Hello to All:

The Hazelhurst Hilton is up and running for another season. The lake is up a bit from last year but it is only spring. The total precipitation in April exceeded Jan, Feb, March & the first 15 days in April combined. To say it is dry is an understatement. There is still a burn ban in northern WI. We drove north on Sat after Brian left and it rained most of the way. It also rained for the first 3 days we were there. That melted the 5 inches of snow that fell on Thur. Such is the weather in April in the north woods.

Getting the pump going was a bit more time consuming than usual but it is all OK now. Brad, thanks for the use of the miter saw. All the baseboard is now up. Thanks, also for the splitting axe. I would be there yet splitting wood with a regular axe. Most of the wood is drying nicely on the rack and under the tarp. Thanks to all my children for that. The big rack is about half full. Hope we do not need it before Oct. There are still a few logs to cut and more than a few to split. The fire made it very warm and cozy for our visit. Splitting wood warms one up also.

Reservations insofar are:

Pat & Wanda July 29 - Aug. 5
Shari, Jeff & Parker Aug 21 - 31
Jaci & Dad July 10-18
We were a bit early for the spring bird migration or maybe the weather was just too cold. The ice is gone on the lake and we heard the loons but did not see them. Pileated woodpecker, red, grey & black squirrels, chipmunks, deer, finches (gold ones have changed already), one immature eagle, hooded & commom mergansers, mallards, muskrat were about the limit on the wildlife. We even took a drive on the one nice day to Powell Marsh Wildlife Refuge but it was so cold and windy all the geese, ducks and cranes were hunkered down in the tall grass.

P.S. Brad and Sheryl have a commitment in the U.P. Aug 18 and plan to continue West to the Hilton, overlapping S. J. & P. for a day. Hoping for another trip in Sep. or Oct.