May 31, 1999: Memorial Day Weekend
No phoebe nesting under eaves! Always there have been a family or two here before we arrive. What to think?
Dock is gone. Shoreline has been dredged and soil – clay – is in small mts. over the berry patch. The summer projects lie ahead. (Dragonfly habitats have been removed.)
Wildflowers: Foam flower, star flower, white & blue violets, jack-in-the-pulpits, Colt’s foot seedheads, Lilacs on Hogobone place, My lilacs too.
Back to Philadelphia
Joanne
June 19: Phoebe’s are back. Well was hooked up (see back pages entry). Beautiful sunny 52°.
July 6, 1999: Depending on how one defines the beginning of the new millennium, this is probably the last time I will be here until the new one begins. Not that this really means much, but it seems like the sort of thing to jot down and reflect on, somehow.
Okay, … not, but it’s written here for good now, so I suppose future generations will look back on this and think “wow, what a waste of space. Not to mention ink.”
If I am going to redeem myself in the eyes of future generations, I had better say something profound, and should stop wasting time and say it now. It’s trips like this, into the wilderness, away from the frenzied pace of daily life, away from traffic, from … jobs at odd companies, that make you realize what’s truly important in life – reflecting on where you are, and spending time with friends.
Thank you all again for the chance to visit. It is wonderful as always, and once again, I leave feeling better than when I arrived.
Sean Blinn
July 6: This was my first visit here, and i leave relaxed, happy, and understanding why my roommate loves this place so much. Thanks for the hospitality.
Damaris Christensen
July 6: Thank you again for a wonderful vacation! Somehow, four days here is much more relaxing than 2 week or more anywhere else. It was warmer than it has been past years, but it just made me glad I wasn’t in 95°+ DC.
Rebecca Nielsen
July 6: Welcome Damaris, to Shunk; welcome, Ben Wilken, to the world. This summer I have my tenth anniversary at BLS. Hot 4th of July weekend, but a good one.
Jason Ford
A marvelous visit! Thanks! Can we come back next year to report on the progress of Lego Technic I?
Hugs,
Geoffrey and Cecily
July 26, 99: I had the best opportunity to visit Shunk again this day with Grandpa Dr and Neela & Ravi on our back from Niagara falls. Joanne & Ken were home with little Thomas and we had a nice surprise. I believe Neela & Ravi enjoyed this place. Saw the new barn & the improved “Adam’s Trail”. Picked a few blue berries. Vijaya & Vinita missed this time. Better lucj next time. This place is getting greater & greater by the year!
Venkatesh & Tata
with Neela & NaRavi
I agree with the above statement a million times. This trip is taking … to the memories of my last trip with my dearest … Goda in April 1996. They were the happiest moments to remember
K…
July 26, 1999
I had just seen the wide roads of America and I was overwhelmed to see the interior part of America and that too a place like Shunk. Thanks to Mr and Mrs Ken for their great hospitality and little Thomas too who entertained me on the piano. But for Venkatesh and Appa who gave us a great chance to go to Niagara falls and Shunk, we would not know how the Americans relax during summer days and hot seasons.
Neela, July 26th 99
From the busy roads we came to the mountain small roads and to the beautiful Shunk and to this beautiful warmth at heart home. The … is wonderful. Words are … to explain it. I want to come back again when Venkatesh and Vijaya … . … … … for ever.
Ravi 26 july 99
AUGUST 8TH: I GOT TO LEARN HOW TO PADDleboat aND CANOE BY MY SELF. 6½ Thomas
I was here. It was great!
Caroline
Aug. 11: Henry & Elizabeth
Henry, as usual, cut logs and split them. Elizabeth and I played music, picked berries, put together food and talked. She tackled the animal puzzle. It was a great visit with these dear old friends.
New birthday song – thanks to Jason & friends
To the tune of Volga Boatman
Chorus
It’s your birthday (pound table)
Happy birthday (pound table)
Now you are the age you are,
Your demise can not be far
Pain & sorrow in the air
people dying everywhere
May the candles on your cake
Burn like cities in your wake
etc, etc. Make up verses
July, 1999: Thomas was learning about ferns. I introduced him to the Interrupted fern, a large clump with easily recognizable characteristics. Several days passed. While walking along Adam’s path we met a clump of these very ferns. I said “Do you remember the name of these particular ferns?”
“Annoyed ferns?”
“No”
Less confidently, “Bothering ferns?”
August 15th: Wow! Did I ever have a great time here in this haven of trees. I was doing many things such as: canoeing, paddleboating, trampolining, swimming, swinging, running, hammocking, sleeping, playing in the sandbox, and walking around the lake.
While i was here, I, of course, ran into some work like: taking out the compost, burning the trash, carrying wood, piano, and other assorted jobs.
I had a great time!
Charlie 10½
Henry Kolm supplement 8/12/99
Henry spent much of his time finishing Ken’s Wheeler biography, and found it very stimulating. So much so, that he might write an autobiography of his own.
August 18-22, 1999: Dick & Sheila Thompson visiting (see alos pp 62-63, 94-95, 142-144)
Wild Flowers
This has been a nother dry summer & number of wild flowers seen was not as great as some previous years.
Aug 19, walk at Devil’s Elbow wildlife area, to visit swamp.
Cotton grass (e…)
Pitcher plants
Round-leaved sundew
Pearly everlasting
Common … thistle ( … )
Growing in flower bed next to house, Tall white … ( … … ): 5 sepals, 6 petals, 6 protruding stamens. Dark green leaves, … .
Whorled wood aster in flower in woods near house.
Aug 21. Discovered several small patches of round leaved sundew growing at Meditation Point, on lake shore about 200m east of the house. Some of these had flower stocks, number of buds ~ 8-12. plants of Devil’s Elbow did not have flower stalks (at least, we did not find any), Also Turtle head ( … … ).
Fishing. Lake ~ 18″ lower than usual. Fishing slow. Caught one bass, about 11½”, on Heddon Baby Torpedo (floater), while out on pedal boat with Joanne
(continued overleaf)
Birds: Cedar Waxwings, flock of about 10, usually seen at east end of lake. Juncos, Brown Creeper, Barn Swallow, Robin’s (carrying food for young, i.e. breeding).
This has been a very pleasant break from my work on inter… book. Very many thanks to Ken & Joanne Dick.
Great to see yo all again and enjoy some warm weather! We eagerly await your visiting us in Charlottesville. Love Sheila
Whereas: Jeremy has recently graduated law school &
Whereas: Shunk is the logical destination for those seeking absolute release
We hereby thank the Fords for a lovely, relaxing weekend & congratulate you on your lovely new barn in which we enjoyed thoroughly restful nights
We hope to be back soon.
Come visit us in Miama in 2000!!
Jeremy & Cathy
Aug 24th 1999: After one month without my little daughter Johanna who had been visiting Barbara, Ian and Masha Ford, it was not only great to be with her on her 9th birthday but even more so in such a delightful place as Shunk. We spent some pleasant days here, surrounded by so many lovely people, enjoying ourselves on the lake, in the woods, … and of course having delicious meals. Much too soon we have to leave, but the airplane won’t wait? Thank you so much for this perfect vacation. We are looking forward to seeing Ken and Joanne in Vienna.
Christina Thank you, Johanna
Christina & Johanna Wicke
Neuwaldeggerstrasse 27-3-8
1170 Wien
Austria
011-43-1-4893524
There’s like a jillion blueberries this year around the duck blind, and that’s after we picked. 1.8 jillion of them already! This was Masha’s first visit and she picked a lot from her backpack. She loved the attention and was rather freaked out a lot of the time, not sleeping much. We saw the cool new bandsaw at the mill, picked apples and made a batch of applesauce, and made the usual feeble attempts to read books. Of historical note is that this year is the first year of conflict between us peace-loving environmentalists and those instant-gratification Republicans with their evil speedboat. I’m neutral by using objective terminology! – Ian
I can’t find enough superlatives to describe the wondrous nature-filled days here. Such an unspoiled spot in the midst of rampant 20th century development is a rare treat indeed. Thanks for all the blueberries and blackberries, the botany lessons (esp. ferns), and the wildlife sightings including porcupines, deer, salamanders, snakes, turkey vultures, cedar waxwing, an eagle of some sort (osprey?), kingfisher, and the most wild sundew. Good air, good food, and most of all, good company. I can’t thank you enough and hope we can return the favor (in a more urban fashion) if you ever come to Chicago and find the sun absent.
Mark Jaeger Kathy Reuter Jacob Reuter Ryan Freerksen
424 N. Harvey Ave, Oak Park IL 60302
Many thanks, I (We) have been blessed by your generous hospitality
… et al
This year Nate is five and Colin is two. Nate can swim a bit. Paul took them out for many paddles. They really loved chasing 13 year old Jacob & Ryan around. We visited World’s End, Paul walked in the bog. We took a cherry … and some stones back & Wendy worked on her laptop. We worked on the puzzle one rainy day. What a wonderful visit!
Just a little weekend visit but what a wonderful time. So much to do & so much time to relax! I got sailing lessons from Jake, Mark & Kathy’s son, & Ken. I also got canoe lessons from Ken. I had the opportunity to write letters, read a book, read for work, climb the famous tree, hike on the loggers path, and take long naps. Can you believe this was just a weekend? I also botanized, collecting grasses to identify back at the lab and I came in second in a very decent game of Scrabble. Thank you so much Ken & Joanne for a lovely little vacation.
Maura Sullivan 29 Aug 1999
September 6, 1999: The trip to Shunk, my first, has been rejuvinating. Canoeing, swimming, paddle-boating, day hiking, night hiking, jumping on the trampoline, “Scattergories” & “Taboo”, – an outlet and opportunity for expansion of every aspect of one’s personality. Saw the lake dance and heard the geese honk. It’s amazing what the world can tell you if you just pay attention. Thank you for sharing the magic of this place.
Trish
Sep 6, 1999: I can’t think of a better place to wake up the morning of my birthday – 3 SEP – than Shunk. I had an absolutely wonderful weekend.
Rebecca Nielsen
9/6/99: My fourth time in Shunk I think, and my wonder at this place has not decreased. If anything, it grows. Just had a wonderful weekend of pies, canoes, board games, card games, and conversation. Met Joanne for the first time. She says this place is her soul. It must be a good soul.
Clinton Johnston
9/6/99: I’m convinced that Shunk should be designated part of the “lethargy zone”! I feel so calm & well rested here. ’Becca & I took a long walk this morning starting on adam’s path & ending up on the “main” path. Met some cool people.
Abby Kay
9/6/99: Second trip to Shunk this summer. Trish got her first visit here, and Rebecca got her millionth visit, and the others were somewhere in between. I expect major life changes for me soon – read ahead.
– Jason
9/6/99: My first trip here in a while. Still beautiful. Love the barn! Thanks to everyone.
– Erica Barbi
10/9/99: What a dream world – beautiful woods, lake, blue blue sky with … of maples. The Baumunk family, the monster machine crew, the lovely walk around the lake, the apple world…. Thank you for this new world! The barn is my biggest envy!! Love & thank you for such overwhelming generosity
…
…. and Trude who enjoyed this wonderful spot for the third time about Columbus Day. Mille, mille, gracia. T.
10/19/99: END OF SEASON
J & K’s last weekend in Shunk was enlivened by the presence of Maura and Jennie, who, in turn, were joined by Pat and Joe.
Modest temperature 40°. Heat in bedrooms and a good fire in the fireplace all weekend. The new porch furniture arrived, but isn’t yet unpacked. Big Sunday task was GETTING READY TO GO – THE ANNUAL SHUT-DOWN.
Looking back, it was a GREAT summer because so many family members and friends and friends of family members were here.
Also it was the summer of two new docks (a paradox), beautifully executed. And a potential big … in lawn. Some big (dead) trees removed.
So, as 5:00 pm on Sunday approaches, we’re off.
Ken (for K & J)