The weather is still very much like springtime here in the Eastern Upper Peninsula. Taking a walk with my dog the other day, it was warm and the sun was shining. It was such a pleasure. I love it, but for those who love skiing and all of the other winter sports, it is not very nice.

The Lions Club raffle winner December 19 of $500 was Donna Smith. What a great Christmas present!

It has been interesting for me to see a lone, adult bald eagle perched on one of the dock posts at our waterfront. He is often there and his white head almost gleams in the sunshine. It is thrilling to see him so near, sitting so quietly.

On my daily route to Cedarville along Meridian Road, I’m watching the development of the future Great Lakes School of Wooden Boat Building. If the number of trucks and heavy equipment is any sign of progress, there is a lot being made. It’s interesting to see the ground being prepared and pilings being driven in for the construction of the building. The many changes that have been made along that route since Con and I moved to Cedarville are amazing. The only buildings below Islington Road at that time, in 1950, were the little cottage of Harold and Gen Taylor across from a vacant field (now occupied by the Taylor Lumber Company), the little garden and gift shop of Doris Beach, and the home of John and Eliza Beach on the corner of Islington Road. In those days, the whole area that is now being developed was marshy wetland on both sides of the road. One wonders what the next 50 years will bring.

Bruce Patrick and his father were always good friends and helpers to the A. E. Anderson family and he tells many stories about their experiences. This week’s story is another one about this active and interesting family. It follows:

“This is about the Andersons’ big double cabin 38-foot cruiser, built by the Gudgen Brothers. Mr. Anderson bought this cruiser about 1916. He used it to cruise to Georgian Bay and Lake Huron. They, that is his wife, Elsie, and boys, Edward Jr., John, and Jim, would go along on these annual cruises.

“Now Mr. Anderson needed a boat house to store such a boat in, so he hired my father to build one. It was big enough to house such a big cruiser. This cruiser was built by a company in Wisconsin, Gudgen Brothers. He named it Away We Go. His sister, Jane, had my uncle Ross build her a small runabout, which she called Can We Go Too.

“Mr. Anderson also bought an R-class sailboat. This boat was 42- foot long, and my father hauled it up for winters in the boathouse that they used to haul Away We Go in.

“After years of having this sailboat called Dixie, they got rid of her and my father moved this boathouse on the ice in the winter and moved it to land, and made a summer cottage out of it. Frank Falvey bought it and lived in it in the summer

for many years. Now my daughter, Peggy Patrick, owns it and lives in it during the summer. This cottage is right next door to our No. 7 cottage, which my fatherin law built on the site of the house that I was born in.”

By this time, Santa Claus has made his rounds for another year and we hope he pleased everyone. It’s time now to think about those New Year resolutions that most of us tend to break within the first month. We can’t help but wonder what the next year will bring. In the meantime, we wish everyone a very Happy New Year!