Life between the lakes, part 7

The sun avoided Deer Park during the first part of the week as the lake froze. Now the snow is sticking around because of the temps. When the sun came back it arrived with a vengeance, bringing glorious color in the morning and casting long shadows in the afternoon.

When you are in the wilderness you are given the unique privilege of watching the constant motion of our sun, literally unfolding in front of you by the second; versus just sensing that the sun is rising because the sky is getting lighter. There is a huge difference.

Tiger Jack Burke and Needa have adapted well to their new temporary home. Needa made the trip to town today with me today and had her head out the window for the 40-minute drive there and the 40 minute drive back.

I had a mental double-take when today on the radio someone said that it was only a week until Christmas.

Nobody was in the Newberry Post Office as I went to mail a package. I had to ring the bell to get someone to the counter and I could tell she was smiling at me under her mask as we chatted. 

There were no idiot drivers cutting me off as I drove through town, no vibrating cars blasting hip hop at the filling station, no crabby people at the uncrowded grocery store, and a woman at the drug store wished me a Merry Christmas.

Small town life. That’s what I’m talkin’ about.

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 6

                                 

Life between the lakes, part 6

Today the weather in Deer Park was nothing short of interesting.

Snow flurries came in from the north and south and east and west, while Muskallonge Lake played a game of hide and go seek with the sun between the squalls.

There was not much accumulation but the snow literally blew in every direction, except toward the sun. This went on for several hours until it fell so gently it was like it was moving in slow motion.

This was taken just down the road. Muskallonge Lake is spring-fed and that is the only explanation I have for the skip of open water pictured.

It's either that or a meteor hit and nobody told me about it.