Sunrise, The Closer, and other stuff...

My husband and I just returned from our annual trip to the Northwoods, eh? We spend a week every year right on the Michigan/Wisconsin border in Land O Lakes, Wisconsin at the Sunrise Lodge. We've been going there since 1995 and plan to keep going as long as we're capable or they go out of business. Unlike some other resorts, Dick, Elsie and Phil put money back into their business so every year when we go up, "our" cabin has been updated in some way. We used to joke when we first started going that they only had two TV channels, the How to Catch Fish channel and the How to Cook Fish channel. I learned some pretty good fish recipes from that channel. Since we first started going our cabin has been the recipient of a new gas fireplace (which really came in handy this trip), new air conditioning, new pillow top mattresses, and a flat screen tv, among other updates. The lodge has excellent food, we always put on pounds when we go up. The grounds are fabulous if you have children, they have: basketball, baseball, tennis, volleyball, badminton, tetherball, miniature golf, bicycles (just take and go), swimming, a huge sandbox, and lots of wooden structures for little kids to climb on. There are grills and fire rings outside each cabin and lots of wood to burn. On cool nights people light a fire and sit at the edge of the lake. Vegging is required. There are pontoon boats, canoes and john boats to rent if you like that sort of thing and the fishing is awesome. To see more on the resort, check out their website here. If you plan to go, tell them Carl and Cindy sent you. There is a terrific little stamping store in Sayner, WI which I look forward to visiting every year. Jill holds classes so you could even take a class or two while you're there. Take a camera if you go, you will want to document some of the techniques you see, they're fabulous. And stop next door at Colours for a blended Creamsicle, yum!
This year for the first time I schlepped some craft supplies up. I wanted to spend time coloring some digital and stamped images I took. I also created some boxes for the housekeepers and friends that we meet up there every year - a big shout out to Jo and Jane. This is the table in our cabin full of 'stuff' that weighed down the car.

This is our new fireplace which made the cabin toasty this year. This is the view I looked at everyday while coloring. This is the beautiful Lac Vieux Desert populated with eagles and osprey and lots of ducks. The grass in front of our deck is filled with native sparrows and hummingbirds in the monkeyflowers.

This is our kitchen, filled with everything you would need to cook except food. We prefer to use the plan that feeds us three times a day. I walk up to the lodge for lunch while my husband gets a "to go" lunch so he can wander out to take pictures.

This is one of the double beds in the bedroom, there are two and the couch pulls out to make a bed, also. I didn't take pics of the bathroom, but it's really big and bright.

Now, on to the Closer. I knew that Brenda Lee couldn't accept the job as chief. What would happen to her team? And who would take Provenza and Flinn? But I think she was a little conflicted after thinking about all the great things she could do and influence if she was chief. Brenda Lee is a terrific example of what can be done with brains and chocolate.