Enjoying Winter

In seed time learn, in harvest teach, in winter enjoy.

~William Blake

Appointment with the trees

Here are a few more photos of the woods surrounding my in-laws cabin in Grayling. Sometimes it is so quiet that you can hear a chickadee break the silence from over a mile away it seems.

'I frequently tramped eight or ten miles through the deepest snow to keep an appointment with a beech-tree, or a yellow birch, or an old acquaintance among the pines.'
~Henry David Thoreau

Winter Road

"I prefer winter and fall, when you feel the bone structure of the landscape - the loneliness of it, the dead feeling of winter. Something waits beneath it, the whole story doesn't show."

-Andrew Wyeth

Powdered Sugar Trees

I loved how the trees looked after our first snowfall - almost like powdered sugar had dusted them. We are headed back up to our log cabin this weekend and snow is in the forecast!

I've been searching the local calendars for holiday events and think small towns always do it best! This Saturday, our family is headed to Grayling's Christmas Walk and Parade. If you would like more information on this event - please contact the Grayling Visitor's Burea at 800-937-8837.

Hartwick Pines State Park - Grayling, MI

I really need to start visiting other Michigan State Parks! Hartwick Pines is convenient to where our log cabin is located and plus I never tire of it. Here are some recent images taken this past week.

Weekend Events in Gaylord & Grayling, MI

Greg and I are headed up to the log cabin tomorrow to stay a week in northern Michigan. I am so excited and hope to get a lot of great photos as well as provide more information on great things to do up here!

If you're going to be in the Gaylord & Grayling area, this weekend - the Holiday events are starting a little early:

• Nov. 1 - Holiday Haus Craft Show at First United Methodist Church in Gaylord. Please call 989-732-5380 for more information.
• Nov. 1 - Bake Sale & Craft Show at the Eagles Club in Grayling. Please call 989-344-0035 for more information.
• Nov. 6 - Taste of Gaylord event - please call 989-732-6333.

Have a great weekend!

Church in the woods

Hartwick Pines State Park in Grayling, is a favorite place of mine to photograph. I just love this old church with its beautiful logs.

Timber Pile

My in-laws have a cottage deep in the Grayling woods. Some of the mature trees had fallen after a recent storm so they were chopped up for future bonfires. There is something so beautiful about a woodpile.

Glory Lake in Grayling

Glory Lake is one of two small lakes located in Hartwick Pines State Park in Grayling, Michigan. A beautiful, peaceful place to be.

Dawson & Stevens Classic 50's Diner in Grayling

Our family recently made our first visit to Dawson & Steven's Classic 50's Diner in Grayling, MI. This was truly like stepping back into time. The jukebox was playing classic 50's music, the diner has a working soda fountain and pink & turquoise bar stools and booths. They serve breakfast, deli sandwiches, hamburgers and a great selection of sundaes. My husband liked his tuna sandwich, I enjoyed my french dip and my stepson gave the chicken tenders and fries thumbs up! Afterwards we had a root beer float and a 1 scoop sundae - a great ending! Additionally, Dawson & Stevens has a Bottle Cap museum which is home to the largest northern Michigan private collection of Coca-Cola memorabilia (over 9,000 pieces!) They have old coke bottles, dolls, trays, milk cartons, etc. (See pics below.) I never realized Coca-Cola had such a rich history. If you want the "Classic 50's" experience - then you will love this diner!

Address: 231 Michigan Ave., Grayling, MI 49738
Phone: (989)348-2111
http://www.bottlecapmuseum.com/

Time to go Canoeing!

Put "canoeing the Ausable River" in Grayling, MI on your to do list this summer! This beautiful river has a slow moving current and is perfect for all types of canoers - beginners, families and even experienced canoers. You can take a 2 hour trip or plan a canoeing adventure for several days.

Places that offer lodging and canoe & kayak rentals include Borchers http://www.canoeborchers.com/ and Penrods (pictured below) http://www.penrodscanoe.com/ . My husband and son went this past weekend to Penrods for a 2 hour leisurely ride and saw all sorts of birds along the way. Additionally, we have rented Penrod's cabins in the past and they are very quaint and clean. A word to the wise - the owner is very specific on who he rents to - and if he thinks you will be drinking and creating a ruckus - then he will advise you to go someplace else. This is definitely a family environment.

Grayling's Ausable River is also home to the famous Ausable River Canoe Marathon www.ausablecanoemarathon.org/ which has been going on for over 60 years! It is the longest non-stop race in North America. Be sure to check out their spectator guide which offers some humorous yet helpful information if you would like to watch this marathon. This year's race is scheduled to begin on July 27, 2008.

Penrod's canoe & kayak rental

Images from Hartwick Pines State Park

I know I've posted previously about Hartwick Pines State Park in Grayling, but I just think it's a wonderful place to experience. I went this past weekend, and even though it was a little rainy, we were still able to do a 2 mile hike. I've included images from the walking trails and the logging museum. Some of these trees are over 300 years old! When you are walking down the trail, the smell of the trees just fills your senses. And when you look up the full length of the towering trees, you realize how small you really are. On July 19 and 20, Hartwick will be having their Woodshaving days. For more information on Hartwick Pines State Park:

http://www.michigandnr.com/publications/pdfs/wildlife/viewingguide/nlp/59Hartwick/index.htm

Bright & Glory Lake in Grayling, MI

Bright and Glory Lake is located on the edge of Hartwick Pines State Park in Grayling. There's a quarter mile trail you walk down and when you reach the fork in the road, you can either head to Bright or Glory. If you like to fish, there is a nice size wooden dock from where you can try to reel in trout, bass and pan fish. They are both catch and release lakes. Last year we witnessed Loon parents swimming with their 2 babies. It's scenic, quiet and peaceful. Bring a chair, fishing pole, binoculars, camera and bug spray. A great way to spend the early morning!


http://www.michigandnr.com/ParksandTrails/Details.aspx?id=453&type=SPRK

Maple Syrup Day at Hartwick Pines State Park

I go to Hartwick Pines State Park at least every other month. It has 49 acres of old growth pines and a logging museum. I love the trails, hand feeding the chickadees and best of all - their events! They had their annual Maple Syrup Day on March 22nd. They took a group of us out into the Park and demonstrated how they drill into the tree and attach the bucket for sap. Unfortunately the cold season has lingered in Michigan so we didn't get to hear any sap drip into the bucket. By the way, did you know that it takes 40 gallons of sap to make one gallon of syrup?! The hubby and I decided against trying to tap the trees on our property after we heard this - ha. Afterwards, we got to see them boil it down and then taste the syrup. We also purchased a pint of the Michigan based Korthase Bros. Maple Syrup. It was delicious on our pancakes the next morning. Hartwick is a great place to take the family.

Place: Hartwick Pines State Park in Grayling, MI http://www.michigandnr.com/parksandtrails/Details.aspx?id=453&type=SPRK