I could not decide between these subjects and concluded that I did not have to. You get them both, an embarrassment of riches.
There is something interesting going on in the City of Detroit. Young people (like Rob the Firefighter and the Lady Alicia and the Donato brothers and an astonishing array of others near and dear to me) are making it their home and figuring out how to build a future there. They are starting new businesses and restoring vintage houses and generally living their lives with energy and zest. I am crazy about all of ’em, and I love keeping up with the things they get up to. For example, there is Hatch Detroit, “Crowd Entrepreneurship.” That bunch has the notion that an infusion of a cash investment—by them—of, say, $50,000, would be just the ticket to help one of these smart young entrepreneurs move to the next level. They are having a contest to decide where to put their $50,000, and have arrived at ten semi-finalists.
Alerted to the contest by my friend Katy, whose sons took it into their heads to revitalize bagel baking in the City of Detroit, I trotted over to the site to vote for the Detroit Institute of Bagels. That done, I checked out the other selections, and discovered Hugh, the brainchild of Joe Posch, who grew up with Rob the Firefighter. Well. A person can vote for up to four choices in this round–every day. Soooo . . . if you’re from Around Here or Around There you might want to go check it out and even cast a vote or two should you be so inclined. I don’t see how you can go wrong.
Now about the bobcats. Margie Guyot has been seeing them in her very own yard, right in front of her Possum Hollow studio out on the flat road. Looky here:
Margie wrote: I just looked up from my computer @ 9:15 this morning to see this guy standing about 15 feet from the porch. He was trying to see if my 2 young (and tender) cats were out by the studio building. He’s treed 2 of my cats already. I heard the terrible commotion & had to run out to chase him off. He just stood there, looking at me. I had time to take 2 photos. Next time I’m grabbing the rifle & firing a couple warning shots. I love bobcats — as long as they leave my cats alone.
(I know, I know, some of you have already seen these on Margie’s Facebook status, but believe it or not, there are Torch Lake Views readers who do not go there, and some of them are very interested in the subject of bobcats, yes indeed. In fact, Miss Sadie and the Cowboy are supremely interested in bobcats.)
Torch Lake Views 
Dawn
October 1, 2011
Beautiful…but kind of scary too…both the Detroit development and the bobcats.
Gerry
October 1, 2011
Scary? Nah. It’s all good. Bobcats on the flat road, bagels in Detroit. I might even get somebody to make bagels on the flat road, but I promise to leave the bobcats alone.
uphilldowndale
October 1, 2011
Jolly glad we don’t get bobcats, Dandy the cat has been missing since Wednesday, we were all convinced we’d seen the last of him. Tonight I find him sat in the porch waiting for his tea…. Call off the search.
Gerry
October 1, 2011
They have their ways, cats. I’m glad Dandy is back–most likely with many interesting adventures to relate, did we but understand Cattish. Perhaps it’s just as well we don’t.
shoreacres
October 2, 2011
Wonderful, about “Hatch Detroit”. I’ve passed that on to a few friends more in the area, who have friends who have friends. It’s the sort of thing that needs as much publicity as it can get.
As for the bobcats ~ just a few in our area, more down the coast. Coyotes are our problem just now. The drought and consequent lack of dinner-on-the-hoof is driving them into the suburbs. Unfortunately, a side effect is fewer kitties and such. Wise people keep their pets in these days.
I’ll have a bit of your area waiting for me when I come back from my upcoming trip up to Iowa/Minnesota. I couldn’t help myself and ordered some heritage tomato preserves from Spoon Foods. Can’t wait to try the stuff!
Gerry
October 3, 2011
We have coyotes and foxes, but fortunately we have a good supply of birds and rabbits and mice, too. I hope you enjoy your tomato preserves. I believe I will go over to the LaVanways to see if they have any of their heirloom tomatoes left over there. Autumn has arrived. Our harvest outlook is pretty much root vegetables and squash and kale from here on out. And apples, bless ’em.
Scott Thomas Photography
October 3, 2011
I like the idea of re-investing in our own country but our own people. I don’t trust those big corporations anymore. I wish them all the best!
Interesting how a bobcat, a very nocturnal animal is hovering around homes during the day. This is happening with coyotes in my area. As more and more of their natural habitat is destroyed, wildlife species are finding ways to live amongst humans. Pets are of particular interest to them as is food throw out in garbage containers.
Gerry
October 3, 2011
As you might imagine, we don’t throw out a lot of edibles around here. Somebody is bound to eat it, whether he’s allowed to or not. This probably makes him an attractive snack himself.
I tend to see wildlife at dawn and dusk, although I know Something Is Out There In The Dark. Miss Puss fluffs waaaaay up and hisses into the deep shadows next to the path. I hold her tight and trot right up to the house, wasting no time or energy screaming.
Karma
October 3, 2011
I don’t think I’ve ever seen a bobcat in person (or “in cat” as the case may be). Are they dangerous to pooches? How big are they?
Gerry
October 3, 2011
Bobcats are dangerous to anything edible that is smaller or less feisty than they are. (Wild Always Wins.) They are not all that large–about the size of Miss Sadie–but they are fast, muscular, and versatile.
Barbara Higgins
October 6, 2011
Gerry Kip and I saw a bob cat in our yard this summer. it was watching the deer in the field below us. it was standing on our wood pile only a few feet from the house. Interesting animal but I don’t think I want to get that close…..
Gerry
October 7, 2011
Probably the same bobcat. It’s a healthy one, which suggests to me that it doesn’t miss too many meals–which suggests to me that a prudent distance is wise . . .
But Margie is fierce. Now that I think of it, you have a certain fierceness yourself, as is proper. Bobcats beware.
Sybil
October 10, 2011
I’d love to see a Bobcat that close.
Gerry
October 10, 2011
Be careful what you wish for . . .