5/3/81 Cold (50 degrees) in the Happy Shack in the morning. K&R with 3 kids slept in back room- with stove going all night. A beautiful, calm day and much accomplished. Launched the Larson and paddled it around to east dock and put 25 HP motor on it. A few pulls of starter cord and away she went. Then Robin and I on plumbing. Did not put water in the system. It could freeze yet.
5/5/81 I messed with picture frame for Layna’s wall hanging much of day. Made several starts and stops. It isn’t perfect but will do. My standards are lower than they were when I made the last one- a couple of years ago. It took Bobby Sands 65 days to starve himself to death in British jail. Now all of Ireland a powder keg.
5/6/81 Jean Ward came at 10:00 a.m. to pick up a book. She is a talented person and still thinks that I should write an autobiography. Too late, I am afraid. Layna and I to island. I decided to turn water on and ran into the usual snags. After supper we ran over to see Buck. John Lynch was there and the Cliff Blais came by plane.
5/8/81 My left knee gave out completely and I am miserable. I finally learned that the pain would leave if I walked on my toes! I am really a sad sack!
5/9/81 About an inch of snow covered ground this morning and temperature down to 27 degrees. Now I can quit worrying about my health and start worrying about the plumbing on NWI.
5/10/81 We had planned to go to island for Mothers’ Day but 25 degree weather changed our minds. K & R came about 3:30 with a full feast prepared. Also Gene and Punky Stadum. Good company. All of our kids called or sent cards. A big day for Layna.
5/11/81 27-50 degrees. Layna and I to island in a.m. A productive day followed. She got into the living room and porch- and finished cleaning. It looks like someone was living there- someone who cared.
5/12/81 Mowed lawn at 265. That was all the exercise I needed.
5/17/81 Off for St. Paul at 11:30. A happy reunion with Jernbergs. Jimmy only one absent.
5/18/81 Sally took the day off in order to entertain the old folks. It went well. To “Old Mexico” for lunch- a real treat. On to Surdyk’s to shop for $60.00 worth of liquor. Most of it will be given away this summer. Well spent for the most part. A big deal cooking in the Jernberg household. It has been on the back burner for some time. Jimmy, helped by parents, bought an $1800 motorcycle. Jim Sr. full of misgivings, - as well he might be.
5/19/81 A dead birch in the Jernberg front yard needed removing. I had taken my chain saw from home and did the job. It feels good to make some contribution to the well-kept grounds. A lock on the garage door not functioning. We bought a new one and installed same. We are good guests. To see North Stars and Islander hockey game. It was a “must” for the Stars, and they showed- winning 4-2. A rabid 15,700 fans cheered them on. A contest like that brings out the worst in some people and there were times when I would rather be classed with the animals.
5/20/81 Sally back to work and we took off for Rayman’s. George came home at 1:00 p.m. After lunch he took us on a grand tour which included the new domed stadium- $ 65,000,000. To the Boulevard Restaurant for dinner. Layna, Velna and George to meet Bern Minter at 10:45. She had been to a California wedding and gone a month. We stayed with the Raymans overnight. Their house is a few blocks from airport- a constant stream of planes coming and going. What a racket!
5/21/81 We left the Rayman’s at 9:00. Stopped at Mildred and Ed’s for an hour and on home- no problems. I was rather dismayed when I saw how long the grass was in our yard. We read papers and mail till dark. To bed early.
5/22/81 The long lawn grass made hard work for our mower and I had to clean it repeatedly. The operator, (me) had a bum knee. A sad combination but we did the job.
5/23/81 K and R invited a group of people, big and little to island. “90% chance of rain,” said the radio. It was a correct prediction. We were able to move the whole gang to island, (several trips) before it started. No one seemed to mind. Fire in fireplace and Barb Loken on guitar- quite cozy. The group read from Carl Sandberg. Well done. A total of 20 people. Seven went home at dark leaving 13 to stay on island. Here is roll call- total 3 Alexanders, Punky Stadum, Julie Crowe (baby sitter), 5 Monahans, 3 Lokens, 2 Weis, 3 Droches, Don and Layna.
5/24/81 It rained most of night. No heat or water in big cabin but no one complained. A pancake brunch and all hands except D and L off for home. We each had a boat load. I turned water on in big cabin and found bad leak. Worked on it most of p.m. – it still drips- but barely.
5/25/81 Our “garden” a sea of mud. I dug a ditch into woods. I knew I couldn’t make water run uphill but thought it worth a try. No go. We will have to wait for sun to do the job.
5/27/81 Nellie Oveson’s funeral. A goodly number of lake people including us listened to a Baptist minister mumble on and on. Layna had a hard time poking me awake. Between naps I could look across the aisle at Winston Schmidt who was doing the same thing. I mentioned this at the reception and his comment was “he talked ½ an hour too long”. My heart went out to Dutchy. His small physical size never interfered with any kind of activity, which was shared every inch of the way by Nellie.
5/28/81 My left leg giving me complete hell in the morning. I was due for a check-up at 3:00, Layna too. I limped into office, and soon after could tell that he was concerned. He gave me a handful of pills, a shot in the butt, and told me I could call him at home if I had any trouble. Incidentally, both of us had good blood pressure.
5/29/81 My leg still sore. Puttered around feeling sorry for myself. The damn leg gave out about noon and I decided to call Dr. Walter. He said, “come in and I’ll check it.” Walter checked me and then took off for town for some shot medicine. He was gone about an hour, came back and gave me the shot. I apologized for trouble and he assured me that he was glad to do it. He made me believe it!
5/30/81 We picked up Les Cleveland at 4:00 and off for Newharts. Not too windy. A good visit. Home at 9:30- still light. June near and days are getting longer. In three weeks they will be getting shorter, and we will be preparing for winter.
5/31/81 I lost the battle of the leaky pipe, but picked a good time to do it. Buck pulled in and took the job over. Karen and Robin came at 9:30 to lend a hand. Lisa too. A good crew, and much accomplished by the time they left at 4:00 p.m. The icemaker sprung a leak. Need parts, will be able to fix it.
6/1/81 I went after Raymans about 3:00 p.m. As usual they brought a trunk load of plants. Raining too hard to do any garden work. At 5:00 p.m. we were off for Camp Koochiching where John Holden was entertaining 19 people who he said he owed a treat. A good gathering, we were proud to be included.
6/2/81 No normal flow of water in system. We went to town for supplies and came home to learn that George had found big leak in plastic pipe.
6/3/81 George, Velna and I dug up flower gardens and planted most of same. George even mowed the grass with the hand mower.
6/4/81 George and I cut lawn at 265. Quite a job, the grass long and wet. Off for Thunderbird as guests of George Utter, from ADM days. A great evening.
6/6/81 George insisted on putting new washers in plumbing fixtures. “A few minutes,” said he. It was a couple of hours because of complications. They stayed for lunch then off for home. A pee poor fishing trip but a very profitable one for us. Linda Cummings and mother here for short visit.
