Most of you are aware of the color wheel, and that contrasting colors, opposite each other on that wheel, ‘go together.’ You know, blue and orange, yellow and purple, red and green.
Red and green? What could that be, for me, except barns!
I had several in my archives, red barns with green roofs, red barns in green fields. And then I found this one.
Red and green, and it’s not Christmas!
A red truck next to a red barn under a green tree.
Perfect.
Red barn, green roof.
Trent hosts a weekly post soliciting smiles. Since I believe we could all use a smile, I try to participate. This past week I’ve had lots and lots to smile about, much of which’ve blogged about and includes a cold Great Lake and snow and ice.
Can you see the birds hidden among all that fruit?
But this morning back at home the dog wanted to go out, a much less glamorous event than shooting a lighthouse glowing in the morning light. Plus it’s cold here, 10 F (-12.22 C) with a brisk wind. I wasn’t eager to traipse around in the yard.
I usually catch their yellow bellies, or the red tips to their wings…
After I bundled up we headed out to do her job. I was urging her to hurry, she was dawdling as usual. Then I heard it. The sound of a bunch of birds somewhere behind me.
I turned my head and saw a flash of yellow in our crab-apple tree. And a distinctive shape.
…but for me the defining bit of a cedar waxwing is the yellow strip along the tail. (Thank you Mr. Waxwing for showing us your colors!)
I grabbed the dog up in my arms and ran for the house and my camera. I had to change lenses. The dog was mystified. Racing back outside I told the dog to “STAY!” on the porch and I crept closer to the tree.
See the red tips at the end of the wings?
I was in such a hurry I didn’t consider my depth of field, and I have many blurry shots of nothing in particular. And even the ‘good’ images aren’t sharp, but the slightly blurry edges adds to the magic of the moment. Or so I’m telling myself.
Hungry in this cold weather, they stopped on their travels to visit my buffet.
Cedar waxwings fly through here as they migrate. I only see them once or twice a year, if at all, and those times it’s only a singular event. They don’t hang around. If the dog hadn’t decided she wanted to go out, if she had continued her nap, I never would have seen these.
So…that’s what made me smile today!
Hard to see even when I crop the image!
Last Sunday a friend and I drove north and west to see Point Betsie with it’s lighthouse in winter. We were hoping to see some waves and some ice, and we saw a bit of each.
Taken by my friend, look how she caught that wave action!
On Monday we meandered under a blue sky down the western coast of Michigan, enjoying the shore and beaches at several parks along the way.
Lake fog danced on the relatively warm water in the single digit air temperatures.
I’ve been trying to figure out how to show you some of the beautiful sights we saw. There are so many it’s hard to choose what to share.
The view was worth the climb!
We stopped across the river from Frankfort early in the day and admired their tugboats…
Tugboats waiting for spring.
…and the lighthouse against the dark sky.
The white buildings pop against the darkening sky.
Then we drove up to a bluff overlooking the harbor and the sun came out. I was a bit scared to drive up the steep, snow covered road, but the view was absolutely worth it.
From up on the bluff.
The early light made the lighthouse glow out there in the blue lake.
Further down the coast Ludington’s shoreline held lots of lovely sights. Even with all the wonderful white snow and blue water, this was one of my favorite shots:
Shadows mimic fence.
And this, the ice on the railing, deserves some attention too.
Ice interest.
So many pretty things to see, I put together a little slide show.
Our last stop was Muskegon State Park where the views weren’t as stunning, but still very interesting.
A lonely tree on a lonely beach.
We had such a fun time wandering the coast of Michigan even though we didn’t get it all done. That just means we have something to anticipate some weekend when the sun shines and the lake glows.
Oh, and just for me, we stopped along the way for a photo of a barn.
Every road trip needs at least one barn.
I’m looking forward to our continued adventure. It’s nice when you can make something out of a cold winter weekend in the north.
Colors out of this world.
Visiting Point Betsie during the winter is on my list of stupendous things to do in 2019.
Tucked into the sand dunes along the shores of Lake Michigan.
Today I had the opportunity to do just that — and it was beautiful.
At home we had snow yesterday, the most we’ve had in one day so far this winter season, so a trip across the state was in question.
The path down to the beach shows the first glimpse of the turquoise lake.
But by this morning the falling snow had stopped and the sun made it glitter as a friend and I took the chance and drove across the state toward Lake Michigan and Point Betsie, a little over four hours away.
The wind was flinging waves over the breakers.
Though there was little new snow falling, the wind was brisk, and the temperatures were in the single digits. I don’t even want to think about about the wind chill.
The sun tried to break through but ultimately lost out to the clouds.
Trust me it was cold. I could barely get the car door open once we arrived at the lighthouse. We sprinted down to the shore – the lake was it’s typical turquoise.
The lighthouse was beautiful, but the ice coating the land around it prohibited us from exploring too close. That and the chilling wind howling off the lake.
The view looking south, away from the lighthouse, was stunning too.
To the south the light was diffused, the colors muted.
We stayed on the beach for only a few minutes before we ran back to the car, fingers frozen.
My friend heading back to the car, I was right behind her!
Was it worth it to drive over four hours to spend less than 10 minutes enjoying the view.
You bet it was!
Safe and sound at the hotel.
Saturday I attended an all day class intended to up my skill level in the photo editing software Lightroom. The first half of the day was spent learning about cataloging your inventory of photos within Lightroom.
Mama! Don’t you see this stupid stick right next to me?
Much of that went right over my head. I have a system to keep track of my photos, and though it isn’t perfect and would probably make little sense to anyone but me, I am not sure I’m ready to change.
Well, if you don’t look too close, that’s a little better mama. And I like the light!
After all, change is hard.
Cheerful little guy.
The second half of the day was spent in the development module, and was the reason I was there. Though I tried very hard to focus and listen while at the same time playing along on my laptop, some of it still escaped me.
Sitting in a spot of make believe sunshine.
But I learned a lot of the basics, and as I practice I’m sure I’ll get better.
Sunset at the park.
The photos in this blog were taken in the past week with the new Nikon Z6 camera. I’m posting the original, out of the camera image and then the adjusted, messed around with image.
A bit over the top.
Sometimes the changes are subtle, sometimes I’ve over adjusted just to see how far I could take it.
This little guy wanted a treat.
I still have so much to learn…but at least I have hope that I can learn, little by little, photo by photo I’m going to figure it out.
Still hungry.
And maybe I’ll reorganize all those thousands of photos I already have in my catalog.
Just remember who’s most beautiful around here mama.
A few years ago we had a mother/daughter duo playing clarinet in our community band. I took this image just before a concert, for another of Cee’s black and white challenges, that time for two of anthing.
I’ve always liked it, and so did they. I gave them a framed copy.
The daughter was in high school at the time, and now she’s graduated from college. Time flies, but connections made through music last forever.
Sunshine makes everything prettier.
And then the sun came out.
Hurry mama! We have to enjoy the sun while it’s here!
The temperatures climbed into the fifties and it smelled like spring. For a brief moment I felt the unfurling of joy at the thought winter was over.
And then I remembered it was only January and I laughed at myself.
Moss glowing deep in the woods.
We had two lovely days of sunshine and warm temperatures. That and my Katie-girl made me smile.
What made you smile this past week?
Smiling in January.
Change Is Hard 