…my Dad would take us, me, my sister and a couple friends, to the Lion’s Den. A mysterious place. No one was ever there but us. Had to walk a long way from the road, down through a deep gorge, that cut through the 100 to 150 foot high bluffs; on the Western shore of the Great Lake Michigan; about 20 miles North of Milwaukee. As kids; as the bluffs rose and swallowed us up; then, suddenly, opened to that glorious great lake horizon; we pretty much thought we had hiked to a very wild, and special place. And I thought only my Dad knew about this magical place.
As the years passed into decades I no longer knew how to even find “the Lion’s Den.” I never visited the place as an adult. A couple years ago I shared my memories of this place with my daughter, Tanya, and couple other people. And discovered that the Lion’s Den had become “known” and civilized; with walking paths; and board walks; and stairs from the top of the bluffs to the beach. I suggested to Tanya, “We should go have a look some time.”
A week or so ago Tanya texted, “How about we do waffles and the Lion’s Den on your birthday?” The waffles came up because a year ago I bought a turn of the century cast iron Griswald waffle iron for the ridiculous price of $15. It needed some tender loving care but was solid and fine under the rust and grime. It sat in my garage during the move. At some point Tanya, a consummate collector, connoisseur, and cast iron gourmet cook, and I decided it would be better refurbished and used by her, than sitting in the garage. She did a marvelous job of reconditioning, seasoning, and loved using it. Then a couple weeks ago she called from a flea market and said, “I found a number 9.” So now we have two and mine was returned on my birthday yesterday; when we made waffles on this 100 year old iron and hiked the Lion’s Den. A very fine day. To be sure.
(click photographs for larger view)
above: M Monochrom, 50 mm Summilux Asph
And of course the ashes of Mom and Dad
are very much a part of this Great Lake
The message, “I will love you every step of the way”
(and there are a lot of steps)
above: M, 28 mm Summicron Asph
above: M8, 40 mm Summicron w/B+W 093 IR filter