Maybe not a new book for most, but wonderful collection short stories by Justine Kerfoot a long time resident of the Gunflint Trail and owner of Gunflint Lodge. Many of the stories were published in the Cook Co Herald, but a few were not. Many are snap shots of the lives of those who vacation or called northern Minnesota home. Some stories are of the native people that Justine learned many valuable lessons from. Justine's charming and folksy style of writing reminded me of Garrison Keillor.

I agree, a very good book.

Also, from the same author, "Woman of the boundary waters" is an excellent read. Justine relates some of her earliest experiences (learning the ropes)up on the trail.

yes, i like justine kerfoot's stories! man, if i could've shadowed her....

a bit of nostalgia

i was blessed to know Justine for 13 years prior to her passing in 2001. She was truly a remarkable person, as were the majority of folks who struggled to make a life on the gunflint trail way back when.

now, i'm helping her son, Bruce (74) and his wife Sue pack up their house on gunflint lake to move to a cabin on Tucker lake, just 5 miles away. We've been weeding through boxes of photos, newspapers, sketches... oh, if you only could see what i've seen in those boxes! photos ranging from Justine's christening to her obituary, every single gunflint gossip penned by hand, every article she wrote for the News Herald, letters, journals, and of course photos of huge fish, deer, and all sorts of crazy shenanigans they employed to get the work done (one photo was of a young deer in harness! to pull a tobaggan of wood).

i'm hoping to scan or photograph many of these during the unpacking phase in late March and early April.

Justine was a real charachter, a practical joker, and had a constant sparkle in her eyes. i really miss her.

I'm looking forward to whatever images you can share, Mocha. Having scanned over 2,600 images from letters Mom and Dad send back and forth during WWII, I know that it's a daunting, but rewarding, project.

I loved both of her books. Great books to bring on a canoe trip.