9/1/79 The Monahans and Shifskys here by noon. They were preceded by Brad, Pat and Mike Smith. I am glad they are going to stay at Edwards cabin. It took two trips to get all of rest located on NWI. To Kurt Lysne’s for biggest social event of season. About 100 people, many complete strangers, gathered for pot luck deal. We enjoyed it.
9/2/79 Our whole gang, Monahans, Shifskys and Johnsons to Ober’s Island for breakfast. Food good but I enjoyed most the conversation around fireplace in main cabin. Ted Hall wound up concerning Charlie Friday’s spirit. FUN! All 3 of Buck’s boys and spouses here in afternoon. A good group. We are proud of all of them.
9/3/79 Shifskys left at noon, but not before John gave us a couple of good hours work on clearing big ash tree. They have been here a number of times and despite hyperactive David, they are ideal people to have around. Sister Claire fit in well, too. They are all welcome to come back. Brad, Sheila, Mike and Pat stopped for lunch. Took Karen & Robin to landing at 3:30. Karen looked less tired than when they arrived. Hope her visit at home did her some good. She is concerned with the problems of teenage girls and at times it gets her down. To Newharts for cocktail party from 4:00 - 6:30. The usual R.L. crowd there. I had to defend Don Davis against Jim Watson. Did all right.
9/4/79 Rowed over for mail. Stiff head wind. It felt good. Letter from Opal. She is in good spirits. Terrific storm during night. Worst of season. No serious damage. Didn’t lose a tree.
9/5/79 Stopped at Bern’s for coffee. She is plugging away at her house and making progress. Erle and Harriet Thompson out for dinner. They haven’t been on island for 15 years - and were duly impressed. Took them home under full moon.
9/6/79 Brad and Mike here at 7:30. Had a good breakfast and much talk, mostly about Sheila. He is trying to talk her into joining service. Wouldn’t that be great? A lazy afternoon. Read, napped, split a little kindling. I rather enjoyed it.
9/7/79 Kennedy announced today that his wife and mother had given permission for him to be a candidate in 1980. He says he isn’t sure yet if he will run. If he isn’t, he is the only one in the country that isn’t.
9/9/79 On to Moes at 2:15. A very pleasant afternoon followed. We haven’t seen Cliff since late June. Much to talk about. Cliff and I took walk around meadow. Many deer signs - also saw covey of partridge. No tears shed but I think we both were a bit upset - Many, many memories from that immediate area.
9/10/79 We made a special trip to town to go thru County Museum. It will close at end of week and we have put it off all summer. It was well worth while. Some dedicated people have done a tremendous job.
9/11/79 Layna on jury duty. So far she hasn’t been in the jury box. I did a bunch of small jobs - busy. I am worried about Robin’s party next week.
9/12/79 Met Raymans at 2:45. Great to have them. George and I out on reef for couple of hours - got 1 WE. A couple of manhattans eased that pain. Big feed - all’s well.
9/13/79 Cold and windy but George and Velna didn’t seem to mind. We took them to Ober’s in a.m. Gave them a 2 hour tour - even hiked up to teepee. They - like everyone else - impressed.
9/14/79 Another cold, windy day. We went thru motions of fishing but nary a bite. Cut some wood, fixed roof. Raymans pleasant to be with. Layna and Velna to town for a while. I arranged with Layna to pick out a Timex watch - me to pay bill. Very sentimental!
9/15/79 Layna’s birthday - no duck hunting. I have outgrown that phase of life - along with some others. George and I to Curtice Island where Buck took us out and showed reef. He did well catching 7 WE. I got 4 but George skunked. Buck cleaned them all and wrote “HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MOM!” on package. We brought them home to a big fish feed. A good day.
9/16/79 25 mph SW wind made fishing impossible. To Tessiers’ for a drink in p.m. good neighbors. A light plane crashed narrowly missing Tom Karsnia’s house. Two people - man and woman - from Duluth killed.
9/17/79 Raymans off for home by 8:30. I think they enjoyed their visit - I know we did. They are the easiest to entertain of all our friends. Layna and I to see plane wreck at Tom Karsnia’s. As Carlson would have said, “It was the worst wonderful thing I ever saw.” About 50 feet between houses and plane crashed between them. The tail section leaned against Karsnia’s living room window! While we were there, Tom showed us his art work of past years. Some truly great masterpieces in the collection.
9/18/79 I lit fire in shop and made wastepaper basket from birch bark. Fun! Wind down some in p.m. so I rowed for mail. Came home on south side of Stop Island. Cleaned up pile of semi rotten logs near pump house. Layna busy on sewing machine all day. I managed to keep house warm.
9/19/79 Layna and I to inspect building on Williams’ Island. A young carpenter in charge said, “There are a lot of unexpected problems that come up in this island building.” We agree - and glad that it is behind us. A strong south wind but I rowed over for mail going on north side of Boyds’ Island. Exhilarating!
9/20/79 I accepted the challenge and rowed over for mail. A good workout going over but came home hell-a-whooping. Layna not feeling well. She called Dr. Walter’s office. No appointment until Monday. Worked on Judy table. Don’t think I’ll ever become a first class “stripper”. Layna sorting pictures in evening. Many, many memories revived of people, places and things. We have had a happy past.
9/21/79 K and R called to say they would be in at dock about 9:30. Met them at landing - dark. There are many changes in me, my attitude toward night travel on lake one of the most pronounced. I hate it. The shore lights really pose a problem. I look back on night trips from Kettle Falls, Trout River, Seine River and can’t believe I am the same person. Kids well behaved.
9/22/79 Met Ruth and Ray at landing at noon. She is Karen’s secretary. They look like the right kind of people. Al and Beth came a little latter. Big turkey feed, Gene here, too. Some of R & K’s guests no-shows but the ones who got here are top notch. Weather great, hope it holds one more day. Layna and I can handle wind, rain, or whatever if we are alone on island. A group is a lot different.
9/23/79 All hands - twelve of us, to Ober’s for breakfast. Some excitement added to picture when Al and Beth got lost in canoe. They paddled down N. side of Dahlbergs! Everyone gone by 4:30. My fears of bad weather, etc., etc. unfounded. The operation, altho on a reduced scale - a success. Said Ruth, “I never expect to get closer to heaven on this earth!” THANKS!
9/24/79 Layna had an eleven o’clock appointment with Dr. Walter. He said that her sinuses were giving her trouble. Prescribed medicine. We shall see.
9/25/79 Picked up Moes at 4:00 p.m. Our usual good visit followed. They got $75,000 for their Black Bay place and tickled to death over deal at the time. Now the lawyers for other property owners are questioning the appraisals and getting, in some cases, more than double the first offer. ‘Twas ever thus.
9/26/79 We hauled a load of stuff to #265.
9/27/79 To see Buck at Curtice Island in a.m. Made plans to pull out Starcraft and move to town on Saturday. Had a good visit over coffee. Told us about problems with Canadian officials over flying into Canada. We know what he is going thru. However, he doesn’t seem perturbed. Incidentally, he said that the Union account with Rainy Lake Airways was $16,000 last summer! Last night’s spectacular thunderstorm lasted into early morning, a beautiful day followed. The foliage is getting spectacular. Layna busy packing.
