Pillywiggin Postscripts

Fall Findings

10/24/2019

While we're waiting for the leaves to drop I thought I'd share some of our most interesting fall findings. Last Saturday was so beautiful Jason & I couldn't resist taking a color tour. I suppose we should have been working in our own yard instead but sometimes you just have to enjoy the moment. Fall beauty is fleeting. We should all enjoy it while it lasts! We'll be buried in snow soon enough. We found this little lake off County Road 612 in Kalkaska County. Picture perfect, isn't it?

Jason made a curious find. Do you know what it is?

It's called a "conk" - Inonotus Obliquus, a mushroom/fungus more commonly known as Chaga. It's a parasite on birch & other trees but apparently it's prized for human consumption for its medicinal qualities. I had no idea. But now that I do, I'll be on the lookout for more.

We still have blooms in our garden, mostly Hydrangea & Sedum now. Our Russian Sage & Black Eyed Susan are all but spent. Jason picked this beautiful bouquet for my 49th birthday. It was waiting for me next to the coffee pot when I woke up. It made me smile. At 49, who doesn't need a little reminder that old blossoms on the decline are still beautiful? It won't be long before we cut back our perennials but I plan leave the hydrangea blooms through winter.

Sadly, fall has brought more than just beauty to our area.

Lakefront property owners have been dealing with the effects of high lake levels all over Northern Michigan. Now, property owners along the coast of Lake Michigan are experiencing massive shoreline erosion. People are losing frontage, staircases, boat hoists, and more. The photos & video clips below were taken October 22, 2019 just a few miles outside of Eastport, MI.

Each video clip below is under a minute long but they capture the powerful destruction of Lake Michigan much better than the photos.

Coastlines are forever changing but it's sad to see it happen like this.

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A Visit to the Sunrise Side

9/2/2019

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Over Labor Day Weekend, a couple of West Coast Pillywiggins were invited to the Sunrise Side of the state. It was a beautiful day for a drive. We took the scenic route allowing ourselves plenty of time to stop at any yard sales that caught our eye. We found several sales but it wasn't our day for bargains. We decided to give up on yard sales and take a quick hike along Ocqueoc Falls instead. I must say, we made an excellent choice! We've been many times & highly recommend it. Swim, hike or BBQ. It's a great place for a day trip for kids and adults alike.

Ocqueoc River

Ocqueoc River (pronounced Ah-Kee-Ock) is the largest river located entirely within Presque Isle County, MI.
Ocqueoc is French for "Crooked Waters."
The Ocqueoc River is 34.2 miles long with a watershed of 94,394 acres.
It's one of the few rivers in the Lower Peninsula that flows North.
The Ocqueoc River flows through a limestone karst region. Because of this, some tributaries such as the Little Ocqueoc seem to disappear, flowing underground for some distance before re-emerging at the surface.
During spawning season, salmon can be seen swimming through these underground river systems.

Ocqueoc Falls

Ocqueoc Falls is the largest waterfall in Michigan's Lower Peninsula with a drop of about 5 feet.
Ocqueoc Falls is one of two waterfalls in Michigan's Lower Peninsula & the only "officially recognized" waterfall in the Lower Peninsula.
Ocqueoc Falls is the only universally handicap accessible waterfall in the entire United States!
Remnants of an old mill chase still exist above the falls.

We hiked the trail downstream, then back upstream to the bridge. While I read the writing on the wall, Jason searched the nooks & crannies for traces of black sand. Yes, there could be gold in them there hills! Gold can be found throughout Michigan. It was left by glacial deposits but a few lode deposits are also known to exist.

Presque Isle - Our Final Destination

It was our first visit to our friend's house, a beautiful, huge, hand-hewn log home they had built themselves. Many of our camping friends were invited for a potluck BBQ. As at camp, the food was delicious beyond words. Our hosts served grilled halibut they caught in Alaska. Another couple handmade wontons stuffed with wild rabbit. It was all so delicious. Like a 5 star restaurant hidden in the woods and the view was absolutely spectacular! I love our west coast sunsets, but the Sunrise Side definitely holds her own. She's a beauty!

Breathtaking, isn't it? But wait...there's more!
Our friends also have a view of the New Presque Isle Lighthouse.

Constructed in 1870, the New Presque Isle Lighthouse is the tallest lighthouse tower accessible to the public on the Great Lakes. It is located on the shores of Lake Huron near Presque Isle Harbor. I can see now a return trip is in order. There's so much more to explore!

Summer may be over but our Pillywiggin Adventures are not.
Autumn is our favorite season to explore Northern Michigan.
Who knows where we'll turn up next?!

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Blanding's Turtle

8/22/2019

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We just returned from our annual camping party with a great group of friends. We camp out in the boonies near Comins, MI. The property includes a private lake and the wildlife is abundant. Deer, turkey, raccoon & bear come in daily. This year we were treated to an extra special visitor, a Blanding's Turtle.

Blanding's Turtles are semi-aquatic turtles native to the central & eastern portions of the United States & Canada. Named after Dr. William Blanding, the American naturalist who first observed this species, Blanding's Turtles are an endangered species throughout most of the areas they inhabit.

Blanding's Turtles are unique because they show little to no signs of aging. Because of its size we can safely assume this turtle is old. But how old is anyone's guess. Blanding's Turtles reach sexual maturity after 14 to 20 years and can breed into their 80's!

Prefers the shallow, weedy waters of swamps, ponds & lakes.
Winters under/near water, in mud, debris or vegetation.
Clutch sizes (eggs) vary by region.
Shy & gentle, they rarely bite.

Omnivorous: Eats fish, crawdads, frogs, insects, larvae, carrion, and berries.
Able to catch & eat live fish.
Can stay underwater for hours.
Agile, will travel up to 1 kilometer.

Blanding's Turtle Identification

Bright yellow chin & throat - resembles a permanent smile.
Head & legs are dark in color with yellow mottling or speckling.
Oblong, domed shell is slightly flattened along the midline.
Upper shell (carapace) is dark with yellow or light colored speckles, flecks or streaks.
Bottom shell (plastron) is yellow with dark, symmetrical blotches.
Sometimes referred to as a "Semi-Box Turtle" because the Blanding's Turtle's plastron (bottom shell) is hinged. However, the plastral lobes do not shut as tight as a true box turtle.
Adult Blanding's Turtles shells range from 6" to just over 10 inches long. This turtle could be older than all of us!

Turtle Power!
Watch the Video Below to See a Blanding's Turtle In Action

Happy Campers!

As always, our camping trip was full of fun & excitement. We caught a raccoon in a live-trap and relocated the little trash bandit to a more suitable home in the woods. Jason caught "Walter" (the biggest fish of the weekend) on a little kiddy pole. Once we stopped laughing, Jason posed for a quick photo before releasing Walter back into the lake. Perhaps we'll see him again next year?

Another great catch for Jason!
Last weekend we celebrated our 12th wedding anniversary.
Life with Jason certainly has been an adventure.
But I never imagined our lives would become a Pillywiggins Adventure.
Yet here we are...
Living Happily Ever After

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