Change Is Hard

…but change is certain.

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Don’t forget to get out and do your Walktober

Hi everybody! It’s me Penny!

Helllloooooo everybody!

I know, I know. I’m monopolizing mom’s blog. But she’s kinda slacking off and I think it’s important to remind you to get your Walktober linked up to mom’s official Walktober post so she can do a wrap-up and include everybody’s adventures.

This is the Huron River last Sunday. Isn’t it beautiful?

I think she said she wouldn’t be doing that until sometime in early November, so you have some extra time! I’ll try to get her to put a new end date out there so you know, but in the meantime, don’t wait for her, get outside while the getting is good!

Sometimes mom takes pictures that aren’t me. I think this one is stunning.

I had such a good time on my official Walktober (where I got to go on three walks!!!) that I decided to go on another one! I think it’s a fine plan to go on more than one Walktober, especially since we’ve had such beautiful weather!

I hope you are having beautiful weather too.

We had such a beautiful day.

Last Sunday mom and I went down to Ann Arbor and met a friend and her sheltie, Finn. Finn’s mom was Queen Abby’s mom and my sister Katie and my mom and Queen Abby and her mom used to go on walks together.

Meeting Finn for the first time.

I had never met Finn before but we hit it off right away. He’s 2 years old and a real gentleman. Also he’s very handsome, don’t you agree?

Handsome Mr. Finn.

We walked around Island Park, in the Huron River. It sure was pretty! The trees were just beautiful. Of course that meant the moms wanted pictures of us in front of all of them. Sigh.

We were focused on Finn’s mom who had treats!

Finn and I aren’t experts at this posing yet. It was a challenge, my mom says, to get us both to sit next to each other and at the same time.

She thinks we’re just young.

“OK, here’s the deal. When they get us all set up for a picture, you get up. Then the next time I’ll get up.”

In reality Finn and I discussed it and decided we weren’t going to cooperate entirely, after all the moms shouldn’t get what they want without paying up.

Right? Right!!

“Or….we can just make sure we’re not both looking at them at the same time.”

Luckily for us Finn’s mom brought yummy treats and he shared them with me. I admit I am something of a treat hog. I actually stole quite a few treats that were meant for him.

I think Finn really wanted this treat, but I’m pretty sure I ended up with it.

It was 42 degrees and windy while we were there. Finn and I thought that was just about perfect, but the moms were cold. Not our fault, moms, that you didn’t plan very well. Next time you should wear a heavier coat, like us.

A little wind in our fur felt good.

After we walked around the island a few times, dragging the moms over bridges and through the woods, the moms decided they were cold and tired and we had to go. Finn and I weren’t cold or tired at all.

“Let’s go see what’s on the other side of the river!”

I protested at leaving, so mom said we’d stop at another park on our way home. Turns out we stopped at her favorite park (go figure) and she took me to a part of the park she always took my sister to in the fall.

“So…my sister Katie always sat here for you?”

But it was Sunday and the park was busy and there were too many dogs there, so she took me to a new spot she’d never explored before. It was beautiful!

“This is pretty cool, mom!”

She said she was very very pleased by how good I was, posing for her and coming when I was called. She said as long as no other dogs were around she’d trust me to sit further away from her. I told her not to worry, I was laser focused on her. And her treat bag.

The light was especially nice in the woods.

When we finally got home I crashed for a long nap. I sure had fun with Finn and I hope the moms can find a fenced in place so we can play together. We’re about the same size and we really wanted to play off leash.

It’s exhausting being a sheltie at my house.

Anyway, that’s my second Walktober post, I really was just supposed to remind you to get out and do your walks before it gets winter cold! But I couldn’t resist sharing this walk with you.

Some trees at mom’s favorite park on Sunday. Cause this is a Walktober after all.

The trees were beautiful and I wanted you all to enjoy the wonderful day Finn and I had together!

“Hey Penn, want to go grab lunch later?”

Talk later.

Your Walktober-girl,

Penny.

PS: Thank you to everyone that has already posted their Walktober, human and dogs as well. I delegated keeping track of them all to mom. I hope she’s up for the task. And speaking of mom…when the heck is she going to do her Walktober?! I better get to bugging her!

PPS: I got spayed today, so I’m a little sleepy. I’ll bug her about her Walktober tomorrow.

Goodnight people!


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Overachieving Walktober

Hi, hi, hi, HI Everybody!! It’s me, Penny!

Me just before our walk. I think they do bonfires at this park sometimes.

Mom was talking about Walktober this week, and I wanted to know what it was, cause I’m only 10 months old and I’m curious about everything! When Mom explained it to me I just knew I had to get right on it!

This is me “getting ON it” on a log. Get it? I’m so funny

After all, I’m a sheltie and shelties love to go for walks!

Right away I knew I should tell you all about the three great walks I’ve already had this week! And it’s only Friday!

I love how the fall leaves compliment my coloring.

First off, last Sunday, I got to go on a walk with mom and her friend and her friend’s dog Whisky! Whisky is an 11 month old cocker spaniel and he was very excited to see me!

This is as close to each other as we wanted to sit on this walk.

We walked in a beautiful little park, Dinosaur Hill, that I understand was one of my sister Angel Katie’s favorites. It had a river that ran right through the middle of it and I sat on the bridge with all that fast moving water under me without freaking out!

A bridge is no big deal, mom!

Mom was very happy with my “behavior” as she calls it.

Then a couple days ago mom took me to a park in town. She thought she’d photograph me around the playground stuff.

Mom’s always telling me not to sniff other dog’s private areas. Especially if they’re bigger than me!

But there were moms and kids playing there, so we pretty much stayed around the perimeter at first. Mom found this cool musical instrument.

Mom played a bunch of music on this. I was not entertained.

Mostly we walked around and read the dedications on the benches and under trees that were planted in memory of people. One tree in particular was very sad. It is for Madisyn who was one of the 4 victims at a school shooting that happened just up the road from us a couple years ago next month.

We’re so very sorry, Madisyn.

Then mom got a chance to photograph me with some playground stuff, but while we were there a big group of high school students arrived to take pictures.

See all those students showing up behind me? That’s why my ears went flat.

But we met a new friend! Meet Lulu! Her dad was walking her in the park and stopped by to talk. Lulu is a 5 year old mini Australian Shepherd.

I play bowed, but Lulu wasn’t in a playful mood.

Lulu wasn’t that into me, though we did exchange pleasantries. She and her dad wandered away and mom took me over a bridge to the park pavilion for my final portrait of the day.

I think I have this posing thing down!

What do you think? I’m thinking I’m growing into quite the regal young lady.

My last walk (so far) was yesterday. It was rainy outside and mom said we needed to keep training, so she took me for a walk at the Home Depot! Wow, that was a different kind of walk!

On the road in my chariot.

First we stayed outside and I checked out the pumpkins. Mom wouldn’t let me buy one, but they still smelled good.

I thought this one smelled perfect.

We went inside and I barked at a man getting a cart! Mom said no bark, but geeze, that cart place was super noisy!

Hmmmm, I could store my special toys in this.

We heeled around the aisles a whole bunch. I was a little squirrely at first, but eventually I settled down. We did sits and stays too. Everybody smiled at me but no one asked to pet me. I guess they knew I was working.

Sitting still is not my favorite thing to do, mom.

Then on our way out mom introduced me to some tall dude in a red suit. I was not at all sure about him, no siree!

Gotta keep an eye on anybody wearing fuzzy red clothing.

Mom said I did really good at the busy store. I slept all the way home. And now she says I am going on an epic walk this Sunday!

So many parks, so much walking to do!

Well gee, mom, I’m not sure the nice people want to hear about another walk of mine. You better be at the top of your game if you want me to share that one with them too!

Will pose for treats.

Anyway, I need a snack and then a nap. In that order. I can’t wait to see where you all go on your Walktobers! Mom says she has no idea where she’s going to do her walk because she’s so busy taking me places! As it should be.

Oh! I almost forgot, here’s some beautiful color for you from our local park!

Hee, hee, hee.

-Your Walktober girl,

Penny.


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Maybe a last night under the stars

A week or two ago I made a last minute decision to head back up into the thumb of Michigan, because the weather was going to be clear, and because I was able to book a campsite.

On the way up I, naturally, shot a few photogenic barns.

I wanted to try one more time to get that elusive Milky Way in a place that is darker than my Bortle 4/5 here at home.

My fovorite barn in the thumb, it’s located near Pigion, Michigan. Of course.

Plus, I knew I’d get to drive through those yellow soybean fields again, and I might find a barn or two or three worth stopping for.

Red barns in a yellow soybean field.

And of course I did.

Once I set up camp at the Port Crescent State Park I meandered further up into the thumb until I arrived at Pointe aux Barques Lighthouse, a place Katie and I had visited a time or two in years past.

The original lighthouse was built in 1848. In 1857 this structure was built after a fire.

There’s a campground attached to the grounds that I hoped was empty. It wasn’t, but it wasn’t as full as it would be in the summer. So I wandered around the lighthouse grounds and then waited for the sky to get dark.

Lights from the campground and the light tower lit up the other buildings.

The Milky Way, up in the Southwest early in the evening this time of year, wasn’t in a position to be over the lighthouse, but it was above the other historical structures on the grounds.

Light and shadows interfering from every angle.

The challenge, as it always is with a lighthouse, was the bright light the tower itself was projecting. I tried to time my 15 second shot to be between the beams of light, but it was hard. Plus there was the campground, with it’s green lights and cars coming and going.

If you make this bigger you might see what might be a couple of meteors above and to the right of the tree.

So, once again, I wasn’t thrilled with the Milky Way images, but shooting out over Saginaw Bay was fun. There was a tree on the top of the bluff, and the Big Dipper was just above it. Though it’s hard to see the Big Dipper because the camera sees so many more stars than our eyes do.

This meteor was more pronounced. And you can see the Big Dipper in this, darker, version of the scene.

Regardless of the results, and as always, I loved being out there. The air was warm, the stars were bright, the moon had taken a nap, there were people nearby but not too close and I could hear the waves lapping at the bottom of the bluff.

A perfect place to sleep in late the next morning.

This might have been my last attempt for this Milky Way season. October won’t have many opportunities, and we’ll have to see what the weather does. I plan to spend the winter studying the information in my Milky Way Photography class.

There’s so much more to learn.

This is what it all looks like in daylight.


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Wanna come play?

Hi everybody! It’s me, Penny!

Me on my deck. Mom says I’m all grown up now.

Mom’s been off doing adventure stuff without me a lot this summer. But don’t worry, I’ve been having lots of fun right here at home.

I’m a happy girl!

I have the best backyard and I thought you all might want to come over and play with me!

Mom says I look like a fox.

OK…so maybe it’s not fenced in so it’s a little scary for you humans, especially if we doggies don’t come right back when we’re called.

Coming, mom!

I mean, I try to do my recalls, but sometimes, especially lately while I’m going through what mom calls my obstinate teenage years, I forget.

I got it, I got it!

Anyway, one of my most favorite things to do is to chase this little frisbee my dad bought for me.

I’ll just take this on a little spin around the yard.

I don’t always bring it back to them, but I sure love to chase it. And sometimes I surprise mom or dad and come running back with it!

I love this game!

Of course I don’t actually give them the frisbee, they have to come get it. After all, I need to maintain the hierarchy around here.

Hey, can one of you get it for me?

Anyway, I thought you’d all like to see my backyard, and especially me! Mom says it’s not always all about me, though I can’t imagine why not.

I’m going to go explore some more now.

Can you?

Come along with me!


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Heads up, it’s almost Walktober time!

Walktober.

I look forward to it every year. Hosted by Robin over at Breezes at Dawn, it’s so much fun to go for a walk and take a picture or two (or more if you’re me), blog about it and share it with others who are also out there taking walks and documenting what October looks like in their part of the world.

This year Robin needed a little help so I’m going to host our annual Walktober for her. That just means that I’ll be collecting all your posts and will put publish a blog after we’re all done with links to everyone’s walk descriptions.

How about we say the official dates of our Walktober will be October 15 through the 28th? Of course things are pretty informal around here so if you need some extra time just let me know and I’ll wait for you. And of course you can go on your adventure prior to the 15th too!

Even more important, it doesn’t even have to be a WALK! You could roller skate, or go on a bike ride, or ride a horse, or take a drive with your windows rolled down. You could climb a mountain, or dive down to a corral reef. Show us your city, or your countryside, or a favorite river or lake. Explore your own yard or travel to another country, it’s all fodder for a Walktober post.

Just get out there and show us your world.

Go on your adventure, write about it and include photos if you want to, and then link back to my blog. I’ll post an official kickoff on the 15th of October and you can link to that. But if you accidently link to something else let me know and I’ll go collect it!

We can’t wait to see what you choose to do! Happy Walktober!


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Under an umbrella of stars

A few days ago 3 other intrepid women photographers and I ventured forth to a new destination, Big Sable Lighthouse, at Ludington State Park.

The four of us plus puppy Wally walked out to the beach as the sun set.

We were, of course, looking for a dark place to shoot the Milky Way. We are all members of an online Milky Way photography class, though most of us had never met in person.

It was a beautiful pink and gold and navy evening.

We put this particular adventure together quickly, with a barrage of text messages flying between us, when we realized there was a clear night coming up. Then, the day before, someone did some research and messaged the group — “Do you know there’s a 2 mile walk out to the lighthouse?”

We’re headed up there.

Uhhhh, no, no we did not know that. This caused a bigger flurry of messaging and then someone finally just booked a campsite for us all at the park and we decided to go for it.

We had a beautiful night for our adventure, and the walk was shorter from the campground than from the lighthouse parking lot, only 1.5 miles through the woods and dunes. And of course 1.5 miles back in the dark, but underneath a star packed sky.

It’s a grand building, big enough to house 3 keeper’s families, back in the day.

Our biggest obstacle turned out not to be the getting there but the lights that surround the lighthouse. There is a big streetlight shining in front, and an obnoxiously orange light in back making the whole back of the lighthouse and most of the grounds glow neon.

Our first glimpse of the challenges that would be presented.

According to our apps the Milky Way, now pretty vertical, would be right alongside the tower about 10 p.m. We were convinced it would be a stunning shot.

Taken with my cell as we waited for dark skies.

If it weren’t for the orange light…and that big tree.

It became obvious to us as we waited that we weren’t going to get that dream image.

So we did the best we could with the lighthouse itself and then we spread out across the beach looking for other interesting things.

The Milky Way was up there, but faded out by all the light.

There was a gentle breeze sweeping away the bugs and the stars were hanging above us and no one was in any kind of hurry to leave.

Even down closer to the lakeshore the light was overpowering.

When we finally did begin to pack up around midnight I noticed my backpack was pretty wet from condensation. I began to realize the trouble I had had focusing on the stars, or anything for that matter, might have been because I had condensation on my lens.

I walked way out into the dunes and shot out over Lake Michigan. That’s a fishing boat down near the bottom left.

Condensation which would have been eliminated if I had put my lens heater on the camera at the start. The lens heater I bought the week before and lugged 1.5 miles out to the beach, but left in my backpack.

Sometimes you just have to go right up to your target.

Yep. One more lesson in a whole list of lessons I’ve learned on this Milky Way journey.

Another lesson – when you’re focused in one direction don’t forget to turn and look the other way once in awhile.

As a side note, there’s been quite a bit of death tangent to my life this past week. Not people directly tied to me, exactly, but people important to people important to me. I guess the heavens gained a few more stars.

A few more stars twinkle this week.

Late that night while listening to the lake murmur and wandering the dunes, watching the Milky Way slide across the sky I noted the newcomers.

And then we all walked back to camp under the umbrella of the starry night, content in our imperfect images, happy that we went, ready to do it again the next clear, moonless night.

Imperfect perfection.


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Let there be light!

It all started yesterday early afternoon when I noticed a lot of chatter on Facebook about potential aurora borealis that night.

I ended up just past the sign up on that dune.

Apparently the indicator numbers were good, and if it weren’t for that pesky 3/4 moon coming up early in the evening there would almost certainly be a spectacular show.

Love golden light, but not when I’m trying to capture the northern lights!

So many times I’ve seen notices of potential northern lights and so many times I’ve decided it wasn’t worth the 4+ hour drive over to the western side of Michigan on the off chance there might be a show.

So many times I’ve kicked myself when I see images posted the next day of what I might have seen if I’d gone.

It was a lovely sunset regardless of how the night played out.

So this time I decided to just take the chance. I left home at 5 p.m. and was at a dark sky park at Port Crescent in the thumb of Michigan, along Saginaw Bay, by 7:30.

Of course there’s no guarantee that the lights will show up. Or when they might show up. What was guaranteed was the arrival of the moon, about 9:30 which would wash any borealis out.

At last the sun gave up and sank, leaving those last bits of daylight reaching up into the sky for a few minutes more.

As you can tell, I sat on the beach and watched the sun set, and then I went back to the car, changed camera lenses, got the camera all ready to go with manual settings and attached to a tripod and snuggled down with a pillow and a blanket to wait for full dark.

Lots of people on the beach waiting for the next light show to begin.

I was pretty antsy and never did take a nap. I was worried that I’d be sleeping in my car on one side of the dunes while the light was dancing out over the bay on the other side!

The view outside my car window, is that faint green I see?

So as soon as it was close to dark I was out of the car and heading for the dunes. There were plenty of other people already out there, so I found a spot between photographers and decided to practice my Milky Way star focus skills while I waited. After all the moon wasn’t up yet, and I could see the Milky Way right there…even though I wasn’t thrilled with the composition, it was better than sitting around doing nothing.

No northern lights, so I might as well practice my Milky Way skills.

And in the middle of my second shot, with me and my camera facing south I heard the woman just down the path from me begin to squeal. I couldn’t turn my camera around fast enough, and when I did this is what I saw.

Be still my heart.

Well, not exactly saw, because to the naked eye it was just this moving mass of grey out over the black lake. But the camera saw it for what it was, stunning pink and green light.

I never saw the people on the beach below me until I looked at the imamges on my computer.

The woman next to me told her family, “See?! Aren’t you glad I dragged you out here for this!” I didn’t hear the kids’ answers, but I’m pretty sure everyone out there last night was glad they were there.

The light began to shoot up into the sky.

I kept clicking as fast as I could, trying different fstops, and shutter speeds. At one point I must have accidently touched the focus ring because I have a whole lot of images that are totally out of focus.

I’m not going to show you those. Just know it happens to all of us.

I like the people included in the image, it shows the perspective and sheer size of the dancing lights.

Luckily I knew enough to check the focus on occasion, so I was able to salvage the rest. Mostly.

After about 20 minutes over my right shoulder I noticed different light. It was the most beautiful, huge, orange 3/4 moon, creeping up through the limbs of a tree.

Uh oh. An interloper is coming to spoil the party. Notice the woman on the hill with her camera and tripod?

I wished I had my other lens on the camera (but it was back at the car). I wished I had two cameras going. But there was no time, so I kept focusing on those lights out over the water, knowing they’d soon be fading.

One of my favorite images from the night. Someone said I’d captured the one-eyed aliens, and I have to agree it looks like I have!

The moon crept higher and higher, and the lights began to fade. People began to leave, shining their flashlights in my face and into my frame as they climbed the dune to head back to the parking lot. I was loathe to go, the warm summer night and soft breeze off of the lake complimented the extraordinary sight of the lights dancing and shooting pillars up higher and higher in the sky.

A night I’m never going to forget.

I didn’t leave until the color faded away, and then I reluctantly put the lens cap back on and started down the dune toward the car.

Lots of people were still walking out over the dunes, headed to the beach. Every group stopped me, a person obviously carrying a fancy camera and a tripod, to ask if I’d seen anything.

I couldn’t begin to describe what I’d just experienced. I just told them all it had been wonderful but had faded now.

The soft faded color was a gentler version of what I had just witnessed.

I encouraged them all to go out to the beach anyway and stand under the stars to admire the beautiful moon. Most of them did.

As for me? I’m so glad I took a leap of faith and went north to see the lights. I’m so glad I didn’t nap the evening away in my car. I’m so glad the lights decided to cooperate and dance for those 20 or 30 minutes before the moon encroached on our party.

The big dipper is more obvious once the main show is over.

And I’m forever grateful to my Milky Way teacher for instilling in me the confidence to stand by myself (along with 20 or 30 other photographers, all strangers, but all united in one goal) out under the stars and appreciate what I see overhead.

I haven’t stopped smiling since I heard that first squeal and turned to watch the magic explode above us.

That darn moon. Still beautiful even less than full.

Lessons learned: Don’t think about things too much, just go. Bring bug spray. Long pants and sturdy shoes are a must. Check your focus regularly. Don’t forget to stop and internalize the experience, it’s not all about the pictures. Encourage everyone else to stand out under the stars at least once.

And now I’m encouraging you. If you get the chance…just go.