6/25/80 I was alone with a merry fire burning in garbage burner. I was picking up trash with back to burner. When I looked back I was amazed to see that the fire had crept from under burner, followed the ground and was burning merrily under my kindling pile. I grabbed a bucket and slowed it down a little. A call to Layna who came running with another pail. I tore the pile down to get at it. I dragged it to lake, spreading fire in path. A little frightening.
6/26/80 Visibility cut down to about a mile from smoke of forest fires. Is another summer like 1936 in the offing.
6/27/80 Vivian Sutch here for lunch and stayed for supper. She and Layna still find things to talk about after all these years.
6/28/80 John and his buddies, the two Heilman kids and the two Schumachers were cutting a trail on Stop Island. Mike made a vicious swing with a “whip” and missed the brush but cut a gash in John’s finger. It was bleeding profusely when they brought him home. We called emergency and in about an hour he was sewed up - 9 stitches and feeling pretty chipper.
6/29/80 Our tenants - the Evans, had us over for breakfast at 11:00 a.m. Sheila and 3 friends drove in as we finished. We excused ourselves and off to Buck and Dale’s. We met Jill’s fiancé. He made an excellent first impression. On to dock where we took Sheila and friend, Mario to NWI. They took their boat and back for other two. A major operation. They are camping at Edwards Island tonight.
6/30/80 Layna home about 4;00 p.m. bringing Bern with her. After super, Terry and Sig came. Sig and guitar accompanied Layna and Bern. All gone by 8:00 p.m. I am weary tonight. It doesn’t take much.
7/1/80 Ted Hall here at 9:30 to get the Monahan boat and take it to town. He was in an extreme hurry - hardly time to drink a cup of coffee. It was after 11:00 when he left. He indicated that he had recently grown out of the notion that Oberholtzer was God.
7/2/80 Jim & John went sailing in strong wind and pulled a mast stay out of deck on little boat. Jim and I replaced it - not sure for how long. Sally busy much of day reupholstering chair. Good girl!
7/3/80 Layna decided to clean out “chicken coop” so kids will have place to play. I helped a little, but my heart was not in it. To tell the truth, there isn’t much that my heart is in. Maybe the pills I take for the “shakes” make me lethargic. Whatever the hell it is, I don’t like it. It takes some doing to hide my feeling from the rest.
7/4/80 Layna and Sally to town before lunch, they stopped at Bern’s and practiced song for wedding. Picked up K and R at 1 p.m. Little Bobby was primed for me. He said, “Hello Grandpa.” He was slow in starting talking and now it flows out of him. K and R full of plans for moving to Falls.
7/5/80 The big wedding day has come and gone. Layna and I to Curtice Island about 10:00 a.m. The whole Buck Johnson branch there. Also Reverend Virgil Anderson. He seemed pleased to be there. A family only (except Leon and Ila) for the ceremony. At 1:30 Buck took Virgil home and brought back about 50 guests for reception. Somebody - mostly Dale, had gone all out with food and drink. We even got in some fair singing. Almost forgot that Layna and Bern - accompanied by Sig, sang a duet during the service. Very, very good. Home about 9:00 p.m. I hope that Jill and Saeid keep on from the good start they got.
7/6/80 Robin starts job as head nurse at Falls hospital in a month. They are not sure that they have a house to move into. After the commotion of the past few years, this predicament must be rather mild.
7/9/80 Layna, Sally and John to town. I fed and watered tomatoes. They are by far the best looking lot that we have had. They have had plenty of food and drink - and show it.
7/12/80 A small confrontation with John about getting ice. Layna asked him (or was it Sally?) and he paid very little attention. I grabbed bucket and off to fish house. He followed me. Said I, “Are we working you too hard around here? If so we will make an effort to lighten your work load.” He was rather subdued but came out of it pretty early.
7/15/80 Layna had appointment with Dr. Walter. I took easy way out and let her tell him of my problems - to wit - no pain as such, tremors to a bare minimum but mind slipping more and more each day. He told her it was a natural thing to be expected in a 74 year old. To Fawn Island to check on Ray’s dock. Climbed hill to look for blueberries. None. When I got back to dock I learned that my boat had come loose and it was bouncing against rocky point. In trying to free it, I fell between boat and dock in about 4 feet of water. Had a bad time pulling self out. I get clumsier by the day.
7/16/80 Layna met the Rays shortly after their arrival. She invited them to dinner. What a pleasure to see those good people. They missed coming last year because of Ardys’ condition. She looks good now. 51 years since George and we arrived at Rainy lake. It has been a deep friendship ever since.
7/17/80 We watched Republican convention until 11 p.m. The great majority of US citizens had been primed to see Gerald Ford, the vice president nominee but an inner conflict with Reagan sealed the issue and George Bush got it.
7/18/80 Jean Stormo, one of Sally’s best friends in high school, was here for lunch and dinner. The class of 1950 holding reunion. Now I know we are getting old.
7/19/80 Our 3 year old 25 hp. Johnson bucked for first time. I found that plugs badly fouled. Gene Rasmussen said it was because of wrong oil. We shall see.
7/20/80 Layna and I took off for Sam White’s new summer home. Sheldons there when we arrived. A tour of the 1½ acre island and all seemed to agree that there were many possibilities - most involving hard work. Well, they are young.
7/22/80 Karen had an early appointment with Superintendent Roberts concerning a job in Falls school system. She came home full of “cautious optimism”. We are all pulling for her.
7/23/80 To Boyds’ for cocktails at 5:00 p.m. Claire on island for a couple of days. This party a farewell deal - she says she will never return to Rainy Lake. Here’s the roster of people there. Boyds, Rays, Kruskopfs (4), Heilmans, K and R, Don & Layna.
7/24/80 Karen, Dale and Chris have birthdays this week so Layna put on a party
7/25/80 K and R and kids took off for Duluth at 10:30. They made room for Sally and Jim’s Cabrini group. A strong north wind made me wish that somehow we could call the whole deal off but lo! The wind went down by the time they called at 2:30. 24 people, 3 canoes and a mountain of food, drink, sleeping bags, etc. A great problem in logistics but we did it with little trouble - a good gang. Layna and I flew the coop and went to Rays’ for dinner. Ardys in fine form - put on a great spread in her 2 X 4 kitchen. Home at 9:30 and joined group singing till 11:00. A big day.
7/26/80 The Amidons will be spending a few weeks at their place. We went over at 10:00 a.m. for a chat that lasted 2 hours. Very enjoyable. To Rays’ for supper. When we are with them the talks flows freely. Sally and Jim, with friends seem to be living it up.
7/27/80 To the Mallard for breakfast. About 20 people there. It lasted until noon. Home to the 27 guests at NWI. They seem to be able to amuse themselves. Cocktails served on deck of big cabin, followed by a hamburger feed. Much laughter in this crowd! I went to our cabin after eating and was happily disturbed by Canadian houseboat. Bill Martins, Bruce Caldwells and (?). They had been cruising for 3 days. A bit tipsy but not bad. I love those people.
