Mining the Beauty of Michigan's Copper Country

I just returned from my childhood home in Michigan's Upper Peninsula.  Here are a few photos from our trip:

Quincy Mine shaft, Hancock, Michigan
SOURCE

Brockway Mountain, Copper Harbor, Michigan

View of Lake Superior from Brockway Mountain summit

A different type of log cabin: sliced vs. stacked logs and glass bottles!

Eagle River shoreline

Camping fun at McLean State Park between Hancock and Calumet, Michigan

Natural driftwood sculpture

Day is done, gone the sun,
From the lake, from the hills, from the sky;
All is well, safely rest, God is nigh.

Fading light, dims the sight,
And a star gems the sky, gleaming bright.
From afar, drawing nigh, falls the night.

Thanks and praise, for our days,
'Neath the sun, 'neath the stars, neath the sky;
As we go, this we know, God is nigh. 

 

The Rocky Shores of Lake Superior

I am a native Michigander Michiganian.  I was born and raised in the Upper Peninsula then moved to the Lower Peninsula for college and a job.  I moved to the South when I got married at age 26, but my mom still lives in the U.P., and I try to go home at least once a year.

Next week will be a bittersweet one for me.  We'll be traveling to the U.P. to sell my mom's house, our family home for almost 50 years.  All of my siblings and our families will be reuniting for one last look. Sniff!

Our house was built in the early 1900's when copper was king and mining was a booming industry.  The mines closed over 40 years ago, and the economy never recovered.   The natural beauty of the U.P. continued to attract many tourists from Detroit, though, until the automotive industry ran into its own troubles in the 1980s and beyond.  Then even tourism dollars dried up.

But the beauty remains, and my memories run deep as that copper ore in the belly of the earth.

Next week, we will definitely go to the shores of Lake Superior to feed the geese and ducks,

skip (and climb!) rocks,

maybe stick our toes in that cold, clear water (BRRR!),

and take in the beautiful vistas and untouched beauty.

I know that we need to sell the house,; but it feels like the end of an era.  I want to remember all of the people and pieces from my childhood, and not having the touchstone of my home to do it in seems unthinkable.  But time marches on, even if we sometimes want to lag behind.

New Orleans--A Feast for the Senses

On our way back from Destin, we had to stop in New Orleans.  My husband and I were engaged at Brennan's Restaurant 25 years ago in August, and both of my children were born in New Orleans, so it holds a special place in my heart.

We were only there for 24 hours this time, but here's a sampling of our day:

Downtown New Orleans Skyline from the East

Lunch:  Mother's and the "Ferdi Special" Po-boy.
We also sampled crawfish etouffee', jambalaya, and bread pudding.  O.M.G.

Mississippi River Moonwalk (between Riverwalk and French Quarter)

"Old Man River" -- The Sculpture We Love to Hate

Watching the Beignet Assembly Line at Cafe' du Monde

Snack:  Creamy Pralines

A Little Street Theatre

Dinner: Catfish Pecan Meuniere at New Orleans Food & Spirits in Bucktown

Sunday Breakfast: Handmade beignets and cafe' au lait at
Morning Call in Fat City (Metairie)

Wow, what a feast for the senses!

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