Black's Cliff Birch Bark Blog

Excerpt: Instead of showing the dusting of snow that came down last night, I have chosen instead to show the change in color on the other side of the lake. Finally it is not looking stark white. Temps are rising to 60 and maybe GASP 70 next week. That will move the ice along very fast. We are looking at... Read more

Excerpt: I hope this is the last time I report snow fall til next November. We got another inch of it... More pretty icicles to take pics of They got over a foot of snow just north of us, so we have something to be thankful for. It could have been worse I had to yell down at Cliff that... Read more

Excerpt: It has been slowly dripping today. It almost seems like it might be spring, but we have been tricked into believing that before Cliff had some visitors today Kathy and Randy stopping into to take pictures of Cliff for their grand daughter I think Cliff was headed into hibernation and was happy for the visit Cliff's comment to Randy... Read more

Excerpt: Eagles Nest in the snow 4th coldest April on record. Yep, I would believe it. We got an additional 2 inches of snow last night. Maple Trees have again shut down. One sign of spring was the raccoon's in the bird feeder last night. They have had a rude awakening. Talking with many resort owners worried about opening on... Read more

Excerpt: Is there snow in the Northwoods? Is the pope catholic? Of course we have another storm predicted for the end of the week just to keep us on our toes How is Cliff doing at his post? The lake is solidly white and it is a long haul ahead Cliff looking a little dejected with the weather report. I... Read more

Excerpt: I took this picture Saturday afternoon when we received the first 3 inches of snow. This is my trail to some of our maple taps across the road. Saturday amongst the snow a few of the trees were still flowing, just enough to keep us cooking. When the real storm showed up on Sunday afternoon they all shut down... Read more

Excerpt: As I type, I can hear the shovel scraping as Troy shovels the front walk yet again. We did not get 11 inches of snow, but about 3. 3..... 11 in April is there really a difference? All this snow has continued to keep the guys inside. My office is getting puttied and varnished. Steve has been on a... Read more

Excerpt: Big Congrats to Aqil and Laurie Kahn who got married this weekend. Laurie and her family have been coming to the resort since her grandfather Wills discovered the resort I believe dating back to the 60's. I babysat for Laurie and her 3 sisters and she is the last one to get married. Congrats to Laurie and Aqil! Last... Read more

Excerpt: This slow sluggish spring has been good for one thing "Sapping." The maple trees have been slowly waking up and dripping. The snow and rain the last 2 days has not slowed things down. This morning we got over 2 buckets of sap from 35 or so trees. Some are not producing any yet and some trees are in... Read more

Excerpt: Words escape me this morning. We are retreating to the woodstove with Mexican Chicken Stuffed Shells, 2 DVS's The Hobbit and Life of Pi, and my knitting needles and Troy's Ipad and we may make it through the weekend.... Read more

Excerpt: Just as I was grumbling about winter never ending while drinking coffee, watching the weather man say 2- 4 inches of snow Friday a flock of birds invaded our feeder. Spring is always fun to see the different birds that stop through. I missed a picture earlier in the morning of 4 grouse stopping in but got the camera... Read more

Excerpt: In the hope that spring has sprung we have gotten our maple cooking pots out. So far we have collected about 4 gallons of sap. Not quite enough to get the cookers going. The trees the last 3 days have shut back down along with the temps. Wednesday looks like it is the start of warmer temps in the... Read more