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May 6th through 12th

There were some cold mornings last week, but the lake remained ice free. In the past, there's a rush to get piers and docks off the shore and into the water. This year a few piers are in, but most are still in their Winter resting place on the shore. Given the air and lake temperature, no one is surprised. There was rain last week. With the watershed saturated with snow melt and previous rain, the lake continues to rise to record levels. The beaches on the North end of the lake are gone, swallowed up by the rising blue. Many lawns are going to need some sort of amphibious mower to get a proper cut. If the lake continues to rise, garages will be able to double as boat houses and cabins as houseboats. Six years ago some docks were six feet above the waterline. Last week, not so much. A few piers went in. The water is at 45°F. That's well below the "very refreshing" range and into the "stop screaming, you're scaring the bears" range. The sections went in without incident. Afterwards, blankets and throat lozenges were enjoyed by all. The cool weather has delayed the trillium, but they starting popping up from the forest floor last week. Looks like they'll peak just before Memorial Day weekend. There seems to be more birds peaking around trees and feeders. Bird song around the shoreline can be clearly heard even over the screaming swimmers and ATV noise. It's that time of year. A facade of Summer is currently covering up the cold reality of early Spring. When the sun is out and the wind is down, golf can be done without jackets and yard work can lead to sunburn, but when the sun gets covered by clouds, some have to repress the reflex to hike to the tapping field to collect sap. Temperatures have been consistently 10°F to 20°F below average since January 32nd, but current forecasts have it getting close to normal soon. That should get that water temperature above a well made martini and stop all that lake induced shrieking. Until then, sharpen those mower blades, replace your divots, and don't drop olives into Lucerne.<br><br>-Nemo stopped shivering and is getting his voice back.

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