Karla Korpela did a fine job capturing the wonderment of this little babe discovering what Lake Superior is all about. The sand, the bare feet, the wave just rolling into the frame, all reminders of the lifelong fascination some of us hold for the big lake they call Gitchee Gumee. On its shore I always have a feeling of peace and tranquillity, even on the stormiest of days. Yes, Lake Superior is a wonder of creation to be enjoyed and respected.

Saturday morning I often catch up on Cam Notes, and I see some talk about bugs this week. I have a theory about all the black flies, no see-ums, deer flies, mosquitoes, etc. - - I've met so many old timers who have lived here in the U.P., even 100+ year olds, who are still healthy, vital and loving life. Imagine the millions of bugs they have swatted or been stung or bit by over the years. I actually think it acts as a vaccination against old age, keeping the immune system in tip-top shape, improving circulation and memory, etc., etc. It's part of what makes yoopers such a hearty bunch.

Perhaps the little cutie in today's picture just had a kiss on her toe from a hard-working sand fly just doin' its job. May all of these forces of nature help make it possible for her to see the 22nd century.

good morning from tx. everyone have a wonderful day in the Copper Country. She sure is a cutie can't believe she is in the water, can't be the big lake!

Did you happen to catch the Bridge Cam this morning? Some heavy fog settled in to the Portage Canal valley.

I'm leaving on a jet airplane be in the U.P. by tonight can't wait

Well, I'll settle for 3rd. Been a long midnight shift.

Okay 4th.

Did anyone happen to see the beautiful sunrise over copper harbor, looks like a great day back home. The frog over the channel always looks so cool until you have to drive in it--everyone be careful.

I agree with Toivo there is nothing better than standing on the shores of Superior on a day when the wind is blowing and the waves are high, to know a peace no other place can bring. To know Mother Nature is in control and we can still enjoy it is what makes life worth living.

Lots of talk yesterday about bugs in the UP. Let me tell ya' the lower part is no better... Went to Chesaning Showboat last night to see Wayne Newton. It was pouring rain, many grumbled they should cancel the concert but he as a Nevada resident, marvelled at it. In the meantime he & his entire ensemble were being fresh bug bait. However it brought EVERYTHING into perspective when he did a salute to our troops & veterans. He asked for veterans in the crowd to stand. There were many and they were given a standing ovation by the entire wet, bug eaten crowd. God Bless America & Michigan; bugs and all!

Inflamatory remarks removed.

Mr. Jeb, please email toivo@pasty.com

Good morning from Houston where the weather is hot and muggy (again):-(

What a cuttie. I love the balanced pose.

She's just now learning the joy of searching out that "perfect" stone/shell for her collection. This grand occupation can be done on just about any beach in the world. God willing, she will still be doing this seventy years from now.

Ralph

You can get a small jet into Marquette

Visited the U.P. last week. Had my first taste of thimbleberry jam..I'm hooked! Also, just loved all the wild lupines, especially in the Twin Lakes area. You can have the BUGS though, chased us off the golf course one evening.

UP Gal and Andytofu: what do you do for a living? or are you retired? I can work remotely with a good internet connection, so I think I could do it, but I am curious, how many people make money in the UP.

I love this picture - reminds me of my daughter 20 years ago. (Now she is a senior at MTU and has been pictured several times on Pasty cam, swimming in Superior.) Toivo, you have such a way with words ("kiss on her toe...") and really got me thinking. Lots of fun ahead for this little cutie. Thanks!

Let me re-phrase that...."how the people in the UP make their money". Other than baking pasties.

Way to go Toivo. Agree with you wholeheartedly. Beautiful picture, beautiful description:)

Alternate caption:
"Why can't I feel my toes, Mommy?"

What a beautiful child. I hope she learns early on to use sunscreen too....such fair skin surely will burn! With the ozone slowly being depleted by CFC's (chlorofluorohydrocarbons), none of us are safe from harmful rays anymore. Skin cancer is far too prevalent and skin changes are being seen in the very young. Don't mean to bring anyone down, really, but when I saw her fair skin I started to worry....once a mamma, always a mamma I guess! She sure seems absorbed in her discoveries!!

Thanks for such a lovely photo. Thank you to her family for sharing it, too.
Just another reason I love this site, evocative pictures and captions by true lovers of the UP. I've stopped being surprised at the writing, and photographic talent UP there.
I think maybe the bugs have a lot to do with that, too!! ;)

A mini vaalea jälkeläinen - so cute!

A chemists' view of "non-scented" products.

One reason that you girls (my wife included) seem to be so often preferentially selected as bug magnets:

While free of added scent and/or perfumes, any and all cosmetic products have inherent odors of their component ingredients.

Skin creams may contain (check your labels) glycerin, proplyene glycol, peg (polyethylene glycol),etc., as do many sun blocks, skin moisturizers, and a variety of cosmetics.

Take it from me, if you ever smelled an open 55 gallon drum of these pure materials, they do indeed smell and, you can tell one from another.

Our flying friends have come to recognize that the slight smells of these various blends mean a nice tender lunch.

Add a little exhaled Carbon Dioxide as a homing beacon, and you're on the menu!

Who has exclusive rights to "God's Country?" The U.P. doesn't. I have traveled all over the world and have seen "God's Coountry" every place I have been to.

Hey JEB - you got my vote

Cute picture. Hey Toivo. I think the wave is receding in that frame.

Hey JEB -

A turboprop is a form of "jet"

Find out the reason for the "CMX" airport designation, and then look up the specifications on the runway(s), lengths and widthes.

Patt from Mid-Michigan....Glad you were at Showboat last night. This event is one that our entire village works toward every year. It is not cancelled unless absolutely necessary! Part of the "charm" is not knowing what the weather will be. There was a huge storm front coming on Tuesday night. The first part of the show was cancelled and Sawyer Brown went on stage immediately. The Showboat was left at her dock around the bend for the first time in about 60 years. The group performed for 75 minutes when the alert came that the storm was nearing. A happy crowd left the ampitheater and Showboat Park was emptied within 15 minutes....just before a vicious thunderstorm hit. The volunteers who run Showboat have the entire thing down to a science! Some of our high school kids raised money for their organization by selling big, black trash bags for raincoats last night!!!!! I love the spirit of Chesaning!

Some say that taking lots of B-complex vitamins will keep the bugs away. It doesn't work for me but I have friends who swear by it.

On the Isle Royal website, they describe the various 'bugs'; I didn't know 'stable flies' before.

What does "Say Yah to da UP eh" mean? Is this a special idiom of the Upper Peninsula?

How does one get over to the Edison Fishery? Are there folks that actually live over there or is it just a day trip? Quilts? Do folks quilt up there? Do you have nice quilt stores around the CC? I bet not many of us can squat like this little one is doing.....Can you imagine trying to get back up?

Back in the 70s! I was at Houghton County Memorial Airport and there were "Jet" airliners sitting on the runway! I believe one was a 727. What about this RCW---fill Jeb in EH!

Ms. Quilt, that's so funny. The second thing I thought of when I saw that picture was, "Oh, I wish I could still do that!" (First thing I tho't was how absolutely adorable she is.)

Well yes you did see pure Jets back then Russ, however they were DC 9s. We also had CV580 Turbo Props,which as the name implies uses a propeller for the propusion, whereas the pure Jet use,s jet thrust. Mesaba is using only turbo props here these days

sadie you are quite correct however da up is a cut above the rest

Sadie, there used to be a slogan for Michigan tourism quite a few years ago, "Say Yes to Michigan" and us yoopers modified it and took it as our own I guess.

Why are the people who don't live here so hung up on our bugs. What do you care? What do you care that we think the place WE CHOOSE to live is the greatest place on earth. If you don't like it live where you choose, but don't knock it. We're happy where WE live:)

Dear Happy Here and Lovin it: Yep, you are right; if one doen't like it, stay off the site and stay at home. I truly think they are just trying to get your goat 'cause they aren't happy themselves. Trust me, I'm right.......Peace be with you...and to all a good night!

Hi Judy in Chesaning. Last night Chesaning, today Baltimore! LOL On a business trip in MD actually. Last night was my first visit to your wonderful community. I loved it and definitely will be back.

Spending the first 20 years of my life in the Copper Country, I think we just took the flies & mosquitos for granted--they were just there and we didn't give it all that much thought. I remember my mom saying it was her yearly innoculation. Maybe I am just getting older but life once seemed so much simpler--even bugs. Not that I am saying everything was Utopia of course, but in the scheme of things we had a great, mid-American small town life. One reason this site is such a breath of fresh air is that it is comforting and therapeutic to recall wonderful days past and bring into focus some of the simplicities of life that I, for one, too often forget. In our current world of instant global information and analysis about absolutely everything known to man, some of us forget to stop and smell the roses, myself being first on the list. The variety of comments of so many wonderful folk are something I have learned to look forward to every day, touching on so many interesting, informative, and unique subjects. Even if not everyone is in agreement, that is okay as long as we can all be respectful of one another. There's enough negativity around elsewhere, and it is truly enriching to find such a place of common civility and shared memories. Charlie, thank you for being such a calm and stabilizing force on this most wonderful and precious site.

I have spent alot of time living,and going back to camp in the Copper Counrty to know about flying insects a.k.a. Bugs.Fred Rose, a great outdoorsman,from Dollar Bay used garlic.Interesting concept about innaculation.Deep Woods Off,or Cutters with Deet works great.I'am now in the hilly woods of Tennessee,and the bugs are worse hear,and more different kinds of them then I ever saw in the U.P. And with out the cold and snow they are all year long.

There is a theory that the reason so many Westerners have allergies is that we dont usually have parasites. A big chunk of our immune system is designed to keep the parasites at bay (like tapeworms and malaria) and, since it has nothing to keep it busy, it turns against perfectly innocent subjects like ragweed pollen and mold.

Now if black flies and skeeters are considered parasitic ('living in close proximity to another organism without contributing to its welfare', kinda like grown children at home), then we in Michigan are home free! Take off your screens, open your doors and let the bugs in! Let them sting you, bite you, suck your blood, and in turn your immune system will keep busy and out of trouble.

...Oh wait, I forgot about West Nile.... darn!

All the shots of the copper country are wonderful sight for my eyes! I recently moved after college, and are missin' the sights!
Since I have been out this way: I have told many Michigan traits that I am proud of. Then again I have got many interesting questions that I am proud to answer about the wonderful Copper Country area!

OK, so no one can really answer the question: How does one make money up there. Well, my dad worked for the lighthouse keepers association, then that became the coast guard. BUT if you don't do that, well there is building, teaching, eating is always in style: resturants, grocery stores. The road crew, the snomobile groomer, the plow driver. Cleaning. Tourism is THE industry. The medical field has workers, in fact my girlfriend is a nurse, my sister has been many things including a subsitiute teacher and she was busy many days a week. There are lots of things to do. But the work force is pretty much filled up. If you are creative and can be self sufficent, go for it. There are lots of artisians in the UP, too.
Hope this answers some of your questions. I will let the locals give you a better picture.

Can anyone help me to find links to Keewenaw fishing info? Thanks!

There's a good collection of info at http://www.keweenaw.org/fishing.htm

That was fast! Thanks Kevin.

Sandstone princess You mentioned the creative of CC. Can you tell me about the fine arts of the area? Like painters etc. Is there an active art community and/or institution anywhere around? Hope look into it next year when I go UP.

Good Night Jeb,

Peace be with you. Don't let worrying about our bugs and airplanes keep you awake. We love it all and you too, hope you find happiness someday.

yooper willie: CMX's runways are long enough to handle some commercial jets. Seems to me the airlines have decided to run prop jets based on trip length and passenger load. Most economical way for them to fly those routes. Checked runway lengths at Chicago Midway - their airline rated runways are 6522 ft and 6446 ft. CMX's longest runway is 6501 ft. CMX is right in the ballpark when it comes to runway length.

A note about the garlic suggestion... On a canoe trip at some point, my father in-law was out with his buddies, and the meal for the night was spaghetti. They left the task of adding the onions and garlic to the sauce to one of the guys who was... well, a bit sauced himself. He added several onions, and an entire bulb of garlic. Needless to say, none of the guys could stand being around each other any more, but with the garlic & onions seeping through their pores, the skeeters & flies couldn't stand them either! It works, if overdone. And will last several days at that.

Katie did you know

http://www.pmmf.org/

Ms. Quilt…..

The trip to Edisen Fishery begins with either a 40 minute float-plane flight (somewhat spendy) or a 4.5 hour boat ride on the Isle Royal Queen from Coppery Harbor, or a 5.5 hour ride on the Ranger III from Houghton. All of these take you to Rock Harbor Lodge near the NE end of Isle Royale. The lodge tour boat the M.V. Sandy then makes twice-weekly trips the seven miles down to the Edisen Fishery for an interpretive guided walk the half mile or so over to the Rock Harbor Lighthouse.

Pete Edisen married Laura Johnson (I believe around 1916) and worked the fishery with his father-in-law Mike Johnson for many years until he and Laura took it over and ran it on into the 1980’s. They stayed over one winter in the old Rock Harbor light, but other years they would go back to Two Harbors, MN for the winters, returning again as soon as the ice went out in April.

The National Park Service continues to sponsor a research and interpretive based fishery there on site….so yes, people live there, though not year round, and unless you have a substantial private boat, it generally involves much more than a day trip….that however, makes it all the more special and interesting, not to mention peaceful. Type “Isle Royale” in your Google search for all kinds of interesting information.

http://www.cityofhancock.com/arts01.html
http://www.rozsa.mtu.edu/

Thanks Mark for your assistance. Have a great day.

Ms. Katie: Copper Country Associated Artists in Calumet, Community Arts Center in Hancock, Omphale Art Gallery in Calumet, Ramblin Rose Art Center in Mohawk, a quilting group in Jacobsville, plus Finlandia University has special degree programs in special arts. There are stained glass artists, painters, woodworkers, name it.