Signs of the Times

People always ask what's new at Maplelag as far as decor and the such and what finds have I been able to uncover. Perhaps the biggest news is that of finishing both fireplaces in the lounge in the main level of the lodge and the one upstairs in the library. Peter our stone and mason man who is originally from Holland did a fantastic job with the rocks we had, and he had great help from our exchange worker, Beetle from Poland. Beetle's first name was much too long to pronounce and say and as his last name is Zuk and as this translates as Beetle, that is what we all called him. We completed both of these in the late summer and Fall of 2004 and they add a great look to the overall ambiance of Maplelag. In the main fireplace on the main level, we have used all the petrified soil or silcete and petrified wood or rock from the ranch in SW North Dakota. The lintel came from a ranch north of Red Lodge, MT. In the library, we again used the petrified soil or silcrete and petrifed wood for most of the work, but also some stone Jay and I had picked up from some old homesteads in northern Saskatchewan in the St. Brieux area. The lintel here came from a ranch in the Bozeman, Mt area and the wavy wood piece came from a cedar stump when I worked on the Oregon coast years ago. Neither fireplace is a working one as the cost of insurance would have been totally sky high if we had real fire. Much as we love a real fire working fireplace we weren't ready to go there yet. We are using salt crystals from Pakistan that are hollowed out and have a low amp light in them, and gives a great effect of being on fire in amongst the logs.

And the rest of the library is now finished off with it being all carpeted and cushions for all the built in couches and chairs. This is where most of the depot or station signs are, and it makes for a pretty awesome display. I am still picking up sign when I can, and I just got back from a 3 day, over 3000 mile road trip to the Prairies of Canada and then back thru Montana scouting out some unusual rock sources for some other new projects.

We keep adding homemade skis to our collection and I have to get a little organized to better put them on display. I made a quick run to the Copper Country in the UP of Michigan in June to pick up skis again that I had purchased pre fire of 1999, and now have some super examples of the Finnish style ski. It was a first time trip for me to that area, and it was very pretty and the towns of Hancock, Houghton and Calumet, and Copper Harbor were all new to me. I have to go back as I picked up a large piece of copper float that we will try and build in someplace here at Maplelag.

As for signs, we have a few new ones and they will be put up in time for display this winter. When in Argentina we picked up a few interesting ones and those are already on display and the staff from Argentina enjoyed them. And my friend Rick Simpson, five time winner of the bachelor days at Herman Minnesota(in fact he won so many times they had to cancel the event) and who has a sideline business of of picking antiques of a sporting nature when not operating the grain elevator there and who has a fantastic eye has located some great new signs for us.

As for new construction projects this summer of 2005, we just completed a 50' by 50' basketball court with regulation glass backboard hoops and it has been a big hit for camp. While not for use in the winter, if you are here in the spring or fall, you can shoot a few hoops if you wish. This was put in the parking lot by the Loon, and we burned the old garage there, hauled in close to 40 loads of fill to bring it up to grade, and makes for a great new court.

And what do we have going for contstruction projects and things new. Number One will be a picnic shelter 24' by 64' over by the cabooses and one part or one end will have a 24' by 24' warming house in it. The other end we will be building a Argentine style BBQ or asado and this will be in use for Spanish Camp and perhaps for events like weddings in the Fall and Spring. So that is the reason for looking some unusual rock items for this asado. And we will have a wood fired stove in the warming house much like the one I grew up with at 52nd and Arden in Edina and where I lived it seemed like as a youth. I would walk there, over a mile and half everyday, skate and play hockey and it is one of my fondest memories of childhood. The skating rink will be sulpted by the creek and the cabooses and it will be one that we will flood. We will have lights for it so it can be used at night too. After over 25 years of trying to use the lake and all the problems it entailed, we are pulling the pin on this, and will go with a flooded rink and hope it all comes together. Foltz Builders, the outfit that did such a wonderful job on the lodge and the Freight House and Cat House will be erecting this, and Fred and our crew will be finished off the inside.