• Monday-What'sUP May 3 - 06:16 pm

Here in the Keweenaw, we're still in that drab, gray time of year, with only a bit of green in the form of grass. The leaves are beginning to bud, but have been slow popping out with the cooler temperatures the last week or so. Have no fear, there's still some color to be found out and around, with the spring flowers pushing through no matter the chill. Joyce Tormala has a nice array of spring flowers and things in her Guest Gallery, including this unique Snowdrop flower. Joyce pointed out that it reminds her of the cereal Rabbit of the 'Silly Rabbit, Trix are for kids!' fame. The second photo is the hardy Primrose, which is flowering in abundance around my own home too, thanks to my hubby having a green thumb. If you're hankering for a bit of coloration, treat yourself to a stroll through Joyce's Spring Garden slideshow.

Don't forget to order Mom some pasties in time for Mother's Day! Pasty Central is working overtime this week, shipping an extra day (Wednesday), and including a free gift: a 2005 Pasty Cam Color Calendar for Mom. (Not a 2004 calendar as Charlie had mistakenly published yesterday - "silly webmaster!" ;)

What a beautiful photo to wake up to....or in my case, go to sleep to!

Thanks for the nice slideshow! The snowdrops are really pretty.

Beautiful pictures. Nice Mother's Day present.

Of every option my digital camera has, I love the
macro zoom feature the best.

Shots like these are my favorites to take and view.

Ahhhh..... Beautiful!

WOW! Amazing shots. I wish I was 1/10 as talented! Nice job...

Joyce --- Nice shots! You have a good eye. Please keep searching for unique pictures and sharing them with your pasty cam fans.

Lovely photos, I can smell the cleand Spring air! AAAAHHHH!

Beautiful slide show! Just what I needed on this dreary Monday morning! Thank you!

Beautiful,Beautiful.Beautiful

Joyce,
You are so very good at what you do. I am such a fan of your photograpy. Each picture seems to be equally as good if not better than the last. Thanks for the beauty.

Love your pictures Joyce! Have you had any luck getting any pictures of the birds yet? Maybe you should bring your camera to my house, I'll make coffee, and watch the birds at my feeder!

I get to go home for Memorial Day, I am so excited. I love it up there, it will always be home. Downstate doesn't count. Can't wait for hubby to retire and the look out UP....here I come....

Deb Schmidt

Charlie....thanks for the beach up-date. I will definitely get up there. I wonder if the Harbour House will be open by then (middle of the month). If anyone else has been to a Copper Country beach this Spring that has lots of driftwood....please let me know(the driftwood moves around so a beach can be great one year and not the next!)!!! Beach Combing is my life!! Thanks.

Joyce Tormala's Guest Gallery is fantastic! Nice work, Joyce!

Does anyone know who own's the top of Brockway Mountain?? And is the gift shop a private business or ?? Just curious. Was asked the question and don't know the answer?

Top of Brockway is private property which has been in the Wescoat family for generations. Current owner:
Clyde and his spouse. Includes gift shop.

To Liz (Idaho). The top of Brockway Mtn is private property?????. I guess I have always just assumed that it belonged to Keweenaw County or someone like that. Does this mean that some mean spirited person could purchase the spot from the Wescoat family, put up "no-trespassing" signs and build a "trophy house" there. Scary thought, because that is where I have told my family I want my ashes spread when the day arrives.

RE: Ownership of the top of Brockway mtn- Does the state or county own and maintain the highway and a certain amount of right of way along same over the mountain?

Re: Who maintains the road going to the top of Brockway mountain. My uncle recently retired as supervisor of Keweenaw County Road Commission. It is this local entity which maintains the road going both up and down,does road patches, etc. The Road Commission is supported through a portion of Michigan's state gas tax. Each gallon of gas purchased in Michigan has a State tax added, which covers road repair,equipment, etc.Salaries, wages,and benefits for the workers are also paid from this money, and NOT from local property tax assessments, which many local residents believe.I guess that the answer to the question is that both the State of Michigan AND the county are responsible for maintaining the access road to the summit. Also... there are currently a few private residences tucked away along Brockway Mountain , although they are well hidden from the casual onlooker.

Would be a grand spot for a restaurant on top of
Brockway. Figured over the years someone would do
that up there. But then I realized it does not have all utilities up there.

Thanks so much for the comments. I can't tell you how much brighter my day has become. It is dark now but I still see the brightness!
The digital cameras are capital F-U-N;keep or delete,without the suspense.
There are so many subjects along the roadsides and in the woods-many are right underfoot. There are times when we just have to stop the car! I was lying on my stomach,fiddling with the buttons,squinting into the screen,waiting for the breeze to ease,when our Tortiseshell cat strolled behind the Snowdrop I was focusing on. The cat unwittingly provided the backround I needed.
The kids are grown, so I don't have to stop,drop and run anymore. Since I love to play in dirt,I decided to give gardening a try and I must admit,I am addicted! Nothing takes precedence over my number one hobby,though: hunting and shooting! Camera season is open year-round.
I enjoy gazing through the guest galleries here,admiring the thousands of beautiful,creative,humorous shots. 24 hour days are not enough. I am glad there are so many members of the Nature Paparazzi! Thanks to the good folks at Pasty,we are able to share.