• Wednesday-What'sUP January 2 - 03:00 pm

Dorothy Jamison sure knows how to live. When the ice is thick and sturdy on Gratiot Lake, she grabs her bench, her skates and her furry friends, to head out and enjoy the day skating the Keweenaw way. Of course Sam (the dog) and Forest (the cat) don't strap on any skates, they just come along to watch their human out there enjoying the day, as she makes temporary abstract art on the ice. Dorothy's last photo shows how curious Forest was, having to go right out there to check out what she had been doing, making all those tracks. What a great way to spend a chilly Upper Michigan day!

That really does look like it would be fun!! Cats are such curious creatures. They just make me chuckle! Thanks for sharing!

Love these winter fun pictures!

What great photos to appear on this cold morning. I absolutely love the fourth one! Dorothy your artistic ability is wonderful and your photos too. THANKS FOR SHARING. Hopefully I too will be out skating soon.

What wonderful pics to start my day! Thanks, Dorothy!
I thought I owned the nosiest cat in the country, but looks like Forest is giving my Tippy competition!;>

N-Ice! Where are the foot prints?

My Dad once told me how he would skate back in the 1940's when he was a kid. He lived near Calumet Waterworks and some winters when conditions were just right the lake would freeze over smooth and flat, the worlds largest ice rink. He said that he'd be out there skating for miles. I remember when I was a kid in the 60's walking out there with him on smooth ice able to see right through down to the bottom of the lake. There were huge ctacks that looked about 2 - 3 feet thick. Amazing.

Thanks, Dorothy. Great photos! The patterns on the ice look like the ones skiers lay down in fresh powder. In the last photo, Forest's outline looks like an owl sitting on a branch.

Fun pictures, Dorothy! I miss skating on the pond on the farm, that's for sure. Stuck in the cement jungles the past 30 years with no skating or fishing outlet on a regular basis. My Jas has sat and watched the snow but has not attempted to set paw in it. 'Course, she had to wait until I got a bigger harness for her! Kittens grow so fast (worse than children!). At least my daughter stayed in her shoe size for 6 months!

I thought the patterns may have been made from the green/blue bench, but I couldn't understand why no foot prints.

A conundrum.

Love Forest's photo, great job!

Guess you'll never know, eh Alex.
Confused me too.

All of the pictures are wonderful! Its fun to live in the Upper Peninsula! To be able to have the opportunity to do these things.