A change of pace as we are on Beaver Island for our 'close down' weekend. This involves mostly labor -- emptying potted plants, sweeping leaves, putting outdoor things into the garage for safe keeping over the winter, pruning trees, etc. I had time for only a few photos -- wish this flock had flown closer, but if you look closely at the little black specks, just know it was an impressive flock of birds in person. And at least they aren't cookies. Learning the downside of volunteering to do such a photo shoot -- LOTS of processing still ahead - and when processing photos of wonderful looking cookies, it makes me crave some!
Lovely image Taffy. It seems sad to me that you have to pack up and that's it until next year. We get cold spells here in the UK and often a bit of snow which brings the country to a standstill! Do many people live on BI? Is it very harsh in the winter for them or being on an island is it a bit milder? Having seen your pics of a frozen Lake Michigan it seems hard to believe they escape.
Such a familiar sight here with the geese flying south. Only difference is ours fly overland as there is no sea!! Can understand your problem processing all those food shots!
@darylo@pamknowler The reason we close down (and usually earlier) is that in the winter, travel to and from the island can be too unpredictable at too many points along the way -- through Indiana and around the southern tip of the lake, it can get really dangerous in lake effect snow conditions, then it changes again about 2/3 of the way up Michigan and still again over the lake and onto the island. For example, we were leaving Tuesday, but now with weather, we are going to leave Monday afternoon as we can't risk getting stuck. The other big reason is expense -- we heat with a wood burning stove when here, but when not, we have to use baseboard heat piped from the mainland -- VERY costly. About 500 people live here full time (and in the summer, it's a couple thousand). A subgroup of retirees who live here leave for the winter - by November at the latest and usually Oct -- and return in May or June. Weather can be harsh, tempers grow short, it's isolated, etc. But absolutely gorgeous for the brave souls who are here all year. The icky part is actually spring, or 'mud season'!
Thanks for the info Taffy - really interesting! Wow that would be an experience staying on the island through winter! I bet they have to stock up with everything well in time before winter sets in.
@pamknowler The grocery store is open all year, but they have to fly in the food. Where our house is located is down a very steep road as we come down from the bluff to the shore. So, when it's snowy and icy, it's terrifying and we have, when we used to come up in winter, simply left the car up there and snow-shoed in, but carrying everything we needed (a half-mile). As the saying goes, I'm too old for that!!
great shot and interesting reading .... videos of Chicago's first snow storm have been on our TV stations so I've been wondering if you have snow pictures
Wonderful sea panorama and reading through your replies I find very interesting, it sounds a wonderful place to be in good weather but hard work if you stay for winter. Are you ever tempted to stop back or is it simply not an option?
@craftymeg When we lived in East Lansing, MI (about 3 hours away), we went up in the winters through about January and then closed down. It really is special here. And we spent about 10 Thanksgivings up here as well. But from Chicago, it's just too complicated so we've had to give it up. Thanks for you kind comment on the pano!
@joansmor Yes, about 500 people live here full time (and in the summer, it's a couple thousand). A subgroup of retirees who live here leave for the winter - by November at the latest and usually Oct -- and return in May or June. There's a school that has just over 50 students, from PreK through grade 12 for families who are here year round.
Safe travels home