From the Water

Cedaroma Lodge Lakefront Access

Yesterday in a random discussion with a guest I learned that they had difficulty finding Cedaroma Lodge on their way home the prior night. They stopped at one place who sent them the right direction and eventually found us.

So I went out and photographed the lodge from the lake so folks can study before they go out. We have lights and a set of red solar markers, but having a better idea before one starts off is likely more confidence building.

Here are the icons you will see from the lake:

• 4 similar cabins, one with the porch light on. Always. It’s a beacon
• Boats on shore, including several red & yellow kayak/SUP Boards tied down. Colorful indicators of home.
• Tracks. Yes, lots of tracks that lead right to us. I spent a bit of time walking around out on the lake and found us to look like a freeway coming into Cedaroma Lodge from the lake.
• Due South from the South Bay channel at Black Bear Lodge & the opening at Serenity Bay. Really. Straight South.
• If you do find yourself near our shore and aren’t sure, we are about 150 yards EAST (to your left) of the open water where the docks are still in the water.
• Retaining wall & colorful flags. We have that long retaining wall, about 3 feet high and 150 feet long. As long as the snow doesn’t get too high, this is very visible. We have marked the stairwells with flags for your safety.

Easy access from Cedaroma to the Little St. Germain Lake and all the trails that come off the lake, and from the land, you can catch the trails two houses over from us at South Bay Road.

I am looking at my dozen or so photos and everything does seem to look similar. But, with these few notes of things to look for you should be able to find us from the lake without too much difficulty. Happy Snowmobiling. I will post a sunnier photo next time I am out and photographing on a sunny day.

Little Buddies

Little buddies loving the snow

Every day we go out to play, take pictures, shovel walk ways, toss salt where needed and generally play in the snow. Today was no different in those tasks, but it was immensely better!

We Walked out on the ice a ways just to take some backwards photos of the property. Where we live seems pretty natural to us and I think it would be on a sled at night too, but the folks that visit are here on first trips and may not have that same confidence. I think I will give them a photo to identify us with.

On our way back we ran into our youngest guest. I had a little problem nailing his name too, but once i got it, I was charmed. Now Pretzel? He was a little standoffish, as he has been with new folks, but when our little guest started punching the snow Pretzel was enthralled. He started punching the snow himself, but with his snout. Funny! Funny! Without being intruisive and stagy, it was hard to get a great picture of them, playing, but it sure was made my day.

I am a published editor!

I am an Editor… in print!

Today’s mail contained a fantastic surprise from Jeannie Tasker, all the way from California. Jeannie sent me my own copy of the new Yosemite book put out by the park & the conservancy celebrating 150 years of Yosemite National Park with 150 personal stories from visitors like you and me.

Browsing these stories again reminded me of the many evenings I spent reading the original submissions last winter. What will I do with all that time this winter? I am thinking of taking a class through Nicolet College. One night a week, 3 hours and if they assign homework… That would fill the time nicely. Will have to see how that goes with our schedule, We are hoping to travel in April and classes continue into May. But it’s time to get out meeting folks with some similar interests. Maybe a short course for a first time out instead of a full semester. There are plenty to choose from!

 

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Boxing Day Drama

Really, there wasn’t any drama, but it made for a good title.

We have Cabin 7 rented to a big family starting today and they brought 4 sleds with them, trailered. Needless to say that corner as Cedaroma Drive reaches the lake is a tight one! And they didn’t make it. But Trusted John Deere did not let us down. The guest was able to back out of the half turn he was in and Victor came by with his Deere and cleared the rest of the area for him.

We had just had the conversation with yesterday’s wrap up on our next plowing mission to increase that area and expand some of the currently unplowed drives as all cabins this winter come with a minimum of a car and a trailer and the quickest way to turn someone into a one time guest instead of a many times over guest is to make it hard for them to get in and out. Not our style. So we have implemented half our new plow plan today! I wish it had been yesterday though.

Our snowmobiling guests will warm up quickly in their warm cabin and enjoy the tray of homemade cookies we put out.

This trailer is so big it doesn’t even fit in the picture! Holds up to 5 sleds.

Drama would have been if Victor wasn’t here. I think I better learn how to use the tractor.

Play Day!

Dark Rider and his dog named Pretzel

After a morning of plowing for Victor and housekeeping for me, we had a bit of a play-day. Victor suited up and road the snowmobile over to the Den and I met him there in the Kia. Pretzel joined us and met a cute 9 year old short legged dog of the same coloring named Hanna. They got on swimmingly, which is better than how he got on with our neighbors big malamute, Harley!

We had a beer and went home for the afternoon where we worked on projects and took a long Christmas afternoon nap. Our wood burning fireplace burped all the smoke into our room and we nearly choked, but made it through that.

A return trip to the Den that evening to hear some open mic and meet some guys named Mike. It was a very sweet way to spend a very special day. Thanks to everyone we met, you were all way cool!

My 2013 Surprise Christmas

Neal and Victor. Merry Christmas from Jim & Sue!

I enjoyed an expected Christmas today. Our friend Jim hosted a holiday luncheon party at the  Den and invited many of the regulars to join him and his wife in a celebration of the season. It was a grand party, attended by a few very special people. The food was native to Jim’s childhood neighborhood in Michigan and delicious. He was even sensitive to my vegan diet. Thanks Jim.

The bar was open to our wildest choice of concoctions. I had beer. Victor did too. Then, Sue played Mrs. Santa and gifts came out for each of us. Incredibly, each was perfectlyl chosen for each of our personalities. I was so very touched. Hat, Scarf & Gloves. I immediately retired the unmatched and holed set to Victor. A beer brewing kit for a guy who loves to creat in the kitchen… Brilliant!

Cheers to Jim, Sue and all of our friends at the Den! You all rock.

Moving day… Again!

Meet Pretzel, the newly named puppy

Yesterday we moved back up by the main house. Our favorite cabin, 7, is rented this coming week. I love our little space up here, cute as a button… but very cold. So today we went to the hardware store to get what we needed to install one of those baseboard heaters. I like t

hem much better than the little fan heaters, I always think those are going to get hot, tip over and start a fire, especially with a new puppy in the house. Who, by the way, got his name today. Pretzel

So, I get a little heat and the dog gets a name. It’s a good day!

New Dog Week

Monday on my way home from the Upthagrove Family Christmas weekend I was allowed to pick up our new rescue dog, a week earlier than anticipated.

The new puppy loves snow, but not picking a name!

The puppy’s “rescue name” is Jack, but we will come up with a personallity based name. We have spent the week so far learning the puppy and him us. We have brought out our best names and presented them again and again. Yet he remains straight faced about all of them. Non committal. It’s very frustrating, some of the names have been good ones.

We brought the naming project to our facebook fan page, http://www.Facebook.com/Cedaroma and received over 200 name suggestions reaching over 3400 people. It was an exciting week for us online, but “dog” remains unconvinced. We have put a deadline on the naming project at Monday. A week is long enough. If he doesn’t help pick a name, we will just assign one. I suppose that is how most people do it anyway, though in 3 dogs, I have not. Bob, Goose….and TBA.

To be continued….

Find ME!

So I have this great new phone, I can talk a search. So I click the button for a Location Search and say:

“Find Lodging Near Me”

It finds 11 great places to stay, of which Cedaroma Lodge is not included.

Hmmmm. I am sitting AT Cedaroma Lodge. Couldn’t be closer.

What’s the deal? Google Search Fail.

This problem has been going on since we bought Cedaroma Lodge in  July 2012.
Any ideas how to fix this?