Notebook
August 23rd, 2024 by Gary Osberg

In case you missed me, I was at “the cabin” last week.  In 1981, my younger brother Brian and his wife Jean Marie purchased a lot on a lake up north.  It was “Lot 1” of the development and the first lot that was sold. The lake is a small “natural environmental” lake with Rainbow Trout.  They built a beautiful log cabin in 1989.  I have been spending the third week of August there for many years.  My old friend Bob from Des Moines would have celebrated his 80th birthday on the 17th.  Many years Bob and his girlfriend or wife would join me, and we would always go to town for a Dairy Queen cake to celebrate his birthday.  We lost Bob a couple of years ago.

In 2018, after breakfast at the Birch Café in town, I took a ride around the lake, and I spotted a “For Sale – Waterfront” sign on the south end.  I called the real estate agent, and we met at the cabin.  I signed a purchase agreement and after Ron left, I went back to walk the lot.  It was 2 ½ acres of solid oak and maple. I had to climb over a lot of fallen logs to get down to the lake.  “Lot 11” was the last lot that had been owned by the Healy family.  Grandpa Healy once owned the entire lake.  Doctor Josephine Ruiz-Healy, a pediatric surgeon who lives in San Antonio Texas flew up for the closing.  

After obtaining a lot of permits and carving out a spot in the middle of the lot that met all the criteria for building on a “Natural Environmental Lake”, there soon will be a “Tiny Cabin” on Lot 11. 

This Sunday, the annual Millstream Arts Festival will come to downtown St. Joseph. The festival is a free event held from 11 am until 5 in the afternoon.  The arts-and-crafts exhibition will include a staggering variety of work.   Outdoor entertainment will be provided by Minneapolis jazz singer Leslie Vincent , AJ Spoff and Chico Chavez.  I hope to see you there.

“The easy bus never comes around.  Learn how to handle hard better.”  Kara Lawson Basketball Coach Duke University.

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