HomeLife Febuary-March 2013

Ski-in ski out

Three homes on the slopes

Puppy love

Dress your furry friend for the cold

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contents

6 Keep ‘em warm 8 Pamper those paws

18Slopeside living

10On top of the mountain

24Nestled in the foothills

38White hot chocolate

37 2013: Moving ahead with confidenceExpert advice from David Shuman34

Snowshoe tips


Here we are, mid-winter and looking for some snow-bound fun. Well, I found some.

I’ve had the most wonder-ful time exploring the local ski resorts and the lovely properties available for those who like wintertime play in Northern Michigan. Th ese folks know how to have a good time.

Th ere are delightful, luxury homes at all the local resorts — Boyne Mountain, Boyne Highlands and Nub’s Nob — and we found several for our readers to check out.

Th e hilltop house at Boyne Mountain proved a stellar display of northern style, perfectly melded to the structure’s recre-ational function, a design intended to suit a large, Michigan family that loves to play in the snow. Th e slopeside condominium at Boyne Highlands made for a cozy, little get-away for a hard-working and hard-playing downstate family that thrives on their brand of Northern Michigan fun, whether it’s on skis, snowshoes or high-powered snowmo-

biles. Finally, the luxury home at Hamlet Village Mountain Side, at the base of the southern Nub’s Nob ski runs, makes for a peaceful place to relax in the northern hardwoods, not far from cross-country ski trails and the chair lifts to the top of the ski hill.

Th en there’s all those dogs.We learned in putting together this issue

of HomeLife magazine that people love their dogs. A lot.

Whether it’s a boisterous bulldog, a fuzzy mountain dog or little precious pooch, peo-ple tend to make a fuss over their canine family members, which often come along on family vacations or for a round of snow-fi lled fun in Northern Michigan. So it’s im-portant to take care of your dog, whether that means a toenail trim or a fancy, new sweater.

Finally, there’s some advice on how to approach outdoor winter activities if down-hill skiing just isn’t your thing. Snowshoes can make for a calmer, quieter experience in the winter woods, which may be a better pace for your family.

So strap on the ski boots, bundle up the dog and head out for some fun in the snow-covered northwoods. Th ere’s so very much beauty to behold out there, and you can get a jump start right here.

sheri mcWhirter-o’DonnellHOMElife Editor

[email protected]

a note from the editor

HOMElife 5

a n u p - n o r t h M A G A Z I N E

lifeHOMEFebruary / March 2013

Publisher Doug Caldwell

Editor Sheri McWhirter-O’Donnell

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Photography G. Randall Goss

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Layout & Design Renée Tanner

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PRODUCT GUIDE

Keep ‘em cozyDress the family dog for outdoor winter fun

By Sheri McWhirter-O’Donnell • Photography by G. Randall Goss

Just because the weather outside is frightful doesn’t mean you have to spend the winter indoors, nor do your pets.

A number of area shops sell out-door wear and various types of gear for your pampered pooch, who likely appreciates daily walks in the neighborhood, even in the winter. Local canine fashion experts suggest different types of dog clothing for various breeds and needs.

Becky Philipp-Kranig, who owns Bearcub Outfitters in downtown Petoskey,

suggests dog jackets in winter, along with other gear.

“It depends on the dog. Some dogs do get cold,” she said. “There is some practicality to it. We recommend dressing appropriately for outdoor weather — the whole family, in-cluding the dog.”

Spencer, a 5-year-old Havanese dog, re-cently modeled a Ruffwear synthetic pack, a tool that allows him to carry his own neces-sities during long wintertime walks.

“It’s basically a hiking pack for dogs. You can carry food, treats, waste bags,” said Alex

Lapp, the store’s assistant manager.And despite his tiny size, Spencer loves to

play in snowbanks.“He loves to dive in the snow and he’s ex-

tremely playful,” said Spencer’s owner, Mar-jorie Mehney, of Petoskey. “He’s not a foo-foo dog.”

Philipp-Kranig’s dog, 10-year-old shep-herd-Lab mix Bailey, participated by wear-ing a Ruffwear dog coat.

“We also sell dog boots, which are good for dogs that don’t like the snow and those with long hair on their paws,” she said.

Dress up the fam-ily dog for out-door winter fun

Spencer

Bailey Easy

HOMElife 7

It’s a way for fashion and function to go together, Philipp-Kranig said.

“They need exercise. You need exercise. No matter what the temperature is, you can get out together and exercise,” she said.

In Harbor Springs, Marty MacGregor owns MacGregor’s Pet Pantry, right next door to the IGA grocery. His 6-year-old German shorthair named Easy modeled a colorful, knitted sweater by Chilly Dog as a winter warming option.

Pet Pantry also sells dog coats and other gear by RC Pets and other brands.

“It keeps them warm and keeps the wet off,” MacGregor said.

But some people prefer more fash-ionable-looking sweaters to trail-hiking dog gear, said Kate Rasmussen, of Harbor Springs, who works at the shop. They even sell Pugz, tiny versions of their humans’ Ugg boots.

Rasmussen also said Pet Pantry stocks a miracle product for tender dog paws, es-pecially if the dog maintains an aversion to doggie boots — as many do.

“It’s called Musher’s Secret. It’s a natural wax for paw pads,” she said.

Of course, selection at both Bearcub Outfitters and the Pet Pantry is greater dur-ing the autumn, when the retailers stock up their shelves with fresh supplies of winter products.

But both shops still maintain a good in-ventory from which to choose, even now at mid-winter. HL

“We recommend dressing appropriately for outdoor weather

— the whole family, including the dog.”Becky Philipp-KranigBearcub Outfitters

Bearcub Outfitters321 E. Lake St., Petoskey(231) 439-9500www.bearcuboutfitters.com

MacGregor’s Pet Pantry203 Clark St., Harbor Springs(231) 526-7160www.harborpawsandclaws.com/macgregor-pet-pantry


Pamper the pawsyOUR PET

Many Northern Michigan dogs embrace our snowy winters and there are a few simple things their humans can do to keep

them healthy and romping through the white stuff.

Christine Judd, owner of Northern Pet Salon in Boyne City, said that contrary to some people’s beliefs, dogs should contin-ue to be groomed through winter months. Not grooming dogs in the winter can actu-ally be detrimental, she said.

Judd recommends dog owners pay care-ful attention to their pet’s feet and furry coat. Both have special needs when it’s not summertime, she said.

“A dog’s undercoat is designed to keep dogs warm in winter and cool in summer. If it’s allowed to mat up, the pet’s skin can-not breathe and the undercoat cannot dry if it gets wet,” Judd said. “This can actually cause skin irritation and may never dry, which will make the dog colder. Bad cases can lead to bug infestations and skin con-ditions.”

The best way to avoid this situation, she said, is to regularly brush a dog’s coat to minimize tangles and keep the animal mat-free. Ultimately, brushing out the dead fur in a dog’s undercoat will keep the animal warmer, Judd said.

She demonstrated the technique with a favored client’s dog, Reese, a Bernese mountain dog, whose coat let go an in-credible amount of dead fur during the brushing. Judd pointed out that only a dog’s dead fur will brush out of the coat, while healthy, living fur will remain.

“Don’t worry. Healthy undercoat won’t

come loose,” she said.If a dog has a bad case of matted fur,

groomers often must shave the animal. That’s never preferred, as it can lead to subsequent fur growth problems with the dog’s coat, especially double-coated dogs, Judd said.

Additionally, if not properly trimmed and maintained, a dog’s feet can become clumped up with snow and ice, which can be painful on tender paw pads. Again, Judd

showed how a dog’s feet should be kept up during the snowy season by demonstrat-ing the grooming technique on Reese.

“The hair that’s in the feet here we need to keep trimmed or it can lead to snow and ice buildup,” she said. “You also want to have the nails trimmed. If left long, it can lead to slipping and sliding in the snow.”

Properly trimmed nails also will allow for better overall posture in the dog, Judd said.

By Sheri McWhirter-O’Donnell • Photography by G. Randall Goss

Proper grooming is key to winter canine health

Christine Judd brushes out the fur on Reese, the Bernese mountain dog from Boyne City.

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Th e long hair on top of a dog’s foot and in a dog’s hock area also should be trimmed short — whether done by the owner or a professional groomer — also to avoid snow and ice buildup, she said.

Finally, bathing dogs during the win-ter is important because it removes dead skin cells and other debris collected in a dog’s coat, Judd said. Groomers and own-

ers just have to ensure that dogs are fully dried before going outside again, she said.

Meanwhile, Reese the friendly Ber-nese mountain dog will continue to play in the snow, perhaps her favorite thing.

“She loves the snow. She’d rather be out than in and the colder it is, the bet-ter she likes it,” said Kathy Breedlove, Reese’s owner from Boyne City.

Northern Pet Salon is at 500 N. Lake St. in Boyne City. Hours are 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Friday, along with noon-8 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday, with Saturday sessions by appointment only. Call (231) 582-9200 to make an appointment or visit www.northernpetsalon.com online for more information. HL

1861 US 31 N. Petoskey • 231-347-2585www.DaveKring.com

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HOMElife 11

Mountaintop ManOrLog home doubles as elevated family recreation centerBy Sheri McWhirter-O’Donnell • Photography by G. Randall Goss


Rod Boulanger is so very pleased with his new log cabin at Boyne Mountain Resort, but he’s even more pleased with how much his wife loves it.

“My wife had always wanted a log cab-in — a log home. So I was finally able to get her one,” Rod said.

Boulanger is a retired power plant de-veloper who worked around the world on various energy projects. He is a North-ern Michigan native, but from over by Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore and the Betsie River in Benzie County. He didn’t look back this northern direc-tion for many years, he said.

“I grew up in Northern Michigan and then went south. So we have a home near Lansing and never really came back up,” Rod said.

That is, until the lure of the region’s oft-sought morel mushroom brought the amateur chef to the Boyne area. Some friends invited him to their Boyne

Mountain property and Rod was sold on the spot — literally. He bought the next-door lot for the Boulanger family’s up north home in the resort’s gated Edel-weiss Club neighborhood, beyond the Mountain Cabins area.

“He came up to go mushroom hunting and went home with more than morels,”

said Barb Hornbeck, of Boyne Realty, as she laughed.

What resulted is a 4,600-square-foot lodge that sits among the highest perch-es at the ski resort in Boyne Falls, right between where the Alpine lift drops off skiers and where summertime golfers tee off on the Alpine or Monument courses. The house includes four bedrooms, a stunning great room, a comfortable fam-ily room and loads of beds to fill. Oh, and there’s a guest house, too.

“I wanted to make sure we had areas we can all get together and congregate, but also have areas to separate, especially when all the grand-kids are here togeth-er,” Rod said.

Main levelInside the garage access door to the

home, visitors are greeted by a heated slate tile floor and a knotty pine tongue-and-groove wall with a row of pegs for hanging up ski and snow clothes in a

“He came up to go mushroom hunting and went home with more than morels.”Barb Hornbeck, Boyne realty

HOMElife 13

cozy mud room. Rod’s office is at the end of the hall, but around the corner is his gourmet kitchen.

And what a gourmet kitchen it is.“I’ve been cooking my whole life,” Rod

said.His up north kitchen is the perfect

place to do it. Special quartz stone coun-tertops encompass the kitchen, including a large and impressive island with a large pot rack fastened to the ceiling above.

A Viking commercial-grade stove with high BTU gas burners and grill plate is adorned by an impressive, carved fieldstone enclosure and slate backsplash with a built-in exhaust fan, the sort that can pull air from throughout the house

and force it up and out the roof. That way nobody ever knows if something gets burned in the kitchen, Rod said, a wide grin on his face.

The other side of the kitchen is where the refrigerator and double-stacked Vi-king professional ovens are mounted among the cupboards. The microwave is even tucked away in a lower cupboard position.

“The kitchen is designed to keep oth-ers away while I’m at the stove, but they can still be here in the kitchen,” Rod said.

A beautiful, varnished wooden bar with tall stools separates the kitchen from the dining area, where a custom-made dining table and chairs is accented

from above by a vaulted ceiling and chan-delier. The gorgeous table’s centerpiece

— a collection of woodland imagery such as a taxidermy mounted mallard with pheasant and partridge feathers around

— even has a story. It came from a resale shop, Rod said.

“We found it and it was absolutely per-fect for this house,” he said. “We spent so much time picking out the accessories and it was so much fun to do.”

Against the wall is what appears to be an antique chest, the sort within which to hide away the family’s precious china. But that’s not the case, Rod said.

“We scoured estate sales and so forth, but this came from an Art Van sale


as damaged. I looked at it and said that damage matched what we wanted for the home. It looked right,” he said. “You end up with things that are brand new, cus-tom-made or something second-hand. They give you a feel for a home. It may not be your home every day, but when

you’re there it feels like home.”The adjoining great room is highlight-

ed by large, supportive, wooden beams that cross the room, creating the ideal up north look to the home. It helps there’s a wood-burning fireplace with a built-in wood storage cubby spot crafted from the same cultured fieldstone found in the gourmet kitchen.

The large and impressive raw iron chandelier that hangs in the great room,

before the front entryway, is a special selection by Rod’s wife, Nancy. Build-ers even had to remove a door frame to bring the piece indoors to install.

And the special touches continue in the master bedroom, where dark furni-ture fills the space and an adorable lug-gage rack that looks like a winter sleigh sits at the foot of the bed. That item comes with a tale, too.

“It was supposed to be a coffee table, but just didn’t look right,” Rod said.

The master bathroom is barrier-free and includes a jetted tub ringed with in-dividually placed stones in poured con-crete, along with light-colored slate tile. The shower is a luxurious walk-in ame-nity with just a slight step up, recessed far enough into the wall that a shower door proves unnecessary. But perhaps the most striking element is the saloon-style doors that separate the bathroom from the master bedroom — a touch that immediately draws attention.

Lower levelIn the basement, more wonders con-

tinue to unfold.A concrete floor is made inviting both

through the heat is radiates and the in-tentional distressed look, which adds an almost Old World charm to this North-ern Michigan ski resort home. It’s dec-orated with various area rugs, all with intricate and classic designs.

Three guest bedrooms are found on the lower level. The first houses two queen-sized beds and two twin bunks with walk-through access to a

MountaintopContinued from page 13

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bathroom, while the second keeps two queen-sized beds and a single bunk. Fi-nally, the third guest room has a single queen bed and two twin bunks.

It’s technically a walk-out basement, with an exterior door found in the sec-ond guest room. And yes, it has a story, too.

“Well, I have one son-in-law who smokes and there’s no smoking in this house,” Rod said. “So we put in a door for him to go outside there.”

The family room takes up the center section of the lower level, in-cluding a kitchenette and ad-jacent full bathroom. But the real breath-taker came even as a surprise to Rod and his family.

“The bonus room is our home theater,” he said.

And it’s not just a big room with a big television. This home theater comes stacked with a three-stepped, elevated platform for comfortable love seats in the back row, a step down to the full-sized couch and recliner on the next plat-form and the last left open for the grandchildren’s bean bags.

There’s even an old popcorn machine on wheels for the full theater experience, completed with a projection screen and ceiling-mounted video system.

Initial thoughts were to make a min-iature bowling alley or a man cave, but the theater idea became the blockbuster. It’s the most popular room in the house, Rod said.

“We spend weekends up here whenev-er we can. We’re always here for mush-room season, the summer season and in the winter holidays for the snow. This is all about family — coming together with plenty of things to do,” he said. “I like the way the house can bring people together for fun, but can still provide the separa-tion for the privacy people may want.”

MountaintopContinued from page 14

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Boyne Mountain Resort1 Boyne Mountain RoadBoyne Fallswww.boyne.com(231) 549-6000

Guest houseA cottage-sized guest house is deco-

rated with antique skis and warm, al-most Sedona hues on the walls.

The structure sits between the big house and the nearby ski lift, just across the driveway from the large, log home

— or rather, the lodge. It, too, features varnished, knotty pine walls.

A nicely decorated and furniture-filled sitting area is just inside the door, with an adjacent dining area and small kitchen, completed with a slate tile backsplash. Light-colored wooden cup-boards fill up the kitchen area and are adorned on top by antique ski boots, a wooden mallard decoy, other historic pieces and artworks.

Two bedrooms can be found inside the guest house, along with another barrier-free bathroom with an easy, step-in shower. In fact, much of the entire property is designed to be barri-er-free and meet ADA standards, with ramps at every entrance and hardwood floors throughout the main level.

“It was a conscious decision to have a house that fits all needs, from the grandkids running around to my wife, who uses a wheelchair,” Rod said.

Rod and Nancy Boulanger recently celebrated 50 years of marriage. They also have a home near Lansing and keep another place in Midland, near Nancy’s doctors. They frequently visit their log home at Boyne Mountain Re-sort in Boyne Falls.

Howard Smith Corp., of East Jordan, built the home in 2010, which is avail-able for rental when the Boulangers aren’t there. Much of the interior de-sign is the influence of Stacey Stokes, of Boyne Design Group in Petoskey. HL


Slopeside livingRiehl family visits Boyne Highlands for snow-filled funBy Sheri McWhirter-O’Donnell • Photography by G. Randall Goss

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The Riehl family loves to play in Northern Michigan’s snow. Their ski-in, ski-out condominium at Boyne Highlands Resort is perfectly placed as a launch pad for all their

winter fun.“We bought this place and it snowballed.

This became our happy place,” said Janet Riehl, of New Baltimore, on the Michigan shores of Lake St. Clair.

Janet and Jim Riehl Jr.’s family owns and operates several vehicle dealerships around the Detroit area, but slips away to their Harbor Springs condo for all sorts of snow-filled fun. They both downhill and cross-country ski, ride snowmobiles and even go for the occasional snowshoe hike in the woods.

“I try to get here every other weekend,” Janet said.

The Riehls can hop onto the Lois Lane ski run out the back of their condo, or catch the Interconnect lift to the top of the run to ski their way back to their Alpine Village condo.

“Condo living is wonderful and the ski-in, ski-out is great. You can’t beat it,” Janet said.

And within the family’s condo, it seems nearly every piece of furniture or artwork comes with a story, usually about spend-ing time shopping and having fun in the region. A painting from the former Gas-light Gallery in downtown Petoskey. A decorative bench from the Petoskey Art in the Park event. Lamps from All Phase Lighting in Petoskey. A silly, wooden deer mount from the Bay Harbor Arts Festival. Beautiful Amish-made dining table, bar stools, coffee table and fireplace mantle.

The dining table, chairs and bar stools all have lovely, varnished natural bark edg-ing, a special request by Janet, she said. The décor is in line with up north cottages and log cabins that dot the Northern Michigan

landscape.“This is my log cabin condo. I didn’t

know if I’d ever get a log cabin,” Janet said, laughing.

Inside the front door is a mud room and staircase that leads to the Riehls’ upstairs condo, a landing adorned with woodsy decorations. On the main level, a tidy kitchen is separated from the dining area by a long bar lined with stools. The liv-ing room features a flat screen television above the fireplace and special mantle, all behind individually chosen pieces of fur-

niture from shops in Grayling and Harris-ville. Out the patio window, skiers can be seen zooming down the Lois Lane run, or dangling their skis while riding the Inter-connect lift back up the hill.

In the corner is what many may believe is a stylish, Northern Michigan Christmas tree. But they’d be wrong, you see.

“It’s not a Christmas tree. That’s up all-year-round because it’s our nature tree,” Janet said.

The artificial evergreen features owls, a sled, a star and other woodland imagery. It’s the second such nature tree, with the original in the upstairs loft, coupled with a plush black bear stuffed animal, a nod to the Riehl family’s love for all things North-ern Michigan.

The condo features the master bedroom with an in-room spa, a main level double queen room and an upstairs double queen room, each individually decorated. There’s even room for the family’s trademark 2-year-old English bulldog, Rocco, the star of their dealership’s television advertising campaigns. He doesn’t miss a trip up north to play in the snow, Janet said.

“This is my log cabin condo. I didn’t know if I’d ever get a log cabin.”Janet riehl


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“He rolls in it. He loves the snow,” she said.

There’s even room for visitors, beyond a dozen adults.

“Typically we can have four dogs in here at once,” Janet said, smiling wide. “It’s a wonderful gathering place for our family. We love the skiing, the snowshoeing and

the snowmobil-ing. It’s where we can be casual and not have any worries.”

The Riehls’ condo remains a private prop-erty, not part of the resort’s rental program for when the owners are away. However, there are condos avail-able for rent in the Alpine Vil-lage, with more information available online at www.boyne.com.

Addition-ally, the Riehls have big plans for their future at Boyne High-lands. Not only do they want to make some

kitchen renovations to their condo, in-cluding new granite countertops, they intend to build a brand new home on two nearby lots, just up the hill in the same area of the ski resort property. That way, the Riehls’ adult children — Jeff, Joe and Jim III — can continue to use the family’s beloved condo, and Janet can have her log cabin, after all. HL

Boyne Highlands Resort600 Highland DriveHarbor Springs(231) 526-3000www.boyne.com

SlopesideContinued from page 19


Nestled in the foothillsHouse near Nub’s Nob first in the neighborhood

HOMElife 25


Welcome to the neighborhood ...

HOMElife 27

By Sheri McWhirter-O’Donnell

Photography by G. Randall Goss

There’s a stunning luxury home at the bottom of the ski runs at Nub’s Nob South, between that terrain and the Pintail Peak area.

Deer Ridge is the house’s name and it’s not actually on the ski re-sort’s property, but is immediately adjacent in Hamlet Village Moun-tain Side and is within close access to Nub’s Nob’s 12 miles of cross-country ski trails.

The added bonus is it’s also quite close to the orange and brown ski lifts at the resort. That provides im-mediate access to the easy downhill runs that begin with Ramblewood and Pleasant View, or the more challenging runs, such as Brownie or Southern Comfort.

It’s the ideal spot for a Nub’s Nob skier, said Dean Shorter, of Land Masters in Harbor Springs, a development and real estate com-pany based on Pleasantview Road.

“There’s something to do in ev-ery direction,” he said. “It’s a fabu-lous spot in that respect. It’s very much a lifestyle.”

Never mind how the beautiful, more than 3,000-square-foot home

is a destination in itself.The home is the first built in the

neighborhood and part of Land Master’s rental property program.

It is owned by James and Maria Olson, whose family is comprised of longtime Michigan skiers who frequently visit their beloved up north home.

Inside the front door, which is actually situated up the hill and around back, is a lovely great room with eye-luring picture windows.

The windows provide a birds-eye view of the cross-country ski trail and the development’s cob-blestone bridge.

“This lets the light in and makes it quite airy,” Shorter said, adding that the view is almost due west, where the hilly landscape is vis-ible through the stark, wintertime hardwood forest.

An impressive gas log fireplace is made with cultured cobble-stone that appears convincingly real, even on close inspection. It’s highlighted by a nearly full pine log mantle, a corner partially sliced off to create a level sur-face. Also, the ceilings are done

with cedar tongue-and-groove planks, finished with a natural oil varnish that creates an inviting hue throughout the house, a look that’s well-accentuated by solid knotty pine doors.

An enormous kitchen with expansive, dark-colored counter space allows enough room for

“There’s something to do in every direction. It’s a fabulous spot in that respect. It’s very much a lifestyle.”Dean Shorter, Land Masters


... a room for all

four seasons

Letting the light in ...

HOMElife 29

all sorts of cooks to come together for meal preparations.

A tall bar separates the kitchen from the dining area, where a beau-tiful table is adorned from above with a woodsy, iron chandelier with wildlife imagery.

A sun room is just off the dining area, a space initially envisioned as a screened-in porch. Instead, build-ers entirely enclosed the room, but included plenty of windows that eas-ily open to create the feel of an open porch in summertime.

“It’s a four-season room, basically,” Shorter said.

Between the kitchen and the tall ceiling garage is a spacious mud and laundry combination room, where there’s plenty of space for a ski party to strip off their gear and do all the washing. That chore is made easier by a long, cedar bench that runs the length of the room.

The main-level master bedroom boasts a broad, 12-foot-wide, walk-in closet as well as handmade cedar

FoothillsContinued from page 27

The mudroom


furniture. A sliding glass door opens to a deck with a private view of the hard-woods that surround.

The master bathroom has a double vanity that’s elevated above a makeup counter, along with a jetted tub and beau-tiful walk-in shower made from ceramic tile that’s well-matched with the olive shade painted on the walls.

On the lower level is a spacious fam-ily room with a kitchenette, including a sliding glass door that makes it a walk-out level, as well. Three bedrooms are also found on the lower level, including one with a sleigh bed that sleeps two, and two rooms that each keep two twin beds.

Land Masters can be contacted for more information about the rental rates and availability, as well as remaining avail-able lots in the development. Several lots are already purchased and a couple of homes currently are in the planning stage, Shorter said. HL

Land Masters 5484 Pleasantview RoadHarbor Springs(231) 526-2641www.landmasters.com

FoothillsContinued from page 29

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Plenty of room for all to sleep tight


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SnowshoeingBy Sheri McWhirter-O’Donnell • Photography by G. Randall Goss

Some people don’t have much of a sense of balance, particularly when stand-ing on skis. Those folks may never own property

at a ski resort, but that doesn’t mean they must spend Northern Michi-gan’s winter months huddled indoors by the fireplace, without a daily dose of the crisp, cold and refreshing air.

Jamie Jacklitch, outdoor recreation manager at Big Bear Adventures in In-dian River, said snowshoes can provide an easy way to enjoy your home from the otherwise inaccessible lawns or woods around your home. You can even rent a pair to try out before making an invest-ment in your own gear.

“If you can walk, you can snowshoe. There isn’t much to it. It’s a great way to get outside,” he said.

Snowshoes are intended to disperse your weight, which allows for walking across deep snow. They make a handy tool where it frequently snows, say, along the northern Lake Michigan shorelines, rolling valleys and elevated highlands found throughout the northwest tip of Lower Michigan.

“It’s a great excuse to get outside. It’s a great introductory winter sport,” Jack-litch said.

He advises snowshoers dress for the weather and keep in mind it’s a lot less work than cross-country skiing, an ac-tivity that often builds up a sweat. Also, poles provide a way to shore up bal-ance for beginners, provide assistance for challenging elevation changes or to those who venture off the trail and into fresh, undisturbed snow-covered spots.

“Snowshoes enable me to get to places I wouldn’t be able to get to in just my

boots, like getting to the river to fish. It also allows you to get off the trail — to get off the beaten path,” Jacklitch said.

“Most of the people we rent to, they stay mostly on trail.”

Wildlife viewing opportunities can increase while snowshoeing, he said, and snowshoers can experience the

sense of peace and serenity Northern Michigan winters provide. It’s quite different from the joyful and jubilant crowds on popular ski runs.

And even if snowshoers get adventur-ous and wander off the trail, deep into what feels like uncharted woods, there’s no chance of losing your way.

“You really can’t get lost because you just follow your tracks back if you think you’re lost,” Jacklitch said, laughing.

Big Bear Adventures is well-known for renting paddling gear in summer and snowshoes in winter, along with offering guided winter raft trips down the Stur-geon River. The business is situated across the street from Burt Lake State Park, near where the Sturgeon River pours into the southern portion of Burt Lake in Indian River.

Big Bear Adventures4271 S. Straits HighwayIndian River(231) 238-8181www.bigbearadventures.com

A quiet way to enjoy our winter wonderland

“If you can walk, you can snowshoe. There isn’t much to it. It’s a great way to get outside.”Jamie JacklitchBig Bear adventures

TRy IT

How to buy your own36


Tim Webster suggests snowshoes as an ideal introductory winter activity, one that provides both good exercise and a way to enjoy the snow. It’s growing in popularity, he said.

“We saw a big interest in it before Christmas, along with cross-country skis,” he said.

Webster works at the Dan Webster’s Pro Shop stores in both Petoskey and Gaylord. He said the snowshoe style you should buy depends on what terrain you intend to explore. Recreational snowshoes are best for puttering around your neighborhood or hiking easy trails, he said.

“Th ere’s really no learning curve in snow-shoeing. It’s literally strapping on the shoes and going for a hike,” Webster said. “It’s walk-ing with unusual equip-ment on your feet.”

He said poles can be useful to snowshoers, creating actual physical improvements. “Poles benefi t just about every-one because it helps you stand upright, which al-lows for better posture and better circulation,” Webster said.

Th e required snowshoe size depends on the user’s weight, and each brand and style varies. Webster suggests up-sizing for snowshoes intended for sharing with guests and other friends or family members. He also recommends spring-load-ed bindings because they make it easier to step forward and create “less to think about,” he said.

In general, a good pair of recreational snowshoes can be purchased for around $200, Webster said.

Other styles of snowshoes include more narrow trail-run-ning shoes and high mountaineering shoes for elevated hiking adventures in deep snow through steep terrain.

Dan Webster’s Pro Shop both sells and rents Atlas brand snowshoes, which Webster recommends as “durable and a great value.” Snowshoe rental fees will be applied toward the subsequent purchase of snowshoes at the store, he said.

Th inking of buying?

“It’s walking with unusual equipment on your feet.”Tim WebsterDan Webster’s Pro Shop

Petoskey store:2022 M-119Petoskey-Harbor Road(231) 348-2926

Gaylord store:302 W. Main St.Downtown Gaylord(989) 732-7003

HOW-TO

Dan Webster’s Pro Shopwww.webstersproshop.com

David ShumanREAL ESTATE ONE, PETOSKEY

Most people in Northern Michigan were leery and tentative when

2012 started about where the real estate market was headed. However, they found themselves pleasantly surprised when it seemed the improved market was here to stay. Consumers continued to feel better and when they feel better, they buy big-ticket items, like homes.

Th rough the end of November last year, our area saw a 15-per-cent increase in the number of homes sold over the same time period in 2011. We also closed the year with a 13-percent de-crease in available inventory. As expected with a decrease in sup-ply and increase in demand, we now see homes that are appro-priately priced selling in a timely fashion close to asking price. In fact, as a total group, homes priced in the $250-500,000 range sold at approximately 90-per-cent of listed prices in 2012.

Th e inventory shortage that we are experiencing is shifting the real estate landscape back to a seller’s market and I ex-pect that to continue well into 2013. Th e good news for sellers

in this type of market is that in certain cases, we may even see multiple off er situations.

Th e trend in consumer confi dence we experienced in 2012 will continue right into 2013, which means positive things for the real estate market. Right now, home buyers are buoyed by end-of-year statis-tics that show an improved unemployment outlook, in-creased holiday spending and an all-around positive outlook on our financial economy.

More good news is that as prices continue to rise, I antici-pate there will be an increase in listings as the year moves on. Also, as prices begin to creep upwards and interest rates remain low, I anticipate many of the folks who remained on the sidelines, so to speak, will get off the bench in 2013.

Our area also benefits from a trend in how people are living and the fl exibility they have to live anywhere, a direct result of technology improvements. Consumers today are looking at lifestyle before they ever even look at a home. Th ey ask them-selves, “where do I want to be?” or “what is the community like?” or “what activities are available?”

As anyone in Northern Michi-gan can attest, living here is magnifi cent. Retirees and people who have fl exibility in their jobs look to Northern Michigan as a place to buy their second homes, raise their families and ultimately live a fantastic life.

Overall, 2013 should be a strong year for the real estate sector. If you have considered buying or selling a home, now would be a good time to act. HL

2013: Moving ahead with CONFIDENCE

David Shuman is a real estate broker in the Petoskey area who closely watches the market to ensure his clients are well-prepared to both buy and sell homes. In addition, Shuman earned a master of business administration degree in fi nance and marketing, as well as spent 10 years in the banking industry, all of which collectively provides him an unique and comprehensive understanding of market conditions. Shuman can be reached at (231) 360-9149 or by sending email to [email protected]. More information about his outlook on the market is available online at www.dshumanrealtor.com.

EXPERT ADVICE


RECIPE

WhITe HotBistro concocts favored cocoa

e are solidly within the depths of winter.

Some folks wrap them-selves in blankets before the fi replace to retreat from the

outdoors during the frigid Northern Michi-gan winter, while others bundle themselves up and throw themselves into the snow with full force, whether skiers, snowshoers, snow-mobilers, or what have you. But either way, a piping hot mug of cocoa on a cold winter day is appreciated by all.

Nowhere in the region is hot chocolate favored more than in Charlevoix, where an annual cocoa competition sponsored by the city’s downtown development authority plays out during Flurry Fest. It’s a title worth brag-ging over and for the fi rst time, there’s a new winner.

“I’m a chocolate junkie,” said Allen Plungis, chef and co-owner at Edgewater Bistro in downtown Charlevoix.

Edgewater Bistro recently became the overwhelming hot chocolate contest winner with its delicious white chocolate cocoa.

“White chocolate is a preference of mine, for sure,” Plungis said.

Keith Carey, executive director of Charle-voix’s downtown development authority, said organizers designed the annual Flurry Fest to enhance the holiday open house event held by downtown merchants. Additionally, the hot chocolate contest is a way to showcase the culinary businesses in the district and it quickly grew rather popular, he said.

Grey Gables Inn Restaurant held the best hot chocolate title the last fi ve years, but could not compete this last time because of

By Sheri McWhirter-O’Donnell Photography by G. Randall Goss

HOMElife 39

WhITe Hot

scheduling confl icts. Edgewater Bistro used the opportunity and shined, be-coming the run-away winner, Carey said.

“Th ere have been some diff erent varia-tions and takes on hot chocolate and this year we had two like that — the white hot chocolate from Edgewater Bistro and a peanut butter curry hot chocolate by Staff ord’s Weathervane Restaurant,” Carey said.

Mandy Plungis, Allen’s wife and res-taurant co-owner, said they simply had to submit a “diff erent” kind of hot choco-late in the competition.

“It has a little diff erent fl avor than the milk chocolate. It’s a bit sweeter,” she said.

Th e restaurant owners agreed the taste is almost like tapioca, but not quite the same.

Carey said this last contest was the fi rst time he tasted the hot chocolate en-

tries and agreed Edgewater Bistro’s entry was scrumptious.

“I thought it was tremendous. Some-one called it ‘white chocolate melted in a cup’ and that’s about right,” he said.

Th e white chocolate cocoa is not a regular menu item at Edgewater Bistro, but is available to order in large quanti-ties. Th e minimum required order is a gallon for $18.

Edgewater Bistro’s winter hours are 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Monday through Friday for lunch and dinner, and from 8 a.m.-9 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, when breakfast is added to the off erings. Th e bistro is along-side the Pine River Channel in downtown Charlevoix, 100 Michigan Ave. Reserva-tions can be made by calling (231) 547-1700. Additionally, more information about the restaurant is available online at www.edgewaterbistro.com. HL

WHITE CHOCOLATE HOT COCOA2 cups whole milk2 cups half/half1 cup white chocolate chipsVanilla extract to tasteGarnish with whipped cream, shaved chocolate and coconut

Heat the ingredients on the stove, continuing to stir as the chocolate melts. Serve warm in a mug, garnished with whipped cream, shaved chocolate or coconut.

Petoskey, Mi • sturgeonriver.com

(231) 347-0590 Open All Year

• Pottery• Garden Décor• Bird Feeders• Handcrafted Furniture

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