A Quieter, Gentler Time in Harbor Country

The summer is over, but honestly, September is one of the most beautiful months of the year out here. The weather is lovely ( 70s and sunny as I write), the beaches aren't crowded, the restaurants are open, serving wonderful local produce and the pace is a bit more relaxed! There is still plenty to do this month-- walk on the beaches; pick apples or peaches at a local orchard; watch the 5,000 cyclists as they ride in the Apple Cider Century on September 25th, enjoy the early leaves turning!

On Saturday, September 24th, the Tabula Rasa gallery will have their opening party from 1-5 p.m. The gallery is at 8918 First Street in Baroda.

Chikaming Open Lands' annual fall event at Middlebook Farm will be held from 5-7 pm onSaturday September 24th. Call 269-469-2330 for more details.

17TH ANNUAL OUTSIDERS OUTSIDE FAIR

Judith Racht is at it once again. This Friday, September 2nd, kicks off her 17th annual Outsiders Art Fair with its opening party starting at 6 pm EST. Get a first look at the art, listen to music by String Theory, raise a glass of your favorite beer and help Chikaming Open Lands raise money.

Admission $20 per person and includes admission throughout the weekend.

Saturday and Sunday 10-6 pm EST. Admission $10 each day; kids under 12 free.

Judith Racht Gallery Prairie Road and Red Arrow Highway Harbert

Copper Capers

Times are tough for many people, particularly here in Michigan... so tough that some enterprising thieves have apparently been keeping an eye on my brother's house this summer and finally got their opportunity! Using prybars, they ripped all the copper gutters off the house.

Sad to see it now, denuded and banged up.

But!! The wonderful Chikaming Police Department went to work and may have a suspect already, by contacting recycling and metals dealers. Keep your fingers crossed that some sort of justice may be done.

Our story is not the only one--- friends sold an older home in Chicago that had been in the family for a long time. Just before the closing --- I am told this is a pattern these days-- the thieves hit, taking all the copper pipes and plumbing fixtures. What a mess!! After a lot of work and expense and hassle, the house finally closed.

ReSale at Ship and Shore Festival

Just down the street from the center of Ship and Shore Days, visit the Goodwill Donation Center at 601 W. Buffalo Street ( on Red Arrow Highway), Auguts 12th-14th for antiques, collectibles, vintage clothing and more. Friday and Saturday 10-5 and Sunday 11- 4.

Small Gem

I'm highlightingone of my favorite stores this week. Worth a visit!

Catherine Doll- Fashion for Green Living. Clothing designer Catherine Doll has always been a leader and a visionary, as she shows in her eminently wearable, comfortable clothes. "Recycled, redone, remastered, deconstructed clothing at its best", she says. Located in the old Sawyer Fire Station in downtown Sawyer, just down from the Greenbush Brewery, a visit to Catherine Doll's is a must.

11- 5 pm daily except Wednesday. www.catherinedoll.com

July is Bustin' Out All Over

Pictures of some of my favorite flowers from my walks with the hounds.

Boats on the Water

I'm sorry to say that the lovely weather over the 4th of July seems to have brought out the ginormous boats and many boaters who have lifted more than a few brews while on the water.

I had a very unpleasant interaction with a drunk boater who was aggressive, threatening, cursing and so on. He retreated to his boat when I called in my brother and his family and the local police. But it is a sad time when a woman can't sit on her beach without being faced with a power boat 10 feet off the beach--- so close that I couldn't have gone for a swim- and then is screamed at when I asked him nicely to just push back 20 feet! Even his kids seemed embarassed after a while by the stand-off. It is sad that the landowners seem to have lost much of their rights to the beaches--- many who pay the majority of the real estate taxes due to the second home tax structure, while the boaters, who pay a yearly license fee, seem to have greater rights. Just a sad situation for our area.

My Neighbor's Garden

My neighbor is a gifted and enthusiastic gardener. This is a shot of her garden taken on my walk on Wednesday. Exuberance of early summer blooms!

Fireworks

The "formal" fireworks in the local cities and towns are scheduled for Sunday night, July 3rd, at dusk ( 9:30 ish EST). Go to the beach and you can watch the fireworks from St. Joe all the way south to Michigan City. Sometimes, on a clear night, you can see the fireworks off Navy Pier!

Flag Day Festivities

The Three Oaks Flag Day Festivities have gained a reputation for old- time, small town fun. Take the kids to the parade on Sunday but visit earlier in the weekend to enjoy the Farmer's Market, Petting Zoo, Children's games, Pet Parade and Art in the Park!

The fun kicks off on Friday at 5 pm with a Little League Tournament , followed by a Men's Softball Tournament. Music by Jester, Bone Naked and PS Dump Your Boyfriend at 8 pm.

Saturday sees a continuation of the softball tournaments. The Pet Parade, Petting Zoo and Children's Games start at 10 am. For the adults, a Wine Tent in Carver Park will feature local wines starting at noon.

Evening concerts start at 7 pm with the South Shore Concert Band, followed by Sterovain, Hired Hands and PS Dump Your Boyfriend at three locations.

On Sunday, the Parade starts at 2: 45 pm and is the 59th annual "World's Largest Flag Day Parade"! It will feature a military fly over by the Army National Guard.

Grab your flags and a chair and enjoy the fun!

Gluten-phobes Celebrate

The folks who brought you the delicious organic handcrafted baked goods of Bot Bakery have joined us out here in Harbor Country. They are selling their delicious gluten free and vegan baked goods at the Three Oaks Farmers Market ( and hope to expand to other markets in the area soon). I enjoyed their breakfast sweetbread chock full of apples and delicious almonds, last weekend, with my coffee. Do stop by their stall, say hi and welcome them and their wares to the area! I am sure that they would be happy to answer questions about gluten sensitivity and allergies as well.

Locavores and More Love Local

Pat and Ellie Mullins have the kind of culinary pedigrees that are more often seen in big cities like Chicago or San Francisco or New York. Both have worked as chefs in high end restaurants in Santa Barbara and Chicago, but moved to Harbor Country several years ago to work at Soe's and be closer to Pat's parents, who own Middlebrook Farms. Their philosphy is simple" Source and showcase the tastiest meats, cheeses and produce the Midwest has to offer. "

I have become a fan of their smoked turkey ( real turkey, smoked with a little salt) and their bratwurst. They are true artisans, creating food in small quantities that they can be proud of. Do visit them, chat about local food and take home some of their delicious wares!

Local: 424 East Buffalo St. New Buffalo ( about 1/4 block south of Redamak's on the west side of the street. It's a small house, so keep your eyes open! 269-231-5138 localfoodco@gmail.com. www.localnewbuffalo.com

I Love A Parade

So, okay, it doesn't exactly feel like it is the end of May... more like early October. But the weatherman promises that it will warm up this weekend! And Memorial Day kicks off the summer.. but do you and your kids remember why there is a Memorial Day? A good way to get back in touch with what it means is to go to a parade! Here's a list of just a few of them....

New Buffalo: 10 am ( EST) Parade and special appearance by the Lighthouse Chorus.

Lakeside: 12 noon. Meet in downtown Lakeside to walk across Red Arrow Highway to the cemetary. Special appearance by the Lighthouse Chorus. Decorate your bicycle, tricicyle or car and join the parade!

OMMMMM

Finally, I have been able to get back to practicing yoga after a too-long hiatus. We are fortunate here that there are two good studios to choose from. So you don't have to forego your practice even if you are out here on the weekends or on vacation.

Dancing Feet Yoga: 19135 West US Highway 12 New Buffalo ( on Red Arrow Highway south of New Buffalo) 269-479-1966 dancingfeetyoga.com

YOGAglow: 6 Linden Street - 2nd floor, Three Oaks. 269-697-4394 yogathreeoaks.com

Shore of Plenty Farmers Market

It's been a cold, rainy spring and I know all of us are waiting for the sun and some warmth!! We are getting some warmth, but as I look out the window and listen to the birds singing for rain, it seems that the sun is going to be elusive...again.

But this morning, I visited a new Farmer's Market in Harbert. Called" Know Yer (sic) Grower" and sponsored by Shore of Plenty, it is open from May to October and held on Tuesdays in Soe Cafe's parking lot from 5-7:30 pm and on Saturdays at the Harbert Community Park from 9-2 pm. ( All times are EST). What a sign that spring is actually here!

Produce isn't in yet, but the farmers are offering a wide array of flowering plants, herbs and vegetables. I talked to Mark at Blue Star Produce ( "certified wholistically grown"), who gave me growing and fertilizing advice on the heirloom tomato plants that I bought.
Bought some cookies from two lovely ladies ( one is getting married in August!) though I managed to resist the coconut balls that looked scrumptious!
And bought some flowering plants from Leo Jovanovich and discussed the River Valley schools.
Saw friends, learned some things, and in general, celebrated our lovely area and the talented farmers who are our neighbors. So, go visit them next Saturday or on your way home from wherever on Tuesday.

Driveway Bandits

We live in the country, but sadly, some of the challenges of big city living sometimes creep in.
Last weekend, there were several instances of cars broken into, with computers, i-pods, wallets, cell phones, etc stolen.
So, here are a couple of reminders to make your summer hassle free!
Men- don't leave your wallets in a car- locked or not
It's always a good idea not to leave anything that is valuable in a locked car, no matter where it is parked.
Lock your car, even if it is in your driveway or carport!
Be mindful of your surroundings.

Soe's Spring Awakening

Two friends and I had dinner two weeks ago at Soe's on a Thursday night. The new menu has kept some of the old favorites but added other selections that may just become favorites. The menu is still divided into snacks, small plates and large plates and the prices remain reasonable--~ 7 for small plates and salads; ~$15 for the main courses. We were all very pleased with our meals-- classic meatloaf, duck and for me, a salad, the mushroom appetizer and the chicken meatballs. The bigger eaters were pleased with their portions and I, a smaller eater, loved the sizes and took some meatballs home.
Service was timely but not intrusive. The server was pleasant and attentive but not hanging over our shoulders.
The new chef seems to be in tune with what will please the year-rounders and the seasonal folk alike. Do visit and give him a chance to show you what he can do. We enjoyed our meal-- hope you do too!

Hidden Gems

Many years ago, my grandmother shared her love of wildflowers with me, pointing out the blossoms half-hidden, often, under last year's leaves. We would put on old shoes and walk through the woods in Lakeside, through seasonal streams and over downed trees, to find the trillium, dog tooth violets and may apples that was sprinkled under the trees. These days, it can be more difficult to find some of these wildflowers, but it is always a treat to put on boots and walk through the woods to try to find them. I think of them as the hidden gems-- outside of the cultivated gardens, harder to find, but well worth the search! Grab your dog and a child's hand and take a walk in the woods.

Spring Flowers- Before the Snow

The gloriously hot Sunday last week prompted many of the flowers and bushes to put on their finest... Here are some shots from around the area.. before yesterday's snow!

Re-Fashionista

One of my favorite stores, POSH, featuring high end women's re-sale clothing and accessories, has outgrown its space on south Whittaker in less than a year! She is moving to a space in Lookout Landing--- right next to Marilyn's-- on Red Arrow Highway. (You know you are in the country when directions are in terms of landmarks, not addresses!) The expanded version of POSH will include Posh Home and Posh Kids- high end, lightly used furnishings and kids' upscale clothes. If you think of resale stores as frumpy, visit POSH-- it is beautifully retailed, with gorgeous clothes, shoes, handbags, scarves and jewelry for women. Like visiting the closets of your favorite fashionista friends! Can't wait to see what Rudy comes up with for the home and kids. The new address is 305 W. Buffalo Street. on Highway 12, New Buffalo. 269/469-5050. Current store hours until Memorial Day weekend are: Thursday - Saturday 11-4; Sunday 12-5. Beginning Memorial Day Weekend, they will be open 7 days a week with expanded hours.

Ch-Ch-Ch-Changes

Soe Restaurant in Sawyer has a new chef. Look for reflections from my dinner there next week! The owners of Greenbush Brewery in downtown Sawyer next to Fitzgerald's have been working very hard this winter, transforming Local Boy Laundry into a brewery with panache. They have remade the front of the building, opening it up so that you can view the brewing process and have uncovered the original bricks. Sawyer is movin' on up and going to be a place to be for beer and food this summer!

Art Attack

Don't miss Art Attack Weekend - April 30th and May 1st. It's a fun chance to catch up with what the local artists have been working on all winter, to raise a glass of wine to spring at the local openings and to immerse yourself in some of the local fun! Writer, actress and local radio personality Gail Isaacson will be at the Fritz Olsen Gallery - 6914 W. Holloway Drive in Sawyer at Saturday night's wine reception from 5:30-8:00 p.m. EST. At 6 p.m., she will present 3 live 10-minute plays with Robert Swan, Gwynne Winsberg and Arnie Saks. The evening, which benefits local radio station WRHC, is bound to be fun! Dream Weaver, fiber artist Lisa Gilman will display her 100% natural fiber creations and wearable art. She will also be giving spinning wheel and drop spindle demonstrations.

Welcome, Spring !

The snowdrops are gleaming against the brown ground; the bluebells are peeking out and I have seen crocusi in sheltered sunny spots. Spring is a'comin' in- loud sing the cookoo! I took the winter off to re-charge . Spent some time in Charleston, South Carolina- a charming place to winter. Winter rental prices at a quarter of those in Florida, there are great restaurants and interesting things to do. Came back to cold, but hope for spring! Now I am back to report on what is new and what is happening in Harbor Country and beyond. There are some fun and exciting things brewing here-- literally and figuratively. Look for more posts in the coming weeks!