When the Country Mouse (who used to be a City Mouse) goes to visit the City Mice there are always astonishing and/or wonderful sights, particularly when the trip involves quantities of driving and not-driving-while-sitting-on-I-75. You’d think I’d have lots of photos for you, but you’d be wrong. And the ones I do have are odd. It was that sort of weekend.
We went out to breakfast whenever we wanted to.
We compared notes on Dog Management. Here is my granddog Baxter the Innocent. The chair in the background is a beautifully–and recently–restored classic.
Here is a closeup of the chair, demonstrating conclusively that Baxter is not innocent.
Here, let’s look at something soothing. It was unseasonably warm in Detroit, and some autumn color lingered in Lafayette Park.
The ride home was unusually long and filled with mystery. These gizmos were right up by the register at the truck stop south of Grayling, which implies that they are clever impulse items that a person sees and says “Oh, I need one of those.”
However, all that anyone said was “What the heck are these?” The clerk didn’t know either. We agreed that I’d ask you if you knew. It was 2 a.m. and we were all a degree or two off kilter.
An hour later I was on the homestretch, my highbeams illuminating dark and winding Elk Lake Road, with its fringe of ancient maples. It was empty for miles in both directions, except for this apparition. I stopped in the middle of the road to take the photo for you through the windshield.
I gather that the Antrim County Road Commission has decided that in order to alert a person to the hazardous curve it is useful to give the person a heart attack. Worked for me.
Torch Lake Views 
P.j. grath
November 24, 2010
You keep denying your bravery, but starting a drive home at 3 a.m. takes more courage than I possess any more. The gizmos–I’ll keep checking back to see if anyone solved the mystery. Not-so-innocent Baxter looks very intelligent. Maybe he needs a kong.
Gerry
November 24, 2010
Ah. I did not start the drive home at 3 a.m. I finished it a bit after that. I had started at 4:30. It’s a looooong story and includes a two-hour nap in the car, with my terrier and my spaniel snoring in the back seat.
I am fascinated by the gizmos and hope to be enlightened. Baxter may be intelligent. He is definitely a goof, and a very large puppy. If I am not mistaken, he has a kong, but he prefers organic materials.
Cindy Lou
November 24, 2010
I’m pretty sure that Mr. Baxter is way too cute and innocent to have done that to the chair…..must’ve been a gremlin. Did you notice how well he matches the chair? 🙂
Gerry
November 24, 2010
He does match the chair. All the more reason he should admire it from a distance. He definitely did the crime. Rob the Firefighter discovered him with the victim still slobbery, and counseled with him severely. The only thing that saved Baxter from a speedy return to the animal rescue organization from which he was adopted was the essential cuteness to which you refer.
Fee
November 24, 2010
24 hour breakfast? I like my breakfast, but there’s only so much cornflakes a gal can eat! Baxter appears to have perfected his “Who, me?” innocent look, and I have no idea what the gas-station-gizmos are, either. That last picture caused a closer look, let me tell you. I thought there was an apparition on the road!
Glad you’re home safely.
Gerry
November 24, 2010
Ah. We did not have cornflakes. We had gyros and scrambled eggs and crispy hashbrowns and omelet with Kaseri cheese and excellent toast and gallons of coffee. Satisfactory.
I’m glad to be home and glad that all of you can see the apparition too. Imagine how I’d feel if all these comments said, “What apparition?” along the lines of Baxter’s “What chair?”
Anna
November 24, 2010
The last photo of Elk Lake Road is the kind of photo I take… I’ll stop in the middle of a road or bridge and snap off shots through the windshield. A wonder you didn’t see a deer hopping by. We had a deer hop in front of us while traveling 70 MPH on the Interstate yesterday. I hit the brakes and luckily we didn’t hit it. Geez! Those are weird gizmos… wonder what they are? Love the capture of Baxter!
Have a happy and safe Thanksgiving! 🙂
Gerry
November 24, 2010
I am glad you avoided the deer. I believe in waiting for the third deer. I am firmly convinced that most deer/car accidents take place when a driver is congratulating him/herself on avoiding the suicidal deer just as the second one leaps in front of the car. Half of the rest happen when that third deer sees that the first two made it and decides to go for it.
I hope that you, too, have a safe and happy Thanksgiving. Pats to Moppet.
Scott Thomas Photography
November 24, 2010
Looks like you made it home safe and sound from the big city. Yeah, I got a cat that has the look Baxter is presenting down pat, too. Have a Happy Thanksgiving. Are you going to hunt, trim, stuff and cook a wild turkey for your blog post tomorrow? 😉
Gerry
November 24, 2010
Thank you, Scott. I wish you a Happy Thanksgiving as well. Two of my sisters and a brother-in-law are making the feast. I have no idea what they plan–I like surprises–but I’m pretty sure they aren’t counting on me for the entree. Hmm. I think there are wild boars in North Carolina.
Karma
November 24, 2010
I’ve seen Baxter-the-not-so-innocent’s look on my dogs faces too many times to count – usually when I catch them with contraband (socks pilfered from the laundry). How old is Baxter? If he’s truly a large puppy, he’ll surely grow out of his less-than-innocent behavior with the furniture.
My theory on the whoosy-whatsits are abandoned tops of spray paint cans – that’s what they look like anyway!
Have a wonderful Thanksgiving.
Gerry
November 24, 2010
Baxter is at least a year old. I’ve lost track. I am a bad grandma.
The mysterious gizmos must be something useful to someone. They are on sale fo $1.99 apiece and are fairly heavy, like cast aluminum maybe. They do look like spray can tops, don’t they. I also thought they might be some kind of locking nut for hubcap bolts, but I can’t figure out how they’d actually work. Oh well. I like a little mystery.
You have a wonderful Thanksgiving, too!
uphilldowndale
November 25, 2010
Naughty, naughty Baxter. That is (or was) a beautifully restored chair, I have a similar one, waiting patiently in the barn for its day to come.
Gerry
November 27, 2010
It was a fine job–the finish has a deep, rich gleam . . . Oh bad dog Baxter. The man who did the work said that perhaps he can do something. I hope he can.
Karma
November 27, 2010
Psssst..hey Gerry! Are you going to end up having time to write that food advice post?
Gerry
November 27, 2010
GACK! I’m still away and writing on a miniature keyboard. I’d better email you.
P.j. grath
November 29, 2010
“5 days ago”? Too long without you!
Gerry
November 29, 2010
I’m glad to hear it. I’m working on a postcard from North Carolina.