Life between the lakes, part 12

 

Life between the lakes, part 12 

End of the year, potpourri edition.

The snow has stopped in Deer Park; at least for now. Lake Superior looks like a horizon of slush as the freeze point is closing in on the shoreline.

Meanwhile, the snow coverage on Muskallonge Lake is now quite impressive and the amount of snowmobiles has quadrupled in the last 2 days. I see them on the lake and they pass us on the road. There is something in the mechanism that reminds Tiger Jack Burke and Needa of the mechanical bunny at the track because their ears shoot up and they bark when a sled comes by.

Two nights ago a “moon halo” appeared. This optical phenomenon occurs when the moonlight is refracted in millions of hexagonal ice crystals suspended in the atmosphere. It was pretty awesome.

I know a guy who works in the State Park down the road and yesterday we chatted. He has a great sense of humor and when I asked him if anything exciting was happening over New Year’s weekend he thought for a moment, grinned and said the only excitement might be when they’d ignite the burn pile.

“Last year, it was as big as a house!” he said. “This year, not so much.”

I am considering of spending my New Year’s Eve with a traditional Yooper seven course meal.

It will consist of a six pack and a pasty.

Happy New Year everyone.

Life between the lakes, part 8

 

Life between the lakes, part 8

Jack and Needa have adapted well to our new life between the lakes. I have a nice run for them outside my door and they are always eager to get up and out each morning to sniff the woods, do their business, feel the cold and rush back into our cozy cottage for a warmly prepared, custom breakfast.

Needa has a great sense of what I am doing and immediately knows when I am preparing to head out for a drive. I give her a wink and gesture toward the door, put some peanut butter in Jack’s dish to distract him and we’re gone

I know my dogs miss the social aspect of living in the city. But maybe this is the retirement they dreamed about?

It is very easy to lose track of time up here.

And I am happy to miss all the yule-tide bullshit and normal aggravations of the Christmas season I’d be feeling in Royal Oak. 

I feel no “Christmas stress” up here and I send this as a prayer and wish for all of you who might experience it this week.

Move to the UP and be my neighbor when I settle in; Jack and Needa would love to see you and I just might to as well.

Life between the lakes, part 4

                         

Life between the lakes, part 4

Not that this was going to turn into a breakthrough masterpiece, (like so many of the other recipes I've never shared) but it is my first "UP-threw it together out of some stuff," dinner.

The meat was some kind of chuck. . . whatever that means, LOL 

I sauteed a lot of onions, threw in the beef after a dousing or good old fashioned Worchester sauce. . .simmered, added beef broth for a long simmer.

Once satisfied, I placed it on a flour tortilla with cheese that melted with touch, added some tomato. and a splash of tobacco over my shoulder for good luck