Dangerous Ice

•  it might have happened that this author never existed. The reason why was the ice on Big Bass Lake. My father was bringing a Christmas tree home across the Frozen Big Bass Lake. As he was walking across the icy surface the Ice broke and he fell into the lake. My dad was fortunate in that he was able to find the hole and climb out. Others aren’t as fortunate. How many people walk on  unsafe ice and lose their life?

A Spectacular Sunset!

this is one of the best sunsets I’ve ever seen took place between Ludington and the Ludington State Park. That section of Lake Michigan has 7 Mile of sand and Beach. In effect you have your own private beach for seven miles. There are no lifeguards to bother you here. However swimming is at your own risk. But I’d risk almost anything to see a sunset like this! The blending of orange and yellow is fantastic! Maybe that sinking old Sun May heat up Lake Michigan a bit?

Hoffman Estates Boys Club Rams

Before either I or Tim Massey arrived in Hoffman Estates, the Hoffman Estates Boys Club football teams had very good records. It would seem that when they came under the auspices of the National Organization of Boys Clubs of America that the football teams got worse and worse. They even brought in Northwestern University for football training but that’s when the Wildcats were about as bad as our kids. Some of these scores were horrible like 72 to nothing or 56-6. Who would want to play on a team like that? The football committee then took home games away from the club where we had to pay for the field at a local Junior College nearby. Our mothers club lost revenue on that as well by way of concessions. Everything up football committee tried came up with zero results as the team’s got worse and worse. I was leaving at that time to Joplin Missouri but I knew a few months later that the entire Boys Club operation had shut down and the building was demolished. What a Sad ending to something that had started So Glorious.

The Hired Hands Home

About 50 yards behind the small gray cottage was the hired man’s home at our property on Big Bass Lake. You had to watch it though because as soon as you open the door there’s a hole in the floor. That’s the fast way to the basement. It was really a one-room cabin with an out house about 20 yards away. I only remember it being off for 2 years when I was a little kid. I think the hole in the floor by the door was the reason why they tore it down. It was done so for safety reasons.

Winter at Our Property at Big Bass Lake

What a view we had through trees void of leaves in the winter from our hillside. The whole of Big Bass Lake was laid out before us icy cold. I wondered how far a sled or saucer might go down our hillside and onto the lake?  Maybe as far as Haunted Island if the ice were clear of snow? 

When my grandmother was still alive you could walk into her kitchen from the cold outdoors to be greeted by a warm stove and hot food upon her circular table.  Pasti and cole slaw really tasted great after being in the great outdoors during the winter.  A hot cup of tea hit the spot on those days.

I spent only one winter at the farm in the old cabin.  The newer cottage was not built for winter cold.  The nights had me covered up with blankets and really warm.  But breakfasts were the real meal of the day as our table was always filled with oatmeal or Ralston, eggs, bacon, and toast. Tang or ice-cold water helped wash down all that great food. 

But nothing could match that view atop our hill not twenty yards from our cabin door.  Why not gauge that for yourself?