Molly's Blog

I had to post these photos, even though they aren't really recent.  Sometimes strange things can happen in Leland.  One day last spring I had a visitor in the store that I would have never expected.  I opened my office door and was surprised (maybe as much as he) by a screech owl.  I just received these photos via email from Rebecca Lessard at Wings of Wonder which is a raptor education, rehabilitation and research center in Leelanau County.  Rebecca was kind enough to come and rescue this little guy from my store.  She thought he was a little on the skinny side, so she kept him for a while, then released him near Empire, MI.  The best we could figure, he must have gotten in these old buildings somewhere and ended up entering my store through my basement door…who knows?

The colors this year really have been the best I have ever seen.  The sun was shining this morning on Pyramid Point and South Manitou Island over this stand of hardwoods…

As we get immersed in our daily routines, it can be easy to forget how beautiful our corner of northern Michigan is.  Visitors are always amazed at beauty of the Lake Michigan sunsets while I have to admit, I don't always get off the couch to look.  Tonight I did and it was worth the effort!

Today has been crazy.  Started out very dreary this morning, clearing up to a beautiful afternoon.  Here is a photo I took on my way home from Leland.  The autumn colors were absolutely brilliant.  Barely an hour later it turned into these awful, fast moving storms.  Who would ever know that Lake Michigan is out there?  It was hard to believe it was the same week, much less the same part of a day…the upside is the hint of a Lake Michigan sunset in the last photo.

The weather has been so beautiful in Leland all summer and into the fall.  Colors seem to be slow to change, but it won't be long before there is a change in temperature along with other surprises.  Here is a reminder of things to come - from years past.

Another fun activity on Oct 5 and 6th is the Leelanau County Fall for Art tour.  Over 20 artists open their galleries with refreshments and demonstrations.  For information call 231-334-4230 or check out their website at www.leelanau.com/fallforart

For those of you (like me) who love color, fabrics and yarns, Fiber Fest is coming up soon.  Oct 5th and 6th at the Old Art Building in Leland.    Artists with original fiber art will exhibit and sell their work in mediums of paper, wearable art (clothing), weaving, quilts, knits, fiber sculpture and basketry.  Admission is free and open to the public.  There will be a week of workshops beginning Oct 1 and a demonstration of natural dyes on the 6th.  For more info check out www.oldartbuilding.com 

   Big happenings in Leland this weekend.  The Leland Heritage Celebration on Saturday will feature the Fifth Annual Wooden Boats on the Wall featuring a vintage watercraft exhibit on the river and a photographic journal of wooden boats at the Leelanau Historical Museum.  Van's Garage will sponsor a classic car exhibition while across the street, the Old Art Building will feature artists who attended the MSU summer art program from 1939-1989.  Also, the Fishtown Fest - history, food and music in Leland's historic Fishtown.   

         these are my dogs, Zoie and Ranger, at Good Harbor Beach in the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore.