And now....where did July go?

      My last post was written 3 weeks ago...I couldn't believe it was July already...and now it's August!  Wow, owning a resort really makes the time go way too fast!  You work all spring to get things ready for the guests...and in a blink of an eye, summer is over.  I think that has something to do with my age!  Not that I'm old or anything....60 is the new 50, right? Hmmm....okay....
      We're more than halfway through our busy summer of 13 cabins filled with families vacationing...July is our busiest month for various reasons...we have the most kids here...our kids and grandkids all come to visit throughout the month....and we try to get our work done early in the morning and late at night so we have time to play all day!  Here's a photo journal of all that play!
   

We got to see these boys play baseball a time or 2 this summer...

Papa worked on this....a grandkids' request...

And it is a hit with all the kids!

All the kids and grandkids were here during the month of July...

Yes, we made John & Alicia pose for a photo with us!

Calvin got his wish to go fishing with Uncle John & Aunt Alicia...snacks included!

Sam & Roz, Ben, Lucien, Monica & Olivia with Papa & Nana...

Marc & Jen, Calvin, Nathan & Jill with the parents/grandparents!

And here's Sara, Max, Will, Greyson & Tate with us!

We are so blessed!  Our grandkids have so much fun here...

Tea Party poolside...

Baby Olivia had so many new tricks to show us!

Jilly & Monica at the beach...

The chipmunk trapping crew....

Frog-catching in a dress!

Formal attire for the sand pile!

Cousins posing on the critter bench...

Will with his catch off the dock!

Nathan swimming under water with his glasses on...and never losing them!

Even with grandkids here, the resort is also full of cousins, friends, guests...having fun...

Four generations...and William's first trip to CRLodge!

An afternoon of a "jelly roll race" with my cousin and her daughter...

and here's the finished quilt tops!  We had such fun making them!

A pile of sand provides great fun, taking turns burying each other...it was Eva's turn!

Here is our first pinterest project...well, Papa's first project...and it was well-received...

A car wash!  Well, it's a great "kid wash" too!  We found great directions HERE. 

Papa was such a good sport to spend his half day building it!  Thanks, Papa!

When Will, 9, arrived at the resort a week ago, he told me he was going to have his birthday at the resort...

then he forgot all about it(his birthday isn't until later in August)...so we all surprised him with a birthday

dinner the night before they left...and he was very excited...when you're going to be 10, multiple birthdays are the best!

Gee, what could possibly be more exciting in the month of August?? 

Stay tuned...

Is it really JULY??

      It is true....the older you get, the faster time flies!  We've been learning this resort business for 25 years...I think we are finally getting it figured out!  Our most recent genius idea...

Put those grandchildren to work!!  They don't come cheap, but when they're young, boy, do they think it's fun to work at the resort!  Calvin came on a Saturday morning with his Mom and brought his trimmer...hey, watch what you're doing there, buddy!  Love that smile when he's hard at work!

Summer doesn't allow me much time for my favorite pastime....sewing....but when this little girl walked in with her fabric...I had to sit down and sew...and she was so excited for her new "Tangled" dress!

Now to find 2 more pieces for her cousins who will want one too!

Fishing has continued to be an active sport at the resort, even in July....here's some of the famous fishermen...

Austen caught this nice northern last week.....

And his cousin, Brady, caught this beautiful bass...

Patrick caught the biggest fish of his life...a 22" walleye!  Keep fishing, Pat...there's bigger ones where that came from!

There was alot of excitement on the 4th of July....

These kids assembled for a patriotic photo op....and then....

they marched down the lane for all the guests...and through the Elfun Trail...with their fancy instruments of spoons and pan lids....it was very exciting and hopefully a tradition to continue next year!

Our Monday night potlucks are about half way through the season....this week was one of the fullest tables we've had all summer!  Lots of great food and conversation...and desserts...

Oh yes...the resort lady makes pies every week for potluck dessert...this week it was...

Butterscotch Pie....

Rhubarb Crunch...

Caramel Apple Pie...

Cherry Pie....

and the ever-popular...Chocolate Creme Pie!

Oh...and don't forget...

Warm from the oven bread with real butter!

Do we just sound too good to be true?  Well, check out this sunset...

Just a little bit of Heaven on earth....we are blessed!

Happy July! 



Sum..Sum...Summertime!

    The warm weather has hit northern Minnesota!  Our resort is in full swing...the vacationers are enjoying the beautiful sunny days and cool nights.  Fishing continues to be a hit...

Dick caught this beautiful bass in early June....and...

here's just two of the many walleyes he and his wife caught...

We have a new "straight" flagpole in the yard by the pool.  Everyone depends on the wind direction for fishing, walking, golf, etc...and the flag gives us all that information...and shows our patriotic side!

The mama ducks & baby ducks are back...and the kids delight in watching them waddle through the yard...

This is a nest of killdeer eggs in the middle of the yard behind the pool...Steve hasn't mowed there for over 3 weeks, waiting for them to hatch...and...

this is the mama or papa bird...they fake a broken wing to divert you from the nest...pretty clever!

This is the Gallagher siblings with their kids & grandkids...theyve been coming in June for many years!

Do you know what happens if you have your birthday on vacation?

You get ice cream for breakfast!  Happy Birthday, Nate! 

An example of a perfect summer afternoon at the lake...fishing, swimming, tubing, kayaking...or just watching the action and enjoying the day!

And this little girl thinks her Nana & Papa live at the best resort in the world!!  She lives in her watermelon swimsuit with her "Tangled" towel close by...life just doesn't get better than this!

This & That....

      WE ARE FAMOUS!  Our beach photo made the front page of the Star Tribune Travel Section of last Sunday's paper!  Our daughter-in-law, Sara, took the photo and it's a classic...

A sunny summer day at the beach, overlooking Medicine Lake.

      The pool is open and last weekend's heat made it a popular attraction at the resort...

Jen & Jillian try out the new tubes for the beach....in the pool!  They're a hit!

      The kitchen is busy with the food menu....here's a sampling of the pizza...

Yum!  One of many kinds...this is "The Lodge"...

      The "Elfun Trail" is alive again with all the elves and critters, waiting to be found by all the kids at the resort.  There are 3 different trails through the woods, populated by several different animals and gnomes....

Look close...some are hard to find!

This band is a quiet one...need to figure out how to pipe music through them!

Our "famous" resort has some beautiful cabins open starting August 11th and later in the summer.

Let us know if we can provide you with wonderful memories!

The loons are calling...



The fish are biting....and the resort grandkids!

May proved to be a wonderful month for fishing.  Lots of big walleyes were caught and released...this one lost his battle...

Kris caught this 29.5" walleye and took it home to mount!

This was Hayden's first boat ride...and wow, he's eyeing the big walleye caught & released!

Evelyn was one of our first fisherpersons...with a big northern!

I got to go to my first dance recital for a granddaughter!

Jillian (Belle) poses with Mommy & Daddy and her flowers!  Such fun!

Grandpa John & Sam went fishing together...Grandpa outfishes everyone at 91!!

Papa fishing off the dock with 3 of the grandsons...

The beauty of a freshly mowed lawn, raked beach and fishermen on a peaceful evening.

The first bonfire of the season...roasting marshmallows for s'mores!

These 2 ladies found Grandma the Great's fancy jewelry...and smiled with all their jewels!

Nathan wants you to know that the new Scooper Hero ice cream is pretty good!

Come try some...soon...before he eats it all!