You may not find this terribly rewarding unless you're included here, so this is a good time for casual and random browsers to turn back before they get too caught up in the sweep and majesty of the proceedings and can't let go.
Scenes from the lake (featuring Choupette and Melvin the Doge)
Our annual summer pilgrimage to the Northwoods
The flotilla is on the lake again (25 June 2019), Rob, Oscar, and the chap behind the camera.
Deep and ponderous philosophical questions do arise from time to time . . .
. . . but not here.
New mooring arrangements . . .
. . . not entirely optimal yet, they need a little work.
Lakeside at Mussent Point on a fine day, like (this summer) nearly all the days so far
Melvin the Doge on sentinel duty, watching over the lake
Choupette, watching over Melvin the Doge
Choupette's attention diverted by a plant
Choupette capturing (and trying to assassinate) a fluffy pink mouse
Choupette discovering the pingpong ball that evades capture by little cats
A good effort, but it missed.
The pingpong ball battle is joined.
It can't be caught.
The secchi disc at work (checking the lake water's turbidity)
The photogenic Tiger Tail, with its under-eroded shoreline
Feline demons from bathtub hell
4 a.m., an hour before sunrise, no chance of breakfast yet
An hour later, the kids are missing the pretty sunrise.
Another hour later, and still no sign of breakfast
Another Battle Royale -- this is the 'Approach' phase.
Melvin's pre-emptive strike
Choupette Undaunted
Up come the back legs; it's getting serious.
Melvin relies, in a dignified manner, on his size.
Choupette relies mainly on the back legs.
Mr Mel may have the situation under control now.
But for the Choup, all truces are tactical.
Back to the canal (see map below), on another fine day, which . . .
. . . makes the canal water virtually transparent.
Nature reclaiming its own . . .
. . . as it might well do everywhere, when we humans are gone.
Mirror Lake, a little like a . . . mirror. And the continuation of the canal on the far side just right of centre.
Through the culvert under the only road round the lake
Culvert Views
A wayward chipmunk in the culvert for reasons known only to itself (2 July 2019)
The chipmunk, as we approached, was scampering away precisely three posts, then another three, and another, and finally off into the forest. For reasons known only to itself.
Offputting reflections in the water
The spillway at the end of the canal, and the enormous next lake to the east
Probably half an inch of water draining away to someone else's lake -- SAD!
The return trip
The Goose Family -- wandering all round the lake for the past six weeks, very unwelcome on the overly-manicured lawns but a welcome sight on the lake (and on other people's overly-manicured lawns)
One of the adult eagles in a nearby tree -- we fear that he's waiting for tiny Choupette to sneak out the cottage, and then he'll do what War Symbols do best, swoop down and kill.
More feline consultations about the Great Outdoors (whither Melvin will shortly proceed, but alas not tiny Choupette, at least this year)
Cousin Rob heaves into view, over the horizon
Melvin Stylites on his holy pillar -- Choupette watching for his chance at mischief
Melvin, on his pillar, pretends to ignore Choupette's stealthy reconnaissance.
Choupette's intentions are obvious to us all . . .
. . . and to our dignified Melvin the Doge. Seconds later, Choupette attacked, but failed to claw her way to the top of the scratching-post column, and retreated in temporary defeat, as Melvin calmly looked on.
Melvin has survived the ill-planned assault to remain dignified still another day (5 July 2019).
The Lake in the Wisconsin Northwoods
Mussent Point is at no. 12.
Dwight Peck's personal website
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All rights reserved, all wrongs avenged. Posted 25 July 2019. 
