Strangers 6 & 7 - Marsha & Ruth Ann [ Michigan Family, Child & Fine Art Portrait Photographer ]

As much as I like to think I color outside the lines and blaze my own trail instead of following the one already marked & mapped - I do sadly realize I am also a creature of habit.  And so, on my travels to my beloved northwestern Michigan to do an environmental portrait session & a commercial shoot of a cottage vacation rental - I found myself stopping (as usual) at the Clare Michigan Welcome Center. This is always my last rest stop on the journey north - only 2 hours from my final destination of the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore.

It seemed only fitting that I capture some strangers for the 31 Strangers Project at the Welcome Center! Marsha & Ruth Ann were happy to oblige! Marsha (left) usually works at the Port Huron center, but was called to duty to the Clare Center. They obviously were very happy to be Michiganders (Wolverines?) and were delighted to impart some facts about their state.

Michigan has over 64,980 inland lakes.
Other than California, Michigan grows the widest variety of fruits and vegetables..... and Michigan doesn't have to irrigate.
The name Michigan is a French alteration of the Ojibwe word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake".
A person in the state is never more than six miles from a natural water source or more than 85 miles from a Great Lakes shoreline.
Lake Huron rushes into the St. Claire River at the same force as Niagara Falls.
Michigan has more lighthouses than any other state.

... And just some of the reasons I'm always heading north!  Thank you Marsha & Ruth Ann for participating in the Strangers Project!

31 Strangers Project Goes to Northwestern Michigan!

Last week, I took 3 days off from my crazy busy schedule (which will just keep getting crazier until year's end) for some R&R in Northern Michigan. Of course Maggie came along, & so did the 31 Strangers in 31 Days Project! There are many reasons I'm drawn back to Michigan (in fact it feels like my home more than my "real" home), the landscape is incredible & the perfect inspiration for an artistic soul and the people you meet here are just the best!

So, on my first day north, I wandered up to one of my favorite towns - Empire, Michigan. I was on my way to stop in at Joe's Friendly Tavern to grab lunch to take to Empire Beach. I saw this interesting little camper on the street & just knew the owners had to be in The Friendly.... & they were! Meet Strangers 20 & 21: PJ & Roger. They were more than happy to show off their Teardrop Camper. They have owned the little camper for 4 years, after tiring of doing the tent thing.The couple, from Springfield, Illinois had been camping in Michigan's Upper Peninsula and were returning home. I now want a Teardrop Camper! This little thing had everything you could imagine - a queen bed, tons of storage (for something so small) and a camping kitchen on the rear complete with a small sink and stove top! And... the camper charges while rolling on down the road!

While oohing & aahing over the camper, Stranger #22 came along! Joseph had stopped by the Post Office and saw PJ giving a tour and was drawn in! He had the most fabulous blue mirror sunglasses I've seen & of course I had to do a self portrait with them! Roger got in on the mirror portrait action, too!

And after saying my goodbyes, I continued to Empire Beach to watch the waves and have my lunch!