Black’s Cliff Resort’s Birch Bark Blog

I copied the following off my favorite weather site www.johndee.com  Looks like winter is arriving and things should be getting white and frozen.  Question is when will the lake freeze over

Monday, November 30, 2009

HIGHLIGHTS:

Winter looks to be arriving across the Northwoods this week and by next week could be taking a grip on much of the region. Heaviest snows later this week will be in the LES belts.

1-4 DAY FORECAST:

A weak disturbance will be working through the region in the next 24 hours and bringing a bit of light snow to far northern MN, much of the UP and northern lower MI. Most totals will be under an inch, although some lake enhancement may put down as much as 1-2″ in the Keweenaw later today and tonight.

The next system will be working into northern MN early tomorrow and continue into tomorrow and tomorrow night and it looks like the far northern sections of MN could see as much as 3-7″ of snow with this event, with a general 2-5″ across the rest of the northern 1/3^rd of MN. That feature will then go on to produce a couple of inches of snow across the UP and perhaps a whitening of the ground in northern WI and northern lower MI later tomorrow and tomorrow night.

The seasons coldest air to date will then dump in behind that system and looks to get the LES machines going at a fairly healthy clip in both the UP and western lower MI later Wednesday or Wednesday night and then the LES looks to continue at a fairly healthy clip Thursday into Friday and perhaps early Saturday.

It’s not going to be the biggest LES event to hit these areas, but will be the first significant snow of the season for most of the LES belts of the UP and western lower MI. It is still a bit early to be trying to nail down exact amounts, but an early estimate looks to put around 6-10″ down in most of the UP LES belts, with some locales seeing 12″+ totals. Some of the favored locales for the 12″ would be in the far western UP (Ironwood area) as well as the higher terrain in eastern Baraga and western Marquette counties. Some of the higher terrain of Houghton (Twin Lakes area) and Keweenaw (north of Mohawk) counties may also end up with a foot or more of LES.

Totals in western lower MI will likely be in the 4-8″ range in a general sense, with some 12″+ totals also now out of the question.

A low tracking up from the Gulf on Wednesday will also bring some precip to the eastern Midwest. Most of it looks to fall as rain, but rains will likely mix with and change to snow in far SE IL, much of IN, OH and SE lower MI before ending and a general 1-4″ could fall in these areas.

Temps today and tomorrow will be above average, with highs in the 30’s and low 40’s in the Northwoods, 40’s in the rest of the northern Midwest and then 50’s in the south. By Wednesday, cooler air will be dumping in and that will put most of the Northwoods below freezing for highs, with highs elsewhere in the 30’s and low 40’s. Lows by the end of the week will be in the teens and 20’s in the Northwoods, with 20’s and 30’s elsewhere.

5-10 DAY FORECAST:

Things look to quiet down in the LES belts later Saturday and most of the region will remain quiet into Sunday. Then by later Sunday and into Monday, an area of low pressure looks to work in from the west and could bring a couple of inches of snow to much of the Northwoods.

Things get even more interesting for the middle of next week. The models are not clear on the details, but all seem to want to indicate an area of low pressure to get organized in the Plains and head into the Midwest and bring the potential for heavy snows on it’s northwest side. The strength and track of the low are still up for grabs, but the potential is there for a band of heavy (12″+) snows to fall somewhere in the Midwest next Tuesday and Wednesday, followed by some meaningful LES.

Things still look pretty wintry for the 11-16 day period as well.

-John

One sign of Christmas is Steve is in high production with his wreath making business.  If you are in the Northwoods stop in he is the best deal with the nicest wreaths in the Minocqua area.  He makes a few ahead but appreciates a call if  you  know how many and the size you want at 715 356 5405

I took this picture a few days ago, intending to have a blog entry showing the ice accumulating.  Busy days of Thanksgiving, football, sports practices of swimming and basketball, and cleaning a few cabins left my blog entry time sorrily lacking.  The pictures taken below were all taken this morning in the same spot showing the fresh snow that came down Saturday night

Cattails in the snow

The first pic of snow in the pines

Ice making it slowly out from the shoreline

Starting to look a little like Christmas.  When the lake freezes over completely it will feel a lot more like Christmas in the Northwoods.  Today the resort is starting to get decked out for the Holidays with lights and bows.  They had a fun craft fair in Minocqua where I picked up a few things and pine roping.  Time to find the gloves and hat before venturing out to decorate the big front gate.  Also a trip to the hardware store for a few more outside lights for trees and extension cords ( Craig raided our Christmas extension supply over the summer )  We are adding a few more outside trees to decorate for our forest of lights.  Tune back in for Christmas at the Cliff, as it evolves

You could tell it was getting a little colder around the resort over Thanksgiving.  The winter hats and gloves were spotted around the resort.  We ended up with a full house for the weekend with folks enjoying time with a family and a few hunters still trying for the big buck.  Military folks are allowed to shoot a doe and we had a nice big doe taken across the road from the resort this weekend.

Table set for a wonderful Thanksgiving meal in Birchwood

Al and Roberta enjoying the holiday and waiting for Tommy to put down the camera for everyone to eat.

This year the lake was still open, some years it is froze over by Thanksgiving.  How do you wear off a big Thanksgiving meal?  A little fishing from shore.  Tommy was trying for the fish of 10,000 casts

Al hit his 10,000th cast and brought in this small muskie.  Even a small Muskie has him grinning from ear to ear and wishing Jimmy a happy Thanksgiving back in Chicago.  Only a few months and 9,999 casts til the next muskie in May.  I think the next one will be a little bigger, either way it was fun for Al to catch one last muskie for the season

Muskie fishing, warm hats, beautiful table, pumpkin bread and family (minus Jimmy and Tina) Thanksgiving does not get much better than at the Cliff

Al and Roberta Cikowski spend everyother Thanksgiving in Birchwood.  They always arrive to give us a wonderful loaf of Pumpkin Bread for our dinner.  I asked Roberta if it was ok to share her secret family recipie and she approved.  Her recipe is more flavorful than most as it has 3 spices in it

Pumpkin Bread

3 cups flour

2tsp baking soda

1tsp cloves

1 tsp salt

1tsp cinnamon

1 tsp nutmeg

1/2 tsp baking powder

Mix all these in one bowl and in a separate bowl mix the following

2 cups sugar

16 oz can of pumpkin

3 eggs beaten

2/3 cup oil

Blend both bowls together in mixer for 2 minutes ( I used a wisk)

Pour into bread bans half way.  Yields 2 medium loaves

Can also use soup cans for small loaves filling the can 1/2 full for nice gifts

I thought a few people might find this funny.  In searching my recipe box today from Grandma Black, I found on the back of one of her recipes a note card about a reservation.  I do not know who the person is, what I found funny was the price to stay may 17 – 19th in 1946 was 12 dollars in Birchwood.

Another Jem I found in the recipe box was my mother’s (Trudy’s) Sour Cream Coffee Cake recipe.  She used to make it for Sunday morning Coffee and Dounuts.  There might be a few folks out there that will enjoy this blast from the past.  It tastes great warm

1 Stick Butter

1 cup Sugar

2 eggs beaten slightly

1t baking soda mixed with 1 cup sour cream

1 1/2 c flour

1 1/2 tsp baking powder

1 Tbl Vanilla

Topping

1/4 c sugar

1/2 tsp cinnamon

1/2 c nuts

Cream butter, sugar and eggs.  Add sourcream with soda and dry ingredients.  Add Vanilla.  Pour 1/2 the mixture into a greased bunt pan or 8 by 8 pan.  Sprinkle on half of the topping mixture.  Dot with extra butter.  Cover with remaining mixture

Bake 350 for 45 minutes

Sometimes it is fun to wander down a different driveway to see different views of the lake.  Poe and I headed down one of the oldest driveways at the lake to one of the oldest cabins on Lower Kaubashine owned by the Gereke and Semelmeyer Familes.  The cabin has had few changes  over the years and retains its old charm, plus indoor plumming.

View from the old cabin looking over towards the resort.  Love getting a different perspective.

This pic is for Rick so he knows his cabin is ready for winter

The first weekend of Deer Camp was a little slow, due to the fact that no does could be taken in our zone.  These guys found a nice 7 point buck a few miles away and said there was a story about “Da Thirty Point Buck” that got away.  They were not sharing that story just having a few beers to help get over Da Loss.

Speaking of Da Thirty Point Buck, is Northern Wisconsin the only place this song is played along with “The 2nd week at Deer Camp” from Da Yuppers?  I have consulted Atlanta Georgia where they do deer hunt but no one besides Linda knows this song.  In Minocqua it is on the radio over and over and over again…..    Linda claims nobody outside of the Midwest can understand the Lingo in the song….  I think they are missing a classic…  Nothing like the belching Clyde in Da Thirty Point Buck to make you think of this time of year

I received this email from the Minocqua Chamber.  Someone can win some money with their vacation pics.

MAVWACC Website

I have decided to try something new that is cheaper for the 2010 Black’s Cliff Calendar.  I am ordering the calendars individually for everyone directly from Walgreens on their credit card one order at a time.  That way they ship directly to you.  It makes 2 calendars 37 dollars and some change instead of 40 if I have to ship them also when they come to me.

Also then, I can order them at anytime for you the calendar is saved on my Walgreens account.  Right now any orders I put in are 30% off from now til next Saturday.  I will be calling folks that ordered and get their credit card info.  Anyone else who wants in on them, send me an email at info@blackscliff.com and include your phone number (not credit card info) and I will give you a call to order

Thanks, I think the calendars came out nice.  The month of August is my favorite

Public Enemy number 3 ( Red’s are number 1, Gray’s are number 2)  Filled up the winter bird feeders and who should come in to check out my regular feeders and cleaned them out?  Yep and war was declared, we pulled out the Yankee Droll, Squirrel Flipper

Troy putting up the squirrel flipper and adding some inciting carrots to lure the squirrels in to be flung off.  This feeder provides hours on entertainment as it flips squirrels off but lets the birds land.  It is a little pricey, but the enjoyment of seeing the squirrels take a trip off the deck is priceless.  A complete line of the Yankee Droll Feeders are now available in Minocqua at Minocqua Hardware 5 minutes from the resort, if anyone out there feels the need to add one to their home yard

The squirrels truly bring out another side of Troy’s personality

I waited by the door for an hour to catch a squirrel flying but they were not cooperating.  I think word had gotten out or they knew it was too good to be true that we would leave carrots dangling for the enjoyment of the squirrels.  At least the point got made to the little buggers and the feeders have been left alone

No blog entry of the squirrels today because I spent my Saturday working on the 2010 Black’s Cliff Calendar (ok I also went shopping in Minocqua and found an awesome cabinet at Gas Light Square and stopped at my secret source for quilts and found a great quilt with trees on it with 2 pillow shams)

The calendar is done and ready to order from Walgreens.  So far I have only had 2 people email in for orders.  They will be 20 dollars this year and that includes the shipping out to you.  I plan to order before Thanksgiving.  If you want one let me know by emailing info@blackscliff.com or you may be left out in the cold.  They turned out nice, I had Troy’s input on a few layouts, always nice to have 2 opinions