michigan: Something Interesting: How the Power Companies Travel on RR Tracks
- 11/04/13 05:23 AM
In September I was heading to a rural appointment and had to stop at an intersection of a railroad crossing where a truck was blocking the road. From a distance I though they had an accident and were somehow sideways. When I approached closer I came to realize their blocking the intersection was on purpose. The crew was busy aligning the truck with the railroad tracks and then they lowered train wheels from underneath their truck. I was facinated, and thinking that this was not something one sees everyday I snapped a photo. I have heard about trucks that did … (1 comments)
michigan: Autumn Returns to Michigan Again
- 11/04/13 05:03 AM
Perhaps I am biased because I have lived here so long, but I think Michigan is one of the best, if not the best States to experience the color of autumn. Here are just a few samples of this year's spectacle that I took when I was driving around this week. The colors are a mix of gold, copper, orange, yellow and many hues of red. No matter how long I have lived here, I still find it breath-taking...
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michigan: Thornapple Trail in Middleville, Michigan
- 09/28/13 06:15 AM
Today my wife and I took a walk on the Thornapple trail from its trailhead in downtown Middleville, Michigan. The weather was perfect and the trail not too crowded, making for a pleasant morning walk. The Thornapple trail AKA the Paul Henry Thornapple Trail is a work in progress with not every section of the trail yet complete. When completed, it will be a 42 mile long trail.
Some sections of the trail are completed, some are in development and some are in the proposal or conceptual stage. The route of this trail passes through farmlands, woodlands and small towns, … (2 comments)
michigan: Balloons are part of the Culture of Battle Creek, Michigan
- 08/14/13 11:29 PM
One of the main events of summer in Battle Creek, Michigan is seeing hot air balloons in the skies. Every summer there is the Field of Flight Air Show and Balloon Fest in July, and on two separate events in the last decade we have hosted the International Balloon competition. Last month I was out driving around and captured this balloon when traveling to an appointment. I have written many times on my blog about the balloons and it never gets old.
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michigan: Hay in a field in Michigan
- 07/16/13 07:17 AM
I was out driving through a rural area once again and came across this row of hay rolls sitting in a field. I thought the setting was a great photo. It is quite amazing to see this and consider how much time and energy went into creating them. I also like the perspective and the symetry.
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michigan: Exploring Summer Art Shows
- 06/21/13 04:47 AM
My wife and I have been making a point to visit arts and crafts shows this summer on every weekend possible. She visited two in Florida a few weeks ago, and I visited one in Chelsea, Michigan in May, and two weeks ago another in Kalamazoo, Michigan. Last weekend she and I took the drive over to New Buffalo to see a juried art show over there as well. My wife is a painter and sculpture artist who is returning to her craft after years away from it. We are exploring art shows to not only orient ourselves to the better … (2 comments)
michigan: Friday Thoughts: A Late Walk by Robert Frost
- 04/12/13 12:04 AM
Driving through Bronson Michigan a week ago I came a stop sign and snapped this photo of this majestic tree. It inspires in me a Robert Frost poem, so I thought I would share this on a Friday. Hope everyone has a great weekend! A Late Walk When I go up through the mowing field, The headless aftermath, Smooth-laid like thatch with the heavy dew, Half closes the garden path. And when I come to the garden ground, The whir of sober birds Up from the tangle of withered weeds Is sadder than any words A tree beside the wall stands bare, But a leaf that lingered brown, Disturbed, I doubt … (1 comments)
michigan: Do Not Forget to Live
- 03/29/13 08:35 AM
"Prepare to live by all means, but for heaven's sake do not forget to live. You will never have a better chance than you have at present. You may think you will have, but you are mistaken." -Arnold Bennett
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michigan: What a White-Out Looks Like...
- 03/01/13 02:58 AM
Driving through the back country roads of Michigan can be adventurous. During the winter, it can be sometimes even more exciting. Last week I had to take a drive to St. Joseph County, and got caught in an snowstorm on my way back. A few times along the way visibility dropped down to only a few feet in front of me. I grabbed my camera which was on seat beside me and snapped these photos.
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michigan: Waking to February snowfall... Looking out my front door
- 01/31/13 09:23 PM
This morning is Friday morning. It is also the first morning of February. It snows a lot here in Michigan, so it is nothing unusual to wake to snowfall on your car, etc. Some mornings it seems more pristine than others though, and more peaceful. As I write this blog entry, the snow is falling outside and the neighborhood has that feel of 'Instant Urban Renewal' with is sound dampening effect, and fresh blanket over everything. Snowfall is a child's dream up here. Especially when their school closes for the day and it gives them an instant three day weekend. Across … (2 comments)
michigan: Tekonsha, Michigan
- 01/14/13 12:14 PM
Today I made a drive to Tekonsha, Michigan. It is a small community just South of Marshall. According to the 2000 Census, only 712 people lived in this small village of less than one square mile. By the 2010 Census the population was just 717 people. So you can see this is a relatively small community, and not much in the way of explosive growth has occured in the last 20 years or so. Tekonsha is famous as the birthplace of Talbert Abrams, the man considered the father of aerial photography. Tekonsha is in Calhoun County, and has some beautiful historic … (4 comments)
michigan: Covered Bridge
- 12/28/12 08:39 AM
I visited the Kellogg Experimental Forest a few years ago with my wife, and we came across this little covered bridge which is near the entrance to the forest. I was going through some old photos and I thought this seemed like a fitting little piece of Americana to me. Perhaps a throwback from an era when covered bridges were considered important.
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michigan: Sunset over Battle Creek, Michigan
- 12/27/12 07:28 AM
A few months ago I was driving towards downtown Battle Creek, and I was fortunate to have my camera not too far away. I was able to capture this moment in time, with this sunset. I thought it appropriate to post this towards the end of 2012, as the sun begins to set on this old year, and will soon rise on a new one. I hope everyone takes time to draw up some exciting plans for the new year, and take their future by the reigns and charges forward with wild abandonment! If if you do not go that … (4 comments)
michigan: Winter Arrives in the Midwest
- 12/26/12 05:08 AM
Well, winter has arrived again in Michigan and the mid-west. Sure, it has been cold for several weeks now, and we have all been wearing our jackets to and from work. However, there is nothing that quite hits home that winter has arrived than a good old snow storm! Then you realize you have to go out in it, deal with the wind, the shoveling and the search for where you stored your gloves last year. I am thankful some of the miracles of modern technology at this time of year, however. Is it the iPhone? The iPad? No! The remote … (1 comments)
michigan: Greetings from Mother Goose and Her Family
- 05/26/12 01:19 AM
I was at a stoplight the other day and looked out the window at a grassy area on the side of the road and saw thus momma goose with her babies. I always try to keep my camera handy for those moments. I was able to capture this photo before the light turned green and I had to move with the traffic. Although, I suppose a few honks from the cars behind me probably would not have bothered momma goose! The babies still had their down coats, and were quite large. This area of town is near the river, so we … (3 comments)
michigan: Liela Arboretum in Spring in Battle Creek, Michigan
- 04/12/12 10:22 PM
I went driving through the Liela Arboretum last week just to take in the spring colors. One of the spots of beauty in our city is the Liela Arboretum in Spring. This is a park is maintained by volunteers, and contains over 600 different trees and plant species. The circle drive is almost exactly 1 mile, so runners and joggers can partake in the beauty and get in their exercise. It also offers great places to host a picnic, walk your dog or simply go for an escape for lunch for a few hours. Driving through recently with the spring flowers, … (3 comments)
michigan: Mild Winter in Michigan This Year
- 03/02/12 06:55 AM
Normally at this time of year Michigan looks like this picture below. However, this year we have had suprisingly very little snow. This picture I took in December of 2011, and normally we expect our February and March to pretty much be like this. However, we are having a mind winter in the North this year, as perhaps many of my fellow AR bloggers have probably written about. I wonder what kind of summer we can expect if this continues? Perhaps there will be a bumper crop of mosquitos! … (3 comments)
michigan: Finding Christmas All Around You
- 12/16/11 04:06 AM
As you get older in life one finds that each Christmas is different. Some times it is more challenging for me in certain years to capture that feeling I had about the holiday when I was a kid. However, occasionally you stumble upon something that just puts you in the spirit, at least for a little while. Recently I was having an impromptu lunch with my wife at a local restaurant called 'Finleys' in Battle Creek, Michigan. She often has a very busy schedule with her work, that does not align with mine too often, so it infrequent we can get together … (7 comments)
michigan: Showings in December... An Excerpt from a Michigan Realtors Diary...
- 12/06/11 03:46 PM
I get a call on a December afternoon. "Hi Michael. I am in town today only, and get off work at 5:00pm. I would like to see this house we talked about over the weekend at 5:30. Is that possible? This is the only time this week I can see it, I know it is short notice..." "Well if that is the only time you have, of course. I will call and make the arrangements" I say. Meanwhile, my mind is spinning with thoughts of 'No! Not today! I have floor duty at the office until 5:00' But my mental GPS kicks into … (4 comments)
michigan: Winter Snowfall
- 12/02/11 02:45 PM
This past week in Battle Creek, Michigan we had our first big snowfall. I went out and took some photos when it was still fresh, and I wanted to share one that I really liked. It is a tree in my front yard that had snow beautifully placed on every branch, and it was early in the morning before the temperature rose enough to melt some of it away. I find looking at natures beauty to be refreshing, even though the cold days are tiresome at times. I hope you enjoy this photo.
I enjoying looking at the lighter side of life. So, this blog is about my wacky observations, my sometimes sideways point of view and the Southwest Michigan, Battle Creek Area Real Estate Market.
In September I was heading to a rural appointment and had to stop at an intersection of a railroad crossing where a truck was blocking the road. From a distance I though they had an accident and were somehow sideways. When I approached closer I came to realize their blocking the intersection was on purpose. The crew was busy aligning the truck with the railroad tracks and then they lowered train wheels from underneath their truck. 
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