Leelanau Up North

Sunset  At  Empire  Beach For some, ... Leelanau - "The Land of Delight" -  Is not so delightful. Amidst the splendor of woods and water, And picture postcard views, ... Life does not go easy On some of our neighbors, Most of the time. For the folks who  Cut the grass,  Wait the tables,  Clean the rooms, Leelanau may be  A paradise lost ... To financial hardship - Where they struggle to afford the essentials: Housing, food, childcare, transportation. It's a reality we often cannot - Or will not  See. Children are the most vulnerable. And the least visible. An ugly truth, ... In the Most Beautiful Place In America ... And beyond. See You In Leelanau Up North, Chris                     Visit A Leelanau Landmark:  Leelanau Christian Neighbors -                     Serving those in need through four programs: Food Pantry,       ...

I'm thinking, ... It really doesn't get any better than this. Life, that is. Here I am, In the Land of Delight - Contentedly alone, In a home,  That I own - Outright. Paint brush in hand, Doing decent, honest work. And getting paid ... With a view of the lake, A home cooked meal, And restful sleep. There you have it: Beauty, solitude, shelter, peace of mind, meaningful labor, nourishment and slumber. It really doesn't get any better than this. Life, that is. See You In Leelanau Up North, Chris                          Visit A Leelanau Landmark:  Historic Leelanau Logo - enticing                          visitors to "The Land of Delight" for over one hundred years ....

View  From  Storm  Hill Whenever I leave this little finger of land, I whisper to the big lake, In my words or thoughts: "See you next time." We are neighbors, the lake and I, ... But really more like friends. And, like friends,  We have our occasional differences. At times, she can be irascible, brooding, And, quite literally, As cold as ice. But more often, She is a wise and soothing companion, ... The sweet water of my life in Leelanau. Always there. Waiting, ... For my return. See You In Leelanau Up North, Chris                     Visit A Leelanau Landmark:  Storm Hill - The historic estate of                     Empire lumber baron, Harvey Wilce.  A private residence, this                     massive, beautifully  restored, Craftsman style bungalow may             ...

  Photo Courtesy Of The State Of Michigan On a winter's hike, ... Through wind and water, Sand and snow, ... She savors what her body can do. Forging a path, In space and time, By advancing her feet, Alternately,  Carefully. Always raising one foot, Expectantly, To Father Sky. And lowering the other, Confidently, To Mother Earth. Raising and lowering, Again  And again - An artist's rendering of Strength and endurance, Rhythm and grace. See You In Leelanau Up North, Chris                     Visit A Leelanau Landmark:  Friends of Sleeping Bear Dunes - A                     seriously dedicated band of volunteers whose mission is to protect                     resources and heighten visitor experiences  in partnership with the                     National Lakeshore....

Last year,  Either God or global warming ... Produced increased precipitation in the Great Lakes basin, Resulting in very high Lake Michigan water levels, Leading to considerable erosion of the Leelanau shoreline, Bringing about the near total collapse of our community beach stairway, Prompting an alternate route for rock collecting, Yielding far fewer suitable rocks, Contributing to a significant setback, In the construction of my wall ... This year. See You In Leelanau Up North, Chris                     Visit A Leelanau Landmark:  Hop Lot Brewing Company - All of                     which caused me to seek libations at this famous Suttons Bay                     pub / restaurant.  Enjoy made from scratch foods and brews in                     a rustic indoor or woodsy outd...

North Bar Lake Outlet To Lake Michigan - Courtesy Of Michigan.Org Leelanau, ... In its autumn quietude, Is a place to contemplate The essence of things.... The tree-ness of trees. The dune-ness of dunes. The lake-ness of lakes. The me-ness of me. And to realize that - But for the perfect mixture  Of hydrogen atoms and energy At the beginning of time - Creating the soup for my existence, I could have been ... A lake, A dune Or a tree, ... Instead of me. Majestic and beautiful, Yes, ... But unable  To reflect upon My essence. See You In Leelanau Up North, Chris                     Visit A Leelanau Landmark:  Late breaking fall colors now                     showing at a Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore                      near you.   Catch the autumn splendor the while it lasts. CLICK  'SUBSCRIBE'...

Courtesy  Of  Dangerous-Business.com Perched 450 feet above Lake Michigan is the famous scenic overlook number nine on the Pierce Stocking Drive. Visitors are warned not to climb down the nearly vertical dune, lest they require an expensive  rescue by the coast guard.  (Going rate: $2,800.00 per person.) Undeterred, a group of Amish people - perhaps fifteen men, women and children - descended this mountain of sand in single file.   Despite the heat and the arduous trek, they were dressed in their traditional garb - men and boys in suspendered trousers, collared shirts and straw hats; women and girls in full dresses, aprons and hair concealing bonnets. Not a selfie or smartphone could be found among this crowd.. We didn't wait to see their grueling ascent - apparently successful, as there was no news of an Amish clan stranded on the beach below. It took some grit (and perhaps a little gaffe) to accomplish such a risky climb. B ut then, ... the Amish are know...