Michigan in Pictures

Why Stop To Think Of Weather, photo by jbnuthatch.

jbnuthatch offers an excerpt from I’m In The Mood For Love that I everyone in Michigan probably needs to hum one day or another.

Why stop to think of whether
This little dream might fade
We’ve put our hearts together
Now we are one, I’m not afraid

If there’s a cloud above
If it should rain, we’ll let it
But, for tonight, forget it
I’m in the mood for love

I think it’s also pretty obvious that I have some sort of thing for ducks

Growing UP, photo by luna.nik

Despite the best efforts of a seemingly endless winter not to end, the bulbs are once again bursting forth with colorful goodness, to be celebrated most especially in Holland this weekend ( May 3-10, 2008 ) with the annual Tulip Time festival.

Much more today (including a tulip slideshow) on Absolute Michigan: Tulip Time in Holland, Michigan.

Fiddlehead Fern Forest, photo by otisourcat

While morels get the most love at this time of year, fiddleheads are another tasty treat that’s popping up in the woods of Michigan. Wikipedia of course has a fiddlehead entry, Michigan-based food grower Earthy Delights has better info. They say:

A Fiddlehead is a fern so young and new that it hasn’t yet “unfurled” and opened its leaves. The end is still curled in a tight spiral, ready to unroll as the sun warms it and it gathers strength and size. This spiral shape reminds many people of the end of a violin, hence the name “Fiddlehead.”

Early Spring signals the arrival of “Fiddlehead season,” when aficionados begin combing the riverbanks and forest floor.

The flavor? It has been described as similar to green beans with a hint of artichoke. But descriptions do not begin to capture the flavor. You must try them to know the wonderful flavor and delightful crunch of Fiddleheads.

Earthy actually grows and ships fiddleheads, and they have several recipes including Sauteed Fiddlehead Ferns with Parsley and Garlic, Steamed Fiddleheads With Wild Leek Greens and (my favorite) Spring Wild Harvest Ragout With Fiddlehead Greens & Morels.

otisourcat took this photo at the Muskegon State Park and got this tasty shot as well!

quincy karma, photo by buckshot.jones.

This colorful capture is part of Scott’s A trip down historic US 12 set (slideshow). He writes:

I turned off the Interstate and took US 12 on my way back to Dearborn. Lots of small towns and rural scenes.

You can follow US 12 all the way to the Pacific ocean. In Detroit and Chicago, US 12 is known as Michigan Avenue. From the Water Tower to old Tiger Stadium, this route has lots of history.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/US_12 (and also see the US 12 in Michigan entry!)

Here’s Quincy, Michigan and US-12 on the Absolute Michigan Map of Michigan.

Nothing more I can say except “Thanks Scott for posting these in big, beautiful, background-sized glory!”

…and have a great weekend everyone!

Spring at Pere Marquette, photo by cabriden.

It’s dredging season in Michigan’s harbors … fishing season too!

NOAA’s nautical chart of the Muskegon Harbor says that the Muskegon South Breakwater light is 70′ tall while the North light is half that and that they’re probably dredging to a depth of 26 feet.

Be sure to check it out bigger.

Point Iroquois Lighthouse Panorama, photo by Miles Williams

You have to click through and check this out large! About the photo, Miles writes:

Point Iroquois Lighthouse is located in Brimley Michigan, about 25 minutes west of Sault Ste. Marie. The Lighthouse means a lot to myself and my family, my Grandmother and Grandpa have helped and volunteered at Point Iroquois for as long as I can remember, as well as my brother being married there this year.

This shot is comprised of 9 vertical shots stitched together to what you see here. If you are interested in more of my work please visit my Photoblog.

The Point Iroquois Lighthouse page on Terry Pepper’s Seeing the Light begins:

With the planned opening of the new lock at the Soo in 1855, large vessels would Finally be able to sail directly from Lake Superior to the lower lakes, and it was evident that the increase in maritime commerce would be both dramatic and immediate. While the Light at Whitefish Point served well to guide vessels around the Point after which it was named, the location of the entrance to the St. Mary’s River remained unmarked, and it was evident that a light was needed to help funnel vessels into the river mouth at the southeast end of Whitefish Bay. Congress appropriated $5,000 for the project on March 3, 1853, and a site was selected for he station that same year at the northern tip of Iroquois Point. Iroquois Point had received its name in 1662 after the local Ojibwa encountered a band of intruding Iroquois encamped on the Point. The following morning both groups were in a full-pitched battle, and by the end of the day, the entire band of Iroquois had been wiped-out and the Point named for eternity.

You can read a lot more about the light and see some cool old photos at the link above!

Cranes @ Sunset, photo by epeoples

This photo from the construction of the new MGM Grand Hotel & Casino in Detroit is part of Eric’s Exposure.Detroit May 16th Exhibit set (slideshow).

The Exhibit Opening Party takes place from 7pm - 10pm on Friday, May 16th at the Bean & Leaf Cafe in Royal Oak.

In addition to Eric, photographers featured are Amy, Nicole, Ross and Paul N.

More about Exposure.Detroit and the upcoming show from the Exposure.Detroit group on Flickr.

Chelsea Tracks - Optimism, photo by aTanguay.

I thought that Andy’s photo is a perfect expression of how I feel about Earth Day this year. While in year’s past, it has seemed to be a day that highlights an impossible task, it now seems a day that we can begin to celebrate our journey towards a sustainable society.

Happy Earth Day, Michigan - hope you get a chance to get out and enjoy it!

Also see Absolute Michigan’s Earth Day post

Court House and museum Charlotte Michigan, photo by baklein62.

The brief history on the Eaton County web site says:

Eaton County, named for President Andrew Jackson’s Secretary of War (John Eaton), sometimes referred to as a cabinet county, was organized in 1837. Due to lack of population and buildings in the designated county seat (Charlotte), government and judicial functions were performed in the village of Bellevue.

…In 1882 the Eaton County Board of Supervisors resolved “to erect a building for court and public office purposes” at no more than $50,000 cost; this was later amended to $40,000. When completed, the cost of this courthouse was nearly $80,000.

The contract for design was awarded to D.W. Gibbs & Company of Toledo, Ohio with the firm of Miles, Cramer and Horn also from Toledo doing construction. The corner stone was laid on July 4, 1883 and this building was ready for use in October 1885.

Read more about Courthouse Square and the museum including information about and photos of the exhibits.

This photo is part of Barney’s sales territory set and I think the set demonstrates that a good attitude goes a long way toward enjoying your job.

Untitled, photo by Brooke Pennington.

I know that I’m supposed to feature different photographers, and that it hasn’t been that long since the last time Brooke made an appearance.

I plead helplessness in the face of photographic awesomeness … and ducks.

Have a lovely weekend folks.