Berry Springs Lodge 2010 Summer Newsletter

Hello from Berry Springs Lodge,
 

The big talk this summer is the extremely high temperatures throughout the country. No matter whom you talk to from Florida to New York everyone is saying it is hot! We had quite a few 90 degree days so far this year but it has not been bad. We have been dry so far this summer, humidity levels have been very low. If you take a short ride into the national park it cools down 10 to 15 degrees. We are so lucky to live where we do. July 4th was our official 10-year anniversary date. We celebrated with fireworks shot from the ponds. You would think we were at a local stadium. The fireworks that you can get in Tennessee are spectacular. Everything went fine until Patrick tried to help the boys ignite some of the fireworks. He put two of them upside down in the shot tubes and blew the tubes apart. Must be getting old!! Needless to say the finale was kind of weak with two tubes short. Maybe no one noticed!! LOL.

Again we want to thank you for being our friends and guests. Hope to see you all soon.

Thank you and God bless

Patrick's   "Home Inn-Provements" 

This summer has been a lot of fun so far. We drained the bass pond and pulled all the big bass out and put them in the catfish pond. Have you ever seen the program on the discovery channel about the guys that catch giant catfish with their hands? They reached up under the banks and grabbed the fish out by their mouths. That is what it kind of felt like trying to get the fish out of the pond. We drained the pond down to about 1.5 feet in depth and used a net to screen the fish to one end.

 

 

 

 

 The large carp were first to go. They would get to the end of the pond and jump out of the water and over the net. You would have to catch them in the air as they came over. It was not easy but it was very funny to watch. I wish I had a video of that event to show you. The bass were much easier. You just had to reach down and grab them.

My good friend Scott (The one who built the Lodge) brought his trackhoe down and left it for me for a week. I had all kinds of fun digging up everything I could. The upper dam that supplies water to the ponds had grown up and filled with sediment over the years so this was a good opportunity to clean it out. And believe it or not I did not get stuck!! Most times it seems I get equipment stuck some where on the property. Good thing it was very dries this year.

 Sue's  Recipes     

 Hi everyone.  We just did this one the other day for the first time.  It turned out great!

 

 

Apple Walnut Cake

 

3 eggs

1 3/4 cups sugar

3/4 cups vegetable oil

1 teaspoon vanilla

2 cups all purpose flour

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon baking soda

2 teaspons cinnamon

3 cups granny smith apples, chopped

1/2 cup chopped walnuts

powdered sugar or a glaze for top when done

 

Crean the eggs, sugar, oil and vanilla in a mixing bowl.Stir in the flour,salt, baking soda and cinnamon.  Fold in apples and walnuts. spoon into a greased 10 inch round cake pan or a 11 by 7 retangular pan. 

Bake at 350 for 30 to 40 minutes or until a wooden toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.  Cool 10 minutes. Flip out of pan and when completely cooled drizzle glaze and powdered sugar on top.

*glaze---mix 1 cup powdered sugar with 1/2 tsp. vanilla and 1 - 2 tablespoons milk. Mix until smooth.