• Sunday-What'sUP August 6 - 09:17 am

It has stayed so cold for so long this year, you would think the sap should sleep until May. But not so... after just a couple of days above freezing, you can almost hear the maple trees dripping. Today was the first that we have been aware of that subtle grey-green fuzz that you sense in the trees when you drive up over hills here on the U.P. backroads.

The young guy down by the Pasty.com watermark in today's Shoebox Memory is Ben Durocher, who lives in Lake Linden. He is the youngest of 11 kids, the last seven of which were boys. When little Ben grew up and got married, they had a daughter they named Deb, known on these pages as "usedtobeayooper" Deb, the one married to Mr. Deb.

Our thanks to Deb for taking us back who-knows-how-many years to smell the boiling sap on that stove, and feel the sticky bucket handles. If you've ever made maple syrup (or tried to, like we did on a couple of occasions) you can certainly relate.

It will be a while before tractors can get out in the fields here up north, because of some pretty heavy snow cover this year. But it's not too early to give a salute to the farmers, which we do with today's Pasty Cameo. And a tip of the hat to all the contributors of the photos who make these little mini-documentaries possible (and so much fun).

Have a good week :o)

There's nothing better than homemade maple syrup, yummy.

Charlie,

How DID you find that tune ? It's a classic HOOT!

I second that. Great Pasty Cameo, entertaining and informative.

What a wonderful idea whole wheat flap-jack's and some PURE maple syrup. Everyone eat a good and healthy breakfast.

I ll third that, great work as usual Charlie.

Now that really must be a shoebox memory. Thanks to Deb for
sending in the picture. It fits in very well on the "Down on the
Farm" cameo too. Too bad I already ate breakfast, or like Lulu, I'd
head to the kitchen for waffles or pancakes and maple syrup.
Maybe tomorrow.

Thanks Deb and Charlie for the maple sugaring picture. I remember well making maple syrup on my uncles's farm. And popping home grown popcorn over a bonfire. Ahhh, when times were simple, eh.

mighty cool photo there :)
Good morning Deb and Mr. Deb

The ol guy on the rear right is my Great Grandfather :)

Yes, DebS. and myself are related on my mother's side. Ben is her uncle...and mine

maple syrup...we used to make it as well. Its the best syrup ever, especially when its home made .. or ho-made as its called down here.

It would be interesting to see the names of the band members in the first picture in the cameo...the drum says Mass City Band. That's my town. Deb, that picture is so cool. Brings back a lot of memories for all of us Michigan farm kids. These days, I doubt if you could get the kids away from their x-boxes and My Spaces to help out on the farm. Great picture and super cameo! Way to go Charlie and Deb! That's why we love this place.

(In my best Homer Simpson voice)

Mmmmm, Maple!

(Drool)

Thanks for using my picture, Charlie. It's really cool to see my family on the internet, especially on the pasty site which I love so much. I hope my uncle Gord visits today so he can see it. I know my dad really wants to, but they have no computer.

David S., Ben is my dad, not my uncle. And the old guy is my grandfather. He was so much fun.

Cindy, thanks. You're right about kids today. I know my own kids would have had a hard time helping us out like that. But according to my dad, he sure wasn't very ambitious either and a little spoiled being the last of 11 kids.

Thanks for sharing Deb!

My warpped mind would laugh and ask your dad...were you the last of 11 because they gave up trying to get another girl? Or they threw up their hands thinking finally the best? Or now we've figured out what's causing all these kids? Any way...God bless his mom!!!

Deb...yes, I realize Ben is your Dad..I misworded my sentence...He is my mom's uncle, is what I was trying to say :)..and my mom's grandfather, making him my great-grandfather...
Sometimes words get in the way of meaning.

That is a classic photo.
Who are the rest of the people in the photo? And where is this? I would presume Freda.

well i did it again...The old guy is my mom's grandfather, not Ben :)
maybe I need some coffee.

an edit function for when you mess up what be nice on these boards :) ..and yes, even if I read the preview, I still mess up..a lot.

David ~ Charlie posted a tip on how you CAN edit your post, it's only good for about an hour afterwards though, so you have to read and edit quickly! You can find his original post on March 9, 2008

"For all who are wondering how it is done: Scroll to the bottom of this page and look at the Username-Password boxes. To the right of that is a link to register or maintain your I.D. Click where it says "Click here". You will then be able to edit any post you have made in the last hour."

Already this morning I've had so many people ask about the music in today's Cameo. "I Want to Go Back to Michigan" was written by Irving Berlin in 1914, and made into a cylinder recording by "Billy Murray and Chorus" (though the Chorus sounds a lot like a barbershop quartet). It was an instant hit back in those days. According to the Library of Congress, Murray did hundreds of cylinder and disc recordings, which sold millions of copies.

Years later - in 1948 - Irvin Berlin's song would be revisited in a rendition by Judy Garland in the film "Easter Parade". If you're on a higher speed connection, here it is.

They were easy lyrics to match up with shots from the Pasty Cam Archives :o)

That is a cool picture, Deb! I know we went somewhere as kids to do the maple syrup thing. My friend, Mary Ann Hensley's Dad, took us on a Saturday afternoon. And, I know it was "outside" of Lake Linden. Then we went home and tried to tap the trees...which didn't work cause they were not maples...

Opps, Mary Margaret not Ann.

Very cool Deb!

And even in SW Michigan the barrels are out.

I had never seen the movie "Easter Parade" until last weekend and was very surprised to hear a song about Michigan in it. And, now, here it is again. Cool coincidence!

DebS,

I second David's question. Who are all of the other people in the picture (and is this in Freda?)?

Carolyn

Any one remember Bill Nara's Sugar Bush out passed Dreamland?

My 6th grade teacher in Mass City was Mrs. Aune Nara. She was one of my favorites.

I answered this, but for some reason it's not there. Maybe I answered Dave personally, I don't remember.

The people in the picture are some of my dad's brothers. There are 2 of them who are missing. And my grandfather is the older man.

The picture was taken in Freda about 1/2 mile into the woods from where the houses all are there. My cousin lives in that first house in Freda. His dad was my grandfather's brother. They were all brought up in that house. So, it's about 1/2 mile into the woods from that house. There are some really good blackberry bushes back there, I do believe, also.

Rowdy (Roudymi):
"Any one remember Bill Nara's Sugar Bush out passed (sic) Dreamland?"

Yep, that would be my second cousin (once removed) Bill (Onni) Nara's place.

Deb, Which of those fine young men is your Dad? Thanks for submitting the picture. It sure is neat!
My Mom used to sing that Michigan song whenever she was lonseoms when we lived in Ohio for a few years while I was growing up. I'd never heard the real song before, just her first few verses. Brings back some memories. Thanks Charlie, Deb & everyone for being able to bring all of us to Back When.

My dad would be the little guy on the bottom right. He's the youngest. That picture reminds me of my youngest grandson, actually named Ben.

The pasty cameo was great as always, Charlie. Was that partial picture of the boat the South American?? I used to absolutely love to watch that boat from my friend's cabin out past Bootjack. We used to rent a cabin down that way too. Maybe Karinen's? Does that sound familiar?

That Pasty Cameo deserves an Oscar nomination.
(Nope, that's for film productions.)

An Emmy nomination?
(Nope, that's for television productions.)

How about a "Nettie" nomination?
(Is there a "Nettie" award for multimedia productions on da Internet?)

Deb S. (Usedtobeayooper):
"Was that partial picture of the boat the South American?"

Yep, sure was.

See this previous discussion: Greeting the Cruise Ship, from Past-E-Mail: Cam Notes - 2005: September: Sep 11-05.

And there's some earlier discussion of the South American here: Cruise ship from the past, from Past-E-Mail: Cam Notes - 2001: July: Jul 10-01.

My mom and your family must have lived in the same duplex. My mom was born in 1934 in that duplex that you first see when you drive into Freda. I think she said it was the right side. So we're practically cuzzins.

Cindy, was your kindergarten teachers name in Mass Mrs Antilla,in about 1961, If so you probably started school with my daughter.

My mistake Cindy I think it must have been 1963.

I enjoyed seeing the picture of your dad Deb, and all of the other relatives. I bet they all had a fun time. We tried collecting syrup when we were young, just in the woods around town.

I had never heard the Michigan song before. I wish I knew all of the words to it. The Cameo is really nice. I look forward to seeing it every day. Thanks Charlie!

Hi to all of my buddies on here today! Fran

The littlest girl in the second to last picture on the Cameo looks like a friend of mine,Kay Beiswanger Latvala. Looks like it was taken up at Senter where they lived. Fran

FRNash, Nara's beach was before Dreamland. Would that be the same Nara?

Deb S. (Usedtobeayooper):
"Nara's beach ... the same Nara?"

Yes. Or even earlier, J.W. Nara, (Onni's dad, and my mother's uncle).

But they had a cottage that was past Dreamland too???? Thanks for the info. Very cool.

Years ago there was a Stan Laurel, Oliver Hardy film (1920s, 1930s?) where the Laurel & Hardy duet did a touching and Hilarious dance to this "Michigan" tune! I don't remember if the music was this rendition or as I always thought, Stan & Ollie singing themselves! (?) Great moments though from my childhood, used to sing along with it!

Yes, I started in 1963 with Mrs Antilla. Who is your daughter?

BEEN WAITING FOR DEB S. TO LIST THE PEOPLE ON THE MAPLE SYRUP PICTURE; HERE GOES; ALL CHILDREN OF FATHER ED EXCEPT ONE TOP RIGHT L TO R FLOYD ROBERT GORDON GARFIELD JIM BITNER BEN WITH THE SMALL PAIL AND POPS. HAVE A PICTURE OF THE SUGAR SHACK FROM THE 1930'S

GORDON