Contrasting Then and Now

This is winter, isn't it!  Or so the calendar says.  We've had cold enough temperatures, but not enough snow to allow for typical outdoor winter activities.  According to the most recent Leelanau Enterprise, we've had 73.8" of snow so far this winter.  That's in comparison to 188.1" at the same point in time last year!  And nearly half of this year's snow fell in November, when winter hadn't officially arrived.  Now don't get me wrong; I am NOT wishing for another winter of 2014, but it would be nice to have enough snow to tramp around in snowshoes or capture some pristine winter snowscapes.  To illustrate the differences between last year and this year's snowfall amounts, I've chosen some wintery images from 2014.  Today I revisited those same places, and the contrast between the two images is striking. 

 By the end of January in 2014, Omena Bay was completely frozen over and the ground was covered with deep snow.  Today the ground is barely covered and the bay is mostly wide open.

The same story is repeated in this vista from Braman Hill.  In 2014, ice had completely surrounded Northport Point while today no ice is visible. 

Orchards too are lacking in snow cover.  Last year deep snow was evident between these apple tree rows and covered the ground all the way to the hills in the background.  This year, there is bare  ground in both areas.

And look at Woolsey Airport!  In 2014, snow had nearly covered the whole lower part of the structure.  This winter, snow covers little of this historic site.  I can't help but wonder what the groundhog will see in a couple days.  :-)