Owls in the Attic

Posted on by Michigan in Pictures

Attic, Clare Michigan.

Attic, Clare Michigan. , photo by matthew_michalek.

I posted this photo to the Michigan in Pictures Facebook yesterday with the comment “It’s not all sunsets and lighthouses. ;)” A reader thought it a little strange and wondered “why not show a live one?”

That’s a good question for which I have a few answers.

One is that Michigan in Pictures has a number of posts about owls including a snowy owl on the roof, Northern Saw Whet Owl (and an owl house you can build for one), the Evening Owl, Marsh Owl, Short-eared owl and a live version of this owl, the Great Horned Owl (Bubo virginianus) aka tiger owl or cat owl.

A second reason is that while I am a huge fan of Pure Michigan and the gorgeous photography they share, I’m also a big fan of the strange and wonderful bits of history you can find all over the state in our quirky little museums, second hand stores, attics, basements and (of course) garage sales. When I see a photo like this I wonder how the owl got there. Was it purchased at the Call of the Wild museum in Gaylord or did it simply die of old age?

The final reason is that the experience of Michigan and Michigan in Pictures is (for me at least) one of discovery. I delight in odd finds like the Big Boy Graveyard, old slumpy in Detroit, Lake Michigan’s “Stonehenge” and the crazy things that I find in the Library of Congress and that people like the folks at FOUND magazine in Ann Arbor and daveraoul find in the corners of reality that we often miss.

What do you think? Let me know in the comments…

Check this out on black and in Matt’s slideshow.

Graveyard Coast II

Posted on by Michigan in Pictures

"Graveyard Coast II " - (Mary Jarecki shipwreck) , Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore

“Graveyard Coast II ” – (Mary Jarecki shipwreck) , Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, photo by Michigan Nut.

Over on Absolute Michigan today we have a feature on the Alger Underwater Diving Preserve – Michigan’s first underwater preserve and one of 12 that protect over 2300 square miles of Great Lakes bottomland.

You don’t have to strap on a tank to explore some of these wrecks. John writes that the Mary Jarecki was a wooden bulk freight steam Ship of 645 tons, 200 feet in length. It grounded on Au Sable Reef and went down on July 4, 1883. She lost her way in one of the heavy fogs that frequent the area. These shipwrecks are a sobering reminder of the incredible power of Lake Superior.

Indeed. See this photo bigger and in John’s jaw-dropping Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore slideshow.

Michigan Wild & Scenic Rivers: Sturgeon River

Posted on by Michigan in Pictures
Along the Sturgeon River by Coder

Along the Sturgeon River by Coder

It is hereby declared to be the policy of the United States that certain selected rivers of the Nation which, with their immediate environments, possess outstandingly remarkable scenic, recreational, geologic, fish and wildlife, historic, cultural or other similar values, shall be preserved in free-flowing condition, and that they and their immediate environments shall be protected for the benefit and enjoyment of present and future generations.
~Wild & Scenic Rivers Act, October 2, 1968

Michigan has 16 nationally designated Wild & Scenic Rivers (management plan pdf) and tw of them are called the Sturgeon River: this one in the Ottawa National Forest in the eastern UP and the Sturgeon River in the Hiawatha National Forest in the western UP. This Sturgeon River is even the photo on the main page at rivers.gov, so it’s clear that they really liked it!! (note it’s now the Ontonagon River but still in the UP!)

Also note that Field & Stream tapped Michigan #1 for flyfishing in the USA in 2011. One of the reasons is the portion of the Sturgeon River within the Ottawa National Forest is classified as a Blue Ribbon Trout Stream!

Coder shot this in 2010 along the Sturgeon River on the way to Canyon Falls. Click to his map to see where the photo was taken. See more in his ‘Scapes gallery on Flickr.

More Wild & Scenic Rivers on Michigan in Pictures.

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Superior Seas and November in Michigan

Posted on by Michigan in Pictures

Superior Seas

Superior Seas, photo by PhotoYoop.

“NOVEMBER, n. The eleventh twelfth of a weariness.”
~ Ambrose Bierce

From simple weariness of the changing weather to the terrible fury of November storms, the month of November can take a heavy toll on Michiganders.

Fortunately, there’s great events all across the state to help us get through. With indoor enjoyment at events like Restaurant Week in Grand Rapids (Nov 3-13), the East Lansing Film Festival and the Michigan Festival of Sacred Music in Kalamazoo (Nov 10-12) to more hardy pursuits like Opening Day & Deer Season and tomorrow’s Iceman Cometh bike race in Traverse City, our November Michigan Event Calendar has you covered!

We even have FOUR tickets to give away to the Grand Rapids Wine, Beer & Food Festival (Nov 17-19) – click to check it out and chase away Mr. Bierce’s November weariness!

Cory took this shot in October on Presque Isle in Marquette, but it’s certainly indicative of what you’ll see on Lake Superior in November! Check it out bigger and in Cory’s The Yoop – U.P. slideshow.

Dreams & Reflection

Posted on by farlane

A Day Reflecting

A Day Reflecting, photo by Mark Lindsay

Mark writes:

My eyes watched as the beauty in the water reflected the beauty of this day. If there was a time meant to be on this lakeshore, it for sure was now. I found a place, at least for a few hours, to sit and reflect and find myself complete and whole. I smile as the clouds start to break apart and begin their dance. Some went to the left and some to the right, but they all moved together to put on an amazing show.

My dreams have clouds like this. My dreams have blue skies and incredible reflections, along with the most brilliant of colors. In my dreams I have no sense of weight. I see light in my dreams and am comforted by it. I am lost in a place I want never to end. It is truly a blessing my friends be living a dream.

See his photo bigger and in his slideshow. Mark also shares his photos on Facebook.

Exposure Detroit November Show

Posted on by farlane

powered by the sun...
powered by the sun, photo by Lou Peeples

The November show for the Exposure.Detroit photography group opens next Saturday (November 12) at 7 P.M. at the Bean & Leaf Cafe in Royal Oak. The show features the work of Lou Peeples and four more talented photographers: Kim Kozlowski, Sharon Foster-Lanzetta, Tim White and Mary Jo Boughton. Definitely check the show and Exposure.Detroit out if you can – these folks are great!

Lou took this shot on a late August morning in Grosse Pointe. Check it out bigger and in his Grosse Pointe slideshow.

More mist on Michigan in Pictures.

 

Golden Grandeur and a farewell to Autumn

Posted on by Michigan in Pictures

Golden Grandeur

Golden Grandeur, photo by SolsticeSol.

As October turns to November, we in Michigan know that it’s only a matter of time before the trees shed the last of their golden leaves. Thankfully, we have photos like this to keep the fires of autumn alive. More at Fall on Michigan in Pictures.

Check this out bigger and in Teresa’s Into the woods slideshow.

Happy Halloween, Michigan!

Posted on by Michigan in Pictures

DSC07351

DSC07351, photo by ansonredford.

When black cats prowl and pumpkins gleam,
May luck be yours on Halloween.
~Unknown

Here’s hoping everyone has a spooky and safe Halloween. Don’t miss The Legend of the Michigan Dogman today on Absolute Michigan.

Check it out bigger and see a lot more Halloween fun on Michigan in Pictures!

Get your Halloween On, Michigan Style

Posted on by Michigan in Pictures

Pumpkin Stem Macro II

Pumpkin Stem Macro II, photo by Jackson Atwater Thomson.

When witches go riding,
and black cats are seen,
the moon laughs and whispers,
‘tis near Halloween.
~Author Unknown

Halloween weekend is here and at Absolute Michigan, we’ve always enjoyed bringing you all the fun and chills of the holiday. Here’s some links to help you get into the spirit of the season.

Michigan has its share of ghost stories. In addition to a bunch of ghost-hunter groups, “Ghost” on Absolute Michigan brings up a graveyard full of spooky stories including the rowdy ghosts of the Fenton Hotel and the Ghost of Minnie Quay. The Great Lakes State even has its own cryptid, the Dogman. For more on the Dogman and many more scary stories, turn to Linda Godfrey’s Weird Michigan, a compendium of strange tales from all across Michigan.

If it’s haunted houses or corn mazes you seek, Madman Mike has a list of Haunted Houses, Mazes & Hayrides. If you go to absolutemichigan.com/Haunted you’ll find a legion of links to haunted attraction websites and the remains of our massive 2010 Michigan Haunted Attractions, Corn Mazes & Halloween Guide. Don’t miss our Pumkinpalooza either!

Our Michigan Event Calendar has a number of fun things to do across the state including the Coopersville Pumpkin Train. Find many more at mLive’s Halloween page.

Check Jackson’s photo out big as the Great Pumpkin and in his slideshow.

Speaking of slideshows, there’s many more Halloween photos in the Absolute Michigan photo group slideshow and also at Halloween on Michigan in Pictures – Happy Halloween!

Rigging

Posted on by Michigan in Pictures

Rigging

Rigging, photo by Elizabeth Glass.

The Spider’s Web

The spider, dropping down from twig,
Unfolds a plan of her devising,
A thin premeditated rig
To use in rising.

And all that journey down through space,
In cool descent and loyal hearted,
She spins a ladder to the place
From where she started.

Thus I, gone forth as spiders do
In spider’s web a truth discerning,
Attach one silken thread to you
For my returning.

~ E B White

Check this out really big in Fluidr (Elizabeth’s favorite new Flickr app) and in her slideshow.