It seems that Kevin Dunham must have the perfect spot for feeding birds, as he sure does get an assortment of these feathered friends there in Munising. We start out with the elusive Indigo Bunting. Such a beautiful hue of blue and here at least, we don’t see them stick around long, so that’s quite a capture in his photos. Same with the Eastern Bluebird... Kevin said it actually was only on his feeder for 30 seconds, but he was able to grab his camera and get some good shots.

The male and female Cardinals are beauties, also. We have never had them at our feeders, but others in the area have had them occasionally. Just not regular visitors here in the Keweenaw, either. The Rose-Breasted Grosbeak does visit, but doesn’t always stay long. We’ve actually had a few for the past week or so. I’m hoping they stay a while. It sure is great to see all the colorful birds coming through, even if they only stay for a few minutes.

We have Visit Keweenaw’s latest Crossing Place video here today, Drawn to the Keweenaw: Chris Schmidt & Studio 13. The lead-in to the video says: “Meet Chris Schmidt, the creative force behind Studio 13 and some of the Keweenaw’s iconic race posters and inspired prints. Through bold lines and graphic design, his artwork distills the personal experience of this place - from the burst of a thimbleberry to the grit of a trail ride. Rooted in the rhythms of nature and community, Chris’s art does more than promote - it reflects the memories, motion, and meaning people find here.”

Happy Memorial Day...Memorial Day is the day we honor and remember those men and women who gave their lives while serving our country. Armed Forces Day is for those who currently wear the uniform, Veterans Day is for those who use to wear the uniform and Memorial Day is for those who never made it out of their uniform. Please join me in remembering the fallen soldiers who are no longer with us this weekend. Thank you to those that gave their all.

Remembering and honoring the men and women of our military who fought for America and gave their lives that me may continue to enjoy and appreciate our freedom. Thank you for your ultimate sacrifice from the bottom of our hearts. God bless you always.

Jbuck couldn't have said it better so
I ditto that. Got the Lake Linden
cemetery decorated yesterday and going
to Houghton today.

I didn't have to read who these
pictures belong to. I love seeing
Kevin's shots of these birds.
Absolutely gorgeous! He is so lucky to
be able to see these all the time.

Honoring my father, Victor Sneller from Ahmeek, and my
mom for waiting for him to come home. God Bless all
our service people from the past to the present. May
God bestow his blessing on all. God Bless America!

When these beauties appear, it's Spring for sure.
The Bunting is a beauty and when you get it with
the Goldfinch...That's Lake Linden's school
colors!! Blue and Gold! I haven't been fortunate
enough to see a male Cardinal..I've seen the
female twice...never the beauty of that Red! Nor
have I seen a Bluebird...gorgeous! And the
Grosbeak is just beautiful! Thank you Kevin...

And Bless all our Warriors, especially those that
haven't made their trips home. Thank you is no
where near good enough.

And I love that YooperLoop tshirt! What a great
idea!

This came in an email:

“In Flanders Fields”
by John McCrae, May 1915

In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

“We Shall Keep the Faith”

by Moina Michael, November 1918

Oh! you who sleep in Flanders Fields,
Sleep sweet – to rise anew!
We caught the torch you threw
And holding high, we keep the Faith
With All who died.

We cherish, too, the poppy red
That grows on fields where valor led;
It seems to signal to the skies
That blood of heroes never dies,
But lends a lustre to the red
Of the flower that blooms above the dead
In Flanders Fields.

And now the Torch and Poppy Red
We wear in honor of our dead.
Fear not that ye have died for naught;
We’ll teach the lesson that ye wrought
In Flanders Fields.

Hi
I used to see an Indigo Bunting along a trail system
in SE Michigan, where he had a territory two years
running. Small but spectacular.

Did anyone catch the Memorial Day concert on PBS
yesterday evening? As always I found it moving,
where they have actors tell the stories of veterans
interpersed with the music.

Beautiful, Donna!

Another beautiful poem about our military members who didn't make it home:

THE SOLDIERS GRAVE

Tread lightly, 'tis a soldiers grave,
A lonely mossy mound;
And yet to hearts like mine and thine,
It should be holy ground.
Speak softly, let no careless laugh,
Nor idle thoughtless jest,
escape your lips where sweetly sleeps this hero in his rest.
For him no reveille will beat,
When morning beams shall come;
For him, at night, no tattoo rolls
Its thunders from the drum.
Tread lightly! for a man bequeathed,
here laid beneath this sod,
His ashes to his native land,
His gallant soul to God.

- PEARL RIVERS

Another beautiful one, Jbuck.

Fantastic set and great
commentary!
Thanks to everyone for
contributing.
And thanks to all
veterans; past and present.
We are all enjoying our
freedoms because of
your service. May the Lord
Bless you all!!!