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Sigh…
Springtime in Southeast Michigan
Tag Archives: weather
WordPress Photo Challenge: Landscape
The landscape in Southern Michigan in early April can look like anything. You never know. Could be snow. Could be sunshine. Could be both on the same day.
Yellow willow, brown reeds, red twig dogwood., blue water and sky. Perfect.
But here is what I found out at my favorite park today. It was cold, but the sun was shining and that made it a great day.
What does your landscape look like? Care to share? Post a shot and link it up to the original WordPress post. We’d love to see!
You can see other interpretations there as well. Or if you’re strapped for time, here are some of my favorites, each very different, ….here, here and here.
And let’s hope there’s no more snow in our forecast. I think we’re pretty much done with winter now if Mother Nature would just cooperate.
Morning in DC
Sunrise on the Hill.
Part two of the cherry blossom saga. Easter weekend was my first visit to DC during cherry blossom time. Sunday I explored, along with thousands of others, the beautiful tidal basin ringed with cherry trees showing off their blossoms. Monday was spent at meetings, but Tuesday morning I had a couple of hours before my flight. So I got up before dawn and rode the metro back to the Hill.
It was an entirely different experience.
For one, the sun came up and lit the western edge of the basin with a rosy glow that complimented the pink and white cherry blossoms. And for another, there were far fewer people out there. Most of them were joggers like me, or photographers also like me, though many of them had fancy equipment. I was carrying my trusty point and shoot, the better to get runs in between stops for photos.
Jefferson glowing way over there.
The first bit of sun tinged the top of the Jefferson Monument pink, and though it was beautiful I was still two very busy streets away. Still, I got a bit of it as I zoomed in as far as my little camera would go.
As I got closer to the tidal basin the sun was beginning to focus on the cherry trees themselves. Pretty breathtaking.
Morning light and cherry blossoms.
I could have spent hours just meandering beneath the beautiful trees…
The trees were art.
…but I had limited time. So I headed over to the Martin Luther King monument, just around the corner. I took a few shots of him framed in cherry blossoms, but I liked this version best.
Contemplation in morning light.
No blossoms, but a strong look for a strong man.
Then I checked my watch and realized I had time to visit President Lincoln if I ran. So I did. It was a great run, along the reflecting pool up to the Lincoln Monument. Could I make it up those steps at a run?
You can do it!
Why yes I could. And there was hardly anyone there, so I got a moment alone with the President. He was warmed by the morning sun, glad to see a new day. Me too.
Good morning Mr. President.
And because I was so close, I jogged over to the Vietnam wall. There were lots of veterans there. I learned later that it was Vietnam Veterans Day, and I had just missed the ceremony.
Reflection.
I didn’t jog past the wall, instead taking my time to walk it, reading a few names from each panel. So many names. So many families. Heartbreaking.
But time was slipping away. So I headed back, moving more quickly, probably my longest run. And it felt uphill at that, though I don’t suppose it was.
A long way back.
A good place to stop and catch my breath was the WWII memorial. I walked through a part of it, paid my respects and kept going.
Peacefully empty.
WW II, Washington Monument and Flag in morning light.
Heading back over the Washington Monument hill I saw lines of people already forming for the attraction. The sun was fully up. It was time to give the city back to the tourists and be on my way.
I didn’t want to leave.
I had experienced some pretty special moments during my early morning run. Not something I’ll be able to do again soon. Spending a couple days in the Nation’s Capitol turned out to be a gift.
With one last look over my shoulder I jogged toward the metro station and my flight home.
Until next time.
Bye Washington DC. I had a great time. See you soon.
I have no idea why Ronald was out so early.
It’s cherry festival time!
Close up and personal.
No, not in Michigan, that’s still a few months away. But down in DC? Well, it’s prime cherry blossom viewing down there! And I was lucky enough to have a meeting scheduled there, so in between commitments I went up to Capitol Hill and became a tourist.
It was glorious.
I’d never been in DC during cherry blossom time, so I didn’t know what to expect. I flew in on Easter afternoon, changed into running clothes and figured I’d jog a bit on the Mall, take a few pictures of cherry blossoms, just enjoy some alone time.
Pretty in pink.
I was so naive! When I came up out of the metro (subway) and made it over to the mall I was confronted with a few hundred gazillion tourists, all strolling along. It was like being at the start of a race, when you’re all jammed together and walking (slowly) toward the start line. Except there was never any start line…the crowd just kept meandering along.
Not going to be running here.
So, no running on the Mall that afternoon! What was I thinking? But the cherry blossoms were stunning! The trees glowed under their own power without benefit of the sun.
Crowds enjoy the blossoms.
I moved with the crowd from the Washington Monument where white cherry trees provided a heavenly canopy for people picnicking….
My favorite image from Easter afternoon.
…toward the Jefferson Monument on the tidal basin, surrounded by white and pink trees.
Jefferson Monument surrounded by beauty.
The water was filled with people in paddle boats having fun. The shore was crowded with people taking pictures of people in paddle boats, pictures of trees, pictures of blossoms, pictures of each other, pictures of Jefferson’s monument.
There were long lines to rent the boats.
It was so much fun, even though I was cold. I had dressed to be running and I was decidedly not running. But I didn’t care. It was so just much fun! Eventually I got all the way over to the Jefferson Monument….
Headed up the steps.
…and noticed how pretty the Washington Monument was, across the basin, ringed with cherry trees.
Washington watches over the crowds.
The short trek between the two had taken over an hour, and it was getting dark, so I took some side streets back to the metro. I even ran a few blocks, just to say I did.
I will put together one more blog about the sights on the Mall. Tuesday, before my flight, I got up early and headed back to see the sun rising over the cherry trees. You won’t want to miss it.
I couldn’t stop grinning the whole morning.
Found a few seconds of solitude at Jefferson’s.
WordPress Photo Challenge: State of Mind
Last week we were running through the park in shorts.
But this is Michigan, so this week is different. Can you guess what my state of mind was when I snapped this?
The weather outside is frightful.
You would be correct.
For other interpretations of ‘state of mind’ check the link. Or visit a few of my favorites (so far) here, here and here.
Seems obvious to me that the ground hog lied back at the beginning of this month.
Pretty though
Cee’s black and white photo challenge: Weather
It’s a long time till summer picnics.
The weather lately has been vacillating between cold snow and warm rain. Sometimes it all collides and we get this.
On the beach
Many of you have retreated to warm beaches, beaches with palm trees and lounge chairs, beaches that require sunglasses and sunscreen. Where you can dip your toes in the waves. I’m at a beach too, though it’s a bit different. Just a tad cooler and windier.
Since the windstorm Christmas Eve I haven’t been able to walk on the beach right here at the house. The big waves dug away the bluff and now it’s more like a cliff. Sure, I could hop, jump or maybe roll down to the beach. But I’m pretty sure I wouldn’t be able to get back up. And it’s way too cold to take that risk. So I’ve been looking longingly at the beach and staying up on the bluff in the wind.
Windy lake glows turquoise under a purple sky.
Today some neighbors stopped by to say “Happy New Year!” and I mentioned how I’d like to walk on the beach. They reminded me of a long staircase down in the next group of homes. They said it was covered in snow…but once maneuvered would lead me to a wide beach only a half mile or so away.
Well! This afternoon I bundled up, took the camera and headed up the street, down the stairs and out onto the beach. It was beautiful. And cold.
I’m teaching myself how to use manual camera settings.
Oh so cold. I shot a short video and thought my fingers would actually fall off. It’s posted on Facebook if you’d like to see it.
I found a very nice Petosky stone which was partially frozen into the sand. I got it chippped out and put the whole thing, frozen sand chunk and all in my pocket. I found another beautiful Petosky stone, but couldn’t get it chipped out of the ice. Most of the stones were frozen solid to the sand. Ah well.
Waves just keep on coming.
There were big boulders that had waves of ice and sand covering them from earlier in the day when the waves were higher. It was all beautiful.
All the photos in this post were from my walk on the beach. Notice how striking the sky was too. Every day the lake looks different. The sky changes. Wind and waves and light carve out a new view for me.
Giant ice cubes.
It’s going to be hard to leave this place, but soon I’ll be headed back to my husband and my Katie-girl. It will be good to be home, but it was very good to be here too.
Love my Lake Michigan.
Brrrrrrrr!
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.
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.
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?
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.
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.
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…
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!
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
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
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?
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.
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.
Back on the damp pathway you have to notice the cool reflections in the puddles.
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.
And the textures on the trees.
Added texture.
This sign always makes me smile. Keep right.
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.
And look at this! At about eye level is the latest remodeling of the local pilated woodpecker.
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.
Change Is Hard 