Old Barns .............

When we went up to Northport on Monday we took an alternate route. I wanted to get some pictures of some old barns I remembered. I wondered if they were even still standing. We took Cherry Bend Road past Gerry's grandparents home, now long gone but the house still in the family. We turned off to head towards Suttons Bay. This was the road where I remembered seeing quite a few. We stopped to say hello to this little girl. I already posted her picture on the other post but she is so cute I had to share it again.


So this barn was close by

there were horses in their yard still with winter coats on.
I love these old barns, I wonder about how they were built and so long ago. Those early settlers helped each other so what was it like back then, what have those barns seen in their days.?


Most are plain ol barns but some have some real style.


Not too much to say about them in this post, mainly pictures for now. The ones in and around Port Oneida I know a bit of history but not these ones. These are still working barns.

It's a shame that they are so expensive to keep up. So many of these beautiful barns fall down and are replaced my the metal ones.


So many cherry farms are now Vineyards, big money and with that huge homes and wineries. I think I showed this beauty on the other post. I must get some better pictures next time out there and find out a bit about it.

I like the rooms where the workers stayed over the "picking" period.


I know I have shown many pictures of old barns around this area. I am fascinated by them. Probably because of my friends farm, Grove Farm where we played on rainy days in the hay barn and around. I still can see us now. Swinging from beams and jumping from hay bales the rain pounding on the roof. I know thats why I love them and hate to see them gone.

Up to Northport Point...................

Monday was a lovely day, sunny and clear. It was also bitter cold. Gerry was not working and so we went for a drive so I could get some pictures. We went up through Suttons Bay but instead of going up the Lake side we went through Cherry Bend and out that way because there are old barns out there. I wanted some pictures of old barns. I will do another post on that subject. So this day was for Northport. Once we drive through Suttons Bay, Omena is the next little town before heading North.


That's the main street. Its so sweet, an old post office and art gallery, the rest of the village is hidden back from the road but is very small. The turn away from the coast road goes through cherry orchards and fields, past the Indian Reservation and Casino. A very popular destination here. When we first came to Michigan in 1971 there was an ongoing fight between the Indian people and local fishermen. The Indians used Gill Nets and sold their fish for a living. It was a very poor village. With the coming of the Casino, everything changed for them. Good for them. That was my first introduction to local bias and prejudice. The Indians were within their rights as they had a treaty allowing them to use Gill Nets. However it is also the local fishermen who buy licences that keep the lakes stocked. A no win situation.
Before we got that far we stopped to admire this pretty girl


She came right over to me to be petted. I got a very sloppy kiss

Anyway, we took a spin around Northport and it has changed a lot. The old shops on the docks are gone now. They were fun because they were so weather worn and run down and full of knick knacks. I miss that. Mum and Dad shopped there for take home souvenirs. The Old Depot looks like it may now be a gallery, must explore come summer. Nothing opens here until after Memorial Day

After Northport there is nothing until we get to the Lighthouse. There was more snow up there, it gets very windy up at the tip.


Gerry immediately got back in the car haha...........I walked down to the beach.


I tried to take a picture of the horizon where you can see the cement plant out in Petoskey. My eyes were running and so with no sight in one eye and the other full of tears from the cold. I decided not to pick my way around the point.The ice on the beach was pretty.

I walked up to the lighthouse intending to go down to the beach on the other side of the point but I could not see well enough but the walk down from there was under trees and there was snow. So, I just went back to the car

That tree, I always laugh.....we went up there one year with Alexandra and she just had to sit on the branches in that tree. I went to take a picture and saw the sign haha, trust Alex.
These were pretty last summer

On the way back I had to take a picture of this old house. Maybe next time we will explore but by this time the sky was no longer blue and getting colder. I always wonder about their stories.

This farm used to house workers, immigrants who worked in the cherry farms around here.


That was a different time. It was good to see them every year, they were nice hard working people. Now the Cherry Orchards are taken over by Vineyards and Hop farms. Some Cherry farms remain. Now they are automated. Cherry Shakers take the place of people. So sad and with the government now, as it is with immigrants and Mexican workers, I am afraid those days are gone. They worked in the strawberry fields then the Cherries and then Peaches, Apricots, Apples and Pears. So spent entire Summers and Fall here in Northern Michigan. I miss them.

Moomers..................

It is supposed to be Spring and when it's Spring we want ice cream and when we want ice cream around here we go to MOOMERS. The weather forecast was for snow, lots of it. Tristen came over on Friday night and was to go back on Saturday afternoon. So the sun was shining, everyone had eaten and so why not. Off we went to Moomers.

It was packed. We chose our ice cream. Gerry had a Cherry moobilee and Tristen and I had a Leland Blue. That will be my new favourite. Vanilla ice cream (coloured blue) with white chocolate chips and almonds on a waffle cone. Oh boy was it ever good.

we got there at a good time because a whole bunch of people came right after and the place was already full. We were going to eat outside but it was too cold. So we sat in the car. The cows were inside in the warm so no pictures of the Moos

Tristen enjoying his Leland Blue......

We drove down to Twin Lakes to finish our treats and take a look at the lake. I knew it would be frozen. I just wanted some pictures.


The snow was almost gone, a few big piles yet and we could see there was still snow in the woods. However, the snow came in as rain instead overnight. That will help a lot to get rid of whats still laying around.


Tristen had to try out the wobbly thing.

There was a Woodpecker busy in the tree near by but I could not see him. No pictures for me this day. Ah well. We stopped so Tristen could check out the log cabin before heading home

Tristen will have to give Bodi a lot of love.

He has had Bodi since he was a baby. She is getting old and can't get around very well these days. She is still happy and content but we know she won't have a lot of time left at 12 years or is she 13? I can't remember, she has just been here since he was born. He will be very sad to lose her.

Sunny Sunday.....................

Sunday was sunny and warmer than yesterday. We again went out for a drive. I had really hoped to see more wildlife but it was not to be. We did see some ducks and some Cranes but that was it. Not a creature was stirring. We took the back roads out to M72 and then the Maple City road out to the shoreline where we headed back towards Glen Arbor. Nothing much to see. We took a side road down to the beach and took a few pictures. Had to do it twice because the sun was shining and I could not see on my phone camera. When I got in the car I was shocked to see this.

Squinty me, over and over again. I don't do selfies but there ya go.
Anyway, I took my other camera who knows better and took another couple of shots. I always get a kick out of this sign.




Buds are popping on some of the trees woo hoo.
I tried to get some old barn pictures missed most of the good ones. One day I must do a trip just to get old barns

I am shocked to see people at the beaches. What the hell is wrong with people can't they stay home on a Sunday and leave me in peace?.......sigh. I am joking right?
Well, at least they were mainly walking their dogs so I can allow for that.
Come Summer I am going to have to find some more exclusive beaches. I do not like sharing.
Lime Lake was pretty and you can see Sugarloaf in the background. Some one has bought that place, as of yet no one has been very successful running the place.

Next stop was Port Oneida, my usual stop. Getting a bit fed up with that too. Time to find new haunts but will have to drive further for that.

Here we found some Canada Geese and Mallards enjoying the sun and no doubt building nests.



They were certainly being vocal about things. We couldn't go far the roads are dirt and muddy right now, we didn't want to get stuck. So turned around at the old farm house.

We went on the main Port Oneida road instead. Since Gabby and I were there a week ago, maybe two, anyway that dang Beaver has been really busy and has chewed most of the young saplings down. Seems like they are also making a new river outlet to the road. The Beaver Lodge is bigger and once they have babies I am thinking there won't be many trees left. Already one road is closed because they flooded it. It is interesting to see.
I took the steps down to the beach. I needed the exercise and it was easier than the last time so that may be a good thing.


There was no one there, although someone was leaving as we arrived.

So glad they put in steps because it was really hard getting down the embankment before, quite dangerous for me. This means now more people have access though. Sigh!!!
Do you see the big boat?

Neither did I until I got home and looked at the pictures.
The Lake is ice free now, just these coves that still have some lingering.
So that was it............we started home and by the Sand Dunes we saw some Sandhill Cranes fishing. Other than that, nothing.


They yelled at me when I got too close.

I was shocked that Gerry suggested stopping at the Hayloft on the way home for a burrito. Said it would save me cooking. Uh! heck yes. So a non eventful day. You know the bears are waking up now, why can't I ever see a bear? I want to see a bear. Really, I really do.