What a glorious weekend it has been in the Keweenaw Peninsula... parades, water shows, food and concessions - and perfect weather to enjoy it.

A great weekend indeed. Though I failed to make Bridgefest, I did see Mama Bear concerned about her three cubs, all listening well to Mama, eight miles north of Mandan. The life abundant in the woods is a refreshing sight, more so when you see abundant life renewing itself. A blessing.

I have thoroughly enjoyed the Pasty Central website this past weekend.

My father (David Andrew 1918-1986) was born and raised in Houghton and graduated from Michigan Tech, and my mother, (Sarah Haapanen 1919-1999) was born and raised in Hancock and graduated from Suomi College and the University of Minnesota. They knew eachother as children, but became reacquainted in Washington, D.C., where my father was in the Army and my mother in the WAVES. They were married in 1944, settled in Connecticut with a small child (me) in 1946, and stayed there, where my brother and sister were born.

We frequently vacationed in the Copper Country during the 50's, and I have fond memories of pasty picnics at Bete Gris, fishing in the Baraga plains and Sturgeon River, and of views of the Quincy mine. My last visit to the area was in 1971. My parents regularly received jars of Thimbleberry jam from the Jam Lady. I am now on my last jar supplied by a competitor.

My father, sister, and I have all made pasties, although now my wife is insisting I lower my choleserol and cut back on red meat and pie crust!

I thoroughly enjoyed looking at the picture of the bridge and visiting the local merchants. I've now found where to get jam and pasties, where to get more of the Finnish crystal of my mother's that my wife likes so much, where to replace the puukko I left in my 1973 Chevy when I traded it in, and even where to get a new plow blade, in case it ever snows much here in Atlanta!

Keep up the good work. I hope we can vacation in Keewenaw before long.

Fred Andrew

What a wonderful weekend for Bridgefest. I didn't make it there myself, as I had a busy weekend. On Friday, I attended the wedding reception of Mark and Jamey George, parents are Mr. and Mrs. Donald Belanger and Mr. and Mrs. Lester Dukart all of the Rice Lake area, and on Saturday, Betzee and Robbie Reed of Hubbell/Tamarack were married. Parents of the happy couple are Mr. and Mrs. Drew Crouch of Hubbell and Mr. and Mrs. Ken Reed of Tamarack. Congrats to both of the happy couples, and what a great time to be had at both of the receptions!

we had a great time building our boat and racing it