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 & Sunday Water Dragon Post~”Misty Morning”

Two posts with one image!  The theme for the Weekly Photo Challenge is “Near and Far”.   Jake’s Water Dragon Sunday Post theme is: “Morning”.  Today I decided to combine them.

This photo made me think of what mist on the moor might look like in Scotland or Ireland.

“I don’t ask for the meaning of the song of a bird or the rising of the sun on a misty morning. There they are, and they are beautiful.” ~Pete Hamill

“Misty Morning”   *click for larger image*

“A misty morning does not signify a cloudy day.”~Proverb

This photo was taken from our hotel in Mackinaw City, looking across a bay and into the Straits of Mackinac.  Mackinac Island is to the left of the photo and a 20 minute ride by ferry.
Mackinaw City is located at the south end of the Mackinac Bridge, at the northern tip of Michigan’s Lower Peninsula.  (see my post from last week).    Despite the different spellings, both names (Mackinaw & Mackinac) are pronounced the same: “mack-in-aw”.

Compared to the slow pace of Mackinac Island, Mackinaw City is busy!  Souvenir shops, restaurants, tee shirt shops, motels and pasty shops abound.  Click here to find out about our yummy Michigan pastys…and the history behind them!   Click here to find out more about Mackinaw City.

Thanks for bearing with me on the double theme!

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: Merge

MERGE

Over time, water merges with rock, eventually eroding the surface and turning it into sand.

Merging together, water and rock become a visual piece of beauty through the eyes of an artist.
The water, in a fluid state, contrasts with the hard surface of the rock, but visually combined they make a pleasing creation. 
Different substances, yet they unite as one image for the photographer and the artist.

The Virgin River meets with the rocky surface of the Zion canyon walls along the Riverside Walk trail.

Thanks for reading my blog!
As you may notice, I’m still sneaking photos of Zion in here. 😉

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 Sunday Post: Close-Up ~ Zion National Park

  “It is not the strongest of the species that survives, nor the most intelligent that survives.  It is the one that is the most adaptable to change.”
~Charles Darwin

Close-up…..Zion National Park…..”Garden Wall”

 

In Zion National Park, there is a short hike of a mile alongside the Virgin River.  The name of the hike is “Riverside Walk”.
Good things come in small packages.  There are plenty of wonderful sights to see on this short hike, on mostly level ground.
Every time you turn a corner, you open up a new vista between the massive canyon walls.
One of the sights to behold is the “Garden Wall”.  It is so named because constant dripping water down the rock face has created an environment for plants to grow.
One is able to gaze at the colorful rock facade and see various plants growing in niches all the way to the top.

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.

Weekly Photo Challenge: Dreaming

“Dreaming is another form of thinking, more concrete, more economical, more visual, and often more emotional than the thoughts of the day, but a thinking through of the day, nevertheless.”
~Siri Hustvedt, author

Dreamy look….at Kitch-iti-kipi.

This soft, diffused look, that would cause one to feel as if they were dreaming, was found at Kitch-iti-kipi in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula.  Kitch-iti-kipi is Michigan’s largest natural freshwater spring.  Kitch-iti-kipi is located about six miles northwest of Manistique, MI.  The water remains at a constant 45 F./7 C.  It’s name means “big cold water.”   The original name was given to it by the Indians: “Mirror of Heaven”.   The spring water is clear, so you are able to view fallen trees, fish and rocks in it.  There is a raft ride across the spring with a glass bottom section for viewing.  This trip makes a great adventure for all ages!

For more information on Kitch-iti-kipi, click here.

Thanks for visiting, and happy dreaming!

 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: 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.

Weekly Photo Challenge: Close

As we cruised down Lakeshore Drive on a beautiful day this week, the beach was full of people enjoying the weather and the water.

Behind them, the buildings of Chicago were closely knit together, forming a crisp architectural backdrop,  and a textural contrast to the soft sand and rolling waves.

Chicago from Lakeshore Drive~ Contrasting the hardscape buildings in the background with the soft foreground of sand and water. Also noting the close proximity of the buildings.

Thanks for stopping by!

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.

 

 

Water Dragon Weekly Sunday Post: Light

 I wish I could show you, when you are lonely or in darkness, the astonishing light of your own being. ~Hafiz 

Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven. Matthew 5:16

I was in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula on Lake Michigan when I took this photo.  It was in the late afternoon and the sky had darkened as if a storm was coming.  Quietly the sky opened, and the rays of the sun slipped through, sliding down and splashing onto the calm lake, spreading the light to everyone.

I was very inspired by this scene.  After taking my photo, I sat and watched the clouds for a few more minutes, as they shifted and changed, the light moving and changing its position on the water.

I thought how dark it had been, and in an instant there was light reaching toward the earth.  It reminded me of an old song: “You’ll Never Walk Alone” :  “Don’t be afraid of the dark, at the end of the storm, there’s a golden sky, and the sweet silver song of the lark..”

I love this quote:
Dare to reach out your hand into the darkness, to pull another hand into the light.  ~Norman B. Rice

With this week’s Water Dragon Sunday posts, may we spread the light from blog to blog, all around the world….

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.

Quote~