Looking for new places...........

I do love where we live although I wish we could move out of town. Our escape is in the countryside when we can. Even though its all very beautiful the same old places get tiresome. At least to me. In the Summer there are just so many tourists now that I don't enjoy the beaches that we usually go to, or the traffic on roads. We tend to like to bob along at a slow rate in order to watch for interesting things. A hawk sitting in a tree, deer in the woods and more unusual critters. I love old barns, log cabins and things that I can find some history on. I am not a fan of American history but I do love the Native culture and I am interested in the lives of early settlers here. So with that in mind we go exploring.


We often see vultures on the roof of this old farmhouse. This one is in need of some TLC and I am sure it's on the list somewhere as its now owned by the park. They do a lot of work on the old farms that are now in their care.
So with exploration in mind I went to Google maps and took a look around. I saw that off of Bohemian Rd are two roads with no outlet and for no reason that I can remember we have never bothered with them. Well by looking via an aerial view I could see that somewhere on the left hand side we could see Shalda creek crosses the road. Also somewhere is access to Mudd Lake. So with that in mind we set off.


We discovered that it was shallow and clear, it would make a great place for kids to play. We didn't follow it down to the beach but will go again because that's where they would want to play. I would not want to disturb the tranquility of this spot. We found several spots to walk into the beach and it's easy and pleasant. We did not find Mudd Lake access so back to the map for that one. We will definitely go back soon with a bag for rocks. Maybe next week if it's cooler.


just a few yards in through the woods. There was a lot of driftwood on the beach. As with all of them this year the water is very high. We saw this guy on the beach.

I had to get out of the car and help a turtle across the road, its a dirt/gravel road so he was hard to see and probably gasping in the dust.



I believe the whole part of the Lake here is Good Harbor Bay because we saw a trail that said to Good Harbor beach. Well in fact we know the cove is called Good Harbor but we usually access it from Good Harbor beach which these days is just too busy for us. So this is a new place for us. No one had wandered this far up even though there were several cars along the road. We will certainly explore better another day, we had other things to do this day.
So next we took the right hand road. We found a large car park at the end and several cars there. Why had we never gone that way before? I have no idea. I knew there were a couple of houses but I guess we just always took the easy way and went to the part of the shore near the road. Hmmmmm always explore. DId not see any houses just a couple of private drive ways. I got out and took a couple of pictures of the view. There were several families at this end of the beaches...........there were also ships out on the horizon.
The Great Lakes are very busy with freighters that come through the Locks at Sault Sainte Marie from the ocean via the Hudson River. Then cruise ships and small crafts. Anyway a nice view from the knoll above the beach.



We didn't hang around there but went and stopped at another small lake that we have never stopped at because there are cabins on that lake. They don't seem to use them much anymore so we checked it out at the canoe launch.

Nothing to be seen, Bass Lake looks wild and overgrown. Maybe another day, I thought we might at least see a few birds.
We next went on to Port Oneida and instead of the board walk we stopped at the old farmhouse on Narada Lake. This cutie was by the barn.

We get a different view of Narada lake from here but didn't see or hear the Loons today.





I hope someday the park service will mend the boardwalk down where the canoe launch is. Its practically under water. We then took the dirt road up through the woods and stopped at the farm in the first pictures I showed here but no vultures today so on we went. Missed a good picture when the SandHill Crane I was watching took off. We didn't watch for too long as they are just so common now and it looks as though the dads have left the Mums and young ones (each family had one chick) to their own devices. Don't often see lone cranes. We have been watching two or 3 families since last year and each had one kid who is now as big as the parents.

Kind of sad that they are so blah now haha. Magnificent birds.
It was still busy at the campground so kids still in summer camp. Justin was fortunate to spend some time there one year. They had the horses in the coral and it looked like a new building was going up. We left there and took another road that I wanted to explore, Shauger Hill............well lets just say Gerry wont go that way again. He has no sense of adventure. The road was steep and bendy and washed out haha........oops. Came out into the back end of Empire. Must admit it was a rough ride but I would be up for it again if the road isn't washed out. We did meet some cars but lucky on a flat stretch where we could pull over. Had it been further along I have no idea what we would do as no place to pull over. The Lord was with us and we did fine. We headed back and stopped at the Hayloft and got a wet burrito. The guy doesn't bother us with menus anymore he knows what we want haha.

Hillman with Edna..........

Edna picked me up at 7.30am, God Bless her. I was barely awake when I got in her car. Hillman is a very small town on the other side of Michigan. I must try and find the route she takes because it is so beautiful. All forest for most of the way and about 2 1/2 hour drive. The shop we were to visit was Sandy Dees sewing and quilt shop.
We took M 32 east and it was very scenic. So good to still see so much forest out there.
I didn't get many pictures because on the way there the sun was in our faces so it was impossible to get the pictures. We saw 3 families of turkeys crossing the road. It's a wonder whole families don't get wiped out. These had chicks with them so were all over the place, proud parents trying to hussle them on and keep going in the right direction. Has to be stressful being a turkey mum.
Sandy Dees has wonderful fabrics. So much new stuff. New to me anyway. I bought several pieces I couldn't resist. I had the 10 dollar (free yard) for my birthday and that is generous. Edna likes the shop so was willing to take me there.

I found more sheep fabric and could not resist the piggy one. I found two patterns that I wanted as well




and I had to get some cherry fabric for pot holders and stuff.
The sky was so blue and the puffy white clouds were so pretty. I think I bought a few more bits and pieces but cant really remember now what I got where, because we went all the way up to Indian River next.


I get lost when going on these trips, I would never find these places. Edna is the expert driver.
I found some more fabric with Bees on and got a couple of fat quarters, and could not resist a panel with coffee on it.


I had bought some tea towels a while back and will make some coasters and hot pads to go with those for Christmas gifts maybe. Think I want some myself.

I like this shop as well and always find something there.
We had lunch before we got to Indian river at a place by the river. It was rather nice in a very quiet town, hardly anything there that I could see. Good food though.

all that was left was the long road home but we never stopped chatting the whole way so it passed quickly and was a lovely day.

Time to catch up with old friends.........

Well its been sort of a busy week. On Friday I spent some enjoyable time with my sister in law Lisa. We went for lunch and after we went to the Red Dresser. I love that place and she had never been there. I had stopped at Interquilten for a couple of things to make some more bags. After that she took me to see the new property they will be starting a new subdivision soon. I am hoping Gerry will do some work there, maybe that will stop him worrying about money and she said he can set his own hours..........he needs to be more active. Me too.
I had arranged on Saturday to meet Jo and Toni for lunch at Boones in Glen Arbor.
We have not gone out together for a long time. For a lot of reason's and none really valid when it comes to friends.

I have known Jo since I began work at Empire Bank around 1978. I worked through the selling of the bank into it's beginning with Huntington Bank. We all retired then. Well Jo didn't really retire, she worked part time at Boones in Glen Arbor where we had lunch.
We used to do a lot of things together at first we had a girls night with others from the bank, and her and Toni would host an annual "hot tub/ski party". we used to go and had some good times. Most of those people have gone now. We are all getting old.
Jo and myself being served by Bob Israel.

Supposed to be working haha, showing my very first quilt to Jo

We used to get together with many friends back in the day. Why did we stop? Well Lois moved away and we haven't seen Virginia and Larry since we stopped going to the ski party. We stopped because it was in the Winter and I hated driving out to Empire, a few times we had to turn back because of the snow. I guess we just stopped.
we went away for a while to the UP together and had such a good time, the four of us. Is it too late now?
Toni has had some health problems, bouts with cancer and kidneys. He is doing well really and looks healthy. A few of our friends have not been so lucky. So...........new resolution. We have to have a get together and catch up again.

Maybe it's time for a reunion.

we went back to their house after we ate. We didn't stay long because I wanted to take the long way home.



When we left we went back through Glen Arbor and went to Port Oneida to look and see if anyone was around. Animals that is haha. The two families of Sandhill Cranes were there.


Apart from that not much else to see. Headed home with a new resolution to get together again soon.

Hotter than hades.....

I have been really not liking the heat. The garden is dying and the house is neglected. So what else.....go for a drive, the air is working in the van so off we go. Headed in the usual direction through Suttons Bay and Lake Leelanau stopping for coffee at the Peddling Bean. I also stopped at the Samaritans Closet in Lake Leelanau a nice thrift store. I found a chicken plate and a couple of glass dishes. Will be doing a blog on my last thrift finds. I love this field......stopped to get some cherries I have not had cherries in ages and these were the lovely black cherries.A lady was painting the view of flowers. So pretty.


We took a side road to Traverse Lake and saw this guy in the water by the dock, what a cute face. A small Northern Water snake, harmless.



We stopped at the bridge and Really didn't see much except some lovely Water Lillie's and a small turtle. When I looked at the pictures that I took, well blow me down, I saw some frogs. I didn't see them until I enlarged the picture. I had heard them but for the life of me I couldn't see any. I thought I had missed everything.





There were some beautiful flowers there too.






So then we went along the back roads when we got to Port Oneida. The park service has completely closed off the road where the Beaver lives haha. I have not been on this road this year and I had to visit one of my favourite trees. They have to be very old.






I love driving through the woods. I needed that, windows open, air blowing (have to stay cool) and listening to the birds. Away from traffic and people. I stood in the top field looking down into the farms it's beautiful.

We were too hot to venture to the beaches. We did see the Sandhill Cranes and their young ones.







Next We stopped at the Olson farm so I could take some flower pictures.
I loved the flowers around the Olson Farm, it's open to the public but have been inside before, it's the gardens I like.





So it was that time and we headed home and stopped at the Hayloft. The guy says "I guess you don't need the menu" LOL do you think we are predictable? They also had some pretty Hollyhocks.








I took some pictures on the way home if the storm clouds gathering.
We will be going back out that way on Saturday we are going to meet some friends for lunch in Glen Arbor, till then.