Black's Cliff Birch Bark Blog

Excerpt: It was the traditional vacation birthday party for Gloria and Melanie. Every year they start out their vacation blowing out candles. This year it was chocolate cake and cheese cake Out on the porch the Gogo party started up where it was left off this winter. Sarah was the queen of the Gogo's ready to teach Matt and Matt... Read more

Excerpt: It is always interesting to see how vehicles arrive packed to the gills. Tom Hixson's suburban put a new meaning to packed to the top. There is not room for one more thing in this vehicle. Keep in mind this is only for 2 people and the kids are bringing their own stuff later in the week. Where is... Read more

Excerpt: Billy Borger has been coming up to Lower Kaubashine more years than he would like me to broadcast. Every year he manages to get a nice muskie like this and always looks like a kid in the candy shop. Congrats Billy. Sure made a rainy cold week worth while. Billy Borger, Muskie Hunter of Lower Kaubashine... Read more

Excerpt: After numerous tries I have finally got some descent Rhubarb to grow. I have been afraid to pick it this year that it is not big enough to pick and am hoping next year it gets even bigger and pickable My other 2 plants that came back this year as well. I treated them to mushroom compost last year... Read more

Excerpt: It has been raining... and raining and raining....and your guessed it raining... Anyone coming next week owes it to the folks this week who have not seen the sun since they arrived. Rumor has it that the sun might make an appearance on Friday with a balmy 60 degrees. Saturday and all of next week looks like sun and... Read more

Excerpt: This blog entry is dedicated to Rich Snodgrass who is sitting impatiently in Rochester Illinois waiting to arrive on Saturday. It is also dedicated to Gloria who has put up with Rich starting to pack back in May in preparation for their trip this coming week. Birchwood will be ready Your boat will be ready... the fish... well they... Read more

Excerpt: The rain has been going on since Saturday night. We are starting to wonder what the sun looks like. Boat bailing has become a passtime between rain storms Fortunately the fish have been biting as well. Jeff Taylor and his son catching some bluegills off the dock. Jeff gave me a nice compliment, he has been blog watching since... Read more

Excerpt: There was a whole lot of chaos going on at the lake. Sometimes it is fun to play with a picture and turn it into a black and white in your photo program. I don't take the time to do this near enough, but I thought this picture was a fun one to turn Chicken Little has been pushed... Read more

Excerpt: Steve had an absolute gleam in his eye when he arrived today. Did you know that mushrooms are out! Forest guy had spent the last day coming the woods for mushrooms. Oyster mushrooms to be exact, and expected me to get all excited and serve them for lunch...... They really do look like oysters. I am still leery of... Read more

Excerpt: I bought an Ipad 1 last week that is WIFI and AT&T compatible, we can't get AT&T service 32G and need to get an Ipad 2 which is Verizon compatible. I paid 629 for it, is anyone out there interested in buying it? It works great and is one week old barely used and has an awesome Zag screen saver... Read more

Excerpt: Local resorts owners were invited downtown for a Taste of the Island before the season really gets started. We were treated by some of my favorite local businesses. Twisted Root Emporium and Loon Land was the first stop The ever friendly and shoeless Woody Woodruff greeted us as usual to see his unique wares that can't be found anywhere... Read more

Excerpt: Wicker furniture is a wonderful thing except for when it comes to cleaning it or painting it. After 18 years of running the resort with Troy and trying a few different things I think we finally have it figured out. We used to get the scrub brushes out and wash and scrub them outside but never could you get... Read more

Excerpt: It is beautiful weather and time to sit back and enjoy the beginning of summer Testing out the water. It has warmed up considerably in the last 2 weeks. Time to jump in! It is kayak week at the resort. It seems like every cabin has their own kayak's. I think I counted 15 extra kayak's floating around the... Read more

Excerpt: The Urbaniak family brought up with them the latest in Marsh mallow Cooking. First was the JUMBO Marsh Mallows. I have never seen Marsh Mallows this big. This is for the person that cooks 2 at a time for their smore. Now just cook 1 big one Now we need Jumbo Sticks for the Jumbo Mallows These cracked me... Read more

Excerpt: Something is missing... I told Steve the steps over at Shamrock needed painting... I returned to find something else going on. I guess the new steps don't need painting anymore With temps soaring into the 90's with humidity it was not fit for man nor beast out of the water After plunging into the water (ok the truth, being... Read more

Excerpt: As I have said in other blog entries it is time to go fishin! I had this crappie picture shared with me from Mike Grady our famous 2011 Ice Out winner. He caught his biggest crappie above. Nice fish Mike! Missing picture is Ruth balancing the net and the camera at the same time. Thanks for getting the picture... Read more

Excerpt: For all of the many Berchtold family members out there in Blog land I had to take a picture of Grandma and Grandpa Berchtold (Howard and Jean) up enjoying the warm weather. Jean ran out of short sleeves it is time to go home. See you in July for the big 80th birthday party and of course the big... Read more

Excerpt: Crappies are biting. The big ones are coming in to spawn and it is time for some fishin fun Crappies just kept coming up the hill with everyone. These were headed right to a fry pan in Shamrock Some were just arriving. The Spencer family brings this old Sea King motor that dates back to 1949. It still runs... Read more

Excerpt: It was time to hand out the Ice Out Contest cash to the big winner Mike Grady who was staying in Eagles Nest this weekend. Cliff stopped in, to peep in Mike and Ruth's windows and scare them but they were not around. Without a pen and paper to write a note, what better way to leave a note... Read more

Excerpt: Woodruff combined their 125th town celebration with Memorial Day to have a nice parade. Parade started off with the military This truck stopped at the cemetery and played one of the best rounds of taps in salute of the fallen that I have heard in awhile. There was not a dry eye in the crowd The veterans on the... Read more