RubyLemons: Up north

Aaaaaah, summer. Today in Wisconsin, the weather is perfect. The terrible heat and humidity has lifted and we can finally turn off the air conditioners and open our windows. The sky is cloudless blue and the breeze is light. It makes me think of going up north to the cabins. Oh yeah, there's nothing like taking a break from the metro area and crossing the line between deciduous and pine about halfway up the state.

We won't make it up there this year, so in wistfulness, I will share my "Up North" Etsy treasury which evokes many of those rustic, camping at the cabin feelings. And for those of you who don't know what an Etsy treasury is, it's just a collection or curated list of items for sale on Etsy - not usually items for sale by the treasury maker - that's considered bad form. It's possible the Etsy folks could choose your treasury for their front page (changed on the hour), but it's never happened to me. At any given time there are over 20,000 treasuries on Etsy. Making themed treasuries is fun and can be very addictive. I've seen treasuries based on colors, places, shapes, ideas - you name it! People get very creative.

Actually, if you click on an item below, it will take you to the listing page of that item on Etsy.

'Up Nort' Wisconsin' by RubyLemons

LAKE HOUSE shabby w... ShabtownSigns $14.99	I Changed My Mind V... RomanceWriter $2.50	Pinecone: nature in... HeatherlyDesig... $24.00	Antique Enamelware ... cabinwindows $38.00
Wonderful Vintage I... vintagecreeksi... $75.00	Summer Swim 8"... LizBoston $20.00	Vintage Wild West A... Fynd $15.00	Sage Green Cabin Cr... alorasadorable... $16.50
Vintage Modern Chil... Iheartvintageh... $245.00	wms 9 mens 8 vtg au... oklaragbottomt... $39.99	Rustic Wall Hook TheBentTreeGal... $12.00	8x12 Door County f2images $25.00
Vintage Camping and... FruFruFleaMark... $45.00	Coleman Camping Jug JuliaJan $15.00	Vintage DECO BAKELI... lacreeperie $23.00	Muskie Fishing Lure... MoonPhaseMuski... $28.00

Treasury tool by Red Row Studio.

I hope you're having a relaxing summer

and having at least a few

of those "up north" moments.

Wednesday, August 11, 2010

You Know You're "Up North" when...

"Up North." I grew up hearing that designation as everyone's destination for a summer getaway. Up north to the cottage. Up north to the cabin. Up north to the lake. Everyone always went "up north." And that's just where we've been -- thanks to kind friends who lent us the use of their cabins on the Paint River in Michigan's Upper Peninsula.

Where is "up north?" Well, I suppose it could be anywhere north of where you're standing, but I have always held that "up north" in Wisconsin doesn't begin until about 45 degrees latitude - generally any point parallel with Wausau.

That's when the landscape starts to change from rolling farmlands dotted with cow pastures and red barns to dense forests - some loaded with rows of telephone pole pines planted back in the 30s and 40s by the Civilian Conservation Corps. Yep, "up north" is like going to another country... remote, beautiful, and peaceful.

But you don't need a map to know when you're officially up north. Nosiree. You just need to know a few common sense indicators and landmarks. Besides the nearest town having only one movie showing, how do you know when you're "up north?"