Around the Lodge

I have been quietly working with a friend of mine over the last few months in planning and preparation for a major update, renovation, re-design and expansion of the the Bearfort Lodge website. Final preparations are underway as we gear up for the first of the updates to take place this coming week. — Thank you for Bearfort Lodge Signature Black Bear Paw Printyour patience and continued support.

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home made birch beerWhile scraping the bark off of logs in preparing to build the log arbor there was one log of birch which really couldn’t be used as birch just doesn’t hold up well. It was while stripping the bark off this fine piece of wood that I was hit with that unmistakable aroma.

After quietly gathering up much of the bark and scrapings I stuffed them into a large pot and brewed it on the stove for a bit then after letting it cool – I left the mixture to steep for quite sometime and added a bit of sugar. (this is not the exact process I followed but its my grandpa’s recipe and that’s a family secret).

It sat hidden in the basement for the past few weeks slowly brewing sending little bubbles through a tube into a small glass jar near by.

Birch Beer

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Finally: Recovered From a Major Computer Meltdown

Around the Lodge

Around the middle of May – I had experienced a major computer meltdown. My PC based system went into a catastrophic meltdown and I couldn’t even access my back up files. For a few weeks I had tried to recover. My computer went in for service – Hard drives wiped and XP reinstalled – however [...]

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A Kitchen Cupboard Reborn: Saved from the Ashes

Around the Lodge

For years it had sat in boxes and crates in the recesses of a storage area in the barn back in Illinois. As a kid I remember many times having to move it here or there with instructions to keep the boxes together when ever that part of the barn was ‘reorganized’. Each box had [...]

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Colbie Caillat Comes to Bearfort Lodge

Around the Lodge

Colbie Caillat has released her new music video for Realize which was partly shot here at Bearfort Lodge. Below please see her video Realize and photos of the day’s events. In addition be sure to visit Colbie Caillat’s website as well as her fan site. Congratulations Colbie!

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A Winter Interlude

Around the Lodge

Things have been a bit crazy as of late. Every so often one needs to stop and watch the clouds pass.  

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Intro to How-To Videos

Around the Lodge

I‘ve been gone for quite some time and have been working with a few people as to incorporating video into the website to provide how-to videos of some of the projects that are happening around here. It may take some time but I’m working on them. In an effort to provide better information as to [...]

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Colbie Caillat Comes to Bearfort Lodge

Around the Lodge

Bearfort Lodge welcomes Colbie Caillat. Colbie recently shot part of her new music video here at the lodge for her hit Realize. You can find more information on Colbie at her website. More information and photos to come.

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From the Bearfort Kitchen

Around the Lodge

Soon, in response to numerous requests, I will launch a new website with a collection of rustic recipes from the kitchen of Bearfort Lodge. Thank you to all who have enjoyed the recipes and have asked for more.

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Return from Vacation

Around the Lodge

I had been away for the last month on vacation. Good to be back but lots to do. Over the past several weeks I had the opportunity to visit Georgia, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, New York State, Rhode Island, and Massachusetts and took up on the invitations to tour number of log homes and other restoration projects [...]

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Talk to Bearfort with Skype

Around the Lodge

I receive numerous emails asking great questions. Although I try to answer all emails and questions sometimes it can be difficult to keep up. I’ve decided to open up another avenue to talk to readers. I am available – when on line – via Skype.  If you do not have skype you can download it [...]

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Selling the Pocono Lake Cottages

Around the Lodge

The lake cottages here in the Poconos are on the market. I don’t think that they will last long as people have been clamoring for property on the lake. Cottages here at the lake and river are hard to come by especially with waterfront and a dock. These are perfect for a weekend getaway or [...]

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Winter Farewell: Good Riddance

Around the Lodge

Winter is finally finished or at least I thought so. A bit of snow the last two days has me wondering. The melt was fast – a few flakes here and there. Well good riddance. Take your frigid fingers and go. I’m rather anxious to get out into the garden. Just the other day it [...]

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Christmas Lights at the Lodge

Around the Lodge

‘Tis the season. The Christmas light have been lit. Does not feel like late November being that is has been so warm — although overcast today it was still quite warm. Don’t get me wrong — I hope that it lasts. Ive been driving the old truck for the last several days — getting in [...]

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Thanksgiving: The Fowl Remnants

Around the Lodge

The evening delightful; my friends, wonderful; the dinner, a plate full; of turkey, I’m not full. What a fantastic time with good friends, conversation, drink and amazing food. The table was spectacular. I love turkey.

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Lending a Neighbor a Helping Hand

Around the Lodge

When a neighbor needs a hand I’m more than happy to help. Likewise they have always been willing to help me. When no one is home I can count on my neighbors to keep an eye out. But how do you help a military family? How does one actually show their support for the troops? [...]

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End of a Fine Week

Around the Lodge

It has come to the end of a long and productive week. Although I usually relax with a cup of coffee, this evening I’ll be enjoying conversation with good friends around the tap at the bar here at the Lodge where an inviting and refreshing glass of ice cold beer awaits. The past several days [...]

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A Lucky Find | A Mahogany Desk for the Home Office

Around the Lodge

Having worked from a home office for the past several years has been a pleasure. The office behind the bar provides comfortable surroundings and an enjoyable place to work, yet storage for files and office equipment has been difficult. One situation is that I’ve never really had decent storage space for files besides a single [...]

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Grandma’s Piano: A Musical Interlude

Around the Lodge

It was a long time coming and long over due. I hadn’t given her a good tuning in quite a while and she needed it. The change of seasons has dropped most of her keys by a good step or more. Grandma’s Piano. She is an old Premier Baby Grand who’s age I do not [...]

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Making Due – A Stairwell Pantry and Painted Steps

Around the Lodge

I‘ve been doing a bit of research on pre-war kitchens and have come across many photos of kitchens where style and beauty is in the simplicity and functionality, some more utilitarian than others, and then those in contrast with their large open spaces, vast cabinetry and boasting enormous and grand pantries.   No doubt I [...]

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