Several years ago a friend and I were visiting an art gallery.
Times two.
I snapped this picture of her, never noticing until I saw the shot later that she was standing in a similar pose to the piece of art hanging behind her.
Sometimes life imitates art unconsciously.
Here, here and here are a few of my favorites, so far, from this week’s challenge.
Sunday afternoon at the heron rookery.
Well, yes it does get cold here, and it snows too. Sometimes a lot. But seriously, we don’t sit in our homes and mope — we get out into the fresh air and enjoy it. It’s the only way to get through the winter, to not let it get us down. Because yes it does get old.
But not this year, at least not here. Not yet.
I was out at my favorite park on Sunday and was amazed at all the activity. though I shouldn’t have been surprised. It was chilly and clouds were chasing the sun, but it was a beautiful day. So I thought I’d show you what people in Michigan do on a winter weekend. There was hardly any snow on the ground, and people didn’t want to waste a chance to enjoy some time outside.
Nice day for a long run.
This particular park is centered on a very large lake. There’s an eight mile (12.8k) bike/walk/run paved path around the lake, and many other miles of paths through the hills and fields including nature paths through the woods.
It’s incredibly beautiful no matter the season.
People were out doing everything you could imagine. Aside from the expected walking and running, it’s a perfect place for well socialized dogs to take their humans for an afternoon walk.
Let’s get going!
And the fishing is great too, no matter the season. Lots and lots of fisher people stand on the banks of the lake and catch their supper, as evidenced by the lures tangled in the high branches of a tree above the bike path.
Remnants from last summer.
But this time of year it’s all about ice fishing. I can’t say I understand that sport, but I fully support a person’s right to sit out on the cold lake staring at a hole in the ice waiting for a fish to strike. It’s gotta be fun for some people. Just not me.
It’s a chilly sport.
On this Sunday the weather was so warm that people were out riding their bikes…
Out for a spin.
…and even inline skating.
Faster than running, more exercise than biking.
It felt like spring, and I’m sure we all wish that winter was over. Of course we know it’s not — snow and cold is forecast for later this week. If the snow arrives you might not want to be out on skates or your bike, but you can still wander the nature trails and feed the birds.
Feeding the birds.
Yes there are signs out not to feed the wildlife, but enough people hold sunflower seeds out for the little birds that they now follow nature walkers around asking for a handout. It’s a special feeling to have a wild bird flit to your finger for an instant. Especially for young kids, and those of us still young at heart.
He weighs nothing at all.
Sunday there was also a large group of artists at the park, each painting their vision of the paradise that is this park. That was so special it’s going to have to go into it’s own blog. Stay tuned.
So that’s what people will do on a nice winter day at a beautiful public park way up here in Michigan. The next semi-sunny day you have during the rest of this winter head out to a park near you. I guarantee you’ll see something interesting and fun and maybe even beautiful.
Regardless of whether or not it’s cold or there is snow on the ground.
Running in shorts. In February in Michigan.
zzzzzzzzzzz
.
Sheltie in snow on a Sunday.
Did you get my good side mama?
Go over to Cee’s original post to see other interpretations.
I’m feeling pretty lucky to be living up here in Michigan right now, as the blizzard Jonah is bearing down on the south and east. So far this winter has pretty much passed us by. Sure we’ve got a tiny bit of snow on the ground. And it has been cold for a couple of weeks, but this winter is nothing like the last two evil and nasty winters we all suffered through.
Still, this week’s photo challenge is all about looking forward from the middle of the long winter. What makes us feel hopeful that we’re headed toward warmer weather? What keeps us going when we’re tired of shoveling, scraping frost off windshields, bundling up, driving on treacherous roads?
Stopping for a quick visit at Matthaei Conservatory always lifts my winter blues. It’s tropical inside with lush green trees and flowering plants. And in the back is the dry hot air of a desert complete with intriguing desert plant life. For a little while you can lose yourself in another place. A warm place.
I always like to stop and visit a huge rotating pot full of colorful plants. The plants are changed with the seasons, but the best part of this exhibit is the kaleidoscope that transforms the colors in the pot into changeable art. I took this image through the eye of the kaleidoscope. As the pot of plants rotates the image changes.
Spring in the eyepiece.
It’s magic and always makes me smile. And smiling in winter? Well, that’s the first step on the road to optimism.
See other optimistic responses at the original link above. It’s early…so I haven’t picked out any favorites yet. But optimism is such a wonderful concept, they’re all bound to be great.
Another view…just turn the pot.
Ann Arbor’s Michigan Theater is home to the Ann Arbor Symphony.
Saturday I noticed these two chandeliers, reflected into infinity in mirrored walls, lighting up the ornate ceiling. I couldn’t resist the capture.
Sandhill cranes, though large birds, fly as though they weigh nothing at all…
Weightless cranes
…way up against the puffy, weightless clouds in the beautiful blue sky.
You can see other interpretations of weight(less) at the original WP post. Or check out a few of my favorites here, here and here.
OK…here’s another favorite from my archives:
Let’s go fly a kite.
Taken last spring on a blustery day, this couple stood on top of the sledding hill flying their kite.
For me it was easier to think about this challenge from the weightless side. But I wonder what I have in my archives that would represent weight.
I bet there’s something.
You know my favorite buildings to photograph are barns. So when Cee sent out a challenge for black and white photos of buildings I knew I needed to look at my barn archive. Especially since I have recent barn photos that you haven’t seen.
While I was up north I spent a day driving through the orchards and farmlands in the center of the peninsula. There were a lot of great barns, and someday I’ll do a post about them and show you more, but for right now enjoy this one. Tucked into the hill it was home to several cows that viewed me suspiciously when I stopped to take a photo.
Cow house.
And you might get a kick out of this barn which is located closer to where I live. There’s an organization here that is trying to preserve old barns. And Kid Rock does live around here. So I guess they were hoping for a donation.
Kid’s house?
Just down the road is this relatively small horse barn. I always look over at it as I head into town. There are three really big horses that live here, and I look to see if they are out and about. The other day all three were lined up in front of their barn and today I was hoping they’d be doing that again. Not so lucky today. Still, it’s a cute little barn and at least a couple of the residents hung out for me long enough to snap this.
Horse house.
You can see other people’s interpretations of “buildings” over at Cee’s original post.
I think another fun way to approach this challenge would be to head into the city. There are some interesting buildings there, but time is fleeting and I don’t think I’ll get down there soon enough. What buildings do you have around you that would convert to black and white and retain their interest? Share them with us!
Thanks Cee!
Change Is Hard 