More to the story.

There was a longer story to go with the pictures from our weekend at a friend's cottage over the weekend and I sort of lost my train of thought halfway through. Oh look....SHINY!

On the first night were there Logan woke up in the night hearing a bunch of noise in the front part of the yard. He got up to investigate and heard something crunching and breathing loudly. He couldn't see it because that's one of the things about Up North. It's typically pretty dark and that's what people like about it.

But the crunching noise-making thing walked across the driveway and the moon hit just right and Logan swore it was a bear. A bear....like a black bear! (!!!) (!!!!!!!!!!!!)

When Logan told me this in the morning I thought he was joking as he often does. Like when I ask him if he remembered to pack his bathing suit when we're fifty miles from home and he goes, "Oh SHIT!" and I get all, "Oh Man. I swear if I don't remember everything in this family ! No one remembers anything! And I want a different job....I don't want to be the chronic listmaker!" Then he laughs and he's kidding. Ha!

So I played along with the little black bear joke. "Oh yeah? A bear? Man that's weird because last night? I walked down to the fire pit and Oh My God there was a bald eagle just hanging out with a cigar and a cocktail and he was all 'Hey, what's up?' Weird!"

"No seriously, I think it was a bear."

"Yeah, no I believe you because I became blood brothers with a unicorn last night!"

"Really....look..."

And in the front yard there were several bird feeders dumped and pulled from the ground, out of tree stumps and thrown all over. I said I was sure it was just a raccoon. Upon further inspection it became clear that this:

Did not become this:

Because of a raccoon. I don't even think a unicorn could do that.

This cottage is about three hours north of us (if they haven't closed a large portion of the main freeway and detoured you around adding two hours to the trip) and I had no idea there were bears this far south in Michigan.

I thought bears liked places in Canada. They're nice in Canada and by Canada I don't mean Windsor because that's practically a Detroit suburb. Not exactly hospitable to bears. But no it turns out bears like my friend's cottage too and, apparently, bird seed. Lots of birdseed out of about $300 worth of bird feeders.

This is a picture of a chipmunk dining on the "Bear Trap" the kids created with bird seed, strawberries and peanuts.

Don't tell the kids because in the morning most of the bird seed was gone and there were no more bear sightings. I don't think a bear ate all the bird seed, I think one of the 300 chipmunks and 80 squirrels had a little party. Still, a bear had left a note on the lawn in the morning that read "Thanks for the food! The Bear."

This was clearly a Canadian bear. So polite.

Also, before I got distracted, I wanted to recommend you bring this quiche from Skip To My Lou up north with you to your friend's cottage so they'll know you appreciate their hospitality. Nothing says, "I appreciate you" like eggs, cream, cheese(s) and ham. It was so good I could hardly believe I made it.

Comments

[Dawn]

It must have been a Canadian bear because they are all "aboot" the politeness. Our bears always ask permission and then say grace before they go all OM NOM NOM on your head.

Just don't run away from them. 'Cause it hurts their feelings, eh?

Heh, heh.

[mar]

I live 35 miles north of NYC, in Jersey, and we have bears walking through our yard all the time. Maybe it's all the toxic waste we have here .... hee.

[Nichole]

I heard weird crunching and loud breathing outside my room one night when I was 14 or so, and I was convinced it was a bear. It was about 3am. I mustered up some courage, grabbed a flashlight and peeked outside.

It was a cow.

[melissaS]

A cow would scare me almost as much. Though it would leave the bird feeders alone. Most likely.

Mar: Bears are from CANADA! Or the upper peninsula of Michigan. WHAT ARE THEY DOING IN NEW JERSEY? They're buying drugs aren't they.

[HouseofJules]

The bear was probably just looking for something to use as a back-scratcher; and that metal bird feeder-holder looks about right.
Jules
House of Jules

[carabeth]

delurking to say how impressed i am that you had the foresight to take the "before" picture!

[Lisa V]

When I was a kid we were staying at a friend's cabin in Montana. One night we heard a ruckus in the kitchen. My mom went in, turned on the light and a bear was reaching through the window to get our open cooler. My mom shoved the cooler out the window and closed the window behind it. We're city people, we were freaked out and slept with the lights on.

We went home the next morning.

[melissaS]

No, there were two of the same feeder hangers in the yard. I took a picture of one to show the contrast. I'd no idea what was about to happen.

[Astrogirl]

We're in upstate NY (Albany), actually 30 miles east of Albany, and we get bears all the time. ALL. THE. TIME. I am a city girl. I was born and raised in Queens, NY - NYC for those who don't know where that is. I don't know from any damn bears. But I've gotten used to it, somehow. I do find I have to put the fear of God (or claws) in the Bunker Monkey when it comes to bears, because if it was up to him, he'd go out and hug the BIG FURRY BEAR OOOOHHH!!!!

Kid doesn't have the sense God gave a goat.

[Mrs. Who]

When we were in Alaska, going on a wildlife tour, they gave us some "bear whistles" we were supposed to blow it if we saw a bear. I laughed out loud - just how gullible did they think the tourists were? - until I realized they were completely serious.

I never had to blow the whistle.

Thank God.

[Stephanie]

Hello!
This is Stephanie from Toronto - where there aren't any bears or igloos. Where this week our temperatures will reach almost 90 degrees Farenheit. Yes there are bears up north from us (about or should I say aboot an hour from us.) Bears are all over the northern U.S. and Canada.

The politeness thing is true though. I'm so Canadian that if I bang myself aganist a door knob I actually find myself saying "I'm sorry." It's so ingrained it's crazy.

[Middle-Aged-Woman]

Take it from me, Windsorites do NOT like to be told they live in a suburb of Detroit, but they totally do. And I think maybe that chipmunk climbed the tree and muscled the hell out of that bird feeder.

[Robin]

We had a similar encounter with a bear and bird seed only it took place in the middle of the day: http://tinyurl.com/5d68mw

Bears are big and scary.

[MelissaS]

I'm sorry Stephanie. I don't believe you. All of Canada is tundra.

And, yes, I'm totally serious.

[The Yummy Mummy Cooks Gourmet]

My husband's response to the bear thing is:

"Oh honey, they don't have bears that attack people here in the Northeast. Those bears live out West. North east bears run away when you yell at them."

He says this while we're in the tent. At midnight. With snuffley sounds in the distance.

It sounds reasonable enough, but I think he was lying.

Kim

[Alexnadra]

Bears are scary WHEREVER you live, here in Tucson we have three or four tourist mauled ever summer on Mt. Lemmon even with all of the warnings and rules posted everywhere. I get so angry when the Forest service has to kill the bears for doing what bears do...eat and forage for food...Far be it from us humans to be responsible enough to stay out of their way, or to be sensible enough to follow the rules so we don't get hurt.

[karyn]

Haha! There was a bear near Windsor:
http://www.theobserver.ca/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=1134206. Clearly he came for the cheap gambling.

Oh, the politeness thing. I apologize when people phone me and have called the wrong number. As if I'm really, really sorry that I am not the person whom they are trying to contact.

Your vacation (bear and all) looks like it was wonderful. Northern Michigan is one of our favourite places to visit. It's such a nice change from our vast tundra wasteland. (tongue firmly in cheek)

[a mom]

They've found their way to Washtenaw County!
http://www.mlive.com/news/annarbornews/index.ssf?/base/news-28/121886882460240.xml&coll=2

[Jeanna]

Down here in Tennessee, we have lots of bears in the eastern part of the state -- the Smokey Mountains. Tennessee Bears -- they are so polite, but they speak with a drawl.

[melissaS]

!!!!!!

[Christy]

I'm scared of bears more than any other animal but I still rented that documentary Grizzly Man, just to torture myself, I guess. How did you know to take a pic. of the birdfeeder before it got tore down? That's what cracks me up most about this post. Oh, must have been another one like it on a different tree. Yep, got it.

[rachel beto]

I bet the bear especially enjoyed the chipmunk snack it found in its "trap." Mmm. Chipmunk.

[Elle]

I joke with my sister that if she is ever mauled by a bear I will be out of there so fast. I'm not a big bear fan.

[Courtenay]

a bear? wow. my worst fear here in texas is seeing an alligator when i'm walking alone but if i was up north that fear would definitely change to a bear. there is a video i saw somewhere (colorado) of a bear breaking into a convenience store! i'll take my chances with the alligators...they're not that tall.
http://www.lifespearliscast.blogspot.com

[Kim]

I couldn't get past the "did you bring your bathing suit?" That happens in our family all the time, usually with some sort of ticket. My husband gets me every time, and he thinks it is so funny. Go figure, I find it irritating.

I am a bear phobe. I spent a month petrified in Yellowstone. I tried to desensitize myself by reading "Mark of the Grizzly" which is filled with short stories of bear attacks. It validated that I should be very afraid, very afraid.

[Tess]

We don't get bears but we get every other kind of animal in our backyard.

[Christa]

Hi Melissa.
I have just spent the last few weeks working my way through your blog from beginning to present.
Just wanted to say that I have thoroughly enjoyed it and you've come such a long way....you should be so proud of yourself.
My kids are 17 and 20 and were much wanted and I love them very much. However, I am quite a solitary person and found motherhood to be all consuming and it blocked me creatively (I am an artist). It is only now that my son is at University and my daughter is heading that way that I feel my true self re emerging. I didn't expect to feel so trapped and at times, resentful towards my children. It has been so good to read about your struggles as these feelings are usually 'hidden' and hence I felt like a freak of nature a lot of the time.
I also have had trouble with my in-laws (or out-laws as I call them). Nothing really overt; subtle digs ETC throughout our relationship. I'm not the only family member to have suffered though. Their offspring and family 'keep their distance' and only see them out of duty. They really really upset me a few years ago when I found out something they said about me (which was cruel and untrue) to another family member. My partner and I confronted them and told them that the way they behave is very off putting and this is why none of us include them in very much. I got a (sort of) apology but to this day they still maintain to others that they just can't understand why I just suddenly turned against them. We do still have contact and I'm 'civil', but as it was me who did most of the birthday/Xams card and present buying, inviting them over, arranging visits etc over the years (my partner,their son, is crap at that kind of thing), family relations with them are sparse. Anyway, I wanted to say that I understand that about you too. In-laws can be a bleedin' nightmare!
I have found the teenage years with my kids amongst the best times with them, so don't necessarily dread that stage!
I find it a bit difficult when my son comes back from Uni for holidays. Nothing personal, as we have a very good relationship. It's just I feel like I'm being dragged back into the past! I'm so looking forward to when they are both established in their own lives and I am FREE!!
All the best wishes in the world to you and your family.
Love Christa, Bristol. UK

[Chuck]

If it makes you feel any better, we have cougars and mountain lions and things around here. I live in the San Francisco Bay area and, like, they attack dogs and shit. In Golden Gate Park.

If only we had more people with guns who would shoot large predatory animals, rather than large human predatory animals who shoot each other with guns :-\

[Chuck]

PS - Cheers on the quiche and I will totally nick that recipe. If you happen to be able to find Locatelli (I believe it's technically a Romano, but not sure) -- it's simply the best cheese I've ever had, and it would rock the house grated up in that recipe instead or in place of some of the other suggestions. Yum!