Yes, I'm a toad with a bug on
my nose by firechicktick

Yesterday on Michigan in Pictures, I featured the Northern Green Frog (Rana clamitans). A scant hour later, I got an email from Laura Bien of the Ann Arbor Chronicle letting me know about her article, In the Archives: The Toad Survey of 1910. Her piece is a delightful ramble through the history and present day of frogs & toads in Ypsilanti. In addition to the survey of 1910, she looks at Michigan's 13 species of anuran (frogs & toads) including:

...Blanchard's Cricket Frog (whose name) honors University of Michigan herpetologist and zoology professor Frank Nelson Blanchard, a onetime student of Museum of Natural History director Alexander Ruthven, who also served as UM president from 1929 to 1951.

Regarded in his time as the nation’s leading snake expert, Blanchard identified several new species – and named one for Ruthven, the king snake Lampropeltis ruthveni. After one collecting trip that netted 457 snakes from Lake Michigan’s Hog Island, near the tip of the lower peninsula, a colleague dubbed Blanchard “The St. Patrick of Hog Island.”

Blanchard died in 1937. He did not name his own frog; naturalist Francis Harper did that when identifying it a decade later. Presumably the naming was a tribute, though the criteria Harper listed as identifiers of the animal included a warty head, a fat snout, and a bulky, mottled underbelly.

Blanchard’s Frog is currently a “species of concern” in Michigan, and the state is especially interested in survey volunteers’ reports of its cricket-like call.

You can learn more about Frank Nelson Blanchard on Wikipedia, explore Michigan's Frogs & Toads at the Michigan DNR and help out with the Michigan Frog & Toad Survey!

Daryl says that he took this photo in a marshy part of Lake Erie in Monroe County. You can see it and a few other shots on his map and check it out larger in his Colorful Skies slideshow.

His other sets include Barns and Outbuildings and Autumn.

Check out his Flickriver.

Conservationists and government biologists, stunned by new indications of the advance of Asian carp toward Lake Michigan, are trading ideas for poisoning Chicago-area rivers, conducting emergency electrofishing or chemically neutering the wily fish.

On Friday, sophisticated genetic testing near Chicago found evidence of the carp within 7 miles of Lake Michigan after apparently leaping an electrical barrier once called the last line of defense for the Great Lakes.

The prospect of the voracious, prolific Asian carp reaching the Great Lakes -- a fragile ecosystem reeling from other invasive species -- has been the greatest fear of the lakes coalition.

Tests for Asian carp DNA have been conducted since August. The findings, available only in recent days, indicate that the pernicious plankton eaters are only one lock and dam away from the Great Lakes, said Army Corps of Engineers Maj. Gen. John W. Peabody, commander of the corps' Great Lakes and Ohio River Division.

NPR adds that Asian Carp in the Great Lakes would threaten the existence of the multi-billion dollar sports fishing business:

The carp grow to large sizes (50-110 lbs.) and quickly become some of the most abundant fish captured from an area, possibly out competing native species for food or habitat resources. They have become so abundant in the Missouri River that there have been reports of commercial fishermen abandoning fishing sites due to the large catch of Asian carp.

Learn more about the Asian Carp from the US Fish & Wildlife Service and also see this video:

The Michigan Wildlife Conservancy has released results of an investigation that appears to validate a cougar presence in Michigan. The apparent cougar was photographed near the south shore of Glen Lake in Leelanau County:

On Labor Day, September 7, 2009 Dr. Jerome Wiater and his adult son, Christian, observed what they believed to be a cougar (mountain lion) at about 3:30 p.m. on a clear, sunny day. The sighting was along County Road 675 near its intersection with County Road 616. Dr. Wiater, an orthopedic surgeon (MD) residing in Bingham Farms, Michigan, was walking to Glen Lake with a camera in hand, planning to water ski. He and Christian (who was nearby) were startled to see a large, long-tailed cat they believed was about the size of a big dog. Dr. Wiater snapped two photos of the animal—one when it was in shade and the other when the animal was walking in a shallow roadside depression through a more sunny spot approximately 209 feet away.

The site is adjacent to the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore where the National Park Service has had “cougar warning” signs at its trailheads since fall of 2003. Dr. Patrick Rusz, director of wildlife programs for the Wildlife Conservancy, took measurements and photos of objects of known size at the site and analyzed the photos in consultation with forensic photography experts. His conclusion is that the animal had the profile (llikely more than 30 inches long) and coloration of a cougar and was too large to be a house cat.

"Both Jerome and Christian Wiater stated that the animal they observed was about the same size as their pet hound," noted Dr. Rusz. "Based on my analysis, it may have been slightly smaller than the dog, but was definitely the size of a small cougar. The Wiater photos, along with decades of sighting reports and tracks found in the same general area during the past 9 years, provide compelling evidence of the presence of cougars in the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore area."

Click the photo above to see it bigger or head over to Flickr. You can also see Rusz's full report and see the larger photos at the Michigan Wildlife Conservancy and read more about Michigan cougars at Absolute Michigan.

So we present to you:

Be A Tourist In Your Own Town brought to you by the fine folks at the Greater Lansing Convention and Visitors Bureau. Consider organizing one in your area!

About Be A Tourist In Your Own Town

Fifteen years ago, the Greater Lansing Convention and Visitors Bureau created this event to increase community awareness of it's attractions and the tourism industry's impact on the area. So once again the doors are open for you to explore culture and creativity in mid-Michigan.

As Lansing celebrates its 150th anniversary, take this opportunity to enjoy attractions that highlight both Lansing’s unique history as well as its innovative and progressive future. This year they have included old favorites such as Impression 5 Science Center, Potter Park Zoo and the Michigan Historical Museum, and added new hot spots like the FRAG Center, MSU’s Breslin Center, WKAR Studios and taste the new “Capital City Sundae” ice cream flavor at the MSU Dairy Store. You can view a complete list of the participating places to go and things right here.

How it Works:

For only $1 you can purchase a “passport” which allows you FREE admission to more than 60 area attractions, local businesses, and special activities on May 30, 2009 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. **Ages 3 and under do not require a passport. Get from place to place with CATA. For only 50 cents you will receive a stamp which will allow you to ride the Be A Tourist routes for the rest of the day for no extra charge.

Check out a slideshow of the Lansing area from the Absolute Michigan Flickr pool!

The photo featured today shows a cluster of nests at a Michigan heronry and was shot by Sentrawoods.

Sentrawoods. adds:

This location was shown to me by my local flickr friend gerrybuckel. If you enlarge this you'll see seven maybe eight heron's nesting. I plan on getting much closer in the days to come.

The Department of Natural Resources tells us:

Sometimes confused with the sandhill crane; the heron is smaller and flies with its neck folded back, while cranes fly with their neck extended. Great blue herons are commonly seen in small suburban wetlands (cranes are generally less tolerant of close presence). Herons feed on fish, frogs, and other small animals, captured by a quick jab of the beak. They nest in colonies, usually building their stick platform nests in trees in lowland hardwood swamps. In recent years many rookeries have been displaced by shoreline development or timber cutting. Every attempt must be made to preserve known nesting sites if these beautiful birds are to remain common in Michigan's wetlands.

This photo is part of his Nature & Woods set (slideshow). His other sets include Holloway Reservoir, Mushrooms & Fungi, Technical & Engineering and Animals & Things. Here's his Flickriver.

For more pictures of blue herons check out the Flickr group Citizen Science: Great Blue Heron.

In Flight, photo by Mi Bob.

As yesterday's Traverse City Record-Eagle reported:

The bald eagle is now off both state and federal endangered species lists for Michigan. But the federal Bald Eagle Protection Act of 1940 makes it a crime to hunt, kill or otherwise harm them.

Fewer than 100 nests existed in the state in 1969, DNR officials said. In 2006, there were nearly 500 occupied nests, and the number is growing.

The Michigan DNR page on the Bald Eagle in Michigan has lots of information about their seasonal behavior (they are beginning to hatch their eggs right now) and documents the history of the bald eagle in Michigan:

Before European settlement, bald eagles probably nested in all regions of Michigan where food was available. In the early 1900s they were described as being "generally distributed," but "nowhere abundant." A decline through the early and mid-1900s was probably related to slow but consistent loss of suitable habitat and available food, and predator control by humans. These eagles are so disturbed by the presence of humans near their nest that they may be induced to abandon the nest, or even chicks that have already hatched. By 1959, the species was considered, "largely restricted to the northern half of the state."

Through the 1950s, the slow decline accelerated dramatically, until suddenly, bald eagles were on the brink of extinction in the lower 48 states. The population crash was due to several factors that had reduced reproductive success of nesting pairs, but was mostly the result of increased use of pesticides with chemicals such as PCB and DDT. These chemicals affected the eagles in many ways, including causing them to delay their breeding until it was too late in the season, or even to not breed at all. Eggs that were laid often had thin shells, causing them to break in the nest. At its worst in 1967, only 38 percent of the Michigan population of bald eagles were able to raise at least a single chick. Productivity must be at least 70 percent for a bald eagle population to remain stable.

Recognition of the plight of bald eagles in the US and its cause finally occurred in the 1960s. By the 1970s DDT had been banned in the US. Intensive monitoring of eagles in Michigan began in 1961. Although bald eagles had been protected at federal and state levels since 1940 and 1954, respectively, they received much greater protection after the ratification of the Endangered Species Act in 1973, and the Michigan endangered species act in 1974.

Reproductive success began to improve and in 1975, the 70 percent productivity mark was reached, although it dropped off again soon after. The population remained at around 86 nesting pairs through the 1970s. In 1981, the population at last began to increase. The 1999 survey found 343 nests that produced 321 young. The productivity was calculated as 96% (young per nests with known outcomes). But some problems still exist. Eagles nesting along the Great Lakes coasts have higher contaminant levels in their blood than inland nesting pairs.

The American Bald Eagle information site has all kinds of sighting information from Michigan and will help you find places to see bald eagles.

If you'd like to check them out from your computer, you can see the above photo background big or in Bob's Eagles set (slideshow, check out the Bald Eagle slideshow in the Absolute Michigan pool and/or Michigan Bald Eagles on Flickr.

Lori Larson (Daylily18) has some of the most amazing bird photography I've seen. As an added bonus, she uploads photos like this "biggee-sized"!

In addition to a great set of Bluebird photos, her sets include Woodpeckers, Warblers and Finches, Redpolls and Sparrows. It's not just birds though - be sure to check out her Nature, Macro and Explored set (slideshow).

Here's her Flickriver.

PS: For more about bluebirds, head over to Michigan Bluebird on Michigan in Pictures!

In cooperation with ShowSpan, Absolute Michigan is giving away 10 pair of tickets to the Ultimate Sport Show on March 19-22, 2009 at Devos Place in Grand Rapids, MI. Check out all of the Features & Attractions and Speakers & Events that await you!

About the Ultimate Sport Show
Michigan's finest tradition for the avid fisherman, hunter or outdoor loving family! Over 350 exhibitors will be at the show with the latest outdoor gear, travel information and fishing boats.

The Features are Famous
World Class Taxidermy, Antique Lures, Trout Pond, Woodcarvers, Pellet Range, Fishing Simulator, Rock Wall and Fly Casting Instruction. Nearly 100 fishing and hunting seminars will be held on 4 stages, including "Lake Ultimate," the 110,000 gallon indoor lake. Michigan sportsmen never miss it!

Dog sled races, UP200, 2007 by e.rabior

Eric says that this photo shows a team arriving in Grand Marais, halfway point of the 240 mile race, amidst unrelenting lake effect snow.

This year is the 20th running of the U.P. 200 and Midnight Run sled dog races and Over 15,000 visitors come to Michigan's Upper Peninsula for one of the nation's premier weekends of sled dog racing. The U.P. 200 is a competitive, 12 dog, mid-distance sled dog race that is always held on the third weekend of February (Feb 20-22). The race is about 240 miles in length and is a qualifying race for the Iditarod.

You can get a look at what it's all about courtesy Wild Weekend TV if you click over to the UP 200 web site!

Matt (iraceonpedals) says he's a guy who loves to travel, ride bikes, take pictures, be with his dog, girl and finds most things generally interesting.

In addition to his sets like A-Deuce (slideshow) and his collection of photos from Northern Ireland (which I of course can't link to it being all Michigan, all the time and all), I think you'll find The Adventures of Ripley Rockwilder (and friends) interesting, including her latest in Dotbama's Secret Service.

View this photo large to see the crazy duck explosion and check out Matt's Flickriver!

...and all I have are bad jokes and this cool photo of a camel at the Detroit Zoo by diana.vermeulen.

The Chick Inn Triptych by jnhkrawczyk

Brawn beats brains - Michigan's Headless Chicken

The small town of Fruita, Colorado, holds a yearly festival dedicated to a bird that defied the laws of biology by staying alive after being decapitated for a farmer's dinner. In 1945, 'Mike' the headless chicken lived for eighteen months with only a brain stem and one ear to guide him, and became the star of a national sideshow tour. But he wasn't the first headless chicken to survive the chopping block. Michigan's Sault St. Marie boasted a crowd-pleasing, black leghorn decades earlier, in 1903. The headless chicken of the 'Soo' didn't live as long as Mike, nor did she match Mike's dizzying heights of fame and glory (Mike even has his own web site - miketheheadlesschicken.org), but she caused plenty of amazement in her day.

The natural wonder was created by one of the cooks at the Belvidere Hotel, who removed the hen's noggin and tossed her body into a barrel to be prepared for that night's roast chicken special. But when the cook pulled the hen's body out to be plucked, she flew away and began strolling around the hotel's basement floor.

Too amused to end the hen's life again, the hotel employees began feeding her oatmeal gruel from a syringe and claimed that she seemed to enjoy her meals, although, as the Sault Ste. Marie Evening News noted, 'she has no brains and no tongue to taste it with.' Some of the Belvidere workers, in fact, made a small fortune by betting patrons a dollar that they had a live, headless chicken in the basement, then escorting their dupes to the basement to prove their claim and collect. The stalwart hen did make national newspaper headlines.

Unlike Colorado's Mike, however, the Soo's headless black leghorn was not awarded the dignity of a recorded name, and she lived only seventeen days before she finally succumbed. Rumor around town has it she was stuffed not with bread crumbs but a taxidermist's form, and was displayed at various places. No one seems to know where she ended up. But she was seen by hundreds during those seventeen amazing days, and is remembered now as a testimonial to life and its occasional ability to survive against all conceivable odds.

Bat by reddeviltj

In Michigan bats - featuring the Iron Mountain Bat Mine, Edward Vielmetti introduces us to the Millie Mine, a critical hibernating and breeding location for up to 50,000 bats - one of the largest known concentrations of bats in the Midwest. He writes that the little brown bat is especially abundant throughout Michigan and is the most seen species. Bats are of course very beneficial due to their propensity for bug eating, but we can't blame folks for being a little wary. Click through to Edward's blog for more about bats and learn much more about bats including how to build a bat house from The Bat Zone at the Cranbrook Institute of Science.

On the last Wednesday of every month, Absolute Michigan has a "Weird Wednesday" - a celebration of the scary and the strange in Michigan. The woman who inspired us and who provides most of the content is Linda S. Godfrey, author of one of the best Michigan books ever: Weird Michigan. She's joined with Michigander Linda Shiel for a new book Strange Michigan: More Wolverine Weirdness - click that link for info on the book and upcoming signings!

High Ground by Ross Sandelius

Probably the scariest thing we have for you today is news that investor Kirk Kerkorian is starting to sell his $1 billion stake in Ford Motor Company. David Cole, chairman of the Center for Automotive Research in Ann Arbor observes "It's reaching a point where we'll have to decide if we’re willing to let the U.S. auto industry fail. It depends on the urgency that the government feels to save these companies." With a total employment of 200,000, a web of many more businesses that they feed and retirment committments to over a million Americans, you have to wonder how the government could not come to their rescue. Still, there are limits to what the US will be able to spend on our economic woes.

That's a tough note to end on, so instead, how about we remind you of our massive Michigan Haunted Houses, Mazes & Attractions page that features all kinds of haunted houses, corn mazes and scary attractions from all across Michigan.

Have something spooky to share? Post it in the comments!

Untitled by Sara Behm

Today is the autumn equinox and fall starts in about 15 minutes (11:44 am), so I hope everyone has a chance pay their official respects to summer 2008.

After last week's Event-a-palooza, this weekend's Four Flags Area Apple Festival in Niles (Sep 25-28) and the American Heritage Festival in Lansing (Sep 27 & 28) might seem like something of an anti-climax.

However, our Absolute Michigan Event Calendar lists a bunch more including the West Michigan Oktoberfest in Grand Rapids (Sep 26-27), the Northern Michigan Lamb & Wool Festival in West Branch (Sep 27-28) which is not to be confused with the Mt. Bruce Station Sheep & Wool Festival in Romeo (Sep 27-28).

Dueling sheep festivals? You can't make this stuff up.

at Mackinac :: a composite from -3 and -43 by Emery Co Photo

Sea Monster of the Straits

The authorities tried hard to convince the public what they saw were only giant catfish, but even the oldest, orneriest cats would be hard-pressed to attain a length of forty-five feet! The owner of a resort along the Cheboygan lakefront reported seeing something of just that size, and two of them, frolicking in the Mackinac Straits on Lake Huron in front of his property, about 600 feet from shore, according to an article in the June 25, 1976 Grand Rapids Press. The day after the resort owner called authorities about it, Cheboygan County Sheriff Stanley McKervey stopped by to have a look for himself. To his surprise, he also was able to observe one of the creatures. "I went down to the beach, and sure enough, I'm looking at something 20, maybe 30 feet long, swimming just below the surface," he said in the article. "I was amazed. I didn't know what it was, but it sure wasn't a publicity stunt."

The sheriff continued watching the creature through binoculars. It only rose about an inch above water level, he said, but any disturbance on shore would cause it to dive deeper again. And that's exactly what happened when the sheriff ordered a couple of deputies to surveil the thing in a canoe. It was gone long before the pair got there. Unfortunately, rough water conditions set in the next few days and no one could go out for another look. It wasn't observed again, and other experts theorized that perhaps it was a giant eel or carp. But neither of those sound like what the sheriff and the resort owner saw!

Lake Leelanau Monster

The story of an early 20th Century sea monster sighting was sent to The Shadowlands Web site by a reader whose great-grandfather was the witness. The boy was fishing for perch one day in 1910 in the shallows of Lake Leelanau in Leelanau County. The lake had been dammed in the late 1800's to provide water power for the local mill and to enable logging. The dam also flooded much surrounding area, turning it into swamps and bogs punctuated by dead, standing trees.

On that particular day, the young great-grandfather, William Gauthier, rowed out to a new fishing spot near the town of Lake Leelanau. Looking for good perch habitat, he paddled up close to a tree that he estimated to stand about five feet tall above the water, with a six-inch trunk. He was in about seven feet of water, and after deciding this would be a good place to stop and cast a line, began tying the boat to the tree.

That's when young William discovered the tree had eyes. They were staring him dead in the face at about four feet above water level. The boy and serpent exchanged a long gaze, then the creature went, "Bloop" into the water. Gauthier said later that the creature's head passed one end of the boat while the tail was still at the other end, though it was undulating very quickly through the water. The writer noted that Gauthier always admitted to having been thoroughly frightened by his encounter, and that the event caused him to stay off that lake for many years.

The writer added that his great-grandfather came from a prominent area family and was very well-educated, and that he knew others who would admit privately but not publicly that they, too, had seen the creature. No sightings have been reported in recent times, but who knows how many people have believed they were passing by a rotting old cedar when in fact they had just grazed the Leelanau lake monster?

Released in 1955 by Warner Brothers, the first Michigan J. Frog cartoon is about a member of a wrecking crew who finds a time capsule in the cornerstone of a large building he is razing. When he opens the old box, he awakens Michigan J. Frog, who emerges from his confined home with a top hat, cane, dancing feet and an Al Jolson-like voice that belts out popular tunes.

The demolition man quits his job and devotes all his time to promoting his amazing discovery. But the frog will only perform for the man who rescued him. Frustrated by his lack of success, the man puts the talented frog back into the cornerstone of a nearby building undergoing construction in 1956. The film fast-forwards to the year 2056. Another worker finds Michigan J. Frog and the story repeats itself-with the same results.

For years, Michigan J. Frog served as the symbol for Warner Brothers television, until he was retired in 2005. However, Michigan J. Frog has entertained Americans in a variety of different ways. To find out how (and why he has J. for a middle initial), look for the July/August 2008 issue of Michigan History. For more information visit www.michiganhistorymagazine.com or call (800) 366-3703.

For more on this amphibious crooner, check out the Michigan J Frog entry on Wikipedia and also the entry for One Froggy Evening (the cartoon it was based on). Of course, we can't really talk about Michigan J Frog without showing a video, so here's a video:

detroit zoo by ercy

Polar bears frolicking in a glass tunnel surrounded by 300,000 gallons of crystal-clear water; kangaroos bouncing about in a simulated Australian Outback; or hundreds of amphibians living in the world’s only amphibian conservation center--a place the Wall Street Journal described as "Disneyland for toads." These are some of the experiences visitors can enjoy at the Detroit Zoo.

Celebrating its eightieth anniversary this year, the 125-acre Detroit Zoo is located in the Detroit suburb of Royal Oak and draws one million visitors annually. Special events are planned to celebrate this milestone in August.

When established, it was the one of the first zoological parks in the nation to have bar-free animal exhibit areas. Over the years, it has maintained the same location, while preserving some of its architecturally significant buildings and original exhibits.

Visitors will experience a free-flight aviary, featuring exotic hummingbirds and butterflies; eighteen-foot-tall giraffes against a backdrop of ancient Egypt; two 4,000-pound white rhinoceroses hanging out together; a Kenyan native and a former safari guide who roams the African Veldt exhibit area telling children African tales. Add to that bald eagles, camels, prairie dogs, trumpeter swans and even warthogs.

Meanwhile, parents can feel good about the zoo’s mission today. According to Ron Kagen, director of the Detroit Zoological Society, which owns the Detroit Zoo, "Years ago, [zoos] were just places of entertainment. Now, they’re wonderful sanctuaries for animals. For all of us, the challenge is to make a visit to the zoo something that is wonderfully enriching and healthy for people as well as animals."

For a visual tour of the Detroit Zoo check out this slideshow from the Detroit Zoo flickr pool.

The Detroit Zoo is one of a many great Michigan attractions featured in Michigan History magazine. For information call (800) 366-3703 or visit www.michiganhistorymagazine.com.

View Larger Map

Mike says that box turtles are relatively uncommon. Here's what Wikipedia and the Michigan DNR have to say about box turtles.

The photo is part of his Cass Lake set (slideshow). Some of his other sets include outside birds and Josephine the Friendly Squirrel. As you might imagine, Mike also has a number of storm photos.

Over on his YouTube channel, he has some storm videos like this one of a fall storm in Port Austin, MI.

Wanna Blueberry? - Tahquamenon Falls State Park,
Paradise, Michigan by jfactor1

Big Binder is billed as a blog is for anyone who is looking for activities to do with young children in the Grand Rapids, Michigan area. The author writes:

An almost frightening lack of ability in the crafting area forced me 'outsource' fun things to do with my kids. Fortunately, I live in a community with more than enough to keep my family busy.

I started keeping a big binder of things to do around town with my kids, and began sharing the information with my friends. In a single day, I was asked by six different people to start "a website or something" with this information. As "Finding Stuff" is an unusual talent and doesn’t look good on a resume, I decided it was time to do it.

Do it she has done. I don't have young kids (any more) but I know that if I did, I'd be a regular at this blog, which has a number of regulars that add their thoughtful comments. With everything from thoughts about eating in Menu Plan Mondays (don't serve snack foods for snacks, never refuse a request to buy fruit) to kid-friendly excursion ideas such as Donuts, Alpacas, and Dairy Cows (Krispy Kreme does tours!), you're sure to find something that makes it just a bit easier to be a parent whether you live in Grand Rapids or elsewhere.

Peter writes that this was a huge eagle, and he doesn't think it could have possibly offered him a better display of its beauty. It's a crop of this photo and part of an amazing set of photos taken of bald eagles in the Eastern UP (see them bigger in the slideshow).

He has some neat shots of traditional tapping of maple trees (must see slideshow!), a pretty serious lens and some explosive canine friends.

The babelfish translates 老六 from Chinese as "Old Six". I have no idea if that's correct or not but what I do know is that his photos hold a poetic kind of beauty.

He has no sets or tags and I had the hardest time choosing a photo to feature among choices like Crane in the Mist, Lonely Golden Tree, Quiet Street, Orchids and Fly.

Be sure to look at it bigger.

Tate says that he's pretty much an outdoor nut and from summer sun to ice and eagles to foxes from Muskegon to the UP, he delivers gorgeous photos that reveal Michigan's beauty.

(he also has photos for sale at his online gallery)

smiles7 shared this with us, and on the behalf of all of us at Absolute Michigan I'd like to extend wishes that you receive blessings both great and small in the days ahead.

Aficionados of the strange will love being met by a stuffed, two-headed calf rather than the standard one-headed hostess when they enter the Antlers Restaurant on Portage Avenue in Sault Ste. Marie. And although a live human will eventually greet and seat each diner, the restaurant's population of dead animals far outstrips the number of daily customers who come to sit among the mounted fish, fur and feathers that fill the walls and ceilings of this popular eatery. Antlers from every hooved ungulate that ever walked the planet, mountain lions, beaver, coyote, mink, and more all are stuffed in a merry jumble that you really otter see.

The place had a colorful start as the Bucket of Blood Saloon and Ice Cream Parlor, the ice cream part tacked on for legitimacy during Prohibition. Town legend has it that many of the animals in the Antlers were traded by hard-up trapper types in exchange for booze. Tourist guides claim that a thirsty but cash-poor patron named Tiny contributed the moose head, a Pontiac, his gun and even a relative. A giant log was left outdoors in an unsuccessful liquor barter attempt made by a soused lumberjack. The place is so rustic that the old TV show, Gunsmoke, filmed three episodes within its colorful walls. The rough and tumble ambience would have made even Miss Kitty swoon.

The restaurant is also known for boat whistles, horns, and hair-raising announcements of all kinds that blare from the PA at regular intervals just in case anyone gets too complacent. Diners sensitive to unexpected screeching or who get nervous eating with hundreds of beady little eyes trained upon them should be forewarned. Everyone else will have a blast, literally.

Visit the Antlers Restaurant web site.

Linda Godfrey grew up in Milton, Wisconsin, spending the majority of her time doing the same things she does now; reading, writing, making art and reading comics. She continues to create commercial art (represented by Tom Stocki at artfactoryltd.com) and fine art, and often illustrates her own books, specializing in cut paper collage and forensic drawings of strange creatures from witness descriptions. She lives in rural Elkhorn with her husband, Steven, with whom she has two grown sons who are remarkably tolerant of their mother's weird career.

Detroit Zoo Boo by upthedubs1

The word of the week this week is Halloween, and a great place to start is Absolute Michigan's Haunted Michigan. You'll definitely want to check it out for all kinds of spooky photos and features and of course our big list of Michigan Haunted Houses, Mazes & Attractions.

Travel Michigan has a great overview of Halloween-themed activities including "Zoo Boos" at Michigan's zoos with links to Halloween at the Detroit Zoo, the Kalamazoo Air Zoo's Halloween fun, The Great Zoo Boo at Binder Park Zoo in Battle Creek, Halloween Harvest Zoo Boo in Saginaw and Boo at the Zoo at Lansing’s Potter Park Zoo.

The West Michigan Tourist Association offers their Haunts for Halloween, helpfully divided into Family Friendly Halloween Haunts and Halloween Haunts for Adults Only. They also offer a few Scary Events for Families.

From Motown, check out this Model D feature on the extremely wild looking (and always sold out) Theatre Bizarre. Metroblogging Detroit offers some thoughts on dressing for Halloween in Detroit while Handmade Detroit gives some ideas for a little Halloween Magic.

(not) Getting the job done

Countdown to Chaos notes that if the Legislature and Governor fail to pass a balanced budget by Oct. 1, they will have failed to perform the only job that Michigan's Constitution requires them to do. You can click over there, read about what will be affected and (if you want) send a message to your elected officials. Does anyone else get the feeling that those on both sides of the aisle are perpetually surprised that what they do has an actual impact on Michigan?

Ben Franklin was a smart dude

Following up on the theme of "you can't expect to live in a place that's worth a darn if you don't invest in it" comes this feature from Celeste at Our Michigan titled Mr. Franklin's advice for Michigan. It's the best thing I read this week ... so go read it.

One, two, three strikes and the Tigers are out

Short of a giant meteor changing the pennant race, I have to agree with the Freep's Michael Rosenberg that the Cleveland's sweep of Detroit makes it time to look at why the Tigers missed the playoffs in 2007. He thinks it comes down to two main factors: not enough pitching and too many injuries and quotes Tiger third baseman Brandon Inge as saying: "To get to the playoffs, first off you have to have a lot of talent, which we do. Secondly, you have to stay healthy, which we did not. It makes it tough."

She blinded me with Science (blogs)

Bootstrap Analysis (of my favorite blogs) notes that The Scientist magazine is asking folks to vote for their favorite life sciences blogs. They're hoping to compile a list of the best life science blogs and with topics ranging from partial immortalization to pharma gossip to cephalopod sex, you're guaranteed to learn something. So click over, cast a comment for a favorite and find some new blogs! (I found Jacks of Science to be delightfully strange)

Grand Valley State University in Allendale, Michigan

I got to the end and realized that in the two months since the last Five Things post, I had forgotten two of the required items: something about the photo and a profile of a place in Michigan. Using my amazing powers of wrapping stuff up in a neat package, I'm going to say that Universities count as places and give you a link to Grand Valley State University. GVSU is a four-year public university that was established in 1960 and provides a fully accredited liberal arts undergraduate and graduate education to more than 22,000 students in all kinds of programs including Health Sciences, which are taught in the GVSU Health Sciences Bldg that was so brilliantly photographed by Paul Harwood. Paul has a lot of great pics that give you a look at everyday life in Grand Rapids and the surrounding area.

Oak Grove Alpaca is a small alpaca ranch near Howell that is committed to raising world-class Huacaya Alpacas. They write:

We are presently in the process of creating our own special line of alpaca products. All of the steps involved in creating a special alpaca item: fleece processing, spinning and creation of the final product will be done at our ranch or by talented local fiber artists. The ability to control all aspects of fiber processing will produce the finest alpaca products.

Check out their web site for information about their herd and a wide variety of products including fleece & yarn, sweaters, vests, scarves and hand-woven ladies and children's clothing.

Watch Sicko online ... if you want

After I read this interview with Michigan's most controversial filmmaker Michael Moore where he says he has no idea how his new documentary about the health care industry got on the internet, and that he's "...just happy that people get to see my movies," I figured it would be OK to link to a site where you can watch Sicko online. Here's the link to the official Sicko web site and also Absolute Michigan keyword theater (if you want to watch it with someone else making the popcorn).

The Birds of Brush Park

Bootstrap Analysis takes a visit to Detroit's Brush Park neighborhood to survey for birds and feed an interest in Detroit history. In addition to picking up some surprising birds - a Cooper's Hawk being pursued by an American Kestrel, and two different Gray Catbirds defending their territories - there's also a lot of photos and information on what was once the city's most posh neighborhood.

Brush Park - 291 Edmund Place

While I was tempted to trot out the ever-popular Old Slumpy today, I thought it best to choose a photo that shows the revitalization of Brush Park. The condos pictured are available to rent at edmundplace.com. Zunzuncito has a set of Brush park photos and also runs the blog Urban Dragon Hunters (about dragonflies of SE Michigan).

Michigan wines are a growth industry

In her new Michigan Grapevine blog, Cari Noga says that rather than counting the number of wineries in the state (50 or so), the best measure of success and growth is the total amount of wine these wineries are producing. In 1996, Michigan wineries made about 82,000 cases. 10 years later, we've seen almost a tenfold increase, up to 404,276 cases. She also notes that Michigan's share of wine sold within the state is increasing as well (though not at the rate of overall production). Read How much wine are we talking about, anyway?.

Fremont, Michigan

As with most of Michigan, the Fremont forecast calls for a good chance of much-needed rain. The City of Fremont (pop. 4200 or so) is located less than an hour from Grand Rapids and the Lake Michigan shore (view Google map). The Fremont Area Chamber of Commerce says that Fremont is home to the world's largest baby food company, Gerber Products. In fact, they have a National Babyfood Festival every July which Absolute Michigan keyword Fremont thinks is the coolest thing to do. For the insatiably curious, Wikipedia's Fremont entry describes how Fremont became home to Gerber Products.

The Detroiter has a nice post on the Baseball as Art Exhibition, which runs through July 14 at the Detroit Artists Market (site is temporarily unavailable so here's a map). Nick says that the arts in Detroit need sports fans, and that exhibits like this help newcomers enter the art arena and become as engaged with the feats of artists as they are with those of athletes.

Today's photo is part of a set of photos of a Sunday bike ride from Grand Haven to Muskegon. Craig writes: I tried to take the photos while riding to really get the feel of the tour. I did stop for the photo looking out the Grand River and at the boats.

You can get your daily dose of eco-depression at mLive, which reports that 20 common bird species have declined by 54% (or far more) since 1967 nationwide. Ray Adams, Kalamazoo Nature Center director of avian research and co-author of the Michigan Breeding Bird Atlas, says "In 1972, I counted over 800 northern bobwhite while doing a survey. By the 1980s in Michigan, it had declined over 95 percent and I was counting five per year. Now that is up to 99 percent."

Apparently last night's thunderstorm blew two barns down in Bad Axe (Huron County). Absolute Michigan doesn't have too many links for Bad Axe - we'll try and find a few more today. I've always wondered where the name Bad Axe came from. At the Bad Axe Historical Society (cool 1890s photo too!) they've probably answered that question once or twice. They say:

While surveying the first state road through the Huron County wilderness in 1861, Rudolph Papst and George Willis Pack made camp here and found a much-used and badly damaged axe. At Pack’s suggestion, Papst used the name "Bad Axe Camp" in the minutes of the survey and on a sign he placed along the main trail. By the time Papst returned from the Civil War, the name was on the map.

If I could just get Paul Harvey to say "Now you know ... the rest of the story" I bet we could get a Gold Bond sponsorship.