Hair on Fire!

We are screaming along now!  Busy, busy busy and thankful to be so!  There are so many folks who want to know whatever posessed us, two people with no food service industry to speak of, opening a business in a scary, risky part of the country-Northern, Wisconsin.  Frankly speaking, there are days when we want to know what possessed us too.

I could regale you with the stories of all of the adventures and mis-adventures to date, but I am guessing you can only imagine. 

There real story though, lies with people.  Our staff-  tenatious, determined and loyal.  We are humbled by their willingness to lay it all out there to help us succeed.  there is no way on earth we could do this without them.  It is our goal to relieve the extra stress and burden they have each shouldered so that they can enjoy every minute of the day with us.  Everyone gets along so well here.  That is virtually unheard of when working with different people from different places in a high stress environment.  When we get to flying through a busy night, we can still find time to tease and laugh a bit.  The chef and his staff in particular find a way to enjoy the hot, tiny kitchen and produce fabulous food that has built a name for us in just a few short weeks.

Our bartenders enjoy people, their stories and sharing the experience of really, really good beer.  Nothing thrills us all more than to create a new beer snob! 

The wait staff are superheros.  Two people handling a crowd like ours is never easy, but they manage to do it with style and grace.  I am amazed that there have not been any missteps- well, unless the novices like me are trying to lend a hand, but even then people are gracious and forgiving when I forget to re-fill a glass or forget to bring the ticket, for some reason my two biggest airhead moves.

But my husband has amazed me the most of all.  His move from career military man to long-haired host is a tranformation that has to be seen to be believed.  He loves to share his knowledge of craft beer with each and every guest and also loves to hear everyone's story.  "Where are you from?  How was your beer/meal?".  He wants to know.   I don't think anyone sneaks in and out without his thoughtful conversation.  There are times when he is very hard on himself for little things, times when he forgets the detail in the fast pace of the moment.  But to me, his gift of hospitality is anchored in his love for people and love for craft beer.

We need more help-  a few more partners in our journey.  We would love to have live music or other entertainment....so many ideas yet to be developed.  But today, I am feeling blessed.  People come more than once-  which tells us we are doing okay. 

Though we race through many days with our hair on fire, we are happy.  The future is bright and we hope to see you soon!

You CAN come home again!

Good news folks- You CAN come home again!  In the weeks since we opened our doors, I have re-introduced myself to many old friends, neighbors, former peers and Aqualand employees.  I have met many second home owners whose families have been summer residents since my grandfather's era. 

Dick and I have made so many new friends.  It has been such a blessing to see folks come in, then come back  in with neighbors, family and friends. 

Our musky and walley flights have been a big hit.  Some of our new friends have come every weekend to work their way through all twenty taps.  The taps have all turned over and there have not been any duds in the bunch, confirming our belief that craft beer followers enjoy the journey of "tasting", rather than sticking with just one brew.

People ask us how things are going, what is it like to open a business like this with little background in the industry.  I think I can speak for both of us in saying, "Exciting, terrifying, chaotic, thrilling, the highest of highs and the nearly heart stoppingly low and unexpected moments". When the transformer across the street was first hit by lightning and then just blew on it's own two weeks later, we despaired to watch our weekend visitors dejectedly turn around to leave as we sat there in the dark....Nearly every piece of equipment has exposed it's quirks.  buying used pieces saved allot of money, but also gave us introduction to the wild ride of maintenance.

There are to do lists in every area from menu and marketing to garbage and lawn care.

I am excited to open the Frog House sometime in the next two weeks-  my own dream of shop ownership is the second side of our long term plan.  I can already see my little book shop area.  I am going to call it "Georgie's Window" after my local hero, Sunday School Teacher and mentor Aunt Georgie, whose book reading was legend.  I would guess that she gifted my sisters and I with more books than anyone other than perhaps our Mom, who also received many, many books from her friend Georgie.  Maybe no one will think to buy books from an artisan snack, beer and wine shop, but I cannot imagine having a shop in Boulder Jct without them.  Something about the northwoods makes me expect everyone will want to take time out to relax, re-create themselves and read.

I cannot remember the last full night's sleep for either my husband or I.  He just came home to pick up the desk and a few other things for our office set up, which has been deferred while the most important areas got done first.  It was the first time he had been home- home since early April.  We have not sat down to eat a meal together earlier than 11 pm in a very long time. 

Dreams are not easy, and we have learned that they are not birthed without allot of sacrifice and pain.  But our dream of owning a business in Boulder Jct, the home town I have longed to return to for many years is coming true.  I am thrilled to discover that everything I hoped and imagined it would feel like is truly what it can be.  I am humbled by the welcome that confirms to us that you CAN come home again.

The Aqualand Ale House opened it's doors last weekend.  Our grown sons, our daughter-in-law, grandson beside us.  Our first guests seemed to enjoy themselves, our chaos was mostly hidden from view, and by day three we began to feel our stride.  but for me, one of the big highlights that first night was watching my Mom and Dad as people shared with them their memories from Aqualand, recognizing them as the celebrities in the room who had made it all a reality.

The journey to this day has been challenging, but in that moment, it was all worth while.  Later, as I watched my husband in his element, guiding folks to the craft beer he felt they may enjoy most, explaining each brew type, it's features and story, It made it all worth it again.

On the third day, as a couple asked me to walk them through all the photos, they shared with me that they went to Aqualand on their honeymoon, and for years after made it a yearly pilgrimage that celebrated one of the sweet memories within their marriage.

The past will always be honored at the Aqualand Ale House, but we are excited to move on into the future.

We have been humbled by the people who showed such amazing support.  I think of the Altschwagers from White Birch Village, allowing us to utilize one of their winterized cabins as our winter home; my grade school classmate Judy- the only other girl in our grade at the tiny Plum Lake Grade School and her husband Grant, who just showed up during crunch time and said simply, "we know how it is, put us to work"; My sister Becky and her husband Ty who watched over things and saved us when we were headed for bad ideas, who fed us dinner when we had worked until dark and forgot to plan our own; my parents, who advised and guided us from their years of experience in running first a resort and then Aqualand as business owners and entrepeneurs;  Dad's hours spent re-caning the backs and cutting out new seats for all the chairs and stools in the place; Our son Perry and his wife Stacie, who designed our logo, helped us plan, built our website and internet presence, designed the menus, pos system and all things electronic; Dan, our younger son, who worked right along side us for weeks, putting his own life on hold to be there when we most needed a hand, and who has also contributed his artistic and design skills in our photo art throughout the building.  His practical common sense acted as a sounding board when the choices were too many and the details too great; Kurt and Cherie, who travelled all the way from Minneapolis to check out our equipment and then who served as designers and advisors in laying out a working plan for our miniscule kitchen.

So many more wonderful people who gave advice, reviewed our layouts, lists, menus and lent a hand.  Our new neighbor Todd who lent his forklift and then his storage space to hold equipment in transition for us; Mike who swiped through with his plow on a snowy day, refusing payment; the Community Church, who rescued our friends a family day when the kitchen equipment would not function and friends and family were already enroute; The people of Boulder Jct for being so welcoming and encouraging- we hope to make you proud; Bill and Mark at Tribute Brewery in Eagle River and Mark at Forest Lake Country Store- we look forward to many coordinated events in the future.

Finally, we feel very blessed to have gathered the most awesome staff.  Our talented young chef John, who is passionate about making everything from scratch; Melissa, our bookkeeper/manager/prep cook and sounding board- yeah, sort of superwoman; Lisa, our head server who brings years of experience and wisdom in an area where our experience is limited at best; Christopher our bar tender, whose calming presence holds us together even under stress.  We are thrilled with our super-servers Kat, Taylor, Taylor, Miranda and Katie-  thank you all for being willing to do the dance with us as we find our rhythm.  Gabby and Vaun, our high school workers who have been willing souls, helping in and out of the kitchen and doing whatever task is asked or them.

We love our tenantts Ben and Tim.  Their patience with our disruption as we prepared for opening has been amazing.

Every new business is launched from hopes and dreams.  Ours has been further launched by support and care-  We hope to serve you for many years to come.  Thank you and we love you all!

The other photo...

A number of years ago, a local artist was commissioned to paint a portrait of a group of fishing guides conducting a shore lunch.  The painting was re-produced into one of the northwood's more famous prints, and there are a few that know it's secret. Some of the faces and names were changed. Bent over the fire adding something to the pan was a humble, quiet young man in the original group photo who was later replaced with another fellow deemed more, "one of the guys", by the person requesting the commission for the painting.
 
That quiet young man was my dad, and over the years I have wondered how it must feel to be the famous guy no one knows....

It has been an old locals  secret.  When we see the print, we grin a private grin knowing...that quiet young man dodged fame and went fishing...

Taking the Plunge

What made us take the jump from day-dreaming of how neato it would be to own our own business into the crazy madness of actually starting one?

First it is important to state that Dick and I have never started a business together before.  Years of study and years of working for the government in Dick's case, and various design firms in mine, has given us lots of chances to see what we do and do not like in our work.  We have had good bosses and bad bosses, stress and ease.

We have also enjoyed working together on projects.  Some families are recreational, some are social, some are plugged into cyber-life.  Dick and I, along with our boys, are project people.  Always distracted by some great next thing that we can build or make, learn about, volunteer for, get involved in, take charge of, help with etc.

But through it all, we have enjoyed most when we are shoulder to shoulder in whatever it is we jump into.  The process of building the concept for the Aqualand Ale House and the Frog House Shop has been such a learning process for all of us-  Dick and I, our sons Dan and Perry and our married into-us -daughter Stacie.  Step by step we have been focused, chaotic, determined and hopeless, depending upon the day.

Dick has discovered the thrill of the hunt-  on-line equpiment auctions have been his best friend and sometimes worst compulsion, but overall we have benefitted from his prowess.  I second guess his bids- challenging his logistics officer training at every turn.

I have been pushing and prodding and sometime dragging him along with my design ideas for the remodeling of the spaces.  It like-wise cracks me up how I am trusted by major clientelle with the biggest of projects, but my husband is always at ease pushing me to defend my ideas.  I am able to take commentary from my clients, but commentary from him is so much harder.

I am a hide it- sorter, wanting filing systems and order.  My husband is a stacker/piler and a visual organizer.  If he can't see it, he can't keep track of it.  We have each carved out complimentary tasks in our marriage, but are finding in a business all boundaries are soft.  We each need to back fill every position held by the other. 

I have been known to salute him in  what we call, "the international symbol of friendship" fashion, and he has been known to spank....but enough about that.

There has been a cost to our close circle relationships.  Some are pretty sure we are nuts, but they support us.  We have sadly lost contact with everyone who hasn't volunteered to hold a paint brush. Working 80 plus hours a week hasn't left us any space for dinners, parties, baby showers, weddings and even a few funerals.  I am a book club drop out- which makes me very sad.  There are a few people who do not support us, who have dropped us, which also breaks our hearts.

There is a cost to every big decision.  We knew that going in.  But we feel very sure that our live's destiny lies up north, our future is in owning our own place, and  Aqualand Ale House and Frog House Shop is that place.

We are getting ready for our chance to care for our guests, celebrate a memory, and explore an experience of artisan craftsmanship in food, drink and gift, all  in the heart of the north woods.

We have taken the plunge, and have felt the chill and scald of it by turn.  At the end of the day, we won't have to ask ourselves, "what- if", because we will have found out the answer to what happens when we "go for it".

The Traveling Muskies of Boulder Jct.

One of the old promotional photos of the local residents with live muskies that would become part of the "Traveling Muskies of Boulder Jct" exhibit that was taken to the sport shows to promote both Boulder Jct and Musky Capital of the World.  My dad- Bruce, is the young man kneeling at the far right with a baseball style cap on.  There are lots of familiar faces in this picture aren't there?!

I am told that my memories of Aqualand are the color of my childhood. Bright with sunshine and always rose-colored. But after Aqualand, the pride of my childhood years is the quality of the north woods people. As I have traveled away, lived in many places, I am amazed that there is a mistaken notion that the people of the north woods are hicks, rednecks, and somehow special in that "not so bright", "not the sharpest knife in the drawer" sort of way. Those of us born in the woods know a different truth. The people who live in Northern Wisconsin are in the woods because the choose it, because they find in it value that less observant might not see. It takes strength, wit and sacrifice to stay. Above all else, it takes the ability to make peace with the voices within. Living at times in the city, I observed that the hustle, bustle and busyness provides a way to escape oneself. Hurry and worry and distraction give the opportunity to remain blissfully unaware if unaware is the way one wants to be. You cannot avoid yourself in the woods. The positive side of this is, you can hear yourself think. The woods holds tight to the poeple who wish to know themselves well. Visitors who come, come back again and again because the special draw. Like drinking water from a cold mountain stream, the refreshment is unlike any other. A retreat of self-discovery can happen in a very short amount of time while sitting with a fishing pole, walking in the woods or biking along a lakeshore trail. The real truth about the northwoods people is that they have taken the time to know themselves well. They have often moved through the world and chosen to return home. Some of them have been among the strongest successes in the business world, some have been wounded by careless mis-treatment of the unappreciative in their past, but all know why they are returning. I have never been able to call another place home. Though my place has been at my husband's side for thirty years of military career travel, whenever people ask me where home is, the answer has always come easily- the northwoods of Wisconsin. I tell people I am earning my right to come home. I truly believe that to be the case, and two years ago my husband Dick and I began the shift. Starting with a "not so big" cabin in the woods, we are now on to the hair-raising risk of a northwoods business. The Aqualand Ale House is a dream come true for both of us. This long, snowy winter in the north has been my husband's first opportunity to really see what I have always known. There is beauty in the solitude and peace in the quiet. A white north woods winter is sunnier and brighter, far more beautiful than the winters farther south. I am so happy that my soul mate has embraced the woods I love. I am looking forward to meeting all the residents of Boulder Junction who do not know me, those who have made a full or part time home in my home town in the thirty plus years that I have been away. My husband is enjoying meeting my old friends and making new ones. We long to earn your trust as we join the community of the north woods.