9/13/80 Sally, Jim and John came in a.m. Still cold and stormy. Not quite as bad as yesterday but miserable enough. The gals decided to make a town run and did.. They came home early enough to have a drink and to prepare a turkey feed. More evening chat. All hands predicting a fair day for Layna’s party tomorrow when the sun broke thru the clouds in a blaze of glory, just as it hit the horizon.
9/14/80 Layna’s birthday party and what a day for it. Not a cloud in the sky. Temperature in 70’s, a moderate east wind slacked off so there was barely a ripple. People started coming at 10:30. What a gang! At 11:00 a.m. Jim began popping corks on the champagne bottles. A few rounds of toasts and then a fabulous brunch put on by Sally and Karen. Layna was shooed out of the kitchen.
9/15/80 Layna’s real birthday. To Curtice Island at 9:00 a.m. to have breakfast with Buck and Dale. Just the 4 of us and it was good. “Yesterday’s sunshine had all turned to drizzle”. A good breakfast and we sat at table for an hour or more, talking about many things. It is a good relationship. Watched 3 hours of Shogun on TV. It is as bloody as the book. Not sure we will watch the next 3 installments.
9/16/80 The wind had howled all night and still breezy when we got up. All boats snug and happy despite wind from NW. In anticipation of the coming of the Finks we broke down and lit furnace in sleeping cabin. We haven’t done that for several years.
9/17/80 Gilda Dahlberg’s nephew, Dick Fink, called from town. I met him at dock. It is 37 years since we saw each other. What a reunion! Conversation never lagged. Dick’s wife of one year, about 35 years old. Very, very pregnant. An interesting gal - we like her.
9/18/80 Light rain but strong wind when Buck picked us up with houseboat. First took tour of Curtice Island. Buck justly proud of his work there, the rest impressed. Ran over to Musket Inn. No one there but we gave them the grand tour. A flood of memories for Dick - and the Johnsons, too. Home for lunch, much talk in front of fireplace then Dick suggested that he take us to Island View for dinner. Skies clear, wind down. We went. Home in moonlight.
9/19/80 Last night’s sunset spectacular. Moon made it seem like daylight - BUT - the rains coming down at sunrise. Talk, talk, talk with the Finks - all of it interesting. We are heating house with wood fires in fireplace and stove in back room. Our wood pile is shrinking.
9/20/80 We - Finks and Johnsons - sat at breakfast table for more than an hour. We were trying to wind up our reminiscing about the Dahlbergs. Dick told us about Gilda beating him out of a $20,000 fee. How typical. We took them to landing arriving as K & R pulled in with “charade” group. A good looking gang. I was very apprehensive about this whole deal because weather so uncertain. After supper they met in living room. Me - I went to bed. My left leg told me I had had enough.
9/21/80 Cleared in a.m. beautiful. I got some help out of “Charade” group. We pulled out Edwards boat. Gene, Laird and Jerrie joined group for breakfast. The whole group to Ober’s sightseeing. All of charade group left about 4:00 p.m. When they took off, we found two boxes of stuff at landing. Old people aren’t the only forgetful ones.
9/22/80 I went for Raymans at 1:30. They seem happy to be here. For sure we are happy to see them. They wear well. Only fishing of day off dock. George caught 2 bass and a small jack. That is all it took to please him. Layna and Velna find things to talk about. So far I have not said much about our tomatoes. We had a bumper crop! All 16 plants loaded. I eat about a dozen a day.
9/23/80 I steamed up chain saw and we cut up tree. Hauled it all to pile near pump house. Also 3 big dead balsam. Layna and Velna willing swampers on that job. We eat good, drink moderately, talk a lot, get enough exercise. Very pleasant, altho not very spectacular.
9/24/80 We cut and hauled wood in a.m. Then, for a change of pace, we went to see Bern Minter’s house.
9/25/80 George and I to Willie Good’s place on Red Lake River. Also took a duck and goose survey. A warm welcome from Willie and Jane. They usually are unemotional. Jane treated to coffee - a first! Not a single mallard. A small bunch of bluebills and a few coots the total waterfowl count. The permit to hunt on reservation now costs $100.00. I’m glad I lost the hunting fever.
9/26/80 We covered Starcraft. It looks like a giant Christmas package.
9/27/80 I rowed after mail. When I got home, Gene, Laird and Jerrie there. Then came Schumachers, then Pam and Jerry Williams. Our best bet to get away from people would be to move back to 265.
9/28/80 Indian summer. To Mallard Island for breakfast, the last one of season. The weather a perfect Indian summer day. Ray Anderson has moved in, he made the meal. I sensed a little friction between Gene and Ruth but no outbreak. Layna didn’t notice anything amiss. Maybe I was looking for trouble. The Evans are leaving tomorrow. They have been excellent tenants. My left leg shaking pretty bad while I watched game. Better now. I am on the pill!
9/29/80 Indian summer. Buck dropped in about 10:00 a.m. and we decided to take advantage of the good weather. By 1:00 p.m. we had a good share of move done. Buck had the big Curtice Island Starcraft and VW station wagon. We had our Larson and Citation. Layna and I back to island by 3:30. Had Larson loaded and ready to go by 5:00 when Schumachers came. We opened a bottle of wine and sat out in sunshine and finished it off. Good people - very liberal. First night at #265
9/30/80 Tony Rizzo called in evening. He rattled off a spiel about what must be done by CS Commission. I agreed to see him tomorrow.
10/1/80 To Tony Rizzo’s shop by 9:00. He showed me new material for Civil Service. At 5:00 p.m. we went for fish feed at Grandma’s Pantry. The place full of people, mostly old friends of ours.
10/2/80 Irene MacKellar here at 3:00 p.m. Much talk by Irene and good listening by Johnsons. We like her company. After supper we went to visit Thompsons. Their lives in confusion. Don’t know where to go for winter. We don’t either but we are not concerned.
10/3/80 I drained last of plumbing. Hit a few snags, as usual, but the job is done. Buck and Dale off for Little Falls to help Jayme.
10/4/80 Robin and I to island at 10:00 a.m. Chris along. In addition to small packing jobs like picking up tools, guns, etc. we did four heavy lifting jobs. Hauled Hvoslef’s table to #265 (for refinishing this winter), put rowboat on porch of cabin, hauled dresser out of second cabin to be put in Monahans new house, pulled out Larson, took Edwards’ canoe back. When we arrived at #265, dead beat, with station wagon loaded, we found Gene, Karen and kids. Much help unloading. A Manhattan revived us somewhat. It is good to have our kids in area!
10/5/80 A surprise visit from Dr. Milroy. He wouldn’t come in but sat in car for about 15 minutes. During that time, he kept passing out vegetables until our arms were loaded. In evening, Karen and Robin dropped in. Full of good talk. They gave us a check for $700. They must be doing OK.
10/7/80 On to Brainerd where we had no problem finding the Daveys’ new diggings. Very plush. Just what they wanted. They are pleased with the way it turned out - and we can see why. After exchanging gossip, we revived our old gin rummy rivalry. Bern and I took Layna and Harry. Fun!
