Snow is melting a bit with rain and fog expected later this weekend...it will be interesting to see what brave souls venture out here for a look.  This is a photographers mecca and hikers too, in any type of weather, so we are laying bets on the amount of visitors we will have for the day.  Gives us something to do!  We'll bet on anything to pass the time!  (Do I sound like Charly R?)  Got all our Christmas cards done yesterday and sent them with one of the township guys who was heading towards town...saved us a trip;-)  They put away the picnic tables so the landscape is a clear view of the stony approach to the bay.  Water level is way down....everyone comments on it.  A lighthouse keeper two years ago (we have to keep a daily log, so its interesting reading to flip back the pages to read past entries) said the water was up to the beach.  Now it's about 1/4 mile to the water from the beach.  We walked out there, picking our way through the piles of stones all the way to the point then found an easier path back into the woods.  One lighthouse keeper said this is his 5th lighthouse he's worked in....interesting.  This can become a working vacation lifestyle if you are fit and available.  Absolute quiet, except the icy lapping sounds of the water on the rocks.  I think we saw bear tracks yesterday.  Possible? 

Locals had been telling us about an eagle's nest near the lighthouse and after driving around, getting lost,we finally spotted pretty close to where we began our search close to the main road...the bathtub sized nest swayed on a tall beech tree limb about 60 feet from the ground...magnificent.  We are starting to feel like locals a tiny bit, and Jack is warming to the idea of returning here next year..even though he swore he would not do this again -- too much work and stress, he said.  But now, after a week, we are hitting our equilibrium and feeling a bit more confident.  The township people are glad we are here, and it's nice to feel appreciated for the work we HOPE we are doing right.  Caring for an historic site is daunting.  We will hate to leave this idyllic spot but alas, we must return to our real lives soon.  The lighthouse is swept, polished, dusted...windows cleaned for the tours tomorrow.  We slipped out after our chores this afternoon to see Brys Estate Winery, the only winery on the peninsula (45th parallel) that grows its own grapes nearly completely.  We were the only ones there so Jack had the luxury of time to ask the poor guy behind the counter about 184 questions, which were ALL patiently answered.  Jack has decided he may go into the wine drinking business after making our careful purchases.  This will part of  our secret stash at home!

Inside tours are closed today but we still had work to do....cleaned, checked the six timers for the holiday lights to synchronize on/off on time, caught another mouse, didn't scream, answered calls from a recent radio promo about "how to be a lighthouse keeper", made a big pot of chicken soup and took a hike through the woods/beach trails.  Surprising amount of foot traffic prints in the snow.  License plates in the visitor's lot were from Illinois, Indiana, Missouri and Ohio...lots of hikers & photographers.  I found a red ribbon to dress up the front door.  County guys said they'll be coming by to put away the picnic tables we'd decorated for the lighthouse festival...I put the decorations around the grounds to recycle the beauty. 

Sure Michigan! A Lighthouse Keeper's Journal

Sure Michigan! A Lighthouse Keeper's Journal

We set the timers on five different devices, whew!  A Sure Michigan, true holiday scene....Merry Christmas to you ALL from the keepers!

Santa & Christmas Carole greeted record crowds at the annual Lighthouse Holiday Festival...kids came out BELIEVING after 20 questions from Santa.. and this Lighthouse Santa was wonderful under pressure...especially after the hot chocolate sunami hit the keeper's kitchen (a little cooking disaster Santa was asked to do by the manager as Christmas Carole was ringing up sales/admissions in the giftshop) just 10 minutes before Santa had to "suit up!"  No prob as our last "kids" of the night were Laurie & Karol (really old kids) who saved the day!  Then Jane & Tom joined us for our decompression period.  I was up until midnight balancing the giftshop books, but everything balanced.  Whew!  This is NOT easy work, but so far, we haven't been fired!!  Slept like logs, but were up the next day early to open up again for some brave hikers in the snow storms.  

First set of stairs to the top, we have to sweep, polish & clean plus make sure everything is operational..video displays, artifacts and ladybug/mouse removals!  There are books in the giftshop about adorable mice who live in lighthouses and I can tell you it's TRUE...they live here with us in little keeper costumes.  The ladybugs are already in costume and we can't believe they are STILL flying around inside here.  The sounds here are wonderfully spooky....

The top hatch has to be opened and hooked for the day.  Room for three people only and the view is spectacular of the bay....at night with the snow and wind blowing it is thrilling....took these shots last night as day turned into night...

Everything lit up on time and the lighthouse is aglow..here we are cozy and warm, buttoned down for the night, snowed in and keeping history safe for another days tour tomorrow...flags are pulled in, gates are closed, salt is ready for the walks and our boots are by the door.  Will I ever really have TIME to do our Christmas Cards?  I think NOT!

December 7th
42 degrees at dawn and overcast and the isolated lighthouse is cozy, warm and welcoming. Several interesting visitors today, lots of conversation, some tours and purchases.  All went well...we haven't been fired yet, which is good!  Everything is decorated for the holidays and lots of activities will take place tomorrow with horse-drawn carriage rides and library-sponsored activites...we will run the gift shop and tours.  Fun! They have a quilt barn trail here in the Old Mission Peninsula which we want to explore on our day off.  This lighthouse is located on the 45th parallel of latitude half way between the equator and the north pole.  So Jack/Santa will fit right in tomorrow...if the borrowed suit fits!  The lighthouse keepers log is fascinating...one fellow last year said this is his 5th lighthouse experience in Michigan.  This is quite an eclectic group of energetic, interesting folks..we are honored to be a part of them.  The bathroom fan sounds like a crazed Canada Goose, but that's part of the fun of these adorable, comfortable quarters.  Absolute quiet here...serene.  But still visitors venture up on hikes to chat...wonderful locals and visitors...good, long conversations.  Glad to be here!  More action tomorrow with the lighthouse holiday festivities. 
Hope you are all well....more later! -- Tudi

Sure Michigan! : A Novice Lighthouse Keeper's Journal

Two days to go until we leave for an adventure that has been five months in the planning: to be Volunteer Lighthouse Keepers at a Michigan Historical site in Northern Michigan.  We are sure our friends are sick of hearing about this, and we wondered ourselves if it was ever really going to happen, but after overcoming serious obstacles, we are actually going!  (I said this much better earlier today, but accidentally deleted the whole post...so here goes...)  We'll try to do brief daily posts from the Old Mission Point lighthouse, where we will be staying in the 1870s keepers quarters (fun!)...the historical commission will keep us plenty busy, the views will be spectacular, and we have no idea what to expect...that's the exciting part;-)  So, stay tuned, we'll have fun using this as our site!  Away we go!