Bruce the Weatherman is a versatile sort of man. On Friday he drove through a blizzard to deliver some of Andi’s homemade cookies to the Writing Studio and Bait Shop. Then he sent a Weather Report that I know all you snowbirds will enjoy. He wrote:
The impressive cold has had me watching the ice on the bay. It’s been many years since I have seen it appear white all the way to Northport. On Thursday, I could only see a few strips of open water between here and Northport. Could this be another year with a frozen over bay?
Then came today’s blizzard. Where did all the ice go?
My roof top weather monitor has been recording 30 mile per hour gusts. That plus heavy snow might have persuaded me to stay inside.
[Here he provides a little video with sound effects. If you are not here this will amuse you. I am here. I am not amused. On the other hand, he did deliver those excellent treats.]
But I decided I wanted to see if Torch Lake had frozen over. Unfortunately, there was no way to know because there was a complete whiteout at the Eastport boat launch area. That whiteout also prevented me from seeing that I was driving over a snow drift. And then the trusty four wheel drive Ford settled on top of the drift. All four wheels spun helplessly. Fortunately, I had a shovel in the car.
Wait, wait! We finally get to the payoff and there is no amusing photo! Ah well. You will have to use your imagination. I am busy eating Andi’s cookies. We must keep up our strength in order to sweep the steps for the third time in 12 hours. Miss Sadie has decided that she wants to go outside after all.
Torch Lake Views 
Martha
January 25, 2014
When I left northern Door County it felt like I’d released myself from a bear trap. Of course, many people will drop their jaw at that statement. Cold isolation is no friend of mine and I don’t think it’s meant to be friends with anyone- they just don’t know it.
Cookies are friends and friends bringing cookies are friends. I really am ready to leave all this winter to those who can better endure or enjoy it. In the meantime: Cookie up!
Gerry
January 25, 2014
I find that a little cookie makes all the difference – particularly a little cookie baked with care by Andi.
aldendepot
January 25, 2014
Gerry, I can’t seem to log in to WOrdpress but here’s a comment:
I hear you Gerry, since as lifetime Alden resident, now year-round, I find those questions about “how it is all winter” very challenging. You can say cold or grey, but your video shows exactly how short of the truth that falls. I also know that our weather is “better” than yours because you are on the big lake. But it does make me realize what the pioneer days might have been like for those sturdy enough to endure. A short while ago I shoveled the path from my door to my car and felt a bit wimpy for going back to the expensively heated house.
Gerry
January 25, 2014
I must do a companion piece about winter in the early days. Yes indeed, that would be a good idea. I even have photos. (No. I was not there to take them. I am an old bat but not quite that old.)
It’s been awhile since we had a winter like this one. We’ve had some that were really very pretty. I remember blue skies, sparkly snow, clear roads . . . Ah well. Mama Nature will have her little moods.
Bruce
January 25, 2014
I am sorry I didn’t take a photo of the car pitifully caught on the snow drift.
Gerry
January 25, 2014
Ah, but you brought cookies and that makes all the difference.
You are not the only person who has been perched on a snowpile. Louan found herself beached on that little triangular bit at 8th Street and Munson Avenue in TC. She was rescued by a burly team of high school athletes who picked up her little car and set it down on the street. It is good to have neighborly athletes.
dawnkinster
January 25, 2014
I was just explaining to someone ‘down here’ about life ‘up there’ and how you never drive anywhere without a blanket, extra hats, mittens, a shovel, maybe water and food. They raised their eyebrows in question. This year even ‘down here’ my advice would be the same. Never leave home without a shovel at the very least. And cookies.
Gerry
January 25, 2014
That is certainly how I go out and about, but I have neighbors who just get in the SUV and go. Of course, sometimes they end up perched on a snowpile . . . . (Rob the Firefighter is the one who explained to me that “4WD” means “stuck deeper and farther away.”)
shoreacres
January 25, 2014
That’s quite a video. I’m sitting here shivering this very minute. It’s no doubt the combination of the video and the cold draft coming in through my north-facing window, but still…
Actually, that video is a salutary reminder of The Reality of Winter. I think it’s the wind that does it. Perhaps my most unusual winter memory is of the blizzard that came with such strong winds two sides of my grandparents’ house were covered with snow to the roof. Unfortunately, those were the sides of the house that had doors. Fortunately, there was nothing but bare grass on the other side. My dad climbed out a window with the snow shovel, went around and went to work.
I hope we gave him cookies when he was done, too. Stay warm and happy, all of you!
Gerry
January 25, 2014
It’s important to have an exit on the side away from the prevailing winds. Then it’s important to make sure it doesn’t get frozen shut. Sigh.
I think I’ll go have another cookie. That Andi – she’s a peach, she is.
sybil
January 25, 2014
We too are have an unseasonably evil winter. More snow than in the previous four years combined ! And the cold — oh the cold has been snotty awful. I think your gonna need more cookies to get through February.
Gerry
January 25, 2014
The Township hall–which has emergency generators–opens a warming center if the power goes down Around Here in winter. Maybe I should make some cookies to bring with me . . .
tootlepedal
January 25, 2014
I see that cookies are more important than I thought,
Gerry
January 25, 2014
It is almost impossible to overestimate the importance of cookies in a winter survival plan. Especially homemade cookies.
Karma
January 26, 2014
That sounds like a pretty awesome weatherman! I hope he got some excellent treats too for his valiant efforts.
Gerry
January 27, 2014
I’m sure there were plenty of cookies left up at the Weather Station on the Bay. Andi is very, very good at baking. Bruce and Andi are good at sharing their excellent treats, too, which is why they are svelte and energetic as they ski through the woods on the nicely groomed trails, while I am here at the Writing Studio and Bait Shop wiping telltale crumbs off my keyboard..
WOL
January 27, 2014
The only way to be when it’s snowing and blowing a hoolie is with the blowing snow outside and you inside with cookies. This is what you call your Universal Truth. It’s supposed to get down to a low 8 F/-13 C here tonight. I live at the same latitude as Casablanca, Morocco, BTW (although we have a lot more latitude than they do). I wish Canada would keep it’s cotton-picking polar vortices to itself. Do you carry a sack of non-clumping kitty litter in your trunk? Supposed to be the best thing ever for when your car is stuck on ice.
Gerry
January 27, 2014
I read that wrong and thought, “a cat stuck on ice????” It’s a picture. I used to carry a pail of sand in my trunk, but I think I used it all up. Hmmm.
WOL
January 27, 2014
Ooop, make that “Its” cotton picking polar vortices. Shame on me.
Bruce
January 27, 2014
Kitty litter was one of the things I used to free the car when I ran into a big snow drift on my own driveway today. A shovel and a snowblower were also needed for the rescue.
Gerry
January 27, 2014
Twice blessed, eh? Ah well. I seem to recall posting the story of the time I got stuck in my own garage. That was definitely a low point. DAWG it’s cold out there.
Craig
January 29, 2014
For the first time in my experience SMU (southern Michigan universities) closed earlier this week not because of snow, but because it was just too cold to go to class. Darn it, I had already scheduled Tuesday as an online class day.
Gerry
January 30, 2014
(1) I had never heard them called SMU – live and learn
(2) If I’d known online classes were a possibility I would have signed up
(3) As I pulled on my snowpants and sweater over my long underwear and topped it all with a long down coat that I managed to tear on the garage door–don’t ask–I thought of our conversation about fashion choices
Dawn
January 30, 2014
When I lived in the UP I walked ot work. I noticed right away that fashion was not a deciding factor in what people wore. Survival was. It was an AHA moment…and sticks with me today.
Gerry
January 31, 2014
This is true! Of course there are fashions in survival gear just like everything else. Carhartts vs camo hunting clothes, for example – or wrapping oneself in a down comforter with sleeves (this is my approach) vs high-tech skiwear. (Someday I’ll have to post a photo of my neighbor in his facemask. I think it’s my neighbor. Miss Sadie seems to think it’s him. The Cowboy is . . . puzzled.)
P.j. grath
January 31, 2014
You have completely distracted me with putting thoughts of COOKIES into my head! Thanks a lot, Gerry (she commented ironically). I’m happy that you were looking over toward NORTHPORT recently, as I often look east from our harbor and think of YOU! All these FULL CAPS? I am excited beyond measure to have gotten out of the house and to my bookstore today, after many housebound days. Lakes freezing over? Wouldn’t it be amazing if they didn’t?
Gerry
January 31, 2014
Uh oh. PJ’s got cabin fever. (Me too. I dug myself out from under the quilts and the dogs yesterday to make soup. So far that represents my entire output for the week.)