2011 Winter Update

Okay...we've seen way too much of this neighbor!  He's Mike...he plows our driveway whenever it needs it...which is several times so far this winter!  And February & March can be the snowiest months of the year in Minnesota!  Ugh!  Mike really does a nice job for us...we just wish we didn't need him anymore.

Winter is long here...and sometimes we look for something exciting to do...this week Steve wanted to take the flag down...he noticed it wasn't flying right, so I thought it would be an adventure to hike through the snow to the flagpole with him!  The dog got so excited when we both stepped outside with our boots on!

There's Steve hiking through the almost thigh-high snow with the dog close behind...and me taking pictures along the journey...

The hook broke...so we had to take it down for awhile...the dog is nearly swallowed by the snow!

I can't remember this much snow on the picnic tables...

The Weber grills look like coneheads in the snow...

Our January has been busy babysitting this little urchin and her brother every Tuesday & Thursday.  Jen took a long-term sub job for 7 weeks and we got the bonus job!  Jillian and Nathan entertain us...and we sleep well after they go home!

Well, sometimes Papa sneaks a nap while they're here...he's growing some "Papa Fur" as Nathan calls it!

And the cabin construction continues.  The cold sub-zero weather last week halted all work for several days.  The wind and -25 to -40 temps just didn't work to try and heat the cabin with portable heaters.

But this week is warmer and the electrician came to hang lighting and Steve & Kurt started hanging cupboards...

Beautiful hickory cupboards!

Lighting in kitchen and dining area...

Ceiling fan and lights in living room & dining area.  That wall is crying for a quilt to hang on it!

Steve's trying to finish the drywall, but it's a little cool for the mud to dry so we can paint...we'll have to wait for a little warmer weather...or get the furnace installed!

Winter is more than half over, isn't it???

Despite Snow...Cabin #7 Getting Done!

      I finally put my boots and winter clothes on and hiked down to the "new" cabin #7.  Wow...I had not walked down there for a couple of weeks...these pictures will show the progress...

Kitchen area...sink will be under window...stove on center of big wall.

Kitchen stove wall to the left...huge wall with log beam...hallway...living room on right.

Lakeside queen bedroom...east side has queen bedroom too...both downstairs.

Stairway before railing added...TV/fireplace will be in right corner of living room.

You can see the bedrooms down the hall...

Standing on first stairway landing looking upstairs...Steve is standing at entry to large bedroom upstairs.

Lakeside window and eastside window of large bedroom upstairs.  Thinking maybe queen bed, full bed, twin bed and futon with TV area upstairs...

lakeside

east side...elfun trail out the window...

Full bath on main level...upstairs will have full tub/shower unit.

Standing on steps, looking at front door of cabin...huge windows for lots of light.

This picture makes the cabin look huge...it's the same size as the old one, but with the cathedral ceiling, it makes the cabin look so much bigger and more spacious!

      We can't wait for all of you to see it!  And now, Mel, you get to stay in it!!!  We're so excited for it to be finished.  The pine inside was pre-finished, so Steve doesn't have to do varnishing all winter!  We're getting really smart in our old age!  Sometimes I wish we were 10 years younger so we could do this life that much longer...it is way too much fun...and all you special people who stay here every year make our job the best! 



We'll see you all soon!  Check back for more pictures as these guys get the job done!  If it ever quits snowing, we might get to start on cabin #6 too!  It's going to get a second story of we get enough work time this spring!!  Stay tuned...and have a great weekend...

Christmas with 9 under 9!!

      Oh my...blessings abounded within the Addler family this Christmas!  We all were able to gather at Max & Sara's house this year for our family gathering around the Christmas tree.  Every year I pray that no one will get sick...and all those littles stayed healthy!  If you're not related to us, you might get a little bored by all the photos, but my sister in Mongolia will appreciate them...so just look and read and experience all the joy that we did watching the miracle of Christmas through our grandchildrens' eyes.

The evening started with the first quiet photo of our newlyweds spending their first Christmas together as a married couple!  The noise level of 9 children might deter them from parenthood for awhile...on the other hand, they're as crazy as the kids and love em all! 

Alicia & John...1st Christmas married 2010...the calm before the storm...

Our attempt to take a picture of all of them...before gifts were opened!

The party begins with Nathan checking out his first package...(it's his very own cordless vacuum)

Greyson & Lucien, both 3, checking out their batwing ships...

A happy Nana sitting with her 3 little girls...with their new babies...they all were mesmerized by the fact that the dolls' eyes opened and closed...

Miss Tate started walking all over a few weeks ago...she's the youngest at 10 months old.

Jill & Monica are 4 months apart and should be best buds...if they can learn to share!

They could pass for twins...almost the same size.

Papa always has someone in his lap waiting for a story...

There's almost always a wrestling match with so many little boys...and big boys too!

Monica cuddling her new baby...

Nathan entertaining Uncle John & Aunt Alicia...(he likes her hair too)

Will, the oldest, entertained us one evening with his magic show...

Our littlest princess posing in her rocker with her Christmas outfit...

Tate's t-shirt says it all..."Happy Birthday Jesus"...

A shout out to our guests...

     I know...I have not posted pictures from our Christmas celebrations with our kids & grandkids...I'll get to that.  Today I just need to share some photos and give a big thanks to our guests, wherever they are...and you know who you are!  But first...winter at Cedar Rapids Lodge...
  

This is the view out my living room window...

A cold blustery day...snow blowing the sidewalk shut...

Tracks in the snow from Steve filling the feeders...the dog going out for a quick trip...squirrel footprints.

Part of the cleared walkway showing the depth of the snow!

      There are now 2 ice fishing houses on the lake...probably more to come.  One has not been used since it was put on in early December, so we hope to be watching when the guy tries to move it...won't be an easy task.  The other house has been used 2-3 times.  Fishing in the winter seems like such a dull sport...but I know there are some die-hards out there who love it.

      Now...onto the important part of this posting today...our faithful guests!  WE LOVE YOU!  We sat here last fall when the phone didn't ring, wondering if we should take our cabin availability off of our website.  We thought that having that option on our website eliminated so many calls that we were unable to chat with prospective guests and convince them to come a different week...well, there's still some thoughts in that area, but only where it concerns brand new, never been here before visitors.  I'm talking about my died in the wool, show up every year, have fun, go home and tell friends about us, repeat guests.  Our phone started ringing at Christmas time, our inbox filled up about that time too. 

      We send out a Christmas newsletter in December that also includes their reservation confirmation, asking them to send their deposit by January 7th if they want their cabin for 2011.  Now, let's get real, we all have guests who we know are coming and they don't respond immediately.  Do you cancel them?  Good grief, no!  You wait a few days after the due date, call or email and remind them.  Well, by the looks of our mailbox the past week, we don't have many guests to call.  They are coming...or they've let me know that they can't make it this year, but they'll be back.  After 24 years in the business, we always hate to lose a guest, but most of the time they skip a year and come back...at least we hope they do.  Am I rambling?  I hope not.  This part of the winter is a make or break time for our business.  We want to know that our guests will be here...we can finish that new cabin and know that it will be filled for the season...plan other projects and know that someone will appreciate the improvements.  Wanna know the best thing we did last year for our guests?   Here it is...

It's the Carpetball Game that Steve built last winter...this game was played with standing room only everyday of the summer...

And all ages enjoyed it!

This added structure was a very close second to carpetball...

A real pirate ship was added to the playground area...

and yes...the grandkids were a deciding factor in building it!

The warm summer days were also spent doing this....

There were several tournaments held and the players loved the water version.

      Well, have we convinced you yet that we run a fun place??  Perhaps the fact that we have a menu and will cook for you if you don't feel like fixing your own food...and 2010 was the first year for this sandwich...

Handmade pork tenderloin...need I say more?

      Have we piqued your curiosity for our vacation place?  If so, check us out HERE.  But do it fast!  Our wonderful guests for 2011 have not left many cabins open for you!  If you check the cabin availability and don't see what you need, just email us or call us.  We'd love to put you on our waiting list...or perhaps we can offer you another week...

      If you've decided that a family vacation is an important part of your family's life...and you like tenderloins...give us a try!  Just be prepared...if you have kids, we're good...we always convince them to bring their parents back every year!

Happy New Year Everyone...Take a Vacation this Year!!