Here’s hoping you feel like a winner this week.
Be sure to check it out bigger
National Mine, old shed
fullshedinrain600, photo by TheDailies.
This photo is part of Kim’s National Mine set (slideshow). She has posts about her place in National Mine on her blog. She took this shot in the rain, so it probably makes sense to share the Weather Underground page for National Mine.
Wikipedia’s National Mine, Michigan entry says that National Mine is an unincorporated community in Tilden Township (Marquette County), located just south of the city of Ishpeming.
Michigan Place Names by Walter Romig
The village was founded in 1878 as part of the estate of the Lake Superior Iron Company, in the Winthrop Range. It was given a post office on December 5, 1879, with Richard F. Ellis as its first postmaster.
For Paul Harvey, this is Andy McFarlane saying have a great weekend!
Pre-Jack-O-Lanterns-Sun-Kist
Pre-Jack-O-Lanterns-Sun-Kist, photo by mdprovost
Wikipedia’s pumpkin entry says:
The word pumpkin originates from the word pepon, which is Greek for “large melon.” The French adapted this word to pompon, which the British changed to pompion and later American colonists changed that to the word we use today, “pumpkin.” The origin of pumpkins is not known, although pumpkins are thought to have originated in North America.
…Pumpkins are commonly carved into decorative lanterns called jack-o’-lanterns for the Halloween season in North America. Throughout Britain and Ireland, there is a long tradition of carving lanterns from vegetables, particularly the turnip, mangelwurzel, or swede. Not until 1837, however, does jack-o’-lantern appear as a term for a carved vegetable lantern, and the carved lantern does not become associated specifically with Halloween until 1866.
You can read more about Michigan pumpkins from Absolute Michigan and also view a pumpkin slideshow from the Absolute Michigan pool!
Click for more fall wallpaper on Michigan in Pictures!
100 years of Lake Michigan at South Haven Pier Lighthouse
Late October on Lake Michigan, photo by micstolz.
Michael notes that even 100 years of Lake Michigan waves can’t put out the South Haven Light. He has several more in his South Haven Oct 26 2008 set (slideshow) – all uploaded “background big”. You might also want to check out the South Haven Light slideshow from the Absolute Michigan pool.
Terry Pepper’s Seeing the Light relates the history (with photos) of the South Haven Pier Lighthouse. He writes that a Fifth Order Fresnel lens from Parisian glass makers Barbier and Fenestre was installed in the lantern in 1902:
While the light was new, the old wooden beacon had withstood thirty years of Lake Michigan’s worst, and as a result of increasing deterioration, Eleventh District engineer James G. Warren laid-out plans to replace the venerable structure with a new cylindrical metal tower.
Contracts for the metalwork and required materials were awarded and delivered to the lighthouse depot in St. Joseph. On October 6, 1903, the tender Hyacinth delivered the prefabricated steel tower and a work crew on the pier, and erection of the new structure continued through the remainder of the month. The thirty-five foot structure was given a gleaming coat of white paint, and the district lampist carefully removed the Fifth-order lens from the old beacon and installed it in the new octagonal lantern. Captain Donahue proudly climbed the spiral stairs within the new tower to exhibit the South Haven light from atop the new tower for the first time on the evening of November 13.
Light and tower remain an active aid to navigation maintained by the Coast Guard and while you’re in South Haven, be sure to visit the Michigan Maritime Museum.
Fall light at Holloway Reservoir
Sunlight Dark Clouds, photo by Sentrawoods.
Holloway Reservoir Regional Park is a 5500-acre park near Columbiaville in Genesee County. The park includes the 1,975-acre Holloway Reservoir and provides opportunities for fishing, canoeing and other recreation.
This photo is available “background-sized” and is part of Ken’s Holloway Reservoir set (slideshow).
change (your background)
I am continually surprised by how popular Michigan in Pictures (in particular this post) is for searches for “fall backgrounds” or “fall wallpaper“. Every day about 100 people end up here, and I feel it’s sort of a duty to find a nice big photo every few days … sort of like feeding the fish.
Nicole took this photo on an Exposure.Detroit photo safari at Stony Creek Metropark on Saturday. You can purchase some of her photos in her etsy shop.
More fall wallpaper on Michigan in Pictures and also check out the Michigan autumn slideshow from Absolute Michigan!
A walk in the Park
fall images
fall images, photo by buckshot.jones.
This photo of the reflected and swirling color on the Manistee River is part of Scott’s Fall color 2008 set (slideshow). He writes:
For some reason this year the colors seem particularly robust. Maybe it is the weather, warm days, cool nights and not much heavy rain, or maybe I’m just more in tune this year. Either way, I am diggin’ it.
Fall in Michigan, my idea of paradise. No other place I’d rather be.
After a drive from northwest to southeast, I can deliver a 10-4 on the color this year along with a hearty “me too” on the no place I’d rather be.
…and yes, they are available at “biggie-size” – get much more autumn awesome on the Michigan fall wallpaper page!
Fall color from the top of Michigan
Fall color from summit peak, photo by mtsn.
Well, Summit Peak in the Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park isn’t the highest point in Michigan. However, as the very detailed article on the Porcupine Mountains at climbing, mountaineering, hiking site SummitPost explains:
The Porcupine Mountains rise from the shore of Lake Superior in the far western Upper Peninsula of Michigan. They are not remarkably high by some standards but for this part of the midwest they represent some of the most rugged terrain around. The “Porkies,” as they are known by locals, are actually a series of three ridges that lie parallel to the shoreline. The mountains are preserved within the borders of Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park.
The first ridge rises 1000 feet directly from Lake Superior to a maximum elevation of around 1600 feet. The lake-side of the escarpment rises steeply but gradually while the south side is a 300-500 foot cliff overlooking the Big Carp River valley and the famous Lake of the Clouds.
The second ridge is a bit higher, reaching an elevation of 1850 feet at Government Peak. Again, the north slope of this ridge is gradual but steep. The south side however does not drop off like its neighboring ridge to the north. the two Mirror Lake sit in this high valley at about 1500 feet in elevation.
The third, and southernmost, ridge is the highest. The height of land is known as Summit Peak and it is the 3rd highest point in Michigan at 1958 feet. Climb the 50 foot observation tower at the summit, however, and you will be standing higher than even Michigan highpoint Mt. Arvon. Summit Peak does command an impressive view but does not rise from its surroundings as drastically as the ridges to the north because the terrain here averages around 1500 feet in elevation.
Read on for lots more information about hiking in the Porkies, links and photos. For some reason their map didn’t work for me, so here’s Summit Peak on the Absolute Michigan Map!
Speaking of photos, the one above was taken on Tuesday (Oct 7) and is wallpapery fresh for all your computer background needs. Kiyo has plenty more in her Porcupine Mountains State Park set (slideshow). She also operates a Japanese language site with Michigan tourism information.
Michigan grapes, ready for the harvest
Fenn Valley Winery-5, photo by Mi Bob.
Bob took this photo of grapes awaiting harvest at Fenn Valley Winery in Fennville, Michigan. He’s uploaded it “background big” and has more luscious grape photos (slideshow).
Fall is a great time to visit Michigan’s wine country. Check out this slideshow of recent photos from vineyards in the Absolute Michigan group and learn much more about Michigan’s wineries and wine trails from Michigan Wines.
- Lake Michigan Shore Wine Trail (home to Fenn Valley and others)
- Southeast Michigan Pioneer Wine Trail
- Wineries of Old Mission Peninsula
- Leelanau Peninsula Wine Trail
Michigan in Pictures 