Change Is Hard

…but change is certain.

Tag Archives: Michigan


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Searching for the stars. Again.

This time last week I was in northern Michigan at one of my favorite places (You may have noticed I have quite a few favorite places in northern Michigan) intent, once again, on getting the perfect Milky Way image.

Esch Beach, near Empire MI

I had a walk-in site at Platt River Campground, reserved weeks ago, and high hopes that at least one of the three nights would be clear.

My perfect camp site.

The site was beautiful. I knew it would be because I’d camped there once before a few years ago. It’s at the end of a trail, about 1/4 mile into the woods. Along the way are three other campsites, but mine was the last one.

This was my first camping trip of the season. It took me forever to get this tent up.

The good thing about a walk-in site is that there are no RVs near you running their air conditioning all night. (Though I wouldn’t have minded having air, it was 98 F inside my tent most of the first night.) The bad thing about a walk-in site is that you have to carry everything in. So I stayed pretty minimal.

Anyway. I had high hopes for Monday night, thinking it should be clear. And it was hot and sunny when I first arrived.

Before I even went to the campsite to set up the tent I drove the Pierce Stocking drive that provides a number of opportunities to stop and explore.

It’s almost mandatory that you take this image while you’re there.

But gradually, by late afternoon, clouds had moved in and that evening there were no stars to be seen. It even rained late Monday night, which brought the temperatures down. I was conflicted, grateful for the temperature relief but disappointed that I wasn’t out under the stars with my camera.

Looking toward Sleeping Bear dunes from Empire Beach on Tuesday.

Tuesday I explored a few beaches looking for possible places to shoot the Milky Way, if the sky ever cleared. But it didn’t clear that day.

Not very promising for star photography.

So I did the next best thing. I hiked a loop through the woods where there was the possibility of lots of birds. You know how I love taking photographs of birds. I had high hopes again of capturing something special.

Because I was covered in bug spray this was a fun hike.

About 2.5 miles, the trail was supposed to be filled with song birds, particularly warblers.

I took a close up picture of the map with my phone, and I’m glad I did. The trail wasn’t always obvious.

I heard lots of birds, none of them identified by my Merlin app as warblers, but I only saw one bird for a slight second, hidden in the trees, and I have no idea what it was.

I don’t suppose any of you know what this brownish bird is, hiding behind leaves and out of focus.

Tuesday night it rained again. I don’t mind a little rain on the tent, but it meant there was no star shooting that night either.

Wednesday was predicted to be overcast as well, so I made plans to drive about an hour north and meet a couple friends in Northport, another of my happy places. It was time to spend a little bit of time in civilization.

Scenic route through Pierce Stocking park.

That was definitely fun and had a lower mosquito to human ratio, but it deserves it’s own post, so stay tuned.

Taken Monday night, while standing in the rain.


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Bird bath part deux

Keeping in the theme of birds enjoying a bath, one afternoon this week I noticed two orioles in the bird bath.

By the time I got my camera and returned there was one in the bath and another observing. As you can see, Daddy was busy out on the feeder stuffing his face with grape jelly.

I don’t know if these two are this year’s juveniles or last years young ones, or maybe two females just enjoying a relaxing spa day.

But it was sure was fun to watch the one in the bath splash around.

So I’ll share the rest of these without comment. Enjoy.

I have other photos of this week’s shenanigans in my back yard, but those will have to wait for another day.

Edit: I was just outside to hang the oriole feeder up after cleaning it and refilling it with grape jelly. One of the two bathers was back, standing on the railing. He (or she) started flapping it’s wings at me, supposing that maybe I had something to feed it. So I think these two really are juveniles, and not adult females. So cute!


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Me and a Weigela

Hey! It’s Penny here!

Mom says she has lots of photos to edit from her trip, but I keep asking her to do stuff with me so she hasn’t had time to mess with those old photos. I did let her edit the images in this post, cause they’re about me and I know how much you all want to see me.

This is mom’s favorite back yard weigela bush. It has three different shades of pink blossoms, that all bloom at once. This was the bush Mom was asking Katie to pose in front of in June of 2022 when she and dad noticed how sad Katie was.

Mom says that’s when she and daddy decided it was time to let Katie’s soul fly free. So when she sees this bush in bloom she always thinks about Katie and that day, and it makes her sad.

But did you see what’s on the bush, just to the left of my right ear? Go ahead and look again. Maybe make the image bigger on your device.

See it?

Yep…a butterfly! Mom had been out taking pictures of it earlier, from a good distance away because she didn’t want to scare it off. And then, when she thought it was gone, she took me out there to get my picture with the blooms, and the butterfly flew right around our heads and settled down eating and drinking.

It wasn’t afraid of us at all!

It stayed out there, flying around near us the entire time Mom was taking my picture. Do you think maybe it was Katie come to visit?

I think maybe it was!


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Sarah and gang

Hey there, it’s me, Penny!

Once again I’m jumping online late at night while my mom snores over there on the sofa. She says if I want to write I should go get my own blog, but I say why do that when she’s already done all the groundwork?

This is mom’s garden. It might be the reason she’s snoring on the sofa.

Hey! Did you guys know I have a niece? I sure do! Her name is Sarah and she lives with my Mama S, the lady that delivered me and my four sisters two and a half years ago. My dog mom, Vivian, and her best friend Olivia live there too.

That’s me on the left, Sarah standing in back, my dog mom Vivian next and then Olivia.

She’s almost one year old and I love her so much. Last month my mom and dad took me up to Mama S’s house for a playdate with Sarah who is a bundle of energy.

Sarah loves to chase me, but I’m FAST! She’ll never catch me, no siree!

All four of us dogs and the three adult people went into the big fenced in back yard to play. Mama S had a bright orange tennis ball that Vivian and Olivia get very excited over.

Throw the ball!!!

She’d fling that ball toward the back of the yard and all four of us would chase after it, a few of us (not me) barking wildly the entire time.

Somebody get that ball!

I never once got the ball, it was mostly Olivia who did the ball handling, but sometimes one of the other two would get a chance to take it back to Mama S so she’d throw it again.

It’s a race back to Mama S!

And then we’d be off again!

Get it!

My mom and dad laughed at us a lot. Mom was busy taking pictures too of course.

A passel of shelties.

Mostly Sarah and I just ran and ran and ran. She loves to chase me and between you and me I could beat her but I let her get close once in awhile.

Sarah and Oliva the ball handler.

Then when she gets almost to my tail I take off again.

Nope, Sarah, you’re not going to get me!

We were both worn out when my folks said it was time to go home, but man, what a wonderful time we all had!

She’s gaining on me!

I’m just the luckiest sheltie girl in the whole world! I hope you enjoyed the pictures as much as we all enjoyed playing!

You’ve got snacks…right Mama S?

Signing off now to dream of running in a big yard, your athlete girl Penny.

Hey! Sarah got the ball!


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At last, the little birds

I took myself out to Kensington, a favorite park for bird photography, on Easter Sunday morning because I figured it would be empty.

There appears to be a lack of breakfast servers this morning, lady! – Mrs. Red Winged

And, in some ways, it was. There were no families enjoying barbecue, and no busloads of school kids enjoying a field trip.

No one was feeding the little birds.

We’ve been waiting for you! – Mr. Red Winged

But photographers? Oh yea, photographers with their long, heavy lenses are not going to let a beautiful spring morning get lost in a holiday!

My royal self does not come down just because you have food, madam. – Red Headed Woodpecker

Still I bet most of us out there that morning managed to get at least a few (dozen) great shots.

We’ll get our own meal, thank you. – TWO Red Headed Woodpeckers!

And long ago, on a previous post I promised I’d show you more birds.

I am not too proud to accept a free peanut! — Nuthatch in flight

So here you go. I’ll try to limit this to some of my most favorite from that early morning walk in the woods a month ago.

Excuse me, if everyone else has had enough, I’d like to approach the hand. — Titmouse

But it’s hard. I have so many favorites.

I’m a little shy, but I’d really like a bit of breakfast, lady! — Chickadee

As I study each of these I’m transported back to that cool morning, surrounded by hungry birds, the deer watching from further back in the trees, the squirrels hurrying so as not to be left out.

Thanks lady! Sometimes we get overlooked cause we can’t fly. — Black Squirrel

The chipmunks hoarding, the sunlight shifting.

I’d like a little more please! — Chipmunk

It’s always a magical time at Kensington, no matter what part of the park you visit.

Too busy to eat, I’m building my future family a new home! — Mrs. Red Belly

But if you want to experience wildlife in a more intimate manner, get there in the morning on a weekday before the crowds and walk the trails at the Nature Center.

It’s the interior decorating that takes the most thought.

Or early on a holiday morning. That works too.

You got to really get in there for the deep spring cleaning required prior to babies’ arrival!

So tell me, which image is YOUR favorite?

I’ll ponder that question. — Sandhill Crane


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The eyes have it

When you’re walking in the woods do you ever feel you’re being watched?

A sea monster stranded on the forest floor.

Depending on which woods I’m in, I definitely do. There’s always a bird or two hoping for a snack.

Singing for his supper.

But it’s not the birds I’m talking about. It’s the others that hang out in the woods. They’re always silently watching.

Easter morning when I was walking in Kensington’s woods I deliberately walked to the trails in the back of the park, just to see who was watching me.

I see you, lady!

And, as usual, there were the usual suspects.

I’ll take a peanut if you have one to spare, lady.

Some of which I’ve shared with you today.

A walnut disguised as an owl.


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Who’s hungry?

Well, I am, for one. I haven’t eaten breakfast yet, and it’s mid-morning on a beautiful day here in Michigan. Lots of garden stuff to do. Places to be. People to see.

Early morning light through spring skunk cabbage.

But I’d rather be here with you.

Remember when I was out at the heron rookery in Kensington Park on Easter Sunday morning? You didn’t think I’d just leave the park after seeing the herons, did you?

Did you???

A busy neighborhood.

Well of course not.

When I could finally pry myself away from those big nests I went for a walk through the woods. And as soon as I was off the boardwalk I heard this cardinal just singing his heart out and enjoying the morning light at the very top of a tree.

Will sing for food.

Of course when he spotted me, perhaps the first automated bird feeder to arrive that morning, he shot right down to a branch directly in front of me.

Right at eye level.

You DID bring breakfast, didn’t you?

Now cardinals don’t generally come down to my hand to eat, though one did many years ago. But I think this one might have if I hadn’t accidently dropped some seed on the ground.

He was very interested in that.

What? You dropped my breakfast?

So was Mrs. Red Winged Blackbird.

I see an opportunity here.

And so was this squirrel.

I can be faster than all of you!

And this chipmunk.

But my cheeks can hold more seed than any of yours!

In the end I dropped some more for all of them and went on my way.

I remember that some of you have requested more bird pictures. Well of course I have some. Coming right up.