A gorgeous, sunny day here in northern Michigan. I was in a cheery mood because most of the tedious, back-breaking “winterizing” my yard was finished. I’d tossed my painting gear into the car and took off, fortified by a thermos of coffee. Instead of returning to my usual haunts (that I’d painted hundreds of times) I threw caution to the winds and headed east along M88. I turned south onto East Torch Lake Drive, then east onto Greenwood School Road: truly a seasonal road-from-hell: you’d definitely regret driving it in rainy or snowy weather. We’re talking a narrow, dirt (MUD!) road, snaking up and down through very hilly woods, stretching for a couple miles (at least it seems like that). But then you finally come to this scene…
I bounced out of the car, set up my easel, then realized my turpentine was at home. Argh! I hadn’t made that mistake in many a year. So I had to pack up things and go home, fetch the doggone can of turps and head back, nearly a 20 mile round trip. But it was too early in the afternoon to stop (and return to yardwork, housework, laundry, etc.).
To the right of this scene is a big hayfield with a few haystacks.
A lone farmhouse on the hill, way, way in the distance. A perfect setting to be in if you’re wishing to be attacked by rabid coyotes. Thankfully, this time there were none. Although I’d hesitate being there at night.
Here’s my setup:
An added plus: a view of sandhill cranes stopping along their migration south:
Was there — IS there — an actual Greenwood school? I found one on a map, indicating it’s along Meggison Road. But Greenwood School Road is far south of there. Go figure.
https://www.openstreetmap.org/node/353935784#map=15/45.05423/-85.30455
