A Mid-Summer's Dream

The heat continues in the Michigan north country. What a change from our Seattle-like summer of 2009! Something in between is what I asked for, but wasn't granted. Oh well, we are not suffering. Cool water and shady wood is always close to us here.

As typical of the summer months, the time flies. We have already reached the Ides of July, that lovely mid-summertime between fireworks and the dog-days. Nice.

Thanks to the hot, dry weather, we have managed to get some quality water-time in the boat. Last week, we had one of the nicest days ever...and I've had many of them in all sorts of watercraft. This cruise was between Sutton's Bay and Northport on the beautiful, deep blue waters of Grand Traverse Bay. We packed a lunch and headed north up the coast. Not a long ride at all, even at an easy pace. The water was untypically calm too, which kept my first mate happy, as she is not fond of whitecaps and rolling seas. How she got to be a first mate is unrelated to her sea worthiness I have to say. It was more like affirmative-action for those that need special consideration for their maritime advancement. That's OK.

We got to our destination and had an afternoon of swimming, picnicking and strolling the short streets of Northport. The best boat trips always have a "destination" in my opinion. Just running around the water surface making waves is not really boating, although a nice ride around the lake on calm water, just after sunset, does have it's appeal.

When it was time to return, we headed directly south, but with a short stop at the lovely, tiny port of Omena and the crystal water in New Mission Bay. You can "read" the sandy bottom in forty feet of water there and it's simply beautiful. Many small to mid-size sailboats are typically anchored there in the little sheltered cove that protects from wind and waves from practically all directions, unless it was a very sneaky southeast gale, which probably rarely causes trouble in this area.

We arrived back feeling very blessed that we can enjoy Lake Michigan and these little port-o-calls on one perfect, northern summer day. No wonder they fly by!

R.I.P. Skittles

I didn't post this when it happened, but two weeks ago we had to put our old kitty, Skittles, to sleep. About 18 years old and failing, it was time; probably past time. She was a good companion and one of the family.

If you've ever had to do this, you understand how tough it is. The argument that it's the humane thing to do, does little to assuage the sadness unless the pet is in obvious pain, and sometimes not even then. A kind and thoughtful veterinarian can really help you through the process though, and that's exactly what we found.

We left town for a two week stay at the Northern Compound on the day after we buried her, and when we got back home tonight we found a card in our stack of mail from the vet's office. In it, two doctors and several assistants and staff had signed a card and said a few kind words about the cat they'd cared for and finally helped us deal with at the end. I've never heard of this happening to anyone else and I find it very caring and classy. Little things do mean a lot.

The Pressure Mounts

This just in:

Hall & Oates have announced that they will cancel their upcoming tour dates in Arizona in protest of the new law concerning illegal immigrants.

This could do it. This is the one that may finally buckle the will of the people in Arizona and really force them to rethink this thing. But I think most will wait it out and see how The Captain and Tennille weigh in on it.

I know I would.