A small, secluded lake in northwestern Wisconsin may have claimed its first "property sale by loon" six years ago when Dale and Ruth Warland were searching for a lake cabin. After friends recommended the area, the St. Paul couple had scheduled seven properties to visit with a realtor. That turned out to be six more than Dale needed.

As he described, "I sat in three spots on the first property and said, 'This is it.' " Dale first paused in the cabin's main room, lined with picture windows. He also took a break on the screen porch and then found a good spot down on the lakefront. "At the same time I sat by the lake, I heard a loon's song and I guess he gave the sales pitch." Dale said it was a feeling about this particular cabin, the whole atmosphere, as much as a visual for him.

Growing up on a farm near Fort Dodge Iowa, "lake cabins" were not in his family's vernacular or schedule. But Dale and Ruth had rented cabins over the years on Sand Lake, near Moose Lake, Minn., and definitely enjoyed the experience.

End of a singing era

The Warlands likely will have more time to visit their cabin when the Dale Warland Singers disbands. After 31 years, the a cappella choral group's founder and music director has decided to make time for other priorities.

Dale wants time to pursue other professional and personal interests - impossible with his current seven-day commitment to the choral group. He welcomes more freedom in his schedule and opportunities to do guest conducting, teaching and composing/arranging.

"I'm not stopping conducting," he said. "I'm not retiring; I'm reinventing." Dale said he wanted to stop when he was at the top of his game - and the same for the singers. "I didn't want to continue conducting and have someone say, 'I think you should stop.' " He also wanted to do so while the organization is strong and the finances are solid, which they are. "We have been blessed with a strong staff and board, and support from the community."

The Dale Warland Singers has been a dream come true for Dale. "Very few people are as fortunate as I am. One of the biggest human tragedies is not doing what you want to do. For me, it's been doubly good in that I haven't had to do it by myself. I've had many singers, staff, an incredible board and other support around me."

Besides continuing with music, Dale wants to study French and spend more time with photography and watercolor painting. "My health is good," he said. "I want to do things I haven't had time to pursue in the past."

Dale Warland and The Dale Warland Singers have been nominated for a Grammy in the category of Best Choral Performance.

Year-round retreat . . . and studio

The Warlands thrive in the lake cabin's beauty and closeness to nature. Of course, the setting is also a great place to have a studio.

"There's a certain spiritual quality that feeds the soul and the mind," Dale said. "It's easier to compose when your mind isn't cluttered."

The cabin's garden-level studio is complete with a digital piano for score study and composing. Dale also brings a laptop computer with him to keep in touch with office staff, and to handle correspondence and other work. "It's a great place to work and focus on one or a few things, versus at home, where you face more interruptions. I think the simple beauty and quietness makes it ideal for me."

The Warlands have made wonderful friendships during their time at the lake and enjoy sharing the cabin year-round with friends and family members, including their two adult children. Fellow composer Steve Paulus, and his wife, Patty, also have a cabin near the Warlands' property.

That said, an active social life isn't the couple's number-one pursuit at their lakeside retreat. One of Dale's favorite activities at the cabin is the drive to town he takes first thing each day to buy a newspaper. He enjoys the drive through the countryside, often spotting wildlife in the early-morning sun. Watching and listening to the loons also gives special pleasure to the couple. "We find them such amazing creatures," he said. "We feel constantly drawn to them; they give us inspiration and are a special part of our cabin."

"The simplicity of it all is what I like," Dale said. "The cabin is somewhat remote, but that is part of the charm."

"The peace and solitude is an inspiration; the entire atmosphere is an inspiration," Dale said. "We find, after six years, that we love and appreciate it more and more."

By Barb Umberger