Yesterday morning we all had spring fever. Down to the beach! There is nothing so exhilarating to the northern soul as trotting out into the day without coat, hat, gloves, boots . . . . ah, freedom. OK, it would have been better to wear boots. Anyway, we were all off leash for an hour or so.
I, of course, took pictures. Miss Sadie did her spin dance and dug vast holes in the sand. The Cowboy found a fish.
It was embedded in ice, so it took him quite a long time to get it loose. I made him leave it. I think it’s amazing that the skin of a fish lasts so long and is so tough. I wonder that we’ve never made shoes of fish skin. Well, there is the smell of course. But hides don’t smell so good either before they’re tanned. OK, this is not where this post was going. Let’s go find the Cowboy. Aha.
 |
 |
 |
That is the very essence of spaniel bliss.
We had a little rain last night, so today dawned misty.
We walked through the woods and then . . . back to the beach!
We wish to report the very first sighting of pussy willow buds. Surely there will be spring.
Torch Lake Views 
p.j. grath
March 11, 2010
The beach! Off-leash! Pussy willow buds! Just reading your account and looking at the pictures, I have the urge to roll in the sand like the Cowboy. (Sarah would certainly do the same.) But ah, we are back in salt marsh today, nowhere near a beach, and it’s raining, so I will just take Michigan spring on trust and look forward to being there for it next month. (Go ahead–start without us–it’s okay!)
Gerry
March 11, 2010
Yes! I’m pretty sure Spring will still be here in April. With flowers.
Kathy
March 11, 2010
I just trotted out to the beach as well. (Guess we won’t go ino that!) Love your photos, Gerry. Especially that single drop of melting. Although the pussy willows are also very encouraging. Hey, you are going to celebrate 100,000 hits soon! Be sure & have a party!
Gerry
March 11, 2010
OK, so I’m guessing you didn’t need boots. Glad you liked the photos. I was rather attached to the droplet myself, and could not bear to edit it out.
uphilldowndale
March 11, 2010
Might fine photos Gerry. That Cowboy, what a boy.
Gerry
March 11, 2010
Oh, he’s a piece of work, our Cowboy. I’m glad you liked the photos. I’m beginning to fear that I have damaged the lens on the poor little camera. There are, um, spots that had to be cropped out. (At first I thought it was just the spots that I have in my eyes, but then I realized they were in the same place on all the photos . . . )
Beth Toner
March 12, 2010
I don’t think I’ve appreciated spring this much in a long time — here OR there. (Or maybe it’s the impending final final? Or, see all of the above.) At any rate, thanks. Keep the spring-y theme going.
Gerry
March 12, 2010
That’s what Jack Bodis said the other day, too–that I had a mellower mood. This makes me nervous, as I just report the news, I don’t make it . . . Although I would be glad to follow pretty weather wherever it would like to go next.
Cindy Lou
March 12, 2010
Cowboy looks like my kinda guy – my big lab-mix, Jack, would be right there rolling with him! Off leash on a spring day….is there anything better?
I actually saw my first pussy willows early last week and took pictures of them, but I thought they were jumpin’ the gun as I’m pretty sure we’re not done with winter yet! :}
Gerry
March 12, 2010
I have a sneaking suspicion that we are in for some more snow. On the other hand, I am pretty sure that we are not in for howling blizzards across a frozen tundra. Once the Big Lake gets this warm, it is not at all interested in getting back under the ice.
katherine
March 12, 2010
SHHHHHHHHHHH don’t mention that 4 letter S word. I am so ready for spring and it wasn’t that bad of a winter as winters go
Gerry
March 12, 2010
You are absolutely correct. Think Positive Thoughts! Spring, lovely spring . . . a prize to the first Fence-Painter who shows us a spring wildflower!
giiid
March 12, 2010
This was a lovely, fresh and optimistic “waiting-for-springtime” post! The happy beach rolling looks inspiring…
About using the fish for shoes, this was done in Denmark under world war 2. I just saw that a french artist are using it for beautiful things, purses, belts and more. Seems like a good idea.
Gerry
March 12, 2010
See, I think we’re onto something here. Another use for the invasive Asian Carp!
isathreadsoflife
March 12, 2010
What a great way to start the day, down to the beach ! Your photos make me feel like I was right there with you and your buddies. Beautiful sights of Spring to come. Thanks Gerry, it’s nice walking with you 🙂 Fish for shoes but also for an ancient book cover according to Richard Flanagan’s novel “Gould’s Book of Fish”. Amazing story.
Gerry
March 12, 2010
I can see that fishskin is an overlooked entrepreneurial opportunity in the Great Lakes Region. Must investigate.