I am starting the countdown. Days are starting to get longer. Daylight Savings time starts a mere 17 days away on March 9. Then, Spring is scheduled to arrive only 11 days later on March 20.

With all this anticipation in the air, I ventured outdoors to see if I could capture the spring feeling and starting shooting the melting snow.

Since it is Valentine’s Day,  I thought I would do a search and see if I could find a lake in Michigan  with “Valentine” in the name. The only one I found was  Valentine Lake in Montmorency County.  That is about all the information I could find on this lake, so I decided to write about something else near and dear to my heart, also associated with Valentine’s Day….CHOCOLATE.

Now, I am all for love and romance on Valentine’s Day and I could have easily have written an article extolling the virtues of a romantic drive around a Michigan Lake in February. But, today my mind is on chocolate, so that is what I am writing about.

Most chocolate lovers have very definite opinions on what is best, milk chocolate or dark. I say dark. The darker the better.

Chocolate is a wonderful energy source. Napoleon supposedly carried chocolate on his military campaigns and ate it to restore his energy.

The Mayans and Aztecs believed that the Cocoa Beans originated from Paradise and would bring wisdom and power to anyone consuming them.

That’s all the convincing I need. I am going to eat more chocolate!

All I really need is love, but a little chocolate now and then doesn’t hurt! – Lucy Van Pelt (in Peanuts, by Charles M. Schulz)

Today we bid farewell to 2013. For many people living in Michigan, and throughout the United States, it has been a difficult year. Hard working people lost jobs, homes went into foreclosure and retirement funds dwindled.

If 2013 were to be summarized in a short phase, many probably would say, “It was all about the economy.”  And, as I reflect on 2013, I have decided it was not all about the economy.

Yes, we all have been effected in one way or another by the Michigan economy. But, it was also a year filled with laughter with family and friends, both new and old.

It was a year of beautiful sunrises and sunsets.

It was a year of new adventures and opportunities.  It was a year of seeing things we haven’t seen before and learning things we didn’t know before.

It was one more mile in the journey of life. 

And, It was a year I learned to appreciate even more the beautiful world we live in!

Wishing you and your family a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Today is Christmas Eve. I always enjoy Christmas Eve Day. Most of the parties and dinners are over with and now it is time to relax and enjoy family and friends.  And I am thankful I am not among those doing their last minute shopping at the mall.

Christmas Eve Day is the day that starts off the time around Christmas and New Year’s Day when things seem to slow down a bit and I have an excuse to eat some of those goodies that I would normally avoid, after all, it is the holidays!

Last night we took the time to do something we had not done in many years. We went to look at Christmas lights.  Of course, I went with purpose, to take pictures of Christmas trees. And, when I found there was no such thing as the perfect tree, I decided to have some fun with the camera.

When enjoying the winter on a Michigan lake or river, the danger exists of falling through the ice. Is the ice thick enough? That’s a good question.

The US Army states that one person on foot needs two inches of ice, a group walking single file needs three inches of ice, a snowmobile needs three inches of ice, a car (two tons) needs seven inches of ice and a light truck needs eight inches of ice.

A good rule is to always err on the side of caution.

What do you do if you fall through the ice?

First, try not to panic. Control your breathing, fight shock.

Turn back to the direction where you where when you fell in.  The ice was the strongest there.

Don’t try to pull yourself up and out.  Kick with your feet and try to get your body horizontal.

When you are out of the ice, do not try to immediately stand up. First roll yourself to thicker ice to keep your weight spread out, then crawl and then walk. This process may help you from breaking through the ice again.

If you cannot get yourself out of the water, try to get as much of your body out of the water as possible. Try to be calm until help arrives. Be prepared and watch this informative video.

If you see or hear someone that has broken through the ice, don’t run out on the ice to try to help or you may also fall through the thin ice. Talk them out of the water and throw aid to them. If throwing a rope or a cord, tie a loop at the end you throw to them. Hang on to your end of the rope to help guide them out of the water. Use a ladder or a long pole if available.

Read this article  for more complete information.

Enjoy your winter on a Michigan lake.

Well, it is not even officially winter yet, but I am already missing the Michigan summer season. Winter officially begins on December 21; spring will be here soon on March 21. 100 days from today. The countdown begins.

Although, I do not enjoy the cold, I am looking forward to interesting winter photo opportunities that only a Michigan winter can provide.

It happens a couple of times a year.

The storm comes thru and the power is off.

This time it lasted for about fortyeight hours.

It is always the same scenerio. We quickly search the house for flashlights and candles, only to find flashlights and dead batteries or that do not work at all. And, somehow, all candles have disappereared.

We all have seen and ignored the lists of how to be prepared for such an occasion.

If you need a reminder, here is a helpful one: Outage Preparation

Today, I am throwing out all of our flashlights that do not work.

One of my favorite things about fall in West Michigan is the delicious apple cider produced by our local orchards. Sipping a tall, cold glass of cider fresh from the orchard is pure enjoyment.

On a recent trip to the local farmers market, perhaps my last visit for the season, I wandered past the hardy vendors braving the chilly wet morning to display their fall produce of potatoes, onions, carrots and bright orange pumpkins. I passed by the freshly baked cookies, bread and pies and headed straight for those enticing gallons of apple cider. Mmmm…just looking at them made me thirsty!

I made my purchase and headed for home, wondering all the way what I was going to do all winter without fresh cider.  Yes, you can buy cider in the grocery store, but it is just not the same as buying it from the orchard that pressed it.

I was told that It takes about one bushel of apples to press out three gallons of Apple cider. Well, that got me to thinking about making cider and wondering if this was something I could do myself, so I went into the internet and checked it out. After reading four pages of instructions, I decided I might just settle for the grocery store variety!

As I think about that, I might just go back and pick up a few gallons from the orchard and freeze it for later.

From time to time, I like to use old postcards for a post and you may be wondering why.  Well, to me, postcards are fascinating.  I find the pictures on the cards, particularly if there are real photos, interesting. I want to visit the spot where the photo was taken, often over 100 years ago, and see what it looks like today. I have found that many of the buildings pictured on these cards still stand today, a tribute to the quality of construction in that era. I have also found that the many lakes featured on these cards are as beautiful today as they were so many years ago.

 I also enjoy the messages on the back of the cards. Some are amusing, some are informative, and some are just a quick note to get a message to someone.  The messages are a glimpse into the lives of those who built and established the cities and towns around Michigan. They are a glimpse into the lives of the hardworking farmers and their families. 

 It is amazing to me the high percentage of these cards that are sent by someone vacationing on a Michigan lake.  Many things have changed in the last 100 years, but one thing has not, people love our Michigan lakes!

“Dear Cassie, I will send you a postal to let you know I have not forgotten you- although I am so busy, I can not hardly get time to write you. There are eleven in the family and that keeps me busy finding enough to eat. I am coming home one week from Friday evening, hope someone will come after me. Read mas card and see what I want. I am well but tired tonight. What are you doing new these days? Tell Ben hello- and the boys. Good bye. Allie  September 9, 1908?

About Us

Waterlandliving.com: A site that highlights various towns in western and northern Michigan located on inland lakes. We travel to the towns and cities and visit the local restaurants, parks and other attractions unique to that town. We also visit smaller, quieter, lakes that are “off the beaten path”. We want to encourage people to visit the many beautiful lakes and rivers in Michigan that are often overlooked because they are not as well known as some of the bigger bodies of water.

The site also has helpful articles on purchasing lakefront properties, explanation of real estate terms and many other articles useful to both the first time buyer and experienced buyer. Buying property for the first time is frightening and many people don’t know where to begin or what questions to ask. We hope to help alleviate some of those fears by clarifying some of the more confusing aspects of a purchase.  We hope to make investing in waterfront property a rewarding experience that will bring enjoyment and relaxation for many years to come.

Most of all, go out and enjoy Michigan.

If you forgot your father this year, there is Hallmark