Glen Arbor

  Glen Arbor, Michigan, United States
Monday, October 1, 2007

Chloe and Tucker, my friend's Brittany Spaniels - made sure I woke up by greeting me with sloppy wet dog kisses. After a round of coffee and a quick shower, I needed to start packing up for the last 45 minute ride up to Glen Arbor.
 
My generous friend Kimberli was kind enough to loan me her projection system to hook into my laptop. That way, I can have a nice large display of my images next Tuesday evening at the Glen Arbor Art Center. We tested the system to make sure it would work - and it did, without a hitch.
 
She also made me a quick breakfast of fried eggs, and invited me to come kayaking on Wednesday morning at Brown Bridge Pond just south of Traverse City. If the weather forecast is decent, I'll go back and spend Tuesday evening with her, because we'll have to get up very early and load the kayaks. Kimberli - again - thanks for being such a great pal!
 
I drove along M-72 and headed up near Maple City, and then over to Glen Arbor. I took a few back roads for the heck of it along the way just to see the countryside. Again - it was a bit overcast so the colors aren't quite jumping out yet, but they look promising.
 

Looks Official...

Upon my arrival at the Glen Arbor Art Association building, my host Midge Obata met me with my apartment key, and then took me over to see the Thoreson Farm in the Port Oneida Historic District. For the past three years, the GAAA has been working with the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore to restore this historic farm in the Park. The objective is the development of a site which can expand their programs such as Artist-in-Residence, summer workshops and Manitou Music Festival events. It was a very serene, pastoral location, and as soon as the weather improves, I will do more photography of this beautiful farm.
 
Midge also introduced me to several other Glen Arbor artists and took me through a few of their studios:
Forest Gallery
Center Gallery
Lake Street Studios

I'm very impressed by the amount and quality of the art here - it seems to be a community of artistic folks! Midge is a textile artist, and also does bookbinding, as well as working as a chocolatier at The Grocer's Daughter (I just know I won't be able to resist getting a few treats from here). And Midge's son, daughters and a few other family members are all very talented artists and musicians in their own right. So much talent in one group!
 

Home Away From Home

Living Area

My apartment is much more spacious than I anticipated, and very nicely furnished. It sits back in the trees and has nice skylights in each room. I was told the community had a large fundraising effort in 2000. The land and materials were donated to build this impressive little center.  The center below my apartment has variety of art classes, a weekly open artist studio, poetry and prose readings, artist-in-residence presentations and receptions, yoga classes, a monthly open quilting studio, and Board Meetings.

Cherry Republic

Winery at Cherry Republic

I unloaded my car and after getting a few things situated, decided to go out exploring. I didn't get very far. At the end of the driveway as I was about to pull out - was Cherry Republic. Just take a look at what they have to offer, and you'll see why this is a major "must-do" here in Glen Arbor. The garden and the cute buildings stopped me immediately. But then I went inside...and WOW! Wines. Sodas. Snacks. Ice Cream. Jams and jellies. BBQ sauce. Everything made with cherries in it.

I started in the winery and had a few sips. Then I headed to the retail shop, where you can taste just about everything (and I did!). I finally ended up in the bakery and cafe - where I "settled" on a BoomChuggaLugga Cherry Soda Pop and a Double Dark Chocolate Boomchunka Cookie. Yes - this was my lunch. Hey - I'll be hiking it off, right?

Cherries Everywhere

Happily munching on that delicious cookie - I headed back to the Port Oneida area. I stopped at Thoreson Farm again, but it was very windy and the lighting just wasn't right for photos yet. What I did get - however - was something very interesting. When Midge took me there, she pointed out there were special heirloom hollyhocks growing alongside the outhouse building. The flowers were planted in advance of the Port Oneida Festival. Heirloom plants are garden plant that has a history of being passed down within a family, just like pieces of heirloom jewelry or furniture. Because some of the flowers have started going to seed right now, Midge told me to collect a few of the pods for my own garden. How fun! Now I can have some next year in my own yard to remind me of my time here.

Map of Port Oneida

There's a lot of information about this historic area, so I'll just list some links. Take a tour:
Friends of Sleeping Bear Tour
National Park Service Virtual Tour

Beach View

I wandered around for a few more minutes, and then went to nearby Sunset Trail to see Lake Michigan. It seemed like I was the only human around for miles. In the distance, I could spot a large group of swans and a few comorants, so I grabbed my camera gear and headed down. It was much too windy along the lake edge. I watched the dune grass flying all around in the wind. The cormorants sensed I was coming and few off, and the swans just slowly got into the water and floated off to a safe distance. I realized quickly there were no photos to be taken, so I wandered back to the car. Because of this darned cold, I was huffing and puffing by the time I made it back, and I hadn't gone very far. The over-the-counter medicines and an antibiotic aren't working...maybe I should try a tequila shot next?

Using a National Park Service map, I spent the rest of the evening wandering the back roads of the Port Oneida area. At one point the sun came out nicely, and I managed a photo of a building at the Martin Basch Farm. I would have liked to have hiked out to Pyramid Point, but I'll save that for better weather (and less coughing!).

Martin Basch Farm

There wasn't much of a sunset due to the overcast sky, so I went back "home", stopping at the local IGA store for a few snacks. I discovered I turned up the refrigerator too high, and most everything in there was frozen! Oh, well.

Day's End

I had a dinner of egg salad on crackers and called home to see how the boys were doing. Everyone was just fine - and in fact - they were ready to watch a "Veggie Tales" movie. So they weren't all too fired up to talk to me just them. Everything is just fine and normal at home!