Leland Waking Up

I'm beginning to really enjoy my summer Sunday mornings. Waking up early can be hard, but I enjoy my early morning run, then church, and finally starting the tasks that need to be completed for the day.

Today I decided to take some time to slow down--something I don't do very often. I received a call from Leelanau Books, the local book store in Leland and the one that I am a member of, on Friday letting me know that the book I pre ordered had arrived:

To answer your question, yes, we're still talking about last winter up here! It was ridiculously cold and ridiculously snowy,  and the result was a rare phenomenon on the great lakes: A series of ice caves formed all along the Lake Michigan shoreline in Leelanau County. Some were larger than others, but all were spectacular. It was an absolute must see...I was so in awe of this natural occurance that I went out to see them twice (and wrote about it in my blog post Ice Caves Craze, click the link if you'd like to check it out.) They made local news and then national news. People came for miles to see them. Ken Scott's photos of them kept popping up here, there, and were finally compiled in a book. Being that this was my inaugural winter Up North and that I have a complete facination with these ice caves, I had to get this book when I found out it was being printed. I pre ordered one from the second printing. When I went in to Leelanau Books to do so, the lady who took my order said they ordered 500 copies (which, she said, is unbelieveable for them) and there were 350 pre ordered already. It's definitely popular!

After church this morning I decided to treat myself. After purchasing my book I slid over to the next counter and bought myself a small chai latte...oh so good...it's been too long!

The Redheads is a cafe and tasting room in Lake Leelanau that I've had my eye on visiting. They also sell their food items in local grocery stores, focusing on organic products. Back in May they opened a small cafe inside Leelanau Books and will be open through September. I wish they'd stay open through the winter...it would probably help to get me out of the house!

 After, I cut through Harbor Square and sat on the patio above the public restrooms...I know what you're thinking and it's not as unglamorous as it seems! Leland has a nice--unsmelly--patio on the roof and someone stuck three old, green plastic patio chairs up their for anyone to use. I found a dry one took advantage!

Me, my book, my chai, and Leland...yes, on top of the bathrooms! The book was great. Photos were of course fantastic, and it was nice to read the brief information on all of the ice formations (some I didn't even know had names!)

Watching a sailboat over Fishtown.

The Mishe-Mokwa is loading passengers and getting ready for its day trip to South Manitou Island. I've never caught one of the Manitou Island Transit ferries leaving the harbor, but I do believe I've seen them from my deck in Good Harbor Bay during one of their evening Shoreline Cruises.

The Mishe-Mokwa leaving Leland Harbor.

This seagull seemed captivated with the ferry.

And off it goes towards a seemingly nonexistent island.

The "Stormin' Norman" on the left with one of a handful of fishing charters out on the water that morning. With a nickname like "Fishtown" you can imagine how popular this outdoor sport is here!

I sat as long as I wanted, taking in the sights, smells, and sounds of Leland in the morning. First I noticed the smell of the water, then the breeze shifted and I could smell that day's meal preparation from a nearby restaurant, The Cove. I heard church bells either begin or end a morning service, then flinched as the Mishe-Mokwa ferry left for its day trip to South Manitou Island. I very much enjoyed taking in Leland as it began its day while reading my book, keeping one eye on the pages and one eye to the foggy, somewhat foreboding sky.

It was a great morning.