Early Ice-Out

April 5th through 11th, 2021

Lake Lucerne
Last week started out warm and wonderful with just a touch of ice left on Lucerne. The lack of rain was drying out lawns and pushing the fire danger to HIGH. Much would change as the week ripened.
Lake Lucerne
The last of the ice was located around mid-lake. It would not make Monday's sunset.
Lake Lucerne
The day after the ice left us was made for footing. Due to the extremely refreshing nature of the water, no one was seen joining tow rope and toe to lake.
Lake Lucerne
Due to the effectiveness of the "ultimate in squirrel-proof bird feeding", a new plan was made to keep the strange, fuzzy bird from the feeder.
Lake Lucerne
When filling the feeder, additional small piles of seed were placed on deck rails to keep the fuzzies from bothering the finches.
Lake Lucerne
A few songbirds got a modicum of revenge by raiding the rail piles when the squirrels weren't looking.
Lake Lucerne
Over it all, eagles floated on the rising warm air.
Lake Lucerne
The week began with enough dripping from the taps to prevent the sugarmen from making much progress on the sap surplus.
Lake Lucerne
The drips slowed and all 6 of the 55 gallon barrels that held the oversupply were eventually de-sapped.
Lake Lucerne
The warm days and un-freezing nights killed the remaining snow, dried the ground, and told the sugarmen the sapping season was over. It was time to pull buckets.
Lake Lucerne
The last of the buckets left the woods before the weekend.
Lake Lucerne
The last of the pollen has not left the woods. If not for some rain, we'd be at the peak of the itchy, watery eyes, runny nose, sneezy season.
Lake Lucerne
And rain we got. For three mornings after mid-week, an inch of rising lake level was recorded in the bar's rain gauge.
Lake Lucerne
Creeks and streams flowing into the lake have become more torrent like. Before the rain, the lake level was an inch lower than just before ice-in last year. I'd guess Lake Lucerne is a little deeper this morning.
Lake Lucerne
Before the days were filled with fog and growing lawn puddles and the nights were filled with thunder and frog song there was sun, warmth, and even some golf. It was as if someone had stopped pressing the "Turbo Spring" button and the season reverted back to the below normal temperatures and above average rain we have become used to this time of year. At least it wasn't snow. Still, it's going to take several dry days or some sort of a pontoon boat/lawn tractor hybrid before any lawns get mowed this year.


-Nemo loved the party and the people, but the rain not so much.