Photo Candy

Purple

2012-01-13T14:24:00.000-05:00

Looking west from St. Ignace, over Lake Michigan, at sunset.

Winter Sunset

2012-01-10T17:47:00.002-05:00

It has been the strangest winter here in northern Michigan. We've had barely any snow, and it has been unseasonably warm. In fact it was over 40° here today, and tomorrow it's supposed to be just as warm. While I like the warmer temps, and not having a bunch of snow on the ground, it won't be good for the plant life this summer when we have a drought from the lack of moisture.

Happiness

2011-12-30T13:18:00.000-05:00

It's the end of December and I am longing for spring, so instead of sharing something wintry, I decided to think spring. A shot of a daisy from my garden after a spring rain.

Rocks

2011-12-29T17:06:00.000-05:00

I started collecting rocks after a trip to the shores of Lake Superior several years ago. I found a Lake Superior agate and have been hooked ever since. While some of these were bought at stores, I have more that I actually found myself. I keep them in a pretty bowl and I love to admire the colors.

Careful!

2011-12-28T10:30:00.000-05:00

A macro shot of some cactus. This was taken at Frederick Meijer Gardens in Grand Rapids.

Bower's Harbor

2011-11-07T12:12:00.000-05:00

A fall capture of Bower's Harbor which is a part of the western Grand Traverse Bay. Taken from the southwest side of Old Mission Peninsula.

Division

2011-11-02T16:48:00.000-04:00

The row of trees separates two fields. I thought it made for an interesting perspective.

Days of Old

2011-11-01T11:24:00.000-04:00

I love to take pictures of old places like this. I always wonder, what was the family like that lived there? What kinds of things did they like to do? You can almost close your eyes and imagine a Little House On the Prairie scenario, back when life was so much more simple.

Taquamenon Falls

2011-10-03T11:53:00.000-04:00

The largest and most visited waterfalls in Michigan, located in the upper peninsula.

Monarch Caterpillar

2011-08-03T19:30:00.001-04:00

I love searching for and capturing shots of monarch caterpillars. They are actually quite easy to find as they only feed on the milkweed plant. I just wish the adult monarchs were just as easy to capture...

Trillium Pollen

2011-08-01T11:34:00.000-04:00

Anemone

2011-05-18T15:33:00.000-04:00

I have a small bunch of these growing near my birch trees in my front yard. They are always the first flowers of the season to bloom in my yard. They are tiny and frail, but so pretty.

Snake In The Grass

2011-05-16T17:46:00.000-04:00

On a recent walk with my husband, we came across this little guy. He was not easy to capture, but I managed to get him with his tongue out. Isn't he cute?

Flaming Keyhole

2011-04-30T15:06:00.002-04:00

There is an old dump near my grandmother's house. On Easter Sunday, my son and I took a walk back there to look around. Saw this on an old Ford truck that had been abandoned.

Snow Fence

2011-04-12T16:15:00.002-04:00

Captured this image, during the last snow fall of the season, from an old piece of fencing that my husband has out in his scrap pile.

Snowmobiling

2011-03-07T10:59:00.003-05:00

A couple of weeks ago, we went out to play on our snowmobiles.

Here's Brenden with his helmet on.

And here he is jumping over a snow bank.

What Is It?

2011-03-06T16:46:00.002-05:00

Playing around with the macro feature, what do you think this is?

Cold Apple Tree

2011-01-18T19:45:00.001-05:00

I am amazed at how many apples were still hanging on this tree.

An Opening In The Clouds

2010-09-10T15:19:00.002-04:00

This picture was taken a couple of months ago during the early morning hours. I was headed up to the upper peninsula for a day of blueberry picking and agate hunting on the beaches of Lake Superior. We stopped in Cheboygan to get some breakfast and this is what we saw when we got out of the car and looked up into the sky. Beautiful isn't it?

Fort Michilimackinac

2010-05-12T18:57:00.002-04:00

A worker at the Fort, dressed as a British soldier, demonstrates how to load and fire a musket.

That's My World - The Mai Tiki Resort

2010-05-04T13:20:00.006-04:00

Located just south of Oscoda, Michigan and on the shores of Lake Huron is the seasonal Mai Tiki Resort. I've never stayed here, but have driven by many, many times. I just love the colors.

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The Devil's Den

2010-04-30T11:31:00.004-04:00

Located in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, and as seen from Little Round Top, the rocky area on the center right of this shot is the Devil's Den, also known to soldier's as The Valley of Death. This was one of the main battlefields of the Civil War, being the area where many Confederate soldiers lost their lives. It is said that this area is one of the most haunted areas in Gettysburg. Rumors say that cameras often won't work here or they will mysteriously get knocked out of the photographers hands.. I personally never encountered this while we were there, nor did I witness anything paranormal.

Neo

2010-04-28T10:06:00.002-04:00

This is my chocolate lab puppy, Neo. He is 6 months old.

Snow Clouds

2009-12-26T15:16:00.000-05:00

The snow clouds looming over Lake Huron on a cold December day.

The Ice Is Forming On Lake Huron

2009-12-13T17:53:00.003-05:00

Took a walk out on the pier in Alpena this past Saturday morning and caught this shot of Thunder Bay. It was cold, but worth it.

Ornaments & Beads

2009-12-09T20:52:00.003-05:00

These were in a box of Christmas decorations that my mother was getting ready to put up around her house. Aren't they pretty?

The Bellflower & the Fly

2009-08-01T20:52:00.002-04:00

Took this shot over in Presque Isle last week when Sara and I went out to see the lighthouses on the shores of Lake Huron.

Sharing The Love

2009-07-28T21:29:00.002-04:00

Walking through the woods, my mom pointed out these two ferns that look like a heart.

Columbine

2009-07-12T19:29:00.002-04:00

Columbine is one of my favorite flowers, and lucky me, it grows all over here in northern Michigan.

Little Grasshopper

2009-07-07T20:51:00.001-04:00

I've been practicing with macro photography a lot lately. Here's a small grasshopper that I found in my mom's yard one day, while out looking for flower shots.

The Fly

2009-06-08T08:53:00.002-04:00

Yes, I think flies are nasty little critters, but this picture turned out pretty well. I just had to share it..

SkyWatch Friday

2009-05-14T22:07:00.003-04:00

My daughter and I took a walk out in our field the other day and out of nowhere came this very low flying plane. We live about 30 miles from a National Guard base and regional airport, so I imagine they were out doing drills or something, but it caught me completely off guard..

That's My World - Morel Season

2009-05-11T20:54:00.004-04:00

The morel, in case you are unaware, is a tasty little delicacy and highly sought after mushroom that many people like to hunt this time of year. Here in northern Michigan, several towns have festivals to celebrate this hot little item that can bring in at least $20 per pound. I've been on a hunt trying to find them within this last week. We drove out to some state land and looked high and low and this was the only one we could find. Then yesterday my husband and I went for a walk in the woods on the back of our ten acres, and guess what, we found seven of them. We went back out this afternoon and found eight more. We haven't had much rain lately though, and since rain is helpful to their growth, I think later this week after the forecasted rain, we might just find us a bundle.

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That's My World - Coming To Life

2009-05-04T19:16:00.003-04:00

Spring is by far my favorite season of the year. Everything is new again, and the world suddenly becomes full of color after a long gray, dull, winter. And then of course, I come out of hibernation with my camera in hand. Since I purchased my first DSLR camera as a birthday gift to myself last fall, I have been going crazy taking pictures of anything and everything I can find. Here are a few shots of some of the new life that is growing around my home.

This first shot is from one of our willow trees

These flowers below are buttercups, and they grow along the edge of the stream that runs through the woods behind our property.

Asparagus is one of my favorite veggies. Here are some new shoots growing in our garden.

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SkyWatch Friday

2009-05-01T14:00:00.003-04:00

A recent northern Michigan spring sky looms over our back field. This storm rolled in bringing much needed relief from very dry, high fire danger conditions.

Detroit Zoo Aviary

2009-04-24T19:30:00.002-04:00

During a recent visit to the Detroit Zoo, I captured these shots of the aviary.

The dome from the outside

Looking up at the dome from the inside

Signs Of Spring

2009-04-20T15:13:00.004-04:00

These are the first flowers to bloom in my yard. They are so dainty and so very pretty. In northern Michigan, they grow all over in the forests and usually they are an early indication that morel mushrooms will soon be seen.

That's My World - Hometown Movie Locations

2009-04-13T19:05:00.003-04:00

For those of us who live in Michigan, we've recently experienced a movie making boom. This is due to a tax credit ,which was put in place, to bring more filmmakers to the area in an effort to bring more revenue to the state. Last week during a trip back to my hometown, I took a couple of shots of some recent film locations that were shot in my hometown.

This first shot below is Parker High School. This school is new, but after only one year of being open, the town had to shut it down due to financial reasons. This made for a great opportunity for some film makers who were looking for an empty school building to shoot their movie in. The movie, titled "High School", was shot last fall and will be starring Adrian Brody and Michael Chiklis.

This second photo is the Howell courthouse and was used for one small scene in a movie that will star Hillary Swank and is titled Betty Anne Waters. When I was a teenager, several of my friends and I used to hang out on the courthouse lawn during the annual Howell Melon Fest.

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Look Up...

2009-04-11T19:26:00.003-04:00

Looking up while visiting the Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn, Michigan, I captured these shots of some chandeliers...

My World Tuesday

2009-04-06T19:31:00.004-04:00

We took a quick little mini-vacation over the weekend downstate and while we were there, we paid a visit to Ann Arbor, home of the University of Michigan, and also the birthplace of many of my family members. Ann Arbor is a quirky town with lots to see and do. Since we were pressed for time, I didn't get many pictures here, but I just had to get a shot of this interesting house. I love it! It is so unique and just the kind of house I would love to live in.

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SkyWatch Friday - Strange Tree

2009-04-02T21:45:00.003-04:00

Out exploring deserted beaches along the Lake Superior shoreline in the upper peninsula, I happened across this perculiar tree. I have never seen anything quite like it. Odd, wouldn't you say?

For all of my blogging friends who have left comments in the last week, I am sorry I haven't had time to respond or to swing by your blogs. My kids are off school for spring break and we have been prepping for a quick weekend getaway starting tomorrow. I will be back on track come Monday, so I will catch up with you all then. Thank you all so much for the very kind comments, they are highly appreciated.

That's My World - Old Cabin

2009-03-30T20:05:00.005-04:00

This cabin is directly across the street from where I live. My daughter and I have walked over and checked it out a few times. Not much left of the old place, but a few old broken things on the inside. It sure peaks the curiosity of days gone by and what the family that lived here was like.

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Tracks

2009-03-29T18:56:00.002-04:00

Goofing around with my macro mode, I took this shot of our neighbors tractor imprints in the snow, after he plowed our driveway a few weeks ago. What do you think?

Sky Watch Friday - Crater Lake

2009-03-27T10:42:00.003-04:00

I pulled this from my archives. I took this shot back in 1993 when I went on a three state tour of the west over a two week period. We took the trip to Crater Lake, Oregon, in June and there was still quite a lot of snow. I've always thought Crater Lake was a beautiful place when I looked at pictures, but going there was so much better than I could have imagined. It is magnificent.

That's My World - Frankenmuth Covered Bridge

2009-03-23T17:50:00.006-04:00

One of my favorite places to visit in my home state of Michigan is Frankenmuth. I have many pictures I could share, but for now, I will focus on the wooden covered bridge that crosses over the Cass River. The bridge, built in 1979, is 239 feet long, weighs 230 tons, and is made completely of wood.

This first shot, shown below is the west side entrance.

Here's a shot from the southern side of the bridge

This photo is a small scale of the larger bridge. This mini is located in a shopping area just to the southwest of the bridge.

And this last shot is of the south side walk way that runs along side the bridge.

More info about this bridge can be found here.

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Berries

2009-03-22T14:44:00.002-04:00

I'm really not sure what type of berries these are, but I thought they would make a good photo subject. I like the way you can see the light through them.

Last Summer

2009-03-20T18:54:00.003-04:00

Here's a shot from our family vacation last summer. We took a spur of the moment trip down to Michigan's Adventure in Muskegon and then made our way home along the Lake Michigan coast. This was our last stop before heading home. It was such a perfect day and my kids we're having tons of fun modeling for me. I love this shot in particular, because it looks so serene and she looks so peaceful.

Sky Watch Friday

2009-03-19T15:24:00.004-04:00

I was cleaning out my SD cards today and found a whole slew of photos that I had completely forgotten about. This shot was on there, but I cannot figure out where it was taken because the other photos had no relation to this, so I am guessing this was one of those shots I took while I was out driving around, and just had to stop to get a shot.

Signs of Spring

2009-03-17T17:31:00.002-04:00

When I walked out to check my mail this morning, I noticed the pussy willows were coming out. I love trimming the branches and displaying them with store bought flowers in a vase. I am so glad to see signs of spring and feel the warmth in the air.

Early Morning Sunshine

2009-03-15T20:28:00.004-04:00

I took this picture back in January. I love the color of the suns reflection over the frozen lake and the peachy glow of the sky. The temperature on this day was in the teens, but this shot definitely makes it seem warmer.

Sky Watch Friday - Alpena Pier

2009-03-13T10:47:00.005-04:00

On a cold day in February I decided to walk out onto the pier in Alpena to take some photos of Lake Huron and the harbor area. It sure was cold and I definitely regretted not wearing a hat and gloves, but I did capture some great shots.

Frozen Au Sable River

2009-03-11T16:41:00.003-04:00

This is one of my favorite local places to visit. The views here are spectacular, and there are so many recreational things you can do here like fishing, camping, canoeing, hiking, and my favorite taking pictures.

There is a stairway here that goes down 300 steps to a very picturesque spring. It is quite the workout, so I decided this time, since the steps were covered in ice, I would come back another time for a picture of those. I don't think it would be too fun if I slipped on some ice and fell down that many steps. Ouch, my bum hurts just thinking about it.

Hard to believe, but in the next couple of weeks, all the ice will melt away. I can't wait! I love the beauty of the snow, but to be honest, I am really getting tired of looking at it this year.

That's My World - Spice Merchants

2009-03-10T11:56:00.005-04:00

Last Christmas, I went to visit family near Grand Rapids. While we were there, we made a stop at Spice Merchants which is located on the east side of Grand Rapids. I had never been there before, but I was amazed when we walked in. They had every spice you can possibly imagine. The store was very organized and smelled absolutely delicious. If possible I would have walked out with a sampling of each and every spice they had on the shelf. Of course I couldn't do that, so I just ended up trying their Raspberry Chipotle Blend, the Cranberry Maple Rub, and the Salt-Free Rosemary Rapture. They were all good, but I absolutely loved the Raspberry Chipotle Blend. And what's even better, they have a website, so I won't have to drive across the state when I want to get more. If you're interested in checking them out, click here.

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Rolling Hills

2009-03-07T20:18:00.002-05:00

I went out for a drive with my mom earlier this week over near Vanderbilt, and the sunlight reflecting off of these hills just looked so pretty, I had to take some pictures. This snow has pretty much melted away since we've had mid 40 temperatures for the last few days.

Mackinac Bridge & Lighthouse

2009-03-01T13:52:00.004-05:00

Here's a shot of the Mackinac Bridge and the Mackinaw Lighthouse. This is by far one of my favorite subjects to photograph, especially in the summer. I cannot wait for warm weather so I can get back up here and play with my camera.

Sky Watch Friday - Painted Sky

2009-02-26T19:08:00.004-05:00

I caught a glimpse of this "sun pillar" on my way out to run errands on Tuesday evening. I am glad that I had my camera ready. I've heard of these and seen pictures, but I have never been lucky enough to see one, that is until now. This shot was taken about 15 minutes later. I think it looks painted and it has an almost surreal feeling to it.

What Are You Looking At?

2009-02-24T19:53:00.003-05:00

Walking with my daughter, in the woods behind our house one day, she said she saw a face in the tree. For a second, I thought she was joking around with me, but I enlightened her and turned around to see what she was pointing out, and sure enough, there was a face on the tree.

That's My World Tuesday - Old Oak Tree

2009-02-23T19:00:00.007-05:00

Here is a different perspective of the old oak tree that is in my back field. I shared a different view the other day. This one has more of an autumn feel to it than the other, which was also taken in autumn.

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No Lifeguard On Duty

2009-02-22T16:09:00.002-05:00

I chose to share this photo today because it is a reflection of my mood. I had a disagreement with someone who I hold dear and I am feeling a little blue and in somewhat of a fog. Anyhow, I thought this was a little funny, I would sure hope nobody would want to swim in these conditions!

The photo was taken of the Mackinac Bridge from a Lake Huron beach in Mackinaw City back in January.

Sky Watch Friday - Hook In The Sky

2009-02-19T19:39:00.004-05:00

Doesn't the opening in the clouds look like a hook?

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Blue

2009-02-18T16:47:00.003-05:00

This was one of the first photos I took with my new camera. It was shot in late October, some time around Halloween. This is a shot of the field and big oak tree behind our house.

Psychedelic Mushroom

2009-02-17T14:00:00.003-05:00

Okay, so I don't really know if this particular mushroom gives any type of psychedelic effect, but it sure looks psychedelic. My mom has tons of these pop up in her yard every year, and this is what happens to them after a few days.

Baseball Cap?

2009-02-15T18:52:00.002-05:00

Yes, it looks like a baseball cap, but it's not really. Can you guess what it is?

Sky Watch Friday

2009-02-13T15:44:00.002-05:00

It won't be hard to find this cloud, it's leaving a trail.

Hungry Tree

2009-02-10T19:31:00.003-05:00

This tree must have been hungry as it practically devoured this road sign.

Snowy Barn

2009-02-09T15:38:00.003-05:00

I love barns, they hold so much history and they make great photo subjects. Here's one that is just around the corner from where I live. I especially like this one because of it's stone base. I wish I had a barn like this is my field. I guarantee you, if I did, it would be full of animals...

Ice

2009-02-06T14:44:00.002-05:00

I thought this was a cool view of the ice on the Little Traverse Bay near Petoskey.

The Love Van

2009-02-02T14:59:00.003-05:00

I've always thought it would be fun to take an old vehicle and decorate it however I wanted. I'm sure it would get lots of odd stares, but it would still be a fun way of showcasing my artistic ability. Here's one that someone decided to decorate with a "love graffiti" theme. I caught this shot during a recent shopping trip to Petoskey.

Petoskey Harbor Area

2009-01-26T07:14:00.003-05:00

Petoskey is one of my favorite cities in Michigan. It has a magnificent view over Little Traverse Bay, which is a part of Lake Michigan. Here's a shot of the boat harbor area. To the right you can see the Pierhead Lighthouse. During the summer months, this area is filled with sailboats and yachts of all shapes and sizes.

Sky Watch Friday

2009-01-20T18:33:00.002-05:00

Here is a picture taken during a camping trip to the upper peninsula last summer. This is where the Two Hearted river drains into Lake Superior between Grand Marais and Whitefish Point. This is a favorite place of mine and I hear there is great trout fishing here.

Stepping Stones

2009-01-18T13:19:00.003-05:00

I took this shot of some stepping stones in Lake Michigan during a shopping trip to Kalkaska back in November.

Sky Watch Friday - Rays of Light

2009-01-15T20:11:00.002-05:00

Took this shot last summer on a very weird day of weather. It was sunny and then we had these really nasty thunderstorms roll in and out through the day. Sure made for a great day of photo taking...

That's My World - Old Mission Lighthouse

2009-01-12T20:25:00.005-05:00

On my birthday, back in October, a few of the women in my family took me out for the day. This was one of the places we went. The Old Mission Lighthouse which is located on Old Mission Point was once used to navigate water traffic in Grand Traverse Bay. The shot on the bottom is a design someone made on the beach directly in front of the lighthouse.

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Icicles

2009-01-11T15:51:00.003-05:00

Here's a shot of the icicles that were hanging from my moms house a couple of weeks ago. I got in under the overhang and took the picture looking up and out away from the house.

Sky Watch Friday - Storm Cloud

2009-01-08T20:32:00.003-05:00

Going through my photo archives today, I found this shot from last summer. The clouds look great in this shot, but I wish the barn wouldn't have been quite as dark..

That's My World - Knaebe's Apple Farm & Petting Zoo

2009-01-05T19:21:00.008-05:00

Every fall, my kids go on a field trip to Knaebe's (pronounced Knob-bees) Apple Farm. It is a fun place to go for kids and adults alike. There is a little country marker where you can buy cider and donuts, you can pick your own apples, you can ride on a hayride through the orchards, or you can visit the petting zoo and let the kids play on the wooden train. Shown above is the wooden train and one of the llamas. This llama was giving me a funny look, I am glad he didn't spit on me. :)

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Skywatch Friday

2009-01-02T15:35:00.004-05:00

This was taken on New Year's Eve. If you click to see the larger picture, you can see Venus under the crescent moon.

Metal Flower

2008-12-30T18:32:00.002-05:00

This is a picture taken back in the warmer days of summer. The flower is a garden ornament from one of the flower gardens in my front yard. I just love the bold colors.

That's My World - Winter

2008-12-29T18:17:00.007-05:00

Iced cold beer anyone? During a family visit to Grand Rapids this past weekend, we put our beverages outside to keep cool. We ended up leaving them out all night and this is what they looked like the next morning. We had a very wet and rainy weekend here, and then came the wind and snow on Sunday. Not very pleasant for the three hour ride home.

Thank you for visiting my blog to see my little part of the world. To view more That's My World photos from around the globe, please click on the button at the top of this blog.

Sky Watch Friday - Fletcher's Floodwaters

2008-12-25T21:01:00.005-05:00

This photo was taken on Election Day this past November. I had driven to my polling place, but I got there about 20 minutes too early, and since I am not one who likes to wait, I took a quick drive down a local road that has really good views of Fletcher's Pond. Here's what I captured before going to cast my vote. Luckily, I live in a rural area, so I didn't have to wait in line when I went back to vote...

Merry Christmas

2008-12-24T19:07:00.002-05:00

Wishing everyone a very Merry Christmas, here is a photo of a house that is a few miles down the road from our home.

Sky Watch Friday - Autumn

2008-12-18T19:13:00.005-05:00

The sun reflects on the trees from behind, as the dark clouds roll in on a typical northern Michigan autumn day.

That's My World Tuesday - Rogers City

2008-12-15T18:57:00.005-05:00

Today I have chosen to share Rogers City with you. I live about an hour away from here, but visit quite often, especially in the summer time when it is warm and my kids want to go to the beach. They have a lovely recreational area here, with beaches, a playground for children, and bike trails, along the shores of Lake Huron. Rogers City is located near the tip of the index finger if you are looking at a state map or atlas of Michigan. See, us Michiganders tend to use the palm of our right hand to use as a guide when showing people where we live. That is one of the benefits of living in a state where the lower part is shaped like a mitten. It can be quite handy.

This first photo is a picture of the Calcite Mine. It is the world's largest open pit limestone quarry and is also one of the largest shipping ports on the Great Lakes. Large freighters, up to a 1000 feet long, can often be seen docked here waiting to be loaded with limestone.

Here is another shot of the Calcite mine, with Lake Huron in the background. This is where you can see the freighters mentioned above.

This is the Yacht Harbor of Rogers City. The hand holding the torch is supposed to be a replica of the Statue of Liberty torch, and was created by Tom Moran of Moran Iron Works. You can find more of Tom's work by looking under Moran Iron Works in my blog roll. He has lots of statues in the northern Michigan area.

And last, but not least, I came across this abandoned boat near the Yacht Harbor.

Thank you for viewing My World. If you would like to see more "That's My World" photos from around the globe, please click on the button at the top of this blog.

Snow & Lots Of It

2008-12-14T16:54:00.002-05:00

My mom and I went to Gaylord yesterday to get some Christmas shopping done. Gaylord is in the snow belt, so they get a little bit more than we do here. I noticed some of the homes had lots of snow on top, so I took a few photos. Hopefully they got out there and shoveled some of this stuff off this weekend, as we are due for some rain and more snow tonight.

Just in case you are wondering what the snow belt is, it is the area where the lake effect snow from Lake Michigan falls after it comes over land.

Icicles

2008-12-13T18:58:00.003-05:00

I caught a glimpse of these icicles yesterday, on my way to the city to do some Christmas shopping, and I just had to turn around and get a picture.

Sky Watch Friday

2008-12-11T19:19:00.004-05:00

These pictures were taken during the same trip as my last post. This is the view where water meets sky on Lake Superior near the eastern entrance of Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. The top view is looking east toward the Grand Sable Dunes and the town of Grand Marais, and the view on the bottom is looking west toward the Au Sable Point lighthouse. If you look very closely near the farthest point, you will see a white spot which is the lighthouse.

Grand Marais, Michigan

2008-12-10T12:36:00.004-05:00

Every summer, and sometimes in the fall, someone in my family and I make a trip to Michigan's upper peninsula. This is a favorite place of ours to visit, and it has been somewhat of a family tradition to make this annual trip. My grandparents introduced me to this beautiful place when I went with them on a camping trip to Bay Mills campground at age nine.

Grand Marais, which is near the eastern entrance of Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, is one of the places we most often go when we make our trip up to the U.P. On our most recent visit, during the first week of November, I went with my grandma, my aunt, and my mom. We stayed at the Voyageurs Motel, where, as you can see, there was a magnificent view of the Grand Marais harbor and Lake Superior. We only went for an overnight stay, so we didn't get to stick around long to enjoy this wonderful view, but it was a nice visit, and luckily, we had a few surprisingly warm, mid 70 degree, days of weather. It was great and I can't wait until the snow melts so we can get back up there.

Shown in the pics above are:
1) The sign of the place we stayed.
2) My grandma and my aunt relaxing and enjoying the beautiful view.
3) The view from the backside of the motel that overlooks the harbor, town, and Lake Superior. If you look closely, near the center, you can see the lighthouse and the breakwall.

Snow

2008-12-09T15:43:00.004-05:00

We've been getting a lot of snow these past couple of weeks, much more than we usually get this time of year. I took this picture of one of our solar lamps last week.

That's My World Tuesday - World's Largest Cherry Pie

2008-12-08T20:09:00.009-05:00

I've gotten a little behind on my blog recently thanks to a round with the flu. First my daughter had it, then she passed it on to my son, and then my husband. I thought for sure I would be lucky and not get it after taking extra measures not to get it, but I didn't get so lucky after all. It was horrible and I was down and out for a week. Anyhow, my blog has suffered as a result, but I am feeling better now, so time to get back in the game.

Shown above is the memorial for the "World's Largest Cherry Pie". Actually the pie has long since gone, but it this is what it looked like. And if you are feeling like maybe having a go at it and trying to make one, well, I've included the ingredients for you.

This pie memorial is located in Charlevoix, and from 1979 until 1987, the pie that was made in it held the record for the "World's Largest Cherry Pie'. In 1987, in an effort to break the record, another pie was made further south in Traverse City, the Cherry Capital of the World.

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That's My World Tuesday

2008-11-24T19:33:00.008-05:00

Out and about running errands the other day, I drove by the Perma-Log company in the small town of Mio. If you are not familiar with Perma-Log, it is a form of stucco log siding and it is claimed that it will last a lifetime. Around here where I live, you see a lot of cabins that have Perma-Log siding. In fact when my husband and I were in search of a house in this area three years ago, we looked at a couple of homes that had Perma-Log siding on them.

When we drove by the other day, I noticed a couple of other interesting things that they've done with the material that is used to make Perma-Log. There was a smaller scale Stonehenge, a couple of Easter Island heads, and what appears to be a house straight out of the Flintstones cartoon. I couldn't get a shot of the Stonehenge set up, thanks to fence blockage, but here are shots of a small cabin model, one of the smaller heads, and the Flintstones house.

If you would like to view more interesting shots from around the world, please pay a visit to the "That's My World" site by clicking on the icon on top of this post. You won't be disappointed...

Sky Watch Friday

2008-11-21T08:18:00.005-05:00

Wow, is it Friday already? Where did the week go? Oh, that's right, I've been helping my husband repaint the entire downstairs of our house all week, that's why it's flown by. In the meantime, my housework has suffered big time. I guess that means I'll be restoring order around here today and hoping I'll get caught up before the weekend rolls in this afternoon.

Here's a shot I took during a camping trip to the upper peninsula in July. The sun is going down over Lake Superior, while a bug heads in for the night. ;-)

Have a great weekend everyone!

That's My World - Alpena

2008-11-17T19:17:00.009-05:00

This is my third "That's My World" contribution. To see more "That's My World" photos from around the world, or to become involved and share your little part of the world, please click on the That's My World button above.

Alpena is a port city located on Thunder Bay, which is part of Lake Huron. Shown above is the Thunder Bay River. You can see that some teenage boys are enjoying a swim. Of course, I took these photos back in July, when it was still warm enough to swim there. The building you see in the background is used to manufacture wood paneling. Whenever you drive by here, you can smell the wood in the air.

This is where the Thunder Bay River empties into Lake Huron.

Not quite sure what this building is, but I thought the mural was neat. The building backs up to the Thunder Bay River.

This is the Alpena National Fish and Wildlife Conservation Office and is part of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's Midwest Region. Some of the things they do here include research and restoration of fish and wildlife habitat of the Great Lakes.

Mystery Bug

2008-11-15T14:57:00.003-05:00

In my entire life, I have never seen this bug. That was until an unseasonably warm night about two weeks ago. My mom and I were leaving my aunts house and as we were walking down her steps, my mom noticed this huge bug laying there. I'd guess it was almost 2 inches long. Have you ever seen one of these before? If so, what on Earth is it??

That's My World - Miss Liberty

2008-11-10T19:29:00.002-05:00

My husband does sub-contract work for a company called Moran Iron Works. The owner, Tom, builds a new statue every year. These statues are kept a surprise all year, and then get unveiled during the Independence Day parade. His latest unveiling was this Miss Liberty. Tom builds these, but he is not a painter, so guess who gets to do the paint work? Yep, that would be my husband. This statue now sits in front of a Subway in Onaway, Michigan.

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Sky Watch Friday

2008-11-06T19:11:00.002-05:00

We have had spectacular springlike weather here, so on Tuesday I took a quick overnight trip to Lake Superior to spend some time with family and break in my new camera. On my way home last night, I arrived to cross the Mackinac Bridge at just the right time. I just wish it would have been a full moon.

That's My World - Old Presque Isle Light

2008-11-03T18:52:00.006-05:00

Here in Michigan there are lots and lots of lighthouses. I've only been to a few of them, but someday I hope to visit them all. This one here, the Old Presque Isle Light, is supposedly haunted. I've been out here twice and have never been a witness to any strange goings on, but you can read about the history of the hauntings here if you are interested.

Sky Watch Friday

2008-10-30T17:19:00.003-04:00

My daughter pointed this out during a walk last week. She says it looks like an angel fish..

Jack-O-Lanterns

2008-10-30T16:25:00.003-04:00

These are the pumpkins that my family and I carved this year. The first one was a quickie one done by me. The second one, the ghost, was done by my 11 year old son. The creepy guy was the one I took my time on, and Frank was carved for my daughter, by my husband.

Going Down

2008-10-29T12:05:00.002-04:00

I was finally able to fill up my tank for under $40 yesterday. The prices are coming down, but how long will they stay there?

Sky Watch Friday

2008-10-16T19:33:00.003-04:00

On my way to get inventory for my book store, I came across this rainbow and just had to catch a shot. Unfortunately, my photography hobby made me late to the book sale.