Monday, August 31, 2009

This years pickens!

This doesn't look like a big bucket, but it really is! It is
holding 20 lbs. of wild blueberries. We picked at Blue-
berry Bob's. He charges $1.00 a lb or 80 cents per lb for
20 lbs or more. I could not believe that it took us only 20
minutes to pick this many! That is because you use a rake
to pick them. That rake is fantastic! I am checking into
buying one on the internet. You scoop through the plant,
and pull up the berries and dump them in the tray they
give you. Then when you are finished, they are put on
a conveyer belt and all of the leaves and debree gets blown
off. So you have a pretty clean batch of berries. I've gotta
get my own rake and pick in the woods, so I can pick a ton
of blueberries and sell them, instead of pay for them!

The hardest part was going through and washing them,
bagging them for the freezer. It took me hours to do!

Lunch at Big Traverse after blueberry picking

Mom and Archie having lunch at the beach.






Traverse Bay is on the eastern shore of the Keweenaw.
Its a very sandy beach and seems to always be windy
and big waves. I love coming here once a year after
blueberry picking. There are so many wild blueberries
in this area.


Wednesday, August 26, 2009

More pictures of our cute visitors!
















THE NEIGHBORHOOD BEARS

These bears were spotted in my friend Pam and Jim's backyard last summer. Pam sent me the pictures in an email and I always wanted to get them on my blog. Now a year later here they are. John was out picking blueberries at the end of our street on Old Colony Road on a trail in the woods, when he spotted these same bears coming down the path. Lucky he was in the truck when he saw them, as they were quite close. We heard from others along Old Colony saying the bears were visiting their yards. I often take my dog out for a walk along that road and always wonder if they are close by. I won't go too far down or onto the trails in the woods by myself though.


Pam said that the day they came to her yard, they spent the afternoon playing and frolicking near the deck, climbing the tree and birdfeeder. She really enjoyed watching them!


Now a few weeks ago when Vanessa came home with the kids, she said "I want to see a bear". So we took two rides up to Copper Harbor hoping to see one. Never did. But one day shortly after our ride to the Harbor, John was weeding the garden and spotted a very large bear dumping in the alley right behind our house. We know that bears love berries and anything seedy. This dump was large and seedy--with many cherry pits in it!! My other daughter Leah was planning to have a bonfire in the backyard and getting ready, she saw another dump in our next door neighbors backyard. We don't live in the country, we live on a residential street close to town, and so does Pam. She is a few blocks away. This is a little too close to home!
















THE NEW SIGN AS YOU COME INTO TOWN


This is the new sign recently put up near the visitor's
center as you come into Calumet. I think it is so attractive
and really stands out!

Tuesday, August 25, 2009

A map of Keweenaw County



I've always loved maps. And I like having one of places I travel to often. Like when we go out west to see my boys. I want to know which roads lead to the mountains and streams. I almost have a need to know the direction I'm in, where I'm heading, and how far, and what the layout of the area is.

I especially like the new brochure of our Keweenaw Peninsula. We live in such a wonderful, unique area. I like to brag about it and take friends on tours around Lake Superior. I totally enjoy playing the tourist in my home town in the summer. I'm missing that right now as I spent 5 weeks downstate this summer. The summer somehow slipped by and is almost over. I hope to get out there soon for some adventure.

Today's quote

Life is full of miracles, but they're not
always the ones we pray for.












Saturday, August 22, 2009

Stay tuned for the story about the neighborhood bears!

Tomorrow I'll post some pics on a mother bear and three cubs---a little too close to home!

You can CLICK on the map to enlarge it!

I'm so mad that my post sentences split up so weird. I did not intentionally do this!

Upper Peninsula Of Michigan---or yooper land!


OK, so you're gonna head up north, well, most trolls below the bridge actually
think that going as far as the bridge is "Up North". Whoa, wait-- there is a BIG
area above the bridge called the Upper Peninsula. Actually, when you reach the
bridge you are only half way to where we live. You turn left after the bridge and
head west along US 2. Then cut north on 117 and head up to 28 through the long,
boring Sceney Stretch. Sooner or later you'll reach Munising. Keep heading west
till you get to Marquette. Not quite there! Still got a hundred miles to go to the
Houghton County, or the Keweenaw Peninsula. Thats right! two peninsulas!
Theres the Upper Peninsula and the Keweenaw Peninsula. We can brag about
Lake Superior being around us on all sides. When you get to L'Anse, then Baraga,
you know you are getting close. Chassell is a few minutes from Houghton/Hancock.
When you get to Houghton you have to cross our little bridge--"The little Mac" its
sometimes referred to. There you are in Hancock, and on up to my place in Laurium,
a little further north. You can camp, swim, fish, go boating, golf, pick berries, hike,
and see many great tourist attractions. Through Houghton you pass Michigan Tech
University,(where my hubby works). Hancock has Finlandia University. Of course you've
got to visit Eagle River, Eagle Harbor, and Copper Harbor, and once you're in Copper
Harbor you can't miss the drive up to Brockway Mountain.
This is for all you trolls down under who wonder where in the world "The Copper Country"
is. It's really not the end of the earth but it will take your breath away!!!!

The Copper Country and Lake Superior


These photos were posted on http://www.pasty.com/ this past week. Alot of Copper Country lovers go there every day to see the beautiful pictures posted daily. There is always a discussion going on about the pictures or things of interest in our area. We live in a wonderful tourist spot and have the magnificent Lake Superior surrounding our peninsula.


I won't take credit for these fabulous photos











Friday, August 21, 2009

We're having 3 days of rain!


If it weren't raining, I'd be here or on my swing with a
good book. I finally have some time to breath and relax
a little. After the downpour, maybe I can get a little
sunshine!


About a month ago I cooked ribs on the grill and ate on
my patio table. Those treats are rare in my hectic life.
But I still dream on and crave a lazy day in the sun!

Thursday, August 20, 2009

Its late, but I'm gonna try one picture a day!

It's now two months since John's accident. This was taken
at my sisters house in Farmington Hills last weekend. He's
looking pretty good here! Doctors said he's doing great and
no need to come back to U of M. Only wish is that the vision
would return in his right eye.

Wednesday, August 19, 2009

Cool Cats!!!!!!

I'm gonna miss those fun days of laughing, loving,
squabbles and noise.

My kids

Dear daughter Vanessa (my oldest--33 already!)

Chloe--always drawing or writing!

Ellie loves playing on the computer.


Pretty Ellie--9 yrs. old.



My kids are home!


Chelsea and Lars

Leah, Landon, and Lars


The three boys taking a bath together. Ellie is helping out.
Mom is scrubbing em up!



Ellie, Landon, and Lars




My grandson's here for a visit!

This is Chad and Chelsea's son Will. He is 2 1/2 yrs. old.


Chad's boy Lars looks just like him! Almost 1 yrs. old.

Landon is Vanessa's son and is 2 yrs. old. Lars is in
the high chair.


John, Landon, Lars, and Will eating lunch.



Lars seems to be enjoying his grilled cheese
sandwich.

I had a very short visit with Chelsea and the boys on the weekend of Aug. 8th and 9th. Chelsea drove here all the way from Washington State, stopping in Duluth, Mn. to see her family. She came with a girlfriend and their kids to our Elder's meetings. Vanessa also came up for a week and a half with Landon, Chloe, and Ellie. After church on Saturday afternoon I told the girls to go do something fun and give me the boys. We had fun for the one afternoon alone with them. Such a quick trip for them. Not enough time though, to get to know grandpa and grandma before leaving Sunday afternoon.


My Sweet Grandaughter--Chloe





This is my gal Chloe. She was born at 1 lb. 1 oz. She has come a long way and been through alot. We were fortunate to have her stay with us for a short time this summer. Not as long as other summers, because of John's accident, but it was fun while she was here. She love's to read and write. Most of her spare time is spent reading, writing stories and poems. She hauled three tote bags full of books and folders, paper and pens. Someday I will post some of her stories and poems.