Thanks for the amazing support for yesterday’s story about My Enemy. You readers know how to make this wanna-be storyteller feel good!
Today we’ll change the pace.
I’ll show you some pictures from a magical wonderful delightful hike that my son, Christopher, and I took last week.
Are you ready? Let’s explore the shores of Gitche Gumee, or shining Big Sea Water, as Longfellow called our Lake Superior.
First, we walked through deep primeval forest.
Electric greens surrounded us.
Our sneakers grew wet from soaking ferns and plants and grasses.
We exulted.
Chris had never hiked here before.
I felt like a secret guide, showing him new places along the shores of Huron Bay.
We reveled in that feeling of newness, of exploration.
I admired cedar trees as we walked.
I always admire cedars.
Aren’t you convinced that cedars hold secrets in their red exposed roots, in their mossy barks?
Haven’t you always wanted to sleep outside on cedar roots as a full moon rose? You haven’t?
You might want to reconsider.
Ahhh, here we are: the lake!
Isn’t it grand, isn’t it majestic?
Doesn’t it expand forever like our hearts when we’re happy or delighted or joyful?
By the shores of Gitche Gumee, by the shining big sea water, stood the wigwam of Nokomis, daughter of the moon Nokomis.
Dark behind it rose the forest, rose the black and gloomy pine trees, rose the firs with cones upon them.
Bright before it beat the water, beat the clear and sunny water, beat the shining Big Sea water.
Oh, Hiawatha, we see you yet, in your cradle with grandmother Nokomis whispering, “Hush, the naked bear will hear thee.” And grandma calls the baby, “My owlet” and decades later we sigh over Henry Wadsworth Longfellow and his poem about Lake Superior and we still see Grandmother Nokomis when the moon is full and bright and Superior laps its shores, water becoming earth for a split second before withdrawing to its unfathomable depths.
In the meantime, Chris and I walked along Gitche Gumee. The afternoon felt hushed. It felt a magical place, indeed.
Someone waded into the water, that courageous someone, while someone else lingered on shore with her trusty camera. The picture-taker wished she would have the courage to swim. Oh, how she wished this.
No bald eagles showed themselves.
A bright white tail feather showed itself.
Chris found it.
Natives say a white tail feather is a special gift from the Universe.
Chris picked it up, and left it among the tall grasses beside the lake.
Flowers still bloom in early September.
Bloom while you can dear flower!
You know what approaches from the north, don’t you?
Enjoy your magnificence this day.
You also, dear fern.
Many of your brothers and sisters turn yellow and brown.
You still gleam in the woods.
Gleam on.
Geese will soon honk overhead, winging south.
Guess who points the way to Gitchee Gumee? Guess who guides the way north?
Yes, dear reader.
Two ceramic cats sit atop an electrical box, hitching a ride to paradise.
We took their photo but did not disturb them.
Life is magical, I tell you!
Who would dream that ceramic cats sit undisturbed upon an outdoor electrical box, pointing the way toward paradise, toward Gitche Gumee? Who would dream it indeed?
And you, dear reader? When was your last walk on Mother Earth where you felt paradise as near as your next footstep?
Wow! Amazing photos sis! They are absolutely beautiful! God bless you for sharing!
Glad you liked these, Lyn. 🙂
Like born again Christian, Chris goes into the water to baptize himself again, reaffirming his faith in the spirit of the woods and water. It is in him, it runs through him. No matter where he goes, no matter how far, he will carry it with him.
Hmmm…John…dunno about this. But he reaffirms his faith in our north woods, in Lake Superior, I do believe. Wherever he goes, he takes our northwoods, our Lake Superior, with him.
It is the same with my Christopher, Kathy. When he comes home to visit, he hikes and goes into the mountains; connects back to his boyhood. And when I go back to my Michigan home, I do the same…visit Marquette and the great Gitchee Gumee.
I didn’t know you had a Christopher, too, Monica. My gosh we do have some things in common. And did you know we almost moved to Alaska in our early years? Yes, it’s true…
Beautiful pictures Kathy!!! I love them! What a wonderful adventure for you and your son. The forest looks indeed like a lost world…a paradise. And of course the lake is my favorite lake, but you know that already. 🙂 I did not grow up along the shores of Gitche Gumee but it sure feels like home whenever I’ve been there and even when I see pictures I can feel it calling to my soul. There must be a way for me to get back! ♥
Hi Brenda! It felt like one of those perfect paradise afternoons. I am glad you have a love affair with Lake Superior going on. It loves you, too. I just asked and it said (it a wavy type voice): Tell Brenda to come back some time soon. Tell her to come swimming in me. 🙂
🙂 Thank you Kathy 🙂 My heart is happy now! ♥
What a beautiful post, with Longfellow’s wonderful poem taking part in this special time with your son. Thank you for sharing!
Thank you, Cindy. It was fun to share this special afternoon with all of you. I’ve been waiting for just the right moment to fit these photos in a post.
This was totally mesmerizing for me; I don’t know why but I felt like I walked along with “thee”.
So glad you could join us in spirit, Linda. It was a lovely walk. It was delightful…
“Aren’t you convinced that cedars hold secrets in their red exposed roots, in their mossy barks?”
Yes ma’am, I am. Absolutely convinced!
Be sure to find a cedar tree and sit on those red roots, Laurie. I am sure they have something to tell you.
What a wonderful post with lovely photos. Thank you for sharing.
Karen, so happy that you liked this! I’ve been saving these photos all week for just the right moment to share with all of you.
I am speechless. What a lovely, enchanting post, Kathy. You are blessed to live in this special place.
We are lucky to live here. Sharing this world with you guys…and feeling your reaction…I remember more to appreciate it every day. So thank YOU!
What a fun way to remember a great day with your son. There is folklore that says that ferns will make you invisible. Looking at your photos I see why. Now I’m going to have to reread the poem, maybe under a full moon.
Really, Lisa? Ferns will make you invisible? Well, now I’m a believer! You just have to lower yourself among their tall green arms…
Lake Superior Woods are much like those here on the beaches of Lake Winnipeg, except I think you have more cedars there. Your photos are breathtaking and make me long for long walks at the cottage of yesteryear. 🙂
We have cedars in certain places, withershins. In other places, not so much. I like the cedar groves, though. Glad you enjoyed these photos. I don’t take the camera along so much these days, but it’s fun to share this beauty with others.
some of these commenters are deep – I have nothing deep to say–but enjoyed your hike
It’s fun to wade in the shallow commenting water, too, LouAnn. 🙂
Ahhhhhh …. (heart).
Ahhhhhh…(love).
My fave pic is the lake – wow! All that area of water and reflections of sky and the air and, and… and. 🙂
And, and, and…the lake is always filled with more “and’s”….thank you for pausing by the shores with us.
It looks like you and Christopher had a nice time 🙂 Where did your swimming courage go? That lake was perfectly placid! (Says the girl who hasn’t been swimming since she last said she MUST go.)
I also adore cedars. They are majestic. I think they’d fit right into Fangorn Forest.
“He led the way in under the huge branches of the trees. Old beyond guessing, they seemed. ” Two Towers
Indeed! They always seem so old and thoughtful, and not entirely kindly.
The references to Fangorn Forest and Two Towers suggest to me that you ladies must be referring to the Lord of the Rings. Right?
If I had a bathing suit along I would have had swimming courage, Heather! I think. Maybe. Hopefully?
I so miss the north. And I know why you lacked the courage to swim in Gitchee Gummi in September!
Like I told Heather, Celeste, I might have considered if a bathing suit was along on the trip. But it would take some courage. Even Chris was a little shocked by the water temp! And it’s supposed to have been a warm summer for the lake.
Ahhhhhhhh…moments of enjoyment! 🙂
We must take them while we can, dear Elisa…
Beatiful pictures Kathy. What a way to spend quality time with your son and nature. 🙂
Glad we thought of this neat place to visit, shieram. Happy you enjoyed the photos!
I could hear the beat of the poem. It lives somewhere in my memory. I anticipated the next line, even though the words eluded me … It felt good to remember.
Sybil, I had to look up the words to the poem. I love the beginning of the poem, but then it gets perhaps a little more choppy as the poem continues. Kind of like the lake, yes?
Beautiful photos. I felt like I was walking along with you and your son.
Delighted that you were able to join us, Editor. It was one of those perfect late summer afternoons. Not going to be too many days like that left…
The Great Lakes are indeed spectacular and breath-taking. I once swam in Lake Superior – I can still feel the pain of that cold. Wonderful photos again, Kathy – thanks for sharing!
You can still feel the pain of the cold, Sara? LOL! Seriously, I can still remember the last time I swam in the Big Lake. Very frightening. Will do so again one of these days–should have been this summer due to the warm temps–but it didn’t happen.
My best walks so far are still in the mind. Someday, I’ll walk on my dream lands and experience my thoughts. Lovely pictures and beautiful way of presenting stories. Keep up the good work.
You shall indeed walk on your dream lands, teeceecounsel. I have utter faith in your dreams. Glad you enjoyed the pictures and stories. Thanks for visiting!
Oh Kathy, those photos made me long to be back in the Northwoods. I think it’s very “telling” that I am homesick for it all though supposedly I AM home – this suburban scene gets harder to tolerate each year. As my friend in Eagle River says “The transformation is almost complete!” Indeed!
hugs
suZen
Maybe you’ll be able to move to the northwoods permanently some day, SuZen? Shall we hope? The cedars and pines and hemlocks and maples are dreaming you back north…
I love all the photos but especially Chris by the water. Such a nice time of memories for you both.
Ruth, perhaps you can even guess where we were? But, shhh…it’s a secret… 😉 It was a lovely afternoon hike!
_______ <—- Insert favorite superlative here. As for me, most days at work I make a point of strolling the trails at the nature center. Yeah, it's my workplace, but it really is as close to a natural paradise as I'm going to find in Lansing, and really is about my favorite place to be. I thank God/Allah/Mother Nature every day for that place. But I know Lake Superior has its share of magic too.
We're both pretty fortunate, when you get down to it.
You work at a nature center in the Lansing area? Have I read that and forgotten it so quickly? I LOVE that you gave so many beautiful names for the divine in your comment. We are pretty fortunate to live in this gorgeous state, and that we appreciate the gifts of nature. Thanks, Sid.
‘Courage to swim’ is an amazing photo. You really do take a nice photo Kathy. Chapeau
Oh, I’m glad you like that photo, Kerry. (he wouldn’t let me use any close-up ones, shhhh, don’t tell.) Thank you!
Your secret is safe with me.
Each photo was breathtaking….and you do weave a wonderful story m’dear 🙂
Awww, Munira, you are the BEST!
Love Chris playing in the ferns and “son by the water” …what great clouds you had for your hike! Wonderful photos…I love that he loves to do things like this with his Mom. That’s so special.
Oh it was fun when we stopped to play in the ferns, Dawn! I am so glad he let me use that picture. He always tries to do something special with Barry and me when he’s home. He went fishing this his dad. He’s a good kid.
I really love your awesome photos Kathy. Great to have Chris home to enjoy the magical day with you.
This post reminded me of the ones you usually share, Barb! It was a wonderful time with him…and the wedding in San Diego approaches closer all the time…
Thank you for taking us along on this lovely walk. I love the photo of Chris’s head poking above the ferns! It was about a month ago now when I last felt so close to paradise – when I walked the beach in Maine.
Isn’t that a neat photo, Karma? I love it when our kids play a bit–AND allow me to use the picture in the blog! I had such a fun photo of K and her boyfriend playing around with the wheelbarrow but I was *sob* forbidden to use it. Bet you are missing those Maine beaches now that school has started up again.
Takes me back to a family trip we took, driving to Vermont. The kids decided on a mission to “swim in” (as in “enter at least shin deep”) all the Great Lakes. We even altered our route to accommodate this. Lake Superior definitely has a look all it’s own, the most untamed of the lot.
They swam in all the Great Lakes, Inger? How cool! (Ha ha, downright chilly in some of them, I bet!) Would love to dip toes in Ontario and Erie some day. Your kids had a good idea.
Before we did Lake Erie (which had probably the nicest beach of all), we called my mother and chatted about our plans and she said “Noooooo, don’t swim in Lake Erie” remembering the days when it was feared beyond reclamation. Luckily better days!
It has been a very long time since I have heard reference to the “shores of Gitchee Gummee”. Your words and your photos – your paradise – priceless! My paradise is just around the coner, on my front deck, in my imagination – paradise is where you want it to be.
Love that, Caroll (I see you are signing in with your name with two t’s lately) Beautiful sentiments: Paradise is where you want it to be. Perfect!
I think this is my all-time favorite of all your posts Kathy. So glad I didn’t miss it. (It’s unfortunate but I’m not able to keep up with your daily posts ….)
There is so much love here. Love for a son, love for nature – ferns trees lake eagles nests – love for a lake and Hiawatha and Henry Wadsworth Longfellow’s brilliant poem which I haven’t heard in so long. 🙂
Your photos captured it all. Love the one’s with your soon-to-be-married-but-still-a-kid-at heart-son playing in the ferns, and swimming, and the two with the stones.
I am glad you liked this, Rosie. And that you felt the love in the photos and words–and that the love came back to move your heart. (Don’t worry about keeping up with all my posts, ever. Actually, you seem to be doing a good job. Lately have been only posting 3-4 a week or whenever the Universe moves.)
Oh Kathy, The Universe is wishing Christopher well, with the white feather!! I wish him well too. 🙂 Was there a song about Gitche Gumee in the early 1970’s? A hit song? I seem to remember something, but can’t quite…but what an area this is! So magical, so beautiful. 🙂
Joanne, that is a good thought about the Universe wishing Christopher well. I certainly wish him well! He has always had a knack for finding eagle feathers. Once, years ago, I wanted to find an eagle feather so bad and had looked and looked and looked with no results. He wanted to go out fasting for a day at age 12 and at the end of the day he looked down at his feet and there was an eagle feather. Magic! (Later it became easy for me to find feathers, but not in those early years.)
I wonder if Christopher realised the way to manifest anything he wanted back then, (which reminds me of your post about manifesting guinea hens!) I found the song I mentioned. It’s by Neil Diamond and was written for his son, Jesse, and has nothing at all to do with your Gitche Gumee at all! The song is here ~ http://tinyurl.com/8k6e2c7. I’m going to have to read up on the story of Hiawatha now, as I’ve become very interested in the whole background of Gitche Gumee! 🙂
Listening to this sound, now! I always loved Neil Diamond half to death, Joanne. Thank you!
I could see Nokomis’s wigwam right there on the edge of the water. I love Longfellow – thanks for showing us pictures to illustrate his words. ❤
Nokomis says, Stacy Lyn you will find your wigwam by the Shining Big Sea water of your drum-beating heart.
That’s encouraging! (I have home-seekers fatigue.) ❤
Stunning pictures of an enchanted forest.
My paradise is underneath my feet daily.
Lunar, that is the best place for your feet to be! The enchanted forest whispers Namaste.
Oh, so lovely to spend time in nature with your son, Kathy. This is such a precious post! Wonderful photos as well. Thanks so much for sharing. 🙂
Glad you liked the pics, Marianne. It is always fun to spend an afternoon in nature with a loved one.
Beautiful photos and a wonderful day.
It was indeed, Connie! Thank you.
You have beautifully captured some of the magic of our big freshwater pond 🙂 and its surroundings! ~ Kat B.
Kat B, welcome to this blog. I am glad you have the opportunity to linger on the shores of our freshwater pond, as well.
Ahhhh…. I’m not sure what to say/write. I feel renewed and refreshed by this post. (Did you hear that big sigh of release and relaxation as I was reading and looking at your photos?)
Yes. I heard it way over here. I was doing something else and saw your “like” and thought “Yep, Robin’s gonna like this one!” Thank you.
Kathy, I enjoyed this so much. I didn’t realize you had so many ferns in your forest, and red cedar. Magnificent trees! Fine son! And lovely memories to share.
Colleen, I am glad that I included this in the blog, then. We do have many ferns. Cedar only in certain places. And sons–only some of the time with us. Hugs! Glad you enjoyed.
What a beautiful walk!
Those two cats are adorable….they look like birdhouses??
Oh good, I’m glad you saw this post! I thought you might like all the pictures. 🙂 I was good and brought my camera. No, they aren’t birdhouses. They are just ceramic cats sitting on an electrical box on the way to Point Abbaye. Did you drive out to the Point? I think everyone is afraid to get too closed to the electrical box and steal the ceramic cats. That MUST be the reason they’re still undisturbed!
How many verses did we memorize for Mrs. Story? What poem did you recite at the program? I had a dream about you and the poem Abou Ben Adam, strange…. Do you remember what I recited? When can I come over to your house? So many questions and I have many more!
Carol, I always count on YOU to remember the details of our childhood! Your memory is such a gift, for I barely remember so much. You can come over to my house right now. We shall recite Abou Ben Adam and drink coffee and remember so many stories. You shall remember them and I shall write them down! I am half tempted to write a blog post about Abou Ben Adam. 🙂
Kathy, You should! It seems to me though, that your the one with a good memory…I would really enjoy coming over. Someday, we will work it out.
We shall. And I am still pondering writing that blog! Might just do it.