A Cool Day at Lake Michigan

My husband and I spent a few hours driving along the west coast of Michigan several days ago.  The skies were a clear, deep blue, and the water was a very icy blue!  Snow was piled at the edge of the beach, deep in some places; the wind was
strong, but the sun was bright and warm on our backs.

We decided to stop at Tunnel Park, near the town of Holland, MI.   At Tunnel Park,
you can walk through a tunnel in the dunes to get to the beach, or you can climb over the dunes on the wooden stairway.  We chose to climb.  Unfortunately, the stairs were
mostly covered with snow, so we had to grip the railing and use a “hand over hand” method of pulling ourselves up the steps!  The other choice would have been to slip backwards down the stairway!  It was good exercise!

And indeed….the view at the top, and down the other side of the dune was worth it!

 

Climbing over the dune at Tunnel Park, Holland, MI.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Beautiful Lake Michigan.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Looking up from the beach..

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I hope you enjoyed our cool Lake Michigan trip!   After all, it’s not spring yet here!

Thanks for bearing with my infrequent posts as I struggle to keep up two blogs and
one photo class….a second photo class begins soon.  I appreciate all of you!

 

If you’re interested in seeing my classwork…my other blog is:

http://dancingwithlightandshadow.wordpress.com

Thanks for visiting!  Hugs to all….xoxo
Judy

All text and images are copyright © 2002-2013 and are the exclusive property of Judy Johnson (unless otherwise indicated). All Rights Reserved. All Images are protected under United States and International copyright laws. None of the images on this site are in the Public Domain.

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Weekly Photo Challenge: Movement

Definition of Movement: (1) “the act or process of moving; especially: change of place or position or posture (2): a particular instance or manner of moving.”
~Merriam-Webster Dictionary 

What I’m showing you today is the RESULT of movement.  The action (movement) has already occurred. 

What you see below is the RESULT of movement of water and sand.
When Lake Superior’s wave action recedes from the beach, pulling and drawing sand with the water,
it leaves behind sand “sculptures”, where water rushed around rocks.

a beach on Michigan’s U.P.’s Keweenaw Peninsula.

The result of movement of the sand and water is like Nature’s Artwork on the beach.  

The miniature sculptures are fun to find,

and they remind us of the strength and power of water.

Nature’s Artwork….

 Thank you for taking the time to read my post! 

Judy

All text and images are copyright © 2002-2012 and are the exclusive property of Judy Johnson (unless otherwise indicated). All Rights Reserved. All Images are protected under United States and International copyright laws. None of the images on this site are in the Public Domain.

WaterDragon Weekly Sunday Post: Water (H2O)

A wave crashes toward the shore on Hutchison Island, Florida.

Water is beautiful.  It’s beautiful to watch, especially when you’re at the ocean and the waves are “high rollers”~ huge monster waves, one after another, crashing onto the beach.
It brings the board surfers and the kite surfers out to play.  The ocean sparkles in the sunshine, beckoning people into the water to cool off.   But water can be dangerous, as well as beautiful.

When you are at the beach it’s good to keep safety first in your mind.  It’s best to choose a beach with a lifeguard.  If you can’t, beware of tides, by carrying a copy of the local tide chart with you.  When tides come in, and if the waves are rough, a dangerous rip current/undertow can pull you back, making it hard to get to shore.   If you are caught in a rip current, always swim parallel to the shore, until you can get help, or until you can work your way to the shore.  Areas that say: “Swim at your own Risk”…mean just that.  There can be a severe drop-off,  unseen rocks or other debris,  and undertows.   Always keep watch over your children and employ the Buddy system.  Never swim alone.  Teach your children to look for the signs/flags on the beach.

Flag warnings: Green flag: All clear for swimming, but keep an eye on the color, situations can change quickly.    Yellow flag: Caution.  There may be potential for strong undertows, high waves, etc.  Only swim where lifeguards are present.
Red flag: Strongest, most serious warning.  One red flag means the water is very rough, there are strong undercurrents, and you should only swim if you are a strong swimmer.
Once again.., keep close to a lifeguard.  Two Red flags means the beach is closed and no one should be swimming.
Many people perish in our beautiful seas because they either ignore the signs or they do not understand the coming and going of the tides.  Be safe!  Swim smart…and enjoy our beautiful ocean water.

Judy

All text and images are copyright © 2002-2012 and are the exclusive property of Judy Johnson (unless otherwise indicated). All Rights Reserved. All Images are protected under United States and International copyright laws. None of the images on this site are in the Public Domain.

 

 

Weekly Photo Challenge: Friendship II

I tried to find this photo for the challenge and it turned up in my husband’s computer!  So here’s my Friendship ll photo!

 Though miles may lie between us, we’re never far apart, for friendship doesn’t count the miles, it’s measured by the heart.
~Rozina Hasham

At the beach with Gail on St. Simons Island, GA.

  Good friends who don’t see each other often can pick up right where they left off the last time they met.  They can talk all day about what they’ve missed in each other’s lives.   But sometimes friends don’t need to talk at all.  They often share the same thoughts and feelings anyway.  Just sitting side by side, two good friends can enjoy each other’s company, the scenery, and searching for that elusive cormorant bobbing up and down in the waves of the St. Simons sound!!! 😉

In friendship,

Judy

All text and images are copyright © 2002-2012 and are the exclusive property of Judy Johnson (unless otherwise indicated). All Rights Reserved. All Images are protected under United States and International copyright laws. None of the images on this site are in the Public Domain.

Weekly Photo Challenge: Summer

When I think of summer, I think of going to Lake Michigan.  Our daughter and her husband live there and it’s fun to visit them for a day or two. (hope they agree!)  The beautiful beach is five minutes away,  the pier is a great place to walk,  and even the ice cream tastes better!

Sunsets are gorgeous over the lake……but this photo shows the setting sun’s reflection on clouds in the eastern sky.  It was a double delight that night!

The setting sun reflects on the clouds in the eastern sky.

It’s time to enjoy summer!  Yay!

Judy

All text and images are copyright © 2002-2012 and are the exclusive property of Judy Johnson (unless otherwise indicated). All Rights Reserved. All Images are protected under United States and International copyright laws. None of the images on this site are in the Public Domain.

Weekly Photo Challenge: Blue

We’re singing the “Ocean City Blues” in this photo!

Ocean City, Maryland

It’s a nice breezy day; a few whitecaps sparkle in the blue water, and a young man flies a kite on the sandy beach.

Ocean City, Maryland.

Thanks for visiting!

Judy

All text and images are copyright © 2002-2012 and are the exclusive property of Judy Johnson (unless otherwise indicated). All Rights Reserved. All Images are protected under United States and International copyright laws. None of the images on this site are in the Public Domain.

Seagulls

When it blows here, even the seagulls walk.  ~Nick Faldo

It doesn’t sound appropriate to say “I shot some seagulls” when we were on St. Simons Island.
But that’s what I did!   With a camera, of course!

Seagull.

“AHHHH!  I see some Northerners down there.  They always have food for us!”

Seagull lands in front of people.

“What’cha got for me?  I like any crumbs.  Come on, I know you’re good for a treat.”

Seagull pleading.

“Whaddaya mean you’ve got nothing?!  Hmmmph! What good are ya?  (giving the cold gull shoulder)”

…….

“Forget it.  Just FORGET IT.”

“SO LONG AMIGOS!  I’m OUTTA HERE!”

…….

“Hey….WHAT ARE YOU STARING AT?”  😉

Have a good day and make sure you laugh!

Judy

All text and images are copyright © 2002-2012 and are the exclusive property of Judy Johnson (unless otherwise indicated). All Rights Reserved. All Images are protected under United States and International copyright laws. None of the images on this site are in the Public Domain.

Tour stop #2~Sapelo Island, GA.

Hello blogger buddies!  Climb aboard.  The ferry to Sapelo Island is leaving!  It will take about 15-20 minutes to get to the island.

The earliest humans on Sapelo Island lived there over 4000 years ago.  Those inhabitants were the Paleo-Indians who left evidence of their lives on the island with shell middens, that can still be seen today.  Middens are mounds or deposits of shells or bones.   There were others before him, but  Sapelo Island was purchased by Thomas Spaulding in the 1800’s.  Spaulding was an amateur agriculturist, who built a large home on the south end of the island.  In 1911, Howard Coffin, founder of the Hudson Motor Company in Detroit, MI,  purchased the island, living there until 1933.  Using the foundation of the Spaulding home, the Coffins renovated and expanded the home, making it quite a showplace.   From 1933-1965, RJ Reynolds owned the island and upgraded the home again.  As the others before him, he enjoyed agricultural experimentation.

Today the island is under the direction of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources.   The island is home to the Sapelo Island Natural Estuarine Research Reserve.  (SINERR)  The reserve enables visitors to see the elements of a natural barrier island, such as: diverse wildlife in the upland forests, vast expanses of the Spartina salt marsh, and the complex beach and dunes system.  Tours also enable the visitor to experience the African-American community of Hog Hammock, the mansion and the lighthouse.

PLEASE CLICK ON ONE OF THE THUMBNAILS TO START THE GALLERY!

They kept 100 lb cannons here to protect the Darrien harbor nearby during the Spanish-American war in 1898. They never shot one cannon.

I love this huge “pot” on the grounds of the home.

The lovely, unspoiled beach is just over the dunes. No cottages, we were the only ones there!

The cemetery sign, made from tabby.

The well-kept African American cemetery on the island in Hog Hammock. Some graves date back centuries.

Back on the mainland! What a great day!

This is only half of the mansion. There’s another half to the right!

Even the back of the mansion is beautiful.

The awesome barn on the mansion’s property.

The lighthouse for the island.

My husband found a sand dollar on the beach!

Sapelo Island welcome sign.

Tabby was used as a building material. Tabby is made of oyster shells, lime, sand and water. This tabby is from the cane pressing bldg.

For more information on Sapelo Island, GA.  click here

Thanks for joining me on the tour!  I hope you had fun and learned something new!

Judy

All text and images are copyright © 2002-2012 and are the exclusive property of Judy Johnson (unless otherwise indicated). All Rights Reserved. All Images are protected under United States and International copyright laws. None of the images on this site are in the Public Domain.

Water Dragon Weekly Sunday Post: Pleasure

 

the pleasures of the beach....

One of the simple pleasures in life for me, is sitting on the beach and watching the undulating ocean waves as they roll onto the sandy shore.  It’s peaceful and serene and it evokes a feeling of meditation.  The lofty gliding and dipping of the sea gulls and pelicans continue that theme.  Their soaring and floating on air is relaxing to observe.  Sitting very still, I can become one with nature.

I have always loved the beach.  The smell of the salty water, the wind in my face, the gentle roar of
the waves, all combine to create a sense of peace and calm.    ~anonymous

 

Have a good Sunday!

All text and images are copyright © 2002-2012 and are the exclusive property of Judy Johnson (unless otherwise indicated). All Rights Reserved. All Images are protected under United States and International copyright laws. None of the images on this site are in the Public Domain.