Deer Enjoy Afternoon Rest

I'd been working on my porch and went inside to make lunch.  When I returned, I noticed my favorite doe had decided to rest just outside my fence. 

Shortly after, her fawn came out of the woods to join her.  The fawn's twin hasn't been around for the last couple weeks, and I fear for its safety.

It wasn't long before the fawn found its own resting spot just behind her mom.

While the doe napped, the fawn quietly explored its resting space...

sampling a hemlock bough...

licking its chops...

doing a little grooming...

and just posing pretty for a picture.

Descending Twilight at Kehl Lake

A Gusty Big Lake

I'd been hoping to catch some of the Perseid Meteor Showers the last two nights, but cloud cover prevented me from seeing them.  So instead, I headed out to see what was happening on the Big Lake.  High waves, winds gusting from the north at 25 miles an hour, and rip current warnings had been forecast for the whole day.  I headed over to Leland to see if there might be surfers or kite sailors.  Unfortunately, I missed them, as they were packing up their gear at Van's Beach when I arrived shortly past dinner.  Moving down to South Beach to get a more accessible view away from the harbor, the wind and waves told a story of power coming from the Lake.  Seagulls straddled the shore line, hoping for dinner to be tossed up from the Lake bottom.

 Looking south towards the Whaleback, large waves created moving surf and the wind forced the beach grass nearly horizontal.  And the heavy cloud cover didn't bode well for night photography once again.

On the way back to Northport, I stopped at Christmas Cove and saw the same churned up water, windy conditions, and heavy cloud cover.  The lake was giving off darker colors, as night approached.  The cloud cover did, however, seem to be breaking up somewhat, especially just above the horizon, where the setting sun had started to cast its orangey glow on what clear sky was visible.  It was still four hours until midnight, the beginning of peak hours for meteor watching.  Maybe I would luck out after all.

Clouds Add Interest

I took this Grand Traverse Lighthouse picture on a day that up north folks would describe as: "There wasn't a cloud in the sky!"  While cloudless skies are wonderful in an area where winter gray can dominate, I actually like clouds because of the interest they add to compositions.

Last March, I took this sunset picture from Foxview Drive.  The sunset itself was dazzling, but it was the cloud striations absorbing and reflecting the setting sun that really made the picture interesting.

My favorite type of cloud formation is the cumulus cloud.  These fair weather clouds are white and fluffy, although I actually prefer the more defined version just above the treeline at the Bight.  These clouds can also develop vertically into thunderheads if unstable weather is approaching.

Last Sunday evening I was driving back to Northport from the film festival and was hoping to catch the sunset.  As I approached Omena Bay, the low cloud cover and water took on the pink glow of the sunset, which was happening on the other side of the peninsula.

While I missed the actual sunset, I didn't miss the brilliant afterglow.  And again, the thin, wispy clouds added interest to the sky.  Sky islands next to South Fox Island.