PILES AND PILES OF SNOW...
I'm on vacation in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan at Carolyn's family cabin. There's no electricity or internet. That means no weather charts or forecasts from me for a week. Instead, I have crafted a number of posts about the U.P. and the cabin so you can still get a taste of my daily blogs and a feel for what we call "our special place".
One of the great things about the Upper Peninsula of Michigan for me is the amount of white gold (snow) that falls every winter. Even in the worst of years, about 100" falls near Carolyn's family cabin where I'm vacationing, near Kenton, Michigan. In the winter of 78-79, which was monumental (even in Iowa), 390.4" (32.5') piled up in Keweenaw County...surrounding Houghton.
Here's a picture of the snow "thermometer" that gives you an idea of just how high 32.5" of snow is. More than 3 stories high. Whoa, Nellie!
Here's a shot taken in December 2008. Still a way to go to top 390" but not bad for December 18th.
For some additional perspective, here's a house buried in snow in the winter of 1978-79. At this point, it was not even officially winter yet.
Later in 1979, this picture was taken of what looks to be a school in Calumet, which is located in the Keweenaw Peninsula. Men are cross country skiing up one side and down the other of this 2-story structure.
Once I asked a "Yooper" to explain what winters were like up north. He responded by saying, "there's 9 months of winter and 3 months of bad sledding". I always loved that saying, and I suspect it's not far from the truth.
More than several times in the summer, I noticed some homes had doors on the second floor of a house, They went nowhere. If you walked out the door, you fell 10 feet straight down. I wondered what the purpose there was for an exterior door on the second floor with no staircase leading down. I ran across an old lady that told me that some winters the snow got so deep that it would completely cover the first floor. If you tried opening the front door, all you could see would be snow.
But on the second floor, with snowshoes on, you could exit the house to do your chores. Chores? In snow that deep? I would think that it would be hard enough to move about, let alone do chores? Well, she said, “One of those chores would be to shovel out the outhouse”, for in those days there were no indoor restroom facilities. Yes, that would be one important chore for sure. The outhouse was nearly completely covered up. And to think kids today complain about shoveling off the front walk!
The barn could also be accessed from the upper loft because the cows had to be milked, snow or not. Can you imagine walking to the country school about a mile away in snow depths like that? In those days there were no school buses so you had to leg it everywhere. Just when you arrived at the school, you found it buried as well. At least there would be some other kids there to help out. By the time you started school, you’d be plumb wore out. She said she wondered why her dad didn’t talk about the good old days very much!
One year in the 60's, Carolyn's father, who had built their family cabin where I'm vacationing now, got a 911 call at their primary residence in Shawno, Wisconsin. The winter has been so severe and snowy that a massive mantle of snow on the roof was forcing the walls of the cabin to bow out. If something wasn't done soon, the whole roof was about to fall in.
In short order, he was on his way to save his place. However, by the time he got there, the roof had already split open, breaking out the picture window and delivering a winter's load of snow. The snow was so deep, he and another guy walked onto the remaining roof without a ladder. The shoveled it off and attached strong steel tie rods from the west wall to the east. They cranked them in, pulling the walls back into their original position, where they were able to repair and get the remaining roof back on the cabin. This was in late March or early April, and the fix held until a more stable solution was implemented in the summer.
Another first for me was fireworks in the snow. One Christmas, Carolyn, I and the Wettstone family went to the cabin, which is actually located in the Ottawa National Forest. There was a solid snow cover of around 18 inches. Out in the forest was a circular clearing surrounded by spruce trees. After a hearty Christmas dinner, we took snowmobiles to the clearing about a half mile away. A lit myself up with battery powered Christmas lights and recited the Linus monologue from a Charlie Brown Christmas. It went like this:
“And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, ‘Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men’.”
Then I went to work shooting off about $200 dollars worth of floral fireworks displays. We lit that clearing up with all the colors of the exploding rockets reflecting off the snow crystals. Everything glistened. To this day, it is a treasured memory that lives deep within my soul.
As a big fan of snow, it's hard to beat Upper Michigan when it comes to white gold. My bucket list still includes walking out a second story window with snow to the level, in a pair of snow shoes. I need to scratch that itch. Roll weather...TS
By the way, if you are interested in any aspect of the Upper Peninsula's weather there's a great book that my colleague Karl Bohnak put together called, So Cold A Sky. He put a lot of time and effort into researching the amazing weather history of this incredible part of the country. For many years, I watched Karl do TV weather in Marquette, Michigan. He loved his snow and he found a unique place to practice his trade. As far as I know, he's still there. Roll weather...TS
PEOPLE LOVE IT. OUR AIRBNB IS A MOST LOVED GUEST FAVORITE!
ANOTHER 5-STAR REVIEW....thanks Myriam
AIRBNB has rated my renovated church in Galena A GUEST FAVORITE, A MOST LOVED home according to visitors. Check out some of our reviews and get in on the flexible deals we have available below.
Christa-Monument, Colorado
The Little White Church is amazing!!!! Pictures do not do it justice. I would absolutely recommend it to my friends and family. It is just so unique. Carolyn is an amazing host and super responsive. I would give our experience 6 out of 5 stars if I could.
Phillip-Queensland, Australia
Amazing and thoughtful renovation. Stayed in a piece of history. Great location and modern amenities. Would stay again!
Jill
The Little White Church is beautiful. The decorations are perfect, and it was redone with impeccable taste. Carolyn was a great host.
Brent
Such a gem. Relaxing in the countryside in a historic church that was beautifully decorated and recently renovated was exactly what we experienced. Everyone loved our stay, and we will be back!!!
Leigh
Beautiful and unique. We were all captivated by the adorable chapel turned AIRBNB
Jenny-Frisco, Texas
It was a magical place for our family to celebrate Christmas!
Kelly
What a gem! The Little White Church exceeded our expectations. It was the perfect spot to meet up with another couple to relax and explore nearby Galena. We enjoyed the beautiful great room with its fireplace and amazing views of the rolling countryside. (The photos simply can't do it justice). The charming church/home was quiet, well appointed and clean. And Carolyn was proactive with instructions and a terrific communicator. We will definitely be back!
John
Absolutely incredible! Loved the tranquility and the beautiful views. The decor was so inviting. AND the bell tower works!! Would 100% stay here again!
Tori-Cedar Falls
This place is so beautiful! Carolyn and Terry were so thoughtful and kind to let us have our wedding at the church. They even provided extra supplies in case we needed them. The private garden worked perfectly for our ceremony, and the backyard easily fit our reception needs. Not to mention, the balconies make perfect photo spots! My husband and I recommend the Little White Church and will be telling all our friends about it.
Mahesh-Buffalo Grove
Carolyn was a great host, very flexible! The place is super clean, spacious with a private backyard overlooking the fields and bluffs! We spent a lot of time on the deck. Great kitchen, clean bedrooms and baths. Highly recommend the place.
William
Great place. Great host. Will definitely book again and tell our friends.
Miriam
Carolyn and Terry's place is BEAUTIFUL! The Little White Church is a wonderful place, way more beautiful than the pictures. Everything is brand new and extremely clean. Staying at the church was a unique experience and I would love to come back soon. I strongly recommend the place if you are looking for a 5-star location!
Vanessa-Chicago
Carolyn was great! Absolutely beautiful place! I would not hesitate to go back. We spent Thanksgiving and the next night. Very well stocked and above and beyond with extras included. Thank you!
MAKE US AN OFFER...
What about pricing? Right now, we are able to offer you our best pricing ever. We have 3 nights for the price of 2 which, depending on the days, can save as much as $300-$400 dollars. If you book directly through us, you can also eliminate booking fees and taxes that the big chains charge. Cleaning fees are also drastically reduced. It all adds up to exceptional deals at a destination worth visiting. Let us assist in finding a time and price that works for you. Here's a link to some pictures. https://www.tswails.com/galena-airbnb
Carolyn and I will do all we can to make sure your stay is a memorable one. Please call or text Carolyn for more details and options and get a prime date while they are still available. Again, that's Carolyn at 563-676-3320. Or carolynswettstone@yahoo.com
Now that it's vacation season, there is no better place to visit than Galena and no better place to stay than my newly renovated AIRBNB, the Little White Church. We are located in the bluffs, just 5 miles from the 2nd largest tourism destination in Illinois. In fact, "Tourist Destination", rated Galena as the 2023 top place to visit in the entire Midwest.
Now is the best time to enjoy all there is to offer, and my 5-star AIRBNB is the perfect location to stay. Set in the rolling hills just outside of town, our completely renovated church is designed for you to unwind and relax.
Again, we are an AIRBNB Super host and can accommodate up to 8 guests. We've got cable, hi-speed WIFI, Sirius XM and a sparkling full kitchen. We are a home away from home and take great pride in cleanliness and comfort. All of our ratings have attained perfect 5-star status!
Hope to see you soon,
Terry and Carolyn
7 GREAT REASONS TO VISIT GALENA
1. It’s Steeped In History
2. It’s Home To One Of The Best Main Streets In America
3. The Restaurants Are Amazing
4. There’s A Lot To Do Outdoors
5. You Don’t Have To Travel To The Mountains To Go Skiing
6. It’s A Great Place To Spend The Fourth Of July
7. Did I Mention The Shopping?
