I have to admit, when I first spotted this photo in Roger Kangas' gallery, my first thought was... 'he couldn't have taken this picture here in the Copper Country.' But, wrong was I, he actually snapped this harbinger of spring in Hancock, MI. The Spring Crocus is the largest and most widely known of the crocuses and it seems are perfect for the U.P., since the colder the winter the better they'll do. Now that's a real Yooper flower with Sisu! The perfect way to wish all the varied office professionals a Happy Administrative Professionals Day! (formerly known as Professional Secretaries Day.)

First Post from the East coast of Africa on board the USS Wasp. A beutiful picture, thanks

Beautiful!!

Aha the Crocus Sativus, soon the heat of summer will cause it to leave us. (Sorry Wheatman)

What spice comes from the yellow pistils in the center of a Crocus flower? Is it saffron?

Simply beautiful!! Did you know that the spice, saffron is derived from the center or stymen of the crocus?? It would be nice if we could harvest our own saffron for our baking needs. Maybe there is a horticulturist that could shed some light. Saffron is very expensive and treated like gold, often kept in the safe or under lock and key. Just how much an ounce??

Does the crocus have any kind of fragrance? I bet it could never compare to the arbutus. I remember when I was a kid, I use to pick arbutus just past the cemetry. I wonder if it still grows there.

Beautiful. Seems spring is coming late to the UP (compared with my current whereabouts). Like that.

Mr. Dave of Laurium. What happened to the Red Wings?

to Ace Tx: from yesterday's post: the MI House is open and excellent as ever. At Christmas they had an awesome tree with all homemade designs.

On another topic: the Eskimoes have like 15 different words for snow. (don't quote me on the number) I was in Gwinn and Houghton Easter Sunday and Monday, and I bet I saw 9 of them. The best were the huge flakes which as they fell formed into reverse parachute shapes due to air pressure. They just glided down so slow and beautiful. Then there were the pellets....

Lovely picture! Spring is just around the corner in the U.P!
It was a shock for me to go from MI to Birmingham, AL this week - down here in the south all of the spring flowers are blooming and there are leaves on the trees. All that aside, I'd still rather be back home in the U.P!

Great Picture this A.M. Saffron was used a great deal when I was young. Grandma would make saffron bread and she would get the very expensive spice from England. When my mom and I visited her childhood home in Calumet in 1985, we of course, went to Toni's. Best pasties around and I remember they also sold Saffron Bread and Buns. I have tried to duplicate the unusual taste but its certainly not like Grandmas. Enjoy the Day Everybody!

Ah, for some saffron buns! Is there any place remaing in Copper Country tat still bakes these tasty little items?

Saffron comes from Autumn blooming croccus, three little strands per bloom - picked by hand and sorted by color - no wonder it is so expensive.

ISN'T SAFFRON POISONOUS?

Bthecute1....What happened to the Red Wings? Nothing...They won...after they woke up..Oh, and nice pic today, I am searching for some Arbutus soon to see if they have made their appearance.

My crocuses are already done here in Northern Lower Mich.....They were beautiful this year. Thanks for the nice pic today....I wish mine would have lasted a little longer.

Isn't it amazing what the camera will do when you trip and fall in the flower patch!

Good morning Cornish cousins! Ahh, saffron bread from my Cornish grandma and cardamum biscuit from my husbands Finnish grandma! My two favorite family recipies... both de-lectible! :) Thanks Gram and Gram!

What a nice photo! It is always so nice to see the first flowers after the snow.

To be a bug looking up and see such color! If I were a bug I would be happy to find a garden patch of flowers and move in forever.

Beautiful picture. Dave of Laurium brought up the subject of arbutus. Will someone please take a picture of that wonderful flower and post it for us?

Such beauty, it makes one long to be back in the land with so many wondrous sights. A Yooper, still spreading our culture to the trolls.
Don DePetro

For further reading about saffron, check here: http://www.saffron.gr/

Roger, again you have taken some awesome pictures!

I looked up what arbutus looks like and found these two images...

I have already shared this photo with co-workers here in Texas last week by using it as Wallpaper!

You know Spring is here when you see these beauties!

If you haven't visited the Guest Photos you should; I frequent Rogers pics often! They are great! There are many others that are worthy of a peak!

Wah! I have a Undelivered Mail Returned To Sender e-mail in my queue this morning. Says it was for . It refers to a Virus Worm.somefool. Whats going on? anyone out there aware of this? Whats going on?

In Need of Saffron Buns--

I know that Sheldon's Bakery on Sharon Ave in Houghton made them a few months ago, not sure if they still do or not...

DB: a no-answer: Almost anything can be poisonous. Depending on dosage and how toxic (?) it is. Saffron? Hey, I'm not posting from the grave, so it can't be too bad.

What a way to go... O.D.ing on Saffron buns and pasties.

"I'm just mad about saffron......"

Saffron's mad about me...

they call me mellow yellow....

To "In need of saffron"...

Try Gordy Fountaine in Hubbell... He has a small bakery in his home in Hubbell and I think he still bakes for special occassions....his saffron buns are out of this world and quite reasonably priced...

Great Pic...fun to watch spring coming to the good ol' CC.

You can get saffron buns or bread at Toni's in Lauruim. Thy're great. We had the bread last week. Yum-yum. Make your mouths water? LOL Sorry!

Is anybody making " crusty bread " around the area?

to Dave in Laurium....


"and she's just wild about me"

I may be wrong but those pics don't look like the Arbutus I have seen. The arbutus I am used to grow on large bushes more like trees and are often referred to as 'strawberry trees'. The flower actually looks like a berry and has a really sweet honey like smell. There may be many types of arbutus out there, but all the pics I come across don't look like the ones above. Can anyone help us on this sublect??

Hmmm...sounds like "anon" knows "Dave in Laurium"...

Being a Administrative Professional, these are probably the only flowers I'll get all day! Thank you Mary Drew and Barb in Jacobsville.

Kashmir Indian saffron: $58.00 per 1/4 oz
Coupe' Spanish saffron: $42.00 per 1/4 oz
Superior Spanish saffron: $34.00 per 1/4 oz
Yooper Superior saffron: $priceless

I 2nd Troll, Lower MI, All I got today was a grumpy disposition.

Can someone fill us clueless ones in on the meaning of "sisu"?

Editor's note: Sisu can't quite be translated; but roughly it means grit, toughness, the willingness and will-power to do what needs to be done regardless of the cost. Its the Finnish national characteristic, so its said.

Looks like arbutus to me - trailing arbutus. Illegal to pick now, but I did my share as a child. One small handful would fill the entire house with the wonderful scent.

Is it a real word in Finnish? Or is it like S.I.S.U., with each letter standing for something?

The word "Sisu" is a Finnish word meaning "Guts". One has to have Sisu to take this cold weather.

Shelly / Yankee in Texas:
There are about 20 of Admin. Professional in our company and NOBODY has been recognized. Oh, man, a guy who is not even in my department just now walked by and wished me a Happy Admin. Professional day....may I fall off my chair or what!

Thats the truth! My Grandmother lived in the Soo a few years back when it snowed so much that the lower windows were covered and she said the National Guard had to deliver the mail!

Troll,

I'm sitting here alone in the office while all the Executives are at an Open house.....actually being alone in a quiet office isn't too bad!

To all posters this day.
My Mother, who was raised in Negaunee, will be 97 the 30th of this month and she still makes Saffron bread. She even makes Pastys (cornish of course) from time to time. Love all that stuff.

Its not Arbutus. She works up at the Phoenix store.

I think Dave of Laurium is thinking of mistletoe.
SISU = intestinal fortitude

To Dave from Laurium,
Arbutus is a trailing flower that grows very low to the ground. It'll be awhile before they make their appearance I think.

Frank Milw.

The Tree of Life Bakery in Bessemer MI. makes an excellent Italian bread, among other things.

If Saffaron was poisonous I would be dead! My Mom used to make both the buns and the bread often. We all just loved it.I used to make it but haven't in ages. Growing up in the UP we were fortunate because we grew up eating foods of all Nationalities.

The Arbutus we picked were close to the ground and usually in woodsy, dampish areas.They did have litle pinkflowersthat smelled good.

I think all the immigrants had to have SISU in order to make their way in the new world. I know my Dad had it tough as a 14 yr old. Had to do a mans job.

Another meaning for SISU is stubborn.
The Tree of Life Bakery in Bessemer used to be called Prico's. My uncle worked there for more than 30 years. He always brought home delicious Italian bread and bread sticks. Hot with butter, better than beer.

Oh, I'm hungry now! My grandmother used to make saffron buns on special occasions when I was a kid. I was raised a troll, but was fortunate enough to live in the Keweenaw for 3 years after college. Toni's in Laurium was a frequent stop several times a week in those 3 years! Of course it's a must to get some whenever we get a chance to visit. Hey, maybe they can mail me some.....

Dave-Miaja-Me- Glad to hear the Michigan House is opened back up & I worked there for a few years a short time ago. Ha! Ha! The arbutus is a close to the ground vine from what I remember & the smell would just fill the house. Dave did you get my note? It's about 79 today, wish I was back in the Copper Country. Coooool!

Whats the name of that Mansion in Houghton, or is it Calumet? The one that you can tour and it has a big Ballroom on the top floor?

dave- 17 of 81!

shelly/Yankee in Texas:

Are you thinking of the mansion in Laurium? We always stay at the Laurium Manor Inn which is right around the corner from Toni's Restaurant.

Ace...Yup, I did finally find it, thanks. I will see what I can do...Hope all is good in the Lone star State...

I'm not sure, but I went to the Copper Country about 7 years ago, and toured a big mansion that had a ballroom at the top. I want to take my kids to see it when we come to da U.P. this summer. Trying to get some info on it. I'll look up Laurium. Thanks. Anybody else know?

shelly...just go to lauriummanorinn.com, I believe that is what you are looking for.... Oh, and Ace in Texas...you worked there a "FEW" years ago,,,that was cute...:>)

Shelly/Yankee in TX. You are probably thinking of the Laurium Manor. (in Laurium of course) A nice place to stay, I might add, and very close to Toni's.

Thanks Dave! (and Hungry in Co.)
:)

Shelly,

Are you thinking of the Laurium Manor Inn?

You guys are great! I did find the info I was looking for!
Thank you!!!

Coming back from watching and counting hawks up on top of Brockway Mountain yesterday, I stopped into the Phoenix store to buy a beer from Arbutus Peterson (that hawkwatching is thirsty work!). Told her that "her" flowers were just about ready to bloom and she got a big smile on her face. I think she is the only Arbutus that I know. When you are up in the far reaches of the Keweenaw, make sure to stop by her little store. It is a neat old, quaint place.

We always used to tell the stories of the "hauntings" in the Laurium Manor... not sure if I could stay there! I'd be listening for ghosts.... probably just an urban myth!

I did have a spooky experience at the Seul Choix lighthouse in Gulliver. I was alone on a cold winter day taking pictures and just had a feeling something was watching me. I don't really believe in ghosts, but my Dad says its known to be haunted.

There was an Arbutus Satterly from Hubbell who was a very nice lady.

My wife said that if I buy any more plants she would leave me.
Sure am going to miss that woman. :>)

Then there's Arbutus Bleise who gave many Keweenaw children a good Headstart (as a BHK teacher) throughout the years. Thanks Arbutus!

It's a Hallmark Holiday....how can you expect men to remember that? Hopefully they recognize the admin professionals year round....I know I do. But the flowers in the pic are very beautiful and will last a lifetime on your computer screen if you want them too.

How does one pronounce sisu?

See-Suh, sis ooh???

So you didn't like my Arbutus pictures? Well, when I looked
up "Strawberry Tree" I found these.



This is more of a close-up of the fruit


But I think of all of them, I like this idea the best!


And Drew, Arbutus Bleise is a WONDERFUL lady! I haven't
seen her for a while now. Is she OK?

Barb, I loved your arbutus pics, it's just that being somewhat "horticulturally challenged", when I looked them up on the internet, I found what you have in your second set of pics. Now, when I found out they were actually called 'trailing arbutus', I did manage to find what you had pictured. Good thing too, because I don't believe the other type are found in this area. Someone gave me directions to a location where they used to find the trailing arbutus years ago, so I will try my luck.

The bakery in Bess A Mur is The Bread of life.

The picture of the Arbutus looks right to me. They grow close to the ground and the smell is what makes them so special.
The crocus are great, Rog.

The meaning of "Sisu"; My dad who was 100% Finn once told me that the term sisu started during the Finnish/Russian War. A large powerful country like Russia thought that over-running Finland would be a breeze. The Finnish troops fought gallantly through the bitter cold winter; turned out they were more than the Russians could handle and withdrew. That's when the term sisu was born. It was said that the Finn's had sisu, meaning tough, determined, stubborn.

Paul,about a wk ago I had the same problem you did. I was supposed to have sent an e-mail with a worm to someone on pasty cam which I didn't do. It sent it back as undeliverable It is agravating to say the least.

My co-workers remembered me today with a beautiful bouquet of flowers, cake and card. I work with all women. My husband forgot his secretary but will make amends tomorrow. Love all the saffron and arbutus talk today too!

Hey Kosko,
Are you the one that tells great jokes?
The more you drink the funnier the jokes get.
I'll never forget that time at your parents
camp, it was a blast.

Stayed at the Laurium Manor last 4th of July. We lucked out and got the suite over the garage. Two bedrooms, kitchen, living area, and porch...Just about enough space for a guy and his wife of 26 years. I would stay there again anytime.......(Administrative professionals...??give me a break. I own a small business and am charged with everything from planning, doing, collecting, paying, taxing, insuring, etc etc etc...Maybe I could be an administrative professional........)

To Dave in Mohawk. I am 100% Finn, and my Grandpa fought in that same war. However, I like my meaning of SISU much better.

Is the arbutus that grows in the Copper Country the
same as a madrona ? We have one in our backyard- it
has the most beautiful copper-colored bark that sheds
in sheets. The trunk is always cold, even on the hottest
days. In Br. Columbia folks call it the arbutus. There's a
disease called canker that's destroying many of them.

The Upper Peninsula is clearly heaven on earth !!!!

To Steve the flying troll. As a woman, owning a business. I did the same for 28 years. There were times I wished I was just the secretary who got the flowers !!!

All my old arbutus sites around Traverse City have been bulldozed and turned into subdivisions, guess our picking it didn't really matter did it...

"Administrative Professionals Day"...Gimme a break.
I don't get a special day, gift, flowers or anything for

DOING MY JOB !

So why the heck should these administrative professionals ?

Whoa...why did everyone get so crabby about the special day??? Yes, I do my job every day because it is my job. I work hard and wouldn't have it any other way. However, a pat on the back never hurt anybody. Lighten up. I also like "Boss Day". I also don't need the fancy title of administrative whatever. It's just nice to be treated a little special once in a while. Too bad it is apparently so difficult for some people to show appreciation. Enuf of this subject I guess, wow. Let's get back to arbutus etc.

sisu=tenacity of purpose

Dave of Mohawk, et al.

Problem #1 with the Finn/Russo war definition of sisu: The Russians won the Winter War of 1939, although at tremendous and unexpected cost.

Problem #2: My 1919 Suomalais-Englantilainen Sanakirja defines sisu as heart, courage, nerve.

Sisus is the inside, the interior.

I wonder if there is a Finn equivalent of the OED?

SISU
We Get It Done!

Sisu is a unique Finnish concept. It stands for the philosophy that what must be done will be done, regardless of what it takes. Sisu is a special strength and persistent determination and resolve to continue and overcome in the moment of adversity…an almost magical quality, a combination of stamina, perserverance, courage, and determination held in reserve for hard times.

In the past Finns were obliged to struggle against nature and against foreign intruders. Despite all of the drawbacks along the way, the struggle gave a lot of strength. The early settlers found inspiration in the Finnish landscape, sky and in mythological heroes who taught them that it was possible to overcome obstacles. In more recent times the same sources have been the basic source of inspiration for athletes, artists, designers and architects who have made Finland known to the world.

I'm a bakery and good coffee afficianado and will drive miles out of the way in the U.P. or anywhere for a wonderful cardamom roll. I've found the good bakeries but where is the good brew? Mother Lode in Houghton seems to be the last place on earth. Also, where is Sheldon's Bakery on Sharon Ave?

I know Gordon Fountain went to school with him hope I,ll have time to stop an get some safarin buns my mother use to make Therese DuLong

To Dave of Laurium. I bow to your super intelligence. Who ever heard of a guy who knows his flowers, and bushes. It seems I am the one who is "horticulturally challenged" A Strawberry Tree a type of Arbutus I never heard of, but have one in my yard. It is very beautiful as the fruit or berrys ripen just before Christmas. However, when the berrys fall, it makes the biggest mess, and stains the pavement if not cleaned up. Thanks, I learned something today :)

Sisu is pronounced see sue.

To Jim,lower Mi.... I have an Aunt and Uncle who have spent their lives in Negaunee. Wonder if your Grandmother knows them. Virginia and Milton Pascoe. It is so wonderful that your grandmother is going to be 97. Such a wealth of knowledge. Virginia made the best Saffron buns. She gave me the recipe but I could never duplicate it, Have a great Spring Day.

Roudy Mi Arbutus Satterley from Hubbell was my mother! How did you know her? I love the Arbutus flower and would look forward to spring to look for them.

Mike R, New Berlin,WI

You are so right about the bakery in Bessemer! I had to look again on the label of my bag of Korpu ( cinnamon toast )from there. Bread of Life Bakery and Cafe. Actually I bought it from the store/gas station in Bruce Crossing. Wish they'd extend their route to the Copper Country !

SISU is pronounced siz zoo. So there!

the huron mountain bakery in marquette is something, stop there and you will make it a regular place to stop,

SISU: a finnish make of trucks (semis, loggers etc.; nowadays owned by, er, Renault or Iveco or, well, whatever). Alas, seems like SISU lacked sisu! :)

Right Danbury..A friend in the Karlsrue area said he does see SISU trucks from time to time.

?!? He's gotta be near the autobahn? I sure never see them.

He drives "city to city" out of the Walzbachtal area for United Parcel Service {U.P.S.}..But he was from the Keweenaw.
I guess there are a few million people in that area..BUT if you are ever near there look for a Nissan van with a "SAY YA TO DA U.P.!" bumper sticker.I TRADED THAT FOR THE OVAL DEUTCHLAND "D" STICKER NOW ON MY CAR . OH AND I GOT A 1973 MERCEDES..HOOD EMBLEM.. IN THE DEAL!

:) What you do with that, stick it on your car, too?

Gee.. NO my car is not worthy of the Mercedes badge..But that car was headed for a scrapyard in Baden.So I had him send it to me .I still have it in a box somewhere..

A former Yooper of W.W.II vintage who now lives in Dexter, MI.(near Ann Arbor)would like to know if there is a website, etc. for Calumet High School grads.

A 1946 Grad.

John Birk

John, take a look at the Class Reunion Connection here at Pasty Central.