Fog on the First of October

On my way to the Pumpkin Fest, I saw the fog and knew there would be picture taking opportunites. Nothing else needs to be said: "Let the fog in and the sun will create beauty."

Fungi is my new Inspiration

Nothing says pattern like fungi growing on a decomposing log. We walked a "trail" that was blacktopped over boulders and as uneven as can be. I had a full thought that I would run this mile long stretch...I easily would have twisted my knee, or stumbeled and ended up in the lake if I had actually attempted it...

Devil's Lake State Park.

A Perfect Spot for a sometimes Rainy Day

The rain held off for most of our Saturday adventure to Presque Isle on Lake Superior. Grandma and Grandpa G. and Uncle Uke (still working on that elusive "l" sound) joined us for a cloudy day at the Big Lake. Bits threw stone after stone into the lake, and I gathered a few pieces of my green favorites. Bits found a dead crab and presumed to pick it up, throw it down when Mommy said ewww and then smash it with a rock, until Mommy said ewww to that too. He was obsessed with this dead thing as I'm sure all little boys should be, but it was seriously gross.

Mike caught a fish, then lost a fish off the banks of the river. So to calm his spirit and offer encouragement, I sat with him at a spring runoff pool where we had more fun guessing where the fish were then actually snagging any. I have to tell you, the spot where I was sitting was the most relaxing, tranquil place to keep the spitting rain off you while watching it make ripples in the water. There is a log submerged just below the water and it's golden color is something to loose hours upon staring at. If I had sat there any longer and more quitely, I'm sure a bear would have come along and ate me.

Really?

When I got up this morning (at 5:30 a.m. on my day off) and saw all the heavy wet snow weighing down the pine branches and sticking to the leafless trees, I thought it may make for a photo worthy morning. But, as I sat in the old lazy boy sipping my tea and watching "Sweet 16" on MTV, I realized the sun was in no mood to help sparkle the snow, so we both lazied our Saturday morning. While doing what I do and googling to help wake up my mind, the fog decided to lend a hand and change up my photography expectations. I geared up in double fleece, opted for jeans rather than pajama pants and, with fingerless gloves on and camera in hand, ventured an early moring walk (definitely not usually a choice I make).

Just me, the trees, the breeze and the birds, I experienced a full sensory morning. Thunump, thunump as the snow slid off the branches and joined the layer on the ground. Cherurp, caw, cherurp, caw, caw as the birds all awakened to a hazy morning with all there green taken back. Spleoop, spleoop---spleoop, spleoop as my boots hit warm pavement under melting slushy snow. Hu-ho, hu-ho, hu-ho as I huffed on my trek back to the house, and realized I am quite out of shape thanks to an extra long winter.

Finger tips frozen and a caterpillar shocked by a fall from a snowy tree branch, I share with you my end-of April U.P. morning. If I was a fist shaker, I'd be shaking it at the weather man who forecasted 60 degrees and sunny tomorrow.