Traditionally our Sunday night activity is a campfire and kettlecorn. Here George has captured the moment Dave is stirring the popcorn to settle the sugar to the hot bottom of the pot where it will caramelize to a nice light brown color. Some of the popcorn and sugar will overflow the kettle at this point creating this cool yellow flame. We have made as many as 21 batches in a night, enough that everyone has had their fill.
Caryn Sullivan wrote this blog post last week nestled in her lodge room.
The Dancing Lake. June 14, 2012
Yesterday began early. It was sunny and the air was crisp; almost like fall, instead of the end of spring. The sunlight beckoned me, reaching into my cozy room above the lodge.
Boot Lake danced as the sun’s tendrils struck it. It was if thousands of Fourth of July sparklers were bouncing off the water.
The birds greeted the day with their chatter. Occasionally, a loon announced its presence with its mournful song.
As the day wore on sounds of Half Moon Trail guests enjoying the outdoors filled the resort. From the carpet ball game across the way, there were shouts and cheers.
Children splashed in the water, parents calling out to them.
During the night the sound of raindrops penetrated my consciousness as I slept.
Not surprisingly, I awoke hours later than yesterday. There was no sun peeking through the blinds to raise me from my slumber. Instead there are raindrops cascading down my window. The lake is flowing, not dancing.
Forecasters predict strong storms, so it will be an inside play day at Half Moon Trail.
Vacation memories can take many forms. We can relax with a book or engage in indoor competitions with checkers or board games. That’s good for the mind and good for the soul.
The weather hasn’t fazed the birds, though. There is a reason we refer to “early birds.” They greeted the day right on schedule, along with the loons.
Caryn Sullivan has been here for a couple days this week. Here is her blog post written on June 13.
Last summer I invited my friend Kelly to join me for a getaway to Half Moon Trail. Kelly is always up for an adventure, so I expected an unequivocal “yes” response.
Instead, she countered with “Can we bring the boys?”
The boys (my Chuck and her Cooper) are cousins. They have deep brown eyes and soft white hair. They love their play dates more than anything (except, perhaps, their mamas).
They romp and run, pant and nibble each other’s ears for hours.
Then they collapse into exhaustion-induced naps.
Our boys were born in the same litter two years ago. They are English Golden Retrievers who think they have green thumbs.
They dig. And they dig. Often, my backyard looks like a combat zone.
So when Kelly asked if we could bring the boys, I quickly explained the resort has a “no pets” policy. You’ll understand when we get there, I told her.
When we drove into the resort, Kelly understood immediately. The grass is lush and well manicured. The gardens are free of weeds and full of colorful displays of assorted annuals and perennials. The thought of our boys set loose in the expansive green grass, the ferns and the flowers was almost criminal.
A couple of weeks ago Kelly and I were preparing for our daughters’ graduation parties, to be held in our backyards. She texted me, “Cooper just destroyed a flat of impatiens.” I replied, “I counted 15 holes in my backyard.”
Graduation parties behind us, I made a quick trip to my home away from home. Yesterday, I watched the gardeners toil for hours. They painstakingly groomed and tended the flowerbeds. It was a labor of love that will continue throughout the season.
From my perch on the balcony above the lodge, I had a good chuckle this morning. Just below the bird feeders, the ladies with green thumbs had planted impatiens along with begonias, miniature evergreens and hostas.
Good thing the boys are safe at home!
George is here this week, looking for those great opportunities to add to his portfolio. Today I have included several photos from Monday night. He stayed up all night to shoot these impressive images.
This last image was taken at 3:05 AM. The first light of dawn is illuminating the left dock, while the moon is illuminating the dock on the right.
Yesterday Jeff and Sarah Neighbors, and their son Eli(4), checked in for the week. Sarah is one of two professional photographers that trade a Half Moon Trail vacation for resort photos. We feel like “a kid at Christmas” when we see what she has been shooting. In today’s album I have included four of our favorites from last year. (George Pfoertner is an equally gifted photographer and he will be here next week.) Stay tuned for some interesting pictures!
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