You'll see plenty of daisies and winged insects across the meadows and fields of the Upper Peninsula these days. In this close-up by Donn de Yampert, I couldn't help noticing how the pair formed a natural sundial. (Look Ma, it's one o'clock!)

Wow, did we ever receive an outpouring of lighthouse photos yesterday! About a jigabyte of 'em in our photo mailbox this morning :o) We'll try to organize a virtual tour next week on the Pasty Cam, in case you can't make it in person to Keweenaw's Lighthouse Celebration July 27-28.

I just got off the phone with a friend and was happy to hear from her that Pasty.com was named as one of Michigans favorite sites. You can go to www.freep.com and then set the date back to 7-15-2002.

The Free Press writes.....

Talk about community. This Upper Peninsula-based site sure has a lot of fans -- lots of them stuffed our ballot box with e-mails imploring us to pick it. But we love this site and its devotion to the Keweenaw Peninsula's delicious pasties. Besides selling the concoctions, the site offers an eclectic look at UP life and business.

Looks like a great week on the Pasty Cam, Have always been a Fan of the mining history of the area, Lighthouses are among my "Favorite Things", and Daises have always been my favorite flowers. Thanks again Charlie.

Boy oh boy.... News travels fast even in the U.P. I just finished reading yesterdays Cam Notes and everybody already knew about this being one of Michigans favorite sites, except for me!! I am most certain that the Webmaster does not mind it being mentioned again! :0)

Congratulations, Charlie et al, on the inclusion in the all-Michigan All Star list!! An honor richly deserved (and earned!). And, Donn, another wonderful photo -- you might want to rethink that day job thing!

Congratulations on being chosen to supply pasties for the Minnesota State Fair. Way to go!

I am thinking of moving back to calumet, my hometown, even though everyone i knew from childhood including family are all gone, i remember crossing that bridge at 11 years old and thinking my life is over, and it has been since that date, now on this sunday i will be 42 years of age, still single and i have never been as happy as when i was growing up in calumet. I would take a job scrubbing toilets just to get back. Someone tell me why i should stay in my current position, i have a job with retirement benefits and health insurance, and doing work that i cant stamp my name on because i dont have a degree that i can hang on the wall so others take credit for it, any way you look at it it's still just a job and i am getting so tired of doing it. I am thinking of buying a house outright and going back home if i have a job or not , kind of like leaving it up to god So please talk me into, or out of this move. All i know is that life has never been the same when i was taken to trollville and i had no say in the matter. All of your comments would be appreciated.

I won't give advice to Darrell but I can say that moving back to the Copper Country on April 1st after 23 years of living in and around South Bend Indiana has so far for us not been foolish. We gave up a big chunk of income, giant malls, home improvement mega-stores, warm spring weather, and long hot summers. Now, with lots of new friends, positive attitude among the community, beauty everywhere, great work environment, arts and entertainment like the Pine Mountain Music Festival, talent everywhere (like the producers of this web site who fed my appetite for the UP before the move)and a sense of constant adventure I believe that we're richer as a result. Life seems to have enough limits. I suppose we don't need to add reasons why we can't do what we really can.

Darrell,

Just as you felt your life was over at age 11 (crossing the bridge, leaving your U.P. home), I had the opposite experience at age 13. That's the first time I crossed the lift bridge into the Keweenaw Peninsula, riding in a big yellow bus bound for Gitche Gumee. The sunshine seemed brighter, the air seemed sweeter, and the life I had been living in black and white suddenly became 3-dimensional color - like when Dorothy and Toto touched down in the Land of Oz. I remember every detail... the view riding up Quincy Hill, the mining buildings, the pine trees, looking back down on the lift bridge... It's hard to explain, but there was this sense of destiny, like this was where I was meant to be.

Twenty-three years later we crossed that bridge again, this time pulling a U-haul, this time with a wife and 2 kids, headed for our cozy little home in Eagle River on the edge of the dunes. In Brian's note above he mentions "a sense of constant adventure", which sums it up pretty well. Presently that adventure for us includes some compelling challenges at Still Waters in Calumet (see the discussion of June 27)

I better get on with the day, before this message becomes a book. But I wish you success in your journey home and "leaving it up to God"... There are some things He expects us to do in life, but other things that only He can do. May we have wisdom to know the difference.

You are doing the right thing by putting it in Gods hand. He is calling, sometimes we need to go to where he can be heard clearly. I have my best talks with him on the shore of the big lake.
Take some vacation time and travel back up home. With no kids and all of their outside activities, sports, and school what do you have holding you down here? As Charlie referred to Dorothy and Toto stepping into Oz, remember "There is no place like home."
Only you know what is best for you. I wish you peace on your journey.

Hi Darrell-

I agree with the above comments, but I also think we need to take a hand in the decision making process and sometimes change our lives ourselves. The advise about taking a vacation I think an excellent one! Sometimes you need to leave the everyday and take some time to listen to yourself, figure out what you want to do, what is possible. Sit beside the Superior and relax. Is there something you can do in the UP which doesn't mean working for someone else? Have you talents that someone will pay for? Have you checked out the job market?

Change is very scary, but it is through change that we grow. I left the working world a year ago to be come self-employed, and I am 20 years older than you are! Granted I now do 3 smaller jobs instead of the 9 to 5, plus 2 smaller jobs, but I have not been happier. And it actually works!

The biggest concern in my mind would be your health insurance. Check that out before you move on if you decide to move on. Your job will probably offer 18 months of COBRA, but then what? Since it sounds like you would move without a job, should you decide to go for it, you need to provide these benefits yourself.

And goodluck, enjoy the journey!

Oh, and I forgot to add, Donn, another GREAT picture. Gee I wish I had your talent!

Four years ago I was sitting in a restaurant in Houghton and right beside my table was a young girl crying. I sat there for a few moments wondering if I should approach her. Finally, I moved from my table to hers and asked if she was alright. She started off by saying that she left her home, family and friends when she moved to the U.P. This was a young girl so determined to live in the area which she loved so much. She had made the move and got a job at one of the fast food chains in Houghton. She was questioning herself at that time, wondering if she made the wrong decision. She told me that she was making minimum wage and could hardly afford her $200.00 a month apartment and all the other bills she had. Just that day, the engine in her car had gone and now she would have to walk to Houghton through the good and bad weather. She looked terrified and so lonely I knew at that instant I HAD to help her. I got her a job at my aunt and uncles motel that live in the area and she worked many hours at the restaurant just to make ends meet. My dear Aunt would drive this girl to and from work. A couple years later things have turned out wonderful for that once sad girl who is now my best friend. She now lives in Laurium with her husband and beautiful daughter. She had a dream and made it come true.

Darrell, I hate to throw a damper on things, but from your note, I don't think the problem is living in "trollville" instead of the UP. If you're not happy about other people taking credit for your work because you don't have a degree, that won't change when you're working for someone in Calumet; that will change when you have the degree. If your tired of working, that won't change just because you're working in Calumet; that will change when you find a job that really fits you, wherever it is. Yes, sometimes a change of scenery can rejuvenate the soul, but as others have said, I think you need to think about why you really want to make this move. Hope this helps, and good luck!

Dreams can and do come true, but they're not always easy nor do they come free. We all need help from time to time.

Bless you, Lyn--you're one of His angels on this earth!

+++++

Darrell, I'm reminded of the joke where a person whose business has gone bust prays and prays and prays to win the lottery, only to lose and lose and lose. He finally loses everything, his wife and kids are starving, and he asks God why He forsake him. God replies, "Meet me halfway--buy a ticket!" The idea is that you have to help yourself, too--do the work--in addition to having faith.

Make a plan. Scour the Daily Mining Gazette job ads and housing info at http://www.hot-ads.com/mi/houghton/. Ask friends and acquaintances for tips on jobs. As Lyn said, you need a safety net, so don't forget about insurance--"stuff" does happen.

We all wish you well, no matter the path. Let us know and stay in touch!

Darrell, I, too, crossed that bridge at the age of 11 years old bound for California, where I've lived since. I, too, want to move back home. In the big cities, one becomes just another fish in the sea, and can lose sight of the things that really matter until one day it hits us, that a simpler life is what we want. I, too, put my trust in God. The reponses from the folks above are excellent and wise. With some kind of safety net in place, I would dare to follow my dreams, take a risk, and trust in Him. When one door closes, another one opens. What's the worse that could happen? If you don't make it up there, you can always go back to where the work is. At least you'll know you tried.

Love the picture!

Darrell, you only have yourself. Do it! I wish I could, but can't because I have children and can't leave AZ (legal reasons). Maybe you'll meet a nice lady, settle down and raise a family. And what a better place to do it than the UP!!! Good luck either way!!

it wont be long till we are the state of superior

does anyone know what happened to d oinas