An opressively hot August has given way to dryer, cooler temperatures in September here in lower Michigan. Katie suggested I put up the backyard tent. After all, she hasn’t gone on any adventures this summer, so the least I could do is give her an outdoor sleeping experience.
I thought that was an excellent idea.
She doesn’t sleep through the night anymore, though, so about 3 a.m. every morning she wakes me up and we venture out into the yard for a walk about.

While she’s choosing her spot, I’m usually looking up at the sky. There’s almost always something to see.
One night I noticed a perfectly shapped “C” of clouds moving in. The left half of the sky was clear with sparkling stars. The right was rolling with clouds. I tried to hurry Katie along so we could go inside to get the camera.

But by the time I got her inside, then found the camera, switched lens, attached it to the tripod and changed the settings, the perfect “C” was just a bunch of clouds.
Still, it was fun, and something I wouldn’t have done if my Katie-girl hadn’t picked the perfect time to wake me up.

Ediit: These images will show best if you’re in a dark room and looking at a screen larger than your phone.
September 5, 2021 at 5:03 pm
Night owl photographer. We need to get you some night vision goggles and appropriate camera gear.
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September 8, 2021 at 8:39 pm
That would be interesting.
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September 6, 2021 at 5:46 am
I like these Dawn, especially the one of the house with the left side dark and the right side light.
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September 8, 2021 at 8:40 pm
Just goes to prove that even in my yard, which is lit by neighborhood lights and my own living room, there are still plenty of stars that my eyes don’t see but the camera does.
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September 6, 2021 at 10:00 am
When Monkey gets me up early, he chooses his spot to pee while I look up and marvel at the stars. How I wish I could capture their beauty! Almost makes the getting-up-early worthwhile, doesn’t it?!?
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September 8, 2021 at 8:40 pm
Yes it does. After Katie crosses the bridge I won’t get outside nearly as much and I’m sure I’m going to miss a lot of really cool stuff.
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September 6, 2021 at 11:51 am
Awesome! I assume you don’t have mosquitoes the size of house flies in Michigan.
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September 8, 2021 at 8:41 pm
Oh, yes we do. I got eaten up pretty bad but it was worth it.
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September 6, 2021 at 9:02 pm
Oh, that night sky!
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September 8, 2021 at 8:41 pm
I know!
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September 6, 2021 at 9:48 pm
I like that house/sky photo too. And I loved those barn photos and the gallery layout that you posted a few blogs posts ago. Most of all I love the photos you take of flowers and birds and, need I even mention it, photos of Katie. 🙂
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September 8, 2021 at 8:41 pm
Awww, thank you Ann! I love doing it all.
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September 7, 2021 at 6:42 am
The pictures looked great on my iPad and it was dark in the room! The last picture was my favorite as it shares that you and Katie were up but the rest of the house was still sleeping.
Oh and by the way… the sky was great too!
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September 8, 2021 at 8:42 pm
I spend a lot of time up and out when the rest of the house is sleeping. One night I spent an hour or so out in the yard while Katie slept in the tent. She didn’t even miss me.
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September 7, 2021 at 6:47 am
Good morning. Was out in the darkened bark yard moments ago with our young dog. I am the one who awakened early, she would have slept until dawn and then some. There is something special about the night sky and how the stars are aligned to our eyes but randomly positioned throughout the universe. Have a wonderful week and enjoy the tent with Katie!
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September 8, 2021 at 8:43 pm
Thank you. Yes, these last warm summer nights are precious. Maybe we were out at the same time. Katie gets me up early every morning. I don’t mind so much, I know my time with her is limited now days, so whatever she needs, I’m game. Plus I see some of the most amazing things. This week one of the early mornings we were out I saw a beautiful, long running, shooting star!
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September 7, 2021 at 10:13 pm
What fun! I love sleeping in a tent but we have had that old bear around…so that discourages me:) Sure hope Katie enjoyed herself!
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September 8, 2021 at 8:44 pm
If I had a bear wandering…no WAY I’d be in the tent!!!! It’s bad enough with ground hougs and raccoons and deer!
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