Photos of Deer Lake: Summer 2019

Deer Lake. Second only to Rusk County—and now Garrett County, Maryland—as home of my heart. I cannot write a fraction of what I know of her, but with you I share your beauty, so that maybe you will love her, too.

I traveled there in July with the first six people in this plane. This was my fifth summer visiting, Norlene and Will’s second, and Elizabeth’s third. Trevor, in the red hair and plaid shirt, and Jeff, in the wrinkled forehead and stripes, are the newbies. They are both outdoorsmen who seemed to take naturally to the wide outdoor beauty and relaxed atmosphere of Deer Lake. And no, we don’t know the two photo bombers in the back.

I will give few words in this post. Pictures are really all you need.

Northern strawberries may be tiny, but they are flavor bombs that explode in your mouth.

This little one is kept safe and secure in a tikinagan.

Almost every time we parked a vehicle close to some water, Trevor and Jeff jumped out with fishing poles already in hand. These fish were caught at the dam, at the end of a long rutted road.

We all took turns helping with the cooking.

Dora and Jonny took us fishing and invited us over multiple times for cookouts and brunches and friendship.

Yes, you can fit 9 people in fishing boat with a 30 hp outboard motor!

Inukshuk: a structure of rough stones stacked in the form of a human figure, traditionally used by Inuit people as a landmark or a commemorative sign.

Our inukshuk didn’t approach the shape of a human figure, but a few of us humans had a lot of fun making it. You can watch the time lapse video below. Video credit to Norlene Shirk.

More fishing pictures:

My absolute favorite food in the world is fish, bannock, and potatoes cooked over an open fire on an island in the middle of a huge lake.

When you’re away from home, the neanderthal comes out in everyone, Trevor said. Actually, I just needed a spoon.

This year, I experienced something I’d never before experienced in Deer Lake: smoke from the forest fires 7 miles away. Riding back into town after being out on the water one day, the smoke was so thick it was hard to breathe.

We were worried the children would be evacuated, leaving us without Bible school students, but thankfully, after a few days it cleared off.

We attended the funeral of a young man from Deer Lake. In a Deer Lake graveyard, colorful “houses” takes the place of the headstones we use in the States, though some houses include headstones as well.

Here, we discuss summer Bible school plans with Elaine, our organizer and supervisor.

A video snippet of what it sounds like when a bleacher full of children sing “My God Is so Big!”

We could never have done Bible school without the help of Elaine and her grandchildren. The whole gang of us pictured below.

Tent meetings are a beautiful experience. Drums and guitars boomed over loudspeakers. Gospel songs belted out in nasal country tones. Preachers who teach the Word of the Lord like they mean it. Dancers and shakers and people slain in the Spirit. And if a dog happens to wonder up on stage, he is accepted with laughter and made a part of the service.

Molet, who loves the Lord.

Elizabeth, imitating the call of a loon.

Spirit, with arms raised to sky.

A Sunday afternoon drive to find wildflowers. That’s Dora, Elizabeth, Norlene, and me.

And here is Janet.

Good-bye, Deer Lake!

Lord willing, I will be back.