Wednesday For messages about today's picture, see Cam Notes. This area is for other friendly conversation. Please read our Acceptable Use Policy.

Morning!!

Good morning!

I don't see that chicken in any open water.

Good morning everyone! Hey, smf in troll land - may I ask where troll land is? I've been curious for quite some time, but thought I might just figure it out. Needless to say, I haven't yet. Thanks!

Debra, The lower peninsula, or "below da bridge" is Troll Land. Remember the kids story Billy Goats Gruff? The trolls lived under the bridge. Have a great day and enjoy the snow we're getting today.

Debra,
YOU live in troll land! That would be anything below the bridge:)

Better make sure they know what "bridge" you mean.

Oh wow, don't I feel silly. Sorry, I have never heard of Billy Goats Gruff, but will make it a point to find it and read it now. I'm 26 years old - maybe the book is much older? I'm still laughing at myself - can't believe I live in "Troll Land"! : )Thanks everyone!!

Debra, you are so funny!

Well thank you Dan! Who better to make fun of then myself, right?

Has anyone heard of the reference of "apple knockers" for people of the LP? Something my Dad used from long, long ago.
(Debra, no way you are going to know this one - you are way too young! :) )

Debra, I see several people explained "Troll Land" to you - I smiled reading all the comments. Coming back from vacations in "Yooper Land" & crossing the "Big Mac" to
"Troll Land" always makes me sad. Have a good day!

Debra, Muskegan MI: When discussing Michigan, there is "The Bridge", Mackinac. When discussing the UP, "The Bridge" is the Houghton/Hancock canal bridge.

Here is a site to read the tale of the three Billy Goats Gruff. There is a little translation problem from the Norwegian to English in the 1st paragraph but, the rest is good. They even have a song. http://www.sterlingtimes.co.uk/bill_goats_gruff.htm

LZ
Apple Knockers was a "term" used to describe people from the Lower Peninsula who tried to deer hunt and could not hit anything except the
apples off of the trees. That is the "version" I heard.
Lee

I have a friend in the Detroit area whose grandfather called me a "Jack Pine Savage" everytime I talked to him after he found out I was a Yooper. It was our little joke!

In the 1950's and 1960's we called trolls "cherry pickers". Trolls is a relatively new term. Where did the term "cherry pickers" come from?

Joe; "Cherry Pickers" sounds like it may have come from the Traverse City area or Cherry Capitol of the world!

Lee; thanks! That sounds about right. (But isn't it harder to hit an apple then hit a deer? What do I know - as a Yooper I was a failed hunter. Probably why I had to move to Troll Land!)

To Karen, smf in troll land, LZ SWMI, Dan, Frank, Mark & Ron - Thank you all for your comments, I'm glad I could make you all laugh and smile with my ignorance. : ) Karen - I read the story and will now blame today on my parents not reading me Billy Goats Gruff when I was little! : )
Sincerely,
Your Muskegon Troll

LZ,SWMI: thanks. In those days there were many motel cabins along US2 & M28. Deer season they would all fill up with "cherry pickers". After a day's deer hunting, most of them would go to Hurley. Wakefield's library would close at 5:00pm. I guess Hurley's library was open all night???

Debra,yes, you make us smile. But please, don't say "ignorance", it's called "youthful innocence". Keep it for as long as you can.

Yes Debra, you are a little young to know about "The Billy GoatsGruffwhen I was in Kindergarten in 1943we had these little green chairs that she would fix into a bridge.Then the Billy Goats would go over the bridge under which the Troll was hiding.

Mother Nature is a wonderful artist! Right after a good snow is my favorite time because everything is covered with snow and the landscape is so beautiful!! I miss it.

Oops, I was thinking I was on the What's Up Page with my commenting on the snowcovered sunflowers.

LZ,SWMI: exactly where are you from. Was raised in Dowagiac myself.

Debra, you are the folks that keep us older folks young! We don't laugh at you, but with you. Remember, we didn't know everything until we hit 60! Yooper, I like your style of expression.

Cedar Swamp Savage,Stump Jumper,Yooper are all terms I've heard for those on the north side of the bridge. Flatlander,Troll,Sugar Beeter,Apple knocker,Hillbilly and Slicker are terms I've heard applied to people like me...I'm a TROLL! Proud of it and my heritage....I hope everyone else is just as proud of theirs. Hope y'all have a great day!

Whatever happened to H from Oklahoma? Downstate don, I haven't heard from you in quite awhile either. I understand you Trolls are in for some nasty weather too. Don't look now, but it's down to the single digits in Calumet. Burrrrr.

Everyone gone to sleep!

Karen; I am still here. Weather has not been too
bad here...except for the freezing rain..we had
some nice days, almost sixty. All the snow melted
for a few days..but it is back again. Must be hard
to take that 80 degree weather...huh? Again..Happy
New Year!!

Joe...not everyone's gone to sleep. Just got back from a mean game of Mexican Train (dominos). The "cold front" seems to be going thru right now. Was near 80 degrees today but high tomorrow in the 50's. My kind of weather :) Actually it's only 9:50 now so not yet my bedtime. Heard from son in NW Ill. today. It's a bit nasty out, ice, snow,blowing. G'night all