Sam and Sara

I have been talking with my folks allot about their memories of the Aqualand years. I asked them what one of their favorite stories might be. Mom grinned at Dad and said she always loved the wild geese pair. I sort of, slightly remembered something, but could not piece together a clear memory, so asked them to tell the story. Each spring my family would watch for Sam and Sara. Sam and Sara were a mating pair of wild Canada geese. Early in May, Sam and Sara would fly over Aqualand, circling several times lower and lower as if to inspect the place and confirm for themselves that everything was as it should be. Then they moved on out of site. But my father knew where they were headed. The ponds at Aqualand we a flowing series of inter-connected water that flowed from the three lake chain of Irving, Ballard and White Birch lakes. Once through Aqualand, the water continued on through Bob's Lake, fondly called "The Puddle" by our family, and then ran out the far side as White Birch Creek, which would flow all the way to White Sand Lake about three miles down the road. Dad knew that Sam and Sara would head to Irving, the farthest of the three lake chain, where the process of nesting took place- always in the same place and about the same time. In several weeks later, in early summer, excitement would build when Sam and Sara and young ones would begin their journey. Fishermen and the guests at nearby White Birch Lodge would notify us at Aqualand, "Sam and Sara are coming!", as they headed to their "summer place" among the safe ponds and abundant cracked corn of Aqualand. They would herd their brood across all three lakes, down the short stem of White Birch Creek before it spilled into Aqualand, and, having kept informed of their progress, my father would head out to stop any traffic on county K after opening Aqualand's gate, located across the road from the creek. Dad's escort provided safe passage for Sam, Sara and their little ones. Sam and Sara and babies would summer with us, tame and friendly with visitors. But when the winds began to blow each fall, they would get restless, teaching the children to fly bit by bit. Watching as their lurching paddle-running across the ponds soon become short bursts of flight, we knew they would soon be off. One Day, they would magically be airborne. Circling low, then progressively higher, Sam and Sara seemed to wave goodbye, driven by instinct to migrate south. Mom and Dad would watch wistfully, half wishing they could fly away too as the winds blew cold and the snow began to flutter with the still falling leaves. For many years, this ritual of spring continued. Even after Sam and Sara were surely gone, there were always a few wild geese that would land and settle in at Aqualand, becoming a part of our family just for the summer season. I am sure they were the offsrping, born on Irving to Sam and Sara, drawn by instinct back to where they subsequently grew and were safe, warm and well fed until they could fly away each fall. Many animals called Aqualand home and a few, like Sam and Sara chose us. Though they were free to come and go as they wished, they chose us- a testimony to the love and care they trusted to find within the park known as Aqualand.

Why The Aqualand Ale House?

People who know us have asked this question. There are really just two reasons. Love and War. My husband Dick is a career military man, retiring in late 2011 with over 35 years of service. Beginning his military career as a "barely" high school graduate, better known for his crazy motorcycle riding than his academics, Dick finished as a senior field grade officer with an MBA. As was the case for so many others, 9/11 marked the beginning of a shift in our priorities. Preparing for the first of three year-long missions, the first to Nicaragua and the last two to Afghanistan, we were suddenly aware of how fragile life can be. There was a tugging that began in that shocking event. I had always longed to moved "home" back to Boulder Jct, to be near my parents and to listen to the quiet that is never empty- the sound of the woods. So for me, I started to long more fervently. For my husband, he began to consider what would come next, once his military life was done. His motto of "never get comfortable" meant that he would not just retire and porch sit. Jobs in the military nearly always send people into retirement before they are old enough to long for that. In the next few years during endless hours of self contemplation available to a soldier far from home, Dick began to delve into what was possible. There were two things that rose to the top, he desired to have a place in the sun, a place in a foreign country to go to, to be warm and to diversify investments. Second, Dick knew he wanted to control his own destiny- business ownership. He didn't know what business, but had the desire to have a business that he could run in such a way that he could become a part of the community around him, hiring young adults, mentoring, meeting needs, helping and building something for his sons. It took ten years, but in summer of 2012, we finally found a property and a business that would fit both of us. To own a small business in Boulder Jct would draw me home and to go into a business where we could promote our interests and hobbies would give us an endless opportunity. We knew a craft beer venue with fresh, homey foods, baked goods, casseroles, fine cheeses, pretzels and sausages would be a great fit for our interests and seemed to be an area of opportunity in Boulder Jct. The Frog House retail shop would extend the opportunity for customers to shop for the same great things to take home with them as well. Once we knew we had a business, the question of what to name the business came next. There was one thing we knew for sure- among many of our generation, there was a fond memory of Aqualand and it's attachment to out childhoods. We talked to my parents- the owners of the name and asked what they thought. Bringing back to life the name Aqualand, using the photos and memorabilia as decor, and selling logo items, they thought this idea would be fine and would be fun for them too. As a dabbling writer, I discussed with my sisters the thought that we should write a book to tell the story- the story of one generation's Narnia. It is my hope that sometime this summer, a small volume will be available in the Frog House Gifts. I loved Aqualand, loved my very special childhood, love my family and love the northwoods from whence I came. My husband loves me, loves craft beer and desires to start a business for our family and to be part of the community. So that is how the Aqualand Ale House was born; Born as I said at the beginning- through Love and war.