• Saturday-What'sUP May 17 - 10:57 pm

In case you haven't noticed from some of my previous choices of photos for the daily shot, I'm somewhat partial to sauna shots! So when I came across these two shots of Lori Houle-Vial's family sauna, I just couldn't resist. These depict the typical U.P. type of building, found at camp, that houses the tradition of sweating yourself clean. Sure can't beat firing up the stove, heating those Lake Superior rocks, settin' and sweatin', then runnin' outside for a good roll in the snow! It's time for me to get my chores done so I can enjoy the ritual myself.

I been following Charlie's series about how the Pasty Cam began this month in 1998 - you'll find it on the What'sUP page - but I'm hoping he'll put all the daily installments on one link, so's I can read it all at once like a book.

Hey, it all comes down to Hancock and Calumet in hockey tonight, battling it out for the title. Winner goes to Gaylord next week for semi-finals. You can hear it live on Pasty.NET and locally on K-Bear 102.3 FM.

Good morning from Mishawaka IN. Thanks for the great pictures Toivo. The snow sure is piled high on the roofs. The part about settin' and sweatin' in the sauna sounds good but the rolling around in the snow part - I don't think so. It's sunny out here in northern Indiana and not one snowflake on the ground. Its suppose to get up to 40° today. Have a good day everyone.

I'd love a good roll in the snow about now... I don't think I'd even bother with the sauna part. Has been since mid-December that we saw any snow here, aside from one dusting in late January that didn't even last through the morning. Has been dry, dry, dry - I think my co-workers are tired of listening to me grouse about the lack of cold weather. We had a record high of 85 this past Tuesday.

There may be a reason I'm applying for jobs back in the UP... just maybe.

Good Morning!!! A friend of mine, has a hot tub outside, when
we use it in the winter, we jump out into the snowbank! Not
quite the same as a sauna but, we try! Sure does feel good!!
Also would like to thank the person for the article about "Ice
Volcanoes", the photos were great!!! Very informative. Thanks
again!!

I'm not much for saunas, and the roll in the snow is definitely out, but a sauna is nice before going into Lake Superior. It made the great one feel almost warm. Of course as kids, it never felt that cold to us. It's just these older bodies that have a hard time with it. My grandkids just run right in and stay there. Reminds me of the good old days when I was able to do that. Now I can only last about 1/2 hour. The temps here in MN are going to be about 47 today. I can handle it. That should just about remove any snow that's left. Spring is right around the corner. You could hear the birds chirping away outside the bedroom window this morning. What a wonderful sound to wake up to. Good morning all and happy weekend!

Any purpose to the moose antler hanging by the door?

I learned to swim in Superior. It is my intention to have the grandkids run and jump in this summer. Some people can't believe as kids we learned to swim in the big one.

Deb S.
I remember when I was a kid we used to picnic at the Big Lake. My dad would always say, "I'll give you a dollar if you run and jump right in". I used to do it everytime. And when I think of it, I am not sure I ever got paid. :)
What fun growing up near Lake Superior.

Lorelei, What part of Lake Superior did you go swimming in? I never got paid to jump in. Didn't care either. I absolutely loved it! My parents would tell me that I had to come out because I was turning blue and I still didn't want to come out. A couple of years ago we went to Little Traverse, when you could still swim there, and the waves were so high we were body surfing in it. The water felt so warm because the waves were churing up the bottom. I'll never forget that day and my husband has been in love with THE LAKE ever since. Even my son was in and he gets so cold. He had a blast. All you had to do to warm up was to come out and lay in the sand. Of course, then you had to go back in to clean off, which is why we did it in the first place. lol

I've jumped in the lake after many a sauna, but
never rolled in the snow. Hmm..maybe I need
to try that. But then again, maybe not.

It's still pretty cold in Toronto, but on March 1st,
bright and early, as I was walking my dog, I
heard the familiar "Cheer up! Cheer up!
Spring is here again! And then I saw it--a
robin high up in a tree. That's the earliest I've
seen one in these parts.

Hey Kosk, It's funny cuz we just turned on Ottawa vs. the Maple Leafs and I told my husband I was gonna go and see if you were watching the game and Mr. Sundin from the now famous Swede team, and there were two posts from you. No, Lindell's is in Lake Linden and it is still called Lindell's. Stop in and enjoy a milkshake. The food ain't half bad either.

I remember jumping into Portage Lake after sauna at Pelto's cottage near $ Bay. Also when I was younger at home in Hubbell, jumping into the snowbank after sauna. Wasn't that bad, but don't think I'd do it anymore. :o)

To answer your question Therese, the moose rack was a 'shed' found from the woods. I can't say for sure where my dad found them, but most likely somewhere near the camp. I'll post more info tomorrow after I speak with him. It is too late to call now and I just now had a chance to check this site for today. Oh how I wish I were in the U.P. to have a sauna at the camp today! I can always hope to get there soon!
HOPE IS THE THING
WITH FEATHERS
THAT PERCHES IN THE SOUL
AND SINGS THE TUNE
WITHOUT THE WORDS
AND NEVER STOPS AT ALL
**** Emily Dickinson ****
Peace...

Runner Lori and Used to Be a Yooper:

Lori--That is one of my favorite poems. It's
poignant the way you put it in context of
missing the UP. I CAN relate to that. Thanks.

Deb--Toronto lost, but I only found that out this
morning while watching the news. Last night
when I was posting on PastyCam I was
avoiding writing report cards. Or, let's just say
I was taking a brief break. Like now. Thanks
for the info. about Lindell's. I don't know
Laurium at all except for attending a wedding
there. Having a milkshake there will be a
good excuse to get acquainted with the town.

Kosk, Lindell's is not in Laurium. It is in Lake Linden, right down the hill from Laurium. That's where I grew up and I spent most of my Saturday nights after teen center at Lindell's. You must not have been grading geography papers, eh:) lol Sorry about Toronto but the Red Wings won if it makes you feel any better. They got their Swedes back and I think they got about 3 of the goals. The Canadians got the other 4. What a team, eh:)

Lori, What a beautiful poem! Thanks. I'm not much for poetry cuz I can't usually figure the darn things out but that one's meaning was pretty simple, even for me.

Used to be a Yooper--

Right...It's clear I know even less about Lake
Linden than I do about Laurium and will try to
rectify that.

Yes, it does make me feel better to know that
the Red Wings won. My downstate family
members are big fans. And, of course, I did
grow up downstate.