Worming my way through a Limekiln Lake fishing excursion

Fishing was such a big part of my daily life in the spring and summer of 1976 that it seems like I spent most of my free time looking for worms.

I suppose more time was expended with the hunt than actually wetting my line and feeding the assortment of maroon and pink wrigglers to the fish population of Limekiln Lake.

Hunting worms took cunning and a little bit of luck as my skills at the time were only slightly honed.

But my knack for the search was growing every day.

Most of my worm quests began at my regular hunting grounds. I searched around the garage, under piles of boards—any place within 200 yards of our house.

I equipped myself with a small, rusty half-moon-shaped worm container that conveniently slipped onto the belt of my pants. I wore the container like an accessory and took it with me everywhere. Continue reading →

Document your Adirondack adventures for generations to come

There are certain moments in a child’s life that remain significant, even though at the time they occurred they did not seem to be such a big deal.

I would like to share some of my most treasured memories with my readers this week.

Most people celebrate major milestones in their family’s lives by writing them down or through photographs documenting first hair cuts, first day of school, birthdays, graduations, confirmations, first dates, etc.

But for kids growing up Adirondack, there may be a whole different set of milestones. Some examples are: the first time you put your head under water at the lake, or dive head-first from the dock. Or the first time you got up on water skis, hiked a mountain, paddled solo, caught a trout, or shot a deer. Continue reading →

Slack line fishing: Great excuse to enjoy quiet time on lake

Spring had finally arrived and along with it came warm, sunny days that were perfect for after-school slack line fishing. Most of my afternoons were spent at my favorite fishing spot—a flat boathouse deck at Limekiln Lake.

On one particular day in 1976 my dog Mutt and I had found enough good-sized worms under an old wooden boat to fill my worm container.

Mutt was my lookout as I pulled up and rolled over rotting wood planks that I am sure made for a sturdy hull some 30 years prior.

Burrowed underneath in the darkness was a world of beetles, bugs, centipedes and worms that until now lived untouched. Continue reading →

Drawing on imagination to pass time on a warm spring day

It was April and except for a few piles on the side of the garage, the snow in our yard was finally gone. The grass was still asleep but you could smell the earth coming to life underneath.

I sat on the porch wearing a sweatshirt and enjoying the warmth of the sun that drifted across my legs.

My sister was sitting beside me lacing up her sneakers. She had gotten a box of chalk for Easter and with my assistance, had a plan to draw great murals on our asphalt driveway.

As nine- and ten-year-olds, we could fill just about an entire day engaging in a project such as this.

Out in the garage I found a push broom and my sister directed me to the area she wanted cleared of sand and stones so we could begin working. Continue reading →

Hopping from one seasonal adventure to another with spring’s return

It was late April of 1975 and I was anxiously waiting for the ice to go out on the lake. I was anticipating the opportunity to drop a bobber off the Foster’s dock and enjoy my first real open water fishing of the season.

I decided to make my way through the woods to the lake to check on the ice situation.

It would have been easier for me to take a more direct path on the road, but I found it to be more fun and challenging to hike in the woods.

Scraps of snow were scattered throughout the forest floor and I tested myself by traveling strictly on top of them.

I used a five-foot-long stick to help vault myself from the patches placed too far apart for me to hop only by the power of my Converse sneakers.

I found a good-sized zigzagging scrap of snow to start with that led me pretty far into the woods.

I crunched along seeking other snowy remains that appeared like small white islands amidst the sea of forest floor. Continue reading →

Childhood drawing exercises bring local characters to life

When I was growing up, I would practice my drawing skills by sketching the faces of the many visitors who stopped by our house before entering into the woods.

There were hunters and fishermen with their half-shaven chins and creased skin.

And then there were the charming and smiling summer cottage owners with sunburned cheeks sharing the news of their day around the lake.

Drawing faces was one of the largest challenges for me as a budding artist.

I wrestled to get eyes and noses set just right to capture these people and bring them to life.

Every face was so unique— there was never a line that was the same to recreate. As a twelve year old, I honed my skills using crayon, pencil and pen.

I secretly worked on sketching portraits in the privacy of my bedroom, scratching out and erasing line after line until the faces seemed to come to life. The exercise took up a good portion of April’s mud season. Continue reading →

Don’t sling mud at the season of renewal and reflection

My significant other reminds me daily of the ability of people to be mindful. From the time I was a young boy I have been mindful and present of all the activities I have been involved with.

I was a good listener and loved to look, smell and touch everything in the woods around my Limekiln Lake home.

In early April of 1975, I witnessed the woods around my house come to life.

I was ever so mindful of this change of season—the smells of the Spruce floating over soft springs of melting snow, the rushing sound of a rivulet stream gurgling with melted off winter, and the warmth of sun on my face.

It was tough-going as I plunged deep into the woods through the foot of soft snow left lingering on the forest floor of Seventh Lake Mountain.

With every step another trickle of sweat ran down the back of my neck.

It appeared that my dog Mutt was just as mindful as I of the smells in the air and the sounds of the forest as she stopped every twenty yards to perk up her ears and nose.

Along the way we found a great boulder that was dripping wet and shiny on all sides. I walked all the way around the mammoth rock looking for a spot I could climb.

The mosses that had been covered by winter snows were starting to peak out along the edges of the downturned surfaces. Continue reading →