Early in the week the ice on Torch Lake shattered into tinkling shards over at the Day Park. Babs Young and Chris Szejbach were there, capturing a swirl of jade here . . .
. . . glints of blood rubies, crystals, amethysts, tumbling in the sunlight, then vanishing.
At Eastport, Katherine writes, The ice wasn’t gone from the north end of the lake for awhile after it was gone from everywhere else. This was taken on Friday with the footprints of the last ice fishermen to pull their shanties off the lake. It’s soggy and translucent and unstable looking but still beautiful.
Torch Lake Views 
Cindy Lou
March 15, 2010
Very cool! I love all the colors ice can be this time of year – the pack and I had a lovely walk in the woods yesterday with my son, Ricky, and had great fun cracking the ice on all the little ponds and puddles and potholes! All kinds of dirt unburied – at long last! – from the snow and the dogs thought they’d died and gone to doggy-smell heaven!
Gerry
March 15, 2010
We, too, have been luxuriating in nekkid earth. Such a fine time, this first warming.
Beth Toner
March 15, 2010
It’s going to be 60 degrees-plus here at the end of the week… and the end of school is in sight. The ice break-up on Torch Lake is just one more proof that spring is coming!
Gerry
March 15, 2010
If the ice is out can planeloads of snowbirds be far behind? I think not.
p.j. grath
March 15, 2010
Gorgeous! Michael Sheehan says the ice fishermen fished right through the thaw on Little Traverse Lake. This last ice pictured here–wow! Robins yet?
Gerry
March 15, 2010
I’ve often thought the ideal fishing shanty would be built atop a sort of miniature pontoon boat. When the lake thaws, off you go on a little cruise.
I’ve not seen a robin yet, but I don’t look for them especially. I’m fond of redwing blackbirds, and I saw one yesterday at the curve of M-88 by Roberts Road. It was singing.