Babs writes: Happy New Year!! Not sure which one of these I’d like to do today, so maybe I’ll just wait until July. This was taken near the Dockside on Torch Lake.
I think we ought to wait a little minute for the ice to come in and then drag that nice little shanty out on Torch for some fishing!! (You really should click on the photo to get a nice big version. It’s worth it.)
Posted in: Babs Young photos
Torch Lake Views 
Fee
January 3, 2011
I clicked and I liked. Except for one teeny, tiny niggle. That misplaced apostrophe in ‘Rental’s’. I see it everywhere and it makes me grit my teeth. It also makes me aware that grammar, once properly taught, stays with you forever. Much like the ‘times tables’ we recited every morning. Aah, the good old days of education.
Gerry
January 3, 2011
That is a classic, and part of what makes it such a good photo. People simply have no idea how–or when or why or whether!–to use apostrophes. Northern Michigan is littered with cute cottage signs saying “Welcome to the Smith’s.” These signs are often held aloft by cheerful wooden bears. Or perhaps bear’s. One never knows.
We won’t even get into what happens when a name ends in an S. The mind reel’s.
I should do an entire post about cottage signs. I’ll bet Babs has a whole collection. She might even have pictures of some of them.
margie
January 3, 2011
I agree with you on the mis-placed ‘s. BOOGERS on ignorant wielders of the apostrophe!!!!
Gerry
January 3, 2011
I swear I just never know where one of these discussions is going to bounce.
Fee
January 3, 2011
Margie’s comment had me consulting Urban Dictionary. This side of the pond, we’d say SNOTTERS on ignorant wielders of the apostrophe!
Gerry
January 3, 2011
Mercy.
P.j. grath
January 3, 2011
What, no snowshoes? I have snowshoes on the brain. Not, alas, on my feet yet. Do not want apostrophes in the snowshoes, either. Gerry, how did Torch Lake get its name? Can you believe the question just occurred to me for the first time?
Gerry
January 3, 2011
No snowshoes. We have barely a dusting of snow tonight, though who knows what tomorrow will bring? I even removed my YakTrax. They do not do well in mud.
Mary Kay McDuffie says that In the Beginning, “By the light of burning pine-knot torches [the Indians] speared whitefish from Was-Wah-Go-Ning, the Lake of Torches.” Although I am an old bat, I was not here at the time and cannot testify as to the accuracy of that piece of conventional wisdom. It seems logical, though. I’ve run into the same thing elsewhere (Lac du Flambeau in Wisconsin, for example). Did you know that there are two more Torch Lakes in Michigan? Well there are. One of them is a tiny thing in the northern reaches of Antrim County. The other is up in the Keweenaw. There’s another Torch Lake Township up there, too. I wish them well.
Dawn
January 3, 2011
I think I’ll just ignore the apostrophes and say that it’s actually quite a pretty photo….and interesting besides. Looks awful cold though.
Gerry
January 3, 2011
True, that. But cold is an indispensable part of ice fishing, and ice fishing is a religious experience for a significant number of Township denizens. We must do some photos from inside the shanties. It can be quite beautiful.
Anna
January 5, 2011
Oh, what a gorgeous scene and photo! I love the turquoise, blues and white colors. Yeah, I bet with lake frozen over there could be some great ice fishing!
Gerry
January 5, 2011
All in due time.
isathreadsoflife
January 6, 2011
With or without the apostrophe, the picture is delightful ! Lovely shades of blue and turquoise. We have so many of them (apostrophes) in French, they are just part of any picture 😉 and when you do not see any, then something is wrong.
Gerry
January 6, 2011
French is a great puzzlement to me. But then, most things are. I’m glad you like the photo. I believe Babs is in her Blue Period.
Ed
January 6, 2011
Beautiful. I was at that same spot last winter and that wind coming off that lake is so cold. It makes you feel alive.
Gerry
January 6, 2011
Thanks, Ed. I like that photo too.
It is definitely true that the wind off Torch can be invigorating at this time of year. Heck, the wind in the parking lot at the Eastport Market was pretty invigorating a couple hours ago when I was standing there with two bags of groceries, the dogs, and a dead battery. It is 19 degrees out there, and blowing like a sonofagun. I’m just glad a friend with a dog-friendly car and a good attitude happened to be home when I called. We’re home, we’re warm, we have groceries. The car can just sit there until morning.
Ed
January 8, 2011
When I came up last winter for my first winter in 20 years I was telling everyone in my family how beautiful it was. For some reason they kept telling me to be quiet.
Gerry
January 8, 2011
Just wait until a blistering summer day with high humidity. Remind them how cool Torch Lake is . . . OK, they will just tell you to be quiet again. The prophet is never honored in his own family. Something like that.