We’re grateful to Lynne Ann Johnson for sending us a poem she wrote while staying in our French Country Cottage. It’s a joy to us to live in and share a place that inspires poetry. Here’s what she wrote:

This is How I Know

 Lodge medicine grows at the front door.

I find feathers while walking Rural roads.

And when I return from sharing silence

with a single sandhill crane atMarlLake

I’m handed a stalk of asparagus

fresh from the garden

that Robert washes in artesian spring water

flowing from a pipe over the trough

orange with native iron and

feeding back onto fertile earth

and into a little cattail marsh.

I am on home ground.

And here is Deb at the door saying, “Stay.”

Like Lou and Peter Berryman’s song without verbs – lists that go on and on…  we’ll let you in on the wonderful array of prairie flowers: Lupine, Spiderwort, Compassplant, Goldenrod, Joe Pye Weed, Coneflower, Black Eyed Susan, Brown Eyed Susan, Lavender Hyssop, Leadplant, Columbine, Milkweed, Butterfly Weed, Asters, White False Indigo, New Jersey Tea, Coreopsis, Penstemon. This morning our friend, Lynn, came over to help rid the prairie of spotted knapweed – this will take a while!

Purple Penstemon flourishing in our prairie restoration

We’re just thrilled to host Lou and Peter Berryman tomorrow in our historic (1870’s) Granary. We’ve got a full house in advance tickets – lots of Lou and Peter fans here! Robert and I heard them in Madison before we were married and Robert went to hear them with friends the night before our wedding! They are such fun with their original songs and gentle humor. We’re grateful for the chance to have others enjoy them here. Today my mom is coming over to help make some pies to serve as refreshments… we have lots of rhubarb in our garden and she makes the best – yum!

On Memorial Day a bunch of friends came over to help re-install our labyrinth in the short grass prairie. Late in the afternoon the weather looked like rain. Robert had made all the plans and preparations and when everyone came we took our places – each 8 feet apart on a rope connected to and rotating around the center. Robert called out when we were to walk forward then stop and plant a flag to mark the outer edge of the seven circuits. We had a marvelous time even though it began to rain as we were in the middle of it but we persevered and finished this step of the process. Together we ran to the sheep barn and waited for the heaviest of the downpour to subside. Then we went into the house and had a scrumptious celebratory dinner.

This indigo bunting, below the goldfinch, was photographed here last year by a guest - what a beauty!

Our guests pointed out the indigo bunting at the thistle seed feeder yesterday morning.  Such an amazing blue! Last year we saw indigo buntings for a week so I hope we have them a bit longer – haven’t seen it today but I wasn’t looking for it. As Robert and I ate in the gazebo we saw both male and female grosbeaks – I just love them and we usually have them all summer. Such a startling red on the male’s throat. The female has what looks like white eyeliner! We were overjoyed to see a flicker really chowing down on the peanut and suet feeders. That is such a large and beautiful bird. We sat there enjoying lunch overlooking the Crystal River and once again said, “Such a joy to see . . .  And we live here!”

This was a spectacular day for wildlife here at the Crystal River Inn. First guests sitting on the screened in porch came ever so gently to tell us to come and see a marvelous thing – a snapping turtle was laying her eggs in our garden! What an amazing thing to see. From our book on Wisconsin Reptiles we learned they can lay up to 30 eggs (just once a year) and in 60-130 days they hatch and make their way to the water. We’ll cover the spot with chicken wire and keep a watchful eye on them.

Mama Snapping Turtle planting her eggs in our garden by the wild onions!

Thanks to my Dad who worked with us all day yesterday, we’ve finished the ramp and landing to the deck we’re adding to the south side of Little House on the Prairie. We have yet to put up the railings but we each walked on it

The ramp will be the primary access - into the living room of the Little House.

and it’s good!

This morning as I sat at the picture window overlooking the Crystal River two families of Canadian Geese were waddling toward the Inn. Four adults and a bunch of goslings – what a sight! I had to get a closer view so I walked out the front door on the  stone path to the road. They slowly turned and began ambling east down the road. This sight would put a smile on anyone’s face! I stood for a few minutes taking in the fresh morning air, the tapping of a woodpecker finding breakfast, the singing of many songbirds. Such a refreshing way to begin the day.

As they approached the bridge they slowly turned right and went down to the river.

We’ve begun in earnest the construction on the south side of the Little House on the Prairie – making a wheelchair accessible ramp and 14×8 covered and screened in deck. We’ve been wanting to do this for a long time and now we’re doing it ourselves! We’ve got some significant help from Terry Achten, Hammer City Carpentry, and his crew and friend, Florent who came last weekend to help make the holes for the posts.  After we complete the ground level Terry and Co will do the roof and other framing.  We’re really excited about our progress!

Here's Deb after setting the last of the posts (in 4 ft holes).