Friends and Fishing Tipp O' the Mitt Style

"I love fishing. You put that line in the water and you don't know what's on the other end. Your imagination is under there." ~Robert Altman ~

Okay, don't laugh you know you have all been here before....in your late 20's and no monies! lol :) I would like to introduce everyone to what ~E~ calls the redneck boat trailer. ~R~ came up with the idea. See they have a canoe, live near a lake, but have no way to transport it without borrowing a car with a rack ...so the next best thing...a dollie! I myself thought it was pretty ingenious. It beats carrying the heavy beast to the lake a mile. Again..Ingenious ~R~!

I snapped a photo of the two walking to the lake...I think the camo paint job fits well with the scene, don't you?! :)

Once we reached the lake we realized it was windier than we thought. (It is never advisable to canoe on the east side of a lake when the winds are coming across it from the west. hehehe) Needless to say, we stayed in the lil cove so the wind wouldn't blow us around. O' and I forgot to mention...canoes are generally for two people not three, so we lacked a seat for one of us...well ~R~ had the same idea almost every other guy I know has had...put a lawn chair in the middle for the third person...again...ingenious! (I know there is at least one person out there reading this post that has done the same thing...lol) So up went the froggie chair for ~E~! We had a blast...we could paddle to the opening and drift down the channel to fish. We even saw some Geese!

The family was just swimming along, minding their own business, when a red winged black bird came out of nowhere and started attacking the leading goose. That same black bird tried to attack us too! Brave lil guy flying over people with paddles :)
~E~ won fisher women of the day...catching a ton of bluegill and sun fish...we kept four of hers! (that is ~E~ with the prize catch of the day!)I even caught two worth keeping...and a handful of lil guys. lol...that's me showing off my muscles...lol :)
~E~ and I with our catch...never before have we brought this many fishies home! Yeah! Plus, b/c ~E~ and ~R~ still had fish from their last catch, they let me take them home.
Mt. Man once told me that if I caught fish, and brought them home, he would clean them....He was less than thrilled. Now the rule is no more lil guys! He will only clean trout, salmon, whitefish, walleye or anything in that size range. Looks like I will be getting my fishing groove on this summer...he just challenged me..lol keep your fingers crossed...off to ford lake later this week with ~E~ to catch trout...min. size 15 inches! Hope he's ready! :)

Sky Watch Friday: My #5

"The richness I achieve comes from Nature, the source of my inspiration. "
Claude Monet

Happy Friday Everyone! I took this picture on Monday from my porch swing...The sun was setting, the hill was painted pink, and the sparrow on top of the bird house enjoyed it too! (can you see the lil speck on top? that is him.) To see more great sky watch photo's click here!

Three Years of Wedded Nature Bliss

Look at us. Just two crazy tree loving hippies. We may have grown up, but our love for each other has only grown stronger.
I believe there is only one person we cross paths with in our life that will stick by you through thick and thin. Will love you even when you are crazy, and will admit when they are. This one person will love help you climb mountains, and will slide down to the valley's with you. They will share most of your memories.
Mt.Man and I are celebrating Three Years of Wedded Bliss together today. I may not like everything we have gone through, but I love that he was right by my side. I love that in the crazy times we still wanted and needed each other. I love that I know in the future he will be still be there. Most of all I love that we created Peanut together.
She has made us grow up, re-prioritize, and think about what is important. She completed "our" family. She helped make "US". Happy Anv. Mt. Man.

"Nature will bear the closest inspection. She invites us to lay our eye level with her smallest leaf, and take an insect view of its plain." ~Henry David Thoreau ~

Memorial Day Remembrence

I read a lil article the other day. It was a bout a small town soldier in Vietnam. But he never made it back home..he was killed 3 days before his 20th birthday. Here is the article..pulled from the Presque Isle Advance..It made the First and Second pages!

Remembering a solider who didn’t make it home
5/20/2009 4:18:12 PM

by Peter Jakey, Managing Editor

(Robert's sister Lori)
This Memorial Day, remember Army Sp. 4 Robert Purgiel, who died in the Vietnam War more than 40 years ago. He was a 19-year-old soldier fighting for the country in 1967. In letters to family, Bob counted down the days left in his one year tour and couldn’t wait to get back to his father and mother, Albert and Helen, his 10 brothers and sisters, an old Ford Falcon, and his girlfriend of two years, Marsha Pruden.
Bob and Marsha’s pictures appeared right next to each other in the 1966 Posen High School yearbook. Bob had planned to get her a ring when he returned home. It is the same senior picture that appeared on the front page of the Advance, October 5, 1967. The headline in the top right corner stated, “Vietnam War claims life of Posen soldier.”
FORTY-ONE years later, the pain of his loss still weighs heavily on family members. “To me, Memorial Day is remembering. Remembering him, remembering today, the soldiers who are out there,” said Lori Olsen, his sister, who lived at home when Army Lt. James R. Daugherty of Saginaw and Fr. Stephen Kozak of St. Casimir Catholic Church arrived at their home on 634 Highway to inform the family of the young soldier’s death. So overcome with grief, her mother couldn’t make the phone calls to her children or relatives, so Lori, who was still a high school student, was saddled with the unenviable task.
“THIS IS hard,” she said Monday afternoon, stopping a tear with her finger. “Some Memorial Days are hard. To this day, when I hear the 21-gun salute, I get weak in the knees. It brings back that memory.”
Purgiel was fatally wounded September 27, 1967 by metal fragments in a firefight with hostile forces, while setting up a night position, the account from the October 5, article states. He was only a few days from his 20th birthday. Purgiel graduated from Posen High School in 1966. “After graduation, that summer, he wondered, ‘what do I do?’ ” said Olsen. “He didn’t want to go to college. He didn’t have a job. On a spur of a moment, he went and enlisted. He didn’t tell anybody.”
Purgiel, who loved playing baseball and hunting, was on a County League team in Posen before beginning Army training July 18, 1966. In February 1967, he reported to Oakland, California and left for Vietnam, March 9. “WELL, HOW is everything?” He started nearly every letter to family. “We’re over the Pacific right now, about 2 ½ hours from Honolulu.” The letter was post marked, March 10 in Honolulu.
In a letter postmarked, March 26, 1967, Purgiel wrote, “Well, I’m in the field. Didn’t run across anything yet. Thank God.” He reassured family, if anything did happen, even a cut finger, they would know about it right away.
In a letter May 11 , Purgiel, who was a radio operator, described his feelings and what was going on around him. “…About 11 guys got it. We’ve been losing men like flies, but glad there weren’t any killed. Just wounded. I should be glad I’m not one of them…they say that I didn’t see s*** yet. Boy, I hate when the time comes.”
He remarked of an encounter with 100 Viet Cong. “They wish they never ran into us because they’re all dead now….I tell you though, I’ve never seen anything like it. If anybody asks me if I’m going to hell, I’ll tell them, no, cause I’ve already been there.” Purgiel, in the same May letter, said he should have never “signed up for the draft, cause I hate it, especially now, cause I hate it here.” He was injured in early July. “Once healed, he was sent back to the lines,” said Lori.
“WHEN YOU are a radio man for the infantry, you are their in the midst of it,” said Marsha (Pruden) Hoppe, who now lives in Alpena with her husband of 38 years. The last letter she received was dated September 26, 1967, the day before he died. He asked Marsha if she wanted her ring for Christmas.
Marsha said Americans should remember that those fighting for the country made a difference. “I think, being from a small town, everybody knew him, everybody felt the loss, but they were proud of him that he went.” His brother Jerry Purgiel, who was 14 at the time, remembers his brother being “happy go lucky” and “a great guy.” Lori remembers how much Bob loved his old Ford Falcon that he asked her to drive once a week to keep it running properly.
Memorial Day is a time to reflect on soldiers like Bob Purgiel, who didn’t come home. He paid the ultimate sacrifice for his country and the pain family members still feels, is very real. To remember is to honor.

What I didn't tell you before hand, was I read the article straight from the paper..not the Internet. And that my father gave it to me, he got it from my aunt. And well that was the same beautiful Aunt Lori who told the story of my beloved Uncle Bobby. I never really put much thought into the meaning of this holiday weekend before, other than it being three days long, but this year something hit me.
This weekend is important, it isn't meant to remember the wars fought, just the men that fought them. It's to remember that without them we may not be as free as we are. It also reminds us that not all war is good, and few positives come out of it. It reminds us to be thankful for lives that were spared. It reminds us of our Freedom.
In years past this weekend has offered many lasting memories as well for me. I had my graduation and wedding on this weekend. Yet today I realized that I am very thankful to be sharing such a wonderful holiday with such a beloved family member. Maybe he had something to do with it, my father and him where very close…you never know…but if he did, I am honored.
Hope Everyone had a safe and memorable weekend.

Sweet Saturdays

Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished.-Lao Tzu

I had an impromtu day that landed me bringing my 4 yr old niece home to play with peanut. Short on time, these two are keeping me busy. Hope everyone had a great day, we sure have been! :)

Sky Watch Friday: My #5

"Spring slips into even the most hidden places of the countryside and transforms them into mossy-green mansions of delight. "

~unknown~

I took this photo on my way home today. I was completely at peace when I saw the farm and the beautiful hill behind it. I thought it would be perfect for Sky Watch Fridays! I don't know about any of you but I am ready for a loooong weekend! I have many fun things planned..fishing(of course), camping (maybe), hiking(for sure), and visiting with friends and family. What are your plans? Have a Great Weekend!

Marsh Marigold's

Yellow flowers are popping up all over marsh's! And it just makes everything beautiful! Summer is upon us folks, and it reached an awesome 78 degrees today....yes Fahrenheit!
We haven't had as much rain as we usually do, so there are not as many marsh marigolds around. The swampy area's dried up quickly this spring. The best part...they are laid right next to my closest fishing hole...2miles from home.

Just in case you were wondering, no I didn't catch any fish either...I wasn't there fishing, Just for the scenic view...I needed to relax my mind for a lil while, and remember life happens. Things are crazy right now, I start classes in 3 weeks, our garden is half planted, my house needs to be cleaned, and all I really want to do is go camping. Agh, but if that is all I have to complain about than I am grateful. It could be worse. So sorry for the sporadic posts recently, I am in my groove again, and I have some interesting things up my sleeves...remember the PRC series? Stay posted. Have a great day!

"Mommy! Frogs!"

Imagine a brisk sunny day in the high 50's. Imagine walking around your yard, basking in it's beauty with your toddler. Now stroll on over to the pond to see how the fishies are doing, and why not see if the bullfrog came back.
Sure enough the froggy was back, but this time it had a friend on it's back, or was he taking a ride on his visitor....mmmmm
As curious minds would have it....I managed to get a closer look....WTF! Where they mating? In my pond, in front of my innocent peanut, in the open for all to see.....YES! ( I ended up googling this blessed event to find out exactly what was happening.)Sure enough, life was being created in front of my eyes. In my search I found that the male frog wraps his front legs around the female, and then latches on for a few days. If the female is ready to mate, she will allow him to do so. (Interesting tid bit...male frogs always return to their birthing place to mate.)

When the courting is over, eventually the female begins to lay eggs, and since males don't have "um hum", parts needed to reproduce, the eggs are infertile when released. This is when the male froggy jumps in, and fertilizes the eggs. (can you see the stringy thing wrapped? that is the spawn...yep baby froggies) About 6000 of these things where laid, and unfortunately only a hand full will survive. This is due to natural elements in nature...But at least mt.man and I know they are there,and we can keep an eye on them. It also appears "daddy" has stuck around to protect his young...isn't nature interesting?!

Check out more about frogs here.

Peanut and Fishing

We didn't waste anytime, when peanut was 3 months old we took her out fishing on a warm spring evening. It was perfect, she was in awe with the river, she loved the sound the reel made as it was casted, and the bright sun shining through the trees. She napped for half of it, and we couldn't resist the photo opt!

Last summer at the ripe age of 17 months we took her camping and fishing for a night. She loved every minute of it. The roasting marshmallow's over the campfire, sleeping outside next to a small quiet lake, and just being one with nature. That night a thunderstorm rolled in, and peanut slept through the whole thing. She awoke bright and early, still raining out, patiently awaiting the next adventure. Well, to her surprise, we headed home. With the rain, everything was soaked, plus we were only 5 miles from home.

This year we have all the fishing gear loaded in the jeep, and ready to be used at any given minute. Last Saturday we went two tracking to see how the bridge work was going,plus we are nosey and wanted to see how the detour was laid out. We ended up at Ford Lake, which to our surprise was open to fishing after a decade of being off limits. We took the opportunity to fish it...and peanut loved every minute of it with her very own fishing pole. The trout were rising, but since we never catch fish anyway, why break a tradition....lol :P

Mt.Man and I decided that if weather permitted this weekend we would take the canoe out and give it another go. Either way, peanut just loves being with us and seeing new things. If we did catch fish, I think it might freak her out...jk, maybe;)

The whole point behind this, well get involved silly. Take your kids on adventures in nature, it is there they learn about life. Have a Great Weekend!

Sky Watch Friday #4

Study nature, love nature, stay close to nature. It will never fail you.
~Frank Lloyd Wright~

Last night we had much needed thunderstorms. As the storms continued throughout the morning, the blue skies were pushing them away. When I returned from work today, the sky was radiating spring, and the leaves popped out more. Don't let the photo fool you though, it was a windy 50 degrees here at the Tipp o' the Mitt! Yet, my family and I still managed to enjoy the evenings beauty! Happy Friday All, and don't forget to check out the other sky watch posts!

Our lil Pond

We bought our house in 06', and one of the selling points was a small pond. (Mt.Man has always wanted water on our property...any kind he is not picky :D) The previous owners had one of those huge old satellite dishes, and didn't know what to do with it. So being the true hippies they were, and they just happened to have blue tarp laying around, a pond was formed. Well, with anything kinda flopped together, it deteriorated fast. Our beloved pond was leaking water...and I just dug a 2*2*2 bonfire pit while 3 months pregnant. So Mt.Man did what any new age hippy would do...took his bday monies, and bought a pond liner..snazzy.
He created this magnificent piece of work in one weekend. He loved this project. Sadly, as weather is in Northern Michigan, winter came before we could finish. So this year with lil funds, and access to many neat looking rocks, we are going to finish the rock work. Plus I have some pink phlox ready to divide, and I think it might be a good spreading plant for the sides...what do you think?

If you are wondering what the bucket and hose are for, well, we have a pump for the pond. And well, Mt.Man had a great idea to make a waterfall. So there you have it our very own falls! Okay, I know it looks shady, but trust me when everything is put together, you won't even notice it.

O', last year peanut and I got 20 some gold fish for the pond...lets just say the ones that were removed from the pond, well didn't even make it until Easter. To our surprise, 3 fishies were left behind to fend for themselves (on accident of course), and they made it through the winter. Plus the frog that has inhabited the area since we moved in showed his face for the third year in a row, only to hid from us for the rest of the summer...we get a glimpse of him here and there, but never when you have the camera handy. Nature, what are you going to do. We hope to find some turtles and more aquatic flora too....any ideas you have for the pond would be awesome! Have a great day!

a Tuesday Spring Day

I am home with a stomach flu bug today...and with no energy to spare, I decided to post my fave spring photo's today! Hope You enjoy! :)

Trillium's in Michigan are a protected flower, don't go pickin' them, you might get a fine.

I love looking at them though. When I was a child, before I was aware it was illegal to pick them, I would take a bouquet home to my mother. lol...the things kids do! :)

This is Ford Lake in the PRC, the lake was closed to fishing for years. Now they have opened it up....The minimum Trout you can catch is 15", and only one. Wow, I have been waiting years for the lake to open up...time to take the canoe out.
This creek is on the other side of the road to where the "garbage dumping" occurred. (which by the way is all cleaned up, thanks to the Michigan State Police!)
And lastly, yet another picture of my favorite overlook! Can you see the apple blossoms?

Gotta love spring! Hope Everyone has a good day!

A lil off track...Motherhood through my eyes

"My peanut, my miracle, my love child, my entire reason to be the best I can; so she will grow up to be a strong, positive women."
I'd like to share a lil story...one to give a lil more incite as to who I am, as a nature lovin' mama. One to show how a positive attitude can make all the difference. A story about how motherhood helped my soul grow.
In the spring of 03' I was diagnosed with level 1-2 pre-cervical cancer. (there are over 3000 kinds of this, and mine was pure dna; my mother, aunt, and grandmother had it....thanks guys!)
I began early treatment and things looked good for me...we caught it early enough, so we thought. I had check ups every 4 months with my ob/gyn , and cells were removed every time.
Fast forward to Mt.Man and I hooking up, Nov. 03'. A half year of fighting this, things looked good, no major invasive surgeries, and the cancer was not registering. Mt.Man and I became more serious, and marriage was in the talks. We moved in together in May 04'(to care take a friends house while they worked out of town) and where making plans for the rest of our lives. In Jan. 05' we rented our own apartment. Children started to come into conversations, and we decided we wanted a few. In march I had a check up, and talked to the doctor before hand about the possibility of having children one day. Unfortunately during the check up he found more cells. When the results came back, I had level 2-3 precancerous cells.(Not good, we went from all clear 4 months earlier, to it aggressively coming back.) We scheduled a LEEP procedure, I will spare the details, but the first one didn't work. We did another LEEP in July 05' and yet again not luck. The cancerous cells kept coming back ten fold. Things were serious now, and it was time for surgery...a CONE to be exact. My doctor informed me if this didn't work we would have to start talking about kemo or removal of organs. aghhh...plus, my cervic would be so weak from the previous surgeries. This ment if I did get pregnant later on, I would be luck to carry the baby through the first trimester. However, if I was lucky enough, bed rest and other nonsense would go along, and on the plus side a natural birth would defiantly take all the cancer away, if I was lucky enough.
So we did the cone in Oct. 05', and like before it came back. Mt.Man and I were okay at this point with not having children, we just wanted to have a long healthy life together. So we went on with the wedding, and house plans. Well, as luck would have it, or fate, we became pregnant on our honeymoon in June 06'.
We were scared, but after the first couple of months the joy set in. This meant no more cancer, this meant having a child of our own, and a long happy life together. Don't get me wrong we have climbed our share of valleys, but we wouldn't have it any other way. I have been cancer free for 27 months now, and a mother. There isn't a day that goes by this lil girl doesn't amaze me, and were I am not thankful to have here around. She makes me want to keep fighting, not just for cancer, but for life. To live happily, to continue being educated in all areas of life, to be strong and fight for what is right, and debate what is wrong. To make changes in our world around us, and to keep my soul open to grow. She inspires me to be everything I can and more. For if I am not, how will she make it through this crazy world? In my prayers, I wish for her journey to be safe and sound, realistically I know she must face uncertainty to learn. I just hope her lessons are a lil easier than mine. Too all the mothers out there...Happy Mothers Day!

Seeing beyond the Horizon

We climb so many mountains in our lives, that sometimes it is hard to see the view at the peak. We forget that every lesson we encounter plays a part in the big scheme of things. Without learning from the past, we are robbing ourselves of an enriched future. It is important to forgive those that made you hurt, and love those that comforted you. We often forget this, and life becomes one jumbled mess.
This is my favorite thinking spot. It is a scenic over look down Pickerel Lake rd. here in the PRC. When life becomes filled with nonsense, I go here to clear my head. I think about my mistakes, how they affected others and what I am able to do to change. Unfortunately, not enough people do this. They blame everyone else for their problems, refuse to take responsibility, and therefore inhibit their soul to grow. I think this is much of what is wrong with our society….refusing to accept responsibility.
If you do not have a “thinking spot”, I challenge you to find one. Look at the beauty in which surrounds you, and grow with it. If you already have a “spot”, where is it, and how has it helped your spirit?

Sky Watch Friday; My #3

Wow, can you believe another Friday has rolled around? and it is MAY? Where has the time gone?

Yesterday afternoon the DNR issued a very critical fire danger. With all the snow gone, lil rain, and dry heat the last week...well things were a lil dusty. But after a lite sprinkle around dinner, the rainbow appeared.

The weather cleared up for awhile, and as darkness approached, thunderstorms moved in. I woke up to everything soaked this morning, and leave everywhere. We are supposed to get more rain tonight...it is much needed.

To see other sky's check out Sky Watch....there are a ton of great links to great photo's! Happy Friday All :D

Wiped out Wednesday!

"this is my bleeding heart...I planted the seed in the spring of 08'...this was yesterday :)"

At work we started a new computer system, and well lets just say we told them so! The kinks in the system are starting to get worked out, and business is going a lot smoother.

Mt.Man, peanut, the pups, and I have been outside everyday the sun has shined. We have racked, cleaned the pond and garage, finished flower beds, got peanuts outdoor toys out, and have been going on many walks. We still have to mow the lawn, and till the garden. This coming week though, I am in no rush to plant veggies yet. It is only the beginning of May, and we still have a few frosts ahead of us.
With all the excitement this week has offered already, I decided to take it one step farther last night. I applied for scholarships, and I still have a few yet to apply. Keep your fingers crossed.
So needless to say I have one hour till mt.man and peanut get home...I am going to take a nap.....always good for the soul :)

Crime in the PRC

I have never been one to "tattle", but there comes a time in life when it is the right thing.

I was enjoying the sunny drive home from work today, listening to some tunes, and taking in the spring beauty when out of the corner of my eye (down a lil two track parking area) I noticed the trash. Not just a small amount either, but bags of it. I carried on my way home to meet the family, and asked mt.man if he noticed the garbage. Well, he hadn't, but was as aggravated as I was. This is not the first time we have seen BAGS of trash just laying all over the place out here. People use the PRC for their own dump, and it makes me sick to my stomach. I am tired of it, and decided to be proactive.

I took my camera to the site and shot all these lovely photo's of ignorance. I then called the state police to see if it was okay to pick everything up, but they said no. Yeah, they actually cared! I was instructed to bring the photo's in. The best part, I had shots of names and address (fools). So after peanuts bath and bedtime I headed to town. (agh, I needed dog food and diapers anyway) The Sargent took my info and complaint, said someone will be out in the morning, and they would call me if they needed anything else. (yeah) So off to the big bad chain store I went. Well, to my surprise I passed a state trooper on my way home. (he had passed the spot, and was scooping out a different area.) Of course I stopped to let him know he was in the wrong area, and offered to take him to the scene. Once we arrived, he started collecting evidence with names on it. He informed me people clean out their homes, only to abandoned them, and dump their crap out in the woods. He assured me that he was handling the case, and will try to catch them.

Yeah to our police force, they get a bad rap, but at least I know they are always there if I need them again.

On another note, there have been a lot of break in's in the area, so I wouldn't be surprised if the boys in blue make it out here a few more times this summer.

Why do people have to be so ignorant? I just don't understand, they even had a FREE village cleanup this past weekend, I don't understand why they couldn't just take everything to the transfer station then.

So this week after work, I am going to start cleaning up Sturgeon Valley Rd. If anyone wants to help just pull over when you see liter and pick it up. Nothing too it, but if you see bags like the ones I found, leave and call the cops. They can handle it from there!

Don't forget, when out enjoying nature this summer LEAVE NO TRACE. That means stay on the trails, pick up after yourself, and don't be destructive. We have already caused more damage to the earth than need be, time to do our part!

Song of the Morning Ranch

Here it is people, the post you have been waiting for…As much info about Song of the Morning Ranch that I can provide. For the purpose of all copyright laws I have enclosed all the links in the post that I used for my research….check em’ out, they provide far more information if your mind is of the curious nature. There are many views of this establishment…mine however really only concern the Pigeon River and its management. Along with this comes a damn that is located on the ranch, thus making it inevitable not to hold some sort of feelings towards it. (I am in no way about to bash this organization or partners. I just want both sides to be seen, I will do my best to be fair and equal. However, I am entitled to my view, and I think most will be surprised.) Some locals believe this place is a cult, some know it is not…just another “religion” people have the option of practicing, and some locals obviously live on the property…enjoying life, and working for all they have. The residents maintain their lifestyle by hosting retreats, selling homemade products, donations, lessons, and other means. They live off the 800 acres they inhabit, and are mostly self sufficient. The damn in which I speak of was on the property long before the ranch started its operations. To their convenience this supplies there electricity source. (way to be guys…I admire your ability to live so simply!) Heck the Dhali Lama even made a trip up to the Tipp o’ the Mitt just to visit the ranch. I bet that was exciting.
Yet, it can’t be ignored that this damn is a hazard to the ecosystem of the Pigeon River. With three damn burst, 2 within the last 25 years, it is time the State, DNR, PRCA, and Song of the Morning all work together to compromise. I understand that the cost of any of the ideas presented came down to one thing…who will foot the bill? Here is an idea, everyone that is involved…why not, seems to me that there might be enough money if pooled together. Then again that is too simple! So here is what I propose….Tear down the damn, make it smaller and more manageable for the ranch, (maybe only one up to date damn door that will not malfunction if properly taken care of), restock the aquatic life that was destroyed and move on. Then the ranch can still supply their electricity, the PRCA and TU won’t have to worry about another massive fish kill, and the state can stay out of the way again. Might work and everyone lives in peace. Just a little something to ponder.

Sunday Peace

I could site here all day. This is the fisherman's access on the Sturgeon River, just down the road for my home. We spend many Sunday afternoons here in the summer swimming, fishing, and relaxin'! Hope everyone is having a great Sunday!

a Detour?! In the PRC?!

"we feel in love with the PRC, it is only natural to reconnect with one another out here"

So upon my returning home today I noticed detour signs posted. As I turned down the last 8 mile stretch home, the construction signs became more apparent. "WTF" are the exact words that came out of my mouth...(sorry for the vulgarity)..but if you don't recall, say from most of my posts, I live in the BFE....what the heck is being done out here...especially in the middle of a recession?

Well, remember how a bridge collapsed in Minnesota a few years ago...then there was this whole fixing our bridges campaign..then states were given funds from the feds to fix up all the broken bridges...well I think that is what we have on our hands here. But to understand, I need to take you back to the beginning, to why the 'Pigeon Bridge' needs to be replaced.

About 5 miles east of Vanderbilt, MI; down Sturgeon Valley Rd, lies the Pigeon River Country Forest. About another 3 miles east is the property of "Song of the Morning Ranch". A "spiritual" retreat, or cult as some locals like to call it. (but that is for another time) Anyway, from there head east another mile and you have the 'Pigeon Bridge', just down stream from the ranch. At this ranch they have a damn...and well the damn has broken 3 times in the last 50 years. Trout Unlimited it in the works with lawmakers, lawyers, and the state to restock the fish population that had been destroyed when the damn last broke in June of 08'.

To my best guess the rush of water weakened an already unstable bridge. It is going to take all summer to replace it, and to get really anywhere in the forest you will have to go the long way...through Gaylord, to Sparr, down Tin Shanty. That is unless you know the forest, then you should have no problem maneuvering around the lil obstruction...just make sure you have your 4 wheel drive, those two tracks can get pretty rough.

In a round about way, this is not a bad thing...traffic will be limited out my way, and I still have access to my favorite places in the forest.

This evening Mt.Man and I were peanutless. So we took the opportunity to fish, and drive around a little. We scoped out the bridge, watched the sunset, and finally just got to Be! In our conversations we turned to how the logging industry has destroyed parts of the forest. Mt. Man even admitted he would like to write a post about it here on my blog. (this is something I NEVER thought would come out of his mouth, EVER, he doesn't really get why I blog...maybe I am rubbing off on him. lol) So the brain storming began, and we decided to do a series about the PRC, and how the ecosystem is falling apart due to lack of management. How all parties involved in the PRC politics seem to not to agree on anything. Each group only wants what is important to them, and everything else does not matter. No one will compromise, and in the mean time people are losing their rights out here, the forest is being torn down, animals are migrating, and fish populations have depleted.

The length of the series is still undetermined, yet we plan to provide as much info as possible, and hopefully others will join us in our fight to save this special land.

See what a detour can start, lol, hope you stay tuned.....the Posts will start Monday! Happy Friday!