We have been quite busy up here at the Ranger Station, issuing permits, giving little quizzes, showing the info movie. In most cases it is fun to go throught the information with people but I have noticed that the trouble makers are mostly men in their 40's and 50's. Sometimes they meet questions with smart ass answers or they insert rude comments in to the conversation. I have no idea why it seems to be this age group. I also don't know if they would treat guys like this. Normally I can joke along with people, but these guys are just jerks and have to make some sort of "point".
The weather is beautiful! It is a tad cool, but the weather Thursday to today, Saturday is
nice with blue skies. I hope it stays this way for all the campers and canoers out there. There may be some gloomier days ahead with a 30% chance of rain on Monday. But that is only 30%!
My deer have not been around of late. Although they did sneak into the yard and eat a plant/flower near the side door. I usually sit on the steps there and drink my coffee in the morning. Sort of gives me an idea of what the temps/weather is going to be.
Paulette is stuffing "Smokey" bags. We give them out to the little kids. The bags have all sorts of things in them, comics, puzzles, pencil sharpeners, fake tattoos. The older kids get wrist bands, frisbees, etc. It is fun to give them; the kids get so excited.
I will be going to pick up Phil on Sunday and then we will be spending a couple of days at the cabin in Aitkin. Brother John is coming and we are going fishing. Hopefully we will still find them in our special fishing hole.
I do like this job. It is normally pretty easy, and I get to live here where the birds sing symphonies every morning. They start tuning up about 4:30 a.m. and then the concert begins. I have seen several evening grosbeaks, lots of little birds like chicadees and sparrows, and the gull (huge herring gull) still will fly over to see if I have left something on the picnic bench near the cabin. The other animals are just two legged sorts training to be firefighters. So far they have not been a problem, are so young that I seem like their great grandmother, and generally pretty busy.
A customer has left us donuts. I think I need to eat some. Free food is always welcome up here.
Take care all and Happy Memorial Day!
Saturday, May 25, 2013
Saturday, May 18, 2013
Tofte
It has been so beautiful up here. On my days off I took a trip to Grand Marais Silver Bay, and hikes and points of interest.
I spent most of Tuesday on the beach at Sugar Cove. What a beautiful place! The walk through the nature area was cool and the wind whispered through the pines. The scent of the pine was incredible. The beach is covered in smooth round rocks and although you are not allowed to remove anything, I did spy a couple of rocks and agates I would have loved to keep.
If you get up this way, stop at a park or a ranger station. They have so many guide pamphlets on fishing, hiking, camping, etc that you could go a couple of weeks and never see the same thing twice. I have taken some pictures and will be posting them when I get home. The Internet up here is either Wifi at the Tofte General Store (sort of hit or miss) or I have to use the computer at work which is not very private.
I had some students up here this week from a college in Iowa. They were taking a traveling biology class and came up to help plant trees out on the Gunflint. The professor was cautious to split up the group: 3 girls with me and 8 guys in the next cabin. We had plenty of room in my cabin but because he was rather prudish, he slept in the van. And it was cold when they were here. He hurt his knee somehow and I just can't help thinking what agony he must have gone through sleeping outside like that. He went to the Grand Marais Pharmacy and bought crutches. The kids went out to help plant trees and he had to stay as he just couldn't hobble through the brush with the crutches. When I asked why he wouldn't stay in our cabin and sleep on the couch, the girls said he was uncomfortable sleeping in the cabin with his female students. Gad! Even if he had "wanted" one of them, they would not touch him with a ten foot pole. I asked if they would do it for an easy A and they shrieked and said they would rather fail the class. Pretty cute kids. The ladies are teasing me now about my "brothel" as the young fire guys came down too (which they have not done the whole time I have been here). They said they wanted to ask ME to come up to watch a movie but I am not that slow and I knew I was not the draw. I refused gently and told them to ask the students next door. They must have because I heard giggling and laughing until pretty late.
The deer are still out my front window. I can stand and watch them get closer and closer until I could reach out and touch them. I have to be very careful because the wood floor squeaks and scares them. These cabins were built by the CCC and should last forever if taken care off. I scrubbed this one top to bottom as no one had cleaned it this season. And the fire boys were here so there were smudges of soot all over. I will have a room mate later on (June) as far as I know. She is a naturalist that is a teacher in the twin cities. She has come up for a couple of years to do nature things with the campsites, resorts, and other places for the families.
Maybe I will tag along with her one of these days just to see what she does.
I wanted to go out to see the fire crews do a controlled burn yesterday but it was called off at the last minute. So, I went out with Nichole, the full time receptionist and we went up the Sawbill Trail to see some of the lakes and campgrounds. We did stop at Sawbill but Bill was in Grand Marais and Cindy went to Duluth. It was her birthday yesterday.
Have to get to work. I haven't done much as my computer was acting up and I couldn't connect. Take care all!
I spent most of Tuesday on the beach at Sugar Cove. What a beautiful place! The walk through the nature area was cool and the wind whispered through the pines. The scent of the pine was incredible. The beach is covered in smooth round rocks and although you are not allowed to remove anything, I did spy a couple of rocks and agates I would have loved to keep.
If you get up this way, stop at a park or a ranger station. They have so many guide pamphlets on fishing, hiking, camping, etc that you could go a couple of weeks and never see the same thing twice. I have taken some pictures and will be posting them when I get home. The Internet up here is either Wifi at the Tofte General Store (sort of hit or miss) or I have to use the computer at work which is not very private.
I had some students up here this week from a college in Iowa. They were taking a traveling biology class and came up to help plant trees out on the Gunflint. The professor was cautious to split up the group: 3 girls with me and 8 guys in the next cabin. We had plenty of room in my cabin but because he was rather prudish, he slept in the van. And it was cold when they were here. He hurt his knee somehow and I just can't help thinking what agony he must have gone through sleeping outside like that. He went to the Grand Marais Pharmacy and bought crutches. The kids went out to help plant trees and he had to stay as he just couldn't hobble through the brush with the crutches. When I asked why he wouldn't stay in our cabin and sleep on the couch, the girls said he was uncomfortable sleeping in the cabin with his female students. Gad! Even if he had "wanted" one of them, they would not touch him with a ten foot pole. I asked if they would do it for an easy A and they shrieked and said they would rather fail the class. Pretty cute kids. The ladies are teasing me now about my "brothel" as the young fire guys came down too (which they have not done the whole time I have been here). They said they wanted to ask ME to come up to watch a movie but I am not that slow and I knew I was not the draw. I refused gently and told them to ask the students next door. They must have because I heard giggling and laughing until pretty late.
The deer are still out my front window. I can stand and watch them get closer and closer until I could reach out and touch them. I have to be very careful because the wood floor squeaks and scares them. These cabins were built by the CCC and should last forever if taken care off. I scrubbed this one top to bottom as no one had cleaned it this season. And the fire boys were here so there were smudges of soot all over. I will have a room mate later on (June) as far as I know. She is a naturalist that is a teacher in the twin cities. She has come up for a couple of years to do nature things with the campsites, resorts, and other places for the families.
Maybe I will tag along with her one of these days just to see what she does.
I wanted to go out to see the fire crews do a controlled burn yesterday but it was called off at the last minute. So, I went out with Nichole, the full time receptionist and we went up the Sawbill Trail to see some of the lakes and campgrounds. We did stop at Sawbill but Bill was in Grand Marais and Cindy went to Duluth. It was her birthday yesterday.
Have to get to work. I haven't done much as my computer was acting up and I couldn't connect. Take care all!
Monday, May 6, 2013
Home again, Home again jiggity jig
I came home last night. I would have stayed but there were a couple things I need to do. And Phil wants to go fishing but the ice is still on the northern lakes and he might be gone the next time I have a break. It is his birthday tomorrow and I wanted to be here for that. I also have to see the Dr.
A couple of weeks ago, I woke up to incredible itching and pain on my back. No rash, nothing there, but it was driving me crazy. I went to an Urgent Care doctor and he gave me some medication for a mild infection. When I asked why there was such pain, he said "There shouldn't be any pain!" and that was that. I have been eating ibuprofen like candy. The pain is so fierce it is difficult to sleep at night. I woke up Saturday morning with a really weird rash. Shingles@! So much for the Urgent Care appt. I have no idea why I would have gotten this except that I must be older than I thought.
The North Shore has been cold and rainy with snow mixed in. It seems that Spring will never get there. I went to Grand Marais the other day (had to get a brown belt and brown shoes as I have to wear a Forest Service uniform. And believe me, I look really cute and professional (NOT!).
There are deer every where and I have been hearing owls hooting quite a bit. There is still mounds of snow and it has been a tad cool at night. I have a lot to learn about permits, entry points, walking trails, maps, etc and have been studying my handbook non stop. Perhaps by the end of the summer, I will know half of what I need to.
It does give me opportunities to get to Gooseberry Falls, Grand Marais and other areas. I may even decide to go to the Isabella work station. I never knew there were so many places to see up there and anyone fortunate to get up there will have plenty of activities to keep them busy. And I would like to bring my bike up as there is a incredible bike path that starts right in front of the Ranger Station and goes south to Two Harbors and south. It would be great exercise which I need.
The cabin I stay in is on the Ranger Station and is very cute! I have the whole upper floor to myself which means I won't have to have a roommate. There are two other bedrooms downstairs that have
double occupancy, a smallish kitchen and bath, and a fairly large living room area. It is so quiet at times, and really restful. I don't have a TV or anything, I have to walk out into the yard to use my cell phone and I have to drive to the Tofte General store to get WiFi for my Kindle Fire. But I can handle that and it will give me time to catch up on some of my hobby projects that I have.
The deer look so hungry! It has been a long winter for them and other wild life. It is sad to see the deer look so thin, you can see their ribs. They are out at dusk and dawn, eating grass in the ditches along side the road. I am so cautious as I don't want to hit one and they can jump out in front of you in a second. I see near misses every time I am out driving in the evening.
It's tough getting groceries too. I have to drive to Silver Bay or Grand Marais if I need anything quickly. They are both about 1/2 hour away in either direction. And the prices are a bit steep so I will be stocking up when I am home on staples and hauling them back up north. I can't even find real lemonade for my Ricky's unless I go to Silver Bay or GM.
I am enjoying this so far. While I am only working 4 days a week at this point, I am only working 4 days a week!!!! Plenty of time to go exploring and checking out various shops and things.
I do miss my friends from work. Hopefully they will keep in touch via email.
That's it for now. I have to go find some cooking utensils as the cabin is lacking in things.
A couple of weeks ago, I woke up to incredible itching and pain on my back. No rash, nothing there, but it was driving me crazy. I went to an Urgent Care doctor and he gave me some medication for a mild infection. When I asked why there was such pain, he said "There shouldn't be any pain!" and that was that. I have been eating ibuprofen like candy. The pain is so fierce it is difficult to sleep at night. I woke up Saturday morning with a really weird rash. Shingles@! So much for the Urgent Care appt. I have no idea why I would have gotten this except that I must be older than I thought.
The North Shore has been cold and rainy with snow mixed in. It seems that Spring will never get there. I went to Grand Marais the other day (had to get a brown belt and brown shoes as I have to wear a Forest Service uniform. And believe me, I look really cute and professional (NOT!).
There are deer every where and I have been hearing owls hooting quite a bit. There is still mounds of snow and it has been a tad cool at night. I have a lot to learn about permits, entry points, walking trails, maps, etc and have been studying my handbook non stop. Perhaps by the end of the summer, I will know half of what I need to.
It does give me opportunities to get to Gooseberry Falls, Grand Marais and other areas. I may even decide to go to the Isabella work station. I never knew there were so many places to see up there and anyone fortunate to get up there will have plenty of activities to keep them busy. And I would like to bring my bike up as there is a incredible bike path that starts right in front of the Ranger Station and goes south to Two Harbors and south. It would be great exercise which I need.
The cabin I stay in is on the Ranger Station and is very cute! I have the whole upper floor to myself which means I won't have to have a roommate. There are two other bedrooms downstairs that have
double occupancy, a smallish kitchen and bath, and a fairly large living room area. It is so quiet at times, and really restful. I don't have a TV or anything, I have to walk out into the yard to use my cell phone and I have to drive to the Tofte General store to get WiFi for my Kindle Fire. But I can handle that and it will give me time to catch up on some of my hobby projects that I have.
The deer look so hungry! It has been a long winter for them and other wild life. It is sad to see the deer look so thin, you can see their ribs. They are out at dusk and dawn, eating grass in the ditches along side the road. I am so cautious as I don't want to hit one and they can jump out in front of you in a second. I see near misses every time I am out driving in the evening.
It's tough getting groceries too. I have to drive to Silver Bay or Grand Marais if I need anything quickly. They are both about 1/2 hour away in either direction. And the prices are a bit steep so I will be stocking up when I am home on staples and hauling them back up north. I can't even find real lemonade for my Ricky's unless I go to Silver Bay or GM.
I am enjoying this so far. While I am only working 4 days a week at this point, I am only working 4 days a week!!!! Plenty of time to go exploring and checking out various shops and things.
I do miss my friends from work. Hopefully they will keep in touch via email.
That's it for now. I have to go find some cooking utensils as the cabin is lacking in things.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
