It is a good thing that deer hunting comes late in November when the leaves are off the trees so that hunting and autumn color leaves hikes don’t occur at the same time. I wouldn’t mind if time turned back to early October to enjoy some sunny autumn walks again.
Woods Autumn Walk
During the summer, deer wander slowly away from my lawn mower and they don’t feel too threatened but tomorrow they better watch out for people dressed in orange who will be hunting them with guns.
Deer on Watch
It looks like this cat got hypnotized by the snowflakes falling again this morning but at least the temperature stayed above freezing long enough to melt the snow before dropping in the afternoon.
Hypnotized Cat
I might be in the minority since I don’t have a smart phone, but looking back just getting a portable phone for a land line was a big advantage but imagine the changes some people have seen in their lives. From today’s cell phones, which are mini computers, back to a phone like this, which was probably on a party line and each household had its own distinctive ring like a long and two shorts. Can you imagine today’s kids having to wait until someone else got off and anyone else on the party line could listen in? I doubt they would be on the phone very long!
This phone was manufactured by the Swedish-American Telephone Co., which was established 1899 and produced a wide range of telephone equipment and was popular in rural areas.
Very Old Phone
On a nice sunny day, the lighthouse foghorns were not needed but in inclement conditions like today, they were critical to the safety of ship crews before modern technology. The foghorns at Split Rock Lighthouse were first heard in 1910 at a 20 second interval in foggy conditions and could be heard roughly 5 miles away. The first ones were a siren-blast and after 1936 they were a type F diaphone. The foghorns went silent in 1961 as technology changed and reportedly as favor to a nearby resort owner. The Minnesota Historical Society took over the decommissioned lighthouse in 1976 and replica foghorns were placed atop the fog signal building in 1979 but the only sound heard now is a recording of the horn inside the building.
Split Rock Lighthouse Foghorns
This old wooden wheelbarrow doesn’t look ready for the start of the work week with a broken handle. The wheelbarrow has an interesting design but I think it has seen too many work days and deserves a peaceful retirement.
Retired Wheelbarrow
A month ago the leaves were falling, but this morning snow was falling instead and blocked any hint of a sunrise.
October Lake Sunrise
The Great Lakes bulk freighter, Paul R Tregurtha arrived in Duluth today with chunks of ice floating through the canal. It was warmer when I saw the longest vessel (1,013.5 feet) of the Great Lakes arrive in October. The ship’s maiden voyage was in 1981 and she can carry 68,000 long tons of iron ore or 63,616 long tons of coal and she holds a number of cargo records. The Big Paul will be able to make a few more voyages before the winter lay-up when the icy weather closes the canals and locks.
Freighter Paul R Tregurtha
This stream almost looks like ice but unlike my sidewalk, it wasn’t icy and was a nice flowing creek, at least for a few more weeks before the winter freeze stiffens it.
Flowing Creek
With the temperatures down to zero, it is hard to find any colorful blooming flowers as most have gone to seed and will float away on windy days like white snowflakes.
Ready to Fly
