My goal for the year is to spend more time drawing and painting. So, in an effort to achieve this I started drawing in a sketchbook, no painting yet. For the next two days, our last at Whitefish Point and a travel day I’ll post a few of the recent sketches. Garganoris bellmanni, a giantContinue reading “Some recent art, part-2”
Author Archives: makielb
Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan
We spent two beautiful days in Eastern Chippewa County looking for winter birds. We had some luck finding one small group of Common Redpolls, one large flock of Bohemian Waxwings, lots of SNow Buntings and Horned Larks among all of the more common stuff. Driving the roads around Rudyard always gives us the opportunity ofContinue reading “Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan”
The viruses are coming!
Needless to say the situation with viruses is not getting better, in fact cases are on the upward slope. The situation two weeks with influenza when the west and southeast were getting hit hardest. COVID-19, also two weeks ago. RSV from the same time. But what’s the current situation? Influenza, COVID-19, RSP and norovirus areContinue reading “The viruses are coming!”
Some humor to survive the cold
The temperature last night dipped down to -4F – outside. Fortunately the furnace company got to the cabin and solved our problem. Even better was that the guy had the part needed on his truck. Things like that you can never be sure of in the U.P., but it usually works out since they knowContinue reading “Some humor to survive the cold”
Whitefish Point – January, 2025
It was a slow trip from Ann Arbor to Whitefish Point yesterday. It was 7F when we left Ann Arbor and 5F when we got to our cabin. Along the way we hit intermittent snow squalls especially north of Gaylord. South of the Mackinac Bridge it really started blowing and snowing. That made for someContinue reading “Whitefish Point – January, 2025”
Black Monday and FOTUS
Living near Hell, Michigan I can attest that Hell has frozen over for the new fascist regime and the Felon in chief (FOTUS). We escaped to the north without listening to the news today, not that it will make much difference. But here are a few thoughts for the day – The American Oligarchs areContinue reading “Black Monday and FOTUS”
The never ending search for life – part 3
On our daily walks I often find something that is either new for me for the year, or an interesting observation. This evergreen bagworm cocoon was not new for me in any respect. But was interesting was finding it in a deciduous tree rather than an evergreen, which was strange. The moth had obviiously pupatedContinue reading “The never ending search for life – part 3”
Palenque, Mexico
Over the years I have always been intrigued by the Mayan, and other ruins in Mexico. I have also been quite fortunate to be able to visit some. The great ceremonial city of Palenque in Chiapas, Mexico sits on the side of a hill overlooking a vast plane. I’ve been on every one of theContinue reading “Palenque, Mexico”
Peschici, Italy
My grandfather was born in Peschici, Foggia, Italy in 1892. I’ve heard stories about the town all of my life. I have friends and family from Peschici and can trace my ancestors to 1500 there, with several coming from across the Adriatic in what was Dalmatia, and is now Croatia. This photo showed up inContinue reading “Peschici, Italy”
Last night’s bird talk
Last night I gave a talk on warbler migration for the Washtenaw Bird & Nature Alliance at the downtown Ann Arbor Library. As always it was amazing fun. I saw a lot of people that I hadn’t seen for years. I censused birds in the Arb between 1979 and 2008. At the end my responsibilitiesContinue reading “Last night’s bird talk”
Michael's Place 