• Monday-What'sUP November 17 - 03:47 pm

There has been quite a bit of rain here in the Keweenaw off and on, mixed in with a few snow flurries. Some that stuck for a short time, then melted again, leaving the ground coverings soaked and water speckled like these shots from Jason Jeannette. That first photo was taken on a Torch Lake stream according to Jason's Pasty Gallery Album. Those leaves seem to be hanging on, so they don't get washed away.

The forest floor in the second picture sure is colored brightly with fallen pine needles and I'm betting it felt good and soft to walk on. Funny when we think of the colors of fall we mostly talk about the leaves, but these needles deserve a mention also.

This last photo from Jason embodies what you'll find this time of year, especially with the rains/snows we've been having. The leaves cling to the wet rocks like they've been put there on display for the next explorer traveling that way. Beauty can truly be found in the simplest things.

As I was putting the final touches on the Pasty Cam this morning (and uploading what Mary had prepared in advance), it was to the sound of a fine sleet of frozen raindrops hitting the window. Looks like it could turn into a white day, with a Lake effect snow advisory until 7pm this evening.

This morning I let the dogs out, and when I opened the door to let them back in little Eddie ran up the steps, skidded across the porch and hit the door with a Wham. Looks like some of our snow is turned to ice. Eddie is all right.

Beautiful photos, but chilling.

Gorgeous photos! There's nothing more beautiful than the different shades of orange and yellow in the fall. Throw a touch of red in there, and you've really got a sight to behold. Thanks!

Great shots to capture the essence of the season.....

The last photo really tells a story. The rock surface beautifully preserves raindrop impressions that formed when the rock was still soft and a gentle rain had fallen many, many years ago, leaving the impressions. The photo is a perfect example of a concept we use in geology to describe the past called Uniformitarianism, or to put it another way, "the present is the key to the past".

POOR EDDIE, GIVE HIM AN EXTRA DOGGIE TREAT ;O))
JUST A LIGHT DUSTING OF SNOW HERE.

Those are great pictures and thanks again to Mary and Charlie for getting up so early to prepare them.

Awesome photography... I am interested in taking a black and white photography class. Is there anyone out there with info on a course? Either there in the Hancock area, here in lower Michigan near Detroit or even in the Manistee area? Let me know...

I just love the pictures.... Amazing how wonderful nature is if you just look around. Everyone have a Good Week, Ellen

I like the leaves in the streams, I think there was one a year or 2 ago that was really nice too. Thats all covered now.

Interesting article, Capt. Paul.

Has anyone seen the maple leaves with the black spots on them? I noticed a whole pile of them by my back door; it's called black-tar something or other. Apparently it's a harmless disease that won't harm the trees.

Mary says: You can find out more about "Tar Spots" here: Cornell Univ. Plant Disease Diagnostic Clinic.

Capt. Paul --

Remember the words from Norman Mclean's "A River Runs Through It"?

Eventually, all things merge into one, and a river runs through it. The river was cut by the world's great flood and runs over rocks from the basement of time. On some of the rocks are timeless raindrops. Under the rocks are the words, and some of the words are theirs.

Great pictures Jason, "Wet and clinging" is my favorite. Thank you for sharing.

Beautiful shots Jason!

Enjoyed the beautiful photos but must admit the one I liked best was the Portage Lift Bridge with the snow all about. As I loaded my golf clubs into the trunk of my car, nostalgia set in for a moment..only a moment mind you, and I took a deep breath of the warm Florida air and my thoughts returned to the trip we'll make back to the UP once again NEXT SUMMER...

We had those spots on our Red Maple leaves too Dave

The third picture looks like a leaf laying on a bar of chocolate Turkish Taffy, if anyone remembers that filling-yanking candy.

Dunerat--What a wonderful story that is. I think that
quote may actually be my favorite in the whole short
novel. The movie is spectacular too.

My Maple has it too, I heard it was some sort of fungus. I will look at Mary's link.

Capt. Paul ! You choose your ages for the rocks so carefully ! I love it !! ha !

and GREAT pics, especially like the last one. There's something about macro photography that does it for me.

As I prepare to publish the Pasty Cam every morning, I'm always happy to see the discussion from the day before, and catch up on the comments of so many people who share our love for the beauty, history, and culture of Upper Michigan.

Capt. Paul's link to Wikipedia was indeed interesting, but the article can't go unchallenged for at least one statement it makes that is questionable:

Today, however, most if not all mainstream scientists support uniformitarianism as do most mainstream religious denominations.

I dont think the word "mainstream" disenfranchises anyone Charlie.... according to dictionary.com the definition is "the principal or dominant course, tendency, or trend." I'd say the dominant tendency and trend in science leans heavily toward uniformitarianism. Capt. Paul's link is dead on I'd say. Religion and science can peacefully co-exist.

Charlie says: I would agree completely with you, Jeff, if the author would have said "Most mainstream scientists" instead of his bias-revealing "Most if not all mainstream scientist support uniformitarianism...". By adding "if not all" he seems to imply "There may not even be one reputable scientist who still believes in divine intervention at the creation of the universe"... which is a seriously non-uniform consideration.

It seems that no matter how carefully the good Captain phrases things, he manages to stir up some controversy. So I’ll add my stew to the pot…

There are several things to remember about science (and religion):
1. Science studies the natural world. Science is a methodology, NOT a belief system.
2. Religion (and creationism/intelligent design) are a belief system that requires faith in the supernatural world, it is NOT a methodology for studying the natural world.
3. You can be a well-respected scientist and religious at the same time. The two are not mutually exclusive.
4. It is often dangerous to use absolutes, such as: “ALL [emphasis my own] religious denominations that affirm ‘In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth...’ would take issue with that statement.” My Church most definitely believes in God as the ultimate creator, but we also have no problem with uniformitarianism and I know of other denominations that have the same belief.

I could talk for hours about ancient and modern Biblical Scholarship and how literal interpretations of the Bible (especially Genesis) became far more common after the Protestant Reformation. But all that probably belongs on the religion page and I honestly have no intent to upset anyone. Everyone must follow their own path.

I simply would like people to understand what science really is. I believe science and religion can peacefully co-exist (they certainly do in my life), but I also believe it is vital to be educated about both, and to know the limitations of both.

Well spoken, Dr. Nat, and you are right, I should not have used the word "all". Was it Albert Schwietzer who said, "Humans are not so much rational beings as rationalizing beings"? I forgot that someone else may be able to rationalize two premises that I consider contradictory (irrational). We do agree that science and religion can peacefully co-exist (or as Jeff said, religion and science can peacefully co-exist).

And we can agree on the pleasure of exploring the natural beauty of the U.P. on these pages - like Jason's leaf on the rock - realizing that for some it may prompt thoughts of the Tremadocian Age, while for others it may inspire praise to the Rock of Ages.

Or both :o)

Being away from this site a bit, I just got caught up on the pics,
and, like the above, I never tire of c-ing enough nice Autumn
pics. As I write this, we're already into Winter weather, and I
think it's now for the duration, even though Winter doesn't
officially begin 4 another month.