You Won't Believe This!

      Some Minnesota resort owners are skeptical when this truck shows up at your resort....

      We were excited when they arrived today...with several tanks of fish on their truck and trailer!  Our lake gets stocked with walleyes every other year...and this fall we had gotten one truckload of walleyes...but only 90 pounds.....today, we got 560 pounds....and wow, these fish were huge!  Check it out....

      We just stood in awe as the fish started "flying" out of the tanks...look at their size!

This is Gary...our neighbor who works at Fisheries in Bemidji...can you see the giant fish in the water?

We've never gotten walleye stocked that are this size...they have a fighting chance over the winter!

The fish were almost too big for the hole and had to be pushed out from inside the tank!

The Lodgemaster holding up a whopper!  Heck, we can't catch a walleye that big!!

So....do you have a reservation for next summer at Cedar Rapids Lodge?  If not....you're going to miss out on all this great walleye fishing next year!  Look us up...we'd love to have you come and stay with us!  I think even Steve and I will be able to catch a walleye in 2013!

September Musings...October Already??

       The resort is closed....I should have more time to blog...but I seem to find other things to fill my days!  I spent about 2 1/2 weeks washing 48 quilts, blankets and mattress pads!  They are all bagged and back in each cabin for the winter sleep...until next April when we start to get ready for the 2013 season....our 26th year living this wonderful life in northern Minnesota!

       Now that we're closed, we find time for our grandkids, our kids, our church family and ourselves.  Here's a pictoral journey of our last several weeks....

We have time to watch grandson, Calvin, play his first season of tackle football as a 3rd grader!

We welcome visits from our youngest grandchild, Olivia, and her family!

      We have worked hard at our church the last 3 years, raising funds to add on to our building and remodel the existing building.  We held a dedication for the finished work and offered a meal for the community as a thanks for all the volunteer help we received from our church family and other church families in our small town. 

Our existing sanctuary...the only part that didn't need to be remodeled!

Our church hall...not yet remodeled...set up for the dedication meal.

Scott, Dan, Steve and Mary Lea preparing for the dinner crowd.

Our much-needed new bathrooms!

Yummy cheesecake served during the Dedication and Open House.

      Fall continued with time to take lots of walks through the woods, enjoying the peace and quiet.  This picture is for my sister-in-law, who loves her squirrels...this little guy was staring us down as we left for our walk one afternoon...

Red squirrel on cabin #1's roof.

      My passion(besides grandchildren) is sewing and quilting.  Put those passions together and you've got a 3 year old who is dying to sew with her Nana. 

So...we set up the little Janome one afternoon and Jilly was tickled pink to start sewing!

She has this love for minkee fabric...so she wanted to make a sleeping bag for her doll...

Perfect fit....and hopefully the beginning of her love of sewing...with her Nana!

And the love a Nana has for teaching these little ones to sew!

      So that's a look at what we've been up to this fall....we hope to finish some of our fall projects....and make our list of to-do's for the winter and next spring.  We'll replace some carpeting, remodel kitchens and keep some surprises for our guests to see when they arrive next summer! 

      I'll end with a beautiful moon over the resort this fall...

Baby Walleye Deliveries....and praying for rain!

     2012 is an even year...and every even year we get a stock of walleyes in the lake!  This year, the delivery is being made over several weeks.  The walleyes are arriving as the guys are able to harvest them from other ponds and lakes and get them to us.  We hope to get 600 pounds of walleyes before fall is over...10 walleyes to the pound, so 6000 baby walleyes to grow and produce the awesome walleyes that our lake is becoming known for!  Here's the process:

The DNR Fisheries guys arrive to deliver the fish...

Our quota is determined...the blue hose is hooked up and...

see those cute fish arriving at their new home??

A close up of a pound of walleyes...

We had a short guest that day who got to watch the delivery...she was so impressed!

On another fall note...the skies & trees are breathtaking this time of year...

I can't stop taking pictures of the views!

The new flag post is awesome against the fall skies!

This is our neighbor's yard just a mile south...hope he realizes the beauty!

Now...a plea...for prayers for rain for our lake.  We are dry, but not as bad as several years ago.  We know the lake will come back, but the lack of rain provides an interesting view of the shoreline...

Needless to say, the paddleboats are "grounded" for the year!

Have a blessed fall...and consider a fall vacation in 2013...you'll get to see the peace & quiet that fall is!

Is It Fall Already??

       Is summer really over?  That hot, dry summer when we waited for rain that just never came...but it was also the summer of some of the best fishing we've ever had on Medicine Lake!  Week after week...big northerns, walleyes, bass...and the crappies & bluegills never quit biting.  The families are gone...the fishermen & fisherwomen are still here...and the fish are still biting!

       If you come to the northwoods now...you will see this...

The trees are about a week away from full color...it's beautiful.

And the sunsets...

Wow...awesome sunsets and even the northern lights have been performing for us.

I've been doing this again....

I froze over 65 quart bags of corn for all my little ones...and their families!

We've been busy with various happenings....

Still making our famous pizzas for our guests...and ourselves!

The Rupp family pose for a famous "Rupp" photo in the lodge...representing the 4th & 5th generation of their family vacationing at Cedar Rapids Lodge!

I was so excited to go to Calvin's piano recital and watch him perform!

Our guests are still catching fish!  Tom shows his nice northern...

Patsy and her 23" walleye...

Arlen & Jesse with their day's catch last week!

Mem & Patsy are all smiles in their favorite boat....catching & releasing fish every day for 3+ weeks!

The pool provided lots of fun this summer...even Betsy got in!  Now we're closing it for the winter...

And....

if this guy's actions are any indication of the winter ahead...yikes!  He is scurrying all over

the resort, gathering acorns, pinecones and corn...stashing it for what is to come!

We watched 5 different kits flying at the resort on a windy day...

We enjoyed this peaceful spot right outside our kitchen door! 

I had a fun visit with Libbie, a fellow blogger from

Middlest Sister.  We had never met and had a wonderful

2 days of chatting and getting to know each other!

We will soon trek through the Elfun Trail and gather all these guys and put them

away for the winter...and get them back out in the spring...for all the kids

and Grandmas to find again as they walk through the woods!

       We've been at this job for 25 years...wow, I can't believe it's been that long!  We still love the life and hope that we can continue this "best job in the world" for many more years!  If you need a vacation, check us out on our website and let us help you have the best family vacation ever!



Enjoy this beautiful fall...and take time to go fishing!  I know we will!

My Granola Recipe

       I found this awesome recipe for granola, but it was just too many calories!  So....I tweaked it...made it...tweaked it again...and now have this recipe that is to die for!  Give it a try...



HOMEMADE GRANOLA

5 cups old-fashioned oats

1 cup chopped pecans

1 cup coconut

1/4 cup canola oil

1 can fat-free sweetened condensed milk

Mix all ingredients together & spread on greased baking sheet.

Bake at 300* for 45-55 minutes, stirring every 15 minutes.

Mixture will bake to a dark brown crisp.

Cool completely; store in airtight container

1/4 cup = 100 calories

If you double the recipe, you can use the large canister of oatmeal...it works!

Here's the ingredients.....I have left out the wheat germ in the revised recipe...above!

After baking to a crispy browned color...

I usually make a double batch at a time...my girls really like this stuff!

This one's in my cupboard right now...come quick!

It is the best for breakfast with almond milk....or as a late-night snack!



Prayers...and Linking Up...

      So....today I am linking up to the Krull Family blog.  She is linking to people's favorite summer spots...and I had to feature ours!  I found Kate's blog through my daughter a couple of years ago...she writes so well and shares her faith in God....even when her daughter is struck with cancer.  She takes you on their journey while she shares how God has been there for them every step of the way. 
      Now for our story for those of you visiting from 3 Kids, a Minivan and a Mortgage

      Yes, my job is at my vacation spot...well, it's a place where families come year after year to spend a week together, making memories to last a lifetime.  My husband tells me we're on vacation everyday!  I growl at that comment sometimes, but I also know that we have a really fun job!  We cater to kids and families all summer long, providing entertainment everyday to keep kids occupied...young and old kids!
      We are winding down the 2012 summer season and the resort will shut down in October...until next spring when families come back for a much-needed vacation.  We will make a list of "to-do's" for the cabins this fall and spend part of the winter completing projects.  We will relax and re-energize for the 2013 season....and the cycle continues. 
      This job is a gift and we don't take it for granted.  Yes, we work hard some days, but we get to play alot!  A big thanks to all of our guests and their families for keeping us busy and making our job such a fun one!

      And....if your family is looking for a memorable vacation, check us out!  Here's the link to our resort.  We are blessed with wonderful business, but we always have room for more families and more memories!

Celebrating 25 years this summer!

Happy Birthday, Wrigley!

      When you're a dog and your owners live at a resort...as a dog, you're probably as close to heaven on earth as you can get!  Wrigley, our resort dog, celebrates her 8th birthday this week.  She has seen lots of snow, new cabins, new grandbabies and new guests!  She's persevered lots of attention...and sought out her own friends each week at the resort.  Here's to you, Wrigley...

She willingly entertains the resort kids...

She entertains a visiting "friend"...

She quickly knows which cabin residents are dog-lovers and pleads with her eyes!

She does her "can you touch your nose with your tongue" trick for anyone who asks!

She follows her owner to the flagpole...in the winter...in dog-deep snow!

She perks up and listens when you tell her John is coming to visit!

And finally, she gets her yearly bowl of strawberry ice cream for her birthday!

(This post is for Wrigley's Aunt Nancy...they love each other!)