Gazing at this shot by David Woon, gives you the feeling of being there. Standing just on the edge of Lake Superior watching the sun reflect off the water, making each stone seem like it has a life of its own. Over in David's Guest Gallery, someone gave an explanation for this phenomenon. So, pay attention, your physics lesson starts now: "The interplay of light evident in this image is known as a 'caustic network'. The surface of the water acts as a collection of constantly changing lenses, driven by chaotic rippling."

I'm no physics expert, but I sure know that eyeballing a scene such as this, is a great way to unwind after a day of work!

Good Morning from the Central Valley!

Mornin'All!

HEY!!! I think I spot an agate!!

Here's a link to SpaceWeather.com...you can find a whole bunch of pics of the Venus transit on here!

http://www.spaceweather.com/

to grimace: nice closing thought yesterday!

To David: wonderful picture! It would make an excellent jigsaw puzzle.

Fantastic picture - I second the jigsaw idea.

Boy, does that say "up north" to me. Walking the beach looking for interesting stones, periodically glancing up to check for ore freighters, is a favorite vacation pastime.

as children, we spent many-a-hours with my grandmp and grandpa sandretto looking for agates -brings back alot of memories (and very cold water)

A lot of memories when we were kids filling are pockets with all the pretty stones. Some times having to hold are pants up because we put to many stones in them. Are ankle hurting from the cold water and loving it.

I agree...would make a wonderful puzzle!! Many hours were spent looking for Agates along the shores near Ontonagon, yet I never found one! My uncle found big ones...large enough to make several pieces of jewelry. I also had a cousin that had a collection of agates and pretty stones. Maybe we should just collect any pretty ones...can hardly wait to get back on the shore in July!!

You said it best Kathy! This dose say U.P. North all the way up. See any Minnow's?

This would make a fun WOW!

My ankles hurt just looking at the water!
You know it's COLD!
I'll be there in 10 days and let you all know for sure!

Great pic. You have to know it's Superior; it's so clear. We always had jars and jars and jars .....of agates and pretty rocks from agate hunting. Great memories.

Once agin, a GREAT PICTURE!! GREAT FOR FRAMING. I LOVE our GREAT LAKES. Keep UP the good pics.

Oh, what memories this brings back!

Good Morning from wet & stormy Houston.

Good morning all. I've always wanted to hold that kind of image thru my day. Then was inspired! I got a decorative sturdy jar at Wal-mart, filled it with beautiful Superior stones. It turned out to be quite an artistic job. I then filled the jar with clear clean water with just a shot of bleach in it to prevent problems. I then put it on my windowsill above the kitchen sink. TAH-DAH... as close as I could get to contentment for the time. :)

Anybody in Grand Rapids area that wants to pick up great pasties... In all fairness to the sponsors who financially support this website and make it possible, a commercial message posted here was removed. We invite you to order from Pasty Central, wherever you live in the USA.

P.S. Got my stone collecting habits from my wonderful dad. Mom almost dispaired with his collecting stones especially while they lived in White Pine in western UP. I can't pass up an interesting twig, abandoned bird's nest or pretty fall leaf. (Miss you daddy)

Super picture. I checked the slide show for David Woon. Found 2 great up close agate photos. Check them out, you will be pleased. The entire show was awesome. My vote is for #13 of 20.

I really miss those days of picking pretty rock and neat looking drift wood that if you used your imagination would look like some kind of animal or reptile or just a cool looking shape.

What a beautifully deceptive picture....The water so crystal clear and glistening in the sun; you can't resist the urge to take off your shoes and walk forward onto the slippery rocks....

But then it hits you...the muscle cramping, blue lip turning, cold water of Gitche Gumee. Although its 90 out, 15 mins later you shiver uncontrollably. Living in the arid desert makes you miss of the big lake in no time at all. Enjoy your Superior, hopefully soon I can visit home again.

Ms. Katie-
My family has long since learned to just put up with my "rock collecting"-- Great idea to put the stones in a jar with a drop of bleach in clear water! Think I'll borrow that idea as I try hard to "Feng Shui" my little house! That way I don't have to toss my rock collection. (Feng Shui is all about simplifying and clearing out stuff- quite a huge challenge for me!)

This is a beautiful shot, I think maybe we should stop for a 10 second study of this pic a few times a day and then work would go much better! I look at it and can almost feel that UP breeze and smell that sweet lake water and just breathe... Awwwww......

Word from the U.P. says lilacs are in full bloom!!
I don't even have to ask for a picture on Pasty Cam, because if they hold on for a few more days I'll be able to smell their heavy fragrance for myself. I'll be traveling from (Pacific)Sea to Shining "(Big) Sea Water" for the Big Birthday. Because I live on such a gorgeous resort island, people always want to know, "Where do YOU go for vacation?" And of course, it's the U.P.!!

To Roger Lee: Thanks for out-of-the-blue e-birthdy greeting yesterday--even if it means the whole world now knows my age :} Right month, wrong day, but who cares--I usually celebrate month-long anyway!

Also of note: A U.P. celebration of the 50th anniversary of Cedar Campus, InterVarsity Christian Fellowship's beautiful camp near Cedarville, will take place in a few days. Hope to see a lot of other "golden" oldies there for a grand reunion and lots of wonder and music and fellowship. Many very happy memories from days there in the past 30 years or so. Happy Anniversary, Cedar Campus!!

Mary Lou

No trips planned to Lake Linden this year.
We will be in Branson Mo for the month of August.
Never could find a agate on the shore of Lake Superior. Best place to look Calumet Waterworks.

Great picture! Reminds me of Agate Beach. I've spent many hours throughout the years looking for those prized posessions. I found a huge Agate this past Memorial Weekend. I also headed over to Misery Bay. I was surprised that the water WASN'T that bad!
I'm looking forward to spending some time in the UP in July. I'm counting down!

Good monring, Yesterday MaryLou mentioned her Grandfather
was Jacques Pierre Boudreau. My grandfathers mothers maiden
name was Boudreau (first name Melinda) - she married a
DesJardin. Would you know any relation?

Did someone mention a picture of lilacs? Well, your wish is our command...thanks to our own Daryl Laitila

I think this is the most I have been homesick since moving to Houston.

Lilacs to me are the most wonderful flowers. There is something magical about them to me. The colors and smell just mystify me.

We had an old farmhouse and old bushes of lilacs in the front yard, and I would have fresh cuttings in the house when they were in season.

Do you think they will still be blooming in 2 weeks?

This one should be in the 2005 calendar. It is SO TYPICAL of The Lake. And how many folks have
tumbled stones? I do, and I love dumping them out, rubbing them and treasuring the little pieces of mica, silver, copper, agate and greenstone.

I need a modem that enables me to smell this web page. Lake Superior, Lilacs... It doesn't get any better!! Have a great day!!

Shelly, I was once a yankee in Texas too. I lived in the Westchase area of Houston, near Gessner and Westheimer. That was about as far from the UP as anyone could ever get. I miss the restaurants there. Everything else, I can live without! The last hurricane I was in was Alicia. Worst weather I ever seen!!

My favorite shade of my favorite flower!

Connie-

I work in the "Galleria" area off San Felipe...you must know my pain! HA HA

I will be going home in 2 weeks and can't wait to get out of the city!

Can anyone tell me if Ahmeek is having their 4th of July celebration on the 4th. Any other info on the celebrations in the area would be much appriciated. Thanks!!!

The Galleria?!?!? That's.... well, at least on the same half of Houston!! I went to the Galleria a few times. They have the ice rink! Is it still there? Do you work at an office or one of the shops?

Lily of the valley are in bloom now. My very favorite , fragrance-wise. Roses are next best.

Where's Waldo the Agate?

I set this as my wallpaper and it's beautiful, except it's hard to see my desktop icons amid the stones!

Connie-
Yes, the ice rink is still there. My kids go occasionally.

I work on the 13th floor for a corporation!

Flower Lover, I forgot about those! My Grandmother had them growing along the side of her barn, and they smelled great!

All my life I've picked up rocks and stones (what's the dif?), so when I got to the big lake, oh, my, what a time I had! Still have lots of them. Hope to get up there and pick up some more before too much longer.

To Cathy, MN: Yes, I believe Ahmeek is having there 4th of July doings on the 4th. Haven't heard any different.

OOpps! "their" not "there"

Shelly,
Engineering Firm or Oil Company? I'm zeroing in on it. I worked for a Business Machines company in Houston and we serviced everyone's copiers so I am familiar with a few business's there. I'm about to guess the initials of your company are MWK. Perhaps I am way off!

Glad that rink is still there. It's the only UP-like thing in the area!! If the Galleria were in Houghton, the floors all around the mall would be covered with rubber matts so that we wouldn't have to take our skates off to go shopping!

A land development corporation. They purchase land, build shopping centers, and gorgeous, expensive apartments. (one bedroom $950/month)

SUEBA USA CORP

I've always loved picking up rocks. Each rock in my collection has a special meaning and I can usually remember where it came from. A few years back I mentioned my love of rocks to some people from my church and they shared a few stones with me from their travels. I now have a piece of obsidian from Armenia, a "floating" rock from Alaska and a chunk of rock from the penguin beach at the tip of South Africa. It's no wonder that one of my Dad's nicknames for me was Greta-gotrocks.

Shelly, $950 a month gets you an average, non-luxury one-bedroom apartment for one month in the Denver Metro Area. IF you shop well, you may get an assigned parking place with a car port. That's pretty cool what your company does!! If you can't be in the UP, the Galleria is a fine place to be. Have a fun day in Houston and don't burn your butt on the car seat when you go to lunch. Watch out for the seat belt buckle, too!

Picking Agates. A Yooper friend of mine used to live in Wausau; he is now back in God's country. He found out the old railroad track that went close to his house was built from a Lake Superior quarry for the gravel bed. He would walk the RR tracks and find a lot of agates. I mean he had buckets full. I have walked the LS shore line and have never found one. Go figure.

Troll in Eagle Harbor. I believe that Emily, the former Webberville elementary school teacher who died Sunday, would have been your aunt. Her husband Lloyd called me Sunday evening to let me know of her passing. A multi talented great lady. You can find her obituary at the LSJ website today. (Lansing State Journal)

Great shot of Superior in her glory. I can smell the lilacs also (must be a better modem than some). Miss it all here in the middle of nowhere. You can't tumble caliche!!

Pattie..I don't know for sure that there is a relationship but there probably was. I know that there were cousins in my mother's family. Jacques Pierre Boudreau and his wife Victorine Asselin Boudreau came to the Copper County from Crabtree Quebec near to Montreal in the late 1800s. Had 7 girls..Ollie, Ida. Emma. Ursula, Anna, Mary Louise and Delima Rose & 2 sons,Aristide and Leo...my mom was the youngest and she was born in 1899 so it is an old family.

Remember when they were building the road between Ahmeek & Eagle River, would pick agates all Five Mile Point shores. When we make it home within 24 hrs. I have to make it to the shore to pick agates. Some day would love to go to Agate Harbor out at the point. it would be a day in heaven. Just 17 days & we'll back in GOD'S COUNTRY. Thank You for the great pic's.

Hey Joe Finn & Ace, Tx., My uncle's would take us kids along five mile pt. and they would shoot marbles into the big lake with a sling shot right in front of agate hunter's, they really thought they found an agate, it was great fun, it took them a long time until they caught on.

To Shelly in Texas: I think the lilacs will be blooming in 2 wks. here. If not in town, they will be blooming near the lake. We have some at our camp in Big Traverse and they never bloom until the end of June. We have a bumper crop of black flies this year too.

"We're haveing a heat wave, a tropical heat wave"
100+ and humid. I noticed while I was driving that gas has come down 10 cents. 2.17, 2.27, 2.37. I remember picking up agates as McLains State Park as a little kid. I have traveled extensively and my souvenirs from Singapore, Japan, Tiwan and everywhere in between, I would have those darn rocks weighing me down.

Kevin in Lodi: What are you doing up so early?

Bthecute1, do you have a younger sister Becky?

We'll be hunting the shorelines this summer to pick stones to use for a special project. They'll be used in a decorative pattern (along with tile) on the kitchen backsplash in the home we're building next year in Keweenaw County. Agates would be nice, but we'll settle for some pretty stones!

Looks like they've drained the MacArthur Lock at the Soo for inspection. I don't ever recall seeing a lock completely dry.

Is it true Mt. Baldy is no tresspassing now???

To J. of Chassell. What did I say or have said that makes you think I have a sister Becky? Now you don't think that my Mom could have dealt with two Bthecute1's, do you? Keep guessing!!!

Please explain how the agates look. How are they different from all the other 'pretty rocks'? I may have some and not even realize it.

They're are polished, unlike the Pistons, and winners, just like the Pistons............

I replaced my wallpaper of the "Big Mac" shot from the air, to today's photo. I agree it would make an awesome puzzle.

Hey Mary,
How come I didn't get the "Early bird" sticker for first post this morning? Been waiting all winter to get back on the night shift so I could get first post. Good night from sunny (and hot) California. Way to go Pistons!

<Toivo sez:> Kevin - - we ran out of the EARLY BIRD stickers this morning, had to drive to Marquette to get some, so here's an extra - - and look again at your note above.

Bthecute1, San Jose :
I work nights at a cannery here in Lodi.
We are doing apricots right now, and peachs in a few weeks.

Hi Kevin of Lodi: I often wanted to tour one of those cannerys. We use to have a lot of them here in the Bay Area, but have not seen one lately. Do they run tours in the plants in your area? I always like to see how things are done. The night shift huh, that's got to be murder.

Bthecute1, San Jose :
Our company used to be located in San Jose up until "81" or so, then we moved to Lodi.
We don't run tour's anymore, since 9/11 our customers and the Feds require tighter security.
It is an interesting process, one would never believe there is so much to putting fruit in a can. Only on nights for roughly 3 months out of the year, so it's not that bad.

Thanks Toivo, I saw it earlier last night.
Hope that you didn't have to make a special trip.

I went to Paris last October with my son and took the 5 hour bike tour through the city. I could not believe it, but our guide had attended M.T.U.
and he and I told a lot of Yooper stories!! We had
everyone laughing.
Sue M from Albuquerque, N.M.

I wanted to dive right into this picture! I grew up along the shores of Lake Superior in Ontonagon. My favorite past time (and still is) was combing the shoreline for agates. This picture brought me much delight. Thanks!

I've had a huge jar full of Lake Superior rocks for years! It sits on the hearth in front of my fireplace, and always invites questions and comments. I've never seen such a variety of beautifully colored and shaped stones anywhere else but Lake Superior. This picture really makes me nostalgic. I haven't been to the lake since 2000.

I love the pic! It's cute! I've never seen that kind of red on those rocks ever. I almost thought those were crabs! But we don't have crabs in fresh water. Hey do any of you know were I can find some good deals on a used car that my family of four plus my dog can fit in?

Thak you for a wonderful desktop - I can't wait to get home...

love the up since Iwas asmall child.I'm planning on moveing up to Houghton.
As a bird watcher How many different varietys are there?

I look for Mary Jo Alyanak,she in Lodi, California.

I am from China.