Black's Cliff Birch Bark Blog

Excerpt: It is officially spring and we have tapped our 43 trees. Waiting for warmer temps to get the trees flowing this week. We have had some minor runs of a couple of gallons but the weather looks much better starting today for sap running The dogs were intrigued by the Martin family ice fishing last week The snow on... Read more

Excerpt: A few updates.. I do not put much on the blog about my health but wanted everyone to know all is well I finished chemo Feb 3rd and start radiation next week In between the two we took a trip to Tucson to see our middle son Ben and his wife Ali in Tucson. Our youngest son Grant and... Read more

Excerpt: We lost a great guest and friend this week, Dan Christian. After a long battle with cancer, Dan passed on Monday. Dan started coming to the resort with his parents, Wills and Lou Christian. I looked back in our records and I can't find their first year which means its far back. I remember as a child Wills and... Read more

Excerpt: So far storm has not been too bad. We got 6 inches of light fluffy snow last night. No winds so far but that is supposed to change tonight Oogie out trying to catch the snow from the snow blower. He thinks its a great new game Best purchase of the year is a Toro electric snow shovel. I... Read more

Excerpt: I have debated sharing my health issue on the Blog. Most of our guests who have visited from early August until now have heard. I am currently 1/2 way through treatment and feel it is time to share so everyone understands as they visit why I may be tired, wearing a mask or sporting a new hair style with... Read more

Excerpt: We got some beautiful sticking snow last night about 10 inches. It made for great pictures around the resort as we shoveled out Oogie was having fun checking out all the thick white stuff outside. We bought a new electric power shovel and he was trying to catch the snow as it flew One of my favorite pictures of... Read more

Excerpt: It has been really starting to look and feel like winter. I heard from an ice fisherman that we have 6 - 8 inches of ice on the lake I wait a bit longer to venture out on the lake. I heard a few walleye's were the reward for early ice fishing on the lake Boats hibernating for winter... Read more

Excerpt: Oogie would like everyone to know we got some great snow to play in He also would like to report the ice is not quite safe as he took a very cold ice plunge next to shore. We think he might have learned a lesson in staying off the ice for awhile yet It was a heavy wet snow... Read more

Excerpt: I was a little under the weather this week so pictures of our deer hunters and Thanksgiving guests did not happen like usual Sunrise just before the big hunt The Evan's family has been hunting with us for 20 years or so. They hunt the land across the road and got a nice 8 point buck this year Congrats... Read more

Excerpt: We have been talking for about 3 years of expanding the office into the old sauna. First we needed to build an area for our cleaning supplies which we did last fall. Next was the new sauna arriving and putting in our electric car chargers. We finished those projects in August Now it was time to convert the sauna... Read more

Excerpt: First of all the big news of the neighborhood. There was a moose on the loose. This young male moose browsed through the neighborhood yards. He grazed got his picture taken and was in no hurry to move on Troy and I got no closer than this as stories of charging moose came to my mind. We sat and... Read more

Excerpt: Yep Oogie is getting bigger and he still thinks he is a lap dog. He has been loving all the kids at the resort this summer and they him I am more happy than you can ever know that I got him earlier than I thought. He has had a great summer adjusting in to being a resort dog... Read more

Excerpt: This picture explains why being at the resort and sharing family time is so special Dawn who spent many summers at the resort watching us as kids, then many summers with her own boys at the resort vacationing, is now sharing one of her favorite spots with her granddaughter Rose. John her oldest stopped in with Dawn to say... Read more

Excerpt: Its been beautiful weather at the lake. Not too hot and not to cold as the rest of the country has been baking It feels like we have been in puppy fest. Ben and Ali brought their new corgi to the resort to meet Oggie. It was 2 days of puppy wrestling Lots of dog pics, yep cause that... Read more

Excerpt: Mack would like everyone to know he is doing good with the puppy. He does not love him but considers him part of his pack. He does love the toys Oogie comes with. He claims a few and Oogie knows old dog gets first pick Mack especially enjoys walks were he is off leash and the Oogie is in... Read more

Excerpt: There has been a bit going on in the last week an a half. We welcomed this ball of energy to the resort. Oogie Boogie, Oogie for short arrived and not much sleep was had for a week. Lots of time on the grass convincing him to pee outside. So far so good. The little bugger is doing well... Read more

Excerpt: It was a great 4th in the Northwoods. Unfortunately one thing that is not good around the 4th is the internet and dropped calls. There have been no blog entries due to the clogged up internet from a very full Northwoods with a few too many people for a few days. But we all had fun I had fun... Read more

Excerpt: Nothing starts out a good morning like relaxing in perfect chair with fishing pole Just as perfect Meanwhile at the main docks there was a lot going on picking the perfect worm Grandpa Rich was giving the tips to Amelia, Graham and little Miller. Miller was getting casting guidance from Grandpa. Later as it warmed up Eleanor was trying... Read more

Excerpt: We get all sorts of visitors at the resort. This little snapping turtle was in my garden. I gave him a lift in the right direction back to the lake Much larger version was photographed by Anne Kurtz by Holiday. We do not get the big ones up in the resort very often. I think it was looking for... Read more

Excerpt: Summer is here! Iris's blooming at sunset. I wish these flowers bloomed all summer long Troy took this great shot at the beach. Butterflies and humming birds are back Fish have been biting. This nice 15 inch crappie was one of the best of the spring caught by Paul Steinmetz Paul had a busy week cleaning fish We had a... Read more