Seasons Greetings!

SEASONS GREETINGS from Sleeping Fawn Resort and Campground

December 2011

Ahhh, the chilly air is here once again. It’s that time of year for celebrating with family and friends and to share memories of years past, and planning ventures for the years ahead.

The biggest joy of the area this year was the “opening soon” banner that went up in January at the Emmaville store. Being closed for over 2 years sure made needs more difficult for simple items like gas or milk. New owners Mike and Melinda Spry have eyed this place for some time, and with a lot of hard manual labor put into it this place looks spectacular!

Sleeping Fawn Resort had a very hot and humid July in the mid 90’s that went on and on and on for days. The lake was well used to keep as cool as possible. The kayaks and paddle boats continue to be a big hit with guests, along with the Shuffle Board court, updated with new cue sticks and score board. Then in August both Ellen and Joe were able to take a weekend off to celebrate the Wedding of Granddaughter/niece Katie and Jack Berning. The Wedding was a real joy and we wish them the best. Finally, our late summer into Fall ended up being very dry and continues to be with just a trace of snow on ground.

Meanwhile, wildlife abounds! This early Spring Ellen had complained of a bear enjoying our bird feeders and can of seed. I found it hard to believe until I was drawn to noise outside the house at night and finding a black bear scooping seed from the can for over an hour. I tried capturing photos but with little luck due to the darkness. Secondly, one of our Seasonal RV’ers, John came back from Park Rapids to tell us he saw a Cougar cross the road by Emmaville – another improbable story, as it was the first I had heard of a sighting. Then two days later Cabin guests from Fargo arrived and said a cougar was on the driveway of the resort, and again multiple sightings by resort guests happened throughout rest of August. Sadly, no photos were captured and even with the visit of conservation officer, there was no success in tracking the cat. The deer were quite active this summer as well, one fawn in particular was very curious of guests and enjoying all of resort plants and blooming flowers. So far, however, it has been a quiet Fall and Winter. Stay tuned: possible sightings of a baby loon? The loons did nest this year but without the success of a baby loon to raise. Let’s hope for better results next year.

This off season, Joe has enjoyed working at the Emmaville store as a cashier of the store and waiter in the café, wherever and whenever needed. When not working, Joe has been attending BSU Hockey games, visiting with friends and family and also helping out with his brother Jon along with Kevin and their new venture of a Hardware Hank store in Battle Lake, MN. As a reward for his hard work, Joe is planning for a warm destination vacation for sometime this winter.

Ellen continues to drive bus for the Heartland Express of Park Rapids, transporting the disabled. She has routes twice a week. Ellen has been keeping active by walking daily on the resort grounds or in town. She did manage to get away for a bit, enjoying a bus tour to the East Coast of Cape Cod this Fall. Ellen has been spending quality time with friends and family this Fall and plans to do more this winter season.

We recently lost my father, John, to cancer. We hope this holiday season brings peace and joy as we remember all those who cannot be with us.

Don’t Forget! The Resort Photo contest is coming to an end this December 31, 2011, and photos to be launched on the newly updated website for all to view, with winners to be announced shortly after. Good luck and thanks for all the great photos!

Wishing you all the best in 2012.

Joe and Ellen (LIKE US ON FACEBOOK! TO VIEW CONTEST PHOTOS!)

apologies

We want to apologize in the lack of blogs this Fall/Winter.

We are working on a new website that is user friendly with todays technology including smart phones, and the blog will still be a part of it along with facebook. The roleout should be next week, so keep posted.

Also I will be posting the contest photos at that time for all to view!

Very excited here, hope you are too!

oh and yeah....like us, on facebook!

Joe and Ellen

nice catch

Bobby W. of Lonsdale, MN. landed this nice Largemouth Bass in viewing pleasure of beach guests. The Bass leaped out of water trying to spit the bait from its mouth with no success. Bobby let the Bass free for others to enjoy.

fish photos

more fish photos for viewing.

Bass photos

Some of the bass caught during the month of August.

spotted fawn

Mark and Camille, seasonal RVer's in site 12 had a fawn hanging around the backyard of their site. They mentioned it was around for couple days just chillin. This photo is entered in the ZZFAWN photo contest.

WALLEYE?!?

With little to no success the night before, today 07/07/11 during the afternoon Elliot, Mark and Blake all took the boat out to try their luck at fishing again. Luck paid off, Elliot landed this rare but beauty 27.5", 7+lb walleye! Yes thats right folks, a Walleye (Rare for Stocking Lake known for its Largemouth Bass and Northern Pike.)

And to kick it all off it was caught on a plain hook with a night crawler.

Photo contest entry

Hannah, age 15, of Ramsey MN took this photo from the window of cabin 2. It has been entered in the Photo Contest!

Enjoy.

Hvidsten Family Reunion

The Hvidstens have celebrated their 19th reunion this past weekend with picture perfect weather, and have been a part of Sleeping Fawn since 07. We look forward to their 20th reunion in 2012!

This picture is also entered in the 2011 photo contest here at Sleeping Fawn.

Great catch......

Jacob of Swanville MN is smiling from ear to ear after landing this nice 33.5" northern Pike today, needless to say he and his dad are back in the boat fishing for more.

hungry bear

2 nights ago Ellen picked up after a bird feeder mess, assuming it was a bear that came along to snack on the seed, it even broke the weld to the bird feeder pole.

Last night I captured photos of the bear as it returned for another round of snacks. The pictures are not great as the lighting was not bright enough without me using flash.
One of our seasonals is a welder and happen to have his equiptment here so he was able to weld the bird feeder pole back together.

Resort industry loses a leader (click here for details)

For those of you who got to meet Karl or have golfed on the 9 hole course just down the road from us at Evergreen Lodge.

Our thoughts and prayers are with him and his family.

Where is Spring?!?!?!

Okay, this weather is getting real old real fast. We just received 5"-6" of snow last Saturday and it isn't melting very fast!!!!!! Even the Robin is at the suet feeder (bottom photo, hard to see)since it can't reach the frozen worms hiding under the snow.

FYI- The ice out last year was March 29th, its April 19th and I see no sign of ice out anytime soon.

I'm Frustrated, can you tell?


Ha Ha

Day at Capital

Sorry for slacking with the blog status.

I enclosed some photos taken at the State Capital in late Feb.

We belong to Congress of MN Resorts group, they help us lobby bills in the capital. We just want to make sure they understand our concerns and how bills can effect our business/livelyhoods and also to educate them on bills that just plain ol don't make sense.

Every year we wear something that draws their attn, this year it was green foam fish hats...I think it worked.

Enjoy.

St Cloud Sportsmen's Show

Come see me at the Show.

I will be volunteering my time to promote the Park Rapids Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce.

SHOW:
ST CLOUD SPORTSMAN SHOW

LOCATION:
ST CLOUD CIVIC CENTER, 10 4TH AVE S, ST CLOUD MN 56301

DATE/TIME:
FEBRUARY 11-13

11TH-12NOON TO 9PM (I volunteer)
12TH-10AM TO 8PM (I volunteer)
13TH-10AM TO 6PM (director volunteer, I will not be there)

hope to see you there!
Joe

Brave deer.....

Ok, if this deer is going to enjoy snooping in the garage, at least change the oil to the car thank you.



Nope its not the Avon lady knocking, it would be a daily routine of deer coming up on the deck and parading around like they own the place.

EMMAVILLE OPENS DOORS!

At last the doors officially opened at Emmaville on Jan 22! The place was packed with snowmobiles over the weekend wishing owners Mike and Melinda the best.

Newly improved Gas pumps are now working, featuring both unleaded and premium unleaded fuels.

Store offers a small staple supply of grocery needs, coffee, pop and snacks, and a beer bar with a huge flat screen tv to watch the games!

Cafe is still under construction and with a goal of opening May 01....

click on link for blog updates.

St Paul Sportsman Show

Come see me at the St Paul Sportsman's Boat, Camping and Vacation Show this Thursday through Sunday!

I will volunteering part time at the Park Rapids Chamber of Commerce booth

LOCATION: RIVERCENTRE ST PAUL MN

DATES: JAN 13-16,2011

HOURS: 13TH 2PM-9PM
14TH NOON-9PM
15TH 10AM-9PM
16TH 10AM-6PM

unsure of my scheduled hours, but hope to see you there!

chick on link for coupon to show

play time

One of our Seasonal RVers came up over the weekend to check up on their camper and enjoyed the weekend in the Winter cabin.

Allen and Tera let me test out their new toy! wow what fun that was.





I also did some snow shoeing, that was a good workout. The deer were roaming the lake as well.

crazy snow!

While enjoying New Years in Mpls, I came home to almost 17" of snow! Mom, who stayed home kept me up to speed on the snowfall while I was gone, I was finding it hard to believe what she was telling me. Our neighbor attempted to clear a path for Ellen to get in and out of the driveway but was only able to make a path wide enough for the width of the car. I attempted to widen the road but it was to hard on the Ranger so I called the local plowing company and they arrived with the big guns! A highway truck with plow eased its way through the resort pushing the snow off to the sides. Sadly I tried to get a picture of the highway truck and plow that came through but he was gone faster than I could snap a decent picture. After the plow came through with its swipe, i was able to plow open the parking spaces and clear out the back area getting ready for any future snow.

Anycase we definatey have snow now, bring on the sleds!