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05/25/10
It's really not new news to us, but it's official Ely MN is recognized as the Coolest Small Town in America! Get the full details on the Northern Lights Lodge Blog.

05/21/10
I realize that I have been a bit tardy with my Journal entries this past month BUT it has been a very busy month. With the weather as NICE as it is, you might think that we are taking it easy and working on an early summer tan! Not quite, aside from the normal routine of getting the 5 seasonal cabins opened and ready for the summer season, spring cleaning the other 7 cabins/suites, two septic systems were replaced/upgraded, we're lining up my summer staffing, JR graduates at the end of the month, we've gotten him enrolled in college for the fall semester, Gary has had surgery and will be home recovering another week or so (nothing serious) and we are getting JR scheduled for surgery in early June (again, nothing serious). Nothing like getting everything done at once.

On a much more exciting note the moose have been very active with 3 recent sitings (more details and pictures on my Blog), I've had a few wolf encounters coming and going from Ely, the duck's eggs have hatched (I've heard them, seen them yet) but Bonnie and Liz told me yesterday that there are 7 ducklings, the loons are nesting and the resident Blue Heron is back at the sand bar.

The Fishing Opener has come and gone--as we enter our 11th summer this was certainly the warmest one ever! The forecast has upper 80 degrees in it for next week. This weather has certainly made for some unusual fishing this spring. However, our guests appear to be up to the challenge as they catching bass, walleye, northern and crappies.

JR was actually in the water with the girls yesterday afternoon helping me clean a fallen tree and there wasn't one complaint. This keeps up, we'll be setting up the Bongo soon.

04/17/10
The past 48 hours we have been battered by very strong winds but all is calm now. The near perfect silence of the early morning hours brought the announcement of our resident loons return home to the lake! I was thrilled to hear them out on the water. For me, the first call of the loons marks the official arrival of spring. Last season, Bear Island Lake resident, G. Cooper, shared a snapshot of one our loons nesting.

04/05/10
The last two mornings at 2am I was jolted awake by the sound of an alarm, or at least I thought it was an alarm until all remnants of sleep fell away. I couldn't identify the sound, but quickly realized that it wasn't a mechanical noise, but rather the vocals of our resident wildlife. I couldn't identify the sound, so on Sunday I did a little research and learned that this nocturnal visitors was a Northern Saw-whet Owl.

This owl may be small in size, but its call is loud and strong sounding like a series of whistled toots. The Northern Saw-whet Owl can be found roosting during the winter in small, dense conifer trees. Its defense upon discovery is to sit still and not fly, giving the perception that they are "tame."

Around 9:30pm Sunday tonight, I walked outside with Pepper and was delighted to hear that the owl had returned! It didn't sound very far away so I grabbed a flashlight and set out to see if I could find our visitor--now that I knew what I was looking for! Owls are fascinating creatures, partially because they are so elusive and the fact that they are out at night gives them almost a mythical quality. Well, it didn't take too long because the Saw-whet sounded like it was just steps away from the Lodge, near the playground. I knew I was on the right path as the calling was just overhead so I on the light and as I passed through the second pine tree, there it was, about 25' feet up the tree and literally no bigger than my hand. I kept the direct light off of the owl, and it stayed perched and and continued its calling. After observing the owl for a little while longer, I turned off my light and headed back to the Lodge. As I departed, so did the Saw-whet as I could hear its wings just over head.

03/28/10
Early Ice Out Forecast for Bear Island Lake! Here on Bear Island Lake our "typical" spring ice out occurs around April 17th. If the current weather patterns hold and we see a bit of wind and rain I would expect to see ice out right around April 1st this year. Earlier today I was out and about with Daisy and Pepper and the back bay is pretty much open and Daisy made here way all the way around to the sand bar at the beach. Looking out onto the rest of the lake you can see that there are broken sheets of black ice floating. The lack of snow this past winter is evident as you look along the shoreline because the lake is currently at about mid-August levels. Granted, there will still be some melting snow run off, but a bit of rain once the frost is out of the ground would be a good thing.

The back bay is filling with Mergansers and other fowl. Typically, these arrive about two weeks in front of the Loons. Spring is never officially here for me until I hear the Loons again. I'm wondering if the water levels will have much of an impact on the wood frogs in pond. There certainly isn't any water to speak of there right now. Another sure sign of spring is the burst of the Pussy Willows and they seem to be every where this year.

03/12/10
Earlier this week I had a bit of "fun" with a couple of Pileated Wood Peckers. Get the story and see pictures on the Blog!

03/08/10
I know that March and April often bring us snow, but it sure does feel like spring. The 10-day forecast seems to promise more of these blue sky days and temps near/at 50 degrees. Winter is officially over for me and I am into my spring mode. Granted, we are pretty limited on what we can accomplish outside, but the mind set has happened. It would be a bonus to actually have a SPRING season this year since 2009 was definitely slow to arrive. Each fall, as I am closing down the cabins I put together a project list for each cabin--now those lists have been pulled out and dusted off.

JR has been accepted into an Engineering program here in Minnesota. Graduation is just around the corner and he seems eager to start the next phase of his life.

Guests were recently treated to a moose siting right here at the resort early one Sunday morning!

The Pileated Woodpeckers and Gray Jays seem to be everywhere. The drumming of the Pileated's is almost constant as they start to prepare their nests.

02/24/10
This feels like it will be a very short winter. This winter we have fallen drastically short of the area's average of 85" of snow with actual accumulation at less than 20". None the less, we made the most of it and I never even had a chance to break in that new snow shovel.

A personal farewell: I recently lost my Grandfather. We were fortunate to have been able to have him spend time with us here at the resort. He loved the outdoors and loved fishing. It was Grandpa who taught us all how to fish when we were kids. Every summer they would take one of us "up north" fishing for a week or two. Grandpa and Grandpa are the ones who first showed me this beautiful part of the country way back when I was a teen. Grandpa would often say "If God has put me on this earth to accomplish a certain number of things. At this point, I'll never die." At 90, I hope that he was able to accomplish everything.

There has not been much wolf activity this winter, but last week I noticed wolf tracks all around the truck and shop.

01/25/10
I've waited all year for this! Here it is: SNOW worth mentioning has finally arrived and continues to fall. It really does look like winter now. It's hard to measure but there appears to be about 8+" of fluffy wet beautiful snow and it's still coming down! Our winter storm warning continues and that's just fine with me. It's snowman snow for sure and before the sun comes out or the wind picks up I need to pickup my camera. Lucky me, Ely kids don't have school today so I have a strong helper to shovel this wet snow!

The annual snowmobile Fun Run takes place this weekend. This event helps support the local snowmobile trail system.

Here at the resort our Ugly Sweater promotion has been a success with nearly every guest making donations for those less fortunate. Just a few more days to go and there is still time to do something nice for others and save on your winter visit to Ely.

It is believed that Lily the bear has delivered a cub. It may be a while before we are all able to catch a glimpse of the new arrival.

Ely's annual Winter Festival is just days away now. The resort is again hosting the dog sled ride event both Sunday's during the Festival. The blocks of snow are being prepared now for the snow sculptures in Whiteside Park and I'm looking forward to seeing everyone's snow masterpiece.

01/18/10
So you ask: What have I been doing lately? Well, I've broken down and taken my Northwoods Journal to "blog land". I'm still getting used to the process and I find it hard to depart from my current Journal format so I think that I will be doing both my Journal and the blog--at least for a while. Perhaps, the best feature of the blog format is the option and ease for you all to participate with your own comments AND you can subscribe to an RSS feed to get the updates delivered to you. I find myself reluctant to "prattle" on when I'm blogging like I CLEARLY do here!

I've also put myself to the task of designing websites for all of our .com sites like: NorthernLightsLodge.us, BearIslandResort.com, ElyAdventures.com, NorthernLightsTowing.com, and of course designing the new Northern Lights Lodge blog. Some of you have asked me to join the social networking age with Facebook and Twitter BUT I'm just not there yet.

I've decided that since "we've been here" for 10 years now, it's time to pay some attention to our "living quarters". This was sort of a necessity since we installed all new OPENING windows in this part of the Lodge building back in June. I did all of the inside trim work at the time, but there was some new sheetrock to take care of too. So, In December I started by painting JR's room and then I tackled the spare bedroom in the same way and updated the lighting--love the changes! Next is tackling the hallway/stairway leading upstairs--painting and a new light fixture here to. I'm guessing that February won't allow me much project time so, come March I'll start up again with the bathroom and kitchen.

In my "spare time" I continue to read whenever I get the chance and/or listen to books on tape. A few of the titles I've recently finished are First Wives, Angry Housewives Eating Bon Bons, the newest Tami Hoag book Deeper Than The Dead, the new Dean Koontz book Breathless and State of Mind by John Katzenbach. Right now I'm in the middle of reading the Devil's Punchbowl and listening to The Almost Moon by Alice Sebold (this one is a bit odd and I may have a tough time getting through it) and Fannie Flagg Standing in the Rainbow while I clean my cabins/suites. Always looking for someone new to read....any suggestions?

01/08/10
The middle of January is nearly upon us, there's a bit of snow on the ground and the daily temperatures won't let us forget it's winter! So, what's new in Ely?

12/01/09
It's beginning to look a like Christmas, all through the resort.....the lights are hung, the trees are decorated and there's fresh snow on the ground and glistening in the trees. We're all decked out for the holidays!

11/28/09
Winter is in the air again....Bear Island Lake is making ice. The resort is beginning to look like Christmas.

11/26/09
Happy Thanksgiving all!

10/26/09
Just Announced! Could It Be? The Return of the Lights? BIG SUNSPOT SITED--The sun is showing signs of life. Sunspot 1029 emerged over the weekend, and it is crackling with B- and C-class solar flares. The active region's magnetic polarity identifies it as a member of new Solar Cycle 24. If its growth continues apace, sunspot 1029 could soon become the biggest sunspot of 2009--the Auroa Borealis returns! This update provided by spaceweather.com

10/20/09
Our big news of the day is the Weather Advisory for the Ely area and I am like a kid in a candy store: Winter Weather Advisory with 2"-5" of snow tomorrow. Its easy to get excited at the beginning of my favorite season of the year and while I may not be 100% ready for its arrival I love to see the snow falling. Sunday's forecast is 44 and rain so it won't stick around.

Traffic News: Motorists on Highway 21 (about a mile on either side of the resort) should slow down and try to catch a glimpse of the HUGE bull moose that is out and about. I expect that the moose will be more active now with the end of the moose hunting season and the cooler wet weather.

There continues to be quite a bit of wolf activity and they can be heard howling in the distance most nights. I spotted a pair of wolves again the edge of the lake in the channel just last week. The deer have really dark coats and a local expert tells me that this is a sign of deep snow winter. The guests and I are having a blast with the return of the Gray Jays--like the Chickadees they are practically eating out of our. Pepper, however, is not too pleased with the squirrels that are hanging around the feeders cleaning up the scraps!

Busy beavers? Nope, there is a family of at least 5 muskrats that have moved in under the main dock at the marina and they've even built one of Daisy's toys into their loafing house.

10/18/09
Glorious fall day today--52 and sunny. The Tamaracks are golden and the leaves are STILL changing and falling. The last boat of the season was pulled and everything is put away. Bring on winter!

10/15/09
For the past week or so I have been hearing quite of bit of Loon activity and have been spotting them out and about near the beach but now they seem to be gone. I haven't heard them in a couple of days so perhaps they too have gone south.

09/30/09
The area received a hard frost last night. Today we stepped up our schedule and closed the five seasonal cabins for the winter. Feels good to get it out of the way and yet its a bit sad to have already put another summer behind us. As I finish MY winterizing tasks this is the time of the year that I pull together a list of the things I would like to do in each cabin for the new year. I always think that I should "live" in each cabin for at least a day because then I would know what's missing or needed--any suggestions? If you have any ideas for your favorite cabin, just drop me a note.

09/24/09
Way to go Mike with a nice 37" Northern!

09/22/09
Way to go Fred with a 30.5" Walleye! Amazing purple and orange sunsets this last week with brilliant blue sky days. The lake is cooling down a bit, but it still feels a bit like summer during the middle of the day. Fall leaves are slowly coming along--flaming reds dot the scene and I noticed a Tamarack starting to turn. Saw two wolves on the highway on the way to Ely, still to warm for the moose.

09/12/09
Another beautiful summer FALL day--the water is warmer right now than it was in the middle of July. Fishing is good, even when the biting is slow in weather like this--keeping it simple seems to be the key (just jigging with a leech at about 20'). I'm starting to see a transition in the bird species as we head into fall. The hummingbirds are gone, Juncos have arrived along with lots of Blue Jays. The loons are most vocal into the early evening and after sunset. The wolf pack(s) pups have been vocal the last 3 nights but I expect that this activity will slow down with the decreasing presence of the moon. I've also noticed that the deer have already changed their coats from the rusty red of summer to the brown of the fall/winter. Too hot for any moose activity.

Congrats to David and Lorie on Grandbaby Lauren and parents Ryan and Kristy!

Thanks to everyone that has been SPOILING me--what a treat with home grown and home made jams, wines, honey, honeycomb, pickles, salsa and amazing deserts (fantastic eats that are appearing on my waistline again-2 steps forward, 1 step back!). Barb--I love the bird house and have found the perfect spot to display it. Guests who have seen it, suggest that you start selling them!

08/27/09
Another beautiful blue sky morning--I love these temperatures 70 during the day and cooler at night....perfect sleeping weather! Definitely a different "weather year" with plenty of rain--just yesterday I noticed that "Thor's Rock" has surfaced--something that usually happens weeks ago in early August. Our overnight temps have made us bring in the bongo earlier than ever--it's impossible to keep in inflated properly.

No a lot of wild life to report. Several guests have reported that the chipmunks are very friendly and they have them eating out of there hands--something I would not encourage. Although last night something woke me up as I heard branches breaking and rustling as it moved past my bedroom window. Last week one of our guests spotted bear scat in the driveway (way to go Catherine!). Bird watching has been AMAZING and alot of us have had fun watching them enjoy the feeders and our late berry season. Guests have also been enjoying the Chickadees--eating out of their hands, something I would encourage.

I guess I had a nature experience of a different kind yesterday: I was winding up an extension cord at the outlet by the beach (you know the one) and I got a jolt....and another jolt....and another! My first thought was the cord must have a bad spot, then I realized it was already unplugged. The "jolts" continued rapdily---of course all of this is happening in a matter of seconds. Then Goldie decided to check it all out and "save me" and investigate. Turns out I "hit" a paper wasp nest that was barely ankle high and the size of two grapefruits. Then Goldie really made them mad because she walked right over it. The two of us made quite a pair hopping around and getting into the lake to cool off the sting spots! Needless to say, they won't be bothering anyone else.

The fishing has been steady for the northerns and bass--saw a few walleyes come in recently. Roland reports that "the dock" has the best fishing. Of course, I can't report the location of "the dock" as it would be giving his fishing secrets away!

08/17/09
Good morning all! Thanks for staying in touch with my Northwoods Journal. Once again I am hearing from MANY of you that I haven't "had much to say" this summer. Sorry, but it has not been a typical summer here. Of course we are keeping "busy" week to week with our guests but life outside of the resort has had more than its share of challenges:(the loss of 2 family member; my Grandpa has cancer and his health has forced him off the farm; the BEST uncle in the world is in the hospital after a dog vs. motor cycle accident with serious/major injuries; a dear friend lost a baby; another lost their father and my sad little list goes on. So it's been hard for me to stay on top of everything.

The family here is doing fine and as well as I can be expected. I'm very fortunate that JR is such a good kid--this is going to be a big year for the family as our baby finishes his last year of high school. He doesn't know what he wants to do yet or where he wants to go yet. Football season/practice starts tonight.

I've lost count of this summer's moose sightings, the wolves have been very active with pups right here in the resort, plenty of weather that has produced "interesting" displays; the fishing has been on and off (compliments of the weather!); last week we had our first real stretch of summer weather with 80+ degrees and humid. Birding has been EXCEPTIONAL and very therapeutic this year!

I watch the weather and news from across the country/world and often pause to hope that everyone is ok--like Dan K. in Twain, Ed in Ohio, Fred in St. Louis, Bonnie and Liz and the guys in Plymouth after the weekend's night time tornado; Ben and Kathy in Florida, Mary in Alaska near the fires and all of the rest of you--be safe, we're thinking of you.

As the summer season starts winding down and old and new friends have spent time with us once again, I feel very blessed to have had so many wonderful guests--friends "come home to Northern Lights". It really is just like seeing family arrive for a visit. It's always about all I can do to contain myself as the kids scramble out of the car tripping over themselves to get to Daisy, Pepper and Goldie. In fact, last week I had a young couple stop by on their way down to the North Shore (they were on a day trip passing through Ely) and I quote "we just wanted to see the dogs, home you don't mind." Such is life!

07/22/09
Here it is a lovely calm and rainy Tuesday at the Lodge. I have company today--Ellie and Sam are here with me in my office to see how I make my web site. Ellie is 7 years old and Sam is 8 years old. They were telling me how they read this page all the time. So, we are learning how Marie writes in her journal.

07/16/09
I'm asking myself "Where has the summer gone"? The season is flying past and once again I am reminded that we really do have the best guests in all of Ely. Thanks for taking time off from your busy lives and spending it here with us! It is always a treat being able to catch up and visit with returning families and meeting new friends.

Congratulations to Dave and Deanna on your engagement and a special welcome baby Lucy who we just got to meet!

Fishing has been "hit or miss" with weather and wind days AND the biggest Mayfly hatch I have ever seen a few weeks back. Then again, others have done VERY nicely! I have a pile of photos to get posted to the gallery.

Defiantly a cooler summer so far BUT the up side is that it has made for very comfortable hiking. As always plucking away at resort projects--like the updated game room. Now, we are trying to paint the lodge and stain the sauna but the weather is not cooperating.

One Tuesday most of the resort was woke up around 5:15am when a wolf pup "yipped" its way through the resort from one end to the other. I managed to get a peak at it when it paused near the flag pole. Guests this week also saw a moose walking along the edge of lake before it went off into the woods. On Sunday, someone passing by the resort saw a moose and stopped in to let us know--thanks! Seems to be quite a few fawns running around with the spots and there is definitely no shortage of grouse right now. Still waiting for the first baby loon sighting.

06/27/09
On nearly a weekly basis I am asked "can we really see the northern lights" but it has been a little while since the lights have appeared. So, where have the northern lights gone? The lights have a solar 20 year solar cycle, and right now we are in what is called a solar minimum--which means few or no sightings. So what is causing this? THE MYSTERY OF THE MISSING SUNSPOTS: The sun is in the pits of the deepest solar minimum in nearly a century. Although the current solar minimum represents a 50-year low in sunspot counts, there is nothing wrong with the sun. Solar minima this deep and long are common in the historical record and do not represent a fundamental breakdown of the sun's 11-year activity cycle.

06/13/09
A bit of sad moose news: we learned last night that someone struck a moose calf with a vehicle out here on the highway and it had to be put down. I didn't have the heart to go and see but JR heard the shots and a neighbor called with the details. I hear the driver is ok, the vehicle is not. Reminder: slow down and don't out drive your headlights at night!

06/12/09
Spring is here---sort of! The days have been mixed with brilliant blue skies and sudden shower bursts producing stunning rainbows. Wildlife sitings have been frequent with 2 different wolf sitings along Highway 21. The birding is still good--I can't keep the feeder full.. Last night guests were "treated" to loud noises near cabin 12--everyone was surprised this morning when moose tracks were discovered! The fishing and the catching has been good too--walleyes seem a bit slow buy everything else is producing nicely. Everyone is eating fresh fish these days.

05/25/09
May is rapidly coming to a close and it has been a busy--the usual resort projects but best of all the return of our warm weather friends. It's been great catching up with the "regulars" and getting to know new guests. A quick note to Gary S.: I hope your trip to NLL was exacting what the doctor ordered--it was easy to see how glad you were to be back up here.

The bird watching bonanza continues. This weekend we were treated twice to a visit from and entire flock of Trumpeter Swans. Friday they were spotted flying over the resort and on Saturday quite a few of the guests got to see and hear them as they took off from the back bay below the lodge.

Moose Alert: On Saturday afternoon (around 3:15) I had made a run to the hardware store for Gary and on my way back to the resort I spotted TWO moose calves between Escape Road and our driveway. I didn't see the mother but it was a treat none the less. Visited with our neighbors for a quick minute yesterday (Hi Jon and Mardi!) some day soon I promise that you will see these guys.

This weekend Gary turns the BIG 50 so I am racking my brain trying to come up with something out of the ordinary. Any ideas?

05/20/09
What a week! Saturday's forecast read "Snow showers likely, mainly before 10am. Cloudy, then gradually becoming mostly sunny, with a high near 40. Northwest wind around 20 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. Total daytime snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible and today the high was 91 degrees. Variety is the spice of life!

Bird watching has been EXCITING entertainment and the song birds are phenomenal. The loons are nesting, the Canadian Geese nests have hatched and the walleyes are starting to bite. Guests have seen northern and crappie action too.

It's been a busy month getting the resort ready, opening cabins, remodeling (bathroom in cabin #2), new benches around the resort, painting, etc. I've expanded the play areas with three new ring toss games, 3 new washer toss games, another volleyball net AND a chalkboard activity table. I think that this year's scavenger will be a blast for the kids AND wait until you find my Rubber Duckies (sorry, you've got to be here to get this scoop!).

 

04/25/09
We have ice out! Friday's rain and wind gave the lake the push it needed and there is no ice that I can see.

04/22/09
All in one day: the pond burst to life this afternoon--the frogs are back AND I just heard and saw the loons back on the lake! Finally, it seems like it has taken forever for them to return. Then again, there is still ice on the entire lake--the area in the back bay here below the lodge is nearly completely open but there is still ice. For that matter, there are still snow banks and there is still snow in the woods.

So, I do "busy" work--decided to have a "spa day" for the Girls this afternoon: Goldie, Daisy and Pepper each had a bath (outside on the back patio), a triple combing, their toe nails trimmed and I cleaned their teeth. I felt like I was working on an assembly line. Spent the rest of the afternoon trying to tackle those early spring projects but you can't rake the lawns when there is still snow on it! Looks like it will be a painful mad dash to the finish line getting everything ready for spring/opener this year.

Gary and I took what I think may well be our "first" vacation since JR was born and we went down to Florida this month. JR held down the fort and took care of the girls. The weather there is probably making my wait for spring so much harder.

04/14/09
Midway through April and we are waiting, waiting, waiting.....spring seems to have stalled. It has been rather quiet as I wait for it to be warm enough and dry enough to do much outside. We STILL have quite a bit of snow on the ground and the lake is days, not probably weeks from ice out. The bay at the end of the peninsula has been open for weeks and it is host to plenty of ducks and geese. Watched an Eagle eating a fish out on the ice that it pulled out of the open water.

03/17/09
Ahhh...it feels like spring with nearly a 90 degree temperature swing. We've gone from -30 to almost 60 degrees in a matter of days. There isn't a trace of last week's winter storm left. As much as I love winter I confess it's one of the best things in the world when the seasons start to shift--it's like a new beginning. Last week was trying with several power outages due to equipment changes being made by the power company. Spent much of yesterday outside with my girls, we picked up winter's hidden gifts--the toboggans that Daisy scattered around the resort have now appeared in the melting snow. The girls and I went for a walk yesterday with no fear of slipping on ice, what a treat. The lake "looks thawed" because the surface of the ice is filled with melted snow. The birds are already starting to return and they could be heard and seen everywhere we went. Life is good.

03/10/09
Heard the wolves howling on Thursday night and yesterday I noticed several Pileated Woodpeckers hanging around. Guests skiing reported wolf tracks along the ski trail. The weathermen are saying that we are in for a major winter storm with up to 18" of snow (depends upon which guy you are listening too!) that is supposed to arrive around Noon today--good thing the shovels aren't put away yet. Gary is getting desperate for a Florida break--perhaps we'll do our part to stimulate the economy and take a vacation of our next month. JR's track season started yesterday and he seems excited and ready to get running.

03/02/09
It was beautiful weekend--lots of sun and blue skies. There is still plenty of winter ahead of us but a peson can't help but get a sense that spring isn't too far away with the arrival of March.

During the warm weather seasons every now and again something odd will wash up on the beach here at the resort, but this is a first: yesterday, I discovered a Grand Am--yes, that's right a car "banked" at the beach. Someone, clearly someone that is not too bright, drove a car out on the lake and they made it as far as the beach. Now, it's sitting out there stuck in the snow. This could get interesting.

Thinking of Heidi this morning--hope your surgery goes well and that your recovery is swift. Heidi had an unfortunate snowmobile accidient about a week ago and hit a rock off of the snowmobile trail.

02/16/09
It's snowing this morning! I'm told by the ski and snowmobile trail groomers that all of the winter trails are in good condition again--even after the warm weather and rain. Greetings go out to Bonnie! The weekend was busy but filled with "reunions" of summer guests and those who, like me, love winter--and since I know you are reading this an extra greeting goes out to the Kvitruds and the Cartwrights and of course the "ladies from the Twin Cities" plus I am extending a HUGE thank you to Dustin--thanks for giving us a helping hand with the Skid Steere (to my faithful readers: sorry, I won't be posting the details of that "adventure" here).

I'm "hobbling" again--I went down on the ice Friday afternoon twice (during the skid steere adventure) and both times managed to land right on my tailbone. Advil is my best friend right now.

Because You Asked: JR is still in love and I am of course loving every moment of it. I post this update #1 because you asked and #2 because it will mortify him!! :-)

Also, because you've asked--depsite the economy the resort seems to be busier than ever. I feel blessed that you all think of us when you are looking to escape from the hustle and bustle of everyday life and I am thrilled that we are able to provide a place for you to regroup.

Ely's annual Winter Festival is behind us and by my estimate Bill Slaughter and Northern Lights introduced approximately 150+ guests to dog sledding. We met a lot of new people and it was wonderful to see everyone's faces as they stopped by the lodge afterwards. If any of you are reading this and have photos of your time with us that you would like to share please send them my way!

02/07/09
Moose, Moose and Moose--yes, that's 3 MOOSE were spotted on the end of our driveway on Thursday evening! With the weather warm up the wild ones are on the move again. On Tuesday morning, I stopped for a wolf that was about the cross Highway 21--it couldn't decide where to go, slipped on the ice twice and then finally just stopped in front of me and got its bearings. On Monday I spotted a large red fox walking along the trees. The deer are moving around again and you will frequently spot a herd of them along the shoreline.

Congrats to the Schauers were here celebrating their 25th wedding anniversary and Grandbaby #2 is on the way!.

The past month has been cold (there I said it!) and you would think that I have been spending my time here at my desk BUT there's been no time--hence I have neglected my Journal for the past month. We have plenty of snow but new notable new accumulation in nearly a month. It's warm again this morning 26 ABOVE with a chance of snow later. The Winter Festival is in full swing--the Lodge is hosting dog sled rides again with Bill Slaughter. Daisy the Wonder Dog is living large and entertaining all of the guests on the sledding hill.

01/15/09
I've received several emails from you all saying that I must be BUSY because it's been nearly two weeks since my last entry. The pace has been steady--we have SNOW! The truth is, that I think I am hibernating--just a little--enough with the arctic cold already. Dealing with it is mostly just a state of mind but when every time you turn on the radio or the TV absolutely everyone is whining about the temperatures the message is the same and you ALMOST start believing what you hear. Fact of the matter is that you can't do anything about it so just deal with it already. Of course, the alternative to talking about the weather is probably Minnesota's never ending recount, again deal with and get on with business.

Camp Polar Bear starts tomorrow--very fitting name because it's always a little arctic this weekend. A welcome invasion of 6th graders heat it up and every year the kids in this camp show everyone that winter is no big deal. They dog sled, toboggan, cook outside, sauna, snowshoe, toboggan some more and more--spending every spare moment outside!

12/29/08
Hope everyone enjoyed the holiday--it seemed like it took forever to get here and now it's already over. I think that the Vogt family enjoyed it. The resort can make it more than a little challenging to keep our own family traditions BUT this year everything was perfect.

Santa even left a special gift for Kendall family--I think the kids all had a great time. They told me that Santa rocks!

12/22/08
More snow and a little blast of cold. We've been busy TRYING to get the trails in shape but it has been a bit of a battle. So many of the trails cross wet or low areas and even though it has been cold (like the middle of January cold) the snow is keeping everything from freezing solid. Yesterday, JR and I were packing the snowmobile route across the lake and we were knee deep in slush--a VERY freaky sensation and even though my head knows that the ice is more than thick enough below me my stomach isn't quite so sure! JR's sled actually stalled out in the middle of the lake and during the two minutes we were checking out his sled my sled track and skis froze in the slush--about this time I am wondering WHY are we doing this! All is well, we towed his sled off the lake and last night our temps dropped to -21 and so that made all of our hard work worth it because things froze up pretty well. Of course, they are talking more snow tomorrow!

I've been enjoying everyone's holiday letters and cards--an extra hello to the Iowa FAB 5 and Jaeger and Kaeden too! What a treat the family received from Selma and Warren--I've tucked them under the tree for Christmas--thank you! A lifetime ago I worked at TCF Bank and my boss and I have kept in touch through the years. He is a wise and kind man who has now retired to Florida. He shared this rather fitting message in his holiday greeting:

Go placidly amid the noise and the haste,
and remember what peace there may be in silence.
As far as possible, without surrender,
be on good terms with all persons.
Speak your truth quietly and clearly;
and listen to others,
even to the dull and the ignorant;
they too have their story.

His holiday wish for all was that this 1927 poem titled Desiderata (Latin for things desired) by Max Ehrmann might help each of us see beyond the current turbulence, focus on better days ahead and appreciate our blessings.

12/15/08
We've got snow! This weekend's storm delivered between 11 and 14 inches and a bit of cold too. I think this is the most snow that we have had on the ground this early in the season. We're still shoveling out--the wind blew hard and packed the snow in tight on every single walkway and step. It's a good thing they closed school today so my helper was home for the day.

12/07/08
It's the holiday season......Dashing through the snow.....Baby it's cold outside......you know the songs! I've caught myself humming (I don't sing as instructed by my 6th grade music teacher) them all last week as I was decking the halls and trimming the resort for the holiday season. I get swept away (especially when there is snow) but my work is done: 8 indoor trees, 3 outdoor trees, the lights are hung, the fresh balsam is hung ALTHOUGH last night I was comtemplating doing something extra at the suites. The holiday baking is well underway, the Christmas cards are finished, the Resort's annual newsletter is finished and best of all my shopping is done--a major accomplishment because I truly hate shopping.

It's a CHILLY morning today -22 when I got up at 6am. I love the crisp air. There is something so pure about winter: you can hear every footstep outside and the birds twittering in the tree tops, the lake popping and the echo it sends off and you smell the occassional wisp of smoke from the fireplace. Winter is best!

12/01/08
Thanksgiving has come and gone--the turkey was great, the company was spectacular and there was just a touch of snow. Here at the resort we start the holiday season the day after Thanksgiving--that means the holiday decorating can start. I enjoy the Christmas holiday and all of its trimmings: the lights and the tree(s) but especially the spirit of Christmas. The Friday after Thanksgiving we traditionally put up our tree but LATE Thursday night I just couldn't help myself. Around 9pm the holiday spirit struck me and I gave in to the impluse and decorated the lodge--JR and I always do the tree together and we enjoy the company of The Oldies, The Great Ones (It's a Wonderful Life followed by some classic Dean Martin and a few others). By 3am I was finished. On Saturday afternoon we were busy making holiday wreaths and swags--I enjoyed it immensley! By the middle of the afternoon everyone had completed their holiday trimmings--Ann your talents are inspiring! I continued on with the project as I make all of the swags/wreaths that decorate the resort myself--by the time I finished there were 32 "traditional" balsam swags, 4 large swags and serveral large wreaths. I think my fingers will smell like fresh pine for a week.

11/24/08
The wolves were howling last night--marking the end of the hunting season I suppose. This morning it's 19 degrees out and the lake is making lots of noise as it makes ice--it's eerie and comforting at the same time to hear it echos as the ice shifts.

11/22/08
I see that it's been a bit since my last entry--this is the time when each year I give attention to things like the website--I moved the site to a new hosting company and have been working on adding features and changing pages. Everything around the resort is ready for winter--we have ice on this end of the lake. In my memory, this is only the second time that there has been ice this early. My internal clock is off--feels like Thanksgiving should have been this past week so I guess I've gained a week. So, what to do with the extra time? This quiet time of the year is always our time for the family to regroup--at least a little. We actually take time for breakfast and we sit down together at the kitchen table for dinner.

Gary is "all caught up" with the snowmobile projects--waiting for a little more cold weather and then they will begin packing the swamps along the trailways. I have been doing the clubs finances and "secretarial" tasks for the last three years and I am thinking that it is time to let someone else have the honor. I inspected the ski trail across the road last week--there was a lot of water so I didn't make it all the way to the end. JR is busy with school and his girlfriend, Kasha--he has started running again so his knee(s) are all better. It's good to see this cold weather BEFORE the snow arrives because there is so much water from our fall rains--the lake is definitely up again.

I see by my last entry that I was in the middle of Harvesting Hearts--well I just finished it yesterday so I guess I haven't been getting in much reading time. It was ok--probably not a favorite and the ending seemed to have been dropped.

With all of the hunting seasons it has been ages since I have heard a wolf howling--hardly even see a deer anymore. Last week I swear a moose was crashing through the woods just across the shoreline from the marina--nothing else could make that much noise. Oh, there were three river otters swimming at the main dock about a week ago--no pictures, they saw the camera and fled.

10/27/08
We received our first snow of the season last night! I feel like a kid on Christmas morning today. It's been awhile since my last entry--of course we've been busy here closing down the seasonal cabins and doing all of those little jobs that need to be done before the arrival of winter. For me, this is often the time of year that I "physically crash" after the busy summer season and this year has been no exception. First, I threw out my back which after about two weeks has returned to normal. Then, last Monday morning I went to the dentist to repair what I thought was a cracked crown but instead I was treated to my first root canal--much fun--and this morning, I return to the dentist to finish the process. My boys are doing well and the girls are doing a lot of sleeping--all three of them are sleeping in front of the fire as I write this. Ely's football season ended last week (a painful relief after a difficult season!) and JR has finished the physical theraphy on his knee.

Congratulations to John and Ashlee who are here with us on their honeymoon. No news in the way of wildlife or the northern lights--we've been in a long stretch of rain and clouds. The wolves and their pups continue to let us know that they are out there with their evening howls. Guests attempted a little fishing over the MEA weekend, but things were pretty quiet.

10/09/08
I saw another MOOSE today--this morning on my way home from Ely on Highway 21 a big beautiful cow was standing in the ditch picture perfect against the golden colors of the birch leaves. If only I had my camera along!

Our fall colors have definitely peaked--the resort is full of red and gold. Its very windy today and feels like rain. I have a lovely fire burning here in the lodge and I've taken a little time off to do some baking while I wait for this weekend's guests to arrive.

A big thanks to Selma for recommending The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein--a great dog story--in fact, I think that this one is a favorite! I also just finished Jodi Picoult's--Salem Falls (I'm in the middle of her Harvesting Hearts) and Lean Mean 13 by Janet Evanovich.

09/29/08
I played hooky today and spent the day in Duluth--saw a big beautiful moose standing along the edge of the ditch and the Paleface River on Highway 53, saw a big flock of Blue Heron Cranes flying overhead, a red fox in the driveway and when I pulled back into the resort last night it was as if the resort was surrounded by wolves--they were howling from all directions and it felt like there were right next to us. The howling continued through the night and they woke me up just after midnight, around 1am and again around 2:30. The last time was REALLY loud and even Goldie was pacing and growling. It was a good day!

09/28/08
Busy, busy! A little rain, heavy morning fogs, cooler temps and fall colors--everyone is enjoying the fall season. On Friday night around 1:30am I was woke up by howling wolf pups--Daisy wasn't impressed and did a little growling of her own. Recently finished Change of Heart (Picoult) it was a good read and thanks Ann for the recommendation. JR's most recent football injury (the other knee this time) has finished his season for him. Fortunately, it's just a bad sprain but I know he is disappointed.

09/24/08
Beautiful day today after LOTS of rain overnight. Fall colors are nearing peak. The adult loons left last week but I still saw one of the young loons yesterday. Gary saw a moose on his way back to Duluth on Sunday evening (he drove Hwy 1). I have been receiving an unbelievable number of calls from folks looking to visit ONLY if they can see the northern lights but like so many things in life there are no guarantees. I have lots of new photos to get onto the web site so thanks for all of your submissions, I expect to work on that task the first week of October as day to day resort tasks are taking up most of my time these days.

09/16/08
A perfect northwoods ending to a very long day: much of today was spent doing what I call "major" fall cleaning in the suites (floor to ceiling/wall to wall--dusting, scrubbing and carpet cleaning--even moving those great big king size beds) and then working on the grounds around the suites). I called it a day/night around 9pm and took a moment up on the deck to look at the stars and watch the boat lights of a fisherman out in the bay--complete silence. Then as I was trying to force by aching bones to get up out of a very comfortable deck chair--my resident owl hooted and almost simultaneously a couple of wolves howled to each other. When the silence returned, it was time to go in.

Turns out it was Lloyd out on the lake and I could tell by the commotion of the fish house disposal that he had met with some success out on the lake! Way to go Lloyd.

Beth, Aaron and Andrea--can't forget Bean & Lola (the dogs) recently returned home from their visit us and shared photos of their vacation. Click here to share their experience!

Blog Idea Update: After much research, consideration and input from my Journal readers I have decided NOT to go the bog route--while the interactive feature would have been nice I think that it would not have functioned as well/easily as this Journal does. My writings would be by day/tropic and as you can see by my entries, that would have been a challenge. So, instead you will find a new email link at the top and bottom of this page. Drop me an email, put JOURNAL in your subject line and I will gladly post and share your comments here.

09/15/08
Farewell to Jim and Linda--you became a fixture during the past month and it was a pleasure having you here with us. When I retire, I want to be just like you! The resort feels a bit empty without you here.

It's a chilly morning today 33 degrees when I woke up--full moon and clear skies last night. The wildflowers I planted in early June are blossoming now so there are flowers bursting with bright colors to end the season near the lodge and creek. We are starting to see our fall colors which will make Bonnie's week with great new photo opportunities. Many of my guests this summer purchased our photo cards which featured Bonnie's creative talents--most of the photos where taken right here at the resort!

Congrats to Mike and Doug who purchased their own cabin at the lake here in Ely. I happy for you but will miss your frequent stays here at Northern Lights.

09/13/08
Starting to see fall colors--cooler temps and a little rain. I noticed that the deer have lost their golden tawny coats and turned to winter brown. The loons are still here and we heard wolves howling twice this past week. Fishing continues to be good here on the lake as Fred can attest to with nice walleyes (17-25") and amazing bass (17-20"). Daisy and Pepper are seriously missing Fred, Warren and Selma--who pampered the dogs (and us!). Thanks for all the treats and goodies! Fred--it made me laugh to see the 3 dog treats lined up and it was as if they knew because all three of my girls were sitting on the deck waiting AND I laughed again when I went to clean your fridge SO of course, I sat down with my girls and had a small part of that great big treat too Thank you to Vicky and Warren for the additions to our resort library!

Things are winding down and looking at the calendar we have three more fall weekends and then we'll close the seasonal cabins--10/05 is the big day. Because so many people ask, winding down does not equal slowing down--it's just a different kind of busy as we prepare for winter--the list is LONG plus you try to finish off the spring list that you couldn't get to!.

09/04/08
A big THANKYOU goes out to Gary Cooper from Ohio and across the lake (during the summer!) for the phone call last night alerting me to the appearance of the Northern Lights! I think it was a treat for all of the guests (as it was for me) to see the lights last night. I would have missed them as I was working away in the lodge.

09/02/08
Big day today--school's back in session! JR is off to begin his Junior year in Ely you can check out Mom's 1st day of school photo--it's a tradition in the Vogt house. JR has a home football game this afternoon (looks like rain) that Pepper and I plan to attend. It has been VERY warm and dry again this fall out but the forecast is for cooler temps. I am hoping that we don't have a repeat of last fall's rain/storms.

I saw a MOOSE on Sunday night! Gary and I had to "rescue" to JR who was visiting his girlfriend at their cabin down Highway 1--his car had a flat tire and he couldn't get the tire off. On our way home there was a big and healthy moose standing in the ditch just at the edge of Gary's headlights. The moose was near the Ely Aiport on Hwy 1. Scott, a weekend guest had a wolf run across the highway in front of him while he was out for a early morning run--good luck in the Chicago Marathon.

Many of our guests are aware of Gary's big project for the Babbitt ATV & Snowmobile. He spent most of his weekends in July/August preparing a 5 acre parcel that the club purchased in June for its new home--putting in two driveway, clearing the building site and prepping the site. Well, last week the actual building construction started! Click here to check it out.

Fishing News: The walleyes are biting again! Congrats to Steve who caught a big one--and put it back. The Murphy's landed a HUGE northern their first night with us--fishing from the peninsula no less because it was too windy to put the boat in the water. Plenty of BIG bass action happening too.

08/25/08
Our fall season has arrived and last week was busy with families gathering for the week before the back to school madness--it makes me a little sad to see the season end but then again I am ready to appreciate the slower pace of life here. I also have to comment on the arrows that our guests painted this summer: AMAZING!

Daisy and Pepper's social life will slow down now that the little ones are back in school--there were a few days when the two of them just went upstairs and slept because they were wore out. I must say that compared to last summer, this was an "EASY" summer and our guests were delightful--regulars always want to hear my "stories" and there just weren't really any--we're always busy, but this year we hosted a few extra resort activiites that made it possible for me to spend more time outside with the guests. Thanks for sharing your scrapbooks, albums and wedding pictures.

Saturday brought an amazing shift it weather (just a little badly needed rain) and the sunset, rainbow and cooler temps were amazing. Of course, I am already thinking about our winter season--take a moment and check it out!

To the Girls: hope you enjoyed the sauna--I couldn't get him to stop by!

A big thank you (from JR) to all of you who fed him all sorts of baked treats-he loved the homemade cookies, cakes and banna breads (he pointed out that I don't bake very often!)! I don't do too much baking this time of year and with football practice twice a day he is always starving!

Welcome baby Lucy and congrations to David and Colleen!

Congrats to Mike and Doug on your pending cabin purchase--sad to see you go as you are practically family!

Thanks to Gary Cooper (a Bear Island Lake resident) for adding us to your blog!

Bell--email me your homemade guacamole recipe, it was fantastic!

Jim--shared a sample of your wine with the ladies one rainy evening and it was a hit!

Patrick--thanks for the hilarious stories and photos as they always brighten my day.

Wildlife: has been abundant with lots of activity during the past two weeks--the moon was full and it seems as though everyone had an opportunity to hear the wolves howling. JR was at the boat house early one morning last week and a small red fox was sitting on the boat house steps (that explains that remains that we found inside the boathouse throughout the summer). Bear droppings aka blueberry pies were found in the driveway along with wolf scat. We are still seeing wolves almost daily between the resort and One Pine--the pups are so big already.

Fishing: has been good--with northerns and bass a plenty the last few weeks: HUGE northerns. Of course the walleye are sitting deep with the heat but I expect to start seeing some action shortly. This was without a doubt the best fishing season I have seen in 8 summers--our fishing house grinder is the proof as we had to have it sharpened early in the season.

A great BIG thank you to everyone who tolerated my presence over the past month while I SLOWLY and FINALLY finished staining the exterior of the suites--I'm glad that job is done. Next job: the lodge deck and sauna.

Web Site Notes: After a bit of research I have opted to keep this format of my Journal rather than begin a blog. I am also going to be moving my site to a new hosting company here in the near future so you may find the site down for short periods during this transition.

08/06/08
Well, I guess it is the circle of life: unfortunately, the pheasant (see note of 08/04) is no more. On a return trip to the resort from Ely I discovered the pheasant on the highway--it was hit by vehicle on the road. In the way of other news, a guest reported seeing 5 wolf pups crossing the highway with an adult.

08/04/08
The Dog Days of Summer are upon us--where has the summer gone? The June Berries are ripe but we are still waiting for the Blueberries to turn. There has been LOTS of activity and fun here at the resort--the guests and young ones have kept me busy. While the Walleyes may have slowed down, fishing for Northerns and Bass has still been good. Those guests who have taken Bill's advice are even finding a few Walleyes AND those who have tried a guided fishing trip have all found success.

Busy, busy tubing--painting and more with the kids. The arrow collection has GROWN and I may have to start planting trees for future displays.

I think that I have some of the kindest guest's possible--thanks for all of the homemade goodies and homegrown veggies. What a feast: wine, beans, salad greens, peas, honey and so much more. An extra yummy thanks to Jim for the fresh Bear Island Lake fish--our first taste of the season!

Thanks to everyone who has been sending me pictures of their vacation time spent here with us. I'll be posting them to the photo album ASAP.

JR and I took a little time away from the resort last week and took his scuba gear out in the lake--nice to have a little one on one time with him!

This just in: Pheasant's In Ely! My neighbor Jon sent me this picture this morning of a pheasant along the road on Highway 21 this weekend. Click here to see for yourself!

07/22/08
Sounds like there may be a bear wandering the resort. Last week I thought I heard one early in the morning along the beach bath last Friday and this week guests in cabin #4 may have heard it too. On Friday last week the Shauers reported that they were woke up at 4:45am to a wolf howling outside their bedroom window in cabin #12. I continue to see wolves near the driveway on a regular basis as I make my trips to Ely with JR for football--those trips will likely be fewer now that JR has his license (he passed his driver's test yesterday).

Welcome Baby Ben! It's his first visit to Northern Lights. Speaking of firsts, I played my first game of ping pong--thanks Jack--I think he won the match. The fish tank is now occupied thanks to Abby! I think that Daisy will need a vacation by the end of the week--Jack, Abby, Ellie and Sam are wearing her out each day--Sunday night she "didn't come home" as she was sleeping on the deck of Cabin #1. Daisy did not look very pleased with me when I made her come back to the lodge.

Fishing has dropped off a bit following the heat, storms and a late Mayfly hatch. Guests are reporting a few Walleyes but that the Northerns and Bass are large.

Checked on the progress of the June and Blue berries today--both are just starting to ripen. Picked a few blueberries--the plants look to be having a normal season but there are not a lot June berries and they are not very big this year.

07/10/08
Hot--Hot--Hot! That's the only way to describe the fishing this week. The Baker boys caught today's Walleye limit--sounds like another fish fry!

A personal note to Pat and Barb: the gang misses you this week. Thanks for the update on Barb's procedure this morning. We've all been thinking about you--it's not the same without you!

07/07/08
The walleye action continues with the Bakers catching 7 this morning! Chris and Mike and done VERY well with the BIG ONES caught and released and plenty more for a fish fry!

Congrats to the Bakers who are here this week celebrating their 40th wedding anniversary with their family.

07/04/08
It's been a bit since my last update--but its been a blast here at the resort. The fishing has been exceptional--walleyes, northerns and bass for all. We've been busy with our summer guests fishing a bit with Ryan, trying to learn to finger knit with Samantha (trying!) and checking out all of polliwogs that the girls caught (Kara, Charolette and Samantha). The good stuff of summer! The week will wrap up with the fireworks. Still a fair amount of critter activity--the loons appear to have lost one chick, the grouse at last count has 15 chicks and they are huge already and guests have seen the spotted fawns drinking at the pond. The bugs have really decreased so that's a treat all by itself. Hope everyone has a great 4th!

06/17/08
Another blue sky day--I love it! Mike and Doug commented about how the loons woke them up at 3am and today I discovered that they were announcing the arrival of not one but TWO loon chicks--I first saw them early in the morning when I was cleaning the fish house. Later, the parents hung around most of the afternoon near the docks near where I was cleaning the pontoon boat.

Walleyes are biting hard and guests are catching them BIG! The lake is still a bit chilly but I think we are getting nearer to putting the swim rafts in the water--several have called and asked if it's in yet.

I am regularly suprised by how many of you are reading and regularly checking my journal updates--you even prompt me when I get "behind" and I have to say thanks for the notes so many of you send our way. It's funny, but when I make my entries I rarely "think about my audience". So, all of your emails have gotten me to thinking about stepping it up a notch with something more interactive like a blog--any thoughts? Click on this link and drop me a note and tell me what you think.

Take a moment out of your day today to reflect upon life's blessings AND give someone special a hug when they least expect it!

06/12/08
More little ones--on the return trip from Ely (picking JR up from Ely after running) we stopped in the driveway for a Grouse and wouldn't you know it--I saw little ones at the edge of the grass so we shut off the car and waited for ALL 17 of them to safely cross the road. JR seems to think Mom is odd since the process took about 5 minutes. The chicks were no bigger than your thumb.

Returning to the resort early this morning (JR met a friend in Ely to go running) and I stopped on the highway for a Doe that appeared to be ready to cross the road--cross she did and two beautiful fawns trotted out of the tall grass behind her and all three paused in the middle of my lane, looked my way, flicked their tails a few times and continued casually on their way. One of life's simple pleasures.

06/09/08
Another busy weekend. Spent a part of Saturday cleaning up after the strong winds that moved--trees down in the driveway and we lost my favorite set of trees in front of the lodge as well as part of the deck--good news is that the deck railing kept the trees from dropping on the lodge roof. As they say, could have been worse! Yeah--the suites landscaping repair has been completed and the new top soil has been seeded. Glad to have that project over. We also lost the pine tree outside my bedroom window--wonder if my owl visitor will return.

06/05/08
The Walleyes are hungry and hitting hard! The fish house has been getting a work. Seems to be plenty of Northerns and Bass too.

06/01/08
Not sure how June snuck up on me but we've been busy working on the cabins/grounds and just getting ready for summer. JR has been busy with school and track--he competed in Sections at Duluth last Friday and placed fifth. I've been busy painting and staining--hoping to get to the suites this week but the forecast is calling for rain so I may just stick to window/door trim.. The lake is slowly dropping back to near normal lake levels and I could actually see beach sand yesterday. Thanks to Mike and Doug for the tree seedlings and thanks to Bonnie for the beautiful cards (they have reminded me of my own creative aspirations). I am still being serenaded by the owl several times a week--it's perching in the pines behind the lodge.

Guests are slowly starting to see some Walleye action but the Northerns and Bass seem to be making up the difference. The wolf puppies have arrived at the International Wolf Center.

The birch and maple trees FINALLY have leaves and everything is a lush green. I am hearing (and sometimes seeing) hummingbirds everywhere. We've had a bit of rain in the evenings or short shower bursts but there has been plenty of blues skies the past week. It looks and feels like spring!

05/13/08
Way to go Will (and the rest of the school choir)--they sang the National Anthem at tonight's Minnesota Twins' game.

05/10/08
Fishing Opener--a few snowflakes this morning around 7:30 and then it was mostly blue skys. Must admit, the Vogts did not wet a line--yard work, etc. awaited. The fun and BIGT news of the day: a MOOSE, a MOOSE--JR and Gary were on their way in the driveway and there was a moose walking down the center of the driveway! It was fun for them to see one this time of the year AND right here at the resort.

05/07/08
Can't say for sure, but from here I see no ice! It rained last night and the sun is shining today so if there is any ice on the far end of the lake it won't last much longer.

It makes me chuckle and perhaps puts in perspective just how high the water table is right now. I've written about the return of the ducks to the lake and how every now and then we have a pair of ducks in the pond next to the driveway. Well, there is so much water that the ducks are even "swimming" in the standing water along the driveway in other areas AND twice this week I have followed ducks out the driveway as they WALK down the driveway--they don't even fly off or move to the shoulder! This morning, I went down to Gary's shop to get a bit for my drill and there were two ducks sunning in front of the garage door.

The pond is full of the sounds of the frogs and our resident owl was outside my bedroom window two nights ago "Who, whoing" away.

04/30/08
Today is our "resort anniversary" and we purchased Northern Lights Lodge 7 years ago. Summer #8, here we come! The big Up North news is that we are still waiting for ice out and based on the 10 day forecast I am predicting ice out for next week. We were relieved that last weekend's snowstorm missed us and we did not receive the 14" of snow that they were talking about--only around 3".

Our thoughts and prayers are with the Blomberg family this week--John and Carol were on their way to Ely on Monday and they lost control of their Jeep on Highway 21. John did not survive and Carol was transported to Duluth. Many of you know and remember Zach--my second son--who spent 4 summers working here and may have met Megan last summer. John and Carol are their grandparents.

Looking for something new to read--listening to books on tape right now as I paint, clean, etc. Any author or title suggestions for me? Gary is busy working in Duluth and JR is busy with school and track. The girls and I are busy here! Graded the driveway yesterday and did some yard work around the snowbanks. Deer, fox and wolves are everywhere. No sign of bears yet.

04/25/08
This time of year I don't have too much time to read but if you like Dean Koontz and love Goldens then I recommend The Darkest Evening of the Year. The story line is typical Koontz and it's a quick read.

More than one? I woke this morning to what I thought at first was someone talking in their sleep or one of the girls having a puppy dream but as sleep left me I realized that it was an owl outside my window--a 5am wake up call. At 6:30 when I left the girls out I could still hearr it near cabin #12 and at 7:30 when I was cleaning in cabin #3 it was over by cabin #1 chatting away. Felt like I had a taskmaster on my heels--the things you notice in the northwoods.

04/22/08
8:45am and I just heard a loon--they're back!

04/21/08
The pussy willows are out, temps are over 60 degrees, tax season is over, the lake ice is getting darker, grouse are drumming furiously, I hear birds everywhere, the channel is wide open, full of ducks-Canadian geese-2 swans, the snow was a good thing because now there is standing water in the woods, the pond is full, the creek is rushing and last night delivered a nice spring shower. Life is good!

Tough Mom Weekend--sniffle, sniffle--my baby bought his first car--sniffle, sniffle!. Granted, I have a little time to get used to the idea since he won't have his license until the end of June. Then to make the week even harder his class ring was just delivered. Oh boy! Track season has started so he is busy running and training again.

Busy weekend ahead clearing the trees that snapped over the winter or that were too stressed after last summer's dry spell. Last Saturday afternoon I opened up the seasonal cabins and I felt like a kid on Christmas Day as I went through each one--Gary says he would remind me of joyful mood come August-September!

04/13/08
Whew! I'm glad that the last 7 days are behind us. Feels like the last week was spent shoveling snow, plowing snow and raking snow off of the cabin roofs! I keep hearing different snow reports but it sounds like the past week's snow storms brought us around 38-40" of snow. I'm loving today's blue skies and this week's forecast of 50-60 degree temperatures. JR was loving it with 2 snow days (unheard of up here!). The channel is wide open today and there is plenty of squawking and flapping in the open water--looks like ducks. The deer clearly don't appreciate the new snow amounts as they prefer to walk the driveway. Nearly every trip in or out of the resort the last 3 days we've "followed" the deer herd down the driveway. Around sunset last night I walked over to cabin #3 and disturbed 3 deer sleeping under the deck, another first for me.

04/06/08
From golf carts to snowplows this morning! The fresh accumulation of snow is over the 12" mark. It's wet, heavy and still coming down hard--I can't even see the lake. Apparently, Pepper was not impressed--I went outside with the girls this morning and she stepped out of the lodge onto the deck and looked at me before turning around and going back into the lodge--she went back to bed!

04/05/08
What a beautiful day! Hey to the neighbor down the road--nice visiting with you this morning and I hope you enjoyed the rest of your run! We took advantage of the conintued spring weather and did clean up projects today. Still a little cool and wet out there but the snow is melting fast. The channel opened up yesteday and I could see birds enjoying the fresh water. Guests spotted a HUGE black wolf on the lake this week while out with their dog on walk--the wolf was drinking water from an open area on the lake. Lots of fresh scat in the driveway again yesterday.

04/03/08
It's good to be home and getting away for a little while has given me a new burst of energy. I'm busy this week painting cabin #12--all 3 bedrooms, both bathrooms, the hallway, stairs and kitchen. I've refinished the bunkbeds and sanded/stained/sealed all the windows. It's looking great--next step, clean the carpet and do a little redecorating. Thought I heard a Robin today but I couldn't see it in the pine tree.

03/31/08
The family returned yesterday from a FL vacation--our second family vacation in 7 years and as you know Gary's ONLY vacation destination--I can't get him back to the mountains or into Alaska! Once the truck was unpacked (we drove--3,450 miles round trip), the dogs were picked up from the kennel (and bathed!) I took my evening walk through the resort and soaked up the complete and utter silence of the lake--I MISSED IT--except for Buddy across the lake who barked a couple of times as if he knew we were home. Florida was nice and I loved getting to the beach every morning before sunrise.

This morning as I took my morning walk with Daisy I couldn't help but chuckle as I reflected upon the change of scenery. Instead of shorts and a tank top I donned a turtleneck and a light pair of mittens! While there were no pelicans flying overhead I was treated to a pair of pileated woodpeckers, I came upon 5 huge white tail deer in the driveway instead of crabs scurrying off back to the ocean, I spotted wolf and moose scat instead of starfish and AND I found the pin and washers that fell off of the snowplow last January! I've returned to my desk with pink cheeks from the cold and I wouldn't trade it for anything--it's good to be home!

Congrats to David and Colleen who are expecting their first!

03/11/08
Went for a walk with Daisy this morning at 5am--it's balmy out, the stars were still out and saw a shooting star pass under the Big Dipper. Beautiful morning!

03/08/08
Chipping away at my To Do List:

02/25/08
An amazing weekend-clear blue skis and warm! Daisy is outside right now with a VERY fun group from Rochester sledding--in their t-shirts!

Late this afternoon the family went out for a short snowmobile ride-it was great. We stopped along the trail to stretch our legs and got to listen to two owls hooting back and forth to each other and saw a wolf crossing a frozen pond. After we returned to the resort we jumped in the hot tub-the stars were amazing and we even got to listen to the wolves howling!

Guests who were here for a couple of days of snowmobiling saw a pack of wolves out on Bear Island Lake just before Noon--pretty cool.

02/20/08
Okay, it's -20 this morning and I am beginning to day dream about a warm, sandy beach and a coastal ocean breeze! You all know that I love winter but even I am ready for something warmer! Looking back at last few entries you are either getting the message that it's been cold or I'm whining BUT this morning the girls (Goldie, Daisy and Pepper) wouldn't even get up to go outside with me at 5:30am! Well, the good news is that the days are getting longer and we are seeing more of the sun--you needed shades today!

02/15/08
Still no measurable NEW snow but what came down early in the season is holding on pretty well because it's been COLD. Someone told me last week that the temps are typical but it seems like there have been a lot of NEGATIVE temperature readings all winter long. Fortunately there have been no winter casualties like frozen water lines and I hope it stays that way.

The annual winter festival was fun and the resort hosted dog sled rides twice during the two week festival--actually only once as the seconded weekend was canceled due to the COLD and something like -50 windchill temperatures.

01/31/08
Moose! No shortage of moose so far this winter--Gary was treated to a moose sighting while grooming the Taconite Spur Trail when he came upon a large bull moose standing in the middle of the trail-he said it didn't want to move off the trail and just turned to watch him. Resort guests riding snowmobiles also came upon a bull moose that was crossing the trail near the resort and finally, guests out dog sledding caught a glimpse of one as it dashed off the trail and back into the woods.

January has been busy AND cold! I'd love to see some more snow but it really has snowed since the first week of January. JR has taken on the job of grooming the cross country ski trails around the resort--I'm glad he enjoys the job because I'm certainly not very good at operating the controls!

Daisy the Wonder Dog has been busy sledding with the guests--she's not shy about asking anyone to play with her either and she'll select a sled from our collection and take it to the top the hill. If you've ever done the hill here, you know the walk back up to the top is so much fun but when you are playing with Daisy the job is just a little bit easier because she brings the sled up for you.

01/01/08 - Happy New Year! A great day to be outside! Had fun skiing with our guests.

12/25/07 - Merry Christmas One and All! It has been a WONDERFUL white Christmas here with our guests--thanks for making it so memorable.

12/24/07
Late this afternoon I snuck away from the resort and got to see what it was like to groom a snowmobile trail--my first time out--here we are going down the Stony Spur Trail--it was a great day to be out and the trees along the trail were covered with snow and the skies were blue!

12/22/07
All's quiet in the lodge, the snow is falling (click here for a view out my window!), our guests have arrived for the holidays and Dean is singing "what do I care" and it seems fitting. My boys are out grooming the Stony Spur Snowmobile Trail, the girls are all out in the lodge sleeping in front of the fire and I'm taking advantage of the calm. I think Gary is wondering where the presents are...there are a few under the tree but he has not yet found where I hid them! We've had three days of warm and moist air-everything has a magical quality covered by hoar frost.

12/19/07
Congratulations to Kari and Pierre, who were here on their honeymoon after being married on Saturday on the shore of Lake Superior in the middle of a snow storm.

12/15/07
Waiting to see what this winter will bring-we've had some early snow which is nice to see but I'm a bit nervous because it came before we had really good ice on the lake. Here at the lodge we are ready for the holidays--many of you have asked what it's like here in the winter and of course I've told you "winter is best!" the trees are decorated (10 of them), the holiday wreaths and swags are trimmed and hanging (22 of them-JR and I make them), the lights are strung and the end of my shopping list is in sight.

On the home front, the boys are both doing well. Gary has to take it "cool" but the main seems to be diminishing. He was told that he could have surgery but the doctor wants him to wait two months as it may get better-it seems like it was sound advice. JR is "fine" but is a little worried that he may not run track next year.

12/01/07
Oh baby! It's beautiful outside. Cold temps since Thanksgiving have helped to start freezing up the lake....need more but we are off to a nice start. It's snowing again today and we may see close to 10". This will be the 4th snowfall and I've officially broken in the snow shovels this winter!

Here at the resort, we're ready for the holidays....JR and I collected boughs for our holiday wreaths and swags. All of the straw is spread and everything is winterized. Thank you to everyone who has dropped us a note during the last month--as I make these entries, I tend to "forget" how many of you read them!

They say things come in 3s so we should be there for this series, but I think if I were keeping score this would be #14....Gary hurt is back just before Thanksgiving simply rinsing shampoo out while in the shower. I'm ready to close out 2007 and am hoping that 2008 is eventless. My biggest accomplishment since my last entry is that I have FINALLY unpacked the last box in Gary's shop and he says it's just like Christmas having all of this things unpacked. The resort is ready for winter--the snowshoes and toboggans are out, all 30 bales of straw are spread so the septic systems are insulated. The only project we did not get finished is the new landscaping along the suites but that will need to be a spring project now.

11/20/07
Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!

11/12/07
An unusual couple of weeks have passed that I am glad to have behind me. Last Monday brought us our first measurable snow of the season and unfortunately, I forgot how to drive in the snow and had a not so minor accident on my way to Ely. Glad to report that JR was not hurt and I won't complain about my bumps and bruises. JR reported that conditions were just as bad again on Saturday while he and Gary were hauling sand and gravel--they called it quits when a friend nearly collided with them about a mile from the resort. The guys are working to fix the hill along the suites that were damaged in September/October with the nearly 30" of rain that we received. Last weekend Gary and I dug in drain tile off of the rain gutters and now we are reinforcing the hilly slopes with more fill.

A little bit of ice is along the edge of the lake each morning, nothing permanent yet. Saturday's snow was beautiful-big wet flakes blanketed the trees and covered everything. Much of it appears to have melted overnight.

Thursday, I discovered a "break in" at cabin #6. While attempting a temporary repair of the broken window, I discovered that the culprit was still inside. Follow these links and you'll see that my intruder was able to escape unharmed! Intruder #1 Intruder #2

Very happy to report that JR's football injury will NOT require surgery. He hurt his knee when a bunch of the guys picked up a game after school. The official report is that he sprained his ACL and probably has a very small fracture. He's enjoyed having "time off" from his usual chores around the resort.

Finished painting the interior of cabin #11 last week--all 7 rooms/hallways are finished! Now, I'm hoping to move into cabin #12 and finish it before Thanksgiving arrives. The resort is nearly "ready for winter". Our only remaining winter prep project is to cover the septic systems with straw.

10/15/07
Another 3.75" of rain last week. This morning after Gary left for work I heard a couple of fox just across the channel. We've had a red fox with white tipped tail visit us twice last week and I had a pine marten on the back patio. There are a LOT of deer and even more grouse-seems like you see at least 3 or 4 every time you go out the driveway. On a return trip from Ely one evening last week, I slowed down for what I thought was a pair of deer coming up out of the ditch but quickly realized it was two young timber wolves. They trotted down Highway 21 in front of us for about a quarter mile before they stopped, turned around and watched us before deciding to get off of the highway. Still hear the loons occasionally. Quite a few ducks below behind the channel.

Congrats to Kelly, Mary Bess, Jan and Pat who just redeemed their free two night stay!

Woke up early Saturday morning, set out with a fresh cup of coffee (that's my occasional escape) and went for a short drive and watched the sun break through the fog. The tamaracks were golden and frosted-glorious! Not a lot of leaves left on the trees-still a few yellow birches painting the shoreline.

Book Review: Just finished reading Greg Iles True Evil novel. Enjoyed the story and the characters. Now, I've picked up a copy of Marker by Robin Cook. Probably shouldn't have picked out something with another clinical theme but the introduction sounded like another fun read.

Dan and friends were back this weekend for their fall camping break-to be that young again...the frosty overnight temps did not get in their way-they weren't even tempted by Gary's offer to "camp" out in a cabin instead!

The lake is REALLY up this fall. We had to move the firepit for the suites this weekend because the original area is now under water. We'll pull the docks in on Saturday.

Spent a good portion of last week working away in cabin #11--painting the kitchen and the downstairs bathroom. Next week I'll finish up with the master bedroom, the upstairs hallway and bathroom. Then on to cabin #12. Both cabins now have all new dishes and cookware.

10/08/07
I'm back....I hope....I'll try! After hearing from yet another guest today that they miss my updates to this journal. So, for all of you faithful readers thanks for hanging in there and for being so patience.

Welcome to the family Baby Joey!

I love a rainy day-especially when I can be in the lodge and listening to the rain falling on the steel roof BUT enough already. Since the first week of September by my rain gauge we have had 24" of rain. The lake is really high-in fact it is coming up and over the peninsula. Our biggest rainfall was 11+ A HUGE thank you goes out to Wayne, Barb, Selma and Warren for jumping in and helping me take the Bongo out of the lake this year. I was geared up to take on the task by myself and suddenly I had 4 wonderful volunteers.

The 5 seasonal cabins are closed for the season, the motors are winterized so we are almost ready for winter. I'll have to wait until spring to put the new carpet in cabin #5.

JR played football again this year for Ely (JV and C squad). His season is almost wrapped up. I managed to sneak away and get to almost all of his-I don't know a lot about football but I sure have fun watching....brought Pepper to a late afternoon home game. She loves watching the ball but really wants to be on the field playing with the kids.

So, why the long lasp? Summer #7 proved to be "interesting" and for those of you who were with us through these "interesting" times right now, you can sit back and chuckle knowing that you KNOW the rest of the story! Fortunately, I can now sit back and chuckle....wish I could write a book! Staffing was definitely a challenge this summer. JR worked "solo" on the grounds this year and on Saturday's with no outside help after about the third week of June. What a great kid! I started out with 12 housekeepers but was down to 5 by the middle of June....that's actually typical. A big thank you to Wendy for helping me out through August. Bottom line, just too busy and there were not enough hours in my day.

08/14/07
Took in the annual Perseid meteor shower last night-there was just a little bit of meteror viewing when I went out at 11:45. Congrats to Sherm and Vicky who recently redeemed their free two night stay!

Welcome to the family baby Mya! Congrats to Dawn and Rod who are expecting their first child-Rod, I bet you can't wait to show this little one how to bait a hook!

Congrants to Marc and Heather--they are getting married! See you next July.

06/10/07
Busy, busy! It's been impossible to sit down at my desk (obviously since my last entry was 04/25) but we have completed almost all of our spring projects (some planned, others....a little unexpected) here at the resort. We've done new carpet and vinyl, new plumbing fixtures and replaced a couple of decks too. The "to do list" is almost complete. The lake is really up right now and the rain gauge said 6" last week and it's a treat to have blue skies again today. Guests have had a little fishing success in between our rain showers. The walleyes are hitting a bit and the bass action has been phenomenal. Spent last night on the dock with a Ryan and Isaac (even JR joined in on the action) teaching them my fishing secrets-they had fun and congrats to Ryan who can now bait his own hook and release his own fish! I think that JR and I will take the kayaks down the river today. Gary and JR have been busy building their "dive boat" and JR and I spent a little time out on the lake with his dive gear last week. The water should be warm enough this week to get the Bongo and swim rafts out on the water.

04/25/07
Looks like the ice is out! I think the last "ice berg" just drifted past! The lake looks like it has returned to normal levels- it's right up to the edge of the docks. The creek is flowing fast and sounds like a series of rapids as is flows past cabin #1 and down into the lake. Spring is here!

04/21/07
The loons are home! I heard them calling during the middle of the night last night and this morning I went down to the lake and was greeted by our resident pair of loons! Congrats to Mike and Doug who have decided to set claim to their own piece of heaven up on the Echo Trail.

04/19/07
On Monday morning I saw a pair of robins that afternoon the channel opened up enough to fill up with a variety of ducks. Tuesday morning I noticed a pair of swans in the channel. Spring! Can't wait to hear the loons again. It's that time of year when we try to tackle all sorts or resort projects-remodeling projects inside and out. Today's fun project is removing the old tile and grout around the fireplace in cabin #11. As soon as the temps are a little bit warmer I have a few outside painting jobs to tackle before opener. JR and Gary have been busy cutting a lot of firewood.

04/09/07
Where's spring? Another "winter" storm is in our forecast! Gary and JR are clearly getting ready for open water-this weekend they started working on their "dive boat" (a large pontoon boat that they bought last fall) they've completely taken it apart and are building a new deck and steering console for it. I think I've been recruited to help with the carpet installation and painting! I think that the entire family is ready for open water-starting to wonder when ice out will be this year.

03/28/07
Another moose on the loose! JR saw a moose this morning along Highway 21 while riding the bus to school.

03/26/07
March has delivered the most snow we've seen all winter-too little, too late. Of course, it hasn't stayed on the ground very long with our warm weather. It's 70 degrees today and it feels GREAT! The snow is nearly gone and I'm ready for spring. It's been warm the last week so we've already dug into a few spring clean up projects as we prepare for our 7th summer season here at the resort. Saw a moose again right on Highway 21 this weekend! Looked like a calf or a very small cow and it stayed right along the side of the road eating for more than an hour. Most of our guests this weekend even saw it. The track season is underway for JR so he's been busy preparing for their first meet.

03/13/07
I think the season is about over for all of our winter activities and even I'm ready for longer sunny days and warm temps. I've sent Gary and JR to Florida for a week! A spontaneous decision that wasn't too hard for me to make. Gary still wants to "retire" some day in Florida (he's still trying to convince me-I don't know if I could stand the heat!) and JR is showing a strong interest in commercial diving so they are checking out a couple of schools and of course the Florida real estate market mixed with a little time on the beach. There just didn't seem to be a good time to get away this year with the resort and the weather. Plus, Daisy had a little accident on Sunday and have to have stitches AGAIN so I'll be nursing a wounded dog. So, the project list is long for this week (spring cleaning, painting a couple of rooms in our living quarters, cleaning cabins/suites (of course!), eliminating the mound of paperwork on my desk and of course just enjoying a little quiet time at the resort). If it doesn't snow during the next week, I should be able to check off everything on my list.

02/28/07
Oops! Gary had a "little" accident with my truck as we were going to a meeting tonight-hit the biggest deer I have ever seen and made a mess of my truck just a couple of miles from the resort. Another first.

02/23/07
It's finally snowing this week. I would normally say "too little too late" but I think that we badly need the moisture so let it snow! Even though we have finally snapped out of this winter's cold spell everyone is still watching their cabins and systems to try and prevent things from freezing up. We have truly been fortunate this winter and have only had a couple of close calls with the water lines leading into the lodge.

Pepper Goes Ice Fishing! Well, sort of. A couple of our guests decided to try their luck ice fishing this past week in the channel just below the lodge. Pepper tagged along and confused the ice fishing rod for a stick....SORRY! Everyone swears they had more fun playing tag with Pepper (trying to get the rod back) than ice fishing-course they never did manage to drill through the ice to try fishing.

02/16/07
Our cold weather continues, but I must have acclimated. This morning I made my morning rounds to the cabins and suites around 5am and thought that it felt pretty warm out but a quick peak at the thermometer said it was -14. Certainly better than -28! Near dawn, the dogs all perked up so I went to the front door and found 7 deer at the deck looking back at me. Even the animals are taking note of the warmer weather. Looking back at my journal entry of exactly one month ago I see we had -30 and I thought "finally" winter temps. Today, I'm thinking enough already!

02/15/07
Where's the snow? Sounds like New York! Here in Ely we've been robbed so far this winter with no measurable snow since New Year's. I've given up on trying to groom and maintain the Bear Island Ski trail as there is so little to work with and the snow is so hard packed that it can't be tracked very well. The cold has actually been an advantage for the snowmobile trails as they are still in fair/good conditions.

02/12/07
Picture This: It's the middle of what feels like a long cold winter (reality check, it has been cold for a while now), I'm tucked away in my warm bed, sleeping soundly and I find myself abruptly and completely awake. I lay in bed with my eyes closed, listening. I don't hear a sound but know that something woke me up. Suddenly, I feel a warm breath directly over my face and a noise. I still don't move but I open my eyes and peak at the clock to find that it's 3:45am and when I look up I see this HUGE shadow looming over my head. The average person might think its an intruder, but in our house it's just Pepper standing beside the bed letting you know that she desperately needs to get outside for nature's call. Anyone who owns a Great Dane (or any dog for that matter) knows that you are instantly wide awake and running for the door! So, here it is 4am and there's no way I can get back to sleep and such begins another day.

02/12/06
Another full weekend where everyone visiting the resort was able to pursue their winter passion. We had folks snowshoeing, xc skiing, dog sledding and snowmobiling. Guests saw a large wolf this morning while out skiing on the lake and Gary saw two moose just at the edge of the driveway. The wolves were howling at dusk this evening and tonight JR and I took advantage of the warmer temps and the full moon and skied the lake loop at 8:30...very nice!

02/07/06
There were no northern lights out tonight but there was an interesting halo around the moon caused by ice crystals and cold temperatures. This year's Winter Festival themed Snow and Ice Paradise was, I think, the best one yet. The snow sculptures were GREAT and JR and I had a very hard time trying to choose a favorite. We especially enjoyed Brrrrrrrribbit (frogs and cat tails), The Heck with Hibernating (3 bears enjoying a hot tub and beverages click here for Photo I and again for Photo II) and finally a sculpture with a dog theme and this section shows Fido head first in a log. I'm always in awe of the creative talents of others. Everyone-professionals and ameteurs alike did an amazing job this year.

01/23/06
It's snowing again today-enormous wet flakes! Congratulations to Craig and Sandy who are here celebrating their 25th wedding anniversary and Jeff and Brenda who are celebrating their 3rd wedding anniversary (Jeff caught an AMAZING 40" Northern Pike while ice fishing). The 5th annual Northwoods Storytelling Retreat hosted by local author and story teller Kevin Strauss took place this weekend here at the resort with a live concert last night at the International Wolf Center-several of our guests were able to attend. I recommend his both his CD recordings and books! Our guests this weekend spent time outdoors snowmobiling, xc skiing or snowshoeing and shared GREAT trail reports.

Check This Out: Obsessive Compulsive Fishing (O.C.F.) is a wide spread condition that many are "afflicted with" but here in Ely we've decided to recognize and accept this condition. So, if you enjoy the lingering smell of fish of your finger tips, get "stuck" out on the lake or own more fishing rods than shoes than a spring fishing trip to Northern Lights Lodge should be part of your "4-Step Plan" this spring. Give Marie a call, check out our O.C.F. page on our site or the link above to our local chamber of commerce site and learn more about the celebrated condition of Obsessive Compulsive Fishing (O.C.F.)!

01/17/06
During the past month, quite a few of you have taken the time to inquire about "Mikey". For those of you who have met/heard Mike you either loved his quirky antics or you didn't. So, if you are in need of your "Mikey Fix" you can find him back, live on the air, during his new internet based radio broadcast at www.boundarywatersradio.com.

What a great experience we shared this weekend when we hosted Polar Bear Camp! We had an absolutely wonderful group of sixth graders here for a enriching winter weekend full of dog sledding, snowshoeing, outdoor cooking, sauna time, and plenty of sledding! I think that everyone had a memorable experience that they will cherish for a lifetime.

A recent guest, Charles Brittain Fleming, was kind enough to share is creative works that include poetry, stories, a blog and favorites. I had fun reviewing his site and the photos from his other recent trips. I'm always in awe of the talents of others and wish I were better at making time to pursue some of my own!

01/09/06
I've set out to make 2006 a year of firsts for me and I think I'm off to a good start. It has taken me nearly four years but tonight I saw my first moose...no wait...not just one moose, I saw two! Coming home from town I found a cow and her calf near the end of our driveway! Like a typical visitor to our area, I sat there and watched the two of them for about 10 minutes before the walked off into the woods. On Sunday night I stepped into my first pair of cross country skis and JR gave me my first lesson. He says I did well, I "skied" the entire lake loop here at the resort and managed to fall four times-but I got back up and kept on going. We had a blast!

01/06/06
Winter fun...our guests this week were treated to a moose sighting while skiing the Bear Island Lake ski trail and we continue to hear the wolves howling at night between 9 and 11pm. Our temps have dropped off again-what a relief! Now if we could just get some more snow.

12/23/05
Restless in the Northwoods! I'm not sure how much sleep anyone on this end of the lake got last night. The wolves were in full chorus and they started howling at about 10:45pm and they kept it up off and on all night. I don't think Daisy slept a wink all night. Well, I think we are ready for Christmas and winter: the lights are up, holiday treats have been made, the resort and cabins are decorated for the holidays, the lake is marked for the snowmobilers who are soon to arrive, the cross country ski trails are groomed/packed....maybe it's time for a nap in front of the fireplace!

12/19/05
Congratulations to Susan and Peter who are spending their honeymoon at Northern Lights Lodge this week! Today JR and I finished clearing the Bear Island Ski Trail all the way back into Perch Lake. Yeah! Once we got there we also packed a trail along the entire shoreline of the lake. What a pretty lake-not a single house on the lake and amazing huge rocks along the shore. We'll be packing both the Bear Island Trail and Perch Trail throughout the week! Now, we just need a little more snow to cover the last of the rocks that were still showing.

12/17/05
Today we tested the ice thickness and staked the snowmobile trail across the lake. The ice was between 9" and 12" thick at each of our test sites! Gary spent about 20 hours grooming the snowmobiling trails near the resort this fall! This afternoon JR and I packed a cross country ski trail along the shore of the lake-this is gonna be fun!

11/14/05
There was ice on our end of the lake this morning! We got another dusting of snow over the weekend much to the joy of all of our weekend guests. With more snow in the forecast it's beginning to look like we'll have a white Thanksgiving this year. This is the year that I'm going to learn how to cross country ski!

10/24/05
As Gary and I cleaned up the last of the leaves with the leaf blowers today, I had to chuckle at just how much Daisy must miss all of the activity of the summer/fall season. Daisy was so desperate to play with a tennis ball that she kept tossing the ball into the path of leaf blower because she figured out that it would roll off and get covered in leaves-giving her something to chase after and retrieve. Needless to say, she kept up the pace for almost 2 hours.

10/13/05
The wolves have been very active this past week. We have seen a pack along Highway 21 numerous times and even in the driveway twice. They were howling "under the moon" just the other night for nearly twenty minutes. Perhaps it has something to do with the increased number of deer we have been seeing in and near the resort. Gary and I have both been catching glimpses of buck with an amazing rack in the driveway. Our resident mule deer has been spotted repeatedly with both of her fawns.

10/07/05
Winter is in the air, but there is still at least one loon on the lake! The seasonal cabins have been closed for the winter and the docks have been pulled in. All of the firewood is cut and stacked, the leaves have dropped and we've already raked up the leaves and pine needles. Bring on the snow! Plenty of wolves howling the last two nights. Gary encountered a pack of wolves in the middle of the driveway midmorning last week. Our friendly SirSpeedy delivery guy stopped for a bull moose just as he was approaching driveway....timing is everything.

Check this Out: If you happen to be passing through Decorah IA be sure to take a lunch or dinner break at the Dayton House Cafe' located at 516 West Water Street-across the street from the Museum.. Chef and owner Andrew Shawver stayed with us this fall and treated us to several of his bread creations....FANTASTIC!

09/15/05
Well, I now have a full time partner in this resort business....Gary has retired from his other full time job in Wisconsin and is now here with me at the resort full time. Yeah! No more plumbing repairs for me!! Our immediate plan is to finally finish the inside of our shop (probably so Gary has a place to hide out this winter!).

09/10/05
A special thank you to Barb and Wayne for the beautiful Chickadee bird house they made! With what looks to be an extended fall season, the birds will have plenty of time to move in before the cold weather arrives.

08/05
Cabin 6 was treated to the grunting of a black bear just after 10pm. The bear must have been just passing through as it did not disturb anyone (or anything) else that night.

07/10/05
A spectacular 4th! Looks like everyone had a fun celebrating the 4th again this year and guests enjoyed the Ely parade, Bear Island Lake Flotilla and of course the fireworks! Even though we had a few quick and short sprinkles, it was a great day to be outdoors. JR and I especially had fun at this week's double feature movie night. It's been plenty warm this week and everyone has spent extra time in the water. We've been treated to several black bear sightings and wolf howling sessions. Russ and Bell were out late enough last night (2am) to see their first Northern Lights!

07/02/05
Reunited! Today I had the privilege of meeting Mike (a former NLL employee) and Brenda (a past NLL guest). Mike and his wife first met when his wife's family vacationed here at Northern Lights Lodge. Over the years, they stayed in touch. Mike, now 28, was home visiting Ely for his 10 year high school reunion and worked here when he was 13 years old for the Rusk family. Thank you for sharing your special story!

06/19/05
Congratulations to Will and Chris who got engaged during their stay last week here at Northern Lights! We wish you all the best!

06/17/05
The painted turtles have been busy during the past week digging holes and laying eggs. So far JR and I have come upon 17 of them and our guests and their children were able to observe them. The past three nights there has been a chorus of loons announcing the arrival of their babies. During the early hours of the morning you can hear them calling to each from across the lake. I'm excited because this is only the second year that the pair that nests below the lodge has been seen with its chick. Yesterday at about 4am there was a heavy fog drifting over the water and the loon's calls were echoing from shore to shore. Guests this week were treated to numerous sightings of the adult loons carrying their young on their backs. The Northern Flicker returned to its tree just off of Cabin #12's deck and this week their eggs hatched. The lake is warming up nicely and this week we were able to put the Bongo out on the lake, even our guests from Texas ventured in the water this week!

06/03/05
Our "family" has grown again and it really does feel like there is a baby in the house. We now have a Great Dane named Pepper. She's just 5 weeks old and is Merle colored. Daisy seems content to have someone else to play with and Goldie seems to roll her eyes as if to say "another one". We'll post some photos soon.

05/27/05
A week of blue skies and warmer temperatures seemed to bring all sorts of birds in great numbers to the feeders: Rose-breasted and Evening Grossbeaks, Blue Jays, Purple Finches, Yellow Goldfinches, Ruby-Crowned Kinglets, Ruby-Throated Hummingbirds, Scarlet Tanagers, and of course plenty of Nuthatches and Chickadees. We've even been able to spot Belted Kingfishers and we can hear the Grouse drumming all through the woods. There seems to be a large number of Pileated Woodpeckers this spring and it has not been unusual to 2 or even 3 on one tree. There have been plenty of Common Goldeneye, Mallards, and Mergansers. We are also still seeing a few Gray Owls.

05/17/05
With another fishing opener behind us, mother nature delivered a taste of all four season over the course of the weekend. None the less, guests braved the elements and a few were rewarded with bass and crappies, but the Walleyes seemed to be suspended at about 28'. Had a second visit last night from a black bear, she likes black sunflower seeds. Saw a wolf last week crossing Highway 21.

04/18/05
Ice out happened over night or early in the morning on the 14th/15th. I think everyone was expecting a later ice out with all of the snow we had this winter. Spring may have arrived early this year, but today it feels like summer. It's 84 outside and the skies are blue. The frogs are awake and busy in the pond. It's count down to the Fishing Opener now.

04/14/05
Ice out can't be far away, today I heard the loons for the first time! The channel has been open for almost a week. The merganser have been in the channel since the water opened up.

04/01/05
Spring is near. The temperatures are warming up and the snow is melting. Awaiting ice out and all signs of spring.

02/10/05
This winter has been a BLAST! The snow has been consistent and the conditions are prime for every activity. JR is taking cross country ski lessons. The snowmobile trails have been in good condition all winter. The Ely and Babbitt clubs are doing a great job grooming. JR and I have been riding the trails quite a bit this winter-he's the trail expert so I let him navigate and I simply follow! We're staying busy with dog sledding day trips and rides from the lodge. JR is now mushing his own team (Daisy is jealous I'm sure).

01/17/05
Winter has settled in here in Ely and last weekend's guests at Northern Lights Lodge proved that winter really is best in the Northwoods! On Saturday everyone bundled up and enjoyed snowshoeing, ice fishing and snowmobiling even though temperatures stayed below zero. On Sunday afternoon, Bill Slaughter's Northwoods Guide Service brought two teams of dogs to the resort and everyone received an introduction to dog sledding with 20-30 minute rides around the islands of Bear Island Lake. Early this morning, temperatures dropped even lower to -51 and those of us who bravely stepped outdoors just before sunrise were treated to a colorful display of our namesake, the Northern Lights! Surely, this was the perfect ending to a long weekend in the Northwoods.

12/26/04
JR and I decided to take a break this afternoon and decided to go snowmobiling. It was a great first ride of the season with fresh snow and sunny blue skies. On our way back down to Bear Island Lake on the spur trail we spotted a doe and two fawns nestled into the hillside. They didn't mind our being there at all so we stopped and took a few pictures.

12/15/04
The moose herd is back! While walking with Daisy on the hiking trail on Sunday JR spot a moose calf just up ahead on the trail. Today, I was a little late getting out the driveway to meet JR's school bus so he started to walk in and saw a cow cross the driveway.

12/10/04
Last night we heard the wolves howling down somewhere near the narrows just below the rapids on the Bear Island River. This morning when we went out to wait for the school bus there were fresh wolf tracks in the driveway.

09/22/04
The fall colors are stunning once again and the maples are full of color. The birch trees are just starting their display. The driveway turns into a glowing tunnel this time of year. I think that the colors will reach peak later this year than expected. If the winds and rain hold off, there will be color for at least another week and a half.