Memorial Day 2010

Called the unofficial beginning of summer. Memorial Day is the first three day weekend of the summer season. Originally called Decoration Day, the day was set aside to remember and honor those who died in our nations service. It is now a date to remember all lost loved ones. The last Monday of May is the official federal and state holiday, with May 30th as the observed Memorial Day. Decoration Day was first observed in 1868 at the end of the Civil War. Locally a number of VFW's and Legions have services. Walker has a joint service by both the VFW and American Legion.In Cass Lake the Leech Lake Band has a Memorial Pow Wow at their Veterans Memorial Complex for all. On this special day, let us not forget the true meaning of this day and remember our nations hero's.

Lots of people enjoying the Oak Point area this weekend. Between my sisters summer home and my place we had family members that totaled 14 adults and 11 kids. I grilled two turkeys in the kettle grills and made my famous Boston Baked Beans. We had all sorts of foods including Rhubarb treats. Many of the area residents had family gatherings as well. Summer time at Leech Lake is all about family, food and good times, including cribbage games at our house. This weekend we started to teach my grandson the rules of cribbage. The cribbage tradition lives on.

Fishing

With the heat and the warm water temp. the Walleye bite is slowing down. Only a few were caught off the docks this weekend. We have enough fish for a meal. Sister Susan's 27 inch Walleye was the prize winner for the weekend.

Flora Aplenty

Our warm humid weather brought forth plenty of mother natures beautiful spring flora. People outside of Oak Point are jealous of the real thick ferns that we have. The Wild Geraniums are out. They are the lavender colored flower with 5 petals that grow on the edge of the woods usually close to water. The red pedaled wild Columbines with the inverted flowers and thin stalks are also blooming. The Columbines need more sun and can be found in the road ditches and in the open areas. We also call them Honeysuckle because of their sweet taste. I found some additional clumps of Yellow Lady Slippers in my back lot this past week. One clump had 11 blossoms.

Garden plantings are starting to poke through. Green beans are 3 to 4 inches high, green onions 5 to 6 inches high. Potato just starting to sprout through the black soil. Spent some time in the mornings weeding. Out garden is about 250 ft. from the lake. And I am hope that the lake effect will serve our garden well. The lake will make things a bit cooler, but it can also help us maintain a constant temperature on chilly mornings. The drawback could be the lack of heat. Will it get warm enough, long enough to ripen tomatoes? We will have to wait and see.

Oak Point Road

Gravel shoulders are finished, the paint stripping is done. All that is left is the signage, but what do I know. What an improvement for all of us on Oak Point. This road improvement will add to the value of our properties. Let is hope that the speeders don't find the road to appealing.