Babs Young writes: Well it’s the last picture of this year and this decade. I’ve been sending these since 2003 and have sent over 250 photos. I have enjoyed taking and sending each one. I didn’t have to go far for this one as it was right here in Blue Heaven, just up the hill from my house. Earlier this past week we had this hoarfrost painting the trees with these white ice crystals, which I love. Happy New Year to everyone!! I’ll be back in 2010.
And isn’t that a good thing! Dunno what we’d do around here without Babs to dress the place up. Shortly after Torch Lake Views began back in 2008, Chris Szejbach suggested that Babs might be willing to have some of her photos posted. That was one of the best ideas anyone ever had. From my point of view, it has been a match made in Blue Heaven . . . or at the very least in the back booth at Sonny’s, which is pretty much the same thing. Happy New Year indeed. I can hardly wait to see what 2010 brings.
Every week photographer Babs Young captures moments in northern Michigan, and every week she sends one to Torch Lake Views just for you. You can find more of her photos at the Babs Young Photo Archives and on her Blue Heaven Flickr photostream.
Torch Lake Views 
Cindy Lou
December 28, 2009
Thanx, Babs…for sharing your beautiful photos! Hoarfrost always makes everything look magical!
Gerry
December 28, 2009
Hey, Cindy Lou! Happy New Year.
Babs Young
December 28, 2009
Gerry, it is a great match! I love what you write about the photos and all the connections that come from this. I hope we can continue for a long time. Happy New Year to you and all your readers.
Gerry
December 28, 2009
Happy New Year, Babs! I will do my best to keep on keeping on, pesky snowpiles, treacherous ice and all. I am having way too much fun to stop.
p.j. grath
December 28, 2009
Thank you, Babs and Gerry, for that beautiful, stately, frost-kissed tree and the snowy two-track leading us back and past it.
Gerry
December 29, 2009
You are very welcome, ma’am. Ah yes, the snowy two-track . . . the treacherous, sneaky, snowy two-track . . .
giid
December 29, 2009
I´m always enjoying your photos, Babs! You know what you want to say, and your point is always clear. Thank you for sending them.
Gerry
December 29, 2009
I like Babs’s photos, too. She would say that she’s sometimes mystified by what other people see in them, particularly when it comes to sunflowers . . .
flandrumhill
December 29, 2009
Well I had to look up hoar-frost… wondering if it had an alternate spelling 😉 I’d never heard the term before but have definitely seen its effects.
What strikes me is how huge that tree is compared to what I see here in Cow Bay. American trees can be so absolutely magnificent.
Gerry
December 29, 2009
I had breakfast with Babs at Sonny’s today, and Chris wanted to know if Babs spelled “hoarfrost” wrong. My, my.
We do grow some big trees, but they all start out as itty-bitty things. Must be a good climate for them here. If you ever come to Michigan you ought to visit the Hartwick Pines. Of course, before that you ought to come and visit me.
Anna Surface
December 29, 2009
Hmm… I thought I had posted on this! LOL I must be getting foggy brained! This is such a beautiful photo in its white frostiness with the tracks in the snow leading to the tree. Beautiful image, Babs.
I love those old, big trees and always so sorry to see one chopped down. We had an old tree by the street chopped down by the city as they said it had to go as it obstructed the view of traffic. I’m still kind of miffed about it. The stump has a big rock on it attesting to its fate. I’ll have to post a recent snowy photo of it. What is also sad is when a heavy ice storm hits and you can hear the trees cracking under the weight of ice. We went through that two years ago. And I rambled here thinking about this beautiful photo! 🙂
Gerry
December 29, 2009
Well thank you for being persistent. I’ve thought comments of mine vanished, but I’m never sure . . . I tend to fall asleep at the keyboard after a long day. Anyway, rest assured no Surface comment has ever been rejected by me. Can’t speak for Akismet.
Isn’t it sad to have big old trees cut down? We had a couple of narrow country roads lined with century-old maples that were cut down because they “posed a hazard.” They did, of course, because people drive fast and trees just don’t move out of the way . . .
Anna Surface
December 30, 2009
“They did, of course, because people drive fast and trees just don’t move out of the way . . .” LOL That’s good, Gerry. Yeah, that is the problem. The folks wouldn’t stop at the stop sign. One fellow whizzed through as usual and nearly got T-boned. And he blamed it on the tree! How many trees are felled because of human stupidity?
Gerry
December 30, 2009
Um, offhand I would say it is probably more than the number of people felled by tree stupidity, but there are perhaps old lumbermen who would have a different tale to tell. It is said that my maternal grandfather, who had a fiery temper, once skidded his truck off an icy northern Wisconsin road into a tree. “Who put that there?!?” he roared.
isathreadsoflife
December 30, 2009
Gorgeous picture ! I like the tracks in the snow leading to this magnificent tree (how old, I wonder ?). The perfect Winter shot and sight to end the year beautifully. Happy New Year, Bonne Année !
Gerry
December 30, 2009
Thank you, Isa. That tree is at the very least 80 years old. May it live long and prosper. And a Happy New Year, Bonne Annee to you too!
Elaine Shernoff
May 17, 2010
Babs…I am trying to refresh my memory of
Blue Heaven resort. My family started coming
there when it was new in 1949. Guess we
stopped around 1968. My maiden name is
Binstadt. We stayed in various cabins, but I
remember mostly Lightning. I would love to
hear froim you!
Gerry
May 17, 2010
Hello, Elaine. Thanks for dropping by Torch Lake Views. I’ll let Babs know about the comment. We’re always interested in Torch Lake memories around here.