BUSTED!

This 6 point buck was enjoying lunch at the bird feeders yesterday. He hung around for a while....although there is still a couple more weeks before muzzle loader hunting season is over...We shall see if he continues to come back to the bird feeders.
Last week we were able to snap a photo of an 8 point buck (bottom photo)also hanging around the feeders, been keeping an eye out for him too.

seeing double

It has been common to see a Pileated Woodpecker enjoying the suet feeder, but lately we have noticed two Pileated Woodpeckers after the tasty treats.

Winter is here

Park Rapids Christmas tree lighting kicked off last week, most stores on main had goodies and drinks for all to enjoy. It was a very cold night.

First measurable snow

I was going to take pictures of the lake ice as it froze over, but then it started snowing and snowing and snowing, we ended up with close to 6" of fresh snow.

photos taken Monday 11/22

and its snowing again today 11/24

Invaded by Deer!!!

In the last few days the deer population has exploded at the resort. I have counted 22 deer arriving daily for a very small hand out of corn, the guests this winter are in for a real treat!

I captured a few photos of the deer in action.
(click on image to see original size photo)

brrr- its cold out!

I took a photo of our thermometer today and it read 30 below.....it sure feels like it too!
This was the temp the last two mornings.



I took this photo three days ago reading 19 degrees below, and I thought it was cold then...haha, was I wrong.

frosted trees

few photos of frost captured on trees .

let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!

14 inches of snow fell last weekend from a winter storm out of the Northwest, I was in Milwaulkee during the storm so I missed out, but now I am plowing the driveway for the Guests arriving to use the winter cabin this coming weekend for Christmas.

Stocking Lake ice update, oh.... and the deer.

I had a request from John in TX. He said I was slacking in my ice reports on the lake.
Well here I am with an update. The lake looks the same, I am walking on it but no report of any measurable snow yet.

The deer have been arriving daily to eat the corn placed by the cabin for them. I see up to three deer at a time so far, sometimes five.

frozen tundra

Stocking Lake has frozen over as of about a week ago. Now we just need to play the waiting game for it to freeze safe enough to walk on.

oh dear, its "Gimpy!"

"Gimpy" nickname to the injured doe that has been roaming around for years has made it through another round of rifle hunting, whew. The 6 winters we have been here Gimpy has also been here. According to the neighbors, Gimpy has been around a few years before we arrived and has had that injury to the front leg all the time they saw her. Gimpy has lived a long life so far dispite the injury.
I captured her feeding on fallen sunflower seeds out of the bird feeder just 8 ft from the door.
I must sat she looks real healthy.
I also started placing corn out by the winter cabin for guests to enjoy when staying at the cabin....John, Vicki and family from TX will be up to celebrate a white Christmas here and will be able to feed the deer.

ice forming on lake

It is finaly happening! The ice is forming on the lake now that the temps have been staying below freezing. It has also been snowing lightly for a few days. I am looking forward to a snowy winter.

Progress to garage project

With the help of Tom and Nona last Aug, the outdoor grill had been moved to the neighbor and the grounds have been leveled.



The cement has been poured for the new garage. The plan is to frame up the walls and roof sometime in Dec. I cant wait to place the truck into the garage.

Last visit of the Swans

The Swans returned for one last feeding frenzy before taking off. I am unsure where they go, assuming south with the geese.

waking up to snow on ground....brrr

Much to my suprise after posting a snow day on Oct 26th, I woke up to snow sticking to ground the morning of Oct 27....Not much, but I guess it counts, btw the temp. read 22 degrees.

Trumpeter Swans land on Stocking Lake

Our truely great regular guests, Tom and Nona had this to say, and to share photos with all of you, enjoy.

Always an adventure at Sleeping Fawn Resort...
The group photo of trumpeter swans on the water was taken along the west side of Stocking Lake (North). As you can see in the photo, they were not stressed by our canoe as we slowed and then turned out to the center of the lake to avoid the family. We continued on our canoe ride around Stocking, our favorite activity on this remarkable lake. Some time after we made the far end, down by Hoosier Beach, and turned for home, we again saw the swan family off in the distance ahead of us. They had crossed to the other side, our home leg, and were swimming near the old beaver lodge below what we call Deer Hill. While they were still a quarter mile or so in front of us, we suddenly heard a horrific racket as the six big swans flapped their wings to take off, and loudly encouraged each other to lift, lift. They were flapping straight for our canoe, sort of walking, running along the surface of the water and slapping the water with their wings while trumpeting like mad! We were quite a distance exactly upwind from them, but Nona had the sense that she better prepare to duck as they seemed to take forever to climb off the water. I grabbed my little one-use camera and hoped for a shot, but the swans were hidden behind Nona who was in the canoe bow. I turned the canoe, ever so slightly, so they could see us... and I could see them. Still, closer and closer, flailing and honking... and they were still just above the surface of the water. Coming right toward us! "Pull up, pull up!" I mouthed to the lead, adult swan. They were clearly not gaining altitude. "What should we do?" Nona whispered back at me. They would be upon us in no time! What could we do? We certainly did not want to scare them off. Seemingly about in our laps... but in a flash as if on cue, the family of four immatures and two adults caught good air and up, up they went. Click! Off toward Lower Bottle Lake. Silence. In our now so small and insignificant canoe, we sat stunned in awe. "What happened here?" We quietly chuckled together with joy for our good fortune to have shared moments with this family of trumpeter swans -- each of us migrating, and hoping for a good life. Always an adventure at Sleeping Fawn Resort.

(click on image to view large size)

foggy Sept morning

Here are a few photos taken Sept 18th during a nice cool morning. This fog didn't break till 1pm.