Rays Retreat Ramblings

An Apple a Day

More Good Reasons to Eat An Apple a Day

While counting an apple as part of the recommended 2 to 4 fruit servings a day, you may also want to keep the following in mind:

• Apples are rich in iron and phosphorus, two minerals that are good for the brain, liver, and bowels.
• One of the most beneficial parts of an apple is its acid content, both the malic and tartaric acids. These acids not only make the fruit itself digestible, but also assist in the digestion of other foods. Apples help regulate the digestive system and can aid in the cure and prevention of constipation. They also help neutralize the effects of rich, fatty foods.
• For constipation, try eating a ripe, juicy, preferably sour apple before bedtime every night.
• When peeled and grated, the apple relieves flatulence and diarrhea.
• The apple is also good for the teeth. The juice is cleansing, and the flesh is hard enough to help rid the teeth of plaque.
• It is believed that unsweetened apple cider can be used as a preventative against gout and rheumatism.
• Apples are thought to help with memory loss. Eating an apple a day, with one teaspoon of honey and one cup of milk, is recommended in the treatment for loss of memory and mental irritability.

Other Useful Tips For Apple Usage: An apple in a sack of potatoes will prevent the potatoes from sprouting. • An apple placed in a container with brown sugar will help keep the sugar moist. • An apple in the cookie jar will keep cookies moist. • Add lemon juice to an apple recipe if the apples lack tartness.

I enjoyed this article on Farmers Almanac website. There's nothing better than a good McIntosh apple. My bedtime snack this week!

Dan's Still Around

  As I shared earlier we enjoyed another day on the water this past Thursday. This pic is of Torch Lake, a beautiful azure blue.

Torch Lake at 18 miles (29 km) long is Michigan's longest inland lake and at approximately 18,770 acres (76 km²) is Michigan's second largest inland lake. Portions lay within several townships in Antrim County, including Torch Lake Township, Central Lake Township, Forest Home Township, Helena Township, and Milton Township. Several villages and hamlets lie along its shore, including Alden, Eastport, Clam River, and Torch Lake. The lake is about 17 miles (27 km) northeast of Traverse City and is separated by narrow strips of land from both Grand Traverse Bay on the northwest and Elk Lake at the southwest end . The lake is about two miles (3.2 km) wide and is centered at 45°59′N 85°18′W / 45.983, -85.3. It has a maximum depth of 315 feet (96 m) and an average depth of 111 feet (34 m), making it Michigan's deepest inland lake. It is a popular lake for fishing, featuring lake trout, rock bass, yellow perch, smallmouth bass, muskellunge, ciscoes, brown trout, rainbow trout, and whitefish.

The name of the lake is not due to its shape, rather, is derived from translation from the Ojibwa name Was-wa-gon-ong meaning "Place of the Torches", referring to the practice of the local native American population who once used torches at night to attract fish for harvesting with spears and nets. For a time it was referred to by local European settlers as "Torch Light Lake", which eventually was shortened to its current name.

Torch Lake is part of a watershed that begins in northern Antrim County with Intermediate Lake, which is connected by the Intermediate River with Lake Bellaire. The Grass River flows from Lake Bellaire into Clam Lake, which in turn drains into Torch Lake via the short Clam River. Torch Lake itself is drained by the Torch River, which flows into Lake Skegemog, which opens into Elk Lake. Elk Lake flows into the east arm of Grand Traverse Bay at Elk Rapids. This watershed is popularly known as the Chain of Lakes.

According to local legend, Torch Lake was recognized as the third most beautiful lake in the world by National Geographic Magazine, though National Geographic flatly denies ever publishing such a ranking (similar legends persist among property owners and locals around other nearby lakes, most notably Glen Lake in Leelanau County, which claims to have been ranked first). The lake is noted for its exceptional beauty; its waters are unusually clear and exhibit a bright turquoise hue. This quality has made the lake a popular spot for the development of resorts and second homes. Notable property owners along the shore have included filmmaker Michael Moore, intellectual property law professor David Berry, former Detroit Tiger Kirk Gibson, attorney Geoffrey Fieger, actress Christine Lahti and husband/director Thomas Schlamme, actress Julie Kavner, rapper Eminem, musician Kid Rock and world renowned ski racer Evan Berry.

 

Here we've crossed Clam Lake to enter Torch Lake.

We put in on Bellaire Lake, taking Grass River into Clam Lake and then Torch. A great day from lake to lake.



Thanks Kelly for stopping in with a comment, and letting me know you're reading the blog.

And, we've heard from Dan. Yeah, that's right... It's been awhile and we all had been wondering if anyone knew if he was still around. I'll copy his comment so you can read for yourself :

Nice, and I thought we had some interesting people during snowmobile season. Sorry for not responding to your email earlier in the summer, I've been working some long hours 12-14 hour days. This past week my parents were here from Oregon, so I took off and wore them out taking them to Philly, New York, Hershey PA and Washington DC plus the little out of the way areas I've found while living over here in southern new jersey. I'm hoping that my boss will bring me over to the Chicago office during the winter time but I may also have a chance to go over to Qutar (yes the middle east) well I'll let you know what going on in a few weeks. Keep up the blog I've been reading just didn't have time to write back. later, Dan

Great hearing from you Dan!!! Let us know if you leave the country, we'll be hoping you stay in the midwest so we'll see you this winter.

 

In the days when I took Drivers Training

Back in the days when I took Drivers Education we were taught a few basics that the people I encountered on the road today either a. did not learn    b. forgot what they learned    c. think they can make their own laws.

We made the 70 mile one way trip over to Lake Leelanau to celebrate Daylen Rose Ray's 5th birthday.

We were at an intersection with a two-way stop sign. We had the stop sign, and the driver directly across from us had the stop sign. I had the turn signal on, turning right. They had their left turn signal on. We were both at complete stops. In my drivers education class, the people turning right had the right of way to go first. I proceeded, and nearly got broadsided as he proceeded.

Next incident was on a hilly curvy stretch of road. Double yellow lines. Which, if people weren't such idiots we wouldn't need because good sound sense would tell you not to pass when you can't see what will be coming because of curves and hills. Double yellow lines means it is not only stupid, but illegal to pass. Well, obviously, the idiot passing had never had that chapter in their Drivers Education Class.

But the highlight of the days travel was as we were going through Traverse City, along the bay which has many stop lights and on a Sunday early afternoon a good bit of traffic. We were slowing down approaching a red light when we heard a blaring loud airhorn sounding. In the oncoming lane was a Johnson Oil tanker, flying through the red light blaring his horn! Not a yellow, a red light that had been red! No attempt to slow down. Thank God, the car that was coming through slowed down. Blatant God complex apparently.

Drive Safe! and always, as I was taught in Drivers Ed............Drive Defensively, you share the road with many idiots.

Week in Review

We've enjoyed a great week. The warm September sunshine provided us an opportunity to get the boat out and enjoy full days on the water.

Bob (Good Bob)... appreciate your not only stopping by, but leaving a comment too. Sometimes I feel like I writing into empty space. You're right! It is very nice being able to take advantage of these golden days of autumn while business is slow. One of the perks of being your own boss. As for the likehood of Mike buying me that house on Lake Charlevoix - ha! I know I got pretty darn lucky getting a new snowmobile for last years anniversary gift. That's a once in a marriage happening...... especially when you're married to someone as tight as Mike.

We were able to get out again Thursday in the boat. Guess you can guess what two days I didn't work? Actually I did work Thursday also, ended up having to go in at 8 pm and staying until about and turning around and going back in Fri. Things are slowing down here at the motel, but at the 'home' they're picking up. After a summer of low census we now are almost full. Which means alot of work for the nurse.

There's always a first time for everything. In the almost six years we've been here we have never had a man come down in just shorts ( no shirt, no shoes) for breakfast, with a giant belly spilling over the belt line. Yuck! Mike reminded him that he needed at least a shirt before coming back in. No one should have to see that so early in the morning. And it not only happened once this morning, but twice!

Last Part.... Day on Lake Charlevoix

 

We docked at the city day dock in Charlevoix. Isn't this a pretty wood boat up front, then there's a sailboat, and behind the sailboat is our wee little boat.

 

We got out and enjoyed walking downtown Chalevoix. The drawbridge was being taken up so the boat going out to Beaver Island could go thru.

Another day trip in the future.......I want to be on this boat going out to the island for the day.

Part II... A Day on Lake Charlevoix

  Another big and beautiful home.

 

This is the one I want to live in, and enjoy the Lake and the boat!

Up close....

         Don't you want to join me here?

A Day On Lake Charlevoix.....

  We enjoyed a great day out on the water. Headed out this morning over to East Jordan where we put the boat in Lake Charlevoix.

East Jordan is a small little town along the waterfront of the East Jordan River, and Lake Charlevoix.

http://www.ejchamber.org/

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lake Charlevoix is the third largest lake in Michigan. Its a large lake with large homes all around it.

 

Fishweb has a map of it:

 

 

http://www.fishweb.com/maps/charlevoix/lakecharlevoix/index.html

 

Lake Charlevoix

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Lake Charlevoix
Location	Charlevoix County, Michigan
Primary inflows	Jordan River, Boyne River
Basin countries	United States
Surface area	17,200 acres (70 km²)
Max. depth	122 ft (37 m)

Lake Charlevoix is a lake in Charlevoix County in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is the third largest lake in the state with a surface area of over 17,200 acres (70 km²) and 56 miles (90 km) of shoreline. The maximum depth in the main basin is 122 feet (37 m) and in the south arm, 58 feet (18 m).

The lake's largest tributaries are the Jordan River, feeding into the south arm at East Jordan, and the Boyne River, flowing into the main basin from the east at Boyne City. Other significant tributaries include Horton, Stover, Porter, and Loeb Creeks. The outflow of Lake Charlevoix is the short Round Lake/Pine River complex which discharges into Lake Michigan at Charlevoix. The lake's watershed covers 335 square miles (870 km²) in Charlevoix and Antrim Counties, and a small portion of the northwest corner of Otsego County.

The lake occupies portions of Charlevoix Township, Marion Township, Hayes Township, Eveline Township, Michigan, Bay Township, and Evangeline Township.

Young State Park is located on the shore of the lake just northwest of Boyne City. The Ironton Ferry at Ironton, a designated Michigan Historical Site in operation since 1876, crosses the south arm where it branches off from the main basin, saving about 20 minutes of driving time around the south arm by the shoreline route.

 

I didn't mean to put this picture in again! .. and have not been able to delete it... sorry.

Anyway, I have to run... so will finish with todays great time on Lake Charlevoix tomorrow. I have training tonight.

Celebrate Autumn

Summer of 08 is officially over, as the first day of Autumn arrived today. Which means that the next season to arrive will be Winter! Time to start getting those snowmobiles ready.

This informative info is from from the Nasa website.

The First Day of Autumn

09.24.03

 

It is autumn, the season of change! In the north, the hottest days of summer are past. Each day is shorter than the last. Trees will begin to turn bright colors. Soon it will be time for hot cocoa and warm coats.

Far to the south, across the equator, spring has arrived. The days are growing longer. The weather is warmer. Soon flowers will be blooming. They bring the promise of summer's heat and new life.

The reason for these changes has to do with the Earth's yearly trip around the sun. For part of the year the Earth's North Pole points away from the sun. Part of the time it points toward it. This is what causes our seasons. When the North Pole points toward the sun, the sun's rays hit the northern half of the world more directly. That means it is warmer and we have summer. But, when the North Pole is pointed toward the sun, the South Pole is pointed away. So the Earth south of the equator gets less warmth from the sun. It is winter there.

Summer is even warmer and winter is colder because of the length of our days and nights. In the summer, daylight lasts longer and nighttime is shorter. In winter, the days are shorter and the nights longer. That means there is more time for the sun to warm us during long summer days. Short winter days have long, cold nights.

The longest day is in the middle of summer. North of the equator, it happens on June 21st or 22nd. It is called the summer solstice. The shortest day is in the middle of winter. This happens around December 21st or 22nd north of the equator. It is called the winter solstice.

There is a special day in between summer and winter. On this date, day and night are each 12 hours long. This is called the autumnal equinox. It is the first day of fall north of the equator. It is the first day of spring in the southern half of the world.

In between winter and summer there is another equinox. It is called the vernal equinox. One day and night are each 12 hours long. This change is the first day of spring north of the equator. It is the start of fall to the south.

Dear God

Dear God:  We Dogs can understand human verbal instructions, hand signals,
whistles,  horns, clickers, beepers, scent ID's, electromagnetic energy
fields, and  Frisbee flight paths. What do humans understand?

Walk Thru The Woods

  It's a beautiful autumn afternoon. We enjoyed a great walk thru the woods enjoying the leaves turning colors and falling to the ground. The ferns are turning brown and dying down. I always lead the way! and then have to race back to make sure they're coming behind me. Slow Pokes ... Get Moving!

Wish you guys were here with me...

Sparky T. Ray