I caved and took a selfie on the bridge over the waterfall in historic Fishtown. Dan was in Seattle and I wanted him to see the gorgeous day I was experiencing a million miles away in Leland, Michigan. It came out so well, I've decided to share it. The photo above was taken from the footbridge over the dam.
The Carp River flows from Lake Leelanau over the dam and out to Lake Michigan. The public can walk the docks of fishtown, peek inside the working area of Carlson's Fish and smell the fresh catch being smoked in the smokehouse next door. I always buy a container of whitefish pate (to be served with wine and white crackers) from the storefront. The Fishtown Preservation Society strives to protect and preserve the historic fishing shanties, fishing nets and tugs (low body fishing vessels - seen above with a green base). I've walked these docks every summer for the last 40 years, the first 13 with my maternal grandmother, so the preservation of fishtown is real to me too.
This image shows a sailboat tied up at The Cove, a local restaurant that is famous for it's large outdoor deck. A lovely place for drinks and dinner, as trumpeted by chef Mario Batali. I took the photo from the docks looking back at the dam. The footbridge is just above the water, connecting the buildings.
The perfect place for a summer vacation, no?
I was "up north" in Leland, Michigan when the Leelanau Community Cultural Center (at The Old Art Building) hosted their first Plein Air Painting Event.
Artists were to register online and then on the day of the event, they were to bring their canvas to the Old Art Building between 9-10 am to be stamped (on the back) by the Plein Air committee to complete the registration process. Then the artists were free to chose a spot somewhere in and around Leland to paint or draw. The art was to be completed by 4 pm and submitted with a frame to the committee. At 6:30 that night, the artists and public were invited to a reception at the Old Art Building. The paintings and drawings were on display for the guests to admire and purchase. A portion of each sale went to support the Leelanau Community Cultural Center.
What a success! I was jealous of the talent and amazed at the landscapes that these artists were able to create in just one day. I was fascinated by the entire process.
While Dan and I were out and about that day, I noticed several painters next to streams or on bluffs throughout the bright and chilly day, painting from their chosen perspective. We noticed so many, that I felt that I was pointing out rare birds. "Look! There's another one!"
When we walked down toward Fishtown, I ran into Brenda J Clark. I had stopped to admire her work - her painting of Fishtown is shown on the easel above - and as we chatted, I realized that I had met her before. She taught my best friend, Kim in an art class at Michigan State University and they have remained friends. A few years ago, Kim had taken me into Brenda's art gallery, which is now located in Suttons Bay, Michigan.
I absolutely love Brenda's bold use of color. Her work table reminds me of so many of my projects mid-stream - you can instantly tell that big things are going on.
Viva la Plein Air! Bravo, Leelanau Community Cultural Center for bringing such a wonderful event to Leland!
This fishing tug has long been the symbol of Fishtown and represents the charm and history of Leland, Michigan. The town has been a fishing village since the late 1800's and this particular model of fishtown tug has been a working fishing vessel in the waters of Lake Michigan for more than fifty years.
For years there have been tug window decals, t-shirts and jewelry to help those that love Leland trumpet their affection for the town. The Tug Stuff shop in Fishtown has the largest collection. My favorite tug item is a 3-D silver charm for a necklace that I found in the Leelanau Historical Society gift shop.
Recently, a local bakery Sisson's started making tug cookies! I highly recommend them for afternoon tea. They make such a darling conversation piece. As a baker, I wanted to have an entire fleet of tugs and I asked Dan to make me a tug cookie cutter (yes, I have a "make your own cookie cutter kit") to my specifications.
Tah-dah! I love them! We tried different variations (with a window "dent" and with a window completely "cut out") and on the cuteness scale, I still can't decide which one I like better. Most of my first batch (shown above) had just a window dent. For the next batch I make, I'll do some of each. Aren't they cute?
Now I have a cookie cutter to use for the rest of my life when I am up north and in the mood to bake and entertain. These are certainly the perfect cookies for the Land of Delight.
Yesterday I was taking about fish nets, now I'm blogging about knit fish. There is a tongue twister in there somewhere, I'm sure of it.
I was wandering through Fishtown in Leland, Michigan and I came upon a split store - half "Tack and Jibe" (wonderful boating life-inspired accessories) and half Fishtown Preservation Society.
In addition to accepting donations to preserve Fishtown, they also sell promotional items that supporters can purchase to declare that Fishtown is important to them. I saw mugs, shirts, hats, but what caught my eye was a wall display of knit fish ornaments, which I think is genius! What a charming way for the society gain support. The shop girl told me that her mother ties a fish on the neck of a wine bottle when she brings wine to a party - I love that!
I was in a bit of a rush, so I didn't make an impulse buy that day, but I think a school of fish is in my future.
I want these! I was walking through Fishtown in Leland when I noticed this open container of aquamarine glass buoys that hold fishing nets afloat. You heard me, aquamarine fishnet floats. They. are. gorgeous.
I thought that taking a photograph would be enough, but now that I am back at the cottage writing about them, I really want them even more. I know that they would look beautiful on display in a bowl in my aqua family room. I think I need to head back to Fishtown...
*Update - I got some and they look beautiful on a plate in my family room.
The sound of live music lead me to this picture perfect scene. It was Labor Day in Leland and a huge end-of-summer party was happening at The Cove. I walked out on the footbridge over the waterfall and stood in the sun for quite a while just enjoying the scene. Can you see the people who came by kayak?
As you look down the river, you can see historic Fishtown, charter fishing boats and Lake Michigan in the distance. What a glorious day.
