TheTimberRockShoreStory

OneofusgrewupintheUP;theotherinSwitzerland.WemetmanyyearsagoinCalifornia,carvedoutcareersandasuccessfullifeand,intheprocess,werefortunateenoughtobuildaverynicehomeinasmallvillageontheSanFranciscoBayand,overtheyears,traveltomorethan100countries.Oneofourdreamswastobuildalogandstonehome;aretreattogetawayfromitall.WevisitedtheUpperPeninsulascoresoftimesovertheyearstospendtimewithfamilyand,tenyearsago,rentedabeautifulhomeonLakePetticoattospendatwoweeksummervacation.

Onenight,wewerepaddle-boatingaroundthelakewhenwespottedatiny,weathered‘forsale’signonwhatappearedtobehundredsoffeetofruggedshorelinewiththeforestgrowingrighttothewater’sedge.Tomakealongstoryshort;wepurchasedthelandandsetaboutdesigningourdreamhome.OnathreeweekcruisethroughAsiaandaroundAustraliawespenteverydayatseabythesideofthepoolwithhugedrawingpadsandreamsofpaperdesigningthehomeandgrounds.

Oncewe’dcompletedourplansitwastimetofindabuilder;someonecapableofbringingourvisiontolife.AfterafewfitsandstartswefoundanincrediblelocalbuilderwithimpeccablecredentialsnamedGregPaltzerwhoserulewastoonlyworkononehomeatatimeandnoteventalkaboutthenextprojectuntilhe’dcompletedtheonehewasdoing.Thefirsttimeweshookhishandweknewwe’dfoundtherealdeal;someonewhowouldbuildasolidhome.

Intotal,morethantwenty-eightdifferentcontractors,subcontractors,landscapers,arboristsandartisansworkedonthehomeandproperty.Weremainfriendswiththemall;theyweretruecraftspeopleandimmenselyproudoftheirwork.Fortenyearswe’vealsoworkedveryhardcrafting,digging,haulingandmovinghundredsoftonsofdirt,gravel,rock,stoneandmulch.Wehavelovedeverymomentofthedesigning,buildingandlivingexperience.It’sbeenadecadeandit’stimeforthenextsetofstewardstotakethereinsofTimberRockShore.Inthefollowingparagraphswe’vetriedtocaptureandbringalivesomeofthemagicofourplaceinthenorthwoodsonaprivatelake.

TheCentralLocation–WelovethelocationofTimberRockShore.It’sabout45-50minutestoMarquetteandthesamelengthoftimetoHoughtonandHancock.BothareUniversitycitieswithvibrantdowntownsfilledwithgreatrestaurants,artgalleries,farmer’smarkets,greatmedicalfacilitiesandallthegreatthingsthatcomewithbeingUniversitytowns.BetweenMarquetteandHoughton--Hancockaremanysmallvillagesandtownswithgreatshoppingforprovisions.OurfavoriteweeklytripisintoMarquettewherewestockuponfreshfishfromThill’s,thelocalfishmonger,breadsfromtheMarquetteBakingCompany,localproducefromtheMarquetteCo-Opandtopitoffwithalunchatoneofthescoresofgreatethnicrestaurantsincluding;TheRicePaddyforwonderfulThaifood,Elizabeth’sSteakhouseforlunchonthedeck,SolAztecaforgreatMexicanfood,andtheSteinhausforgreatGerman-AmericanclassicsandSundaybrunches.AgreatwaytospendanentiredayisbyhavingbreakfasthereattheLake,takingguestsonaPicturedRocksCruise,bookinganearlydinneratElizabeth’sandthenwalkingacrossMattsonParkforashowattheLakeSuperiorTheaterCompany

whichputsonitssummershowsinaworkingBoatHouseontheharborandthendrivingbacktothelake,havinganightcapandsittingonthefrontporchwithourgueststalkinguntilthemiddleofthenight.

TheFence,theGateandStewardship-In,TheMendingWall,poetRobertFrosttellsthestoryoftwoneighborsseparatedbyastonefencewhojointlywalkiteveryyeartoinspectandrepairthedamagedonebyweatherandpeople.Inthepoem,Frostrepeatedlyasksthequestion,“Whydoweneedawall?YougrowapplesandIgrowpineandmypineswillnevercomeoverandeatyourapples,”towhichtheotherresponds,“Becausegoodfencesmakegoodneighbors.”Weagree.Afenceisn’tonlyaboutsecurity(thedarndeerdon’tevenseemtoknowthereisone)asmuchasadailyreminderthatwe’veagreedtoberesponsibleforandtakecareofthepropertyunderourstewardship.Thegateandstonepillarsdoprovidesecuritybutmoreimportantlyprovideprivacy.Whenthegatesareopen(andtheyoftenare)neighborsknowthey’rewelcome.Whenthegateisclosedit’sbecausewe’reworking,relaxingorenjoyingprivatetimewithfamily.Thegatealsoprovidespeaceofmindwhenwe’reaway.

TheDriveway-Lotsofpeoplewantastraightshotfromthepavedroadtotheirlakeplace.Itprobablymakessnowremovalalittleeasierbutwewantedalong,meanderingdrivewaythatprovidesaforetasteofwhat’stocome.Slowlydrivingdownthedrivewayyoupasspines,ferns,maple,birchandoakandeveryfewfeetyou’reprovidedapeekthroughthetreesofwhat’stocome.“Isthatagardenandfireplaceontheright,”youwonderbutyou’renottoosure.“Isthatthelake,”butagainyou’renottoosure.“Whatabigloghomethatis,”but,again,you’renottoosure.Thedrivewayislikeaslowrevealofabeautifulpicture.

Seethegorgeouslightpolesliningthedrive?Eachwasdesignedtominimzeanylight

pollutionwhilecastingabeauitfulsoftdownlightonthedriveway.

TheFrontPorch–whowouldhaveguessedthatthefrontporchwouldbecomeourfavoritegotoplacetorelaxandspendtime?Withitsantlerchandelier,massivelogcolumns,acaststonefloor,rusticwoodenfurniture(includingarockerofcourse)allcraftedintheAdirondackstheporchfacesthehuge,lushlawn,iswatchedoverbyatoweringtotempolethatdoesn’tmissatrickandhasaclearviewofthevegetablegardens,outdoorfireplaceandthenorthernbay.There’splentyoftimeduringthedaytoenjoyourlakeviewbutthefrontporchhasbecometheplaceforsteamingmugsofcoffeeandthenewspaperintheearlymorningandasundownerattheendoftheday.IfthemorningoreveningischillytherearetwopatioheatersandhomemadewoolknitAfghanstokeepyoutoastywarm.

TheFirePit–Shortlyafterconstructionofthehomeandrunningalittleoverbudgetwedecidedweneededafirepitandoptedtodoitourselves.DownbythedockourExcavator/ArtisanExtraordinaireRudyGoupillehadmovedseveralhugebouldersasbigassmallcarscreatinganiftysemicircleanditwasinfrontoftheprotectivewallofrocksthatwestarteddigging.Afewfeetdownwehitasolidsheetofrockthatwouldbecomethebottomofthefirepit.Toourgoodfortunewediscoveredthatundergroundchannelsofaircreatedaperfectdraftforthefirepit.Itlightseasy,burnslongandburnstoasheverytime.Wecan’tbegintocountthenumberoflatenightfiresdownbythelakewhere,accompaniedbygroupsoffamilyandfriends,wetelltalltalesandstories,catch-up,reminisceandenjoyroastingmarshmallowsontheendsofsticks.

TheGarden

FromthemomentweboughtTimberRockShorewekeptlookingatapieceoflandonthenorthernbaywhichsitsafewfeetlowerthantherestofthepropertyandwonderedwhatwecoulddowithit.Italsoreceivesalldaysummersunfrommorninguntilevening.Eventuallyweclearedthehugerocks,leveleditandbuiltthreelargeraisedgardenbedsoutoflogslikethehouse.Inordertokeepdeeroutofthe

gardenseachbedwasoutfittedwithafencethateasilyrollsbackforweedingandharvesting.Thesegardenbedsprovideasummer’sbountyofstrawberries,greenbeans,lettuce,Swisschard,onions,cabbageandpotatoes.Downinthebasementwe’vebuiltabintokeepourpotatoesandonionsfreshallwinterlong.It’shardtoexplainthepleasureofhostingabigChristmasdinnerandservingfood,includingtheworld’sbestmashedpotatoes,thatyougrewyourself.The2015potatoharvestwasgreatandsomeofthespudsweighedinat1.5pounds;greatforbaking,mashingorcuttingupandsteamingwithsomechoppedSwisschard.Ifyou’reofacertainage,you’llrememberthepicnictablesthatthestateofMichiganhadinallthestateparksandrestareas.Eachweighedhundredsofpounds,wasbeautifullystainedandfinishedandnobodywasgoingtomakeoffwithoneofthestate’spicnictables.WeaskedourcontractorGregifhecouldbuildoneforusand,asalways,heoverdeliveredandexceededexpectations.It’smassiveandsitsbetweenthegardenboxes;aperfectplaceforacrispglassofcoolwhitewineandasaladmadefromingredientsharvestedmomentsbeforeanddippedinafreshbowloficewatertorinseoffthesandandtoppedwithabalsamicreduction.Youwillnevertasteasaladasfreshanddeliciousasonefromthegarden.

TheOutdoorFireplaceandOven

Withinacoupleofyearswerealizedthegardenboxesandpicnictablewerealittlelonelybythemselvesandwhattheyneededwasagiantoutdoorfireplaceandovenformakingpizzasandbakingbread.Wedrewapictureofwhatwewanted,calledGregandaskedhimifhecouldbuildit.Sadly,heexplained,he’drecentlyhadmajorreconstructivekneesurgeryandprobablycouldn’thelpusout.Theeventualworkaroundwastohavehimbetheforemanandthetwoofustheworkersandoverthecourseofasummerwerentedamini-excavator,dugdownfourfeettobedrock,framedthebaseandmixed16,000poundsofconcretejusttogetustoground.Thenwebuiltanelevenfoottallfireplaceoutofconcretebrick,faceditwithstoneandmortarandhadagreatlocalsteelfabricationcompanymakethegrills,doorsandframe.Weighinginat56,000poundsnoteventwoduelingmoosewillevermovethisstone.But,thentherealtestcame.Howwoulditburn?Weluckedout.Fillthefireboxwithfallenhardwoodfromtheproperty,lightamatchandstandback;theovenfiresto500degreesinaveryshorttime.There’snogreaterenjoymentthanbuyingfreshItalianSopressoandPepperonifromRalphsDelicatessenandslicingitthin,sautéinglotsofslicedonionsfinishedoffwithahitofBalsamic,thinlyslicingafewgentlybakedpotatoes,cleaninghandfulsoffreshbasil,thinlyslicingbig,juicyMichiganfieldtomatoesfromSpiessel’sTentedMarketandputtingoutagenerousbowlofoneofTimberRockShore’ssignaturedishesSlopSauce(acombinationofgroundbeef,pork,garlic,onions,choppedspinach,finelychoppedmushroomssimmeredforhoursinredwine)andgivingeachguesttheirownroundofpizzadoughandlettingeveryonecreatetheirownpizzamasterpiece.Pizzastakeaboutfiveminutesforacrispcrust.Duringonelatenightpizzapartyinthesummerof2014mybrotherandsister-in-law,whoownagreatplaceonneighboringBeaufortLake,suggestedweshouldallheadtotheirplaceforamidnightpontoonridetowitnesstheSuperMoon.And,sowiththirtyyearoldclassicsfromtheRollingStonesblastingaway,andallofussingingthewords,wemadeourmidnightcruise.ThesearethememoriesthattakeplaceroutinelyandonthespurofthemomentatTimberRockShore.

Blueberries–TimberRockShorehasbeenblessedwithanabundanceofwildblueberryplantsgrowingneartheshore.Tothatwe’veaddedloadsofcultivatedblueberryplantsandthispastsummerwehadabumpercropagain.Imagehowwonderfulitistobeabletowakeupinthemorning,donapairofgardeningshoes,walkafewfeetawayandfillupabigbowlwithfreshblueberriesforyourbreakfast.Thisisonethattrulyblowsguestsaway.

TheWonderfulFoods–WecookandbakeallthetimeandthekitchenatTimberRockShoreisequippedwitheverytopofthelineappliance,cutting,trimming,mixingandmincingdeviceknowntoman.And,fourdifferentsetsofbeautifuldishesmakeeveryofferingadelighttogazeupon.OneofthefavoritedishescreatedhereareWhitefishCakes,bornoutofnecessitywhenashipmentofcrabforCrabCakesdidn’tarriveontime.WecallthemConfettiWhiteFishCakesandtheyareashowstopperandsimple.Beginbytakingonehalfofagreen,yellow,andredpepperandseveralchoppedgreenonionsandgentlypulseuntilveryfinelychopped.Thisisyourconfetti.Next,removetheskinfromtwopoundsofwhitefishfilets,cutthefiletsintosmallpiecesandpulseverygentlyinthefoodprocessorafewtimes.Removethepulsedfish,toitaddtheconfetti,onewholeegg,onelargedollopofmayonnaise,onecupofroughlychoppedseveral-dayoldbreadandmixwell.Then,preparetwobowls;onewithtwobeateneggsandtheotherwithhomemade,driedbreadcrumbsthathavebeenpulsedinthefoodprocessor.Formsmallcakeswithyourhands,dipintheeggmixtureandthendipinthebreadcrumbsandplaceinalarge,mediumhotfryingpanthathasaboutan1/8thinchofhotoil.Fryuntilgoldenbrown(aboutthreeminutesoneachside)andremovetoacookiesheetlinedwithparchmentpaperandkeptinawarmoven(175)untilyou’vecompletedallthecrabcakes.CreateatartarsauceusinghomemadeorHellman’sMayonnaise,lemonjuice,somesweetrelishandafewredpepperflakesandyourguestswillbeamazed.

Naptime-Therearen’tmanynicerpleasuresthangrabbingtheoccasionalnapandTimberRockShorehaslotsofplacestosettledownwithafatSundaynewspaperoragreatbookandreadone’sselfintoagentlesleep.There’satoweringrockfireplaceintheGreatRoomwhereyoucangetabigenoughblazegoingtowarmtheentirehouseandtheleathersectionalsofaisagreatplacetoreadandnap.Indesigningthehugeleathersofaweputtheshinysidedown(it’snofunnappingandslidingaroundoncoldshinyleather)andputthewarm,softsuedesideup.Theonlythingthatcanmakeanaptherebetteristohaveafootballgameyouaren’treallyinterestedininthebackgroundforsomeambientnoise.Upstairsintheloftisanotherwonderfulsoftleathersofathat’llcauseyoutofallasleepin

minutesbutthehandsdownfavoriteforoneofusisthelong,paddedbenchinthegabledwindowoftheupstairsguestroomwhereyoucanprepareforyournapbywatchinghugesnowflakesgentlyfloattoearth;it’salmosthypnotic.

Imaginetakingalongwinter’snapinfrontofaroaringblaze

TheLake–We’rekayakers,hikers,swimmers,andsnowshoersandloversofwildlifeandifyoulovethosethingstooyouwon’tfindabetterplace.Ittakesaboutanhourtokayakaroundthelake,therearetrailsforhikingandfourwheelingeverywhere,doingthelakeonsnowshoesisgreatfunandyouwillseemoose,deer,bear,eagles,bobcats,wolves,foxesandbirdsofeverysize,shapeandcolor.

Here’sapictureweincludedonourChristmasCardoneyear

FallenWood–Forusthere’snogreatersenseofwellbeingthanbeingself-sufficientandthatcomestothewoodfortheindoorfireplace,firepitandthegardenfireplace/oven.Eachyearweloseoneortwotreesofnaturalcauses(they’realwaysreplacedbyyounger,heartiertrees)andit’sgreatfuntocleantheforestflooroffallendebris,chopup(orhavechoppedup)thefallentreesandmaintainseveralpilesoffirewoodaroundthepropertywhichwetarpinthewintertime.

TheAssociation–PetticoatLakeisaprivatelakewhichmeansthatitcanonlybeaccessedbyitsowners;thereisnopublicaccess.Wehaveanassociationthatgovernsthelakeandalmosteveryhomeownerbelongsbutitisn’tcompulsory.Thegreatthingabouttheassociationisthatnobodyhasbeenabletolocateacopyofthebylawsforyears.Onceayeareveryoneonthelakegetstogetherforapotlucklunch–someofthesepeoplecanreallycook-andfollowinglunchthePresidentcallsthebusinessmeetingtoorder.Thebigdiscussioneveryyearisaboutwhatkindoffishtoplantandhowmuchtospendplantingthem.Thegreatfreshwatersunfish;theCrappie,hasbeenwininginrecentyearsandmostyearsacouplethousandareplanted.AssociationmembersmaintaintheboatdockonavoluntarybasisandeachyearwegenerallyholdaRockbassTournamenttoseehowmanyoftheseuglylittlefishwecangetofthelake.Lastyear’stournamentwascancelledbecausewemightfinallyhavebeensuccessfulinoureffortstoeradicatethem.Theonlyotherruleoftheassociationisthatjetskis,waterskiingandspeedboatsarelimitedtothehoursbetween11:00AMand7:00PMandeveryonecomplies.TheonlyotheractivityscheduledbyethAssociationistheannual4thofJulyBoatParadewhichtakesplaceat7:00PM.Allthepontoonboats,fishingboats,kayaksandcanoesgatherinagrandprocessionthatcirclesthelaketwotimestootingtheirhornsandwavingtoanylandlockedneighborsorpeoplewhochosetowatchfromshore.It’salsoatraditionforownerstosetofffireworksonthe4thofJuly.Getthis.Membershipintheassociationisanoverwhelming$50ayearalthoughsometimestheyrequestafewextrabuckslikewhenweputinthenewdock..

TheMichigammeMarket–astemptingasitistoneverleaveTimberRockShorethetruthisthatmostdayswemakeaquicktriptotheMichigammeMarket.TheyhaveatleastoneofalmosteverythingandwhatgreaterindulgencecouldyouenjoyonahotsummerdaythanadipofApplePieicecreambythefamouslocalJilbertDairy.TheMarketistenminutesawayifyougothelongwayandfivemileslessif

youtakewhatthelocalscall,TheSummerRoad.TheSummerRoadwouldbemoreaptlynamedtheWinterRoadbecauseinthesummeryourcargetsdustyandweavoidit.Whowantsadustygarage?

It’saprivate,peaceful,solid,nearperfecthomeandlivingexperienceforsomeonewholivestobeagoodstewardinalltheydo,whoisquicktolaughandsmile,wholovestoentertainbutalsobealoneandprivate.TimberRockShoreiswhatdreamsaremadeof.

TimberRockShoreisn’tabuildingoraplace;it’sremarkableandrewardinglivingfordiscerningstewardswhoget‘it’.

Timingiseverythingandyou’reinluck.Verymotivatedsellerswhoneedtotakeadvantageofanamazinginternationalopportunityownitnow.Itcanbeyours.