Some time ago I mentioned that Katy Newman had acquired some very special designer flies that were guaranteed to devour the not-so-special flies that congregate around the manure piles that are an inevitable consequence of having horses.  One day a week or so ago, Katy sent me this email, and I’ve finally gotten around to doing something with it:

Hi Gerry,
Jill and I released the attack flies tonight. Somehow I feel safer already knowing they are on a search and destroy mission in the mounds of manure. Katy

Along with the note came attachments.  If you have a tendency to say EUEW! when confronted by some of Mama Nature’s more indelicate manifestations, you might want to stop reading here and go look at some pretty pictures I posted just for this purpose.  However, if you’re really curious about the whole attack fly thing, you can click on any photo below to further your education.  Yes, that really is what you think it is.  Horses make a lot of it. 

 

Every elected official for miles around headed to Torch Lake Township on Saturday for the dedication of the new Community Services Building. There were speakers. Lots of them.  A ribbon cutting with a giant pair of scissors. Boy Scouts raising the flag. Cookies and lemonade. But was Babs Young there taking pictures of all this? Noooo, not our Babs. She was down in Elk Rapids, volunteering at the Kids Activity Tent at the Art Rapids! art fair.  She writes, Mary Anne Rivers played the dulcimer while some children made the limberjack dolls dance. Anna from Blue Heaven is learning to make her doll dance. The weather cooperated and it was a great day for all who attended.

Every week photographer Babs Young captures moments in northern Michigan, and every week she sends one to Torch Lake Views just for you.

 

My brother in law Dennis trained hard for his Mid-Life Cross Country Bicycle Tour.  (He once pedaled 40 miles up a mountain in a sleet storm to meet my sister and me at a Sundance film.)  He finally got around to reading Torch Lake Views and had some questions: 

This Letter from Katy (my comments in green):

Hi Gerry,
       Attached is a photo of garlic scapes from this week’s share from Providence Farm.  Last year was my first ever encounter with this exotic botanical creature.  We made a potent flavorful garlic pesto from them, froze some in ice cube trays and use it to flavor all sorts of things garlicky.  I also just stuck a few in a vase as a floral arrangement and eventually they bloom! What wonderful surprises Nature gives us.   Katy

I sent this Fathers Day card to Dad and called him, too - but the post I intended in honor of all the Dads who take their daughters fishing with safety pins tied to wooden rulers (or with pikepoles and pistols if they’re after muskies) - that post got lost in the rush of events. OK, what passes for a rush around the Township. That’s why I live here.  I digress.  Here’s the post.

I’ve always thought one of the best things about northern Michigan is that so many artists and writers live here.  It’s no surprise that Babs Young is at the center of that community.  Here’s what she says about this week’s photo:

The Jordan River Arts Council sponsors a weekly Artists Gathering at different locations for local artists to work. This week we met at Pine Hill Nursery. Below Pat Tinney, East Jordan High School art teacher, is doing a watercolor inside one of the green houses.

Every week photographer Babs Young captures moments in northern Michigan, and every week she sends one to Torch Lake Views just for you.

As its first project, the business group that got together last winter has produced a brochure packed with information about local attractions, shopping, services, restaurants and lodging. You can pick up a copy at many local businesses, or download a copy as a PDF: Torch Lake Township Visitors Guide

In my experience, herbs are fraught with difficulties.  (Like that “fraught”?  Me too.)

• The first problem, of course, is whether to say herbs (with the “h”) or ‘erbs (without the “h”).  No trying to weasle out by mumbling, either.  I’ve adopted the h-less standard, and I’m stickin’ to it.

I’ve only been going to Stone Circle for eight years, but Terry Wooten, Louan Lechler, Jim Ribby and a revolving cast of poets, storytellers, songwriters, court jesters and dysfunctional lovers have been at it for a quarter of a century.  Beginning tomorrow, June 21, they’ll be there every Saturday night, from 9:00 until midnight or until the poets fall asleep around the bonfire, whichever comes first.  Bring your kids - they’ll love it.  Bring your sweetheart - you’ll both love it.  Come all by yourself - you’ll love it. 

I have discovered an ingenious way to get other people to do my work for me extend the range and depth of Torch Lake Views. First there was Babs, who sends amazing photos. Then I began getting interesting email from the neighbors . . . So now we have Letters from Katy Newman (on quack grass) and Letters from Donna Lane (on the Central Lake Car Show) and who knows who else might be interested in helping me paint this fence? Heh-heh. I’m going fishing with Huck.