Can it really be Thanksgiving again?

It's been three months since I last posted an update and I am back at the lake already.  As I type this, it occurs to me that this might be the 25th anniversary of our Thanksgiving tradition at the lake - amazing! Rest assured this series of posts will be good!

I arrived in MN on Friday and made the trek North on Sunday as it began to drizzle and continued till this morning. Yesterday I opened up the Clubhouse to get it warmed up, did some cleaning, got the computer re-connected and updated its virus protection and then made a trip to town for some supplies. By the time I got back I was hungry so I made an early dinner and settled in for the evening - sorting through recipes and figuring out what other ingredients we need.  I ended up being up later than I expected and then had a restless night - thoughts of Thanksgivings past drifting through my head.  Reconnecting with this place is still not easy - I can almost feel Doug in the place and I miss him so much.

It doesn't get light till late here and after I got up to turn up the stove and start the coffee, I went back to bed and finished my book.  By the time I got up and had breakfast it was 9:30.  I went over to Mikkelsen's to turn on the heated floors so it will be warm when folks start arriving there. Then, because the weatherman on WCCO had warned that the unseasonably warm temps will be over soon, I cleared leaves and pine needles from near the doors and up on the hill, where the grill will be working overtime for the coming week-end.  We wouldn't want anyone to slip on the soggy groundcover once it freezes. 

All that activity warmed me up so I decided to take a spin in my kayak - the lake was calm and I think the rain had kept all the birds hunkered down.  By the time I was headed back from the east end of the lake, the pair of eagles, one of whom I am certain is Doug reincarnated, were soaring above the pine trees and looking happy as ever to be out and about.  I could hear him saying "Damn you hide - you shouldn't be out on the lake when there is no one else around!" And I just smiled, knowing he would have been doing the same thing if the spirit had moved him as it had me.

At about 3 p.m. the clouds parted and the sun came out and the lake & woods were gorgeous!  I took this photo as it set - there's no better place to be at this time of year! 

Now it's nearly 7:30 - I'm expecting the first of our Thanksgiving gang and have chili and cornbread waiting.  Be well & remember - Wherever you go, there you are.