“If we had no winter, the spring would not be so pleasant.” ~ Anne Bradstreet
On the day before the first day of spring, I thought I’d post just a few photos of winter in my woods. I always feel peaceful when walking in the woods.
After a heavy snowfall, that turned the world into a fairyland…… *click on image to enlarge*
The winter woods.
The spruces stand tall..
Winter leaf… A fall leaf shows strength and perseverance as it clings to a branch through the long winter months. I made this photo into B&W, then brought the leaf color back.
Foggy winter morning… Sometimes fog greets us on winter mornings. I’m always trying to capture fog!
Well, it IS that time of year in Michigan. And it IS much better than looking at brown leaves, brown and gray tree trunks, brown weeds in the woods, and dormant grass. It also means that skis and snowshoes can come out of their hiding places soon!
So LET IT SNOW!
Like hands reaching toward the sky, viburnum leaves catch snowflakes within their outstretched foliage.
The porcupine grass becomes heavy with its headdress of snow.
I love to photograph porcupine grass during every season, but wind is the “grass” photographer’s enemy! The wind during the snowstorm played with the “porkies”, making it difficult to capture a clear shot! *click for larger image*
Happy New Year everyone! May you be Blessed with good heath and happiness!
“Architecture is the very mirror of life.You only have to cast your eyes on buildings to feel the presence of the past, the spirit of a place; they are the reflection of society”.~I. M. Pei Les Grands desseins du Louvre (with E J Biasini)
I love architecture from all periods and cultures in the history of the world. I’m also fond of reflections, whether it’s in a mirror, window, water, or a glass building. I have a series of tall buildings from a recent trip to Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA. These structures show reflections of buildings adjacent to them. You will note many different styles of architecture, but the reflections are whimsical.
The glass in which they are reflected throws off their balance and perfect structure; their straight steel beams and their arched windows now appear to be broken, twisted, wavy or curvy.
Come enjoy my Whimsical Architectural Reflections, and be glad that they are only reflections.
This building (above) was the hotel we stayed in.
This one looks like a topsy-turvy sand castle to me!
Grand Rapids is the second largest city in Michigan, following Detroit in population and size. It’s a great city to visit. Click here to find out more about Grand Rapids.
“Knowledge of other people’s beliefs and ways of thinking must be used to build bridges, not create conflict.” ~Kjell Magne Bondevik
The Mackinac Bridge, which connects Michigan’s Lower Peninsula and Upper Peninsula, was built in November, 1957. The entire length of the bridge is 5 miles. The bridge is a suspension type of bridge, and while certainly not a “Galloping Gertie”, it does have some movement. When walking, this movement can be felt in the center section, between the two towers. At first it’s an odd feeling, but you get used to it. It’s rather fun trying to walk a straight line in that section! This year there were 45,000 people who walked the bridge during the Annual Labor Day Bridge Walk. They keep the two south-bound lanes open for N/S traffic and the walkers get the northbound lanes for walking…from 7 am-2 pm.
This is the third year in a row we’ve walked the bridge and the weather was gorgeous. We saw a beautiful sunrise from the bridge and the temperatures were 60-70 degrees F. We finished at 8:30 am, had breakfast in Mackinaw City on the mainland (lower peninsula), and headed by ferry to Mackinac Island.
Visiting Mackinac Island is like going back to the turn of the century. No cars are allowed, only foot traffic, horses, horse-drawn carriages & sleighs (in winter), and bicycles. The pace is delightfully slower here. A few hundred people live on the island. The governor has a residence, and there are many B&B’s. The most famous of the hotels is the Grand Hotel. It is a massive building and very grand, as its name implies. It sits prominently on a hill overlooking the Straits of Mackinac. A long porch catches the breeze and one of the rockers is a perfect place for a nap! We love to go to the very top, to the Cupola, where wide windows on three sides offer views of the bridge, Round Island, ferries, and the Straits. If you’re lucky, you can see a huge barge pass by. If you’d like to see the Grand Hotel, check out the movie: “Somewhere in Time”. It was filmed on the island.
Mackinac Bridge taken from Mackinac Island
Capturing a slice of water between two buildings in town. Note the bikes!
This is Main St. on Mackinac Island. If you look closely you can see all types of traffic~ Horse-drawn, bicycles, and foot traffic. Try clicking on this image to see if it will enlarge.
This carriage will take you to and from the Grand Hotel. It’s on Huron St. with private residences in view.
This flower bed is below the hotel in the garden, fountain, pool and labyrinth area.
Enjoying a lemonade and the views from the Cupola.
Looking at the Grand Hotel’s Cupola….the curved windows at the very top. The perfect place to relax! ~~Besides the lovely porch!
The next day I awoke to find this sunrise over the Straits of Mackinac. A pretty way to end a nice weekend!
But friendship is precious, not only in the shade, but in the sunshine of life; and thanks to a benevolent arrangement of things, the greater part of life is sunshine. – Thomas Jefferson
School friends together “Up North” in MIchigan’s Upper Peninsula.
Thanks to all the friends who’ve made my life full of Sunshine! I love you!
Another year has come to an end. The sunis setting on 2011. We must say good-bye to this year and all its ups and downs, its joys and sorrows, its celebrations and quiet times. But a new year awaits us! A brand new, fresh, sparkling year.
We have a fresh slate…. It’s time to start writing in the sand!
sunset on Lake Superior in the Keweenaw Peninsula, Upper Peninsula, Michigan
The Keweenaw Peninsula is known for its beautiful rocks, many with red
colors, due to the iron in the area.
sand reflecting the sunset, Keweenaw Peninsula, Upper Michigan
Happy New Year to all my blog readers! I hope you have your best year yet in 2012!
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