Vive la difference

Toni to Skip (repeated frequently): How are you doing?
Skip to Toni (repeated frequently): I'm fine.
Toni to Skip: You never ask me how I am.
Skip to Toni: I don't need to. You tell me.

Signs and portents

Do you believe in the Green Flash?

Danny and Skip believe it’s a real phenomenon, but we all question why
no photographer has ever captured it. I think it began with an Eric Rohmer
film. Some people are more prone to seeing the green ray than others.
Sunsets continue to be spectacular viewed from our balcony. It’s 8:20 and
the light show continues.
(late breaking news now I am connected: Wikipedia goes into scientific
explanation)
This was our phone question of the night to sister Janet. Her answer:
What is the green flash?
I also called Diane, our personal reunion coordinator and card carrying member
of the Dissidents of the class of ’59. I can’t wait to see her. In a week we will
be cavorting at Marge’s Sports Bar and Grill, listening to Tom Saunders, our
neighbor growing up, and his Surfside Band.
Note to anyone from group who is reading:
When we saw Tom 7 years ago (he caught us snooping around his house kind of
like the Platte Lake neighbor), he invited us to Marge’s and advised: what you’re
wearing now-shorts and t shirts-you are overdressed. So let that be your
wardrobe guide.

And a perfect place for a picnic

The Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive
Pierce Stocking was a lumberman who loved Michigan forests and was awed
by the dunes above Lake Michigan. He built the 7 mile scenic route around the
dramatic overlooks of the Lake and the Dunes. This is now all part of the Sleeping
Bear Dune National Lakeshore. We were worried they would ruin it, but it’s fine.
At the time the whole Seashore was created they threatened to take both Platte and
Glen Lakes. We all went to meetings and let it be known that the lakes were not
sparsely populated. Sen. Udall and I forget who else.
Spectacular and a definite not to be missed experience.
People ignore the scary sign and descend the almost vertical dune to the water. One clever parent with baby in a backpack.

Papa and Maury

Papa’s pal Maury Thomas

Maury started doing jobs for father and ended up being a best pal.

He and wife Coleen helped us out a lot as we tried to close up the

family house at Platte Lake after both parents had died.

They were our only advocates when we lived too far away to manage things.

It’s wonderful to see them although I have some jealousy they look the same

as they did 7 years ago when last we met. And all those great grands!

Of course Maury insisted Skip take some of his smoked salmon,

recently caught in Lake Michigan. They have a chipmunk-trapping cage

filled with tasty morsels in the garage. Chipmunks are let out and come

back when they want food. The garage is saved from their marauding.

Best of luck with back surgery next week, Maury.

Down Deadstream Road a bit to the former Myers family vacation home,

built in the 1920s on 200 feet of pristine lake front.

It was razed in the 60s and a full time place replaced the orginal. We knew the

owners were away and roamed free until a voice boomed “Can I help

you?” Thus we met the very cool neighbor and had a good chat, agreeing

on things I can’t mention here, things which explain why we never met

him in the 5 years he lived next door before father died. Home owners

and neighbor are also friends of Maury and Coleen. It was all quite

reassuring. Important things endure.

Yarning for a shop

YARNING FOR A SHOP

Note to Carol:
really truly we looked and looked for the Benzonia Yarn Shop
and found one in Beulah at long last. Here is Danny trying to get
into the shuttered shop. So frustrating

Maybe not a hot travel tip

A question for Danny and Skip
Where would you LEAST like to go
And the answer is the nationally known business of a sweet disabled lady, a business which
sits lightly on its meadow in tune with the environment. Handmade papers form the basis
of Gwen Frostic’s longtime success in selling nature-infused notecards, napkins, note pads
and such. What’s not to love about all this? When I asked sister Janet in the nightly phone
question, she aced it, remembering a time she and Danny had to wait forever outside the
store while some of us frolicked about inside. Today I was a 5-minute shopper, but the clerks
and customers were all extremely

Cherries Cherries everywhere, but

Cherries cherries everywhere but no more cherry chicken please

I love the Cherry Hut in Beulah, Michigan. It has received national attention and is
reknowned for its kitchy cherry menu, decor and merchandise. Skip chose a chef salad,
Danny a burger and me the cherry chicken salad. That is the last mayo-filled cherry chicken
I will ever get. I had loads of fun browsing all the kitsch: cherry aprons, cherry plastic wallets, cherry bag clips, cherry lunch bags, cherry yo yos…I got a cherry pie for Maury and Coleen. More on this later.
I learned some important Michigan cherry facts from the man in the photo.
Red cherries:
28 million pounds produced in 2008
23 million were from Michigan
16 million from Beulah to Traverse City (all approx and all red cherries, the
ones that are really good for you)

The Dunes look smaller until you start climbing

The man at the park entrance to the Sleeping Bear Dune climb believed me when
I said I’d left the Golden Pass at home. And it was actually true. So we parked for
free and soon Danny and Skip left me in the dust/y sand as we trudged up and up
and up. One step up and half a step back when the sand fills your shoe.
The treat at the top is Glen Lake, mentioned before. Also, your heart slows down.
And you did it. We assured Skip that you had to walk a long, long way to see Lake
Michigan. Just as I said 7 years back. It worked both times.
It’s a top travel tip if the day is right, not too hot and not too cold.

It doesnt get any better

It just doesn’t get any better

Cool and cloudy this morning morphed into warm and sunny, crystal clear sky with enough

clouds to set off the blue.

After the Coffee Roaster trip to drink iced tea, publish blog and walk home, we motored off

on all day adventures…details to follow.

Note: someone asked about the identity of Danny. He is my baby brother, one year, 2

months and 6 days younger. Danny, his wife Carol and 2 kitties live in Carlsbad, CA. We miss

Carol as we do sister Janet. Dan/Daniel/Danny is THE family name beginning-we think-with Dan Myers,

kid soldier in the Civil War, imprisoned in the notorious Andersonville Prison for a time. Next was Uncle Dan,

grandfather’s brother and an investment banker in Cleveland. Father Dan, brother Dan and son Dan, each

of these guys called Danny by people close to them. Yes, it’s my favorite guy name.

MI photos

Suttons Bay

I love Suttons Bay

Last time we visited was with Jill and Charlie. It was Labor Day and most places were closed,

thus saving us lots of money. Today we split up: Skip to take pictures, Toni to shop and Danny

to O’Keefe’s Firehouse Pub. We ended up at O’Keefe’s. I’d found a shop that makes much of

the stuff it sells. I was frugal.

Back home we made sandwiches with the ciabatta Danny got at a Leland bakery. I left a slice

In the toaster too long and the smoke alarms began screaming and actually talking as Skip and

I waved magazines frantically back and forth. It said: Leave Now! Leave Now! Que se vayan ahora mismo! Danny was on the terrace talking to Carol and thought it was some idiot down the way. I was feared a landlady appearance, but we never heard a peep from her.

more PP photos

What happened to Pyramid Point

Danny’s favorite National Seashore walk proved elusive as we drove up and down the coast.

It worked out quite well as we ended up in charming Leland. Actually, all the towns along the

Leelanau Peninsula are charming. Billing itself as an historic fishing village, Leland has a

“Fishtown” featuring shanties and decrepit docks. Father and stepmother loved the Bluebird

Tavern where we lunched, but we were lukewarm. My cherry chicken salad sandwich was NOT

to die for. 21 wineries in this one county and all roads seem to lead to Cedar, site of a Blair Witch evening 7 years ago. (Private joke for Jill.)

We found the Pyramid Point walk, a steady uphill climb to an amazing lookout over dunes to

Lake Michigan and South Manitou Island on yet another perfect day. Danny and I had already

walked back from Glen Arbor this morning (2 ½ miles), so I am feeling virtuous.

My only trip to the Manitous was a rough seas journey during which at least one of my Indian

Beach campmates got ill and we had to ride with the results all the way back. Nice of me to share.

Granny first told us the old Chippewa tale of the mother bear fleeing a Wisconsin fire with her

two cubs. They didn’t quite make shore and the cubs are now the Manitous and their mother

is the Sleeping Bear (dunes). I used to tell the story using little black bears, though now there is

an actual picture book. Little kids handle sad stories better than adults. It was a favorite of mine.