Michigan Vacation - Day 3 (July 12, 2021)

  Bear Lake isn't far from where we stayed on Long Lake. It was less than 50 miles, I believe.

 Our first order of business was breakfast since we merely got up, had coffee and left Long Lake. We planned to eat at our favorite spot, the Lakeside Cafe on Lake Street. Unfortunately it was closed. Bear Lake Days had been that weekend and the Lakeside was in charge of a pancake breakfast. I suppose they were tuckered out.

 So we drove to Onekema and found the M-22 Grill open. It fit the bill perfectly. We had an excellent breakfast and the wait staff was wonderful. We'll return on our next trip to the area.

 Then, with the promise of another beautiful day, we headed back to Bear Lake and the Dayton-Bear Lake Outing Club. This is where we used to own a cottage.

 I had contacted Joellyn Bashford while still at the M-22 Grill and she said to come ahead. She provided a street-by-street tour and gave us the names of the current and past owners.

 The shore area has lots more recreationally craft than when we used to vacation here.

 This was our cottage circa 1940 to 1980. We sold it since all three guys (Dad, Bob and myself) were working full-time and couldn't get away often enough (or long enough) to justify the expense. It was a major mistake because nowadays prices have gone through the moon and nothing is for sale.

While Joellyn gave us the walking tour, Fred uncovered their pontoon boat. Soon we were on an around-the-lake tour. Oddly, for all the time I've spent on this lake I never once circumnavigated it. I suppose it is several miles around. The ride took about an hour and a half. Talk about unexpected hospitality!

Joellyn (l-r) and Fred Bashford

 I had heard about bald eagles at Bear Lake before we arrived but as we were on the shore Fred pointed to one flying high above. He said he'd show us the nest. This is it, high in  an old pine, with a lofty view of the lake. It's perfect real estate for an eagle.

Tom

 What a wonderful time we add, visiting with the Bashford's, seeing the Dayton Club again, being on the lake!

Bill (l-r), Tom, Fred and Joellyn

 Then to the Arcadia Marsh Nature Preserve ...

 This 313 site offers a 0.75 mile wooden boardwalk which allows for easy (and dry) access. 

 The clouds were gorgeous as we made the walk, But on any day, it's better to look down than up.

 Tom was a botany major at Miami University so this was right up his alley.

 Part of the boardwalk was closed while we were there "to avoid disturbance to several species of birds as they nest in this critical habitat". We were there July 12 as noted. That area is closed only through July 15.

 The swan on the left sounded like a vacuum cleaner, siphoning the algae at an impressive pace.

 This boat was parked near the entrance to the march, perhaps being stored or repaired. I was attracted to the name. [This is not part of the marsh]

 We made a final stop at Bear Lake to say goodbye for this year. We have missed the previous two years due to the COVID pandemic.  I felt lucky to be here at all but I'd have loved to have had more time.

 My little 2017 Chevrolet Cruze got over 49 mpg on the trip up. It was only a couple of miles per gallon less on the ride home/

Michigan Vacation - Day 2 (July 11, 2021)

  We started day two (07/11/21) a bit later than we hoped. I got up about 7 AM per usual and headed downstairs for coffee but found no one stirring/ So I went back upstairs to brush my teeth, shower, etc. Tom, meanwhile, sat on the bedroom floor and read.

 When we all got moving Ami made poached eggs on bread. She added arugula and guacamole. Quite an unusual and delicious way to start the day.

 Also tangerines, bananas, and a hot sauce for the eggs.

 The day promised to be beautiful.  The sky was crystal clear and the air quickly warmed. Already the loon was calling from the water.

 This shot is on the south side of the house (aimed northeast) with a view of our cars. I left mine in the driveway all night.

 Here's a good view of the deck. Four people had plenty of room.

 And a view of the living room from the second floor loft.

 Today (our second and last day there), Steve offered to drive and our first destination was their property overlooking Lake Michigan. It is northwest of Northport on the Leelanau Peninsula. They own a Mercedes Benz SUV with all the bells and whistles. It's the first car I've ridden in that has some self-driving capability.

 Arriving at the property, we spent some time marveling at the view of the lake. It'll get great breezes in the summer but the winter will be cold here.

Tom(l) and Steve

 Steve is having  the bluff reclaimed. Loads of sand are being dumped there and various other landscaping techniques will be tried. Ground covers will be planted and mechanical means applied to hold the sand in place. Steps are being built down to the beach.

 Here's a video of the steps being built:

 Just south is an agricultural area. Lots of cherry trees still held fruit. I understand this was once an asparagus farm.

 This is the area where a "garage" will be built first. It'll have a living area above the cars. The idea is to have a place under roof where they can vacation while they wait for the house to be built. Both are in their mid-50's so their retirement date is not yet set.

Peterson Park is just north of the Orr's property. At the moment it offers the only safe path to the water's edge. I found this tree quite unusual. It's near the parking area. What causes the trunk to form a circle?

Looking south

 Once we reached the beach we began hiking south so we could see their property from the lake.

Looking north

 On our drive back south we stopped in Northport for lunch. We ate pizza and drank beer from a local brewery. The pizzas were fired in an outdoor wood-burning oven. They were $35 (both).

Tom (l-r), Bill and Ami (and Roscoe) - Credit: Steve Orr

 This is the G. Marsten Dame Marina (also called Northport Harbor)

 Later, back on Long Lake, we drank more wine as Ami prepared dinner (poor Ami!). She had grilled veggie burgers, corn on the cob and watermelon. Did I mention wine?

Bill (l-r), Tom and Steve

Ami (l-r), Tom, Steve and Bill

 Thus ended our stay in the Traverse City area. The next morning Steve and Ami had an appointment in Traverse City and Tom and I headed south to Bear Lake.

Michigan Vacation - Day 1 (July 10, 2021)

  We left Farmersville early on Saturday (07/10) and arrived at Long Lake, south of Traverse City, just after 5 PM. We're staying with Dr's Steve and Ami Orr at a house they rented.

 It was at 1335 W Outer Drive, Traverse City, MI. See it here on Zillow.

Tom (l) and Steve Orr

 The house was spacious and modern and situated at the apex of a peninsula on the eastern side of Long Lake. A massive deck faces the water.

 Two glass-topped tables offered more than enough room to eat and enjoy conversation. I haven't seen Steve or Ami in probably a dozen years. They both practice in Findlay, Ohio ... Tom's hometown.

 The forecast didn't look good early in the week but the day turned out quite beautiful. And it got better the longer we were there.

  Because of the fine weather we were able to enjoy every meal outside. Ami made veggie lasagna, a favorite of both Tom's and mine. They had crusty bread which we drizzled with olive oil. Salad and wine. Dessert was apple pie ala mode,

Roscoe

 Since all four of us had driven a great distance that day, we didn't stay up late. Well, Tom read in a third bedroom but I hit the  sack. We opened one window - it got down into the lower 50's - and I was able to listen to a loon laughing on the water.

Mennonite Coconut Cookies

  I don't have a cookie in the house but I made a note on next week's grocery list. That didn't help me one bit today so I pulled out Mom's 1950's-era cookbook and started looking through the recipes. Many that I'd like to try I didn't have the ingredients for.

 But these Coconut Cookies I did.

 Even so I only had half the needed coconut so I cut the recipe in half. It made just 17 cookies, hardly enough for Tom and I but it'll take the edge off till we get to the store (or until I make something else).

 These cookies aren't macaroons - not even close - and that's what I think of when I think of coconut. The flavor is very muted (but my coconut has been in the freezer for months and that's likely the reason. Even so, the delicate taste is just what I was looking for today. I could have made chocolate chip cookies but I wanted something lighter.

Coconut Cookies

1 cup margarine
2 cups light brown sugar
2 eggs
3 cups flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon cream of tartar
2 tablespoons water
2 cups shredded coconut
1-1/2 teaspoon vanilla

 I melted the margarine in the microwave and added everything except the coconut and flour. I mixed this very well.

 Then I added the coconut into the liquid and let it absorb the moisture for a few minutes.

 Finally I added the flour.

 Bake at 350° for 10 to 12 minutes (mine took about 13 minutes).  Makes 3-1/2 to 4 dozen.

 It's a super easy recipe and one I'll return to. Apparently Mom never made this one. When she made a recipe she often left notes about modifications and also dated when she tried it. This recipe was blank.

Later:

 Tom suggested that these would be good with the addition of chocolate chips. So yesterday he brought home a bag of shredded coconut and I knew I had several bags of chocolate chips (10 ounce size)/ So I made a full recipe today.

 I used a small ice cream scoop to portion out the dough (that' what I always do). The full recipe made just 33 cookies, clearly quite a bit larger than the recipe calls for. I adjusted the bake time up to 15 minutes. That leaves them soft and chewy.

 I like them both ways but both Bob and Tom seemed to think them "too plain". I don't always want the extra richness of chocolate. But the cookies work well this way and I'm sure most people would prefer the addition of chocolate chips.

A Larger House ... [quote]