BBQ Dinner

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An entourage of help arrived the Monday before Memorial Day weekend to help us tie up loose ends before officially opening the resort for the season.  We were so blessed by everyone’s hard work and long hours they put in.  There was sanding, painting, power-washing, planting, cleaning, repairing, and lots of laughter that happened between sunrise and when we all fell into bed each night.  We couldn’t have done it without all of the help.

To thank everyone, we hosted a “We Are SO Thankful for You!” barbeque the evening before we opened.   Pictured below are many, but not all, of the wonderful helpers, many of whom have come for many, many years!

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Wild Flowers

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We found these two impressive wild flowers blooming next to each other this week in front of cabin one.  The pink and white flower is an orchid, the Showy Lady Slipper and the purple one is a Blue Flag Iris.

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Spring Green

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The resort is starting to “green up”.  The garden is worked up and ready for planting, Adirondack chairs refinished, and the hydrobikes serviced.  But the carpetball tables are still stacked and knuckleball is still wrapped in its winter garb.  We are getting there!

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First Leaves

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We noticed our first leaves on Thursday.  By today (Saturday), the shoreline is flush with a wash of light green.  Nature has a way of balancing everything out and already we aren’t too far behind normal; a relief for our guests with early summer reservations.

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Hurry Up Spring!

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We are doing what we can to help advance our spring.  Here we are thawing out the shutoff valve to cabin 6.  Another photo shows a snow bank we have pushed over and spread out so it melts faster.  We have heard loons calling as they fly over nearly every morning this week.  They must be finding open water somewhere; but certainly not Boot Lake.

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Winter Bubbles

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Sharing a couple photos from last winter with Michaela and Katherine. It was very cold on this night and these bubbles froze instantly. Notice the ghost image of Katherine in the bubble below. You never know what those two will come up with for fun!

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Sullivan Post. The Dancing Lake

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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.

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First Flush of Leaf Color.

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  We have had plenty of moisture over the last few days. Saturday evening the rain stopped long enough for these lake photos. This was also the first day I noticed the trees starting to leaf out. The popple and tamaracks are the first to “pop” that bright spring green (you can see both in the photo below).  Here are a few of Sarah’s Saturday photos that feature this first flush of green, a cloudy sky, and a dead calm lake.

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Michaela’s Foggy Kayak Trip.

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We pulled the kayaks out of storage a couple of nights ago and early the next morning Michaela (our daughter) was on the lake exploring.  Here is her description of her foggy morning kayak trip on Boot Lake shortly after ice-out.

 When I got up it was dark and foggy, and I had that early morning feeling which comes from getting up at unaccustomed hours.  I walked down to the kayak rack in a mist and a brisk wind. The birds were singing crazily in the trees, as I pushed the kayak into the water. The loons, geese, swans, and ducks were creating music that cannot be made with any human instrument. The fog blanketed the lake and enveloped me, making me feel as if I were part of it. Through the mist appeared a swan, perfectly white and looking as if it should be a picture.  Unfortunately, I was not close enough to get a photo.  Entering a shallow bay I saw a fishing lure; a jitter bug, red and white, hanging suspended in the water.   As the fog lifted I could now see a beautiful drake wood duck swimming under a tree that was dripping with dew.  I was hoping to get close enough for a photo, but the drake had different ideas; he took off with a great show of splashing and calling. I was disappointed, but as I paddled under the tree, three more ducks exploded out of the branches; I nearly jumped out of my shoes.  Realizing I was getting hungry, I decided to pick up my pace and was soon pulling my kayak up on shore.   By Michaela Ahrendt

 

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