The old father time image often comes to mind when the year comes to a close. This pine pine might not be the father time image, but it sure has turned white like father time’s hair. The pine tree looks like a space creature from the original Star Trek series and looks worn out and old with the white frost covering it.
Tree Space Monster
This huge building (with only half showing) once housed the provisions for the iron-smelting industrial community of Fayette, Michigan, as it was the company store. With the roof and windows gone after the town was closed in 1891, it no longer shelters items or people from the storms.
The Company Store
Some people complain that cardinals bring the snow since they are often seen at the feeders before a snow storm and the red birds do stand out more more against the white snow. And with four cardinals in my pine tree this morning, they looked like decoration red balls on a Christmas tree.
Cardinal in the Snow
My grandparents never had the advancing weather forecasting which we have today, so they might not have known to get the sleigh runners on the wagon before a heavy snowfall.
Retired Wheels
With a winter storm approaching tomorrow and gusty winds, the beacon light may not cut through the blowing snow. The Lake Mighigan thirty-five foot Manistique East Breakwater Light was lit on August 17, 1916. Settlers arrived in 1852 and settled on the Monistique River (name came from the Native American word Onamanitikong meaning “vermilion” as the water had a reddish hue). When the name was registered with the state, an “a” was used instead of an “o” and the town and river became Manistique. As the century progressed, Manistique’s importance as a port waned and the light was automated in 1969. In 2013, the lighthouse was bought by a private individual.
Manistique East Breakwater Light
The new snow this morning was a reminder that winter has its hold on the land and it will be five months before the irises bloom again.
Beautiful Blossom
Apparently more people were wishing for a white Christmas than a green Christmas as the snow on Wednesday didn’t melt in time. We get some years with brown Christmas but the majority are white, but with the warm winter the grass has been growing and I wanted to mow lawn on Christmas as that would have been the first for here but missed it by less than two days.
Dreaming of a Green Christmas
If you happen to be driving around in the upper part of Michigan, you just might stumble upon a town called Christmas. And it is hard to miss Santa Claus, who towers over the surrounding buildings. And the street names for the town are Christmas Ave, St. Nicholas St, Mrs Claus Ln, Pinetree Rd, Mistletoe Ln, Jingle Bell Ln, Santa Ln, Tinsel Dr, Sleigh Way, Holly Dr, Evergreen Dr, Reindeer Run, Northpole Rd and even a Scrooge’s Alley.
Christmas in Michigan
The snow returned today to imprint winter on the land. White blossoms of the Lowbush Blueberry are more pleasing than white snow, and when it turns blue, the berries are good eating which is better than when I turn blue from the cold.
Lowbush Blueberry
Winter wanted its presence known as there was a coating of snow overnight and the pond is ice covered again. It takes lots of cold nights before the ice starts forming on Lake Superior so one would see open water by Lovers Leap although a bit chilly for leaping and swimming. (And you wouldn’t want to leap there since the water is only a few feet deep even if the lore has lovers leaping together to profess their love.) In the background behind the arch of Lovers Leap is Rainbow Cave.
Lovers Leap
