What an exciting day yesterday! We experienced three big adventures, which I am about to share with you, just because.
Two of the adventures feature photos.
The third and final adventure requires imagination.
Our first adventure: we drove out to Big Eric’s Bridge. I always thought it was spelled Big Erick’s Bridge, but alas, Google keeps impressing otherwise. I’ll let you readers choose your favorite Eric/Erick. The bridge was named after a really tall Paul Bunyan-like fellow who lived here in early logging days. I’m sure someone will set me straight with utter authority.
It crosses the Big Huron River out past Skanee, less than a half hour from our house.
Long-term readers of this blog may remember other stories about this rocky river such as Palm Sunday with fishermen at the Big Huron River in March, 2010.
Fall colors have started to dance crimson and orange against beautiful blue skies.
The woods are tinted yellow and green with splashes of autumn colors. Rumors say our “peak color season” will be this upcoming week.
In the springtime, when the fish are spawning up the rivers, visitors will encounter six, eleven, thirty fishermen and women. The river is thick with rods, night crawlers and flies as the crafty fisherfolk woo the steelhead trout.
This time of year we counted other river-lovers on one hand. Except for the four or five campers in the rustic campground.
Beautiful unusual rock lies within the riverbed. This time of year the water level is low. Come next spring it will rush high and freezing cold, covering up many of these rock formations.
As you drive through the countryside you ooohhh and ahhhhh over the burgeoning colors. (At least we did.)
See Barry sitting on that bench behind the gnarly cedar roots? We ate a picnic lunch of sandwiches. Mine was a half sandwich of tuna mixed with zucchini relish. He relished a bacon-cucumber-tomato sandwich.
He also picked up litter (which I decline to do during covid-times) and stuffed a shirt and a Meijer’s receipt in our leftover sandwich bag. (It’s one reason I love him after all these years. How can you not love a person who picks up litter?)
Taking this wee adventure reminded me of the delights (and challenges) of going outside for 365 days and blogging about nature’s gifts every single day during 2009-2010 in my first WordPress blog Opening the door, walking outside. Every once in a while I would like to do it again. There is something really special about going outside every day and writing about it.
Just not sure I could commit for a full year again…let alone a month. Or a week.
Second adventure: We got rid of dozens of old windows that Barry dragged home 30-40 years ago! He piled ’em up high in the shed in hopes of someday building a greenhouse–or maybe using them as garage windows.
Almost a half century passed before he realized he probably wasn’t going to use them. So we hauled ’em down last week (they are heavy, dear reader) and I begged someone to take them for free on Facebook Marketplace.
About six or seven readers bit the lure (pun intended–referring to fishing on the Huron River) but kept backing out of our lucrative offer.
Finally, a dear friend begged to pick them up so she could build a greenhouse next spring. YAY!
We spent an hour or two yesterday afternoon hauling down the remainder of windows (with the help of her good friend) and off they drove with our “treasures” as we sighed huge sighs of relief.
Adventure 3: Our friends are visiting friends down in Wisconsin this weekend and want us to feed their chickens and ducks. Okey-dokey! So last night at 8 p.m. we received instruction about poultry feed and water. We’ll be tending the creatures from Friday-Sunday, so wish us luck. Maybe–if they’re cooperative–I’ll get a photo shoot with our feathered friends. And maybe an egg or two! (There’s even a suggestion of roast duck…)
Lake Superior Spirit 
Oooooooo, ahhhhhhhh, how else can one respond to the beauty with which fall graces us? I often thought in my younger days that I would love to have a greenhouse constructed of old windows.
Fall is the frosting on the cake for the whole year, that’s for sure! I wonder how many of us dreamed of greenhouses? Probably a lot of us.
The pictures of those trees are so beautiful! š§” it would be really interesting to write about my nature experiences for an entire year š thatās such a cool idea!
Maggie, you should give it a try if you’re up for some fun (and some challenges, too)! It was one of the most interesting years of my life and I still think back to it with a smile. Thanks for visiting and liking our beautiful trees.
Years ago one of my friends decided we should drive around and to at all the Christmas decorations. At one point she said, āLook at that house. Youāre going to love it. The decorations are simple.ā I reminded her that it was a very long walk to Tipperary.
Thank you for sharing all the beauty of nature. Wonderful photos.
Anne, I am glad you enjoyed all the photos. Thanks for stopping by and visiting my blog–and sharing your story.
The autumn colors draw me in every time. It still looks like late summer here so your photos are a spoiler. I’m glad you got rid of the windows and didn’t get hurt in the process. Hurray for chickens and ducks. Fingers crossed for some charming photos.
Ally, I didn’t even really realize how much the leaves had changed colors until we reached the river yesterday. And I have thought of you so many times in the past couple of days when hauling those windows around. Hope you are continuing to mend nicely!
Thanks for your kind thoughts. I’m doing well, but am ever vigilant to NOT overdo anything shoulder related. It’s kind of boring, truth be told.
I’ll bet it would be. Hurting body parts are not fun. š¦
Amazing adventure memory thanks for sharing this swet memories.
I am glad you enjoyed!
Congratulations on finally getting rid of those windows!
I have wanted to get rid of these windows for YEARS! š
Those are all wonderful! I loved the river, and I can imagine how great it is to know those windows are going to turn into something useful after all this time. As for the chickens? We took care of the neighbor’s chickens for a couple weeks last month. They’re sort of fun. Do they have a rooster? The rooster here was really mean, so if there is one, watch out!
After you commented I did remember about you taking care of the neighbor’s chickens a few weeks ago. Never suspected we would soon follow suit! They do have a rooster (and a drake) but we were assured they are very mild-mannered. Thank heavens.
I could click on the link and read through your year of “Opening the door, walking outside”, but you actually posted a 2020 version today. You and Barry, outside with the trees changing to gorgeous autumn tones, the river with the spawning fish, and even going outdoors to clean out your collection of old windows. And hopefully your next post will contain stories of feeding chickens! So just maybe you are making a commitment to “occasionally” visit nature … š
I did! ( I am glad you noticed, *grin*) You know, your comment was really helpful to me this morning. I had to sit down and re-contemplate this entire desire to post outdoors adventures every day. Had to really dig deep to find what I really want (in this moment). It seems what I was longing for was the practice of writing/sharing every day what’s happening in our world in a simple way. It’s not nature that excites me–even though this blog is about 75% nature photos and many, many nature adventures. It’s about writing what excites me in the moment, whether outdoors, or in the mind/feelings. I guess I don’t want to feel “forced” (by my own commitment) to blog about a single topic. So THANK YOU! I have so appreciated your comment this morning!
You have fall colors!!! How lovely!!! Our peak probably won’t be here until mid-October.
The underwater reflections of trees pictures is so serene and mesmerizing. I know how good it feels to let go of things we realize we’re never going to use, especially when we know they will be put to good use elsewhere. Looking forward to pictures of the chickens and ducks!
Barbara, it seems like the colors are all coming out just in the past few days. They are certainly not “peak” at our house, but they were more noticeable on our drive to the river. I am so glad you liked that underwater reflections photo. Me too. It did feel mesmerizing. Hoping I’m not too busy feeding those chicken and ducks to be able to take photos. When the ducks come out of their pen in the morning they spread their wings really wide open and flap. That COULD make some good photos, fingers crossed.
Autumn hasn’t taken hold here yet, but it’s peeking at us from the edges of the leaves. Thanks for sharing your adventures.
I like that description, Lori. “Peeking from the edges of the leaves”. I’m sure it will start to take hold down your way soon.
Wow! Wonderful photographs, and as always, your descriptions are almost musical.
Thank you, Dor. When Barry goes off on assignment it’s a lot more fun to bring the camera and take pics of my own. And I enjoy the writing so nuch!
It’s amazing to see so much color on the trees already! Of course you are much higher latitude then me down here in South Jersey which is still so green… and warming up again. You captured some great photos I almost immediately thought of Terrill Welch creating paintings from your photographs!
Years ago we, my partner at the time, gathered all wooden framed windows and built a green house just alongside our garden.. I am sure it was a bit of an eye sore but heck with lived in “country” ! Ha ha…
Oh my, Jeff, I sure hope my friend can make something more than an eyesore out of those windows (although I am sorely afraid…) We lovers of recycling and caring for the planet can sometimes create all kinds of shenanigans out of old stuff, can’t we? Thanks for liking the photos. It was fun to take them while Barry took his own for the newspaper. And how cool of you to imagine Terrill painting from them!
Your approaching peak autumn colors are so beautiful. I think we have at least 3-4 week before we see anything like that way down here south of the Mason-Dixon Line. Autumn just isn’t quite the same here as it is up north, but it has its own kind of beauty. I’ve often thought of how you inspired me to follow in your footsteps, to go outside every day for a year and write about it. It was a time of great learning. I wonder if that would be true if I did it again here? I don’t know. It’s hard to commit to big challenges these days. Then I remember that it was always a one-day-at-a-time thing for me, just as so many other challenge in my life have been. So, it’s possible. Maybe next year, I’ll think about thinking about it. š
Oh, how I wish I could talk my husband into getting rid of some things he saved because he had plans to build a gazebo. Perhaps next year, he’ll think about thinking about it. š
Robin, we do have some things in common. I also wonder if it would be true again–that an every-day outdoor commitment could be filled with so much learning. But I have such mixed inner feelings about it. I love the freedom to come and go, to create when inspired. It’s like these commitments bring huge gifts but also huge challenges. I guess all of life is like that. About a handful of times each year I yearn to do it again. But, like you say, it is super hard to make big commitments these days.
PS I have been cajoling Husband to gt rid of those windows for years and years and years, so maybe there is hopes for yours. He even got rid of his Datsun seats! (After he discovered they had been all chewed up by mice for probably 40 years…)
Love love love the pictures!! Fall is my favorite time of year. My husband and I are celebrating our anniversary today. We drove up to the UP in a little yellow convertible from NC for our honeymoon years back and stayed at copper harbor and then explored a few other places. A few later we moved to Munising and had quite the adventure. Thank you for sharing the gorgeous pictures. My heart belongs to the UP
Happy Anniversary a day late! I hope you had a wonderful time. I always do remember about your adventures up here in the UP. What great memories you have to cherish from your new place “down south”. Glad you enjoyed the fall pics. (We had a big storm here again this weekend with 60 mph winds and it hit L’Anse quite hard. Not out here in the woods, though. We were out of power for about 12 hours–lots of folks in town may still be out.)
Amazing colours and beautiful views Kathy, I suggest you split the difference and call it Erik’s bridge! It’s great to get rid of old clutter, it always feels so virtuous. Good luck with the birds (but please no roast duck!!!)
Good suggestion, Andrea! Barry says he is gonna spell it Erick in the newspaper because one of the reporters early on researched it properly. (At least that’s what he remembers…) I adore getting rid of clutter. So freeing! The fowl saga continues…and you sound just like my daughter when I told her we were having roast duck. I was a vegetarian and vegan for years, so totally get it. Unfortunately, due to health reasons, I have to now eat a lot of meat, and we are all for organic free-range meat…so we shall see…
I’m not a vegetarian – I was for years too but then stopped, but I have this funny principle that if I haven’t had a type of meat before I won’t eat it – I’ve never eaten duck so I won’t eat it now!
Those Autumn pictures were breathtaking, thanks for sharing. I can tell that you put lots of love into your photos.
Jessica, thank you so much. You make me want to take some more this week!
I so enjoy your writings and musings. I just write about books that I have read and the goals I set last January. Maybe someday I can expand. Until then I will be the book reviewer and talk about persisting at goals that I set. I can’t POSSIBLY be the only one in this world who actually continues to work at their goals.
My dear earth complex, that is a most lovely compliment! I think the main thing to remember with blogging–my random opinion, lol–is to write about what interests you. If it’s books: do it! If it’s about persisting at goals: how wonderful! When your heart is excited about your sharing, all will blossom.
You live in such a beautiful place Kathy, I wish I lived nearer I would have had those windows our green house has seen better days š
Big star for your hubby for caring for Mother Earth.
Oh and please don’t roast the duck š
Hi today, Tilly! I wish you lived nearer, too, and you could have certainly had those windows. (Although I think the windows have seen better days as well!) You are so right about those who care for Mama Earth. As for roasting the duck…I used to be an avid vegetarian and then vegan for years and years. Would have totally agreed with you. But now have to eat paleo for health reasons, and we are all into free-range organic meat so…the duck may have to be roasted. My daughter totally agrees with you, by the way! She’s appalled we’re even considering it. š
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Just noticed the Bright Blessing didn’t appear on my last comment, so have two this time
Bright Blessings Bright Blessings
Bright blessings to you this day, too!
I hope you will share pictures of your peak color week. It’s a rare thing here in bayou county. Only a very few trees turn anything but brown.
I can’t help but wonder if the windows will sit for another 30-40 years. Please keep us posted!
XOXO
I HOPE to take some more color photos this week, Stacy! Right now writing a humorous wee story about feeding the chickens and ducks this weekend.
The colours of your autumn foliage are magnificent, Kathy! š® Wow… I love that old tree with the gnarly roots – looks to me like the perfect fairy hideaway…
Isn’t that a great gnarly-root tree? I love them whenever I see them. So magical. Today it’s raining like crazy and the colorful leaves are falling, falling everywhere. There are still plenty on the trees to come down, though.