What are the cleanest & clearest lakes in Minnesota? We analyzed ALL the data.

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To Register, click here
Questions?  contact facilitator Molly:  (612) 562-8007

Limited capacity 10-12 people
Sign up soon - there are still a few spaces left!

Join Molly, Shelly, and Lisa Johnson Taylor to

Restore, replenish, reconnect with your inner strength

Caretakers come in many forms – healthcare worker, therapist, teacher, parent and more. You are most likely burnt out, possibly in emotional and physical stress. It’s your time to restore and reclaim your energy.

Our retreats are designed with you in mind. Nestled in the beautiful Minnesota north woods in a cozy resort on a lake located in Akeley – just 2-3 hours from the Twin Cities – your weekend surroundings are filled with whispering trees, the peaceful songs of the loons, the soft rhythm of the waves. Even as you arrive, you will breathe deeper and start to release the tension that may feel has become a permanent part of you.

We work to keep the number of retreat participants low so that you all have time for your own space to restore as you need, with the awareness of being a part of a group that understands the stresses of the caretaker profession – a collective energy to tap into throughout the weekend and beyond.

Your weekend of replenishment will be a blend of guided self-inquiry, mindful movement, connecting with nature, ceremony, and play – with time to be with just yourself along with time with the group. Our process combines nature-based healing and spiritual awakening through somatic-based inquiry. We will help you access your ability to listen inside your own body for the answers on how to clear the ‘sludge’ that has built up, release what is needed to release and open the space to replenish and heal.

You leave feeling refreshed, nourished and tapped into your life-source energy.

All work is guided by Molly DePrekel, Lisa Johnson Taylor and Shelly Edwards, three licensed psychologists that are experts in their field and have years of experience in different areas of the mental health field.

General flow of the weekend includes:

Friday afternoon arrival

• Take a self-guided tour of the resort and start to feel the tension release
• 3:00 group grounding activities and then dinner

Saturday morning

• Breakfast
• Yoga, accessing activities, guided sensorimotor- body inquiry, meditations and journaling

Saturday afternoon

• Lunch
• Free time – play at the lake, go for a walk, sign up for a massage or reflexology session, kayak, enjoy
• Group gathering and check-in

Saturday evening

• Dinner
• Group accessing activities, fire ceremony, free time in nature, dream ceremony

Sunday morning

• Yoga and body movement
• Brunch
• Grounding activities
• Group sharing on how to continue the cleansing and restoration

Closing – noon

Authentic Restoration Retreat
Come join us for a restorative weekend in nature. Through body-focused activities, movement, self-inquiry, mindful exploration, ceremony, and play we will nourish ourselves and find our capacity to restore.

Join Molly, Lisa, and Shelly in a reorganization and reset for the caregiver.

• Molly DePrekel is a licensed psychologist with over 28 years of experience in mental health and healing. Her focus is on animal-assisted interventions, nature-based healing and somatic practice.
• Lisa Johnson Taylor is a licensed psychologist with over 30 years of experience in mental health. She is passionate about group work that accesses body wisdom and supports a collective transformation.
• Shelly Edwards is a mental health therapist and shamanic practitioner focused on helping others follow their innate ability to heal and be in connection with their greater wisdom.

Stay in a cabin at Crow Wing Lodge where free time activities include nature trails, lakeside sauna, kayaks, other water toys and a beach on a clear lake. Retreat activities include yoga, meditation, accessing somatic markers of stress and releasing old patterns of thought, emotion or reaction. We will then bring in the new more resourced ways of thinking, feeling and reacting to be more in alignment with our authentic, wise, fullness of being. Come join us.

When: September 25-27, 2026. Begins at 2:00 noon on Friday until 12:00 on Sunday
Where: Crow Wing Crest Lodge, 31159 County 23, Akeley, MN
Cost: Cost: $520.00+ includes lodging, dinner on Friday and Saturday night.
($550 for private bdrm)

Lodging is one of three shared cabins with
fully equipped kitchens. Breakfast and lunch are on your own and it is recommended to cook on premise.
Register at Amidstthetrees.com under "retreats"

DEADLINE TO REGISTER is August 22

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I have used cedarwood essential oil at Crow Wing Crest Lodge for years.  I am no longer in charge of coordinating the bedding on our 83 beds (Emily is!) but in the fall when storing linens for winter, I used to add a few drops of cedarwood on an unscented dryer sheet and place within the plastic bag of each bed's linens.  (Although we've always used non-toxic detergents, we now use totally unscented laundry solutions: typically Ecos, Ecover, or 7th Generation laundry soaps.)

Cedarwood is often included in Aromatherapy 101 classes at CWC.  Much research suggests it is helpful for insect control (Did your grandmother have a cedar chest to keep her quilts moth-free?  Mine did.  And my father had rounded oblong cedar blocks inserted into his spiffy shoes, in order to keep their shape while in storage in the back of his closet.  The blocks were a natural deodorizer, and also kept pests from nesting inside.)

Once you start researching this simple oil, you'll find many wonderful everyday uses!  Perhaps start with this article from Heathline.com correlating studies of cedarwood to help hair loss, acne, arthritis, and insomnia. 

I will often share in class the knowledge that there is data showing cedarwood to be helpful for treating Urinary Tract Infections.  Read more here on some common sense avenues to apply (basically mixing 10 drops per tablespoon of carrier oil {e.g. olive oil} and massaging onto lower abdomen.)

Whether diffusing cedarwood into the air of your office or bedroom, or applying to your skin via a self-made massage oil, cedarwood is a great beginner essential oil.  It's inexpensive and easy to obtain.  I will typically always have 1/2 ounce bottles for sale in the lodge at Crow Wing Crest ($9.99.)   If you don't come across it in your normal course of events, make a mental note to pick some up next time you visit the resort.   Happy healing! 

- Kim, Owner - Crow Wing Crest Lodge

The post Aromatherapy Spotlight – Cedarwood essential oil appeared first on Northern Minnesota Family Lake Fishing Lodge & Resort.

(This was a fun write for writing class.  And true, of course. - Kim, CWC)

"Lemon tree, very pretty
and the lemon flower is sweet.
but the fruit of the poor lemon
is impossible to eat." – Peter, Paul & Mary

I sing when I clean cabins.  Any tune that has a good hook. 

My son-in-law recently relayed a trick to stop the annoying repetition of a song phrase.  

Evidently forty choruses of The Lemon Tree song were beyond his tolerance level as we shared cleaning duties last fall.  He could only vacuum loudly in distraction sooo long while I was busily washed out sticky condiment rings in the refrigerator, incessantly warbling.  I couldn't seem to move onto any other song, dangit!

I understood his frustration.

I was feeling more and more sorry for the damn lemon.  

Mr. Problem Solver googled for relief.  Hence, a solution to the "earworm" issue.

Apparently if you consciously sound out a musical series of notes with a definite ending, then your brain will also end the one jammed in your brain.  

I told him that it sounded like a great idea. 

Except that I could only think of one song at that moment.  (Obviously.)

"What about commercials?  Jingles?" he suggested.    "Like the Intel tune - 'bum bum bum bum!'  Four notes only."

I tried it under my breathe for a few moments.  

Nope - still craving tea with a lemon slice. 

But!  I was able to start thinking of other jingles. 

Farmers Insurance “We are farmers . . .”  

“Baby back, baby back ribs” from Chili's. 

The Coke commercial from the 70's, "I'd like to teach the world to sing, in perfect harmony . . . "   I struggled with remembering all the lyrics.

And then I got into trouble again.  Where this one bubbled up from my Generation X memory banks, I’ll never know.  "Oh, I’d love to be an Oscar Mayer wiener.  That is what I truly wish to be.  ‘Cause if I were an Oscar Mayer wiener, everyone would be in love with me."   (I seem to recall it being one of the only songs I could play by heart on the flute back in junior high school.)

THAT lasted through a microwave wipe down, a de-staining of two dining chair cushions, a polishing of the kitchen sink with baby oil and the start of mopping the kitchen floor on hands and knees. 

"Okay, okay!" I heard muttered from the bathroom as Sir Had-Enough raced through his own floor mopping to escape as soon as possible. 

Earworm solution failure. 

I have since learned that "Sticky songs prey on the idle, tired and stressed, when defenses are low." [TodayIFoundOut.com] 

I am always exhausted in the fall after a long resort season. 

I have now promised my beleaguered in-law we could avoid cleaning cabins together after Labor Day. 

He has stated there will be no need.  He'll be enmeshed in iPod-land. 

Good enough. 

Now I can stock up in citrus and hot dogs without censure.

The post Lemon tree appeared first on Northern Minnesota Family Lake Fishing Lodge & Resort.

". . . studies have shown that time in nature — as long as people feel safe — is an antidote for stress: It can lower blood pressure and stress hormone levels, reduce nervous system arousal, enhance immune system function, increase self-esteem, reduce anxiety, and improve mood. Attention Deficit Disorder and aggression lessen in natural environments, which also help speed the rate of healing. In a recent study, psychiatric unit researchers found that being in nature reduced feelings of isolation, promoted calm, and lifted mood among patients."

So - let's increase our physical, mental, and spiritual well-being!  Spend more time in your backyard or garden.  Walk to your local park more often.  (Or spend quality time for a few solid days at a resort up north to get to a deeper level.)  Minnesota is chock-full of lakes and woods; take advantage of all these scenic natural resources.  Whether it's a day-trip, a weekend sojourn, or a week's vacay with the fam, we invite you to allow the nurturing, natural surroundings of Minnesota's northwoods, gift you the opportunity to relax, play, connect with others, and reconnect with your inner self.  

(Cabin specials & deals at Crow Wing Crest Lodge.)

 
(CWC Photo Contest Winner - thanks Jake Louwsma for this entry!)

The post Research concludes NATURE heals appeared first on Northern Minnesota Family Lake Fishing Lodge & Resort.

When Covid-19 struck in March 2020, like most of us, I felt confused, anxious, afraid (not only for our personal health and for those we knew and loved, but for the viability of our owner-operated business.)  In April, here in Minnesota, we were all still on a stay-at-home lock-down, and we were uncertain when, or if, we'd be able to open our resort for the season.  The weather was still too inclement to start cleaning cabins and doing outdoor work to take our minds off of the stress.  Many a sleepless night was spent wondering if we'd have guests willing to come.  What new procedures would we have to implement?  How should we process through new cleaning/disinfection protocols for cabins, deal with lodge hours, staff safety?  New state ordinances seemed to be posting every few days.  It was a lot of information to understand and break down into how it affected our particular business.

I was so very grateful in late April to be asked to be on a panel for a "Non-Toxic Cleaning-for-Covid" Zoom class (coordinated by a statewide non-profit group, the Community of Minnesota Resorts.)   The subject matter was near and dear to my heart.  (I'd written several green cleaning articles for this same group in a published magazine distributed to all Minnesota resorts.  I had also hosted a couple of non-toxic cleaning classes with fellow resorters over the past 20 years.)  This new task led me on a research drive for days.  It really helped focus my energy - what a blessing!   

Despite all the fear and supply depletion of hand sanitizer and common disinfectants, I knew I'd find my own way to operate the resort without reverting to carcinogenic chemicals (e.g. bleach and other harsh, dangerous products.)  However, being invited to be a part of a class forced me to really delve into the data.   I wanted to relay resources, reliable website links, and scientific study information to others so that THEY could inform themselves about the proper application, dwell times, shelf life, etc. on Covid-approved disinfectants, and why the products worked or didn't.  But I learned a heckuva lot for my own edification.

I ended up collecting a list of six non-toxic disinfectants approved by the EPA to work on Coronavirus (list here.)  First on the list was Force of Nature, a product I'd already been using in my own household and which I'd occasionally use in cabins (in particular, for getting rid of odors on upholstery and rugs.) 

Below is a quick video clip of Big John filming me making a bottle of Force of Nature in our kitchen. - Kim, Owner of Crow Wing Crest Lodge

The more I research this product, the more impressed I am.   (The Force of Nature website is chock-full of scientific answers, commonly asked questions, links to EPA and CDC lists & research studies, comparison charts to other typical cleaning solutions, etc.)

Last April when attempting to plan for an uncertain resort season, I dared not make unnecessary expenditures.  I wanted to make do with what I had on hand if possible.  I ended up using non-toxic hydrogen peroxide as our go-to non-toxic disinfectant because I had several gallons of 35% grade stuff in stock, which diluted down into 13 gallons of 3% solution, sufficient enough grade to be EPA effective on Covid.  (See blog on hydrogen peroxide - coming soon.)   It took 1 - 2 gallons of disinfectant each week to mix into my backpack sprayer, which I used to spray down the insides of cabins between guest occupancy.  By the end of resort season, I noticed several whitened stains on certain lampshades and curtains (peroxide is also a bleaching agent, as we know.)  I have decided to forego the peroxide this next year (yes, we're still planning for another covid season) and instead have now stockpiled Force of Nature capsules and two more electrolyzers to create the solution each week.  We're ready!

I have constant conversations with guests about our green cleaning practices, what products we use, and where we get our supplies.  If you wanna try out Force of Nature for your own household use, I would certainly recommend trying it out, or at least learning about it for yourself.  Once you get started (starter pack is around $50 if you use a coupon), you'll find the cost is only about $.90 cents a bottle.   I really appreciate how it is an effective cleaner, deodorizer, and disinfectant; safe for me, my family, my staff, my guests, and our lakeshore environment.  I love the science behind it, the data explained clearly on their website and backed up by the CDC and EPA.  Again, the more I learn, the more impressive I find this stuff.  Here's a link to check it out for yourself:  follow this link.

(For a limited time, until March 31, 2021, they are offering 25% off plus free shipping on Starter Kits & Value Bundles.  Just type "MAKEITSAFE" into the coupon code entry.  Or google coupons for Force of Nature.)

We invite you to come up and relax by the lake with us, in a cabin freshly cleaned and disinfected with non-toxic, environmentally sound products.  Here's to our health!

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I haven't refound my own sense of humor yet.  Hopefully soon.  I appreciate their efforts to lighten the load.

The post Extreme protection outdoors appeared first on Northern Minnesota Family Lake Fishing Lodge & Resort.

It seems like yesterday we were touring the resort in the muffled silence of February 2001, not even able to get into some of the cabins because of drifts. This magical place immediately welcomed us and felt like “home.” We hope you’ve felt a few moments of comfort or joy in your up north experiences here on 11th Crow Wing Lake. We intend to extend the welcome blanket of CWC for many more years to come - “God willin’ and the creek don’t rise.”

Emily, Ryan and Big John are well and have been doing lots of non-resort tasks (massage, writing, reflexology & selling CBDs) since November. I’ve been busy with updating brochures, organizing pics, framing vintage resort brochures, confirming reservations, recovering dining chairs in Cabin #19 (BTW there’s a new used washer for that cabin, plus the H/C taps in the shower are switched correctly) working on local community boards and, of course, contracting for the re-build of Cabin #4.

Construction always seems to take longer than one thinks, yes? Last summer I applied for a variance (we wanted to rebuild with three bedrooms instead of two, and to build up, not out, to accommodate current building code requirements; namely bigger bedrooms. Building a 2nd story and adding bedrooms requires a variance.) The planning commission was a little intimidating (“please speak your full name into the microphone, Ms. Bowen,” while the unblinking red light of the camera stared down at my table, directly in front of a raised dais of 8 members of the committee meting out our building fate. 30 people sat behind me awaiting their turn. Many who had already pleaded their case and left had been denied their requests. Yikes!) I ended up having to go through the process twice. One of the surprising things that came out of it was their insistence we move the cabin closer to lake (almost unheard of, but mainly due to the water run-off issue of hill directly behind cabin.) The cabin is now inches from the front driveway. It’s a little too close for my liking, but on a positive note it’ll be easy for guests to unload a vehicle. (Two parking spaces will be designated alongside cabin on hill between #4 and #5.)

As I type this, the cabin shell is done. Yeah! Plumbing & electrical rough-in inspections are done. Insulation and staircase installation finished yesterday. Isaiah, Grampa Matthew and ‘Lil Chris are planning to start covering the interior ceilings with cedar planking next week. I have been obtaining plates and bowls for a ceramic mosaic project I plan to do in the dining area in place of wainscoting. As I walked through the cabin this week, the bedrooms feel HUGE. The lower level will be very wheelchair friendly. I think guests will also really appreciate the covered deck on the lakeside. The building crew was able to get four of the old vintage windows from ye ‘olde Cabin #4 into the living room. I am happy to have honored the past by insisting some of those elements be incorporated into the new cabin! Re-do, re-use, recycle is the theme again. Most of the windows and lighting fixtures are recycled. I am a little shocked by how this particular cabin is completely booked throughout entire summer weekly season already. Thank you all for the trust!

I have been posting pics of re-build and other area news on Instagram and Facebook. Follow us/Like us if you’d like to keep updated. (You may have to comment or reply via an emoji occasionally to regularly get my posts into your feed. FB is constantly changing their algorithms, but those who engage, get the posts.) facebook.com/crowwingDOTcom @RetreatToCWC (Note: when I post to Instagram, it is automatically getting posted to my personal facebook page. If we are ‘friends’, you may wish to ‘like’ the resort fb page and/or vice versa as again, different items get posted to each page.)

Cabin #4 Naming Contest: Because of vines growing inside the walls of old Cabin #4, years ago we named it Tricky Vine Cabin #4. Now that it’s a fresh re-build, the cabin needs a new name. Do you have a suggestion? (One guest put a vote in for “B-4” Cabin #4 in honor of our BINGO jingle.) It may be that we need a season under our belts to get a ‘feel’ for the new cabin and label it accordingly. Meanwhile, we are taking your ideas. Person with the winning name gets a spin around the lake (one free hour on any available pontoon rental.)

2% discount. New this year, we are offering a 2% discount for anyone who would like to pay off their cabin total due by February 28th via check (personal or cashiers.) March 1 and after will not count for discount. This incentive is to help off-set typical spring resort expenses and help with the flow over a typical season. (Offer not available for partial payments, total due only.) If you have $1,000 left on your cabin total due, as example, think of this $20 savings as equal in value to a couple pizzas perhaps. If you gotta pay it anyway, might as well do it sooner and justify the family feed on Saturday night?

New CWC Treasure Hunt: A riddle or clue will be posted each day at noon in the lodge (Sunday-Thursday. 5 clues total.) Your hunt will be for a laminated & folded gift certificate (good for $25 towards a CWC clothing item). It may be tucked into a tree knot, buried in some dirt, taped under a swing or hidden in/on/beneath/above an everyday object which stays in roughly the same place. You will not need tools to extract it. Hunt is meant to be challenging, with vague clues at beginning of week. First person each week to find it, wins it.

2020 confirmations have been e-mailed out. If you think you are on the books and have not received a confirmation, PLEASE CONTACT US.

It’ll be summer before ya know it! If spring fever is hitting ya hard, we’d be delighted to have you retreat up to the lake us. We feel wholly blessed to see some of the same twinkling faces multiple times each season, taking advantage of the migrating critters & excellent fishing of May & early June, the sun & fun of summer and the peace & quiet of autumn colors in September/October. Folks often comment on the different vibe for each season at the resort, and it’s all good.  (More details on specials.)

• May (Rent two nights, get 3rd night FREE)
• Private Individual or Couples Special (May & after Labor Day): pick any cabin (except #19) for $109/night, $550 week
• June 9 – 13: 2 for 2 Deal (pay for two nights, get two more FREE)
• June 13 – 20: 10% OFF week (all scheduled activities start hoppin'!)
• August 22-29: Discount Week in: Save up to $679!
• Pre-Labor Day 5-night Special: Sat-Thurs only, rent three nights, get 2 FREE!

We hope this note reminds you of fond ‘up north’ recollections and creates an impetus to make more. Perhaps you’ll recall a shooting star blazing across the Milky Way as you warmed your hands over a campfire? Maybe you laughed at baby duck antics. How many loon calls have you counted in a day at the lake? Did the fresh pine-scented air getcha relaxed and sleeping well at night? We always encourage the makings of a new fish tale to tell, and we look forward to witnessing more memory-making moments with your family and friends this season, or whenever you can make it back up.

Can't wait to see you. Take good care, and just know the lake'll be waiting for you . . . Kim, CWC

P.S. UPDATES – if we mis-spelled your name, had a change in family members at this address, or if you no longer wish to receive this annual newsletter, contact us to help clean up our database.

The post 2020 Newsletter appeared first on Northern Minnesota Family Lake Fishing Lodge & Resort.

As I type this, it was -37 below zero early this morning. I feel most appreciative to have a warm house in which to sleep, plenty to eat, and a companion with whom to share it. “Brr! It’s so cold, we can’t even create a heated argument.” (In truth, if we only bicker once a day, we call it golden.)

Winter rules its icy reign at present, but crowns of morels and scepters of lady slippers will preside over resort grounds soon. Spring is only a month or so away. Let us look forward to birch scented hikes and sticky s’more evenings, crackling campfires and swaths of stars, chipmunk chitters and wailing loon laments, splashing giggles and beach-warmed sand sifting hypnotically through naked stretching toes.

We were grateful to have received such positive feedback on new Cabin #4 last summer, now the most requested cabin on the waiting list. We decided not to do a big project this winter, but accomplished more manageable tasks which hopefully you may enjoy this upcoming 2021 season:

• Cabin #18 got a whole new roof this last fall. We also gutted the kitchen, replacing cupboards, countertop, vinyl and carpeting in kitchen/dining and living areas. Fresh pictures have been uploaded onto the website if you’re curious to see how it turned out.
• All boat motors were overhauled professionally this fall (replacing spark plugs, new gaskets, cable lines, prop realignment, etc.) This included inspection of the brand-new motor on the Newer Pontoon to validate the warranty. We almost pulled the trigger on purchasing a new fishing boat/motor package but will want to cull more feedback from guests before going ahead as a possibility in future.
• New Lounging Platform: this was a fun project we started focusing energy on last summer when attempting to shift gears from Covid stressors to a more creative endeavor. In repurposing an old swim raft purchased cheaply from a neighbor, we’ve been able to infuse new life into it for communal enjoyment. Featuring a new deck and pergola, you will be able to try out a lake-level hammock, fold-up bench/step into the water, two swings and a connecting rope bridge. We plan to stabilize the platform and connect it (via the “Indiana Jones” style rope bridge) to the existing paddleboat dock on the beach. It’ll be “blinged” up a bit with solar powered twinkle lights. I imagine it may be a colorful homing beacon in twilight hours, guiding those serious fisherfolk back to shore.
• Numerous other projects have been planned or are in process, from big things (replacing the commercial-sized water softening system at the wellhouse near Cabin #19) to small (creating new wall-attached pine bedside tables.) The list of things to replace, repair or redo is endless, so we just keep whittling away as time, energy and budget allow. As always, we welcome suggestions.

2021 confirmations have been e-mailed out. If you think you are on the books and have not received a confirmation, PLEASE CONTACT US. Of all the e-mail confirmations sent out last month, almost 80% of them bounced back with an ‘undeliverable’ or ‘message blocked.’ So, again – did you receive your confirmation? If you did not, either search your spam files for an e-mail sent from us, then white-list relax@crowwing.com, or contact us and we’ll attempt to resend. WHITE-LIST: this just means you are adding our e-mail to your e-mail address book. For my system, I can simply right-click on the sender and then select whether I wish to always block or never block a message from a specific sender. Perhaps you can do this, too? At CWC, we only e-mail important confirmation and pre-arrival updates. We do not send junk. Your spam filters get updated frequently, so by adding relax@crowwing.com into your e-mail account address book, you can be sure to receive any important CWC reservation updates properly.

Boat rental reservation – double check your e-mailed confirmation. Boats/motors aren’t automatically re-booked at check-out the previous year, you need to request it. Again, glance through your confirmation and make sure any boat reservation you’d prefer is secured for you, and if the dates look correct or not.

2% discount. Started last year, recurring this year, we are offering a 2% discount for anyone who would like to pay off their remaining cabin total due by MARCH 15th via check (personal or cashiers.) A couple dozen guests took advantage of this special last year – savings ranged from $10 - $110. We invite you to save even $10 – at the very least, you can use the savings to enjoy a pizza at the lodge instead? (Zip us an e-mail or text me if interested. This special is calculated on your remaining cabin total due at this time.)

CWC Treasure Hunt: Meant to start last year, this idea got derailed by Covid stress. We will be ready this season! A riddle or clue will be posted each day at noon in the lodge (Sunday-Wednesday, four clues total.) Your hunt will be for an object (likely a miniature metal crow figurine or a medallion of some kind.) It may be tucked into a tree knot, taped under a swing or hidden in/on/beneath/above an everyday object which stays in roughly the same place. You will not need tools to extract it. Hunt is meant to be challenging, with vague clues at beginning of week. First person each week to find it, wins $10 in one-dollar bills or quarters, your choice. (Don’t worry, two-week guests will not have the advantage, as we’ll be assigning different hiding spots each week. And yes, communal areas only.)

Isolation Cabins & Other Specials: We are planning for another Covid season (albeit hoping for the best – another reason to make sure we can connect with you via e-mail for the latest updates prior to your arrival.) View our full StaySafe Initiative on the website. Offering several May and June specials, drive up in your self-contained vehicle from your self-contained house to a self-contained cabin and relieve yourself from staring at the same four walls. We’d be glad to help you enjoy an expanded outdoor living room of forest, bike trails, beach and lake blessings. Even a quick get-away can do wonders for increasing physical, mental, and spiritual well-being.

• May Isolation Cabins: $25 extra will assure no other guest will have been in your cabin 48 hours prior to your arrival. (Extra precaution of ozone machine zap upon request. We are already disinfecting with non-toxic EPA approved-for-Covid options. See blog posts on website for more details.)
• May (Rent any cabin two nights, get 3rd night FREE)
• Private Individual or Couples Special (May & after Labor Day): most cabins $129/night, $650 week (Cabins #9, #10 & #19: $149 & $199/night)
• June 1 – 17: 2 for 2 Deal (pay for two nights on summer rates, get two more FREE)
• June 19 – 25: 10% OFF week (treasure hunt, painting classes, kids crafts and other weekly activities start)

Can't wait to see you. We wish you wellness and warmth. May your water lines stay intact and your heaters work soundly. Take very good care, and just know the lake'll be waiting for you . . . Kim, CWC

P.S. UPDATES – if we mis-spelled your name, had a change in family members at this address, or if you no longer wish to receive this annual newsletter, contact us to help clean up our database.

The post 2021 CWC Newsletter appeared first on Northern Minnesota Family Lake Fishing Lodge & Resort.

I thought it would seem bigger when it was empty.  It didn't.  It felt small and crooked and way past its expiration date.  We shut down reservations on old Cabin #4 last Labor Day weekend and moved furniture out.  Then 'Lil Chris (one of our maintenance workers) started deconstructing the cabin.   I had made up a plan and taped it in the shop for the boys.  Week 1: remove furniture, wall hangings, hooks, plumbing fixtures, light fixtures.  Week 2: Tear down interior paneling, cupboards, counters, doors. Salvage what we can recycle - dump trip what we can't.  Week 3: Save as much exterior half-log siding as possible, trash the un-usable.  Week 4: use skidsteer to demolish the last bits and take to landfill.

I thought it would take several weeks to do the tear down, picking at the cabin here and there as other resort tasks cropped up in priority (as they typically do.)   'Lil Chris did it in a week and a half.   I guess we’d assigned the right guy to the job.  He seemed to really enjoy ripping into it.

I caught him still working in the dark with a flashlight shining as his only light source.   I was walking back from the T-dock with some guests in Cabin #2 (we had just finished a little ceremony by the lake honoring their husband/father, who had passed away six months before.  Otherwise, I wasn't typically walking around the grounds that time of night in September.)   We were casually talking and processing on our stroll back from the lakeshore when we all heard the hammering.   I bid the guests a good night.  They teased me about going to 'crack the whip.'   I was feeling a bit like an ogre, knowing one of our crew was working so late (even though they choose their own hours.)  It was past twilight and solar lights had twinkled on.  A few lights along the front driveway were missing.  (By that time of season, kids or cars had usually kicked or run over most and I hadn't replaced them.  I would put fresh ones out the following year.)   Even without my own flashlight, I only had to follow the "rat-rat-rat," "bam!" "ke-clunk," "screeeech" sounds.  I'd walked the path to Cabin #4 a million times in the daylight, so I knew roughly where the deck step was in the dark.   I clomped across the deck to announce my presence.  There was no longer a front door, just an open doorway.  We had shut off the electric and water the week before.  I stepped inside and saw a weak beam of light in the bedroom to the right.   A dozen layers of paneling and drywall were stacked upright and leaning against the back wall.  The far wall only had studs remaining, the rest was open to the evening air.  'Lil Chris was pulling trim off the ceiling, trim that had likely been installed back in the 1920's when the cabin was built, judging by the enormously long nails sticking out of the pieces he'd already removed. 

I said, "Dude, whatcha doing in the dark?"   

He replied, "Eh, just workin'." 

I laughed, "I can see that.  I'm just wondering if maybe we should call it a night and get back to it in the daylight when you can see a little better?"   

"I'm almost done with this section."  He sounded a little terse.  Or maybe just tired.  He was an early bird type person.  I suspected some of the reason he was still there so late (very unusually for him) had to do with not wanting to go home.  (With five kids and a wife, all sharing a small mobile home together, there was likely always something going on.  I reckon being in the cabin alone could have seemed somewhat restful.   Well, except for the work part.)

"Good to hear you're almost done for the day.  Guests are relaxing in their cabins and I imagine they'd appreciate a break from the pounding.  Thank you for all your hard work.  I can’t believe you’ve gotten this far so quickly."

"Yah, okay."  I could hear him starting to pack some things up.  I took my time exiting.  My footsteps echoed in the living room.  Eerie.  I had scrubbed and cleaned that cabin dozens of times each summer for 19 years.  I associated it with mouse stories, an acorn barrage, one unfortunate skunk event and a ghost story relayed to me by a guest.  I wondered how many other memories had been created in the cabin over the decades, before my time. 

In the dark as I contemplated the emptiness of the space, no longer ready to welcome guests, I felt poignant, sure.   Then I imagined the new cabin being built, with countertops that weren't peeling, a refrigerator that self- defrosted, a shower without duct tape patches, a bedroom floor which didn't slant, and doorways I wouldn't have to duck my head to enter.   This was the last cabin I had desperately wanted to remodel or replace since we first bought the resort in 2001.  Finally, we were in process.  Yah . . . I couldn't wait.  

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