Photo Credit to Bob King
Lion or Lamb?
From “Folk Wisdom,” by Sadie Stein
“In like a lion, out like a lamb” has always seemed a straightforward enough proverb: when March starts, it’s still winter, and by the end of the month spring has begun. True, in many climates the weather hasn’t quite reached the lamb stage by the end of the month—it’s more like a surly cat, maybe, or one of those territorial honking geese. But we get the idea. I have seen the phrase referred to as an “eighteenth-century saying” in more than one unreliable Internet source, while Wikipedia calls it “an old Pennsylvania” saw.
As it turns out, there are a few origin theories. There’s the stars, for one. At this time of year, Leo is the rising sign; by April, it’s Aries.(“kid” just doesn’t have quite the same ring as “lamb,” though). Some have pointed out that Jesus arrives as the sacrificial lamb, but will return as the Lion of Judah. Which, weather-wise, means a false spring.
One of the earliest citations is in one Thomas Fuller’s 1732 compendium, Gnomologia: Adagies and Proverbs; Wise Sentences and Witty Sayings, Ancient and Modern, Foreign and British. The authors give the wording as “Comes in like a Lion, goes out like a Lamb.”
In fact, the book has several excellent March proverbs, which don’t seem to have had the same lasting power:
So many mists in March you see / So many frosts in May will be.
A Peck of March-Dust, and a Shower in May / Makes the Corn green, and the Fields gay.
March many-Weathers rain’d and blow’d / But March grass never did good.
I suppose we can see why that last one didn’t catch on. You can just imagine a group of old farmers or alewives sitting around and spinning seasonal proverbs of a winter evening. And then they get to that one—let’s call him Yeoman Goode—and he kind of panics, and that comes out, and there’s radio silence.
Commodore’s Comments
Hello neighbors and friends,
This month spring will arrive! March 20th is the first day of spring. It marks the vernal equinox. Once again, as the sun shines over the equator, we will experience 12 hours of day and 12 hours of night. The Old Farmers Almanac predicts a warmer and wetter spring. That warmth will gradually melt the stunning ice blanket that covers Birch Lake!
There have been some individuals taking advantage of the opportunity to ice fish. Often with their tents, they brave the cold and take on the challenge. It is a sight to see!
The Winterfest party at the Sheffiecks was a fun time with our neighbors! Thank you Mike and Julie for kindly hosting your annual party. Your hospitality is much appreciated!
Happy St. Patrick’s Day to all! May the luck of the Irish be with you! There are numerous places to celebrate!
My son Johnny, especially looks forward to seeing bagpipers and playing his bagpipes too! Johnny, Kelton, and I will be walking in the South Bend St Patrick’s Day Parade with the “Place To Be Me” float. This organization provides activities for people with special abilities.
I am excited to announce that the annual Spring Dinner will be at the Hotel Elkhart Tapestry Collection by Hilton, on Saturday, May 17, starting at 5pm. Located on Main Street in downtown Elkhart, this 1923 historic landmark hotel has been beautifully restored with a jazz influenced grandeur.
The dinner event will be on the 9th floor. It will start with a cash bar cocktail hour from 5pm to 6pm. During the cocktail hour, we can socialize and enjoy the outdoor “High Note” balcony bar with a fabulous view of the city. At 6pm, the dinner will begin in the lovely decorated Aria ballroom. There will be a plated meal served that will include the following:
Gala Apple Salad: Baby kale blend, gala apple, parmesan crisp, shaved asparagus, dried cranberry, candied pecan, fig balsamic vinaigrette
Chicken Roulade: Bacon wrapped chicken breast stuffed with spinach and feta tarragon cream sauce
Garlic mashed potatoes
Green beans
Rolls and butter
Crème Brulée Cheesecake
Hotel Elkhart is a new place to experience a Birch Lake event! I have diligently negotiated with Hotel Elkhart to keep the cost as low as possible. The cost per person will be $42. Free parking is located near the building.
Please pay for your reservation on the Birch Lake Yacht Club website.
Contact me (574-220-9132) if another form of payment is necessary or if you have any questions.
We come from many different places, but we are all in the same boat, we love Birch Lake!
~Commodore Julie
Fleet Captain’s Corner
Detroit News (DN) Iceboat Sailing Update
Early in February there were two days where the wind, ice conditions, and lack of snow on the ice made it perfect to get the DN back out on the ice here at Birch Lake. Bill Butler, Scott Troeger, and I got to spend a few hours over the two days trading rides on the iceboat and had a blast zooming up and down the west shore.
The wind was coming out of the east which made it perfect for sailing on the west side of the lake. We learned a lot and got a lot more comfortable with sailing the DN. Had a lot of fun and got the boat going pretty fast.
The first day the ice was crystal clear and was pretty freaky walking on when you could see to the bottom. At the end of the second day, I tried to sail around the lake for the first time. The first half went great but lost the wind on the east side and learned it is difficult to sail downwind in the DN. I did manage to make my way back home though with a final assist from Bill on his ATV.
At Winterfest, talked with several other sailors who expressed interest in giving it a go and hoped to get the DN out again. We tried to get out for a third day after Winterfest, adding Herb Cleveland and Pat McGann to the group, but the wind on the lake died down and we couldn’t make it happen. Then a big snow storm followed and we haven’t been able to go since. The snow now has mostly melted so we hope to maybe go out again in early March.
Eagle Lake’s MC Regatta
The Eagle Lake Sailing Club & MC Fleet #19 have Invited sailors from Birch Lake to attend and participate in the 12th Annual Eagle Lake Open MC Scow Regatta at Eagle Lake on Saturday, June 7, 2025. This is a different event than the Interlake Regatta which we hosted here at Birch Lake last year. Diamond Lake has agreed to host that event this year. If anyone is interested in attending either of these events, please don’t hesitate to contact me and I can get you additional information.
~ F.C. Bob
Public Service Announcements
Daylight Savings Time
Don’t forget to “Spring Ahead” on Sunday, March 9th!
Update Your Email Preferences
You can choose which emails you want to receive from the Birch Barker! Please click here to update your email preferences.
BLYC Website Updates
Be sure to check out the updated BLYC website! We have recently added an Archives section with copies of Birch Barkers dating back to the very first edition in July of 1944. Eventually, I plan to add a section of historical information about Birch Lake.
There is also a Photographs section on the site where we will post photos from lake events. There are currently photos from the Earl Troeger, Jr. Memorial Regatta, the Fall Dinner, and photos taken by Birch Lake residents of the Northern Lights in October.
If you need to contact any of the Birch Lake Yacht Club Directors, Officers, or Committee Chairs, click on the “About BLYC” link at the top of the page to find the list of members and contact information.
If you have any old Barkers that are not posted on the site, historical information, or photos you would like to share, please email birchbarker1@gmail.com so that I can add them.
BLYC Directory
Corrections and updates to the new directory? Send any updates to birchbarker1@gmail.com and we’ll publish them here for folks to update their directories.
2025 Yacht Club Dues
It’s never too early to pay your BLYC dues for next summer! You can pay online here or mail a check payable to BLYC to:
Deb Spratt, Treasurer
18100 Farmington Hills Dr.
South Bend, IN 46637
Events
2025 BLYC Board Meetings
Board meetings take place at 9 a.m. on Saturday mornings at the Yacht Club, and are open to all lake residents. The 2025 schedule is TBA. We will meet in May, June, July, August, and September.
Upcoming Events
- May 17, 2025 – Spring Dinner at Hotel Elkhart, 5pm
- June TBA – Trivia Night
- June TBA – Commodore / Vice Commodore Party + Stock the Bar
- June TBA – Spaghetti Dinner
- July 5, 2025 – Boat Parade
- July 5, 2025 – Fireworks
- July 6, 2025 – Pancake Breakfast
- July 18, 2025 – Ladies’ Golf Outing
- July 25, 2025 – Men’s Golf Outing
- July TBA – Family Picnic
- August 2, 2025 – Corn & Sausage Roast
- August TBA – Fall Dinner
- September TBA – Fall Frolic
- October TBA – Bad Patty Crockpot Challenge
Kids of the Month
So many great Kid of the Month submissions this month! Keep them coming!
Just so we wouldn’t feel left out, Winter spread a bit further south, finding the Scholes while on Hilton Head Island. Submitted by Jill Scholes.
Johnny Dickey skiing at Bittersweet with SOLO. Submitted by Julie Dickey.
The Robinson (south side) boys and new lake residents, the Hartman boys (south side), celebrated ice hockey weather with friends. Submitted by Jill Robinson
Submitted by Bob King
The Grundys got in on the skating action, too. Submitted by Phil Vitale.
🤍🤍🤍🤍🤍🤍🤍
Please share your own kids (or pets or whatever!) to be featured in an upcoming issue. You can email them to birchbarker1@gmail.com.
Classifieds
Wanted to Buy: My large extended family has owned a cottage called “Chaos” (Cove) for 60 years. Our place will stay in the family… but our own individual needs have expanded and we are looking for more room so our grandkids can stay during the summer and make memories here, too. We are looking for a 3 or 4 bedroom place on the lake. If you are thinking about selling, please email Ann Nyberg at ann.nyberg@gmail.com.
Wanted to Buy: Bill and Sherry Holleman are looking to get back on to Birch Lake part-time or full-time. If you are thinking about selling, please email Sherry at dakotalynn01@aol.com.
Services: I do sewing and mending at fair prices – zippers, hemming, small alterations; call Kathy at 269-476-9317.
Barker Funnies
(click on image to enlarge)
