View from the lake side.  A screened Minnesota Room is on the right.  The office is in the center, below the great room.  We are a member of the Gilbert Lake Association. 

Wes Hanson Builders, Inc., with offices in Merrifield and Crosslake, MN, was selected as the General Contractor.  Their specialty is building quality homes in the $300,000 to $1,000,000 range.

February 11, 2000:  Purchased 280 feet of lakeshore property on the southwest side of Gilbert Lake in Brainerd.
July 1, 2002:  Engaged the services of Architect Paul M. Hirst to design the new home/business.
February 24, 2003:  Signed with General Contractor Wes Hanson Builders, Inc.  Details
March 18 and April 26, 2003:  Communications tower.  Details
March 27, 2003:  Lodge roofing plan.  Details
March 31, 2003:  Land clearing and staking out the location.  Details
April 1, 2003:  The digging begins.  Details
April 8, 2003:  Concrete footings are in.  Details
May 12, 2003: The carpentry begins  Details
May 15, 2003: Structural Insulated Panels go in.  Details
May 21, 2003: The second floor goes up.  Details
June 7, 2003: The roof boards are on.  Details
June 11, 2003: The Great Room Ceiling takes shape.  Details
June 12, 2003: The fireplace is started.  Details
June 12, 2003: The electrical work begins.  Details
June 12, 2003: A view to and from the lake.  Details
June 18, 2003: More work.  Details
July 1, 2003: Windows and chimney added.  Details
July 17, 2003: More work to the outside and in the garage.  Details
July 31, 2003: The work progresses.  Details
August 12, 2003: Electrical OK'd.  Details
August 18, 2003: Electrical runs to the Electrical Room.  Details
August 29, 2003: The sheet rocking begins.  Details
September 17, 2003: Stucco work and utilities.  Details
September 26, 2003: Walls sanded and painting begins.  Details
October 2, 2003: The great room ceiling is in and some of the lights come on.  Details
October 10, 2003: The shop window goes in along with entry tiles.  Details
October 24, 2003: Wood floors go in along with bath tiles.  Details
October 28, 2003: Stucco colors and inside work.  Details
November 3, 2003: Electrical and furnace work.  Details
November 7, 2003: Interior colors.  Details
November 14, 2003: Tower work.  Details
November 17, 2003: Carpentry work.  Details
November 22, 2003: More tower work.  Details
November 24, 2003: Propane tank delivered.  Details
November 26, 2003: Road work and roof.  Details
December 3, 2003: Entry and Paula.  Details
December 11, 2003: Close to the end.  Details
December 16, 2003: Floor work.  Details
December 16, 2003: Santa visits.  Details

January 5, 2004: Electrical inspection passed with flying colors.  Details
January 12, 2004: Occupancy inspection passed and the moving begins.  Details
January 16, 2004, our new address is:  10032 Island Drive, Brainerd, MN  56401.  Our telephone numbers and zip code remain the same.
January 17, 2004: The moving experience continues.  Details
January 22, 2004: The fruits of our labor.  Details
February 14, 2004: Visitors to Gilbert Lodge.  Details
February 23, 2004: Ice and snow slide off the metal roof.  Details
May 8, 2004: A dock is installed on the lakeshore.  Details
May 12, 2004: Spring clean-up work.  Details
May 14, 2004: The boat arrives.  Details
May 17, 2004: Railings are installed.  Details
May 18, 2004: Paddle Pushers.  Details
May 22, 2004: Tower installed in entrance.  Details
May 28, 2004: Driveway is paved.  Details
June 17, 2004: Visitors to Gilbert Lodge.  Details
June 24, 2004: Summer comes to Gilbert Lodge.  Details
August 1, 2004: Summer on Gilbert Lake.  Details
October 31, 2004: Halloween at Gilbert Lodge.  Details
November 25, 2004: Thanksgiving at Gilbert Lodge.  Details
December 4, 2004: "Tour of Homes" included Gilbert Lodge.  Details
December 24, 2004: The Tech Room.  Details
December 25, 2004: Christmas at Gilbert Lodge.  Details
December 27, 2004: More wiring.  Details

January 2, 2005: Winter at Gilbert Lodge.  Details
January 16, 2005: One-Year Anniversary at Gilbert Lodge.  Details
February 14, 2005: Saint Valentines Day at Gilbert Lodge.  Details
May 9, 2005: The Minnow returns to Gilbert Lodge.  Details
May 29, 2005: Foreign visitors to Gilbert Lodge.  Details
July 3, 2005: Visitor and Gilbert Lake.  Details
July 9, 2005: More visitors to Gilbert Lodge.  Details
July 19, 2005: Turtle Meter Reader Installed.  Details
August 21, 2005: Deer and Minnow Artwork.  Details
September 10, 2005: Putting up firewood at Gilbert Lodge.  Details
September 16, 2005: Foreign Exchange students.  Details
September 20, 2005: Off-Peak Electric added to Gilbert Lodge.  Details
October 7, 2005: Fall comes to Gilbert Lodge.  Details
October 15, 2005: Visitors to Gilbert Lodge.  Details
October 17, 2005: Fall at Gilbert Lodge.  Details
November 19, 2005: The Behemoth arrives.  Details
December 4, 2005: Christmas season at Gilbert Lodge.  Details

January 28, 2006: Breakfast at Gilbert Lodge.  Details
February 5, 2006: Pizza at Gilbert Lodge.  Details
April 10, 2006: Spring Fever.  Details
July 18, 2006: Foreign Visitors.  Details
July 29, 2006: New car at Gilbert Lodge.  Details
August 23, 2006: Another fine day at Gilbert Lodge.  Details
October 1, 2006: Autumn comes to Gilbert Lodge.  Details
October 10, 2006: More wiring at Gilbert Lodge.  Details
October 28, 2006: Pumpkin Carving for Halloween.  Details
October 31, 2006: Halloween at Gilbert Lodge.  Details
October 23, 2006: Thanksgiving at Gilbert Lodge.  Details
December 23, 2006: Christmas at Gilbert Lodge.  Details

February 8, 2007: Visitors to Gilbert Lodge.  Details
February 25, 2007: Let it snow at Gilbert Lodge.  Details
March 3, 2007: Snow and Minnesota Walleye at Gilbert Lodge.  Details
March 6, 2007: Minnesota pork dinner at Gilbert Lodge.  Details
March 10, 2007: Spring is coming to Gilbert Lodge.  Details
March 17, 2007: St. Patrick's Day.  Details
March 24, 2007: Notable visitors at Gilbert Lodge.  Details
April 8, 2007: Easter at Gilbert Lodge.  Details
May 2, 2007: The Minnow arrives back at Gilbert Lodge.  Details
May 22, 2007: The Paddle Pushers stop at Gilbert Lodge.  Details
June 14, 2007: New Mexico visitor at Gilbert Lodge.  Details
July 13, 2007: Gilbert Lodge is photographed.  Details
August 8, 2007: Visitors to Gilbert Lodge.  Details
September 1, 2007: Gilbert Lake activities.  Details
September 22, 2007: Gilbert Lake sights.  Details
October 31, 2007: Halloween at Gilbert Lodge.  Details
November 3, 2007: Firewood splitting.  Details
December 2, 2007: Let it snow.  Details
December 11, 2007: Christmas at Gilbert Lodge.  Details

January 15, 2008:  Winter is here!  Details
January 15, 2008:  Wintertime at Gilbert Lodge  Details
January 24, 2008:  Electrical inspection at Gilbert Lodge  Details
January 26, 2008:  Ice Fishing Contest  Details
February 20, 2008:  Eclipse of the Moon  Details
March 8, 2008:  Nunsense live at the Franklin Arts Center Theatre  Details
March 15, 2008:  St. Patrick's Day celebrated two days early.  Details
March 17, 2008:  St. Patrick's Day and more.  Details
April 11, 2008:  Spring snowfall.  Details
April 15, 2008:  30th Wedding Anniversary for Mark and Paula.  Details
April 25, 2008:  Late-spring snow.  Details
May 15, 2008:  Spring is here.  Details