams, could be trouble.Giardia is also referred to as beaver fever,
because beaver and muskrat have beenknown to pass the parasite into the waterthey inhabit.
A dog becomes infected by eating the cystform of the parasite. In the small intestine,the cyst opens and releases an active formcalled a trophozoite. These have flagella,hair-like structures that whip back and forthallowing them to move around. They attachto the intestinal wall and reproduce bydividing in two. After an unknown numberof divisions, at some stage, in an unknownlocation, this form develops a wall arounditself (encysts) and is passed in the feces.
A major symptom of giardiasis and cryp-tosporidiosis is diarrhea. A veterinarian canperform a stool test to verify the presence ofthe parasites and the illnesses are easily treat-ed with one or more rounds of medication.
While these intestinal illnesses are notoften life threatening, they can cause severeillness if a dog already has a compromisedimmune system. If in doubt of the presenceof the parasites, it’s best to curb your pet’sappetite for water from the places at risk.
e all love spending the long, sunnydays of summer outdoors with our
furry companions, but being overea-ger in hot weather can spell danger. No
matter what the weather, the best way to ensurethe comfort and safety of your pet is to keep itwhere you are comfortable and safe in your house.Your pet should have easy access to your houseduring weather extremes: the hot, humid days ofsummer or the icy, cold days of winter.
Summer heat puts extra stress on your petfriends. Because of this, it is best to keep theminside where shade, water and cool air (either fromair conditioning or open windows) can comfortthem. If your pet is outside all day, make surehe/she has a shady, grassy area (pavement tendsto heat up in warm weather). Check at differenttimes of the day to make sure the area is constantlyshaded. You may need to provide extra water insummer. Try larger water containers, or specialdevices that attach to an easy-to-reach faucet forunlimited access
Most veterinarians don’t recommend shavingdogs or cats, since the hair helps them insulateagainst heat. Heavy-coated breeds of dogs andcats are especially prone to heat illness, especially inhot, humid climates. Many heavy-coated dogsappreciate a wading pool to loll in on extra-hot
days. Other animals with an increased risk of over-heating include senior pets, puppies and kittens,working pets and flat-faced breeds such as pugs,bulldogs, pekes, and Persians.
If your dog or cat is used to running errandswith you in your car, leave it at home during hotsummer days. Even with the windows cracked,your car can reach 130 degrees inside in less than30 minutes. Don’t risk giving your pet heat stroke!Jogging or biking with your dog can be dangerousin hot weather. Just as your body temperature risesduring exercise, so does your pets. But unlike you,dogs and cats don’t sweat. They must pant to ridtheir bodies of excess heat; an ineffective means ofcooling off in the air outside is as warm or warmerthan inside the body.
Even the healthiest pets can suffer from dehy-dration, heat stroke and sunburn if overexposed tothe heat. Take these simple precautions, providedby the ASPCA experts to help prevent your petfrom overheating. And if you suspect your pet issuffering from heat stroke, get help from your vet-erinarian immediately.
Visit the vet for a spring or early summer check-up is a must.
Made in the shade, your pets dehydrate quickly,so give them plenty of fresh, clean water when it’shot outdoors. Make sure your pet have a shady
place to get out of the sun, be careful to not over-exercise them, and keep them indoors when it’sextremely hot.
★ Know the warning signs: symptoms ofoverheating in pets include excessive panting ordifficulty breathing, increased heart and respiratoryrate, drooling, mild weakness, stupor or even col-lapse. They can also include seizures, bloody diar-rhea and vomit along with an elevated body tem-perature of over 104 degrees.
★ Make a safe splash: do not leave pets unsu-pervised around a pool Not all dogs are goodswimmers. Introduce your pets to water graduallyand make sure they wear flotation devices whenon boats. Rinse your dog off after swimming toremove chlorine or salt from its fur, and try to keepyour dog from drinking pool water, which containschlorine and other chemicals that can cause stom-ach upset.
★ No parking: remember a parked car canbecome a furnace in no time – even with the win-dows open. Leaving pets in cars is illegal in manystates.
★ Street smarts: when the temperature is veryhigh, don’t let your dog linger on hot asphalt.Being so close to the ground, your dog’ body canheat up quickly, and sensitive paw pads can burn.Keep walks during these times to a minimum.
Summer safety tips for your petBy ROBIN RAMQUIST, Borderland Humane SocietyW
18
Migration starts in AugustJuly
Mornings are quieter as bird song decreasesafter mid-July. Mating season is over and theyoung are out of the nest. No need to sing — nei-ther to attract a mate nor to defend territory.
Little brown bats forage after dark for mosqui-toes and insects. They often repeat a specific flightpattern over and over — scoop insects up in thetail membrane and transfer to the mouth in a splitsecond in midair.
Fire in nature is not a bad thing. Fireweed,large-leaved aster, fringed bindweed and spread-ing dogbane thrive in the nutrient-enriched soil ofa two-month-old burn. Wildlife is attacked andeventually aspens or pines will grow.
Thimble-like and red, fruits of Thimbleberry arestarting to ripen.
Red squirrels are dropping spruce cones at arate of one every second and a half, and willcache for winter use. The squirrels are able tosmell the buried cones under a foot of snow!
Why do bald-faced hornets capture mosquitoesand flies? They bring them back to their hive,chew them up and feed them to the developinglarvae. In return, the hornets eat the sugary “hon-eydew” regurgitated by the larva.
Ox-eye daisy, brown-eyed Susan and goldenrodflower heads should be checked for ambushing
goldenrod crab spiders. They are able to changefrom yellow-to-white or white-to-yellow to matchwhich flower they are hunting on.
Second-summer black bears are now on theirown. Two to three eight-ounce young are born inthe winter to a snoozing mom. Chipmunk-sizedcubs crawl to a teet, begin suckling, and will puton six pounds before emerging in the spring.
AugustMigration is now beginning — sad, but true.
Flocks of shorebirds and common grackles are mov-ing south. Local sewage ponds may be the best
place to see migrating sandpipers, plovers, yel-lowlegs and dowitchers.
Though strawberries are done, about everythingelse is ripe. Thimbleberries, raspberries, blueberries,gooseberries, skunk currants, pin cherries andjuneberries are all available for the picking.
Grouse seek out bunchberries, as do somehumans — all bunched up, round, ripe and red.Each has a rather large stone in the center, but canbe a refreshing treat while on the trail.
Golden yellow chanterelles push up through pineneedle duff. The edible mushroom can be foundunder pines during early to mid-August, especiallyafter wet spells. In Europe, the much-utilized fungusis dried and sold in camping stores.
Small family groups of cdar waxwings give high-pitched, soft, trills as they are in search of berries.
Some birds may still be sitting on eggs. Easterphoebes and American robins commonly have asecond brood late in the summer.
American goldfinches delay nesting until thistleshave gone to seed. “Wild canaries” gather downand place as a lining in their nests.
Bracken ferns begin yellowing — a sign of fallalready? The entire plant turns brown with the firsthard frosts.
As the saying goes, “Summer is over when fire-weed blooms to the top.” From the bottom up,
SIMPLY NORTH Off The Beaten Path★
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19
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purple buds open into flowers, reaching the top ofthe flower spike in late summer.
Mistakenly referred to as “wolf spiders,” the long-legged, huge spiders found on cabin walls, docksand outbuildings are actually dark fishing spiders.Females may have as much as a four-inch legspan.The spiders are found near lakeshores where theywill dive for minnows.
Large clusters of insects called wooly alder aphidsappear as fuzzy white growths on speckled alder.The “wool” is a mass of waxy filaments extrudedthrough pores on their back. Aphids feed on aldersap and in turn may be preyed on by carnivorouscaterpillars of Harvester butterflies.
Warblers begin moving south as most are now indrab fall plumage, thus complicating identification.
Blue jays are excellent mimics and white-linedSphinx Moths do a good impression of a humming-bird as they hover near garden flowers at dusk.
Fly amanita mushrooms are up and it is wise toconsider this forest beauty a deadly poison. It it saidthat raiding Vikings got a burst of superhumanstrength from eating the European version of thefungus. Unfortunately, death was a common sideeffect.
Minnesota monarchs begin their 2,000-milemigration to the mountains of central Mexico.
August was made for grasshoppers and theyseem to be everywhere. Minnesota has more than100 species of grasshoppers, katydids and crickets.
Common nighthawks stream south on certainsunny warm evenings an hour or two before sunset.
Wild rice is ripe in the marshy bays of shallowlakes.
SeptemberLarge blue and green dragonflies called darners
are common during early September.Any day we could experience the first killing frost
of fall.Velvet is being shed from the antlers of buck
white-tailed deer. A bush or small sapling isthrashed repeatedly over several hours to removethe skin.
Warblers, sparrows and thrushes all migrate atnight using the stars as their compass.
Tiger beetles are ferocious insect predators. Picka warm mid-September day and carefully scan anysandy lakeshore or dune for movement.
Franklin’s ground squirrels are fattening up fortheir long sleep.
Eastern bluebirds are flocking up but lingeringand are feeding on late-season insects before theyhead south to the southern states and Mexico.
Black bears must put on a 100-pound layer of fatbefore denning up for the winter. It is believedbears will travel up to 100 miles to find an especial-ly productive stand of oaks.
High pressure with northwest winds and blueskies equals massive movement of broad-wingedhawks.
Blue jays wing their way south. Some fromCanada may stop in northern Minnesota while oth-ers end up in Texas.
Fireweed often colonizes newly burned, bombedor bulldozed landscapes.
The wood frog will soon hunker down beneathleaf litter for the winter. As they slowly freeze solid,their heart will stop. Come spring they thaw out,the heart pumps and off they jump.
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20
n an effort to promote education —and reduce their energy consump-
tion — Don and Wendy Graves areharnessing the power of the sun.
Don said they believe they are thefirst to be “on the grid” with
Northstar Electric Coop and return energyto the system through 10 solar panelsinstalled on the roof of the pole barn attheir Ray home.
“Electricity is one of those silent, deadlythings,” said Wendy Graves, who they bothadmit was the instigator of the project. “Itall seems so clean when we plug somethingin the home.”
She said they are worried about theirlevel of carbon emissions and pollution,which are created in coal-generated elec-
tricity. “We’re very sensitive to that and want to
make sure we are not contributing,” shesaid.
Don teaches biology at HibbingCommunity College, where he becameacquainted with Jesse Dahl, instructor inthe school’s photovoltaic (PV, convertingsolar energy into electricity) program. TheGraves decided to have the class use theirhome as a project site where HCC studentsgot field experience doing what Don calleda large-scale install.
The 10-panel system, including supportsand the necessary conversion technology tobring the energy into the Northstar Electricsystem, was installed at the Graves house inlate June by Dahl and three of his HCC stu-
SIMPLY NORTH Shack Doctor★
Ray familywill generate
more electricity
for ‘the grid’than they use
By KATIE KOLT HALL
I
Plugging in to solar power
Plugging in to solar power
21
SIMPLY NORTH Shack Doctor★
dents who were looking for real-world expe-rience on an install.
Wendy, a math instructor at LakeSuperior College, agreed that the benefits ofhaving the system were important — as wasthe learning experience for the studentsinvolved in the three-day install process.
“There is no substitution for the realthing,” he said. “They’ve got a lot of goodexperience here.”
There is a practice facility at HCC, Dahlsaid, but noted that the students had to domore problem solving and discovery at thehome to which the teachers and studentswere unaccustomed. They received generalinformation in the classroom, but had tostretch their knowledge to fit the particularsof the Graves’ south-facing roof and build-ing.
With successful completion of the PVprogram, students can become certified inthe entry level of the North American Boardof Certified Energy Practitioners, the “goldstandard” for PV and solar thermal installa-tion certification.
Solar makes senseDahl said solar technology is actually
positively affected by the winter’s cold innorthern Minnesota. Cold helps increasethe voltage that is created by the solar panelsystem. He said that northern Minnesotaannually sees the same peak sun hours asthe Florida panhandle and northernCalifornia.
“Cold is good,” Don said, in relation tothe electric output produced by the system.“Solar is very doable in northernMinnesota.”
Wendy said the average Minnesota Powercustomer uses about 850 kilowatt hours permonth, while they use only about 120 kilo-watt hours per month. The Graves recom-mend others looking at solar as an alterna-tive to using traditional energy also reducetheir overall electricity usage.
Their solar installation should generateabout twice as much energy as they useeach month. They will be able to sell thesuperfluous energy back to the coop to helpreduce their overall bill.
And while they said they will likely neversee a check for their power production, theGraves said it will take them several years to
recover the costs of the system based on thereduction in their electricity bills. The costof solar has gone down significantly in thelast five years, Dahl said, but still comeswith a price tag many families, especiallythose with high usage, wouldn’t find finan-
cially beneficial.One of the reasons the Graves will pro-
duce more than they use is that their con-sumption is so low. They said adding solarto a home that is not energy efficient will dolittle to offset costs. They have made severaladjustments around the home to be moreenergy efficient, including using compactfluorescent and LED light bulbs. These usesignificantly less energy than traditionalincandescent bulbs, the Graves said.
The solar panels should be good for morethan 25 years and require little to no main-tenance, except the potential for snowremoval in the winter.
They said they hope to be a model forother members in the community to seehow solar energy can work, even in theIcebox of the Nation. They invite those whoare interested to contact them to view theproject.
“We’re doing this to show that solar canwork in northern Minnesota,” Don said.
“We’re doing this to show that solar can work in northern Minnesota.”
Above, Hibbing Community College colleaguesinstall a solar panel that was hoisted onto theroof of the pole barn.
Left, an inverter box installed inside the build-ing will control the conversion of solar energycreated on the panels into AC energy whichgoes “into the grid”with Northstar ElectricCoop.
22
s summer approaches, everyone islooking for that little getaway fromeveryday life. There are manythings to consider when going on
vacation. Where to go? What is there to dothat’s within our budget? Why not explorethe various historical and cultural opportu-nities for any age group in our own back-door? Why not follow the Path of theVoyageur?
The Path of the Voyageur is a broadtheme to inter-connect tourism and cul-tural experiences across NorthwesternOntario and Northern Minnesota. The
regions paddling heritage on the NamakanRiver and Rainy River is the main linkagebetween countries. The region is wellendowed with cultural and recreationalattractions that link with the lakes andwith the Voyageur theme. Historic parks,museums, designated waterways, eventsand attractions are scattered across theregion and voyageur era themes are usedin many local promotions. The collabora-tion between European and First Nationcultures that are rooted in the voyageurera are equally important in this regiontoday.
This summer spend time retracing stepsof the voyageur. Who knew that our citywould have such a rich history of paddling,fur trading and aboriginal heritage datingback to the 1600’s. We are surrounded bybeautiful rivers, lakes and trees. Many of oursurrounding waterways were once used byvoyageurs and First Nations to trade furs forgoods.
The voyageurs came from Fort Williamand Grand Portage and paddled all the waydown the Namakan River and up by KettleFalls. They then went all the way acrossRainy Lake and on up to Fort Garry inManitoba. We share common history withour international border communities andwith this linkage we have the Path of theVoyageur. Wouldn’t it be grand to relive thelife of the voyageurs?
Now you are thinking about how you planon retracing the voyageurs. Here are someexcursions you can do by yourself, with friendsor family, right in your own City.
★ How would you like to paddle back in histo-ry? You can do this on the ‘North Canoe Voyage’on Kabetogama Lake. This is a free program forages 5 and up, running June 14-Aug. 23 onTuesdays. Be sure to reserve your spot as they fill
Make your next vacation
historicalBy AMY HOLZWARTH, Path of the Voyageur
A
SIMPLY NORTH Extras★
We want yourfavorite memoryTell & send us yourfavorite cabin, shack,and water stories and/orphotos of any season.
We want yourfavorite memory
Email your story and/or photos to: [email protected]
23
Contact Sherie Wright303 7th Street, Int’l Falls, MN
218-283-4022
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up quickly. You will learn how to paddle a 26-footNorth Canoe, learn the voyageur paddle saluteand learn the way of the voyageur life.
For more information on this exciting adven-ture call 1-877-444-6777.
★ You can also bring your own canoe to any ofthe entry points and paddle on Rainy Lake at yourleisure. You will be able to explore, relax and havefun at your own pace. Retracing the voyageurs isalso a great learning experience for your children.You can check out (by leaving your driver’s licenseat any visitor center) one of the seven discoverypacks Voyageurs National Park has to offer foryour children to learn and explore the park.
★ If you like to keep your feet on dry land, butstill want to experience the wonderful wildernessthe voyageurs did, head on out to VoyageursNational Park. There are numerous species ofwildlife you can see such as otters, deer, eagles,loons and occasionally a moose or black bear. Ifyou are a bird watcher or photographer, in theseasons of spring and autumn you can witnessover 300 species of migrating birds in the area.
★ Be sure to stop by the Koochiching CountyHistorical Museum. Learn about your county’s his-tory and become privy to over 6,000 square feetof exhibits. Come in and learn about thevoyageurs and their history.
As you can see, there are many historical andcultural activities that can be done in and aroundInternational Falls. Make sure this is one of yourstops on your next vacation. Or if you live inInternational Falls make it your ‘staycation.’
SIMPLY NORTH Extras★
★ For a relaxing time, go on the Kettle Falls Cruise which takes you on a spectacular voyageon Rainy Lake and on to the historic Kettle Falls Hotel. You are able to spend two hours on theland to enjoy the breathtaking scenery as well as explore the hotel. The Kettle Falls area was oneof the routes the voyageurs took en route to Fort Garry.
For a more luxurious vacation, come aboard one of the many houseboats on Rainy Lake.Northernaire Houseboats, Voyagaire Houseboats and Rainy Lake Houseboats are awaiting yourarrival for your next Rainy Lake voyage. You can also enjoy a vacation on another historic waterroute, Namakan River, with Ebel’s Voyageur Houseboats. With many different houseboat pack-ages to choose from, please call ahead and make reservations to guarantee an unforgettablevacation on one of the historic voyageur routes.
From left, Jax Sullivan, Dominick Juen, Greysen Sullivan, Ellie Wendt and Aiden Juenstopped for a photo on the steps of the historic Kettle Falls Hotel.
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★ Ash River CampgroundFrom Orr take U.S. 53 north 26 miles to Ash
River Road, known as St. Louis County Road 126.Turn right, or east, and go 10 miles.
Contact — Phone: 218-365-7229; managed byBear Head Lake State Park
Individual site $12; Approved firewood vendorsavailable.
The 8 campsites, with one considered handicapaccessible, are considered “primitive,” designed tofurnish only the basic needs of the camper. Thecampsites consist of a cleared area, fire ring, andtable. Vault toilets, garbage cans, and drinkingwater are available. All sites are on a first-come,first-served basis.
Ash River Campground is adjacent to the publiclanding.
Activities at the campground include hiking,swimming, water access including boat ramp,
whitewater paddling on the Ash River, and accessto Voyageurs National Park.
Voyageurs National Park★ Kab-Ash Hiking and Ski TrailDifficulty: StrenuousHiking Distance: 27.9 mile systemHiking Time: DaysNote that pets are not permitted on VNP hiking
trails.The trail is about 25 miles long and runs from
the Ash River resort area east to the LakeKabetogama resort area. There are 4 accesspoints with car-parking areas. Terrain is variedwith some lowland, marshy area giving way tomidland forests and high, rocky ledges withpanoramic overlooks. No pets, camping fires,firearms, fireworks or motor vehicles allowed onthe trail.
This trail connects the Kabetogama and AshRiver communities. Travel through backcountryforests and wetlands on this extensive system ofinterconnected trails. Four trailheads make it possi-ble to hike sections of this trail or the whole trailfor an in depth view of the park.
★ Echo Bay TrailHiking Distance: 2.5 mile loopHiking Time (round trip): 2 hoursThis park trail is located three miles from the
Kabetogama Lake Visitor Center off County Road122. A wide path takes you from aspens to pinesas you pass through lowlands and rocky outcrops.Birding is great there with a great blue heronrookery and sightings from warblers to woodpeck-ers. Sections of this trail are groomed for skiing inthe winter months.
SIMPLY NORTH Without A Paddle★
Kab-Ash-Hiking and Ski Trail System
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★ Blind Ash Bay TrailDifficulty: ModerateHiking Distance: 2.5 miles loopHiking Time (round trip): 2.5 hoursPark at the Kabetogama Lake Overlook near the
Ash River Visitor Center to access the trailhead.Travel a narrow, winding, rocky trail to experiencethe wonders of the boreal forest and to view spec-tacular scenery.
★ Beaver Pond OverlookDifficulty: ModerateHiking Distance: 0.2 mile, one wayHiking Time: 30 minutes
This is the second trailhead on your left as youare driving to the Ash River Visitor Center. A shortuphill hike leads to a rocky terrace high above abeaver pond. Although beavers are no longeractive at this pond, this trail provides great birdingopportunities, and the possibility of spotting largewildlife.
★ Voyageurs Forest OverlookDifficulty: EasyHiking Distance: 0.5 mile loopHiking Time: 30 minutesThe entrance to this short trail is the first pullout
on your right as you are driving to the Ash River
Visitor Center, just after turning off County Road129. A picnic table and restroom are located atthe trailhead, making this a good spot to get outof your car and stretch your legs.
★ Kabetogama Lake OverlookDifficulty: EasyHiking Distance: 0.2 mile one wayHiking Time: 20 minutesThis is the third pullout on your left as you are
driving to the Ash River Visitor Center. This shortwalk is handicap accessible and will take you to awayside that looks west towards KabetogamaLake.
SIMPLY NORTH Without A Paddle★
Got a day off? Why not take a daytrip to one of the area’s attractions
All levels of hiking, picnicking, and camping are available in the Ash River and Lake Kabetogama area
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SIMPLY NORTH The Frozen Gardener★
ummer brings with it a num-ber of visitors, some more wel-come than others. The newcrop of mosquitoes is always adreaded sight and it seems thewild parsnip has called in rein-
forcements this season to take over everyinch that isn’t mowed. Other pests are wel-come, in small numbers that is. Ants arewelcome while they pollinate the apple treeor massage open the peony blooms, butexploring your kitchen counter is worthy ofan eviction notice. This year however, wewere visited by a new unwanted guest.
The new cherry tree planted this springtook to its new home well. Its neighbor, therose bush, had a much harder move. Therose leaves quickly turned yellow and itlooked very unhappy. Now I have neverreally had great luck with roses in the past,but just couldn’t pass up this one at thenursery. My father had a wonderful rosegarden while I was growing up and while I
stood there looking at my yellowing rosebush I remembered him telling me thatroses do not like being planted too deep. Infact, they prefer resting on top of a smallmound. After replanting, I am happy toreport the rose bush has recovered and isproducing new flowers. As often happensthough when one issue is resolved anotherone rears its head.
The ants that had been working so hardpreparing our cherry crop were now har-vesting a crop of their own. Small, but grow-ing, colonies of aphids began appearing onthe new growth. Just like dairy cows, onlymuch smaller, the aphids create a sweet liq-uid that the ants eat. While I appreciate thatthe ants are trying to eat local and farmwithout chemicals, I would much ratherthey did it on a different tree. So the searchfor a remedy has begun. Blasts of water anda soaking with soap have proved ineffective.I have only one more option before I willhave to either let the aphids win or resort to
chemical warfare. I had thought by now myheroes in shiny armor would have shownup. Every morning as I leave I check thebranches for the black and red uniform ofthe mighty, aphid eating ladybug, but haveyet to see one. Luckily ladybugs can beordered and released to devour the aphidsand protect the cherries. The size of mycherry pie depends heavily on the successof this battle, so I am highly motivated.
Not all visitors are so small. Shortly aftersplitting and transplanting our cup plant,we found a small frog resting on a leaf. I’mnot sure if he was just resting or was feedingon the bugs that visit the small pools creat-ed in the leaves of the plant. Whatever thereason, he stayed there all day and movedon that night. The kids were very disap-pointed the next morning when their newfriend was gone.
One visitor has become very bold and haseven gained the attention of our dog. Wehave come to expect that a certain amount
Resting on a cup plant leaf, this frog was the talk of the yard.
SummervisitorsSummervisitorsSummervisitorsSummervisitorsSummervisitorsSummervisitorsSummervisitors
S
Whether it’s ants and frogs or friends andfamily, the garden is a greatplace to gather
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SIMPLY NORTH The Frozen Gardener★
of the bird seed we put out will be eaten orat least hoarded away by chipmunks. But,one chipmunk has taken his search for foodone step too far. We discovered his thievingways only after eating a watermelon. It wasone hot summer day and we were devour-ing pieces of watermelon, spitting seedsand tossing the rinds in the compost pile.When taking the second round of rinds tothe compost heap we discovered the firstbatch had disappeared. The dog was theone to discover the chipmunk runningaway with his watermelon bounty. Now, Ihave seen chipmunks and squirrels dig upbulbs for dinner but I never had seen onestealing right from the compost heap. Atleast he is getting a balanced diet. Thefunny thing is if he would keep his mouthshut our blind dog would have a muchharder time tracking him down and hewould most certainly get away with evenmore food.
Of all the visitors summer brings, the besthas to be the friends and family who stopby and visit during the nice weather. Thesun brings out the walking shoes, bicyclesand roller blades to carry our neighborsover for a hotdog and cold drink or at leasta friendly wave hello. These are the visitorsthat we cherish the most.
A chipmunkstealingwatermelonrinds caughtthe eye ofthe familydog. Theblind dogchased awaythe compostthief.
The dog was the one to discover the chipmunk running away with hiswatermelon bounty. Now, I have seen chipmunks andsquirrels dig up bulbs fordinner but I never had seenone stealing right from thecompost heap. At least he is getting a balanced diet.
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SIMPLY NORTH Til Fall★
ooking out at the lake on one ofour many gray windy days a few
weeks ago I noticed an eagle sittingon the rocks out in front ofthe house.
I am not always a big fan ofeagles, I don’t like to see them swoop-ing down and grabbing baby ducksand other small creatures. I know, it’snature but I still don’t like to see it. Ialso feel a little intimidated by them
sitting up at the top of the tree while Iam mowing the yard, I know they aren’t interested
in me but they still make me uncomfortable.Anyway, as I was looking at the eagle sitting
out on the rock in the lake I noticed thatsome seagulls were bothering him. They
were really aggressive, diving at theeagle and of course squawking
in that loud seagull chat-ter. The eagle was
ducking to avoid themand seemed a little
annoyed by all theaggressive behav-ior. I find it inter-esting that seag-ulls are soaggressive toeagles; I forone would bea little morerespectful ofsuch a bigbird. Idon’tknowwhatthateaglehaddone,
maybe he had a baby seagull for lunch or stole a fish fromone of them, but they were not going to let him sit peaceful-ly.
When the eagle had finally had enough of the swoopingand screaming he took off. As he flew away they kept chas-ing him. Next thing you know the eagle is in the lake, yes,the seagulls knocked him into the lake. Well now I am con-cerned, I could see the eagle about 300 feet out from therock he took off from bobbing around in the waves. Igrabbed the binoculars to get a closer look, not knowingwhat his fate would be I put the binoculars down and triednot to look again.
A few minutes later I picked up the binoculars again andas I watched the bird in the lake I noticed that the seagullswere again assaulting him. They were relentless, the eaglewas trying to get away from them, the seagulls were comingso close that the eagle would have to move his head or lowerit into the water to avoid the attack. The big bird was usinghis giant wings to “swim” back to the rock. Eagles can swim,who knew? His feathers looked like long hanging fingerswhen he would lift his wing to make another swipe at thewater. He was getting closer to the rock but it was a slow bat-tle. As he was out there fighting the waves another eagle flewin and landed on the rock, the seagulls never bothered thenew eagle. Was he watching the other eagle, who knows, hewas probably just happy to be able to sit on the rock withoutthe seagull assault.
Now, I know I said I am not a huge fan of the eagle, but asI watched the big bird flounder in the lake I started to won-der what one should do if they see an eagle floating in thelake. I know, I should take a picture, not sure how that helpsthe bird but it at least will make my story believable. So Iwent and got my camera from the car, knowing that my littlecamera would probably not take a great picture, but I had totry. So as I round the corner of the house to take the picture,there he is sitting back on the rock, soaking wet, lookinganything but regal. Those pesky seagulls were still botheringhim and he looked just plain annoyed.
He tried to take off a few times and each time the gullswould force him back to the rock. Finally the seagullsnoticed me and apparently thought I may have somethingfor them and headed my way. The big wet bird took off andheaded for the safety of the trees and the seagulls neverwent after him.
Yeah, a happy ending. So after seeing this unfold I just hadto relay my story, who would believe an eagle could swim.Well apparently a lot of people would believe it as they toldme they had witnessed the same kind of thing while fishing.Oh sure, they are just saying that, stealing my thunder. Still,sure I witnessed something rarely seen, I needed to confirmit by searching “can eagles swim” on the Internet. Yep, rightthere on many a video you can see an eagle swim. My eaglehad to swim under much more difficult conditions, roughwater and a seagull assault, but I guess he is not the first one
to pull off this feat.So I learned a couple things that day, seagulls are either
brave or stupid and eagles can swim, who knew?
Who knew?by Dana Hartje
L
29
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