Frozen bunns at the beach..........................

So it was a wet and windy day. One might ask, why go to the beach then? Well I say "why not?" After all there will be no one else there right? There are stones on the beach after a storm right? Usually anyway, either that or they all get dragged back but it's a great time for finding treasures. What can I say? Thats the way we think. So 9.30ish Laura came over and off we went. Took Winter coats, hats but forgot gloves. I also took my boots. We were all set.

It was misty, can't say foggy, that's a bit different.

So quiet, a few people walking dogs now and then but not really many others. Met one young lady who asked us about Blue Stones, she had joined a rock club. We shared stories.
They are working on dredging the area around the docks and churning things up. This day working on this side of the harbour wall. A huge pipe running up the beach to dump the sand further up. Should be interesting when they are done. Maybe more Blue Stones?
We found quite a few as it was, lots of green ones and purple but a few of the special blue as well.



My son Jason remarked upon "how many stones can one keep" I said as many as I want. It really is the hunt that is satisfying but I keep my Blue Stones in dishes around the house. Pretty much gave up on Petoskey stones as I have loads of them. Still, it is fun to pick up special ones. Some day we may just make jewelry who knows.
Well we kept that up until we were too tired to go on and then we went to Trish's Dishes and I had their awesome Tomato Basil soup. I really must try to make some of that. Remind me to plant Basil this year in my garden. I certainly intend to grow a whole bunch of Tomatoes.
This weekend Gerry raked the front yard and cleared out the vines so should have more sun.
Anyway, after lunch it was still drizzle and cold so we just went for a drive. I remembered this time to stop at the Red School House for pictures. We normally come from the other direction and its gone before we can safely stop.

The school house has been used for many things over the years, I remember it as an Antique shop but think recently its been a home. It is now for sale again.

There are many one room school houses in the area, many like the log cabin that have been around since the mid 1800s. There were many settlements in this area, farms mainly. Still, apparently no one went without an education.
We stopped somewhere to turn around and I loved this old barn

Rather scenic

Well I thought so, I do love old barns.
We did stop at the other old school house to check on some swans on the lake but they were further down the trail and we had no mind to walk. The car battery light had come on, so we left the car running but it was too cold for us. We had frozen up at the beach I think, after taking all our winter stuff off we didn't want to gear up again.
So we will save the swans for another day. Had to get home to check on the car. It did this to us once before and we left our travels to go home. Not this time, we carried on but it was not a great day for investigating so we just took a leasurely drive home and unchilled.
We pass this little farm often and it was once a dream of mine to have something simular. About five acres with house and barn and horses, chickens and things.

I don't think at this stage in life that will happen now and that's OK, too much work now, but I still enjoy seeing this. The horses are beautiful.look at this boy.


We passed the Garden center and I got back to thinking about my garden and hoping for a bit warmer weather. Not too warm mind, just nice enough to work in the garden for a few days. I think we have Tristen on Friday over night so we may take a day out with him on Friday and take him back on Saturday evening. So Sunday will be my garden work day I think. All being well.

Old School and more....................

Saturday came around and all my plans to work on the yard went out the window. The sun came up and Laura called. We decided to go out and to heck with everything else. Reina stayed with Granddad and helped him to rake the front yard. Gerry got a LOT of work done. There was much to do. Cutting down the lower branches of the front Pine and taking down the vines on the front porch. So off we went.
First stop was to head out looking for a pharmacy so that Laura could breath, allergies were bad. So we headed to Empire because we forgot to do that before we left town. We went to Deerings in Empire and they didn't have any but they did have Pizza slices and some tiny taco's that were awesome. With no success at Empire we headed for Glen Arbor and skipped everything else. She found what she needed and we stopped for coffee then we were all set.
first stop was something we always mean to stop at but always think of it as we pass on by.................There is this beautiful building, and old Grist Mill. It used to have a water wheel but maybe when the tornado went through? (Guessing) that came down, at least it is no longer there.

This is situated on the river that surrounds it, and a house next to it. If I find more information I will do another post on this.

We parked down there, the driveway is sort of hidden. Well we got down there and wandered around. We found, oh naughty naughty, the house was open, the door stood open. So, we went inside.

Look at the orb. That is Laura to the left, taking a picture of the stairs. We did not go up thinking it was too much of an intrusion, and we did not want to do any damage.

The walls were stripped. The floor was not too safe and we certainly did not want to damage anything. It looks as though someone is renovating it. I hope so, the house and Mill would be a wonderful asset to the town as a tourist attraction, historical and all that. Unless it is privatley owned, that I don't know. Last we heard it was owned by the people at the Homestead. I hope it falls into the hands of the National Park. Time will tell.
look at some of the doors inside, some of the light fixtures are still there and the log burner



The river flows around, this is where the water wheel once was.If you read the link it gives a little history.

We had decided last time we were out, to go back to check out the old log cabin we found. I learned that it was once an old one room school house.
Well before getting to that we had to check out the beach and go for a drive up in the hills. Goodness, when we passed the parking to Pyramid Point the lot was full to overflowing. Goodness knows what it will be like come summer. once again the Sleeping Bear Dunes has been voted one of the best holiday places in the world. I wish they would shut up. Sure good for business but for those of us, who selfishly love the quiet of empty beaches and hidden coves and dirt roads. It spells doom. This day though our beach was almost empty. A couple walking their dog and some one further down the beach was all. Look at that colour.


We saw turkeys, think they were the ones I spoke with last week because they headed in the other direction.
we did meet up with the Sandhill cranes.

The four of them were together this week

We left them to themselves and went to check on the Beavers. He was nowhere to be seen but the "peepers" were busy. We could hear the frogs all over.
He had left plenty of marks though.




After that we headed to the Log cabin.


Hand hewn timbers. We looked in the windows. I wonder if they intend doing anything with this some day. For now if you don't know it's there it's hard to see.

We walked along the bike trail looking for the Beaver and Musk Rats we saw last week. No luck with the Beaver this time but the Musk rats showed up. two came in from the lake

They seperated and went about their business, very busy.


The turtles came out later in the day when the sun was not so high.


We began to see water fowl.



The whole area around the side of the lake has been cut down by Beaver. The evidence is plain and there are trails where the wood has been hauled down to the lake.
It's fascinating.
Well we stayed there quite some time enjoying the quiet. As we left we needed a bathroom so went looking in Leland, found one at the Mercantile and also found supper. We had a picnic of a sub and potatoe chips. Yummy. We ate that after we left the beach, yes we did have to at least have a look for some Blue Stones. We were way too tired by then, and could not get into it.


After we ate we headed home, we don't like being on country roads after dark. The deer you know. Well as it turned out, we had 5 deer run across in front of us. Well 4 crossed the road as we pulled over but this lady stood and worried.

Isn't she beautiful?


While her friends waited for her she decided to go back the other way. We moved on once the road was clear of traffic so she could follow her friends.
That really made a good end for our day. Notice no winter coats this day.

Very short walk on a cold day...........................

It was a lovely day today but freezing cold. Laura and I went grocery shopping and felt like stretching our legs after. We ate lunch at "The Pub" in the mall so felt the need of a bit of a walk. We decided upon the small trail behind some stores. Years ago before they built Kohl's and Michaels stores there was a big field of buffalo belonging to the Oleson farms. Now it has been sold off, the stores built on one side and at the back of the property the new YMCA is built. In one portion though, where Kids Creek cuts through, they have made some trails.

The sky was so blue. Unfortunately no green just yet. One part of the trail leads to the small fishing pond. The old hut lost it's roof this winter, sort of a shame.
No ducks on the pond today. It was windy and cold

Kid's Creek meanders through the property and hosts some nice fish. We usually see ducks on the pond. There were a lot of birds chirping but no one offered us a picture. Back on the trail it passes through what the buffalo once enjoyed. Several acres back in the day.

Later on we often see baby snakes and Red Winged Blackbirds, finches and other birds. Today was too cold. The birds stayed in the brush and if the snakes had any sense they were in their dens. Not a creature was stirring. The Pussy Willow was popping though and pretty against the blue sky. Very small buds


We had to be content in appreciating the beauty of the bare trees against the blue sky, some unusual shapes.


The ground was sort of soggy off the trail, and deeply rich. We wanted to get some buckets full for the garden haha.

It was quite warm under the trees but cold again once in the open. Tomorrow (Saturday and Sunday) is supposed to be warm. We have work to do in the garden and it should be a nice weekend for it. I am looking forwards to that.

Oh to be in England now that Aprils there...................................

Robert Browning (1812–89)


I
OH, to be in England now that April ’s there
And whoever wakes in England sees, some morning, unaware,
That the lowest boughs and the brushwood sheaf
Round the elm-tree bole are in tiny leaf,
While the chaffinch sings on the orchard bough
In England—now!

II
And after April, when May follows
And the white-throat builds, and all the swallows!
Hark, where my blossom’d pear-tree in the hedge
Leans to the field and scatters on the clover
Blossoms and dewdrops—at the bent spray’s edge—
That ’s the wise thrush: he sings each song twice over
Lest you should think he never could re-capture
The first fine careless rapture!
And, though the fields look rough with hoary dew,
All will be gay when noontide wakes anew
The buttercups, the little children’s dower,
Far brighter than this gaudy melon-flower!



It's finally here. Official Spring time. Lets slow down now. Take time to enjoy every single day. Spring does not last long in Michigan, nor is it as pretty as in England.
Still, the mild weather, the rain showers that gets everything green again. The scent of clean air. It's a wonderful thing. Before the sun becomes so intense again that I don't enjoy it. I love mild weather, I like warm but not hot. I can see things grow every day. The tips of the Daffodils popping up and the Tulips testing the air. The leaves are thinking of popping and after todays warm rain that will happen quickly.

My Mother was born April 3. A Spring baby. How sweet. Her name was Irene violet. Her Mothers name was Violet Irene. Violets are one of the first Spring flowers. Mine have not showed up yet. The beginnings of the leaves just popping through. I love Spring flowers.

Once things start it goes so quickly. The Lilac blooms, buds of leaves are showing already. Then the heady smell of lilac, it is so strong I can't have it in the house. Gives me a headache but I love the smell in the garden or when walking through the neighbourhood.
I have written so much about Springtime in England, the very best time of year for me. New beginnings. Everything new and it all seems to happen at once.
Here in Michigan everything is drab, wet muddy. There is still snow in spots in the woods and roadsides. Dirty snow. Mostly gone thank goodness. The old leaves still carpet the floors in the woods making it slippery now that it has rained. However Laura was out for a walk the other day and saw some Garter snakes enjoying Springtime pleasures. (if it is indeed pleasing to snakes)

Everyone seems to be off in pairs at the moment. We noticed when we were at the Dunes the other day. Animals two by two. Although miss garter snake had two companions.
Guess she wanted to be sure of getting the job done.
The Sand Hill Cranes were lovey dovey

Alas no flowers just yet. Except some lonely Snowdrops in my garden.


It somehow just does not compare to English Springtime. Sigh...........soon though. Very soon. Like May. May is the time for the flowers in Michigan. I do not want to rush it though. So much yet to do outside when it stops raining. I did see a bee on the Snowdrops yesterday so I hope the Dandelions will soon emerge. Have some raking to finish before they pop up. I love to see them. for now I must be content with pictures my friends post of England in the Spring, they are waiting for the Bluebells.

Bluebells should come in May and every year I intend to send for some for my garden but forget. Ah well. Maybe I will enjoy a cup of tea and go buy some Daffodils for the table

HAPPY SPRINGTIME EVERYONE Sharing with Make it Pretty Monday