• Thursday-What'sUP February 3 - 08:36 pm

I'd like to introduce you all to the visitor I had last week, his name is Flat Stanley and he hails from Macomb, MI. Flat Stanley is a character in a series of books written by Jeff Brown. It's the story of a young boy who is flattened by his bulletin board falling on him while he sleeps. Being that thin has its advantages, such as being able to be mailed all over the country. Mrs. Cindy Freeman, a fourth grade teacher at Ojibwa Elementary School in Macomb asked if she could send Flat Stanley to the Keweenaw so that I could take a few pictures of our area with Stanley. You see, Mrs. Freeman uses pictures from the Pasty Cam in her lessons to teach the students about the geography of the area. She's even made a slideshow of snow pictures to inspire them to write poems about snow. It's a great way for the students to learn the differences in the Upper Peninsula and the Lower Peninsula of Michigan. Flat Stanley has traveled to many places in the state, so I wanted to give him an exciting tour of Lake Linden, photographing him with a number of interesting places and things. Including the railroad trestle as you enter town, an old mining building, the Lady Be Good propeller, high snowbanks, a shot of John Dee by his weather station and Nora Dee with a snowmobile. All things that you might not see in Macomb. He even made a visit to Mrs. Axford's fourth graders here at Lake Linden-Hubbell Elementary, where I read them the story and snapped a picture of them in the snow with Stanley. Of course Flat Stanley's visit couldn't be called complete until he tasted a homemade U.P. Pasty. Then I slid him back into his envelope and sent him on his way back home. What a fun way for kids to learn about the Keweenaw!

The 2nd picture made me hungry & wishing I had a pasty right now!

THAT'S a Fine looking Pasty...hmmmmmmm should I eat it plain, with catsup or with gravy?

YUM YUM

What a super great project. Congratulations to Mrs. Freeman and all her students and all other teachers and students who have adopted this project.

Mary: that picture of flat Stanley in the snowbank looking down Lake Linden hill is too adorable!

I agree with maija...what a wonderful way to teach! (They didn't make em like that...back in the day!!!)

Hi Everyone,
I just arrived at school and logged on to Pasty.com. My kids are going to flip when they see the picture-of-the-day! They have had so much fun with Mary's pictures. I want to thank Mary again for taking such great care of Stanley. Actually, I was wishing I was Stanley! Mary sent a whole cd of pictures to us and wrote the text for each one explaining the history of Lake Linden. I put the pics into a Power Point presentation and I'm sharing that with my class today. The Internet sure makes the world a whole lot smaller. Pasty.com has given my kids a view of their state that many of them may never have in person. Thank you so much, Mary. I hope I get to meet you in person some time.

Oh, I forgot one thing! Isn't that bib on Stanley the cutest thing?

I couldn't very well let Stanley take a chance of dirtying his field trip shirt, while eating, now could I? So the bib was a necessity! Glad you liked it! :->

Back in the day is here and now. I do the same and had teachers who would cut out National Geographic pictures for us to write about. My best was published in an anthology, "Snow In March."

Hey, pasties are great for breakfast.... indulge yourself!!

I have never seen Flat Stanley used in this way. I have received Flat Stanley myself from 3 different nieces and nephews who asked that he be entertained, then sent on to another place. Sort of a year-long how far can Stanley get experiment. At my wife's preschool here in Minnesota, they do a similar thing with a stuffed toy every year, except the toy only goes home for the weekend with each child and they create a page for the class book to tell the story of the stuffed animal.

The pictures are great Mary, keep up the good work!

Wow From there Stanley can see my Mom's old home just down the hill. Many a pasty were eaten there too.
Thanks Mary and good day to Mrs Freemans' class.

On that very brand of dinner ware too!

Flat Stanley has been all over the world! Kids (and adults, obviously) have a blast entertaining him.

I bet you enjoyed putting the CD together, Mary. I made a notebook of the Keweenaw and the life there for a fourth grade class at my school and had a great time doing it!

Have a great day, all!

Cute! Only...Mary...can we see the other pics of Flat Stanley that you took :-)

Somehow that table is not complete. Where is the catsup and a large glass of milk?

That is also a favorite view for me as it looks out into Bootjack....the best place in the whole CC. Well the whole place is the best I guess!

I can almost smell that yummy pasty. *sigh*

Wow the pasty looks so good and it will be August until we get to go Tony's for cookies and pasty's the people of the yooper have all that snow but such good food.

Great pictures! My nephew did that a few years ago. My daughter and I had fun, we took Stanley to the Mall of America (Camp Snoopy), a Twins baseball game, and the State Capitol.

I agree with "BT". Could we see the rest of the pictures, Mary?

What a great idea. Wouldn't it be fun to have flat Stanley visit the frequent participants at this site?

Way back "in the day" we would get off the bus before the bridge and catch it again later because the fare changed at the bridge. If we got off before the bridge and walked into town we would have saved enough for a soft serve cone. I don't recall who sold them but it was about the only place we knew of. Nobody in Calumet or Laurium sold them.

Mary, I'd love to see the other pics of Flat Stanley that you took also. :o)

How I wish I had a fourth grade teacher like that back when I was in school. I really don't ever remember learning anything just about Michigan while in school. Sure would have been nice. So, over the years, we've tried to instill a bit of Michigan's wonderful history into our kids as best we can.

Captain Video Catsup yes. Never Gravey. Shame on you.

Cindy, the kids in your class are lucky to have such a creative mind instructing them. I sure chuckled at the story of Flat Stanley...great name! The photos cracked me up. Be sure to tell your class about Toivo and Eino Sauce!

I agree with Dick from Florida about the picture not being complete without the catsup and milk, but it has to be buttermilk. That's how I grew up eating pasties and to this day the only time I crave or drink buttermilk is with a pasty!

Gravy Gross
Catsup Great.
That's all from me.

My pasties are supposed to arrive today. I can hardly wait!

Catsup, Catsup Great the only way to go.

I PREFER THE EINO & TOIVO'S PASTY SAUCE

Hey, it's Flat Stanley! I remember my daughter sending Flat Stanley to her aunt, who took him on a Caribbean cruise. We have pictures of him dancing, dining, being toasted by strangers on the cruise ship. It was a hoot!

Flat Stanley. Too funny. Wish he'd visit us in Minnesota. I'd let him ride the husky.

Mary,

How did you ever fit Flat Stanley in da envelope after he et dat pasty?
Betcha he needed extra postage for da trip home! J

After years of lurking, Flat Stanley has provoked me to ask, what's up with catsup (or ketchup, whatever) on pasties? I can see them plain. I enjoy them with a rich brown gravy. I've tried the Eino & Toivo pasty sauce; it's a beautiful thing, ESPECIALLY on eggs, but on pasties ... ? Maybe it's cultural, but I just don't get it. Tomato products on pasties just scares me. Lawries, Lehtos, Colonel K's, Toni's, Pasty Chef, Dobbers, Still Waters, and a few more -- I've tried (enjoyed) a lot, but I just don't get the idea of catsup. Even plain seems better. For showing that "plain is OK," Flat Stanley is now my hero.

Bravo, creative teachers everywhere (and a special nod to Mrs. Freeman, who remembers that Michigan mitten has a mate!)

Mary--won't you please put the rest of the photos in your guest gallery so the rest of us can see them?

I've had an awfully busy morning so far, but I'll get the rest of the pictures that I sent to Mrs. Freeman uploaded to my gallery and add a link shortly.

SPECIAL NOTE: For all you Pasty Central pasty connoisseur's, the pasty pictured isn't a Pasty Central pasty....EEEK....don't worry though, it's the next best thing...made by Mary! :->

A Pasty condiment suggestion: Ranch Dressing. Try it, you'll like it!!

What would even possess you to TRY ranch dressing on a pasty?

Try a dab of butter then miracle whip on your pasty. It's really good. That's how my Dad's family ate it. I'm the only one in my family that does. The rest use catsup.

Gravy or salad dressing on a pasty??? Wow! We all have our different tastes eh. I luv pasties hot or cold! Catsup when hot. Eat them plain like a hamburger when cold. Now I'm hungry and craving a pasty! :)

Gravy, ketchup, salad dressing, Toivo & Einos on pasties. Who cares , Enjoy them just the way you like them. I do.

Ok, I finally had a chance to upload the rest of the Flat Stanley visit pictures to my Pasty gallery. For those interested in viewing them one by one, so you can read the captions, click here: Flat Stanley visits Lake Linden.

Very Nice Mary...Thanks!

Wonderful, Mary. Great conversation starters for a 4th grade class down here.

Mary Drew is my second hero. Pasties rule.

Aww...now I'm blushing! Thanks, Library Bob! :-)

One of my grandaughters sent her classes Stanley to my Mother in Ewen Michigan a few years back. But he did not get the tour that Mary gave him. Really nice Mary, (and this is the first Pic I have had the pleasure of seeing you in)

Great pics Mary! Thank you for Stanley's guided tour. And thank you for your password help!

Mary, Thank you SOOOOOOOOOOO MUCH for introducing me to Stanley!!!!!!!!!!! The pics are FABULOUS! I work in the schools in Grand Rapids, Michigan and I will share Stanley with everyone here!!!! Makes my heart so happy to see the all the POSITIVE that comes from Pasty.net.... It just keeps getting better and better!!!!!!!!!!!!!! THANKS!!!

If Flat Stanley eats that big 'ol pasty by himself he's liable to become FAT Stanley. Anybody remember "Paddle to the Sea"?

I vote for butter and mustard on my pasty.

Yes,I remember paddle to the sea.

Oh how I love this site!
The whole Flat Stanley story got me giggling like a little kid! LOVE IT!
Those kids are lucky to have a teacher who uses humor and creativity to teach. Bet they'll always remember her and this lesson.

P.S. Is there a way for the rest of us to read the story of "Flat Stanley"?

OOPS! Sorry! Just clicked on the story of the author and his book above. ...so, 'nevermind'!Thanks!

TOIVO & EINO's just had some less then an hour ago with my pasty. DO IT!

Down stater's you can pick up at Meijer in catsup aisle.

"trysumadisonyerpasty eh!"

Toivo and Eino's Really Secret Pasty Sauce can also be ordered right here, along with your Pasty Central pasties.
Or you can order it here from a Pasty Central sponsor: Toivo and Eino's and Fudgie Pasties!

Please, is Flat Stanley just an educational tool, or can anyone get hold of him? My three year old would ADORE having such a "well-traveled" buddy.

Mary says: You'll find templates for making your own Flat Stanley here: Flat Stanley

Speaking of Michigan Poems, which Mary was, honestly she was, as if in preparation, one of my co-workers sent this to me:

When it's winter time in Michigan,
The gentle breezes blow,
About seventy miles an hour
And it's twenty-two below.
You can tell you're in Michigan
'cause the snow's up to your butt,
And you take a breath of winter air
And your nose holes both freeze shut.
The weather here is wonderful,
So I guess I'll hang around.
I could NEVER leave Michigan,
My feet are frozen to the ground!

Thanks heaps for the tour of Lake Linden with Flat Stanley. It was a hoot. I only wish my grandson, Erik, was a little older so that I could share the info with him. Keep up the great work.

Great slide show, Mary!

I especially love his scarf!! Nice touch!

All of these different ways to eat your pasties will get Elvira busy in the kitchen again!!

Library Bob
Catsup or gravy both go on beef{burger or chopped} and on a potato {fries usually catsup or mashed usually gravy}..sooo.. they both belong on a pasty {never at the same time!} which are mainly potato and chopped or ground beef{ok often pork too}..right eh?

I remember giving "Flat Stanley" an underground tour of the Quincy Mine a couple years back. Being flat really does have its advantages, like not bumping your head in some of the low spots, squeezing through tight places and being so low to the ground, spotting all the good rocks before everyone else. He must have understood everything I told him about the mine because he never asked any questions. As a matter of fact, he was one of the best patrons I've ever had; he just sat there and stayed quiet the entire time ;-)

LOL yea I'm being a little silly, but today is just one of those days.........

Jeff, I also teach "Paddle to the Sea" when we learn about the Great Lakes system. It's such a great way for kids to learn how the waterways are connected. Besides, I love the story and the pictures are really incredible, especially how Lake Superior is drawn like the shape of a wolf's head. Fourth grade curriculum is pretty cool!

Roflol. I recall absolutely NOTHING from my fourth grade.

Trying to think of what to make for dinner....then I made my daily visit to pasty.net

Pasty's it is!!

ps)
I vote no on Ranch dressing.

Thanks for the slide show and instructions. They will be used here for various and asundry trips and venues.

looks like there is 3-4 feet of snow in the western upper p

pasties, yum!

Jeff in Houston, I absolutely loved Paddle to the Sea! He
visited the Keweenaw, didn't he? \ Minn of the Mississippi
by same author is also good.

FLAT STANLEY!

I have a cousin named Stanley, which is the reason I was ever introduced to the flat stanley book! I'll have to let Stanley's parents know about the latest and greatest webcam photo in case they have not discovered it on their own! Their kids would love it!

First time ranch on pasty experience was one month ago...twas scrumptious!

Good day...sunny here in Laurium! Hallelujia!

Ahh, the trestle I know it well indeed.

c.j. of Milford I finaly got you trained right. you didn't even mention gravy May be the cornish used gravy, but not the finns. It would have been kind of messy when theyed take them down the mines for there lunch.

What a great picture of "Flat Stanley, Our granddaughter sent "Leslie Gingerbread Girl" to her Uncle DJ. in Bahrain. She was seen with the big bombers, all the troops and sitting a big rock outside their tents. We now have her inclosed in a memory box along with the American Flag that was flown over Iraq in a bomber. Its a real educational tool for the kids and fun for adults too. P.S. My grandma always served pasties with Forman's piccalilli and we each got our initial on them. THOSE WERE THE DAYS!!!!

I have NEVER heard of Flat Stanley until today. What a wonderful concept. My grandchildren are 4 months old and 3 years old. This is a must to tell my daughter in case she never heard of him.

Oops, I forgot. When my mother and her brothers and sister were alive, homemade chow chow was served with the homemade pasties.

I agree with Carole, Cross & Blackwell chow chow went great with a pasty. Havn't see that around anymore??

Correction for the initials

I didn't know you could stay so thin eating pasties.

Flat Stanley needs a winter vacation in FLORIDA, send him down !

Did "Flat Stanley" become "Fat Stanley" after the pasty meal? Har, Har!!

And, oh yeah. The bowl of dogfood in the background makes for an appetizing dessert.

Those "dinner plate" size pasties are the best.
Fills you up and it's time for a long winter's nap. HO-HUM!!!

Wouldn't it be neat to send Flat Stanley on a Pasty tour. He could be sent to all the Pasty cam posters and Each could write a little about their town and pass it on. Something like a round robin letter.

I haven't seen Flat Stanley since about 5 years ago when my Best Friend Michele & I took him to Arizona and a day trip to Nogales, Mexico.

He was visiting with us from Michele's niece in Minneapolis. It is good to seem him and to see that he is still traveling!! I love his winter clothes - of course he didn't need them in Arizona and Mexico!

How about a habanero salsa on your pasties, and if you can't take the salsa try mustard.

Dave, you don't want me in the kitchen, you would rather have me shoveling snow.

My first post at this sight, but had to report that Flat Stanley has been to Florida. Took him to visit Marjorie Kinnon Rawlings (author of "The Yearling") home and also to Silver Springs park. He had a great time. We enjoyed the project very much. I thought it was a very innovative idea for the kids to learn.

Crosse & Blackwell chow chow AND buttermilk a preferred treat for the tastebuds. Must help the digestion factor. No cholesterol either.

my grandmother (fully and completely Finnish) eats her pasty with mustard smiling....i myself just made a (pasty pie) the other day. yummmm

I am homesick now. Way to cold up there. Greetings from Phoenix Az.