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!!
I am so glad you said HI today! So fun to read your blog & meet you! I do love a good Minnesota Summer up north! Your lodge looks HEAVENLY! Whenever we go up north it is always tempting to stay & never go home! So you are very blessed to be able to do that! Your ship park would make my kids weak in the knees...I'd never get them off that :)
ReplyDeleteThanks again for saying HI! I hope to get to know you!!!