DIRECTIONAL CHALLENGES

 I was in Maple City taking pictures when I realized I wasn’t far from the Bohemian Road/669 beach.  Unable to resist the Lakeshore’s pull, I headed there and found the beach full of people.  It was a great sight, but not ideal for scenic photography.  So I drove a short distance to Lake Michigan Road, which runs parallel to the water, and saw beautiful beaches, sun-drenched fern forests, keyhole views of the Whaleback, and Shalda Creek awaiting the fall salmon run.  I drove the north end first and then turned around for the south end.  I was puzzled, though, because my mirror compass and my GPS both showed I was going northwest when I KNEW I was headed south.  It wasn’t until I got home and looked on Google Maps that I found I’d been heading “up” towards Pyramid Point.  Indeed, I’d been going north after all.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

MONARCH ON TENNIS BALL

 I usually pick up Gracie’s outdoor toys each evening, but her tennis ball escaped me.  The next day, I found this beautiful monarch butterfly perched on its fuzzy surface.  Luckily, I got off a few shots before Gracie chased it off. 

 

 

LANDSCAPE ROSES

 I’ve always loved rose bushes, but these newer shrub varieties have really grabbed me with their low maintenance and disease resistance.  They bring splashes of bright color to yards and gardens.

 

 

ENDURING BONDS

When I lived in Kalamazoo, Jen and Steve Earley were my next-door neighbors.  They had two young children, Megan, 7, and Scott, around 5.  Steve was in the Navy, so they moved before I retired and came north in 2006.  We’ve kept in touch over the years with occasional emails and yearly holiday letters.  Last week, Jen emailed that their daughter Megan, now 29 and an illustrator, was in Traverse City painting a fence mural for Wiggle Butts & Waggin’ Tails Dog Daycare and Boarding.  We met for dinner Wednesday evening and had a wonderful time catching up on our lives, twenty-two years later.  The next afternoon, I went to the daycare to watch Megan paint.  As Megan brought Quinn, the owner’s Great Pyrenees, to life with her artistry, I marveled at what this young woman had become.  On my drive home, my heart was full of friendship’s enduring bonds.

 

 

FIELDS OF COLOR

I love farm fields this time of year. Different crops planted side by side and golden corn tassels give these landscapes color and definition.  Peachy sunset skies capped off a perfect evening of picture-taking.

 

 

HORSE COUNTRY

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. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SHORTIES

 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. 

 

 

SUMMER VISITORS

 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. 

 

 

MOMENTS OF SUNSHINE

 

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.