January 27, 2010 – 11:42 am
With the sudden drop in temperature, Big Glen Lake is ready to resume it’s freezing. Last night ice pushed out about 50-100′ from the western shore, and the next two nights will have temperatures in the single-digits. I’d figure it to freeze Thursday night, except for the wind predictions. It needs cold and calm. Tried for a photo, but it came out looking flat. Maybe when the ice is out I can try again.
January 22, 2010 – 2:31 pm
The thaw has continued a little, mostly creating icicles around our homes, but not really melting the snow. Today like yesterday is bright and sunny, and apparently it is going to warm up, rain, then the temperature takes a dive and snow will move in mid-week next week. We surely need a fresh coat, and I like when the pines are snow covered. Here is a meadow near D.H. Day Farm this morning.
January 14, 2010 – 11:57 am
At 6 a.m. the temperature started rising above 32°, and shot right up to 38° now (at 11:00). We’re in a warm bubble for the coming days, and that will hopefully dry up some roads, and clean up some driveways and parking lots. It feels balmy, but we always know that in a few weeks we’re likely to get either single-digit temperatures, or a blizzard, as payback.
I went down to Glen Haven and took these shots at the Cannery.
January 10, 2010 – 11:41 am
After once again denuding my holly bushes, now the deer are digging deep, looking for acorns.
January 9, 2010 – 3:41 pm
Today was the first day of sunshine since, uh, last year. It is just beautiful outside. I drove down to check the progress of the ice on Big Glen, and it’s coming along at a pretty normal clip. As you can see in these photos there is some pretty ice around the Narrows, and lots of blue/green open water. In the southwest corner it’s building up as always, and was sparkling in the sun.
It will be a good afternoon for a little cross country skiing. And then some Michigan basketball Sunday afternoon.
December 31, 2009 – 10:00 am
The wind is blowing, the lake is frozen, and on the far end are a couple of fishing shanties. Ahh, winter!
December 30, 2009 – 1:49 pm
I took my camera into the cafe when refilling my JoeMo, and snapped these photos of a few customers. BTW, we like to start them young! (Actually, the kids are drinking either hot chocolate or steamers).
December 29, 2009 – 11:59 am
A steady stream of cars have been arriving in Glen Arbor since Saturday, and today the cafe is really hopping with vacationers searching for snow, or just getting in a peaceful break from the downstate bustle. We had a nice dusting of snow yesterday, and that’s what the forecast holds into the New Year. It’s plenty cold out, and The Homestead and Crystal Mountain are making lots of snow; and there is enough snow in the woods for cross country skiing.
This morning my yard had a number of tracks, mostly deer going for the holly bushes, but there was a single line of tracks that came from behind my house, walked on the snowy deck, and into the yard when it appeared to go for the mice or voles under the snow. Based on the size and gait I’m thinking it was a bobcat, and I’m surprised because I’ve never seen any around the house, and didn’t know that they’d walk on the deck. But, if it wants to go after the rodents (including the deer!) I’m all for it.
December 22, 2009 – 12:39 pm
Yesterday’s gentle snow really spruced things up! It is sunny today and town just glistens. Lots of folks are in Glen Arbor this morning, either up for the holiday, or just in for a shopping visit. The phones are quieter today as the shipping season winds down, and everyone focuses on family and travel. We’re traveling all about as well, and wish you all a safe, relaxing, and happy holiday weekend!
December 8, 2009 – 12:25 pm
The Weather Service has been warning us for a few days that we’re going to have a blizzard beginning tonight. Starting at 10 p.m. they advise us to batten down the hatches for 12″ of snow, high winds, low wind chills, and then a lake effect snow kicker into Thursday morning. Usually we shrug it off as hysteria, but they were quite accurate last March, so we’re a bit more wary. Just in case, I’m going to clear the existing snow off my driveway tonight (I had thought I’d wait until there was more to handle). When I look at the national radar, I just don’t see the storm that was being predicted last night. Still, cold air over Lake Michigan usually makes snow. This is great news for both the skiing and snowmobiling industries, and probably why we call Michigan the Winter Water Wonderland.
