Black's Cliff Birch Bark Blog

Excerpt: We have had a busy 48 hours. We took Ben to Saint Norbert for college orientation and while there got a call from Italy. Jake and Michelle got engaged while traveling. We could not be happier with both of these things happening. Ben is getting ready to go off and Jake and Michelle getting engaged. Big day for our... Read more

Excerpt: The Jacque boys better known as "Da Boys" from the previous entry on maple syrup spent a busy weekend catching anything with fins. This really nice bass was one of their favorites Then there was this nice basket of pan fish. Crappies, un fish and bluegill filled the net. Were they done..... would they give up....... Nope 9Pm my... Read more

Excerpt: One of our favorite treats of the year is when Luz Rose makes Floutas for us. Luz is from Columbia and makes authentic wonderful Floutas for us for lunch. When the family hears Luz is cooking everyone looks forward to lunch with Luz Steve and Pennies face say it all. Steve was not sharing with her no matter what... Read more

Excerpt: With fresh rain the resort is green and shinny with new buds popping up everywhere. We are ready for Memorial Day Weekend The Lillies of the Valley are in full bloom and the wind coming off the hillside is amazing with the smell Craig and Lynnette took a trip up to Lake Superior before the weekend and stopped in... Read more

Excerpt: It has been a rainy Memorial Day Weekend. We held off on putting a few boats in due to not wanting to bail them out. Ready to slip down the hill My delivery of maple syrup came this weekend with the Jacque boys. They make syrup with their mom and dad and I buy it from them. How can... Read more

Excerpt: Craig standing on his masterpiece Steve wrote a diddy for the day "Make a reservation to see the new dock in town, it is warm and has a sunny attitude and excellent lakeside manor" So in the spirit of Steve's inspiration I am offering a special this weekend. We have 4 cabins left, Wigwam, Holiday, Red Pine and Blackwood... Read more

Excerpt: I had to share Craig's new improvement to our dock. He installed a 9 foot bench. I think the dock has a lot more leg room and the ability for folks to sit and talk better. This will be the new hang out this summer. The bench needs a coat of stain but other than that it is ready... Read more

Excerpt: Unless you were a 24 inch fat northern, it was a great weekend to be at the resort. The fishing was hot. I have several groups sending me their fishing pictures. All the fish were headed to the spawning beds from bluegills, bass, northerns to crappie. The elusive muskie was not far behind but I did not hear of... Read more

Excerpt: Absolutely beautiful this morning and warming up after a cold weekend. Hopefully we have turned the corner on the cold stuff The Lilies of the Valley are popping out. They will be blooming soon with that amazing smell wafting off the hill Troy and I took a walk down our trail across the road from the resort. I wanted... Read more

Excerpt: The guys with Craig as the designer and master planner have been busy rebuilding out big swimming dock Here is the beginning of it Is it level? No idea but the lake is still cold First pallet going on Opps time for the saw, needs a little trimming I love it when a plan comes together. Many hours thinking... Read more

Excerpt: We are cooking down the final maple syrup. The trees are slowing down so that means green leaves are not far behind. Our cooker has gotten a grade of a B this year. It is slower than an open campfire put uses a lot less wood and attention Snow is just about gone except for snowbanks Kaubashine and Shamrocks... Read more

Excerpt: The Jung family was up at the resort with a Christmas theme this year. I never wonder if this family is having a good time. I hear next year the theme is Cinco De Mayo Happy to see families having fun. That is what the resort is all about! While they were having fun our family was busy getting... Read more

Excerpt: First for the pretty picture of the day. Katie, my sister, took this picture of Clear Lake in Woodruff on the Raven Trail. If you have not hiked the Raven Trail or stopped at the Clear Lake beach you are missing something. I wish our beach was like the Clear Lake Beach. Kudos to Katie for the great picture... Read more

Excerpt: Many guests have taken the time to do the Northwoods Zip Line in Minocqua. The Ament family had not done it yet but it was on Jaimie's Mother's Day bucket list of things to do with the family. Charlie and Noah were ready to go with mom. Nathan and Jamie had zip lined in Mexico and wanted to do... Read more

Excerpt: It was a beautiful weekend at the resort for campfires. I have to say that the above picture is only allowed if you are over 80 and our wood chairs are too hard for old muscles. The lady in the chair was sitting on the porch instead of joining her family by the fire due to her sore muscles... Read more

Excerpt: There is definitely something missing as you drive through our gate... It will look like this for a few weeks before it goes back together repainted The new poles for the triangle. The old ones had rotted through. Steve made sure these were completely dry before staining. The Raccoon in the middle is getting an overhaul and facelift before... Read more

Excerpt: The sun finally came out today after quite a few days of rain. While it was raining we finally had time to finish off our maple syrup. We came out with our biggest year of about 6 gallons of syrup. At 32 to 1 ratio that is a lot of buckets of sap boiled down. Finally all the cabin... Read more

Excerpt: More of that white stuff came down the last couple of days. It is pretty in October, November, December, January and February but today...... not so much..... Happily it should be melting by this weekend No docks are going in when it is this cold. Summer soon? With the white stuff outside in the late afternoons I have been... Read more

Excerpt: The lake froze back over last night and we got 5 inches of snow. By next weekend we are supposed to be almost 70 degrees and we can't wait! Swimming area once again a sheet of ice temporarily While it is cold outside we are boiling down 1/2 of our sap today into maple syrup. We expect the trees... Read more