Author: Sue Ahrendt

We moved to the middle of the woods just when my kids were in elementary school–prime Halloween age. It was one of those things we considered seriously, along with the long bus ride, the cousins, Brueggers Bagels, the Hollydazzle parade… “is this worth giving up?” Funny how decisions are—because try as I might to weigh it all carefully, we can never know exactly what we’re getting either…who could have known?
It’s definitely a Grand Marais event, where the action is. The kids aren’t really prime Halloween age—but what I’m appreciating about this small town—it seems that they’re welcome to trick-or-treat until they’re done. They can ease out of it—it’s no big sea change, no age threshold. Wear a costume or not—no pressure. A whole bunch of them went out for the walk, but several of them didn’t collect candy. Or picked up a lollipop on the way, for the blustery walk where they recognize people left and right. Where the cop turns on the siren and speaker to say—“you there….do you want some candy?”
Some came back early for ping-pong. Anything goes. I like these kids. Lucky. Nice night.

I didn’t walk. I guess it’s time to admit, that when some of them are in highschool, they really don’t need me to walk along. So, we hung with the adults, and they’re OK too. Here’s Shelia, the Stimulus Package, who won the adult cleverness award in my book.

It wasn’t my house, but I did leap to the door often enough to pass out treats. My MOST favorite kids were the ones who—for the first time, were realizing that it’s a candy free-for-all. I figure comprehension hits about age 3. They get it, they get to keep it, it’s CANDY, it’s pure magic. I vaguely remember that feeling, but maybe it’s even more fun to witness—check out this little blond witch. Could she be any cuter?

This one little guy, couldn’t contain himself, because he got to CHOOSE his candy. All that were left when he arrived were the tootsie rolls. He had his two pieces but he kept standing there. He kept staring at the dish and having these little excitement tremors. I said “do you see another one you like?” He said—“Yes! With a little leap….I see a lellow one”….I said “Guess what? You can have that lellow one!” and then he did a big leap and looked at his dad and said “I CAN HAVE THE LELLOW one too!!!”
I’m a push over. He wasn’t my kid, I didn’t have to teach him limits or how to say thank you or anything like that. I was just going for the leap and delight about FREE CANDY. I found him a red tootsie roll too.

Here’s hoping you witnessed at least one Halloween 3 year old this year.

The other day Anna (former staff ) met Wendell Berry. Even though wasn’t my experience, I was excited about that, because I think he’s AWESOME, and I also thought he was dead. She wrote: no… he is very much alive. Brilliant, gracious, humble, and genuine are the words that come to mind...

Have you discovered him? He’s an author/farmer. Here’s one of my favorites—He just hits my nail on the head when he says stuff like “I rest in the grace of the world, and am free.” Such an elegant gift to be able to put together the same simple words so uniquely, so perfectly capturing my experiences…

When despair for the world grows in me

and I wake in the night at the least sound

in fear of what my life and my children’s lives may be,

I go and lie down where the wood drake

rests in his beauty on the water, and the great heron feeds.

I come into the peace of wild things

who do not tax their lives with forethought

of grief. I come into the presence of still water.

And I feel above me the day-blind stars

waiting with their light. For a time

I rest in the grace of the world, and am free.

– Wendell Berry, Openings: The Peace of Wild Things

The kids were off school for MEA weekend–we had a little family hiking shindig….and spent an October afternoon on the trail. For awhile it snowed big beautiful heavy flakes over the yellow trees. Great moment.

We found stuff, and the Cceaster carefully replaced the artifacts, of course.

Please note that Lars isn’t actually foaming at the mouth–it was a whipped cream chubby bunnies moment.

Later, during the pumpkin carving, I was feeling nostalgic about these kids growing up, lucky that they are so entertaining, glad that they let us adults in, so we can still be part of the party.

I’d just like to point out the pumpkin on the right—Kieran carved with the intentional lazy eye, maybe in honor of Abraham Lincoln or maybe some other notable lazy-eyed person, or maybe not.

Before I moved to the Gunflint Trail, I’m not sure I could have even identified a Tamarack. Or known why they called Larch Creek, Larch Creek.

This time of year, I can’t take my eyes off of them..especially when the October sky is so blue and they are such a unique yellow. I wish I could capture them, or better yet, I wish you could see them. I wonder if there is a crayon color called Tamarack?

Hey! We’ve got a splendid new hiking trail that connects our Round Lake Road to the Kekakabic trail and then back around to make a 3.3 mile loop .

A volunteer crew of former smoke jumpers helped the Forest Service with the project in early September.

Andy and I knew one of the volunteers. Retired smoke jumper Jim Cherry was once director of Wilderness Canoe Base, on Seagull Lake. He was before my time, but that Wilderness community is a far reaching clan; which means there are lots of overlapping people between Jim and me (including Andy).

Jim’s kids also went to my Mpls Washburn High (may she falter never). But really, the reason I feel so fond of Jim falls back to the story of 3 Vietnamese brothers—refugees that stayed with my family for awhile after Saigon fell.

I think I was about 12, they were young adults (high school/college) who worked for Jim that first summer in the US. Incidentally those 3 guys and their families are still part of our ‘extended’ family, and they are remarkable world citizens, but that’s another story. (And I won’t even get INTO the egg rolls)

At age 12, I couldn’t begin to appreciate the kind of grief they experienced upon leaving their beloved family and country. But after a summer at WCB, it was obvious that Jim Cherry stepped up, and was a surrogate father type. And because I love them, I was always grateful to Jim for that.

You might call this experience the Transitive Property of Families—If A is linked to B and B is linked to C, then A is linked to C. And THAT is the roundabout story of why I give bright orange Jim Cherry a hug when I see him.

There was obviously some similar type of camaraderie among this group.

These smoke jumpers share a bond. They’ve fought in different battles, but they’re on the same team. Here are 3 of them—from the left Tom (also retired DNR official), Jim Cherry(retired Lutheran minister), and Jack (retired surgeon). Definitely they’ve had powerful experiences. Tom tried to describe the connection that he feels when he meets fellow smoke jumpers–like they’re old friends already–made of the same sort of mettle.

I believe they offer their volunteer services in many different venues, but this September, we were the beneficiaries. Eleven of them joined forces with the USFS—- worked hard and fast, and cleared the way.

Around here, Andy and I refer to it as Tom Kaffine’s trail. Tom is the local USFS ranger. I don’t know exactly what his current title is—but he’s the woods expert. He’s paddled here forever, and he knows all of the secret places. Come to think he rarely ever TELLS his secrets. But he’s been around.

If you came to his Becoming a Boundary Waters Family presentation at Tuscarora this summer, you’d have seen some 20 year old pictures of the railroad bed, old cabins and treasures, and a younger Tom Kaffine. The Ham fire in 2007, cleared the way, and made it easier for Tom to explore and flag a hiking trail. He took his idea to the Forest Service to do whatever it is that has to be done to approve of a trail like this. I suspect that was no small task. It seems to me when they are managing property that belongs to 300 million people of the United States, they have to manage at least a few conflicting opinions with every step.

At any rate—the Centennial Trail follows the Port Arthur railroad bed that once connected the Paulson Mine (on the Kekekabic Trail) to Thunder Bay. I believe the train made one run….and if you are curious about details, we’re hoping Tom Kaffine will have a chance to crystallize some of his knowledge into some sort of interpretive source, someday…soon.

Until then—come and explore this lovely trail…still a little rough in places (which is why they hesitate to call it done)—but a great hike! It starts at the beginning of the Kekakabic Trail and cuts off about 1.2 miles in, and loops around to the Round Lake Road, and back to the Kek Trail parking lot.