August 22, 2012 -- In Leech Lake

By 10:00 a.m.this morning the temperature was already 75 degrees on its way to the mid-80s by 3:00 p.m. The wind was slight at 5-8 mph out of the WSW and the sky was sunny and blue. A day that reminds us all that we're still in the midst of summer. Although here in the northwoods of Minnesota, on the shores of Leech Lake, the leaves on some of the plants and trees have already started changing color.



The big maple tree on the Leech Lake side of the house showing some early Fall colors

I first noticed the change late last week while driving into Cass Lake to get pizza. A few of the sumac were turning red. A handful of birch trees were starting to sport yellow leaves. And more than a couple of maples had some red, pink, orange, yellow and red leaves on them in addition to the mostly green leaves that still cover them. I heard a report that "peak" foliage color in and around Leech Lake will come earlier this year -- due to the early ice-out and arrival of Spring -- and won't last as long, due to a relatively dry summer. I'm guessing that peak-color will appear in early- to mid-September, and that by October the leaves will be brown, dry and on the ground.

But today, with the heat and glorious sunshine, was a summer day to thoroughly enjoy. After breakfast and some cleaning around the house, I drove into town to mail some packages and pick up a few groceries. I picked up an unbaked pizza from Great River Pizzeria; which Joe and I will enjoy for dinner tonight.

Once back home I ate some lunch, had a work call, then got the boat ready for a late-afternoon fishing trip with Joe. As it turns out, however, Joe walked to go for a walk, exercise and then go for a swim in the lake rather than go fishing. So we ended up staying on shore and enjoying a swim in the lake. It was much cooler than when Kathleen and I would enjoy our "camp baths," but with the air temperature in the mid- to high-80s, it felt great.

As the evening wore on the sky began to cloud over and the forecast called for some light rain sometime after midnight, and the temperature began to cool.

Over the past several days, Joe has been baiting the crayfish trap and each day the trap fills up a little more the crayfish. Tonight, we decided to cook them up and have them as an appetizer before our pizza. There must have been somewhere between 30 and 40 crayfish, but since they're so small they really offer that much meat. Most of the meat comes from the tail; which we snap off from the rest of the body, pull out with either a toothpick or other pointy object, dip them in melted butter and enjoy some simple fare from the lake. Not particularly filling, but tasty nonetheless.

A big bowl of crayfish prior to cooking

We watched a little TV after dinner (actually a DVD) and then headed off for bed. We talked about going swimming again tomorrow since it's supposed to be warm, and maybe get in a little muskie fishing. Stay tuned...