This, That & The Other: Weather Shifts, A Softball Memory, Tunes On Tap & Butterflies Beckon

By Ken DeLaat

 1. Here’s what I love about this patch of peninsular paradise we reside in. The picture above was taken on Saturday February 11th when a veritable armada of ice boats were cruising around in front of N3 World Headquarters & Winter Sowing Systems. My Lifetime Spousal Companion Lil took these shots.
 Directly below was taken 4 days later capturing a group of early arrivals enjoying the open water across the lake. 
How do you not love a place that does its best to keep us entertained with such meandering meteorological movement.

 2. As I was posting the recent article in N3 about Tamarac’s newest fitness instructor Mckenze TerVeer it brought back memories of covering softball for the T-I back when she was striking out opponents and crushing the ball for the Packers. I had been making the rounds of local fields and had yet to take in the Fremont team. As per usual I settled in along the fence on the third base side a few steps beyond the base, camera in hand. Packer Coach Wendy St. Pierre eyed my position and strolled over with a bit of advice.
“When McKenze (Supernaw) gets up you might want to move back some. If she gets in front of a ball it's going to get down here pretty quick.”
The sincerity in her voice gave me caution and I paced off several more steps toward the outfield.
It proved to be good advice as she indeed got in front of a pitch and sent an absolute screamer into the area I had just vacated that led me to leap for my safety as it ricocheted off the fence and zipped past me at an alarming rate.
I looked over to the Coach’s box in time to see Ms. St. Pierre deliver a nod and a grin.

 3. It looks to be a good week for music lovers hereabouts. We understand the Riverstop Cafe in downtown Newaygo has been bringing in live music on Thursdays, across the street on Friday, Flying Bear Books is home to Open Mike NIght and on Saturday Another Round will be at the Dogwood, delighting aficionados of a capella excellence.
https://www.nearnorthnow.com/features-and-fun/a-capella-excellence

 4. And are you ready for some butterflies? They are on their way to Meijer Gardens for the exquisite exhibit that provides an annual respite from winter along with a dollop of hope that spring is definitely destined to arrive. But these aren’t all your everyday monarchs and swallowtails my friends. We’re talking about beauties from tropical regions that never see ice boats, so if you want to get a glimpse at a blue common morpho or a zebra mosaic head for Meijer Gardens next month. If you know of someone (or are someone) who has never gone before, take them (or you) for the first time and watch the wonder that is likely to unfold.
It starts March 1st and if you want to expedite your entry, get your tickets ahead of time online.
MeijerGardens.org/tickets

That’s it. Read up a bit on virtue signaling, be kind to each other and, as always, eschew obfuscation.

Blue Morpho- Photo courtesy of Meijer Gardens