FAVORITES OF THE 2021 YEAR

 

Ah, the end of another year has arrived.  As I typically do, I choose my favorite images of the year and explain why they made the top ten. 

 

# Ten:  Certainly not a natural setting for these Chipping Sparrows, but such a tender image with this young one waiting to be fed by its parent. 

 

# Nine:  I love the smell of freshly cut hay!  Moreover, when the hay is baled and left in the fields, the scenes created are among my favorites.  

 

 # Eight:  This drooping sunflower reminded me of the fields of these beauties that grew along the highway to Elk Rapids during the late summer.  

 

 # Seven:  Fall was late arriving this year, but its vistas were exquisite once they got here.  I like how this one stretched on and on.

 

 # Six:  I love the surprises that nature brings, such as a pack of fox kits I came upon under a porch in Williamsburg.  This one is adorable!

 

 # Five:  And then there’s the majesty of the American Eagle!  I chose this image because it showed the bird’s huge wingspan in flight and those dangerous talons it uses to catch prey.

 

 # Four:  Of course, there would be Sandhill Crane images in my top ten!  This one was just about perfect catching the migrating cranes in flight against both a blue sky and fall color.

 

 # Three:  Gracie always makes my list of favorites as she’s my most often photographed subject, usually with my iPhone.  She loves having her picture taken too and, on this day, she let me plop my reading glasses on her face.  What fun she is!

 

 # Two:  Sunset photos are every photographer’s joy.  Usually, I take sunsets over Lake Michigan or Grand Traverse Bay, but this image in farm country, with Clous Road running through it, was just as stunning as any over water.

 

 # One:  My favorite picture of 2021!  Not a surprise, I imagine, because taking pictures of Sandhill Cranes is a treasured part of my hobby.  And this image is about the best one I got.  Sharp, red-eyes glowing, and in a field of wild flowers.  I’ve been back to this field several times over the last month and my cranes have finally migrated south.  But, they’ll be back in the spring, I’m sure.  And now, on to a new year.

 

 
 

MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY HOLIDAY TO ALL

 

We’re just a couple days from Christmas, and I want to wish you all a joyous holiday, however you celebrate it.  I remember a year ago we were all excited for 2020 to pass, to start a new year free of all the “covid stuff.”  It hasn’t exactly worked out for that to happen, but I hope you’ve discovered some ways to include some peace, joy, and love in your life anyway.  Stay safe, my friends.  As always, thanks for your loyal following of my blog.  Karen

 

 

 

NEIGHBORHOODS AWASH IN HOLIDAY COLOR

 

As is my holiday tradition, Gracie and I drove around the neighborhoods of Grand Traverse and Leelanau Counties to look at Christmas yard displays.  One thing I noticed was there were more reindeer, snowmen, and nativity scenes this year.  Perhaps they signify that nature, a jolly attitude, and faith are helping us through the continuing pandemic.  Regardless of your interpretation, I hope you have the opportunity to enjoy the lights where you live too.

 

 

VILLAGE FOR THE ARTS

 

When I lived in Northport for ten years, one thing I noticed was the village’s devotion to the arts.  Artists, writers, musicians, poets, and photographers were all welcome contributors to this vibrant community.  Recent evidence of this enthusiasm for the arts is found in the Northport Nutcrackers project.  Volunteers have built and hand-painted 40-plus life-size nutcrackers, which stand sentry through the village around the various businesses.  Some are traditional nutcracker soldiers while others are more frivolous, a candy cane, Rudolph, and even a likeness of the fire chief.  One evening last week I traveled to Northport to see and photograph these figures.  And, of course, I couldn’t leave without a photo of Northport’s beautiful Christmas tree.   

 

THE SEASON ARRIVES

 

The Traverse City holiday season kicked off with the annual downtown Light Parade.  I’d never been to one before and it was great fun seeing the decorated vehicles, bands, bikes, National Cherry Queen and, of course, Santa.  Here are some highlights of the parade.