Ignoring the fact it was 39F at sunrise yesterday, another cabin summer has started at Northstar Lake. This small 3 season cabin has 32 years of family memories … from July 4th pontoon boat polka cruises (Molly and I play our accordions) to hiking a mile into the cabin at night while the temperature is only 10F (no road access in winter … running water is me hiking/running out onto the lake and drilling a hole to get water … manual ice auger).

Yesterday morning this was the view from our bedroom at 4:45 am. Yup, the place is magical!

This year the big move was to replace the 67 year old GE refrigerator (I’m 66 years old). Our new fridge will actually keep ice cream frozen! Goodbye old friend (the range is also being replaced).

This morning I was out shortly after sunrise getting reacquainted with our lakes Common Loons. In my mind, they are not common at all!

Our lilac tree seems to have the only blossoms for miles around … appreciated by all the bees and butterflies.

Cabin pics from years past …

This post has been updated with a newer version which includes a short video about the last log drive in Minnesota (1937). Browse to the new post.

If you would like to read about the logging industry in northern Minnesota, here is a great overview from the Minnesota Historical Society. The picture is theirs, not mine.