Northstar Memories and Magic

Apparently yesterday’s post was popular. I heard from many of you via the comments, or privately. A rather large number of folks know the song My Paddle is Keen and Bright. This fact is not surprising.

While I normally do not post family photographs on my blog, I’ve decided to make an exception. This small Northwoods cabin was a major purchase for a young couple many years ago. Molly and I have never regretted spending the money. Our cabin is the kind of place most folks do not think still exists … small, cozy and warm. We do have running water pumped out of the lake, and a 1950’s era white GE refrigerator, but no microwave, TV, and heat other than a wood stove. In short Northstar Lake, “Hoeg Hollow”, is one of those special spots where families recharge and experience the passing of the years.

Molly kayaking under the Northern Lights


Three princesses and a ninja in front of the outhouse (all grandkids)


A selfie … watching last summer’s comet


The cabin …


Molly swimming with the loons …


Family boat rides … Spot and Cyrus. Spot was my fishing buddy for many years. She is buried at the cabin.


Magic nights … Milky Way overhead


Winter … wood stove heat … use the outhouse … running water is me (Dad) drilling hole with manual ice auger 200 yards offshore and “running” it back up to the cabin in buckets pulled on a sled.

My Paddle is Keen and Bright

Childhood memories of days long ago up here in the Northland …

How many of you without thinking sometimes burst into song … a song taught to you many, many years ago? For over 65 years I have been visiting the Chippewa National Forest wilderness near the Canadian border. As a young boy I learned to sing this song … My Paddles is Keen and Bright (YouTube song link for email subscribers). This morning I found myself unexpectedly singing the song:

Northstar Lake is magical. The waters flow north to Hudson’s Bay, and last night I heard both a pack of timber wolves howling at the moon, and the loons yodeling through the darkness.

Here are two photographs of Common Loons from Northstar Lake taken early this morning … wolfpack fishing and on the nest. Places like this require song.

 

Merlin Sound ID

Just announced today … Merlin Sound ID from the Cornell School of Ornithology (eBird). I already use their Merlin Photo ID which works very well, particularly with birds where the plumage changes in different seasons. Even being a Dartmouth grad and having competed many times against that school, I have to give major credit to them for a job extremely well done. I have provide a few annotated screenshots below. I installed the new version of Merlin (including Sound ID) immediately and tested it with a robin which was singing just outside my home. Get this app. The price is right (free). Consider a donation to Cornell.

Here are my screenshots … from startup to first screen to sound ID and save.