Every two and half years or so we are treated to a blue moon – the second full moon in one month. With relatively clear skies last Friday night we headed to a nearby lake to enjoy a picnic on the shore and watch for the moonrise. We were joined by a large group of children trying their luck fishing as well as a number of people out bicycling or walking – all enjoying the evening. As luck would have it, a bank of low clouds was hovering on the east horizon, and the moon was hardly visible as it first slipped over the lake. But as it continued its rise in the sky it cleared the clouds and shone brightly, reflecting in the water below, and lighting the path for this sailboat as it made its way back to the marina. A beautiful night and a wonderful way to bring a close to the end of August.
Author: lindastaatsphoto
Red shoes for a wedding
We drove north this weekend for a family wedding celebration along the shores of Lake Superior. The bride and groom met while playing co-ed soccer and have a love of adventure and the outdoors. They hike and ski, bike and snowboard, and have a goal to visit all the national parks in the United States. It was only fitting that they celebrate their wedding outside, surrounded by family and friends, with a view of Lake Superior. Although there were a few minutes of raindrops prior to the wedding ceremony, the clouds passed, the sun began to shine through the clouds, and the bride walked down the aisle in her red shoes to greet her soon-to-be-husband. With the support and blessings of their families and the friends that came from all corners of the country and the world, they began their new life together with smiles of joy and happiness. Here’s to a future of adventures and much love!
Minnesota State Fair fine art exhibit
If the calendar is turning to the end of August, it must be state fair time in Minnesota. Affectionately known as the “Great Minnesota Get Together” the fair begins this Thursday, August 23rd, and runs through Labor Day, September 3rd. One of the showcases each year is the fine art exhibition — a juried competition of Minnesota artists. Last year 361 art pieces were accepted into the final exhibit, selected from over 2,500 works. I’m happy to say that my submission for this year has been accepted into the exhibit. My photograph is titled “Rain on my tulip window.” If you’re planning to attend the state fair, be sure to enjoy the Fine Art exhibition. You’ll have the opportunity to see a collection of wide-ranging art by some of the very best Minnesota artists.
Late summer’s cosmos
Almost as if a switch had been thrown, our weather changed from excessive summer heat to below normal temperatures. With lows in the 50’s at night and highs only in the 60’s and 70’s we had a real hint of the end of summer. Life has sped up knowing that fall can’t be far away, and although we may have hot temperatures again during the daytime, the nights will cool off considerably as our hours of daylight shorten. Knowing this made these beautiful pink cosmos seem even more special when I found them in a wonderful garden today. Their lightness was a reminder of the carefree feeling of summer – enjoy it now because it’s fleeting, soon to be followed by the deeper smells and rich colors of autumn.
Biking along the North Shore of Lake Superior
With blue skies and perfect temperatures we headed north to the shores of Lake Superior. We set out on our bikes on the Gitchi-Gami State Trail which parallels U.S. Highway 61 and has some of the most beautiful scenery in the state of Minnesota. Although the bike trail will eventually run the full length of the North Shore, for now it is complete in sections. We rode north from Gooseberry Falls State Park, through Split Rock Lighthouse State Park, to the town of Beaver Bay a distance of about 14 miles. The trail is anything but flat, with steep inclines because of the rock cliffs that line the shoreline of the lake. Today the water was the most beautiful shade of blue, reflecting the clear and sunny skies above. After an ice cream stop the return trip took us into a headwind, but the scenery and the downhill runs made the effort all worthwhile. This section of Lake Superior is the closest I can come in the Midwest to seeing an “ocean” – the expanse is so large that there is no shoreline to be seen on the other side. Just beautiful blue waters on a picture-perfect day all the way to the horizon.
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