Deer and Fish And Butterflies... Oh My!

 Today is the last day I will be spending in Michigan.   I'll be on my way home soon, but wanted to post a quick blog entry to catalog a few of the things I have seen and done while I was here.  

Yesterday, we went to Ed's and Uncle Bills place.   The Arnold's have had this property since I was a kid, and I have not seen it since.  They have really fixed it up!  We toured the land,  shot some guns, and sipped some beer while we told stories and reminisced about the "good old Days."   They typical things old guys do.   (Am I really getting that old?") 

I guess so,  because when we went to the Ponderosa,  I qualified for the senior citizen discount!  (10% off, if anyone wanted to ask...) It has been a while since I went to the Ponderosa.  I was shocked that they still exist!   I guess the last remaining one is in Ludington... and it definitely looked dated.   I guess that is the decor the "old people" find comforting.  

On Friday,  We did a lot of burning and cleaned up the place.   ( Hardly made a dent...but it is a start)   I should say"I" did a lot of burning.   Eric is like Dad in that he does not want to let go of his "Stuff" as much as I would want him to.  Personally, I would get rid of most of this junk... But I understand that tools are needed and some of the building materials will be used up once he puts the ceiling and other parts of the domicile up.   Until then, it lays around the yard looking like piles of junk.   

But we did manage to clear out some of it.  And in the process,  I found a few gems of nature!   A Chrysalis from a Swallowtail butterfly.   How do I know??  Well,  I did geek out about Butterflies  a number of years ago.   (They are called "Lepidopterists" )   And we actually captured and hatched out a tiger swallowtail  back when we lived in Grand Haven.  (Years ago)    I'm not sure what species this one is.  But I do know it is a swallowtail ( Probably black... since it is in the woods)   The Chrysalises tend to change color to match their surroundings.  But that "Belt"  that suspends them is a tell tale sign.  

There are no shortage of deer up here.   Or Turkeys!  Or Sand Hill Cranes.   You can hear or see them if you walk around the roads or trails early in the morning.   IN fact, I kicked up 5 deer just outside the shed this morning!   The funny thing is that I never really saw many when I was an avid hunter.   I usually did not stay on the property either... which is probably one of the reasons for not seeing everything as often. 

On our way back from Eds,  Eric diverted us to the fish ladder for the Manistee river.  I did not even know this place existed!  ( It does look rather new, and it has been nearly 15 years since I left Michigan.)  We walked around and I took a few pics.   

I forgot how excited I get around fish!  I tried to get them as they jumped around over the ladder.  In fact,   they were so stacked in one of the holding areas that one had jumped out onto the land.   With no one there to help  him,   he was destined to become bird food!   While we were watching, several other Steelhead jumped out of the ponds and were flipping around.  Luckily, they flopped back into the pond before it became and problem for them.  (It is frustrating watching a fish flop around.. inches from the edge of the water, but too stupid or incompetent to flip back into the water.)   

I imagine the place is bustling with activity when it comes time to harvest the eggs.   The DNR probably pulls people from all over to help... and Hire Temporary workers to do most of the simple labor. ( Like hauling fish up from teh ponds to the harvest tanks.)   I'm not sure if they release the Steelhead and Brown trout,  but I do know that the Salmon get a one way trip...  Harvest the eggs and then they become food for the food pantry.  

If you ever get a chance to watch those cool videos of the process,  I would recommend it!  (Unless you hate fish for some inconceivable reason....) 

It is currently snowing outside.   And I have to find the bin my brother hid all of the family pictures in.   It is probably buried under a pile of junk... And sealed up so the mice don't get into it.  He pointed out that I would have probably burned it up.   Which is probably true!   But sealing things up so you can never find them or pull them out from time to time is just about the same as losing them forever.   Or!   The weather or vermin eventually DO get into them and destroy them... So the family heirlooms end up "lost" but you continue to have them cluttering up your living space.   

But... What do I know....  Other than I have a philosophy that is forged from losing all of my "stuff" several times and managing to get it back.  

Time is ticking by... and I still have things I have to do.   Eric is finally up and probably wants to head out to breakfast... So I will end this Post now...  Add some pics and get ready to the big drive back to Kenosha.   I should leave at a decent time in the morning... Because,  Chicago looms like a dark cloud.... And Every second Counts.