Traverse City has gained a reputation for international equine competition with its summer horse shows. I also see a lot of horses and their unique barns south of my home. My favorite horses are these two Haflingers with their chestnut coats and flaxen manes. They are so gentle and friendly, often coming to the fence when I drive by.
Last year, I watched cherry trees being ripped out and burned from these fields along US 31 North. This summer, dwarf sunflowers bloomed in the same space. These shorter varieties resist tipping over during heavy rainstorms and take up less space. Tall or short, their beauty invites gawking and picture-taking from the roadside.
Neither of these birds is rare, but they are only here during the summer, so sightings are less common. I was deep in the woods somewhere in northwestern Wexford County when I spotted this broad-winged hawk. I’d never seen one before, which made seeing it exciting. On another evening, I was exploring the Lake Dubonnet Trail when I spotted movement in a distant tree. Luckily, when this Red-headed woodpecker flew to a nearby post, I got a better look. It was only the second time I’d seen this striking bird. I lucked out both times.
As the smoke diminished somewhat over last weekend, I headed to the Lakeshore, hoping for a sunset. My first stop was Inspiration Point, where the sky was murky, but at the Glen Lake narrows, the sun was bright and visible. I reached the Dune Climb as the sun sank behind Sleeping Bear. It was eerily quiet, with no one climbing to watch the spectacular view. I proceeded to Empire Beach and found it mostly empty, too. I had my pick of front row parking spots, a rarity on summer evenings. As I listened to the waves rush ashore, it felt wonderful to be outdoors at the water again. But the haze occluded the sun, so all I got was a pink sky.
It resembled fog, but browner. Plus, fog doesn’t smell. Despite the air quality from the Canadian wildfires, I headed out to take pictures. The results reminded me of watercolor, painted in layers with soft edges. Despite the deepening gloom, my catch of the evening was a pair of fawns with their mother.
