Late Day, Leelanau, August - Which Shot Do You Like Better?

 

Field Corn, October

 

Until I locate my missing camera, the only photographs I can take are with my phone, and it's not an expensive, fancy phone, either. Still, better than nothing. Maybe.

Apples So Red!

 

The apples in this orchard were particularly vivid in the evening light.

I was reminded of those old hand-colored postcards....

Summer on the Wing

Some Up North summer mornings are magical. Moment by moment, they offer unexpected beauty, whether in the village or out on the back roads of the township. How many days are we fortunate enough to glimpse a great blue heron in flight along the creek? And why should someone have left a colorful bouquet on a country road signpost?

The truth is, though, that on a beautiful morning everything is beautiful -- the most "ordinary," quotidian scenes heartbreaking in their perfection. Ah, life! You shameless seducer, you!

Nominating the Prettiest Place in the County

Many years ago I worked in a university office that subscribed to a number of farming magazines, some research-oriented, others more for family entertainment, and one of those magazines — I don’t remember which one — had a monthly feature called “The Prettiest Place in the Country.” Subscribers were encouraged to send in photographs and descriptions, nominating their own farms for recognition. I always turned to that feature first, and I still think of today, whenever I drive Eagle Highway past the farm in the photograph above, a farm I never fail to admire and appreciate. 

I often call it (pointing it out to my husband, the Artist, as if for the first time) “the prettiest place” not for its scenic location or any fairy tale aspects of the house and grounds but because it is, overall, such a clearly prosperous and well-run place. Note the neatly painted buildings, wagons lined up in a row, and lush beautiful fields of hay and grain. I have always appreciated the diversity and attention to home economics represented by the tidy woodpile, small home orchard, and livestock that used to be pastured out behind the barns. 

In every season of the year, you know you are looking at a place operated and maintained by a farmer who cares. To me, that’s beautiful.

Leaving the Main Road Behind

We saw a sign for a garage sale. Initially David slowed but then drove on past. After all, we hardly need anything. “Unless you want to stop?” Well, I said, maybe they’d have a couple of old plastic pails or something? Man’s World, as we call the garage barn and basement, sometimes needs contains for random projects, and the Queen of the Kitchen does not appreciate having her saucepans appropriated. So we went a little farther down the road, turned around, and went down the driveway toward Lake Leelanau to discover Paradise.

Polish Heritage Farm is a small, diversified agricultural operation. They have pigs, goats, ducks, and all kinds of chickens. Guarding the chickens from marauding foxes are neat little guinea hens. The guineas forage for their own meals, and there’s a market for their beautiful feathers.

Our genial host was so forthcoming with information that I could only absorb and retain maybe 5-10% of what he told us. Also, I was distracted by the surroundings – so much life everywhere! It's hard to concentrate in a state of total bliss, which is how I felt with the animals sounds and smells and the soft autumn breeze and the happy children.

We came away with a carton of fresh eggs, and when we go back soon for produce I’ll take along my scythe for sharpening. I feel like we discovered a gold mine! I need to get more pictures, too, on future visits.

One Harvest Down, Another To Go

Summer Winding Down

A jungle of jewelweed

An empty picnic area

Preparation for harvest

Mowed and drying in the sun

Ripening corn

A Beautiful Farm

I love driving by this farm on Eagle Highway. In every season, every aspect looks tidy and productive, as well as scenic.

Love the Look of This Field

Last Farm Market Day in Northport

I want to feature my friend Kathy from Windy Ridge North today. There are many fine vendors and many growers of beautiful fruits and vegetables at our county farm markets, and I've shown you others before, and today is her turn. Her booth looked so beautiful I had a hard time putting my camera down -- and then I couldn't stop finding more produce to buy. Here's why:

My haul

You can't see it all very well, but there was a bag of tomatoes, a bag of peaches (I pulled one out to have its picture taken), a big bunch of Swiss chard, one small zucchini, some gorgeous onions, and darling little patty pan squash. Thank you, Kathy!

Reprise: Already Looking Back at Orchards in Bloom

Dandelions, too --

before and after.

Bright Sun and Color Are Irresistible in the Cherry Orchards

Dandelions add so much,

attracting bees

and camera eyes.

But really, it's all about the cherry blossoms.