Hi Mom and Dad! Welcome to the U.P.

It’s not suppose to snow until October 15th.  We thought we had an agreement with Mother Nature.  No snow until mid-October.  We thought she signed on the dotted line, especially after our summer-less summer.  (Except for Beautiful September, in which summer finally decided to pay us all a little belated visit.) 

But no!  Mother Nature cheated.  First she doused us with a hard frost last night and sent the temperature down to the upper 20’s.  Then, this morning, the snow flurries started blowing in on the north wind.  It looked like mid-winter for a few minutes there.  Except, of course, nothing was sticking to the ground.  The snow just looked fierce.

And actually, I admit, we were all a little exhilarated.  Snow!!  Like children we stood outside enjoying the flakes, taking photos, getting some red in our cheeks as the wind blew here and there.  My parents, I think, were secretly glad that they could return to the Lower Peninsula next week with the exciting news of  seeing October snow.

Snow against the spruce tree

We lounged inside much of the morning, enjoying the warmth of the woodstove, good conversation and laughter.  After a lunch of yellow split pea soup (mine) and Povety Sop* (my mother’s) Mom and I decided to go for a brisk walk.  I insisted she put on my heavy winter Columbia jacket.  She was glad to comply.

We walked down to the Eagle Pond.  I pointed to the house where the two roaming dogs used to live and smugly said, “Well at least they’re gone now.  Now we can walk without dogs accompanying us!”

We turned off into the woods to the sound of a nearby dog collar tinkling through the trees.  And, sure enough, we soon had a new wild and crazy puppy joining us on our walk.

Hello doggy

We aimed back toward the lake repeating to the dog quite sharply,  “Down!”  “Sit!”  “Get away!” as he threatened to knock us off our feet.  We didn’t dare throw sticks in case he decided to adopt us and follow us home and live here forever.  We tried to be stern and yet friendly.  What a crazy big-footed slurpy fellow he was. 

The minute he saw the waters of the Huron Bay (ice cold though they may have been) he romped in for a little swim.

Dog in lake

My mom knew we were looking for photos of red trees reflecting in Lake Superior.  We had a little problem locating red trees along our path.  There were plenty of yellow-leafed trees, but no red ones.  Then Mom said, “Oh, look at that beautiful red reflection in the water!”

I peered down by the dog.  No beautiful red reflection.  Just looked like waves and brown water.  What was she talking about?

We peered longer.  She was about to suggest something might be wrong with my eyes.  When we remembered the polarized sunglasses she wore.  I put them on and, sure enough, what a beautiful red reflection on the water!

It's a different world out there with polarized sunglasses

On the really really brisk walk up the road (oh weren’t we glad we wore our winter coats?) we spotted a wooly caterpillar.  You’re suppose to be able to predict the length and severity of the winter by the coat on these caterpillars.  I am posting this picture so you can make your prediction.  Will winter be over with by March?  April?  May?  What do you think?

 

And how long do you think winter will last?

* P.S.  “Povety Sop” is an ancient family recipe passed down from generation to generation.