Around Elk Lake: Find the fun in April

Around Elk Lake: Find the fun in April: Just because it is rainy and the fog is rolling in and out over the lake doesn't mean you have to follow in my dog, Sassy's, foot...

Find the fun in April

Just because it is rainy and the fog is rolling in and out over the lake doesn't mean you have to follow in my dog, Sassy's, footsteps.  Yeah sure, once in a while you can take a day and flop on the couch, but there is so much to do up here around the lake, even in April.  There are two publications that I think are really beneficial to find out what is happening around Elk Lake and the surrounding towns.  They are, "Traverse, Northern Michigan's Magazine" and the "Elk Rapids News".
The "Traverse" Magazine is published once a month and always includes events that are going on in that month along with dining and interesting articles about local people and businesses.  In the April 2017 edition, one of the articles talks about camping in April and the advantages of camping this time of year. 
As a side note, when my son was in high school, he and about ten of his friends talked me into taking them camping for a weekend in March.  I have vowed never to do that again!  However, I believe I would like to try camping in April with a bunch of friends (no more camping with high schoolers!).  In fact just the other day, I passed the campground in Traverse City and there were a handful of campers there.  Maybe they read the article too.
"Traverse" Magazine also often lists classes that you can take just for fun, like gardening, painting and cooking.  Some of the classes mentioned are given by private citizens and local businesses while others are through the local community college.  Taking a class is a great way to meet new people and have fun while you learn.
The Elk Rapids News is a small newspaper that often highlights local people and focuses on what is going on at the schools in Elk Rapids.  It also includes calendars of events, much of which happens in the libraries of Elk Rapids, Bellaire and Alden.  In fact, the libraries in these villages are quite active with not just the usual storytime for children, but also they host activities such as knitting and playing mahjong.
And when you get a weekend like we had his past one where the sun is out and the southerly wind blows across the lake, there's nothing like cleaning out the garden and spying the crocuses and other flowers that are pushing through the soil and heralding the end of winter snow and the beginning of warmer, sunnier days.

 

 

Elk Rapids News. Weitschat, K. (Ed.). Elk Rapids, MI.

 

Traverse: Northern Michigan's Magazine. Fellows, D. (Ed.). A MyNorth Media Publication,

     Traverse City, MI: Prism Publications, Inc.

 



 



Around Elk Lake: The In-Between

Around Elk Lake: The In-Between:               I tolerate the time between winter and full-blown spring.   It’s the “In-Between Time.’   There are days where Old Man ...

The In-Between

 

            I tolerate the time between winter and full-blown spring.  It’s the “In-Between Time.’  There are days where Old Man Winter just won’t let go and the wind blows arctic and the snow flies.  Then there are the days where spring sneaks in and the sun shines and the breeze blows gently.  It’s as if you can watch the trees bud right before your eyes.  But all this back and forth breeds anxiety and yet anticipation.  Sometimes life puts us in the In-Between.  It’s a time where one door has closed and you are waiting for the next window to open.  Maybe you have lost your job; maybe life has taken you to an unexpected place; or maybe you have to put your life on hold in order to take care of a family member.  So what do you do while you are in the In-Between?

            Just as the in-between time of winter and spring often leads to all kinds of mud, you need to avoid the mud of depression, anxiety, a feeling of uselessness, boredom and unproductiveness.  But mud isn’t always bad. A mud pack on your face and body can actually cleanse the skin and draw out the impurities in your system.  Mud can also be fun to play in.  There is something cathartic in making mud pies.  And how about playing a game of soccer in the pouring rain in a completely muddy field?!  That’s abandonment.

            So how do you avoid wallowing in the mud?  For me, I ask God everyday what He wants me to accomplish in that day.  Then I make a plan.  The plan has to be flexible as taking care of my mother does not always go as planned.  The clue is to not go crazy when things don’t go as you want, but rather know that you are in God’s hands and He is in charge.  Try to do something every day that will get you to your goals of where you want to be. It may not be much, but all the little steps will add up.

            Don’t be so anxious so that you can’t enjoy the In-Between.  Look for ways to better yourself.  This can be through reading, going back to school, starting a work-out routine (or just actually doing the one you’ve meant to for years).  If it’s one of those days where spring sets out the sun and the warmth feels like you’re wrapped up comfortably in your favorite quilt, take a long walk, pack a sandwich and eat it while sitting by a lake or river.  Reflect on what you have accomplished and dream of where you want to be.  Do not be afraid to dream, even when our dreams aren’t realized right this minute, half the fun is in the journey of accomplishing our dreams.  Don’t have tunnel vision.  Be open to going in a completely new direction that you did not expect or even conceive of going.  These unexpected trips are often the most rewarding.

            Plan an event of abandonment ever so often.  This could be going to a movie, going to a play, walking along the beach and then swimming with all your clothes on. Try something you have never done before.  This may mean working at a job you never thought about.  Or maybe you get a job that is temporary to support yourself in the In-Between.  Be humble and learn from a 16 year old.

            When you are out of the In-Between, and life has again found an even keel, you will be able to look back with no regrets on what you did in the In-Between.  Hopefully this period of your life was a time of growth, reflection, and maybe, just maybe the exhilaration of a roller coaster.

           

Sunrise over Frozen Lake

For now Elk Lake is still frozen.  If this warm weather continues, it won't be for long.  Yesterday I was out with the dogs when Nature opened up the day with this beautiful sunrise.  I really don't have much to say for this blog except that sometimes it pays to get up early and watch the sun rise. 

Frozen not Dead

        When the lake freezes over as it is now, my mom always said it looked dead.  She didn’t like it.  But it’s not dead.  I was reminded of that yesterday as I saw two guys ice fishing on Elk Lake.  True, the fish slow down to conserve energy.  They digest their food slower and they go into a hibernation-like state.  But they’re not dead, just adapting to the colder environment.

        This makes me think of those who are suffering from Alzheimer’s – my mom included.  As we have dealt with this disease for over ten years now, it has shown that my mom’s brain may be “frozen” but definitely not dead.  The diagnosis was the scariest for mom as she is a retired nurse and knowing how she would slowly loose her mental functions was devastating.   However, we still had many good years together, years she no longer remembers, but I do. Just as the fish slow down in activity, mom’s capacity to function daily also slowed down. 

        However, people who suffer from Alzheimer’s are often portrayed as mentally stunted, or as almost in a zombie-like state – that their brains just don’t function anymore.  As we have experienced nothing could be further from the truth.  Mom’s brain has gone through severe changes physically which has led to mental changes as well.  She is no longer living in the present, but quite often is in the past.  Frozen in time.  However, this does not mean that she is mentally dead.  In fact I have learned quite a bit about her childhood and how she felt as a child by talking with her when she is in the “past” times.  Even though it is difficult for her to express herself verbally these days, we can still communicate and I am able to get a picture of my mom in earlier periods of her life. 

        Just as the ice on the water ebbs at the shore and water appears until the next cold spell snaps, there are times of clarity when mom knows who we are and we have a conversation as of old.  These times are becoming fewer, so each moment of clarity is like a diamond on the water when the sun shines on the lake.

        Through this horrible experience though, mom’s personality has shown through.  It’s as if even though the lake is frozen, anyone coming up to the lake knows that it is a lake, just in a different state of fluidity.  The same is true of Alzheimer sufferers.  It may be in the way they tilt their head, their laugh, their smile, or as in my mom’s case, how she still likes to have her hair colored and her nails done. 

        Mom may be frozen right now, but she will be active and free again when she is a citizen of Heaven. 

Around Elk Lake: A Ton of Little Parks

Around Elk Lake: A Ton of Little Parks: What is so nice about this area of Michigan is all the little parks.   It seems that all you have to do is turn around twice and you are...

A Ton of Little Parks

What is so nice about this area of Michigan is all the little parks.  It seems that all you have to do is turn around twice and you are in another little park.  One of my favorite little parks is Sayler Park in Yuba, right off SR31.  It is wooded and yet has fields that my dogs love to run and play fetch in.  The park also has a beach on Lake Michigan where the dogs like to swim and play in the waves.  It is quiet and isolated, yet well-kept up.  It’s fenced in so the dogs stay close at hand if I take them off their leads when no one is in the park.

Driving north on 31 from Yuba to Elk Rapids, you can visit the Elk Rapids Day Park also on Lake Michigan.  In this park is a Walk of Art which features 30 different sculptures.  These sculptures are rotated in and out so that a hike along the trails offers a variety for each hike.  The trails are nestled within pine and of course there is the ever present sound of the waves of Lake Michigan rolling onto the beach.  When strolling along the trails and stopping to enjoy the sculptures, it is as if you are in nature’s art museum.  Indeed, you never look at the same sculpture in quite the same way as nature puts her touch to each depending on the weather, time of day and the sounds she surrounds each piece with.  It is truly a delightful sensory overload.

From Elk Rapids you can drive south on Elk Lake Road and within minutes end up at Whitewater Township Park on Elk Lake.  This park is within walking distance from my house.  The trails lead to meadows and sand dunes that are lined with pines.  There is swimming, fishing , camping and a boat ramp at this park.  It is a beautiful spot for a hike with little ones, whether the two-legged or four-legged kind as the trails are very easy.  We like to end up at the sand dunes and just sit in the warm sand, let the dogs and or children run, and just enjoy the sun soaked sand sifting between our toes.  Of course in the winter, there is no sitting in the sand, but a hike back to the sand dunes offers a landscape view of a brilliant white covering over all.

Although, I have only talked about three little parks in this blog, there are really tons more.  It is my goal to visit all the parks.  This may take me a couple of years as there are so many interesting natural niches along the lakes.  Wish me luck!

Below are a few picture of Sayler Park taken this past week.  Even though the water looks inviting, it is very cold!

Around Elk Lake: The Mystery of Kewadin

Around Elk Lake: The Mystery of Kewadin:             On the north shore of Elk Lake lies the community of Kewadin.   I set out one warm November afternoon to discover the origin...

The Mystery of Kewadin

            On the north shore of Elk Lake lies the community of Kewadin.  I set out one warm November afternoon to discover the origins of this community.  Now, there is not much in this little township just around the bend from Elk Rapids.  At one time it had a gas station, but that is now closed.  There is the Kewadin Indian Mission, a post office, the town hall and The Oasis – a bar and eatery.  Much to many people’s surprise, the Kewadin Casino is not located in this township, but rather there are several Kewadin Casinos located in the Upper Penninsula.

            I first drove through the community and around a bit, trying to get the lay of the land.  I spied the town hall, but it was closed.  I thought, well, I’ll stop in the post office.  I asked the clerk on duty if he knew the story behind Kewadin.  He told me, “No, I’m from Traverse City.  I first came here looking for the casino.”  We laughed and then a second clerk came in.  The first clerk asked the second clerk if she knew the origin of this little burg.  She thought it was named after a Chippewa chief but that was all.  I thanked them, and was turning to leave, when an elderly woman came in to get her mail.  The first clerk said, “hey ask her, she should know.”  I introduced myself and she said she was Mary Ellen Sarasin* and lived next door.  She invited me to come over to her house where she had a book that told about Chief Ke-Way-Din. 

            I sat down on a bench just outside the side door.  Ms. Sarasin returned with the book, Milton Township 150 Years Young: A Collection of Memories. In it she showed me the pages about the life of Ke-Way-Din who apparently died in 1884.  In this article, it states that Ke-Way-Din means Northwest Wind.  However, in a following sketch, it states that his name means North Wind.  Well, I don’t do well with anomalies so I decided to start my own research on this fellow who lent his name to the community.

            As it turns out, I have been researching Kewadin on and off for the past two months and Chief Ke-Way-Din seems to be a rather elusive chief in history.  First, there seems to be a question of whether he was Chippewa or Ottawa.  According to the Milton Township text, he was Chippewa.  However, according to Vogel (1986), he was Ottawa. 

            The Milton Township text also states that the community of Kewadin used to be known as We-qua-ge-mog, which also seems to mean north wind.  The question becomes, was this Chief Ke-Way-Din also known as We-qua-ge-mog, or was that the name of the community before someone decided to change the name of the community to Kewadin? Possibly this could account for the discrepancy of the meaning of Chief Ke-Way-Din’s name as meaning North Wind or Northwest Wind.

            It seems that Chief Ke-Way-Din died on the north shore of Elk Lake, but where did he come from?  Was he born there?  What did he do during his lifetime?  Possibly this Chief Ke-Way-Din was at the signing of the Treaty of Fond du Lac (modern day Duluth, Minnesota) in 1826, as well as one of the signers of the Treaty of Detroit in July 31^st of 1855.  However, this may not be the same chief as it seems Kewadin was a rather common name.

            So here I am, left with many more questions than when I started out with.  Chief Ke-Way-Din has gotten under my skin and I will continue to research about him and his life. If anyone reading this blog has any information or resources to share, I would greatly appreciate it. I think it is important to keep history alive and as near accurate as possible.  Though you know what they say, “history depends on who writes it,” and if it’s left up to me, it could become rather colorful.  Just kidding – maybe.

*A very special thank you to Ms. Mary Ellen Sarasin for taking time out of her day to sit down with me and give me a starting point for the research of Chief Ke-Way-Din.  Also, I hope I have spelled your name correctly as it is spelled two different ways in the Milton Township text.

Milton Township 150 Years Young: A Collection of Memories. 2015. Milton Township.

Vogel, V. 1986. Indian Names in Michigan. Ann Arbor, MI: The University of Michigan Press.

Ducks Unlimited

One of the quirkiest things my son has done was to buy special plates for a black 1985 Cadillac Fleetwood.  It's not that he bought the plates, but what they said that didn't seem to go along with a Cadillac. When he was starting college, he needed a car.  A very generous friend of mine had this car and just gave it to him. So you have this eighteen year old kid driving a black caddy and then he buys Kentucky plates for the car that say “ducks unlimited”.  The good thing was that part of the proceeds from the plates went to wildlife conservation and I could always find his car. It just made me laugh---it still does.

Speaking of ducks---many different ducks have shown up over the past couple of weeks as Lake Skeegamog is pretty much frozen and right in front of our cottage is a cut where there are weeds and fish just 50 feet in front of us.  The ducks stop in to feed and preen.  Some of the ducks I have seen are golden eyes, common mergansers, hooded mergansers, Northern Shovelers and my favorite, buffleheads.  I have yet to see the Elk Lake loons, but I have heard them.

And it’s not just ducks.  The Canada Geese have been flying overhead, honking their way south.  I know they are as common as blackbirds here, but I love to see their familiar V flying overhead and hearing the honking as if to alert all within hearing that they are coming and are warning all to stay out of their way.  When I lived in Kentucky for 11 years, I really missed seeing the geese flying over. 

The most fascinating sight I have seen was yesterday.  Out of the corner of my eye I saw something huge that was white flying just over the top of the water.  At closer inspection, what I spied were two swans flying.  Now maybe Elk Lake year-round residents have seen swans fly, but I never have.  They were just as graceful in the air as they are swimming on the lake.

I don’t know if I’m seeing all these ducks because of migration or because the lake is quiet without all the boats.  (Though I did see someone kayaking last week.) If anyone knows, please respond to this post.

Anyway, it has been fun to see the different types of fowl on the lake these past couple of weeks.  I hope all living around the lake are enjoying it as much as I am.

                                             

                  https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Common_Goldeneye/id © Bill Thompson, Anchorage, Alaska, October 2010

                                        

                              https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Northern_Shoveler/id

                                

                                     https://www.allaboutbirds.org/search/?q=bufflehead

Down Time and Old Mission

My sister and I were lucky this past week between Christmas and New Year's Day.  We both had unexpected down time.  We decided to take a day trip up to Mission Peninsula which is a peninsula located between East and West Bay of Grand Traverse Bay.  It is known for its wineries and the lighthouse at the end of the peninsula point.  Near the north end of the point of the peninsula, is the small community of Old Mission.  There is a General Store where I've taken my son and his friends when they were young because the store sells old-fashioned candy. 
My sister and I had been tasting wine and ended up at the General Store around lunch time.  I knew they had snacks for sale, but that was all.  We entered the store and saw a sign for sandwiches.  We ordered one each and then were told to go to the room next door to sit down to eat.  All the years I had been visiting this store, I never knew they had a wing on the store where there were tables to sit down and eat. 
We sat at a table beside a beautiful old cast iron stove.  The owner came in and put wood in the stove and lit it.  As he did so, he told us some of the history of the store.  I will not write to you about this history as he is writing a book on it.  Let's just say, it is worth your while to visit the store and talk to the owner.  He will tell you the history in a very animated way.  Because of its history and age, the store needs to be on the National Register of Historical Places. 
We stayed for about 1 1/2 hours listening to the stories and eating the best corned beef on rye you will ever eat.  This little General Store should be included on a trip up north as it is worth it to step into a bit of history, and eat a fantastic sandwich.