South Bend and Beyond

Had a wonderful trip to South Bend, Indiana, and other locations Thursday and Friday.

Dropped off work to CircaArts Gallery in South Bend, where I met Kathy, the owner, and her supervisor, Zoe the long-haired black-and-white kitty, who gave me a much needed feline fix and seemed to approve of me; you can see a picture of her overseeing Christmas decorating on their Facebook page. Then it was up to South Haven, Michigan, and a stop at the South Haven Center for the Arts, where I met young Phoenix, a young all-black lady (about four months old) who loved to stand up on my shoulders and lean into my head as she looked out the window - another much appreciated feline fix.

Then I headed toward Kalamazoo where I stopped at Hidden Savanna Native Plant Nursery to see my friend Chad and pick up some American Beech, Dwark Chinkapin Oak, Black Oak and Sassafras leaves with the help of his four-year-old son, Henrik. Then I dropped work off at Nature Connection Kalamazoo with my friend Laurie Russell, stopped at the Expo Center to visit with my friend Cleve Hayes of Puddingstone Farms, then finally to my friends' Bob and Julie to for some great food, great talk and a very comfortable bed.

Friday I "did" Ann Arbor (as much as I "do" Ann Arbor), with stops at Rovin Ceramics for 500 pounds of clay, my friend Carol's to share some pottery with her (where I met her Siamese Saatchi, who is the first cat to remind me of my trans-species soulmate, Gus), the The Ann Arbor Art Center to drop off work with Amy and meet Nathan, picking up some more Cherry Republic Barbeque Sauce and seeing my friend Jill and replenishing my stock of 18-year-old Balsamic Vinegar and Fused Meyer Lemon Olive Oil at Fustini's Oils and Vinegars. A good trip!

One Heck of a Slide....

Wildflowers to the west of Grand Marais

The main reason we had driven into Grand Marais was because my friend Janine Bauchat, who works at Dancing Eye Gallery in Northville, Michigan, had told me about a shop a friend of hers owned, Campbell Street Gallery, there in town. Janine had told me the owner, Jo, split her time between Grand Marais and downstate, so we weren't sure if she was around. We had stopped at the gallery we first arrived in town but it was after regular business hours so we couldn't be sure if she was in or out.

Looking east over the Log Slide

When we got up Saturday morning, we decided to check out the Log Slide about which the gentleman whose garden we had visited had told us. We took a long, winding drive on County Road 58, which now connects Grand Marais with Munising. Finding the turnoff for the Log Slide, we parked and walked into the woods, a mixture of American Beech (Fagus grandifolia, now being hit by Beech Bark Disease), Sugar Maple (Acer saccharum) and Striped Maple (Acer pensylvanicum). There were all kinds of wildflowers in the understory, including False Solomon' Seal (Smilacina racemosa), beautiful native sedges (Carex spp.) and Poison Ivy (Toxicodendron radicans). 

Looking west toward Pictured
Rocks National Lakeshore

We finally made our way to the promontory and the lookout over Lake Superior. To our right, we could see the remnant scar of the great log slide used by the timber industry, where the huge trees were flung down to the lake to be rafted east to Grand Marais, thence to be shipped south for the rampant building industry. To our left, we could see the sweeping coastal bluff, heading toward Picture Rocks National Monument.

On our way back to the car, I was once again struck by the floral diversity and the immense leaves on the Beech and Maple saplings. (Oftentimes, the leaves on juvenile trees are larger than on mature trees of the same species, in order to maximize the plant's ability to generate food on a limited amount of wood.)

We drove on back to Grand Marais, checking in at Campbell Street Gallery, which was still and silent. A peek in the windows let me see that my friend Melanie Boyle's (Clever Lotus Design) work is available there, which was good to see. Leaving a CD in the door, Theresa and I began our uneventful trip back south, feasting on pasties along the way....

The Best Whitefish. Ever.

Audrey Chamberlin, Gallery Manager, Vertin Gallery,
Calumet, Michigan

 Friday morning, July 20, 2012, dawned in Houghton, Michigan with little fanfare. I had not been able to get anything done on the blog for technical reasons for the past couple of days and only managed to get one post done between getting breakfast (that waffle set-up at the Travelodge isn't half bad!) and heading out of town. The indefatigable Theresa had scouted out Suomi Bakery and ascertained the pasties would be ready to pick up around 10:30 - she had put in our order in of four fresh and two frozen (for Theresa to take home).

Having finished the one blog post for which I had time, we stopped at the bakery and then headed over the bridge toward Calumet and Vertin Gallery. We needed gas and stopped at the BP in Hancock. Where they pump the gas for you. That's right. It was a full-service gas station. I literally cannot remember the last time I experienced such a thing. (And yes, I did give a tip to the very friendly and professional young man who assisted us.) The entire experience was very disorienting for Theresa and I, as we have a "system" when we drive together, in which she gets out and pumps the gas while I take care of recording the transaction and filing the documentation. This new innovation was very confusing!

Peterson's Fish Market - for excellent whitefish

Driving on to Calumet, we arrived in town and parked in our (now) familiar spot at the Vertin Gallery. Bin after bin of pottery made their way into the gallery, as well as work for Chris Hopp of Farmbrook Designs. We dropped off all kinds of tiles, including Sheep Tiles (for you "Woolies" out there), Farm Animal Tiles (Cow, Chicken, Rooster), Michigan Tiles, Sunflower Tiles and Hot Pepper Tiles; Birds; a bunch of Leaves (small and tiny); and an assortment of buttons. As Audrey and I were going over the inventory, I recounted to her how I had not been able, on our last to get a good whitefish dinner. She strongly recommended stopping at Peterson's Fish Market on our way back down the Keweenaw, mentioning that it was right across the road from the Quincy Mine, an old mine that had been converted to something of a tourist attraction. I remembered seeing the mine on our way out and even glimpsing the fish market. We were on our way. Audrey advised us that one order could be enough for both of us, as the servings were quite generous.

Before

Well, we found it. Right across from the Quincy Mine. And it isn't really particularly prepossessing. There's this big warehouse-type building with what looks like a food truck with an outdoor cafeteria attached to it. The menu is simple - baked or fried whitefish with coleslaw and either French fries or baked potato ($10) or scalloped sweet potatoes ($12). Both Theresa and I went for the baked whitefish with the scalloped sweet potatoes, forgetting, until after we had both ordered and paid, that Audrey had said one order might be enough for both of us.

After

Well, it's a good thing we forgot. There are a few things in this life I don't share. The Maple Shortbread Bars from Greengos for one. Tiramisu, for another. When I could still eat them, my friend Debbie's Chocolate Chip Pecan Espresso Biscotti (too much caffeine now). And I think we can now add Peterson's Baked Whitefish. I was willing to say it was as good as Boone's in Glen Arbor but Theresa (and she has more experience with this stuff, I will admit) declared it the best whitefish she has had. Ever. Period. And until we have the opportunity to get out to Wilcox Fisheries on Whitefish Bay near Brimley, the other place Audrey told us about (after calling a friend to get the correct name - apparently she's owed some good whitefish, too), the title will have to go to Peterson's Fish Market in Hancock, Michigan.

After lunch, we headed back east, passing through Marquette (neato pottery gallery there with really nice, helpful folks), Michigamme, Munising and on to Grand Marais. It was a long day and a long drive, but getting to the bay was a treat, especially as the water was so warm. We dined on pasties and visited with a local gardener who was watering the plantings around the pavilion in which we were dining, and even invited us to visit his garden, an invitation we accepted with alacrity. Theresa and I were both interested in ice cream for some reason, and our kind host advised us we could get some at the North Shore Lodge. We were, strictly speaking, after hours but the young man obliged with some ice cream and, upon inquiry, a motel room. A walk along the beach outside the point (the water was a lot rougher and cooler, which was nice for Theresa's aching feet and ankles) to watch the sunset and collect some beautiful stones (and some fairly expert stone skipping by Theresa) ended our day.

Across the Strait to Points Beyond....

After a pretty decent night's sleep, Theresa and I got ourselves together (trying not to disturb our hosts) and headed out into a drizzly, mizzly day. Our first priority was picking up the pieces from ArtCenter Traverse City's "Art and the Garden" exhibit. Luckily, the ArtCenter wasn't far from Renate's home; unfortunately, Kathryn wasn't there as we hoped. Good thing the Bayview Inn was about a block back up Highway 31, well within walking distance. We got a good breakfast, discussing the next phase of our trip. By the time we finished eating, cashed out and made our way back to the ArtCenter, Kathryn had arrived and we were able to load in the artwork and drive on to Elk Rapids.

Blue Heron Gallery on a sunnier day

Our next stop was the Blue Heron Gallery (131 Ames Street, Elk Rapids, MI 49629), where we rendezvoused with Pat Curran, dropping off all kinds of stuff - Hot Pepper Tiles, Sunflower Tiles and Wildflower Tiles, Embossed Leaf Bowls and Applied Leaf Bowls, a Large Bird Bowl, Green Man/Woman Masks, Heart-shaped Lace Bowls, various Leaves and a small selection of Deluxe Sunflowers. Even though we were a bit early, Pat was ready for us so we were able to quickly load in the bins of work, get the paperwork signed and head back out into the rain. We took a quick stop in town at Nature Connection and talked with the clerk there before heading on to Petoskey.

On our way into town, we stopped at Sturgeon River Pottery (3031 Charlevoix Ave., Petoskey, MI 49770) to take a quick look around, inside and out (the weather was still less than pristine). They've got a pretty varied inventory, including both functional and decorative pottery, other handcrafted items such as furniture, bird houses and weathervanes, as well as a comprehensive selection of wild bird supplies. They also have a very cool, highly-socialized pooch with whom I spent a fair bit of down-time before we headed onto town proper.

It was clearly time for lunch and we had hoped to stop in at the Twisted Olive (319 Bay Street), which Lucy at the Crooked Tree Art Center had recommended to us the last time we were on our way through Petoskey. We thought we might have a good chance of getting in, seeing as it was only Thursday, but the place had a line out the door - it was, after all, prime lunch hour. So, we opted, once again, for the Roast & Toast, where we got the soup/half sandwich. We had to park well out of the downtown area - no problem we could use the walk! - and decided to drop in at Crooked Tree to see Lucy before heading across the bridge and on up to Houghton for the night.

Luckily, we got an earlier start than last time and managed to make it to the motel before dark. We were even able to get into the Ambassador Restaurant before sundown after walking around town and checking out Suomi Home Bakery and Restaurant: peeking in the window, we could see folks making pasties for the next day's sales. After a great dinner of salad, pizza and beer at the Ambassador (this is fast becoming one of "our places"), it was back to the Travelodge for a good night's sleep.

Second Day Out....

It's taken me a while to get back to this - our last trip up North. Haven't had the time or, alternatively, been in the right mind set to write (have to sit still, you know)!

Sue Ann Hanson (l) and Theresa Dearhamer (r)
hanging at The Red Door

We left pretty early on Wednesday, July 18, for parts west and north. I had messaged a couple of "old" (as in, "I've known them for a while", old) friends that I was going to be stopping in Ludington, in hopes that I might be able to connect with at least one of them. My friend Sabrina Borashko (nee Mollitor) had been one of my best friends during my undergrad sojourn at Michigan State and had married and relocated to Ludington years ago. Sue Ann Hanson, also President Emeritus of Master Gardeners of Greater Detroit (she succeeded my "administration") had retired from Wayne County and relocated there with her husband, Charlie Bristol, more recently. Sue Ann had suggested I investigate the Red Door Gallery as a possible venue for my work.

North Breakwater Lighthouse, Ludington, MI

Unfortunately, as I don't have a "smart" phone (I used to have a stupid phone; now I have a "smarter" phone but not a "smart" phone), folks were not able to message me. Luckily, I did have a phone number for Sue Ann and we did connect as Theresa and I were getting close to our destination. We met up in front of the gallery, which, unfortunately, was unexpectedly closed. I slid a CD with product information through the mail slot and we decided to walk around a bit. We ended up stopping at a couple of antiquey places and found a bunch of old power line insulators, which my friend Chris Hopp of Farmbrook Designs uses in some of his products. After some harried phone calls (I'm sure he thought I had decided to stalk him), I managed to get quite a few for him, including some beautiful ones in turquoise. (I even managed to get 10% off at Coles Antiques Villa because I was so helpful and patient!)

The Secret Garden, Empire, MI

As we were getting ready to head back out, Sue Ann admonished us that we really ought to take a brief detour to see the North Breakwater Lighthouse in Stearns Park. So, Theresa and I drove out that way and did stop to see it before continuing on North to Empire.

We made it to Empire, home of The Secret Garden (10206 W. Front St., Empire, MI 49630), just short of lunch time. We met with Cindy Taggart and dropped off the work she had requested, including Applied Leaf Bowls, Sunflower Tiles and Hand-painted Wildflower Tiles. By this time, despite having availed ourselves of the healthy snacks we had packed for the trip, both of us were definitely hungry. Cindy recommended Joe's Friendly Tavern (11015 W. Front Street, Empire, MI 49630), just down the street. We got a couple of take-out chicken sandwiches (which, by the way, were really good, and they were friendly, too!) and got back on the road with miles still to go before we reached our resting place for the night.

Ruth Conklin Gallery, Glen Arbor, MI

Next stop was Ruth Conklin Gallery in Glen Arbor (6632 Western Avenue, Glen Arbor, MI 49636) to drop off work for Black Cat Pottery as well as Farmbrook Designs. One thing I really appreciate is Ruth's no-nonsense approach to things - I can count on getting in and out within about 20 minutes, even with a lot of stuff! We dropped some more sunflowers and daisies, mostly in the warmer colors that seem to move so well for Ruth, as well as some of Chris Hopp's Michigan (LP and UP) Stepping Stones.

Ruth encouraged us to look around the gallery to see how she had hung the pieces; Theresa was good enough to take both an exterior shot of the gallery as well as an interior shot of some of the flowers. I really like how the rich colors she has chosen for her walls complement the colors of the glazes and stains I like most for my creations - a truly great combination!

Having completed our work in Glen Arbor, we drove on to Suttons Bay to hook up with Sue Ann Round of Michigan Artists Gallery (309 N. St. Joseph, Suttons Bay, MI 49682). This was our last delivery stop; the car was beginning to look a little... lighter by now. Sue Ann had requested Hot Pepper Tiles, Wildflower Tiles (including Hand-painted) and Michigan Tiles, as well as some Indigo Float Lace Bowls and a set of Embossed Leaf Bowls. We dropped all of these off and visited briefly before heading up the Leelanau Peninsula to check out Tamarack Gallery in Omena, then swung down to Gallery 22 in Suttons Bay, where I found a beautiful hand-turned Black Walnut bowl to hold the stones I had collected near Poorrock Abbey during our last trip north.

Finally, we headed on to Acme to spend the night with our friend Renate Favour of Etc. Designs, who had just moved into her new home. There, we were handsomely fed while visiting with her daughter Olivia and her good friend Amy and enjoying the sunset over Lake Michigan, finally falling asleep to the sound of traffic on Highway 31.

Into the Great White North - for the Second Time....

We're now into Day 4 of our most recent odyssey, but I'm pretty far behind in my documentation of our trip. So, I'm going to try to get at least one day recorded this morning and we'll see how it goes tonight.

My friend Theresa and I set out on Tuesday afternoon - I actually picked her up and took her to an appointment so we could leave directly from there. Typically, we headed out to Dewitt to see our friends Chris Hopp and Chelsea Martin, where we can always count on the best hospitality - great food, comfortable beds and affectionate animals.

We stopped at Summertime Concrete where Chris, while Gar is on vacation with his wife Gerrie, is running things with his usual unassuming yet effective management style. I was able to collect some really huge Eastern Cottonwood (Populus deltoides) leaves to fashion into leaf dishes and other beautiful objects when I get home. We then headed over to the Martin homestead where Chelsea had already arrived home from work and her sister, Andrea, was in town visiting from Grand Rapids.

Chelsea with her homemade scones and jams
 - what a great breakfast!

On our way, Theresa  and I stopped, as we usually do, at the local Meijer and picked up some good beer (Oberon and Amber Ale from Bell's in Kalamazoo), dessert (Italian Cream Cheese Cake) and some flowers (pink carnations and white zinnias) as our thank offering. Theresa, as is her wont, helped Chelsea by skewering the beef and lamb for the kebabs we were having for dinner while Chelsea herself finished the brown rice, kale and chard rice bake she had started the day before. To sustain us, she also prepared a tray with some cheese selections, smoked fish and capicola and cashews with crackers (the goat cheese was fantastic) until Chris returned from work later in the evening.

Some of the chickens, including Keewee (upper left),
Raptor (center) and Feather (partially hidden
behind other hen at right)

Dinner was terrific, as always. Chelsea is a fantastic cook. Theresa and I both would like to keep her on retainer - just to cook, allowing her to do her own thing ("things", actually - she's endlessly curious and seems to do everything exceptionally) the rest of the time. We just need to make a lot of money to pay her what she's worth. (We aren't even close, yet.)

We had a great time with all the resident non-human animals - including visiting with Stormy (the Lab), Chloe (the Yorkie), Hershey (the Chesapeake Bay) and Sister and Sam (litter mate kitties); 'Pants (Feline Empress) did not deign to present herself - briefly - until the next morning. I, personally, am fascinated with their chickens and we all spent a bit of time hanging out with them. I managed to get a rather blurry picture of three of my favorites - Keewee, Raptor and Feather - before we left Wednesday morning, having had a delicious breakfast of homemade scones and jam which had been intended as dessert the night before. Oh, and I was also gifted with a half dozen of Chelsea's very own granola bars, which I do not share with anyone.

After a bit of back and forth (a forgotten phone figures here), we got on the road for Ludington, Empire, Glen Arbor and parts beyond.

Home Again, Home Again, Jiggidy-Jig

Sunday started out pretty drearily. We had hoped to take a cruise to see the Pictured Rocks and then head out to Whitefish Point to sight-see, collect some cool rocks and eat some fresh fish. But the weather was grotty, which was a good thing for the firefighters up in Luce County but not so great for us "tourists". Theresa and I opted for the breakfast buffet at The Dogpatch (there isn't much else in Munising, as it turns out) and then, when the weather didn't improve but, in fact, worsened, began our journey home. Admittedly, I was anxious about the cats - I hadn't been away this long in a very long time - and the garden, not knowing it had rained at home on Saturday.

The drive was beautiful - the intermittent rain heightened the green of "all those trees" and we actually saw a couple pairs of Sandhill Cranes to the south fo the highway, feeding placidly in the gentle rain. We hit the Mackinac Bridge by about 11:00, stopping in Mackinaw City because Theresa wanted to get me some rain gear, which will be much appreciated, as I can't remember the last time I had a piece of attire actually designed and intended to keep me dry! Continuing south on I-75, we hit some seriously squally weather, only keeping going by maintaining a safe visual on the vehicles in front of us. We gassed up again and, just short of West Branch, Theresa took over the driving. Looking back to the North, we agreed it was a good thing we hadn't been able to see how bad the weather had really been and felt for the folks driving straight into the maelstrom.

Provisioned by leftover pasties, we were able to drive straight through to Roseville, getting Theresa home by 3:00 - we made the trop from Munising to the Detroit-metro area in about six hours. When I got home a short while later, Auntie Jeanne was hanging with the kids.

The trip was exhausting but worth while. Others are definitely in the future, so hopefully I'll be able to get back to the Pictured Rocks and have some fresh Lake Superior whitefish before the year is out! Stay tuned!

Announcements - Save the Date(s)

Aquilegia canadensis
(Eastern Columbine)

June 2, 2012 (Saturday), 10:00am-2:00pm: Annual Spring Garden Tour.  Cheryl's life-long love of Clematis and more recent obsession with native plants are both immediately apparent as you walk through her garden. Designed as a constantly-evolving teaching and learning space rather than a design show-stopper, her garden includes over 50 Clematis, representing over 10 species as well as large-flowering hybrids, and over 150 species of native plants, ranging from Spring ephemerals to large trees. Take advantage of this opportunity to become acquainted with some of the lesser-known small-flowering species Clematis varieties and the beauties of our native flora, including innovative cultural ideas for marginal species. Cheryl's garden was featured in the July 2009 issue of Michigan Gardener and she penned an article on native plants for the May 2012 issue of the same publication. The tour also features locally-created garden art and refreshments. The event is located at 3903 Grayton St., Detroit, MI 48224; call (313) 885-3385 or (313) 690-3385 or e-mail cenglish@blackcatpottery.com for more information. (If you or your group cannot make the scheduled tour dates, private tours can be arranged by appointment.)

Large Sunflower Leaf

June 9-10 (Saturday, 10a-7p, and Sunday 11a-5p): Royal Oak Clay, Glass & Metal Show. Check out 125 top-notch folks working in the "hot arts" - clay, glass and metal, in Royal Oak along Washington Ave. I'll be there - stop by and say, "Hey!" Great art, great music, great food and great atmosphere - what more can you ask for??? I'll have my usual display of garden-inspired art - Sunflowers (Original/Fancy/Deluxe, Mini/Tiny/Small/Medium/Large/Extra-Large/Ginormous), Daisies (Shasta/Gerbera/Black-eyed Susan, Baby, Small and Deluxe), Toadstools (Original/Deluxe), Toad Abodes (including Fairy Houses), Bird Bowls (Hanging or "standing"), as well as my newer creations, including Hot Pepper Tiles, Wildflower Tiles, Embossed and Applied Leaf Bowls and maybe a large Sunflower Leaf or two!

Phlox pilosa
(Downy or Prairie Phlox)

August 18, 2012 (Saturday), 10:00am-2:00pm: Annual Summer Garden Tour.  Cheryl's life-long love of Clematis and more recent obsession with native plants are both immediately apparent as you walk through her garden. Designed as a constantly-evolving teaching and learning space rather than a design show-stopper, her garden includes over 50 Clematis, representing over 10 species as well as large-flowering hybrids, and over 150 species of native plants, ranging from Spring ephemerals to large trees. Take advantage of this opportunity to become acquainted with some of the lesser-known small-flowering species Clematis varieties and the beauties of our native flora, including innovative cultural ideas for marginal species. Cheryl's garden was featured in the July 2009 issue of Michigan Gardener and she penned an article on native plants for the May 2012 issue of the same publication. The tour also features locally-created garden art and refreshments. The event is located at 3903 Grayton St., Detroit, MI 48224; call (313) 885-3385 or (313) 690-3385 or e-mail cenglish@blackcatpottery.com for more information. (If you or your group cannot make the scheduled tour dates, private tours can be arranged by appointment.)

There and Back Again

Day four of our trip started out in Houghton with clear skies and warm weather. After a quick breakfast at the Travelodge, Theresa headed the CR-V toward Calumet, just a few miles away. The gallery wasn't going to open until 11:00 but we thought we could wander the town for an hour or so until such time, familiarizing ourselves with the environs at leisure.

Historic Vertin Bros. Department Store, Calumet, MI

It didn't take us long to get to the gallery, arriving shortly after 10:00am. We parked the car on the street - noticing that the meters are located up close to the buildings, to allow for seasonal snow removal. (There are also signs posting no parking during snow season, 7p-2a, every day.) We noticed a jumble sale up the street, checking the contents out for possible future bird homes by our friend Tim Hanks. Thereafter, we wandered up 7th Street, over on Elm and then to 5th. The town was still pretty sleepy so we had plenty of opportunity to enjoy the architecture of this town that aspired to be the capitol of a separate state - and may still be...? We checked out a couple of shops, including the Ed Gray Gallery, finally coming back to the Vertin Gallery shortly after 11:00.

Vertin Gallery, Calumet, MI

Audrey, the Gallery Director, had not yet arrived, so I decided to wait while Theresa went in search of more Roseville Pottery and vintage head vases. Finally, Audrey arrived, having started her morning shipping a painting to a client. We got most of the pottery into the gallery and started unpacking, starting with the leaf pockets. When I assemble an inventory, especially for a new gallery, I create a document with "check boxes" so they can just select the pieces the want, making the whole inventory situation much easier. Well, Audrey liked everything I brought and actually wanted more. Theresa having arrived by this time, she showed Audrey the contents of the sample box while I hunted around for additional business cards, the result a list of additional work we could bring "any time" - including my lace buttons. (Audrey is, in addition to Gallery Director, a fiber artist.) We also shared the work of our artist friends, for most of whom Audrey took additional information, already bubbling with presentation ideas for Chris Hopp's hypertufa designs.

Charley Parker's Poster Design for
Isle Royale National Park

Finally taking our leave, Theresa drove on toward Copper Harbor. The drive was beautiful-woodsy and demanding - the road is series of tight twists and turns. We drove as far as we could toward the point, then back in town. We stopped at a couple of galleries, meeting Steve Brimm, a photographer who lives part of the year in North Carolina, and the Laughing Loon/Patchword Books, where I found some new titles about wildflowers (of course) and Charley Harper's poster commemorating Isle Royale. Wandering west on US-41, we found Gallery 41, a small gallery specializing in UP artists, again run by friendly folks from North Carolina, as well as their collection of German Shorthair Pointers.Steve had given us good directions to get to Brockway Mountain so we could get a good look-out over Lake Superior, although it was pretty hazy by the time we got up to the top. Theresa told me it's the same friendly German woman (and Golden Retriever) who tends the gift shop up there as she remembered from some years ago.

Beginning our trip home, we took M-26 west, stopping in the Keweenaw Shore Nature Sanctuary to collect some memory stones - mostly smooth red granite characteristic of the region. Driving on further, we came to the Poorrock Abbey, Society of St. John, where we stopped at the "Jam Pot" and selected some handmade breads and preserves, including choice Thimbleberry jam (which I will not be sharing, so don't even ask!) We carried on to just shy of Calumet, gassing up a few gallons until we could get to Baraga, where gas prices are about as low as they can be. From there, I got us to Munising, spotting a Bald Eagle perched high in a pine along the highway, as well as a Sandhill Crane and a small flock of Wild Turkeys.

Once we got settled in Munising, we headed to the Dogpatch for dinner (which was... OK - although our waitress, Kay, was very attentive) and DQ for a blizzard, at Theresa's request.

To the Back of Beyond

Our third day on the road started out with trying to find someone who could fix a chip to our windshield that occurred on our way from Detroit to Dewitt. No one was available within a reasonable amount of time in the Petoskey area and as far as we could tell from the upper LP, no one in the UP ever gets one! After fruitless phone calls (by the indefatigable Theresa), we opted to head back to Traverse City to the nearest Belle Tire, as most of their locations provide this service. We got there around 10:00 am to learn that the Traverse City Belle Tire is one of the few that does not do chip repair but they could refer us to someone else. Who could give us an appointment in about three hours! Being the sort of person I am, I opted not to spend three hours waiting for a chip appointment and we headed back to Petoskey and points beyond.

Twisted Fish, Elk Rapids, MI

The good thing about all of this is that we were able to hit a few galleries in the Elk Rapids and Charlevoix area we had not been able to visit the day before because we were running so late after dropping off the pieces for the Art and the Garden Show at Art Center Traverse City. Our first stop was Twisted Fish Gallery, recommended to me by my friend and client, Lambro Niforos. This is an eclectic and sophisticated gallery featuring work in so many media, set within a property featuring a beautiful (sculpture) garden - Theresa and a I had a great time wandering around inside and out, taking in the beautiful weather and the unique art. The fact that those two pieces had been accepted to the Traverse City show seemed to pique Charlotte ("Charlie') Streit's interest, so you may see some of my work there yet! Look for the gallery near the Elk Rapids water tower, just off of US 31.

Pat Curran and Dan Reszka of
Blue Heron Gallery, Elk Rapids

Next we stopped at Blue Heron Gallery on Ames in Elk Rapids, where we met Pat Curran, one of the owners. Pat and I had a really great conversation about my work and my design agenda (flexibility and versatility over rigidity and control - really!) Pat led us around the gallery - which is much larger than the exterior suggests - and shared some of her favorite artists and pieces with us. She also let us see some of her husband, Dan Reszka's, beautifully spare landscape vignettes in watercolors and inks - still in progress, which is always a treat - there's nothing more interesting for me than to get a glimpse into another artist's process. We really enjoyed our visit with Pat and I'm hoping at least one or two of us - Don, Chris, Tim, Melanie or I - might be able to fit into their world.

Pushing onward, we stopped in at Bier Gallery, again, just off of US 31, in Charlevoix. We had the chance to visit with Ray Bier and see some of his son, Tyler's, beautiful functional pottery - really solid design complemented by superior glaze selections and techniques - so much so that Theresa purchased one of his pieces! We both had tours of the studio space, with four kilns - including a really huge four-foot oval; I was experiencing kiln envy!

Crooked Tree Arts Center, Petoskey

With Theresa still in the driver's seat, we headed back to Petoskey to visit the Crooked Tree Arts Center, fervently recommended to us by Sue Ann Round of Michigan Artists Gallery in Sutton's Bay. Having parked the car, we hoofed it to the Art Center, passing the Northern Michigan Artists Gallery (featuring only Northern Michigan Artists, most from around the Charlevoix/Petoskey area) on our way. Just approaching Crooked Tree is amazing - located in the old United Methodist Church, built in the late 19th century, the building has been lovingly converted to a multi-use space featuring both fine and performing arts, classes and other events. Their current show features Artists of Mackinac Island - Theresa and I both really liked the tapestry piece of birch trunks and leaves. There we met Lucy, who was both enthusiastic and helpful. She took my portfolio CD and gave me the Visual Arts Director/Curators card; while checking to make sure the CD worked, found herself eagerly scrolling through all the images, finally expressing the fact that she would certainly put a word in on my behalf. Finally, she performed the vital service of recommending a couple places to eat. We finally ended up at Roast and Toast (we had wanted to go to the Twisted Olive but they had closed for the day) for soup and sandwiches. Look for the portraits hung high up on the wall - they depict the restaurant's staff!

Trotting back up the hill to the car, I took over the driving. Holiday weekend tourists had, by then (4:00) started accumulating so getting out of town was a slow business; once we got over the Mackinac Bridge, we made good time. I wasn't sure I'd be able to do the rest of the drive, but wanted to try as Theresa had put in a good six hours (broken up by our stops, but still). A small handful of dark-chocolate-covered cherries mad the difference and we pulled into the Travelodge in Houghton shortly after 9:00. Dinner at the Ambassador Restaurant - artisan pizzas, great beers (including selections from the only microbrewery in the UP (Keewenaw Brewing Company) and a unique interior made for a great end to the day.

Today we carry on to Calumet and the Vertin Gallery, thence to Copper Harbor. We'll probably start our way back home across the top of the UP as well. Have a great day and stay tuned!

Into the Wild Blue Yonder

Chelsea Martin, Chef Extraorinaire

Well, today is actually the second day in our (my friend Theresa Dearhamer and I) little whirlwind tour of the Northern Lower Peninsula and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. We left the Detroit Area yesterday morning around 9:15 to head up to Dewitt so I could deliver a program on Viburnums sponsored by the Dewitt Millenium Garden Club, which was a great success, not least because of the delicious potluck lunch we had afterwards. (I have to say, I've seldom met a gardener who is no also an excellent cook!)

Having finished, we trundled over the Summertime Cement to visit with our friend, Chris Hopp of Farmbrook Designs to see new hypertufa projects and shoot the breeze before heading over to the home of our good friends, Gar and Gerry Martin, where we were fed an amazing meal of Green Bean Salad, Tomato and House-made (believe it!) Mozzarella Cheese Salad and Chicken and Pasta Bake prepared by Gar and Gerry's daughter/Chris's girlfriend, Chelsea Martin. (This was after she kept us going with homemade smoked salmon dip and cheddar cheese.) After catching up on new products and ideas after dinner, we spent a restful night with only the occasional solicitous visit from Sammy (the Cat).

This morning, after some discussion between Chris, Chelsea, Theresa and I regarding our route and additional destinations, we set out on the next leg of our journey: Crystal Gardens in Frankfort; The Secret Garden in Empire; Ruth Conklin Gallery and Forest Gallery in Glen Arbor; Michigan Artists Gallery in Sutton's Bay; and Artcenter Traverse City (actually located in Acme).

Ruth Saddow of Ruth Conklin Gallery

We made an impressively brief yet productive stop at Crystal Gardens to find some more cool rocks that Gar Martin could make into candleholders for me (Cheryl) and one that was just darned cool for Theresa, after I saw a similar piece at Chris's workshop yesterday afternoon. While checking things out at The Secret Garden, we ran into our good friend Joyce Janicki, who was so generous as to invite us to see her lovely vacation spot, where we also met two bunnies, her dog, her mouse, and several monarch butterfly larvae munching contentedly on Common Milkweed (Asclepias syriaca). We had an impressively efficient visit with Ruth Saddow of Ruth Conklin Gallery, not only dropping of lots of new daisies and Sunflowers, but LP Stepping Stones and luminaries for Chris Hopp/Farmbrook Designs. Beth at Forest Gallery loved our friend Melanie Boyle's (of Cleverlotus Designs) notecards - which are a perfect fit for the gallery's Arts and Crafts sensibilities.

Michigan Artists Gallery in Suttons Bay is
celebrating its 15 year Anniversary May 26, 2012!

We made a new fast friend in Sue Ann Round at Michigan Artists Gallery. Check out the upcoming Miniatures Show, opening this Saturday, with almost 500 unique works of art, all less than seven inches square and $150 in price. When we arrived, no less than four women were trying to figure out how to get the computer to print out specially-formated price tags. I was able to - sit down in the chair - and get the job done while Sue Ann brought out a delicious smorgasbord of fresh fruit, cheese, crackers, peanut butter, cookies and fresh water. Good thing we hadn't squeezed in lunch! While I worked away at the computer, Theresa shared my box of samples, with the result that you'll be seeing some of my work in Suttons Bay later this year. I'm going to send Sue Ann links for work by my friends Chris Hopp, Donald Schulte, Tim Hanks and Melanie Boyle - so maybe you'll see some of their creations as well!

Heading over to Traverse City, we ran into a snag when it turned out that the address for the Artcenter had not been updated on the web. Kathryn was good enough to stay late until we finally found the new location to drop off the two pieces juried in for the upcoming Art and the Garden exhibit, opening June 6 - it should be a great show so, if you can make it, be sure to check it out!

Whitney's of Charlevoix,
where Annie took very good care of us!

Finally, having met all of our business, social and technical obligations for the day, we headed to Whitney's of Charlevoix, recommended to us by friends/clients John and Dianne O'brien (friends of the owners) for some much-deserved down-time, assisted by glasses of wine (whine???), as well as an appetizer, dinner and dessert.

Here we are, now, in Petoskey's Holiday Inn Express. A come down? Perhaps - but we'll definitely get a great breakfast before we head on up to the UP tomorrow!

Stay tuned as our Northern Michigan adventure continues!