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Bostwick Lake is located in Kent County’s Cannon Township.  You will notice the lake on the north side of M44 (Belding Road). This popular Michigan lake of 221 acres has reported depths of up to 24 feet.

Bostwick Lake was the site of our family cottage when I was a kid. I have many happy memories of swimming, fishing and boating on this lake.

Today the lake consists of mostly year round residents due to it’s close proximity to Grand Rapids and Rockford. If you are a longtime Kent County resident, perhaps you remember “The Pines” as a favorite swimming and diving spot. Today it is replaced with private lakefront residences.

The lake owners have formed the Bostwick Lake Owners Association to oversee the maintenance and health of the lake.

 Bostwick Lake has no known public boat launch, but Cannon Township maintains a very small pocket park on Kitson Drive on the southwest quarter of the lake. It is poorly marked and not well publicized, until I wrote this post.

There are two points worth mentioning. First, the Bostwick Lake Inn, an old inn turned lakeside restaurant with outdoor, lakefront deck dining- during the summer of course. Great food and great atmosphere.  Second, but by no means least, the Bostwick Lake Bakery, well worth the stop with great BBQ.

With the warmer weather and the storm that rolled through this past weekend, I took the camera into town to try to capture the mood of the river with all the ice chunks covering the the surface as they came down river.

About eight hours later I thought I would go back and practice some night time photos. I was surprised by what I saw.  No hint of the ice jamming that I saw in the morning. What I saw was the river gracefully flowing through town.

Campbell Lake is located in Bowne Township in Kent County. This is a small Michigan lake of only forty six acres. It is located 1 1/2 miles east of Whitneyville Road on 84^th Street.

The DNR maintains a public access site on 84th Street, the east side of the lake, with plenty of parking and a vault style restroom.

The last time I was at Campbell Lake, there were many fishermen on the ice. All were trying for the big one with their best technique, but unfortunately, no one had a catch that they wanted to brag about in my photo.  

I found the tree on the shoreline to be more accommodating.

You’re looking at the view on my radar.

The view outside is less colorful, and not a pretty one if you plan on driving today.

Either way, whether you’re looking out the window or at my computer screen, what you’ll see right now is a genuine, old-fashioned Michigan winter storm in progress, the kind we used to get as a matter of course back when I was a kid. This one has been heaving pretty much everything into the picture—heavy snow, light snow, frozen fog, freezing rain, sleet, even a couple scatterings of lightning and thunder. If you like variety in your winter weather, today is your box of chocolates.

In the official language of the Grand Rapids National Weather Service…

…WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 7 PM EST THISEVENING…HEAVY SNOW WILL TAPER OFF THIS AFTERNOON LEAVING BEHIND FROM 6 TO12 INCHES OF ACCUMULATION. BLOWING AND DRIFTING OF SNOW WILL BE APROBLEM THROUGH EARLY EVENING AS NORTHEAST WINDS INCREASE TO 15TO 25 MPH. WIND GUSTS UP TO 35 MPH WILL BE POSSIBLE. THESE WINDSCOMBINED WITH FALLING SNOW AND SNOW ON THE GROUND WILL REDUCE

VISIBILITIES TO NEAR ZERO AT TIMES.

This is the kind of snow I remember from my boyhood, the kind that makes you think, Yeah, this is Michigan, all right; a real rocko-socko winter storm. And the irony of it is, it’s not even winter. Not yet. This is just autumn’s last gasp, and it’s a doozy, a guarantee that when the winter solstice finally does arrive two days from now on Sunday, it will be as thoroughly white and wintry an event as you could possibly hope for.

Winter is limbering up, doing its stretching exercises in preparation for a good, solid, three-month workout that begins officially, as it does every year, on December 21. Last year we got record-breaking snowfalls; this year seems poised to outstrip 2007. Even as this present storm system winds down later this evening, the next one is already knocking on the door, with more snow in the forecast for solstice.

Solstice. The shortest day and the longest night of the year. With the sun at its southernmost position in the sky, the long slide to winter is at an end and the journey toward spring begins. Here in Caledonia, Michigan, the sun will rise at 8:10 a.m. and set at 5:11 p.m. Eastern Standard Time. We’ll get nine hours and one minute of daylight. But the times and length vary around the state. Down in Niles near the Indiana border, sunrise and sunset occur at 8:09 and 5:17, respectively; in Saginaw, the times are 8:06 and 5:03; in Sault Ste. Marie, 8:18 and 4:53; in Houghton on the Keweenaw Peninsula, 8:38 and 5:37.

This is a day marked by ancient festivals in many cultures, typically inspired by the same thing that gets me to feeling all happy and warm, namely: we’re heading toward spring! From here on, the days grow longer—incrementally, true, but we’re no longer moving toward the year’s darkest day. Now we’re moving toward it’s brightest, and halfway there we’ll greet April with a kiss as she embraces us with warmer breezes, wildflowers, and the return of the songbirds. To be sure, the worst weather still lies ahead. January, February, and March are not user-friendly months. But here in Michigan, we do what we can to make the best of them. A crackling log fire, a pint of rich, amber barleywine, and a snowy view outside the window to make you glad you’re indoors on a day like today…it’s not a bad thing.

Of course, there are also the photo ops that only this time of year can provide. As I’ve mentioned in a previous post, this winter has been a time of discovery for me as a greenhorn photographer. The other day, I took a little jaunt to Alaska Park along the Thornapple River. The day was a gray one, as days in Michigan so often are this time of year, but there at the water’s edge I found a few sights worth capturing. Even at full color, the effect was one of black-and-white, a paradoxical landscape of austerity and gentleness. That’s that nature of winter. It strips the outdoors down to its raw essentials. And that’s just fine. Till springtime warms the land, I’m content to explore the treasures of the ice and snow.

In parting, on behalf of Dave, myself, and Waterland Homes LLC, I’d like to wish you and your loved ones a very blessed Christmas. The times may be troubled, but God is gracious and good.

If you are from Kent County, you probably know all about the village of Cannonsburg. Located at the corners of Cannonsburg Road (6 Mile Road) and Honey Creek Avenue, the historical village was founded on an old Native American trail. Today the intersection is home to a few turn of the century two story commercial buildings.

Cannonsburg is home to the Pickerel Lake Nature Preserve , a 300 acre county park, surrounding the 80 acre Pickerel Lake.   

Cannonsburg is home to the Cannonsburg Ski Area , a popular winter ski destination. It is also home to the Grand Rapids Summer Picnic Pops concert series, attracting an average of 3,200 people per concert.

Just outside of the village of Cannonsburg, is Townsend Park , a very popular 140 acre county park with Bear Creek meandering through it.

Cannonsburg is home to a volunteer fire department, a small historical museum and a box only post office with a zip code: 49317

The older commercial buildings have been lovingly remodeled and restored in to a restaurant, The  Honey Creek Inn and  a grocery market, The Cannonsburg Market. Across the street is  a deli with self serve gas station, The Grist Mill. Excellent choices for all your needs.

Lowell Michigan is home to the Robert E. Lee, a West Michigan riverfront showboat tradition. In 1932, the people of Lowell had a dream of bringing encouragement to the community plagued with the Great Depression. The first shows included dancing, music and minstrel shows.

The original boat was called the George Washington and when a new boat was built in 1935, the name was changed to the Robert E. Lee.

Since its creation, the showboat legacy has survived many difficulties; financial, WW2, neglect, and a devastating tornado leaving it onshore upside down. The Robert E. Lee was rebuilt in 1979 to once again bring entertainment to the community. The riverboat has been a host to acts from Hollywood, regional acts as well as local groups. During the summer there is a  “Sizzling Summer Concert Series” on Thursday nights with free admission.

Today the Robert E. Lee is permanently anchored to the shore near the recently developed River Walk Plaza, which serves a focal point for Lowell’s summers activities. The showboat can be rented for weddings or other private occasions. During the Christmas holidays, you can visit Santa on the showboat.

Little did they know in 1932 that people would still be enjoying the showboat in 2008!

Long Lake Park is located in northern Kent County at the corner of 17 Mile Road NE and Long Lake Drive. If coming from US 131, you will take exit #104.

The park encompasses almost all of the lakefront of the  beautiful 47 acre Long Lake. There are over 3000 feet of lakefront with areas with excellent swimming.  For your enjoyment you will find playground equipment, a beach house, one open and one enclosed shelter, many picnic areas, a ball field, several restrooms and a boat launch. Sorry, no motors on Long Lake.    

There are over 231 acres of park for your convenience and pleasure.  A manager (Mr. Steve Powell at 616-696-1586) is on the grounds during the summer months. The shelter and picnic areas can be reserved beginning the first working day after New Year’s Day. Contact Kent County Parks Commission at 616-336-park.

Even though the picnic tables are strored away, there is still time to enjoy a Michigan lake.

The sign says “Cutlery Barn.” I’ve seen it countless times driving up Lincoln Lake Road past the turnoff to Fallasburg Park north of Lowell. I always assumed that some outdoorsy type was manufacturing hand-made knives, and being a knife lover, I’ve been curious about the place. On a couple occasions, I’ve pulled into the drive, but the shop appeared closed and I left without knocking.
A couple weeks ago, I finally caught the doors open and the owner available. He may not craft his own blades, as I had thought, but Clarence Worst is nevertheless the proprietor of one fabulous operation. If you like knives—and what hunter, fisherman, hiker, or camper doesn’t take an interest in so essential a piece of outdoor equipment?—then you owe yourself a visit to the Cutlery Barn. You truly will feel like a kid in a candy store. And I don’t mean just any candy. We’re talking Godiva Chocolates, many at Snicker bar prices.

It’s not my normal practice to write about retail operations in these Waterland Living blogs. My interest is to craft outdoor articles, not free advertising. Every once in a while, however, I stumble across a venture that I find unique and exciting, and that I connect easily and integrally to the outdoor experience—something too good not to pass on. The Cutlery Barn fits that description.

The first thing that will strike you when you walk through the door is the remarkable variety and quantity of the inventory. This is far more than a place to go and purchase a Buck knife. You’ll find those here, to be sure, but you’ll also find a huge selection of specialty cutlery, collector’s items, swords, throwing knives, spears, Bowie knives, stilettos, survival knives…the list goes on.

And of course you’ll find hunting knives. That’s what you’re really after, right? Something you’ll be proud to strap to your belt or slip in your pocket when you head for the grouse woods, the hiking trail, or the hunting camp; a piece of quality outdoor cutlery that looks great and performs flawlessly. Take a tip from me: after you’ve been to Gander Mountain and Cabella’s, visit the Cutlery Barn. You’ll congratulate yourself on your wisdom, and you’ll be delighted with what you find.

Need a pocket knife? Clarence showed me a case that displayed twenty-two different styles of bone-handled beauties. They were a make I haven’t seen elsewhere, and I would have snapped one up in a heartbeat had I not already set my sights on a couple throwing knives. These magnificent little folders were just for starters, too. How about an Old Timer? You’ll find a selection of those venerable, discontinued pocket knives, along with many other makes and models, all at extremely reasonable prices. The pocket knife selection alone is worth the trip.

But chances are you’re looking for a sheath knife. Once again you’ll be beyond pleased. Here in this little shop out in the sticks, your greatest problem will be the frustration of having to choose from so many beautiful pieces of steel. You’ll find knives sporting handles of leather, wood, synthetic materials, and bone; knives that range from the ruggedly functional to staghorn handled works of art made for both the eye and the field. A number are of a quality you’ll feel certain puts them well beyond your budget. Not so fast—you just may be in for a delightful surprise. True, the Cutlery Barn isn’t giving knives away. But everything is reasonably priced, and sometimes remarkably so. You just may walk away with something you never imagined could be yours.

Clarence began collecting knives back in his high school days, and he’s retired now, so he’s had many years to acquire his knowledge of cutlery. The Cutlery Barn is his retirement occupation. Since the variety it offers in hunting knives alone can seem a bit overwhelming—the photos in this blog give you just a small sample—I asked Clarence to pose with one of his personal favorites. He gave the matter a little thought, then selected an elegantly simple knife.

A great knife is part and parcel of the Michigan outdoors. If you’ve got the woods and waters in your blood, treat yourself to an hour at the Cutlery Barn. Whether you walk away with a new knife or just a few ideas, you’ll consider your time there well spent.

October is the time of the year you see pumpkins all over. You see them in Michigan fields,  farmer’s markets, and on the door steps of many homes.

Wikipedia states: “The word pumpkin originates from the word pepon, which is Greek for large melon.” The pumpkin is a gourd like squash.

During this fall season, pumpkins will be carved into Jack-o-lanterns for Halloween. Also pumpkins can be made into breads, muffins, soups and my personal favorite, pumpkin pies.

I came across a new favorite- the dancing pumpkins.

Wabasis Lake is a Michigan lake in northern Kent County, located in Oakfield Township.  One of the things I like about Wabasis is that much of the lakefront of this 410 acre lake is still undeveloped and there is a large population of waterfowl.

One misty morning last week, I headed out to Wabasis Lake to see if I could capture some of October’s  rapidly changing fall colors reflecting in the lake waters. For just a moment, as  the sun came up, it turned the lake into a shimmering gold pool. It was there only for a moment and then it was gone, but the moment was priceless.

The waterfowl were enjoying the early morning quiet as much as I was, and I spent a little time just enjoying their antics as the splashed and dove into the peaceful waters.

One thing I like about Michigan’s fall, there is still time to enjoy a Michigan lake, especially in the quiet of a cool fall morning.