Change Is Hard

…but change is certain.

Tag Archives: Photography


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Patterns abound

If you're on FB you've already seen this one; cherry trees, Lake Michigan & sand dunes

If you’re on FB you’ve already seen this one; cherry trees, Lake Michigan & sand dunes

Quick! What’s the first thing you think about when I say northern Michigan? Does it include snow? Woods? Lakes? Well, you’d be right, but the western edge of the northern lower peninsula is also a beautiful patchwork of farms, orchards and vineyards.

Leftover apples

Leftover apples

Every time I’m up here I’m fascinated by the intricate designs and patterns of the orchards and vineyards that dot the hillsides. I’ve always been attracted to repeating patterns, especially in nature. But the orchards in particular have been difficult to capture.

Cherry trees under heavy sky

Cherry trees under heavy sky

When you’re on the same plane as the orchard, and perhaps too close, it’s hard to show the symmetry of the tree trunks, the shadows interlocking, the sheer beauty of the trees marching in step. Trust me I’ve tried.

Cherry trees glow in a bit of sun

Cherry trees glow in a bit of sun

It’s the same with the row upon row of grape vines. The scale is often so huge that I just couldn’t get the image that truly represented what I saw. But failure has never kept me from trying again.

Hillside of hope for next year's vintage

Hillside of hope for next year’s vintage

Today I’m sitting in the warm living room, listening as waves of Lake Michigan pound the shore, watching clouds scuttle in from the west and white caps racing across the lake. Noting the temperatures dropping; there is a prediction of snow. A perfect day, it seems, to sort through the past two days of photos.

Grapes and cherries share a hillside

Grapes and cherries share a hillside

While wading through a number of failures I see there are quite a few orchard and vineyard photos that are worth showing you. So that you can see ‘up north’ isn’t all about snow and woods.

Cherry orchard tucked behind a corn field

Cherry orchard tucked behind a corn field

I drove around aimlessly on Friday, even got lost a few times. But it’s hard to get truly lost on a peninsula. If you go far enough you’re eventually going to run into a large body of water or a small village and you’ll be able to get your bearings. I also had a map.

Young trees next to old

Young trees next to old and a spot of sun

On Saturday I had a specific destination in mind, but saw more along the way, not related to my quest, then I did when I finally arrived. I think I will have to go back and try again.

Brand new orchard in the making

Brand new orchard in the making

Meanwhile, this morning I culled a few photos (OK a lot of photos) to share with you. I hope you enjoyed the tour of Leelanau County’s beautiful fruit producing farms! I feel a lot better about my collection of orchard photos now. But that won’t keep me from looking for the next perfect shot.

Turkeys in the orchard!

Turkeys in the orchard!


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Fury on the big lake

It started last night, the high winds TV weather people had been warning us about. Two in the morning the roar woke me from a deep sleep. High on a bluff above Lake Michigan, tucked warmly into bed, I heard the wind. Or was it the waves. The cat jumped off the bed and streaked away. And then the power went out.

Prime viewing seats.

Prime viewing seats.

People say a tornado or a hurricane sounds like a freight train. In the dark, listening intently I could almost hear the train whistle come and go, overshadowed by the intense roar of wind and water. In the dark, not being able to see the lake, all I could do was feel it.

The vibration of the waves pounding the shore hundreds of yards away came from deep in the earth, up through the bluff, through the house footings, through the floors and up into the legs of the bed frame, through the deep mattress and into my bones.

Yesterday I walked this beach now under water.

Yesterday I walked this beach now under water.

The house sighed. I lay still. Listening. Waiting. Planning where I’d go if I had to. Considering how to find the cat in her hidden safe place.

I toured the house with a flashlight, checking windows, doors. Listening to things hit the roof, scratch the windows. Calling the cat who remained hidden. Eventually I went back to bed.

The power came back on after an hour and a half. Welcome lamp light made the roar not so ominous. Still, the lake was completely dark and sounded angry. I toured the house again, turning on lights, checking, checking. Looking for the illusive cat.

Remembering cats of years ago I pulled out her food container, shook it and called her name as I wandered. Suddenly, out of the shadows, she raced toward me calling back loudly. Silly girl. She got a tidbit or two and then we both retreated to the warm bed, doors closed against the fury of the lake.

I fell asleep to the sound and feeling of nature running wild, still wearing my glasses, cat purring on my chest. We woke an hour later to find daylight beginning to reveal the lake in all it’s mesmerizing beauty. I ventured outside but it is impossible to catch the feeling of it in still photos, the winds so strong I could barely stand upright on the lower bluff, shielding the camera from the sandblast with my body.

As the morning progresses the light changes. The water turns turquoise and navy and brilliant white. The air is clear and the island at the horizon is visible.

Under dark clouds the air has been swept clean. See the island?

Under dark clouds the air has been swept clean. See the island?

I glance out and see a bit of sun; careening down some of the 42 stairs to the beach I catch a brief moment when the sun slips from behind racing clouds and tips a few white caps with brilliant joy.

Fleeting light.

Fleeting light.

I don’t even care that I ran out without a coat, that the wind is bitter, the sound overwhelming, the moment brief.

I just know I am blessed to be here.

Turquoise.

Turquoise.


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Cee’s Black & White Photo Challenge: Faraway

I went on a photo hunt earlier this week, looking for my favorite things…barns. Turns out it was a rainy, misty, windy, cold day and I barely got out of the car. I wasn’t looking specifically for Cee’s ‘faraway’ challenge, but heading back home I realized many farms are photogenic from faraway.

So just before I hit the city freeway I snapped this farm, off across the field, in the misty faraway.

On a farm far, far away...

On a farm far, far away…

I like the black and white combined with farmland; it lends a vintage feel.

I’d go out and see what else I can find but it hasn’t stopped raining here. I guess that’s better than snow. Right? Because when it starts snowing everything turns black and white!

Thanks Cee, for the challenge!


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Take that walk

I won’t lie. It’s easier to go for a walk every day when the temperatures are warm and the sun is shining. It’s hard to get outside when it’s cold and wet — the kind of day when you tuck your fingers up inside your coat sleeves and your chin down under your collar. On those days the world seems to be shades of dreary brown and spring seems a distant dream.

Drippy

Drippy

But if you force yourself out there you might just find a few fun, maybe even colorful, things to keep your mind occupied long enough for your fingers to warm up.

Come along with me on a walk somewhere in the chilly Midwest. At first everything seems sort of grey. Or brown. Damp. But keep your eyes peeled. You never know what you might find.

Dreary

Dreary

For example, park employees have been building a raised walkway. Don’t you wonder where it goes? Are you in a hurry? Because if not we could go check it out.

Wonder where this goes?

Wonder where this goes?

This is a brand new walk, put here just in the past day or so. Turns out someone else has already been walking on it. Isn’t that cute? Little raccoon feet! (Click on this photo to see the footprints more clearly!)

Tiny little feet.

Tiny little feet.

It doesn’t look like the walkway is quite finished. But it’s kind of pretty back here.

Someday we'll explore on the other side.

Someday we’ll explore on the other side.

Back on the damp pathway you have to notice the cool reflections in the puddles.

Woodsy reflections.

Woodsy reflections.

And since it’s not raining anymore you can throw back your hood, untuck your chin and notice the color that is everywhere back in the woods.

Green is everywhere if you look.

Green is everywhere if you look.

And the textures on the trees.

Added texture.

Added texture.

This sign always makes me smile. Keep right.

Which way should I go?

Which way should I go?

But the path clearly heads to the left.

Even in dreary, misty weather this pond is pretty, tucked back into the trees. Wonder what lives there?

Pond tucked back behind the trees.

Pond tucked back behind the trees.

And look at this! At about eye level is the latest remodeling of the local pilated woodpecker.

New bird condo in the making.

New bird condo in the making.

I guess this wasn’t such a dreary walk after all!

So tell us, what will you see when you head out the door today?

A walk starts with one step.

A walk starts with one step.


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Birthday girl recaps

Katie here! HEY! I know you all wonder how I spent my glorious birthday yesterday. It’s not every day a princess turns nine, right? Right!? So there should be celebrations! Parties! Extravagant gifts! Crowds of cheering fans! Piles of yummy treats!

See our library way over there behind the pond?

See our library way over there behind the pond?

Or at least an adventure.

I can always count on my mama to take me on an adventure and I was not disappointed. (The gifts and treats and parties were a bit lacking though I did appreciate all your adoring fan comments on mama’s blog yesterday!)

I'm the copilot!

I’m the copilot!

So anyway, Mama broke the car early in the morning and it had to go to the shop for repairs. That was OK because we got to do my adventuring in daddy’s truck! I used to be scared of the big truck but now I like it cause I get to see out the front window. And I get to smell the breeze coming in the vent. When I ride in the truck I have to wear my harness and get connected to the seat belt. But that’s OK, it’s worth it to be close to mama.

Our first adventure wasn’t much of an adventure. We just went to my park. But this time mama said I could choose where I wanted to go and I took mama on a different path and we ended up over at the library! I took her all the way around it and then back to the car. She said we hadn’t quite walked a whole mile; she’s doing some sort of silly challenge where she has to walk a mile every day, so we also walked all the way around a softball field. And over to the playground.

I'm the birthday girl!

I’m the birthday girl!

I figured that was all I was going to get but nooooo! Mama asked me where we should go next! Cause it was my BIRTHDAY! Happy happy day! I said….’remember that park we went to a couple of years ago in the winter mama? With the little creek?”

Just a muddy little creek this time of year mama!

Just a muddy little creek this time of year mama!

She said OK,let’s go there baby-girl! So we did! All these pictures, except the first one, are from the second park — it’s actually a nature trail and I think they do cross country skiing there in the winter when there’s snow.

Come ON mama!

Come ON mama!

When we got there we noticed a big storm knocked down a tree on the bridge across the creek. That didn’t bother me, we just walked around it. Mama was a bit worried about the safety of the bridge but it was just fine. She’s a worrier, my mama.

This is actually a cute bridge.

This is actually a cute bridge.

Then we got to a wooden bridge over a low wet spot. I ran right up it and across. I told mama it reminded me of my agility days, it was just another dogwalk to me! She said it was slippery and I should be careful but I told her not to be such a scardy pants. Geeze.

It's just a dogwalk mama!

It’s just a dogwalk mama!

I was very happy at this new park. There was so much good stuff to sniff! Nobody was out there but you could tell lots of people and dogs had been there earlier. Even though it was getting colder and mama was starting to tell me to ‘leave it let’s go!” I stopped to sniff a lot.

Good smells here mama!

Good smells here mama!

After all…it was my birthday.

We even got to run down this big hill! I thought that was a lot of fun and wanted to go back up and do it again but mama said no way was she climbing back up there. Mama is a wimp.

Hi there mama!

Hi there mama!

We walked another whole mile in the new park and I had a blast. I even sat on this stupid bench for mama to take a picture. She forgot the treats in the truck and I didn’t get anything the whole time we were in this park even though I posed about a hundred million times for her.

She said she’d make it up to me later.

I didn't protest, sitting on this bench gave me a chance to rest!

I didn’t protest, sitting on this bench gave me a chance to rest!

I’m still waiting.

But I’ll forgive her because we had such a lovely time together. Those worker men were at my house again yesterday, and they were still there when we got back from our adventures. But I didn’t bark at them or anything even though they were noisy. I just went inside and took a birthday nap. For a really long time. It’s important to get my rest you know.

Cause they’re going to be back today, and I expect my mama and I will be heading out in daddy’s truck for another adventure any moment.

I have the best parents ever!

Where are we going next mama?

Where are we going next mama?


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The best, fun, most extraordinary day

This is all for me!

This is all for me!


Katie here. I know, I know. You just heard from me at Thanksgiving, right? But I have to tell you about the wonderful day I had with my mama yesterday! And heck, she’s still sleeping, so I figure I get to blog as much as I want. She’ll never know.

So anyway, mama said some guys were coming to work on the house and it was going to be noisy and she figured I would just make it nosier and stress everyone out so she told my daddy that she was taking me to the park.

All day!

Of course my daddy was up early and whenever that happens I usually end up at the groomer or the kennel or the vet, so I was very nervous and tried to skulk away to hide in the bedroom where no one would think to look for me. But mama told me not to worry and put me in my car.

Going for a walk.

Going for a walk.

Well I was still worried so I remained very still and very quiet as she drove all over running errands. We did stop at my park but it was just for a moment and only to let me do my business because mama knows I always do all my business there right away. Then she put me back in the car without walking all the way around!

I was upset!

And I was right! We went to the groomer! How could you mama?! OK, it was just to get my nails clipped and I got to sit on mama’s lap and I got a treat, and my favorite girl was there to do it, so it wasn’t all that bad, but I told my mama off when we got back in the car anyway.

I love this time of year!

I love this time of year!

So to make it up to me mama took me to a park I’ve never been to before that is over on the groomer’s side of town. No one was there! We got to walk through the woods and play in the deep oak leaves.

Get the ball mama!

Get the ball mama!

And there was a fenced in space where some other doggie left three tennis balls. I got so excited when I saw those! Mama threw them for me and I ran and ran and ran and spun around in excitement. I never actually touched the tennis balls (they might have boy cooties) but I’d race out to where the ball landed and then spin in circles. It was so much fun, especially since that made my mama have to go get the ball to throw it for me again.

Run mama, run!

Run mama, run!

And do you know what we did next? We went back to my park! I couldn’t believe it when we got there and mama got me out of the car! A second park in the same day! Boy oh boy! I was sooooo happy I grinned almost the whole way around the park.

But about three quarters of the way around I sat down and smiled at my mama. It was time for a rest. So we did! Mama didn’t tell me to ‘lets go’ or anything. She said it was a big day and it was OK for me to rest. But then I saw a chipmunk and we were off again! I can always count on chipmunks to revive me!

Got any treats mama?

Got any treats mama?

When we finally got home late in the afternoon guess what? There weren’t any men working on my house and daddy said they are coming today instead.

Mama was not happy.

She says she doesn’t know how she can top yesterday and keep me busy all day again. I told her I was up for anything, especially if it involves walks and rides and parks and treats.

I could just run all day!

I could just run all day!

Yesterday was my favorite kind of day. Whatcha going to do with me today mama?

I'll pose once mama.

I’ll pose once mama.


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Walking in a winter wonderland

Extraordinary morning.

Extraordinary morning.

You think it’s easy to go for a walk every day? Sure. What’s a little daily walk to a retired person? Well that’s what I said too, and why I agreed to join my fellow Michigan Connectors in a challenge to walk (or run, but really? RUN?) at least one mile every day between Thanksgiving and New Years Day.

I like to walk. I enjoy almost all of almost every walk I’ve ever been on. But it’s still hard. I wake up every day and think “Where am I going to walk today?” And I’ve figured out I need to get the walk done early in the day, before the rest of the world interferes and the day gets away from me.

A frosty walk.

A frosty walk.

My favorite walks are those when I have enough time to drive to one of our parks and walk through the woods. In fact I had a lovely almost two mile walk early in the morning just a few days ago. The images in this post are from that magical morning in a county park not far from where I live.

Blue skies above the marsh.

Blue skies above the marsh.

There’s lots to do at this park. A small playground complete with climbing wall for little kids. An eight mile bike path that winds through wetlands and deep woods. A water pad for summers. Even a chain link maze.

Holiday colors.

Holiday colors.

For the winter there’s a sledding hill and a toboggan run. And tucked way in the back is a nature area with a path through tall trees and marshland.

Hill waiting for snow.

Hill waiting for snow.

I saw no cars anywhere in the park when I arrived – I had the whole place to myself. The sun was glinting off frost tinged grass, brush and leaves.

It was magical.

From days past.

From days past.

Half way along the nature trail another trail branched off. It is called the ‘farm trail’ and at the base of it were a couple of antique farming implements. That morning the frost had touched the rusted metal and the result was beautiful. I spent a long time taking shots of bits and parts of frosty rust, totally ruining my split times.

As if time was important to a retired person.

Frosty.

Frosty.

A lesson to this retired person. No matter what the weather if you get outside and walk a mile you’re going to find something, maybe a lot of things, worth the walk. With or without the camera.

Puddle art.

Puddle art.

I know I’m lucky to have the time to take these walks. And I’m lucky to belong to a group of women who hold health and fitness high on their lists of important things. They challenge me to stick with it, even when I don’t want to.

Which is why I’m having a blast walking in a winter wonderland.

On top of the world.

On top of the world.