King of the raft.......

The traditional Hagen family and friends raft wars! I somehow get talked into this event....hmm, was great fun...I won but still have yet to get the photo to place on here to prove it?!?!

At last, progress on the garage.

Over the weekend of May 1-3, my friends Steve and David came up from the cities to help with the framing of the garage. I must say we worked from morning till night and I am exhausted!
Thanks Steve and David for all your help.

Garage material has arrived!

Although behind schedule, the garage material arrived last Wed. The garage will be erected over the first weekend of May, thanks to the help of my loyal friends.

I will be siding the garage throughout the Spring and early summer months.

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.

fawns....awww

here are a few photos of newborn fawns that take shelter here at the resort.

Whopper of a Bass

The day after the big Tornado scare, Kelby Jensen from Perham landed this 21", nearing 6 lbs Largemouth Bass while bobber fishing with a nightcrawler. Kelby is one happy camper! (click on image to view in larger size.)

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)

MN FilmTV visit

Both Katie , Director of the Park Rapids Chamber of Commerce and myself, a Chamber board member took Christopher Grap, Production Services Manager of MN FilmTV on a tour of the Park Rapids area. Christopher was visiting the area, capturing a few photos and taking notes of all sorts of things found throughout the tour of the Park Rapids lakes area. We visited all the small towns like Dorset, Nevis, Emmaville and Osage and stopped by a couple resorts, Itasca State Park and all sorts of things in between. Christophers visit will put Park Rapids on the map for future film. The MN FilmTV is a go to place for film directors to contact them asking for referrals to specific shots, locations or icons to be used in future films or still shots.

spectacular nights

Peggy Ladwig of Lonsdale, MN captured this shot of the moon coming over the pines from accross the lake, this is just one of many great perks of being at the lake.
(click on image to view larger size)

The Rochester Gang

The Olson's, Lund's, and Fencl's from Rochester, MN sent us this group shot taken under our towering Norway Pines. Rob and Justin also sent a photo of this whopper of a large mouth bass caught and released on Stocking Lake during their visit. We look forward to seeing this fun, outgoing group next year. (click on image to see larger version)

RECYCLE CENTER

Yes, I finaly finished one of my many goals here at the resort. A recycle center for all plastic, glass, cans, paper, and cardboard to help with waste and doing our part in offering a place for guests to bring recycling too. Thanks goes to John of Texas, John, Ben, and Matthew of Fargo, and Jim of Fargo for assisting in the assembly of the shed.

grin from ear to ear

Here are a couple proud kids sportin their catch, sisters- Sammi (wearing the cap) and Hunter from Gatesville Texas sure are enjoying their time here at the resort. You will be seeing more of these two in future blogs.

Talk about dirty..........

Yes, thats me sanding the walls on a drywall project I did for my good friends David and Stacy down in Rogers, MN. the same weekend as the Sportsman Show in Mpls. I really didn't mind doing the work, it brings back memories of my drywall days. I am glad I was able to help David and Stacy with this. Just thought I would share a photo of me working. now that I am back at the resort I have this house to finish...David you free to help?